Welcome Back!

Hi Everyone,

Hope you had a great day!

Remember to get your 4 dividers for your binder (labelled) and have your parents sign the form for class expectations.

What a wonderful group - I can't wait to get to know you better!  To our returning students - it was so good to see you again - I would love to hear more about your summer!

Any problems with your technology or transportation - come and see me and we will get it sorted out.

TED-ED - a new way to learn English!

We have watched various TED talks.  TED-ED offers videos for students.   On your own time, watch these and try the questions.  I will add more as we go!

http://ed.ted.com/on/aMyB5lJX

http://ed.ted.com/on/gxXKia8i 

Chicken or the Egg?

If I had a Million Dollars....

This was one of the most popular songs when I was a teen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXdFTh1yX2c

The conditional tense is one of my most favourite tenses to use in writing!   It is full of possibility!   “A conditional sentence expresses a condition that leads to, or does not lead to, a specific result.” (Gallagher, 2009, p.116).  The way I like to think of the conditional sentence is this; If _____, then _____ will (or will not) happen.

The conditional sentence follows the basic structure of subordinator + subject+ verb (+rest of clause).  It is good to remember that “different types of conditional sentences express differences in time (present, future, past) and differences in degree of reality or truth” (Gallagher, 2009, p.116).

I am finding in writing,  some students are having some difficulty using the conditional tense.   Please review these little exercises and try the quiz.   We will have our own little quiz at the end of this week (hint!  hint!)
Remember:

If you study, you will do well!
Don't be the one to say:

If I had studied,  I would have gotten a perfect mark!  

Give these exercises a try:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/first-conditional-exercise-1.html

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/second-conditional.html

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/second-conditional-exercise-1.html

What would YOU do with a million dollars??

Book Club Meeting #3

Periods 3 and 4 - Here are the questions for the next meeting.   

Meeting #3:

1. Choose a character in the novel to compare and contrast with a character from another text that you have read, who is similar or deals with similar circumstances. Explain how they are similar and dissimilar.
2. Is it possible to create real change in a person?  Which characters change throughout the novel?  What is the overall goal of the author in creating this change of character?
3. What is the significance of the title? Create a title of your own.
4. What are the themes of the book? Write them as theme statements.
5. Find 2 quotes from the book that support your choice of theme.   Why are these quotes important to the theme development?  
6. Using the Q-Chart as your guide to higher level thinking questions, create 2 questions for your group. Prepare your answers, but share them only after each member has had a chance to answer the question.

Opinion Writing

Hope you had a super day!
Period 2:   Read 20 minutes a night on Raz Kids or Newsela. Study your spring words.
http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz_intermediate.php?id=4659

Everyone- Try this little listening quiz about Easter!  You can show me your mark next week!  

Period 3 and 4:you could work on your opinion essay, and I have put another fast quiz up on Socrative for those doing the literacy test. It DOESN'T count on your report card - it is just for practice - but it would be a good idea to do it. Code: ESL210

We will do book club next week after the literacy test. Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!!!

 If you haven't already - Watch these little videos about writing an opinion piece and make notes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaT1T9ObyLY

Watch this video and fill in the graphic organizer:

https://sites.google.com/a/ocsb.ca/grade9english/text-forms/opinion-writing

Here are some tips for writing your opinion essay.

https://docs.google.com/a/ocsb.ca/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=b2NzYi5jYXxncmFkZTllbmdsaXNofGd4OjE1ZTUzZTlhOTU5MW

Now- you are ready to write!!

Book Club #2, Discussion Questions

Here are the questions for Meeting #2.   Your answers for last meeting were excellent - these are a little more challenging.  Start using sticky notes or make notes as you read to find evidence from the text.  Good luck!

Meeting #2:

1. What is most surprising in the novel so far? Why?
2. What are the power dynamics between the characters? How are they established? Do you think this will change?
3. Choose a quote that stands out to you as important to the novel. Explain why you think it is important.
4. How does the author use language in the novel?  What is the overall effect?  How does the language shape the novel?
5. Using the Q-Chart as your guide to higher level thinking questions, create 2 questions for your group. Prepare your answers, but share them only after each member has had a chance to answer the question.

Writing a News Article on the OSSLT!

After reading so many Newsela articles, you are all now very familiar with newspaper articles and their format.   For those writing the OSSLT, please watch these videos over the break AND MAKE NOTES TO SHOW ME.  The internet has been up and down at school, and these will really help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_NmVtnEEA8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANpGZtpyc7k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNJCSnntvDE

Now try your own article with one of these photos!

Getting ready for our first Book Club meeting!

I am so impressed with your incredible reading!  You all seem very interested in your books.  We will set reading goals at our first meeting.  Here is how you can come prepared.

