Last Computer Day of 2014

Hello Everyone!

Here are the reflection questions for you to answer:

1) How do you feel about using computers? (Be honest.)

2) What's something new you have learned on computers in Civics class this quarter?

3)  What's something you already knew about computers in Civics class this morning?

4)  What would you like to learn next quarter on the computer?

5)  How do you feel about typing?

6)  Do you use computers outside of class? If yes, explain where.

7)  How can you use what you learn on computers in class outside of class?


THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS!

URLs, Email Addresses, Northstar Review and Yesterday's Reading

Hello Everyone,

Happy Wednesday! We have a lot to do today, and it should be fun!

Activity # 1: URL's and Email Adresses 
1. Discuss: What is a URL?

• A URL stands for Universal Resource Locator. 
• A URL is the fancy term for website address

What is the difference between a URL and an email address?

2. Sort: make two piles at your tables. One of URLs and the other of email addresses.

3. Write: write down the examples on the paper chart. 

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Activity #2: Northstar Exam Review
1. What is the Northstar Exam?

2. Take the practice test with the class. When it is your turn, you have the option to:
     A) answer
     B) ask an expert
     C) 50/50 (narrow down the possible answers to 2)

Please take notes on your Email Skills chart as we go.
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Activity #3: Review Yesterday's Reading 
1. Get with your group. Use one computer.

2. Jorge, Miguel, Emma, and Leonardo will be the yellow group; Elda, Xia Wei, Francisca, and Patricia will be the blue group.

3. Go to the spreadsheet below and add the evidence from the text, and the paragraph number to the correct column.
Spreadsheet

Sum it up

Happy Friday Everyone!

Today's computer activity involves reading and writing.

1. Choose a news source (online or paper).
2.  Fill out the 5 W's worksheet.
3. Use the worksheet and sentence starters to sum up the article in a paragraph.

Here are some links to online news resources for English learners:

• VOA News
• Breaking News English

and here are some links to common news sources in the United States:

• New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Los Angeles Times
• Washtington Post

Thank you for your hard work!

Have a great weekend :)

Newseum, Typing and Phrasal Verbs!

Hello Everyone,

Happy Wednesday! Here are the links for today's class activities:

Link 1: Today's Front Pages from the Newseum

Link 2: Typing Practice
*Ask Rachel for your Progress Chart to write down your errors and speed.

Link 3:  Phrasal Verbs Online Dictionary
This a great website with lots of information about Phrasal Verbs. You can search for them using one of the two/three words from the phrasal verb (for example: for bring up, search "up" or "bring"), or you can look for them alphabetically.

Bonus Question: What's the phrasal verb in the picture below?

American Indians, Smallpox, and Viruses

Hello Everyone!

Happy Wednesday (Computer Day)!

You have some options today. Choose which one you prefer:

Option 1: Listen to the poem we read yesterday.  Take out a blank sheet of paper and write 5 to 10 sentences about how it makes you feel. Explain your feelings/thoughts using examples from the poem.

http://billmoyers.com/content/sherman-alexies-top-ten-native-american-poets/4/


Option 2:  Practice typing on this website. Ask Rachel for a Progress Chart to track your errors and typing speed.

http://www.typing-lessons.org/


Option 3: Read about Smallpox. Take notes on 5-10 things that you didn't know before, add them to your KWL chart.

General information: http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/infection/smallpox.html
Smallpox in Minnesota: http://www.mnopedia.org/event/smallpox-epidemic-1924-1925 

When we have 30 minutes left of class we will put computers away and focus on vocabulary!

Thank you for your hard work :)

-Rachel

Vocabulary 4 Star Ratings!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Please follow the links to the two surveys below. Rate your understanding of the vocabulary words we have been learning over the past few weeks.

Survey 1: Previous words

http://goo.gl/forms/qqFykc0RyN


Survey 2: New words

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FiiybbBjZtsRp2Fo7JTW8uOARSHRHkLKgmtrJQnkk48/viewform?c=0&w=1

Links for English Practice!

