Sunday, December 30, 2012

Week of January 3-5, 2013 - ADOPTION INFO: PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?


New Word Generation topic:   Should adoption information be kept public or private?
  
              ADOPT -- ENSURE -- CONSENT -- TENSION -- DURATION
Achieve Readings
  1. More Readings:  
    1. "No Place to Call Home" - a reading about improving conditions for refugees and orphans
    2. "Who Really Cares?" -  a reading about world poverty 
    3. "Mackey Wins!"  - a reading to practice cause and effect relationship
  1. Due Mon,  Dec 17 -- "More Cats, Less Help"
  2. Due Tue.,  Dec 18  "A Greyhound's Best Friend"
  3. Due Wed., Dec 19 --  "New Year, New Country"
    • What are key terms used to discuss 'Adoption Information -- Public or Private?
      • closed adoption
      • open adoption
      • birth parents
      • adoptive parents


    1. Vocabulary: 10 Word Illustrations: Due Wednesday, Jan. 4 online via Google Docs. -- Link to suggested topics for writing Word Illustrations  Read and respond in writing to these conversation prompts.  LINK.
    2. Link to WG-Adoption Information - Public or Private?  topic and vocabulary  files:  LINK






    Sunday, December 16, 2012

    Week of December 17 - 21 - ADOPTION INFORMATION - PRIVATE?


    New Word Generation topic:   Should adoption information be kept public or private?
      
                  ADOPT -- ENSURE -- CONSENT -- TENSION -- DURATION
    • Achieve Readings
    1. More Readings:  
      1. "No Place to Call Home" - a reading about improving conditions for refugees and orphans
      2. "Who Really Cares?" -  a reading about world poverty 
      3. "Mackey Wins!"  - a reading to practice cause and effect relationship
    1. Due Mon,  Dec 17 -- "More Cats, Less Help"
    2. Due Tue.,  Dec 18  "A Greyhound's Best Friend"
    3. Due Wed., Dec 19 --  "New Year, New Country"
    • What are key terms used to discuss 'Adoption Information -- Public or Private?
      • closed adoption
      • open adoption
      • birth parents
      • adoptive parents


    1. Vocabulary: 10 Word Illustrations: Due Wednesday, Jan. 4 online via Google Docs. -- Link to suggested topics for writing Word Illustrations  Read and respond in writing to these conversation prompts.  LINK.
    2. Link to WG-Adoption Information - Public or Private?  topic and vocabulary  files:  LINK

    Friday, December 7, 2012

    Week of December 10 - REGULATE PLASTIC AND PAPER - PART 2


    New Word Generation topic:   Should our use of paper or plastic be an individual choice or regulated by the government?
      
                  data -- research -- cite -- phase -- strategy
    • Achieve Readings
      1. Due Mon,  Dec 10 -- "Wikipedia: OK to Use?"
      2. Due Tue.,  Dec 11  "Scientists Needed!"
      3. Due Wed., Dec 12--  "Worms on the Menu?"
      4. More Readings:  
        1. "School Says No to Wikipedia" -- a reading to practice using context to understand vocabulary
        2. "Don't Waste That!"
        3. "Five Cents a Bag"
        4. "China Says 'NO' to Bags"
    • What is 'Regulating Plastic and Paper'?


      1. Vocabulary: 10 Word Illustrations: 
      2. Due Wednesday, Dec.6 online via Google Docs. -- Link to suggested topics for writing Word Illustrations  Read and respond in writing to these conversation prompts.  LINK.
      3. Link to WG-Regulation of Paper and Plastic topic and vocabulary  files:  LINK




    Friday, November 30, 2012

    WEEK OF December 3 - REGULATE PLASTIC

      New Word Generation topic:  
                       Should our use of paper or plastic be
    regulated by the government?
      
                  data -- research -- cite -- phase -- strategy
    1. Achieve Readings
      1. Due Mon,  Dec 3 -  "One City's Big Problem"
      2. Due Tue.,  Dec 4 -  "Throw Old computers in the trash?  No Way!"
      3. Due Wed., Dec 5--  "Garbage Has Got to Go"
      4. ADDITIONAL READINGS:  
        1. "Shhh.. Worms At Work" -- a reading to practice using context to understand vocabulary
        2. "All About Trash" -- a practice reading on Summarization
    2. In class pair work: Finding and citing evidence to justify a position.  
      1. Thurs:  LA TIMES article "Vampire Bat Debate:  To Eliminate or Not to Eliminate"  From Harvey Daniel's 'Texts and Lessons for Content Area Reading'', (2011, Heinemann))
      2. Friday:  Achieve:  "Wikipedia:  OK to Use?"
    1. What is 'Regulating Plastic and Paper'?
      1. Vocabulary: 10 Word Illustrations: 
      2. Due Wednesday, Dec.6 online via Google Docs. -- Link to suggested topics for writing Word Illustrations  Read and respond in writing to these conversation prompts.  LINK.
      3. Link to WG-Regulation of Paper and Plastic topic and vocabulary  files:  LINK


