One last post from me...

I just wanted to write to you all and say thank you for all the effort you put in this year.  I have really enjoyed teaching your class and getting to know each and every one of you.

You are all amazing people who have bright futures ahead of you.  I believe that each and every one of you are capable of gaining Excellence endorsements next year.  I'll be checking to make sure you do!  You should all be getting Excellence subject endorsements for English, so make sure you put the effort in and make me proud.

Next year I am going to be upstairs in Ah 12, so pop in for a chat and let me know how things are going.

To Bonnie and Venus - I am going to miss you two a lot!  I've loved teaching you these past two years and wish you all the best at your new schools.  Keep in touch!

I've just set up a facebook page for Alfriston College, so if you are on facebook give that a like to keep up to date with all our latest successes and news (as I said, I just set it up, so the number of current 'likes' is a little sad).

So, best wishes everyone.  Have a happy and safe holidays.  Merry Christmas!

Reading Romeo + Juliet - Due 5 /11

Read Act 1, Scene 5; and Act 2, Scene 1 and 2.

Divide a page in your book into four squares (you could do this on a blank piece of paper, using Word or find an online tool).

In one square write a summary of the scene.
In the second square write new words that you haven't heard of before or do not know.
In the third square, write 5 questions you have about the scene.
In the last square, draw a picture of an event from the scene.

Reading Romeo and Juliet Due 21/11

Read Act One, Scene 2, 3 and 4.

Divide a page in your book into four squares (you could do this on a blank piece of paper, using Word or find an online tool).

In one square write a summary of the scene.
In the second square write new words that you haven't heard of before or do not know.
In the third square, write 5 questions you have about the scene.
In the last square, draw a picture of an event from the scene.  

If you want to get ahead, next week you will have to read the next part of the play.

Attitude Presentation

Write me a paragraph or two about the Attitude presentation held at school for the Year 10's on Friday.

Best one goes in the newsletter and you get Whanau points - try get them done by the end of Monday at the latest.

Romeo + Juliet Due 24/10

Read Scene One from Romeo and Juliet.

Divide a page in your book into four squares (you could do this on a blank piece of paper, using Word or find an online tool).

In one square write a summary of the scene.
In the second square write new words that you haven't heard of before or do not know.
In the third square, write 5 questions you have about the scene.
In the last square, draw a picture of an event from the scene.  

Shakespeare

You should all have a Shakespeare speaking Voki character on your blog!

Holiday Home Learning Due 17/10

Next term we are going to be learning about Shakespeare and study his play Romeo and Juliet.

During the holidays I want you to conduct research about Shakespeare (his life, his plays, the theatre they were performed in) and the times he lived in (what people believed, the political climate).
You can present your information however you choose, but it must display what you have learnt.

No home learning this week

And I am away at a funeral tomorrow, so please be lovely for the reliever.
I expect to see some decent looking newspapers when I turn up to work on Monday morning!

Magazine people: try get some work done on your pages if possible.  I've left the USB's in the glass on my desk.  Make sure they get returned and not left in the computers!

A few of you have essays that need to be handed in to me.  Please get the reliever to put them in the clear file pocket that they have with the lesson outline in it, so I can mark them on Monday.

One other thing, can you click on your blog title in your dashboard, go to settings in the menu on the left and in there click on 'posts and comments'.  In here, can you find where it says 'word verification' and change the setting to 'no' then save it.  It's really annoying having to type all the silly words out every time I want to leave a comment on your blogs.

Have a great weekend.

Reading Due 19/9

Find something to read.  What is it?  Tell me about it?  In at least 2 - 3 paragraphs.

I would love to hear about the latest books you are enjoying at the moment :)

You could always write another review on Goodreads and post the link to it up on your blog or as a comment below.

Screenr Lesson Due 12/9

This week I want you to use Screenr and teach people something that you can do on the computer.

It might be something like writing a blog post, using one of the web tools we've tried out, adding a video to your blog, creating a photo collage, using photoshop etc.  If you have an idea that you are unsure about, leave a comment about it and I will get back to you.

Make your screenr video and post it up on your blog - you can grab an embed code, just change the width to suit your blog (450 - 500 px will be good on most your blogs).  You need to talk and explain what you are doing.  You need to be professional - it should be something appropriate to show other teachers and students.

Usually in Year 11 you have to give a speech teaching the class something so think of it as practise for that!

