IMPORTANT DATES & Info.

I POSTED A SAMPLE SCHEDULE ON THE BOARD, SO THE KIDS CAN SEE HOW EASILY THIS IS ALL PACED OUT WITH THEIR CLASS TIME. The pieces are small and you can view the curriculum on pvOnline. :) The sample schedule shows the kids how to prioritize and pace themselves. :) It is also color-coded.

The metaphor pic is postponed until after break. :( I'm bummed, but I know it isn't all about me.

• 12/6: We will create our own covers for The Red Badge of Courage (you may do this on your own or in class that day)
• 12/6: Block II's opening scene products are due! It should be uploaded on your site under your code of conduct.
• 12/10: Vicksburg or Gettysburg brochure is due. It will be created in Pages (save as a gif or jpeg or screen shot it and upload it to your site under Before Brother Fought Brother (at the bottom)
• 12/15: Complete ALL pvOnline: do a little bit each day...I posted a sample schedule on the board in class. :)
• 12/15: Present INFORMAL content on one of these topics (found in pvOnline): Women, Soldier's Life, Children @ War, or War Technology. This means you use what is provided on pvOnline, create some slides with bullets, so you know what you are talking about and sum in up in a meaningfully short public speaking fashion. I'm not grading this for tech. I am ONLY looking at social studies content and public speaking. DON'T go crazy. This will be done in groups or pairs. I'm undecided so far.
• 12/16: ALL GRADES CLOSE DISTRICT-WIDE and report cards are processed

***We will pic the sections you want to re-create visually like Block II did (see 12/6)

and they will be due most likely on 12/13.

Make sure you know what you are expected to read each night. Please discuss/email your leaders. :)

Here is how class will be structured, so PACE is important!!!

Period 1 - work on what you need to

Period 2 - specific Miss Bailin described things OR work on what you need to (depends on the day)

Period 3 - RBOF group work

Period 6 - specific Miss Bailin described things OR work on what you need to (depends on the day)

Period 7 - RBOF group work

Period 8 - work on what you need to

That is all. When we get back from break, we will get into a little Honest Abe moment, the end, and the Reconstruction Period (ugly times kids).

Exercising Independence

Hello all,

From now until 12/15, the students are exercising their independence. This means that they have mini-pieces they are creating, updating their websites (their semester final if you will), engaging in student-centered and generated literature studies for The Red Badge of Courage, and processing through online housed curriculum. After break, we will be getting back into a bit more direct instruction, but the students need to be practicing knowing their boundaries and working on time management. All grades close on 12/17...no exceptions. Seriously. I'm leaving the country.

Smiles,

:)Erica

Fundraiser Info.

PTSA-- Library and P.E. Fundraiser

When: Monday the 22^nd, Tuesday the 23^rd and Wednesday the 24^th of November.

What: Students will be able to purchase a daily ticket for a special privilege that day.

Library

Cost: 1:00 a ticket. The ticket is good for one day only. Except for Library game pass

Library tickets:

The wearing of hats, caps, and hoods.

The use of their I-pod during free time and lunch.

The use of their cell phone for texting only at lunch

Tank tops (NO Spaghetti straps.)

Pajama bottoms/ flannel pants

Computer game pass for the library at lunch.( Ticket good until December 19^th)

You will purchase your tickets each morning in the Media Center. Cash only.

The PE dept. ( Mrs Barazk and Mr. Shultz ) will be selling a ticket for two dollars that can be used to get out of the Wed mile for one day in Dec. You will purchase those in class when you go to PE that week.

Helpful Sites

Hi,

I also have these posted at the bottom of the Home Page, but I just wanted to remind everyone of these important links. The school calendar is IMPORTANT. It shows you sports, clubs meetings, days off school, etc.

PVUSD Home Page: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/siteweb/

PVUSD's Gifted Education Web Page: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/giftedweb/

Digital Learning Center's Information Web Page: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/giftedweb/digitalLearningCenter.html

Sunrise Middle School's Home Page: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/srmsweb/

Sunrise Middle School's Events Calendar: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/srmsweb/Events

Parent/Student Handbook: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/siteweb/handbooks/ParentStudentHndbk.pdf

Ms. Binder's Web Page: http://cmweb.pvschools.net/~abinder/

11/17 And now we are in the war...