    Sunday, November 25, 2012

    Week of November 26 - DEBATE IN SCHOOL


    New Word Generation topic:  Should school be a place for debate?    
                  controversy  --  justify  --  perspective  --  bias  -- debate
    1. Achieve Readings
      1. Due Tues,  Nov 27 -  "What would you do?"
      2. Due Wed.,  Nov 28 -  "Use Your Voice"
      3. Due Thur.,   Nov 29--  "A Water Battle"
      4. ADDITIONAL READINGS:  
        1. "A Camp For Change" -- a practice reading on Summarization
        2. "Kids Still Love Barbie" -- a reading to practice using context to understand vocabulary
    2. What is 'Debate In School'?
      1. Vocabulary: 10 Word Illustrations: 
      2. Due Wednesday, Nov. 28 online via Google Docs. -- Link to suggested topics for writing Word Illustrations  Read and respond in writing to these conversation prompts.  LINK.
      3. Link to WG-Debate in School topic and vocabulary  files:  LINK

    Sunday, November 18, 2012

    Week of November 19 - WIRETAPPING

    Lady Liberty spying on Americans.
    New Word Generation topic:  Should secret wiretapping be legal?
    1. Achieve Readings
      1. Due Mon.,  Nov 19 -  "What was 9/11 ? "
      2. Due Tues,  Nov 20 -  "Smile!  You're On Camera! "
      3. Due Wed.,  Nov 21 -  "Congress Renews Patriot Act"
      4. ADDITIONAL READINGS:  "Cameras Help Nab Suspects"
    2. What is 'secret wiretappiing'?
      1. Vocabulary: 10 Word Illustrations: notwithstanding, suspicious, eliminate, source, wiretapping.    Due Wednesday, Nov. 21 online via Google Docs.
        1. Link to suggested topics for writing Word Illustrations LINK
      2. Link to WG-Wiretapping topic and vocabulary  files:  LINK
      3. Research Questions Investigation...After Thanksgiving weekend

    Sunday, November 11, 2012

    Week of November 12 - GENETIC TESTING - 2

    Assignments -- this week:
    1. Achieve Readings
      1. Due Monday,  Nov 12 - "Looking at Lyme"
      2. Due Tuesday, Nov 13 - "Were You Born to be a Sports Star?" 
      3. Due Wednesday, Nov 14 - "An Hour a Day Keeps the Pounds Away"
    2. In class this week
      1. Words Their Way
        1. Spelling and word formation rules

    Monday, November 5, 2012

    Week of November 5 - GENETIC TESTING - 1

    Examples of Word Illustrations - regulate, genetic, range, circumstance, conception

    go pages 57-65 in the Word Generation manual
    • Word families: range, regulate, circumstance, conception, genetic
    Sample sentences:
      • There is a range of food available to buy at the circus:  you can buy hot foods and cold foods;  you can buy ..
      • The government creates traffic laws to regulate the safety of our roads and driving habits. 
      • After the flooding, the family's circumstances were completely different than before the flood;  the family was now much poorer because the flood had destroyed all their possessions.
      • We met together and conceived a new plan to build the house.  We didn't like the plan we had created earlier. 
      • The genetic test given to me confirmed that I had a heart problem that will be made worse if I eat cheese.  What I choose to eat is important to my health.

    Sunday, November 4, 2012

    Assignment for Monday, Nov 5: ACHIEVE 3000

    Students will open Achieve 3000 from home or school to read this article:  "Army Families Get Cooking".  

    COMPLETION DUE DATE:  Monday, November 5th.

    STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE READING OUTSIDE OF REGULAR CLASS TIME.

    This Achieve article can be found by doing a search.  Mr. Lindsay will send the article to your Achieve mailboxes on Wednesday, October 31.

    Complete the article on your own.  Also complete the STRETCH version of the article. 

    Be sure to summarize the first three paragraphs.