Here's an example Screenr video I made to teach other staff about Moodle:

If you are having trouble, try using Jing or Screencast:
http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html
http://www.screencast.com/

I personally haven't used them, but they appear to be similar.


Thanks for your poems.  If you haven't got one up yet, please get onto that asap.  I will be entering them tomorrow (Thursday).
If you wrote about a current AC teacher the other week, I flicked them the link to your blog.  I hope you don't mind; they were very appreciative :) 

Write a poem for the NZATE Junior Writing comp. Due 5/9

This week for home learning you are to write a poem to enter into the NZATE Junior Writing (Poetry) Competition 2012

Write a poem of no more than 40 lines about an object in your house.
Suggestions: Choose an object and brainstorm everything you can about what it looks,
sounds, tastes, feels and smells like, where it came from, why you have it, what is the best/
worst thing about it, a memory associated with it, what you’d like to forget about it ...
....now use your brainstorm as the beginning for your poem and see where it takes you. 

Prizes:
The winner at each year level (Yr 9 and 10) wins $100 and their poem will be published
in the October issue of English in Aotearoa
The two runners-up at each level win $50 each.
I'll send your poems off to be entered into the competition - you just have to post them on your blogs.

Last week, a lot of you made silly mistakes in your writing.  Please check back and edit any incorrect grammar and spelling.  A lot of you didn't even do the home learning - get it typed up please.

Wallwisher and Your most inspiring teacher! Due 29/8

Most of you didn't update our Wallwisher which was last week's home learning.  It seriously takes 2mins max, so please do this.

This week's home learning is to nominate your most inspiring teacher for the Warehouse Stationery competition that is running.

On your blog: write about who you nominated and why.  Put forward your argument about why they should win.  This could be a couple of paragraphs, a thank you letter to them, a prezi presentation, a voki presentation, a glogster poster - it's really up to you :)

Update our Wallwisher

Apparently a website is being set up for the school library and the librarian would like to highlight good books on it.  So, this week for home learning can you please put up as many good books as you can think of on our Wallwisher.

http://wallwisher.com/wall/10IMNEnglish

Olympic Opinions Due Wk5 15/8

What sport to you think should / shouldn't be included in the Olympic Games?

Write a 2-3 paragraph essay explaining your opinion.  Use fact and evidence to back up your points.  Reference your material.

Here is a page with ideas to get you started.  You might want to look up what 'sports' were included in the past and are not now - for examples 'Windsurfing' will not be at the Olympic games after this year. You might also want to look up what has been considered for acceptance in the past.

Olympic Moments Due wk3 2/8

The greatest moment in Olympic history was.... because....

Using the start above, write a piece about the Olympic Games.  You will need to conduct some research and give your own opinion about events.


Some of you still need to get your subcard completed.  I will be checking these again on Friday.

Design a Subway Card Due 25/7

This week you need to put your static  image skills to use and design a Subway card.

Here's the link about the competition that is running: http://www.subway.tx.co.nz/tp/view/email/tep920j499873s4q66f1n9956241c10226332z

Design your card, enter it and then post up a pic of it on your blog.

Holiday Homework Due 1st Wednesday Term 3

Make a Movie!

You can do this by yourself, in pairs, a group - I don't mind.

You could make a movie about your holidays, re-make a music video, come up with your own script for a short film, make a mini documentary or a montage of photos to music (you can check out the pretty average videos that I have made for my blog on vimeo if you don't know what I mean).

It's easy to put together movies in Movie Maker, which is free to download.
Once you have made your movie upload it to You Tube or Vimeo - you can make it private so the rest of the world can't see it if you wish.

Grab the embed code for your video off the site you have uploaded it to and pop it onto your blog so I can check your awesome work.

Now, if you are having trouble with any of these things, let me know and I will try help out.  However, there are heaps of tutorials available on line.  Just use google.

Home Learning Week 8

I'm giving you a week off.  I am behind with marking your work (my sincerest apologies) and I don't think it is fair that I give you more to do when it won't be looked at.

You could use it to:

• Do your science fair projects.
• Read a book or magazine for your own enjoyment.
• Start up a blog on a topic you like, or keep a journal.
• Make me something nice.
• Learn French by podcast (coffee break French is quite good)
• Go for a walk or run.
• Find out what writing competitions are happening and enter them.
• Look up some of the 'instruction' posts done by other learners in the class this year and make something for your family.

Survey for you to complete

I have a survey I would like you to complete.  Just 10 questions.  Can you please try fill it out for me by Friday Week 8.

Click here to take survey

Thanks :)