Posted on May 20, 2008 by Carol
You all should find some time to read while school is out. That way you can read fun stuff. You can become a better reader, AND you can go away to a new world of your choosing. Ask your teacher if you may participate in Unbound Summer Reading. If you post a comment about the book (or maybe even books) you read, maybe you will get extra credit and start next year with bonus points in English or Reading. Even if you don’t get points, come along with us. Read, write, and hear from someone in cyberspace.
To tell us about your book, click the little blue “comments” link just below this post. Tell what you read and why you liked it. Ask questions, criticize, quote, praise.
If you click on the Summer Reading tab, you will find lists of books, and links to lists of books. Or just find your own. Librarians love summer readers. Used book stores have inexpensive books. Friends or relations might want to lend you a book. You can even find books online! Like
Project Gutenberg @ http://www.promo.net/pg/,
Etext @ http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/subjects/Young-Readers.html,
Bartleby.com @ http://www.bartleby.com/ and
The Internet Public Library @ http://www.bartleby.com/.
Who knew?
Filed under: Home base | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 18, 2008 by Carol
I am supposed to be calculating grades and putting together student folders. (All due TOMORROW.) I am getting to it, really. But I noticed that I haven’t posted in forever, and I thought, “Oh No!” I am neglecting the blog!!! This is an emergency. Plus, I found an exciting summer reading list for teens, which will be included in the Reading section soon. (Probably today, since I have hours and hours before tomorrow.)
Am I not excellent at avoidance?
What’s your strategy?
Even more important, what is the strategy you non-procrastinators use to … well… to NOT procrastinate?
In hopes that the District will suddenly announce that we don’t have to post grades, I am wishing everybody a happy & safe last day of school. 
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Posted on April 30, 2008 by Carol
Time to stop complaining and get back to the good stuff.
Look what Edutopia showed me!!
I put this on the Science and Math pages although there is help for writing as well.
Wow, I love the Internet!
Thank you Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and Edutopia.org.
Highlights for High School. This is Massachusetts Institute of Technology! Open for you. Including Build Stuff | Save the World | Write Better | Labs | Competitions | Demonstrations on Video. http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm
Or if you’re really serious visit the main OpenCourseWare site at http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
Filed under: Latest favorite | Tagged: math, MIT, science, writing | No Comments »
Posted on April 29, 2008 by Carol
Today was the NCLB-mandated standardized test for math, so, once again, I sat in my student’s home while she worked on, and on. And on. Sixty questions. Although she is too ill to go to school, she is a cheerful and philosophical soul. She’s also extremely bright, so my docile compliance with state testing requirements isn’t as painful as it often can be. Read more »
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Posted on April 18, 2008 by Carol
We are getting ready for the last of our TAKS administrations for the school year. (I was going to say the last of how many, but I can’t count that high. ) TAKS is our attempt to comply with the NCLB assessment requirements.
You may be one of the 5 or so people who aren’t affected and don’t have any idea what an exciting and all-encompassing event this is. So, today, I thought I would write about what it looks like from my point of view. Read more »
Filed under: Home base | Tagged: NCLB, standardized testing, TAKS | 2 Comments »
Posted on April 5, 2008 by Carol
Today I discovered Everyday Mysteries at http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/ . It has a lot of science (kind of) questions already answered and organized by subject. (For example, “Why do bats live in caves?”)
It also has a link to the Ask a Librarian service of the Library of Congress. From here, you can find out almost anything, if you’re tenacious enough. So, go forth and seek knowledge!
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Posted on April 3, 2008 by Carol
On April 4th, 1968, the the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
I would like us to honor the day, and learn about this man who changed America, so I am posting some links.
The first link is to the speech, “I have been to the mountaintop” speech. When I listen now, I feel as if he was prophesying his own death. Of course, it is also a moving, splendid example of rhetorical power:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm
This link is to the famous “I Have a Dream speech. It’s good to listen to this one again, remember that the dream is not accomplished yet, and pledge ourselves to fight for justice wherever and whenever we can.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
BBC has a fine account of the assassination, and links to more information: Read more »
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Posted on March 30, 2008 by Carol
Here we come again. Are you ready? Don’t forget what Merlyn had to say about learning
Sir Ector has given me a glass of canary,” said the Wart, “and sent me to see if you can’t cheer me up.”
“Sir Ector,” said Merlyn, “is a wise man.”
“Well,” said the Wart, “what about it?”
“The best thing for being sad,” replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing to do then - to learn.
Read more »
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Posted on March 23, 2008 by Carol
Some of my friends say that I should just goof off and indulge myself during this break. And I have been. A lot. But now, here I am. I’m playing with the blog - again - and I can’t decide if I’m indulging myself or if this is work. (sort of). I found some new sites, Science and Social Studies ones. They were so interesting and unusual that I just had to add them to the pages.
You remember THE PAGES. Up above. Where you can go all over and find out all kinds of stuff. It’s okay to learn something, even over Spring Break.
[Watch out, she's getting philosophical here]
Isn’t it fortunate that I can indulge my obsession (passion?) as a part of my profession? Read more »
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Posted on March 14, 2008 by Carol
Woops, I got carried away and linked to a district site. YIKES! I still think this library is the greatest, but have now deleted the link.
I still maintain that the M___ H___ S___ Library and it is the GREATEST library, and you know who you are!
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