    Monday, October 29, 2012

    Week of Monday, Oct 29

    • Word Illustrations due on Monday, Oct 29th.
    • Students will read 'Soldiers to stay longer in Iraq' on the Achieve 3000 network.
    • Students to read:  
    • Students will present News and Information reports.
    • Parent Conference times distributed.
    • Mr. Lindsay will not be in class on Friday, Nov. 2nd.

    Word Illustrations #2: When should the US send troops to other countries?

    Create 10 word illustrations for Monday, Oct 29th.  For this assignment description, go to THIS LINK.  

    These word families are found in the Word Generation topic "When Should the U.S. Send troops to other countries?"

    For help on the construction of a 'word illustration' go to the description found here:  LINK TO ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLE

    Monday, October 15, 2012

    Word Illustrations #1: Should single-gender education be an option for families or should all public schools be co-ed?


    For Monday, October 22, 2012, students will revisit and rework their ten illustrations to show the meaning of our target words.  You must use sentences to show the meaning.

    The target word families are found in the 'Single-gender school' topic (pages 89-96):

    gender:  genders, to engender
    comprise:  comprising, comprised, comprises
    adapt:  adaptation
    conduct: conducting, conductor, conducts
    paradigm:  paradigmatically, paradigmatic

    Here's how to do it;  let's use the word 'conduct'    
     to act or behave in a particular manner--- 
    • "During lunch, the student conducted himself with respect and with good manners."
    Do you remember the topics we practiced out loud for the word CONDUCT:
    • Discuss 3 ways that a spectator at a football game should conduct himself or herself.
    Here is my response, and it also shows (illustrates) the meaning of the word:
    • A spectator at a football must always control his or her own conduct.  Examples of improper behavior are 1) throwing food, 2) screaming foul or nasty language, and 3) bullying strangers or other people. 
    • Discuss at least one social behavior that will show you know how to conduct yourself when you meet a stranger.
    Here is my response for this discussion, and it also shows (illustrates) the meaning of the word:
      • One social behavior that I use when I am conducting myself appropriately with strangers is to greet a stranger with a smile and a handshake. 
    ____________________________________________

    Here is another way to look at this writing task:

    Let's take the word 'gender';  below are two examples of illustrations I created to show the meaning of 'gender': 
    1. In the world, people discriminate against other people on the basis of differences. Sadly, an able-bodied person will treat a disabled person unfairly.  Another example of discrimination is AAbb-based discrimination where a female worker receives less pay than a male worker who both are doing the same job.
    2. A hen is the name given to the female AAbb of the animal called the chicken.
    WHAT WORD SUBSTITUTES FOR AAbb?  Answer:  gender

    ____________________________________________
    Now use the topic ideas below to write your own illustrations.  BE SURE TO USE THE TARGET WORD in your illustration:

    comprise  To make up, to form, to consist of:  The United States is comprised of 50 states, not 45 states.

    1. Discuss and describe the kind of people who would comprise your own wedding party.
    2. Discuss and list the materials that paper is comprised of.
    3. Tell what your favorite birthday cake is comprised of. 

    gender  either of two groups into which animals are divided (male and female):  A hen is the name for the female gender of the animal species called ‘chicken’.

    1. What gender differences are noticeable in the way men and women dress?
    2. Discuss examples of gender-based prejudice.
    3. Discuss how the Hmong language shows differences in gender when talking about a man or a woman.  Does the Hmong language use the same word for ‘he’ and ‘she’?  How about Chinese?  How about English?


    adapt   to change something to fit a new situation.  “The T-Rex was not able to adapt to changes in the environment, and as a result the T-Rex went extinct.”

    1. What adaptations would you and your parents make in your life style (life choices) if the price of gasoline changed suddenly to $10 a gallon?
    2. Why is a turtle’s shell such a successful adaptation for survival?

    paradigm a model or example or a guiding viewpoint.  
      • “The president believes in an immigration paradigm that says all immigrants, illegal or legal,  to the US must be respected and supported.

    1. Choose the best paradigm to help kids to read:  
      1. A)  give kids $1 dollar for each book or magazine they finish reading or      
      2. B) give kids $2 per book to use after high school to pay for more education.
    2. Compare the following three music style paradigms, which one do you prefer? Which one do you listen to more often?  Explain why.
      1. Rock Music
      2. Hip Hop Music
      3. Classical orchestral music 

    conduct    to behave in a particular manner--- 
    • "During lunch, the student conducted himself with respect and with good manners."
    1. Discuss 3 ways that a spectator at a football game should conduct himself or herself.
    2. Discuss at least one social behavior that will show you know how to conduct yourself when you meet a stranger. 
    3. If you are a Middle school teacher, describe two crucially important parts of your daily conduct?