List of Websites for Open Lab: EL CIVICS 2

1. Practice spelling irregular past simple verbs: http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1/50.asp
2. Subject Verb agreement: http://media.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/viper/viper.swf?0
3. Verb tense practice with irregular verbs: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/verb_wheel/
4. Verb tense practice Jeopardy style: http://www.eslgamesworld.com/members/games/ClassroomGames/Quizshow/Verb%20Tenses%20Past,%20Future,%20Perfect%20Present/
5. Listening practice (with music lyrics!): http://lyricstraining.com/
6. Reading comprehension practice (stories organized by level): http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/reading-skills-for-todays-adult
7. Listening practice (with quizzes!): http://www.esl-lab.com/
8. Computer Basics (for advanced readers): http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics
9. Mouse tutorial: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/mousetutorial/play
10. Typing practice: http://www.typing-lessons.org/lesson_1.html or www.typingweb.com
11. Reading News Stories Comprehension Practice: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Game for Practicing Parts of Speech in English

Congratulations! You are done with the test.
Please go to the website below, follow the directions, and play the game!
You will practice parts of speech in English

Remember:
Verbs: Words that show actions or state of being
Nouns: Words that name people, places or things
Adjectives:Words that describe nouns

http://www.arcadetown.com/grammarninja/gameonline.asp

Vocabulary Ratings

Vocab Ratings Sites:

1) Rate your understanding of the past few weeks' words (Click on the link):

Previous words link

2) Rate your understanding of the new words we will start today (Click on the link):

New words link


Thank you!

Online Dictionaries for English Learners Review & Book Club Questions

Hey Civics 2 class!

Welcome to Wednesday, Computer Day! Today we will be reading chapters seven through nine of The Client. Please follow these directions as you read. 

Step 1: Answer one of the following questions about what happened in chapters four through six by commenting on this blogpost.

 A) Who is Gill Teal? 
 B)  What do the FBI tell Roy Foltrigg about Mark?
 C)  Who is Reggie love?

Step 2: As we read the story, highlight the words you don't recognize. With a partner, look up the word on one of the following online dictionaries:

1)   Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/

 2)   Oxford Advanced American Dictionary:

http://oaadonline.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/ 

3)   MacMillan Dictionary and Thesaurus Online:

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/

4)   Longman English Dictionary Online:

http://www.ldoceonline.com/ 

5)   Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary Online

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

6)   Collins:

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/

Step 3: Write down the definition on your copy of the story, or a blank sheet of paper. 

Hey Everyone!

Rate this week's vocabulary on the link below:

This Week's Vocabulary

Now, take a look at our new vocabulary. Give the words a rating based on your prior knowledge.

New Vocabulary

Thank you!

The Mississippi: River of Song

Hey Civics 2 Students!

Take a look at the map below:

In today's class, we will be learning about the Mississippi River through music. The Smithsonian Museums and PBS (the Public Broadcasting System) put together the Mississippi River of Song Project, which "explores the richness... of American music at the close of the 20th century." They interviewed musicians along the Mississippi River and collected songs that tell stories about American history and culture. 

The Smithsonian production team spent 12 weeks making the film, and travelled 12,000 miles in all 10 states that border the Mississippi River. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TODAY:

Follow the directions for each region and click on the link(s). Look up any words you don't recognize using an online dictionary. (http://learnersdictionary.com/) 

(As a class)

Region 1: Americans Old and New

Read:

http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/project/summaries-tv1.html

Listen to a few songs as a class.

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Region 2: Midwestern Crossroads

Read: http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/music/episode-2.html

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTdI8qdE93Y

================================================

Region 3: Southern Fusion

Read:

http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/music/episode-3.html

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYbSaAZvZQ&list=RDkzYbSaAZvZQ#t=76

================================================

Region 4: Louisiana, Where Music is King

Read:

http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/music/episode-4.html

This Week's Vocabulary Donuts

Dear Civics 2 Students,

Happy Friday! You all did amazing work with vocabulary this week, keep it up!
See you on Monday; have fun with Paul!

Have a great weekend,
Rachel

Scam, Spam, Slam!

Hello students! 

Happy Wednesday! Today we will be listening and writing down directions down for our activity with computers. Please keep your worksheet out and next to you and your partner's computer. Also, thank you in advance for your patience!

Part 1: No computers, just listen.

Part 2: http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0002-common-online-scams

Part 3: http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0038-spam

 *Online Dictionary Link*

Part 4: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/game-0012-spam-scam-slam

HAPPY HUMP-DAY!

Superbowl Commercials Activity!


Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Please follow these directions for today's activity:
First we will watch this link together as a class. We will complete the worksheet together as a class for the first commercial.

• Pepsi Commercial 

Next we will divide into three groups. In small groups, you will watch a different commercial together. Work together to complete a second worksheet. Your teachers, Paul and Rachel, will assign you a group number. Watch the commercial that goes along with your group number: 

Group 1: 

• Jimmy Johns Commercial 

Group 2: 

• Audi Doberhuahua Commercial 

Group 3: 

• Muppets Toyota Commercial

Have fun! Think critically! :)