How Do You Vote

Follow this link to vote on awards for each of your classmates.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEV4YlhUUkdZWl9uRmQ4Wkp3ZTVpaWc6MQ

TAKS and Your Future Quest....Hmmm!

Everyone knows how I feel about the The Big Ugly, uh, I mean the TAKS test. Since I moved to Texas after teaching in New Jersey and Missouri, I often compared the assessment procedures of the three states and find Texas to be the most meaningless. However, is that really true? Every state needs some sort of accountability system to ensure that the students know what they were expected to learn, along with a check system for teachers to make sure that the classroom is a place that is conducive for meaningful learning. However, a paper and pencil test doesn't neccesarily measure a child's ability to produce, nor accurately measure what they know. Also, just because a student passes or not, doesn't mean the teacher can or can not teach. Therefore, I'm a proponent of alternative means of assessment such as student digital portfolios, but that is not the point of today's assignment blog. Our state believes that the TAKS test or some variation of it determines student success in the future. No one can predict the future, but do you believe that this particular test sets the precedent of what your future will look like?

Today's blog will require you to think about that last statement and respond by letting everyone know what you think about the TAKS test's ability to determine your success or lack of success in your future. Does it have an affect?

Title Your Blog: Future Quest

Happy Blogging!

He Made Me Rap, OMG!

Well, today is April 1 and it is no April Fool's joke that we will showcase your Math Mastery Songs. I know some of you truly enjoyed the activity, but some really hated the idea from the beginning all the way up to the end. However, you did it! Now I want to know about your experience. In a blog entry, please let me know how you felt about the project of writing your own song complete with music. In your entry, please consider the following:

* Your feelings regarding the assignment in the beginning
* Your feelings about the assignment in the end
* Your fears
* Your doubts
* How you felt about singing/rapping
* How comfortable or uncomfortable you were about creating your own music
* What you would change about the project
* What you would do differently now that the project is complete
* Would you consider a career in music
* What you liked/disliked about the entire process

Let it out, but make sure your language and conversation is appropriate Smittie language. However, don't be afraid to be honest.

Due today!

Happy Blogging

Coming Back From Spring Break (ugh!)

I know, I know; you were all excited about getting back into the groove of things after a very relaxing week long vacation. Well, needless to say, I was thrilled about having to return to my routine of getting up at 4:30 in the morning just to prepare my self for my journey to Mesquite from Grand Prairie after enjoying sleeping until noon on most of the days of our break. But, it is what it is, so we might as well make the most of it.

So, to open up this two week stretch before the Big Ugly, let's work with how you truly felt about coming back to school just to get ready to take the TAKS test in two weeks. In this blog entry, I want you to:

1. Express your truest feelings about your thoughts of having to come back to school after chillin' for a week
2. Provide your thoughts about having to take the TAKS
3. Tell me what the TAKS test means to you
4. Describe the importance of the TAKS test and those who deem it most critical
5. Explain your confident level in taking the test
6. Convey what you will do about the test once you take over after graduating from college

You can include anything else within your entry, just ensure that each of the above questions are addressed within your post.

Happy Blogging!

Countdown To The Big Ugly!

Well, it's that time of year again; panic for most, but not for Smittie's K.I.D.S. This is the time of year that everyone in the state of Texas begins to bite their fingernails with bated anticipation of the latest TAKS test provisioned by the powers that be in Austin. However, we here in Portable 86 are confident in our abilities to produce the knowledge obtained in this school years and those of the past. Therefore, we fear not. on the contrary, we look forward to the opportunity to strut our stuff so to speak and we look at the "Big Ugly" as that platform; our stage to perform our greatest showcase... ourselves. So as we countdown the days, we want you to countdown with us as we prepare to put on the greatest show of our lives... so far!

President's Day - Abe Lincoln

Part 1

Welcome back to "Your Thoughts" blog after a brief hiatus to create a lightning thief blog. Ok, maybe our absence was not brief, but it is good to return to our regular blogging assignments. This week, as we commemorate President's Day, we will highlight President Abraham Lincoln as we prepare to begin our unit on the Civil War in the upcoming weeks. For starters, view the BrainPop video (http://brainpop.com)on Abraham Lincoln; you already know the username and password. While viewing the video, put yourself in the shoes of an African-American farmer from Massachusetts, a white abolitionist from Massachusetts, and a white senator from Alabama and consider why you would or would not have voted for Lincoln in the 1860 election. Post an entry that explains your response for each individual person. You just need one(1) entry for all the responses. Make sure you back up your explanation with information from the video and additional research. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln).

Part 2

After finishing your responses, get with your "yellow" partner and pretend that Abraham Lincoln has granted you an interview. Together create a minimum of 5 questions and answers and record your interview with Mr. Lincoln as a podcast and post it on your blog after Part 1.

Title your post: President's Day - 1860 Presidential Election

Happy Blogging!

The Lightning Thief Introduction

As we begin our literature journey into Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief create a new blog dedicated just to your assignments associated with our novel study. You should title your blog: [Your name] And The Lightning Thief (your url will read - [yourname]andthelightningthief.blogspot.com) After creating your new blog, go to my Lightning Thief blog: smittieandthelightningthief.blogspot.com and scroll down to follow this blog. This is where I will post all assignments from, along with my own thoughts while reading the novel.

Once this is completed, create your first post by responding to 4 of the 7 following prompts. Choose any 4 you like but only make one entry to answer all 4 questions. Make sure that you retype the question prior to answering; include the question number and then make sure there is a space between the question and your response.

Here are the questions:

1. Have you ever been treated unfairly by a teacher (or parent, or other adult)?
Describe the circumstances and why you considered the treatment unfair.

2. What do you know about learning disabilities such as ADHD or dyslexia? Do you
know anyone who has a learning disability? Do you think a person with a learning
disability should receive more time to complete tests or less homework than a
person without a learning disability? Explain your position.

3. In Ancient times, the Greeks had gods for many important forces in their lives --
the sea, thunderstorms, farming, music, medicine, poetry, archery, etc. Why do
you think they imagined many different gods rather than just one? Would this
make life more confusing or less confusing?

4. Young children often imagine that their parents aren’t really their parents. What
would it be like if you suddenly found out that you had a “real” father or mother
you never knew about? What if this person was extremely rich and powerful –
would you accept them as a parent?

5. Do you believe in anything that science can’t prove -- such as magic, or ghosts, or
creatures like the Loch Ness monster? Why or why not?

6. Have you ever been to summer camp? If so, describe what you did or did not like
about it. If not, imagine and describe what you think a typical summer camp
would be like – any impressions from television or movies?

7. You have been granted one magical item of your choice. What would this item be,
and what power would it have? Explain your choice.

Happy Blogging