We are getting into battle now......

Today the kids are advising the presidents of the Union and the Confederacy about why their side is LIKELY to win the war (at the beginning).

What is a way my child can organize his/her time on this project?

Thank you very much for asking. For the Thematic Causes of the Civil War Digitally Narrated Product that should be 5-7 minutes and is due on 11/24 (if you don't check the homework blog....please do), here is an "ideal" way to organize the time on the nights that your child has the laptop checked out.

On the evenings when it is not his/her turn to check it out, they should be planning/storyboarding/scripting what they will accomplish the next time they have the laptop. On the days that he/she has the laptop, they should create and record about 1 minute of their presentation. That leaves 2 planning days (roughly) and 5 creating/narrating days to equal 5 minutes.

FOR EACH EVENT YOUR CHILD CITES AS EVIDENCE, HE/SHE MUST EXPLAIN THAT EVENT AND HOW IT APPLIES TO THE THEME HE/SHE HAS CHOSEN. That is the meat of their presentation/narration.

With all the students citing the same content (roughly), one of the MAIN goals of this piece (aside from social studies content) is to make their project stand out in some way. It is hard to do, but they will lose the audience otherwise.

Movement, meaningful images (setting a scene), and a well-timed, voice appropriate narration is KEY to visual/auditory success on this piece. Students should not be using popular songs.

How to Start the Project

a. Complete categorizing the causes/events that contributed to the start of the Civil War into

each theme: community, conflict, justice, and wealth/economy.

b. Choose the ONE THEME that contributed THE MOST to the start of the Civil War.

c. Determine the ORDER of the causes/events that you will present to persuade the audience that your cause is the main cause.

Day 1 w/ laptop

1. Make intro slide w/ your name, due date (11/24), unit title (Before Brother Fought Brother),

topic title (Civil War) and your MAIN theme of the start of the Civil War (Community,

Conflict, Justice, and Wealth)

2. Narrate...MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SLIDE ONLY CONTAIN KEY TEXT AND THAT YOUR

NARRATIONS ARE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES....NOT JUST READING US BULLET

POINTS!!!!!

Day 2 w/ laptop

1. Complete 1 minute of slide creation and narration.

2. Add appropriate transitions from your intro slide to your next section. Make it smooth.

3. Remember to test the sound and make sure the volume is the same.

Day 3 w/ laptop

Repeat day 2

Day 4 w/ laptop

Repeat day 2

Day 5 w/ laptop

Repeat day 2

Day 6 w/ laptop

Repeat day 2...5+ minutes should be completed.

Day 7 w/ laptop

Final touches. Make sure all the sound is correct. Show someone else and have them grade you on the rubric.

Laptop Check-Out Days for this Project

(if you need to schedule something different, you need to arrange it with your partner)

Any day your partner is NOT taking it home, you are welcome to check it out. :)

Wed. 11/10 & Thursday 11/11 (no school) - BLOCK II (day count 2)

Friday 11/12, Saturday 11/13, and Sunday 11/14 - BLOCK I (day count 3)

Monday, 11/15 - BLOCK II (day count 3)

Tuesday, 11/16 - BLOCK I (day count 4)

Wednesday, 11/17 - BLOCK II (day count 4)

Thursday, 11/18 - BLOCK I (day count 5)

Friday, 11/19, Saturday 11/20, Sunday 11/21 - BLOCK II (day count 7)

Monday, 11/22 & Tuesday 11/23 - BLOCK 1 (day count 7)

11/2 Things are not always as they seem....

Today, after much discussion and revision, the debaters came ready (most :( of them) to debate. A twist was thrown in and each group was given an evaluator to individually coach his/her group and one was switched into another class. The year is about to start taking some twists and turns. :) Tomorrow we will be doing the Stephen Crane redo projects and the debate (all students should come to school or bring dapper clothes). More twists to come....

The photos in this post show the evaluators from Block I becoming leaders and are now directing groups.