Prior to each meeting:

• Students are expected to prepare point form notes to answer the assigned questions based on their reading.  Use the bookmark provided by Mrs. B
• Each student is to create her own 2 questions for discussion, with his/her answers. (Share with me on Google Drive) 

•  Avoid literal/factual knowledge based questions that involve remembering without understanding, analysis, or evaluation.  (see the Q chart below)

Meeting #1 - ___:

1. What scene is the most impactful? Why?
2. Find a quote online (or from a text) that relates to the novel.   What connections can you make between the quote and the novel. (text to text, text to self, text to world, text to media)
3. Which character is the most interesting? Why?
4. Making predictions - what do you think will happen next?  Why?
5. Using the Q-Chart as your guide to higher level thinking questions, create 2 questions for your group. Prepare your answers, but share them only after each member has had a chance to answer the question.

Reading Strategy:  Questioning!   We have been learning about the importance ofquestioning.  Effective readers ask questions all the time when they are reading.  Asking questions helps you to understand what is happening in the text.
In class, we have been using a “Q Chart”.   This is a grid containing various question starters.   By using these question starters, we have identified which types of questions would be hand-type questions (a question that you can find the answer to right on a page in the text) or a higher level thinking question, or a brain-type of question.  These types of questions require a reader to use information that they find in the text ANDtheir own ideas to develop an effective answer.
Below is a copy of the Q chart.    When you are reading, what are some questions that you can develop about your book?

Socrative

Period 3 and 4 - Sorry for the internet issues today.  The Socrative quiz is now up and running - ESL210.   This goes with the Newsela article - Teens find support in dealing with anti-Muslim bullying.  Good Luck!
Watch this video:  Strategies for completing multiple choice questions on the OSSLT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSV5nKxZ01k

Period 2 - try a Newsela article and a quiz.  Pick any one that looks interesting! 

Global Oneness Project

In what ways do you celebrate diversity? 
What is diversity to you? Does diversity matter?
What happens when you have it? What happens when you don't?

With a partner, view the following photo essay.

https://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/photo-essays/belief

Questions for homework:

· Does diversity matter? What would happen without diversity? 

· What are some ways diversity can be respected? 

· If you were asked to rename this photo essay, what title would you give it? 

· If you were a judge for a photo contest that celebrates diversity, which of these images do you think would be the winning photograph? Why? 

Now pick two of your responses above and give a detailed answer using the  ROPES

strategy. (On a separate piece of paper)

Remember:  Students who were absent are responsible for work missed. 

February is Black History Month

Learn about the Underground Railway:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/index.htm

Begin the Journey and follow the route.  You can press Listen if you want to hear the information at each stop.

Read about the Underground Railway:
http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/underground_railroad.php

Then take this quiz:
http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/underground_railroad_questions.php

Learn more about Harriet Tubman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amGRYf2ComY

Watch this Heritage Minute about the Underground Railroad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RLEE0ENHoI

Learn more about William Hall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44bDMiZiyTk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaLgZV9VnKM


Learn more about Viola Desmond:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GZn1QdhafM

Learn about the origins of Black History Month in the United States:

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month

Happy Valentine's Day! The History of Valentines. Video Listening Activity!

Sunday is Valentine's Day!   A day to tell the people close to us that we love them.

Listen to the History of Valentine's and try the quiz.  Let Mrs. B. know how you do!


http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz_high_intermediate.php?id=10436


http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz_high_intermediate.php?id=4114


http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/valentinesday/listening/history-of-valentines-day.html

Brighten someone's day - send an animal ecard!  Or write a letter telling someone special how much you appreciate them.  That means a lot!

http://online.nwf.org/site/PageNavigator/ecards?id=52

Figurative Language:  We talked about Similes comparing love to an object at home.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!   Can you find a song that compares love to another object?

Should Kids Play Football?

We have watched Superbowl commercials and discussed which were the most effective.

Period 2:  Action Magazine:  http://action.scholastic.com/issues/09_07_15/book#/22

Read page 23.  Do you think Kids should play football?

Period 3 and 4:  Read this article about Students playing football.  Then complete the quiz and pros and cons chart.



https://drive.google.com/a/ocsb.ca/file/d/0B6uajOWP-Qm9bGNZRHNDbVRPUGM/view?usp=sharing

Superbowl Commercials! Some of the best ever!

In class today we talked a little bit about football.  For many of you, your sport of "football" is kicking the soccer ball.  Here in North America, football is used with this kind of ball:

This weekend is the Superbowl - a huge football game in the United States,  which millions of people watch.   It is also the biggest day of the year for advertising!  The Superbowl is famous for the incredible commercials!   Whether you watch the football or not, take a look at some of these very famous ads. (They are the part that I like!)   They are great for ESL.  Some use very little language, but still get across a very effective message.   We will talk about them on Monday.  Who is the intended audience?  What advertising techniques are used to sell the product?  Which one do you like best?  Why?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPKgC8KPBMg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRpPAibi_ck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xffOCZYX6F8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ZnwjTxLnw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDb-7DY3CjU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Ep0O5fWN4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFxzDwjsj-A

Read, Write, Rock!

http://www.readwriterock.com/main.html

Check out this website - try the reading activities.  This is a fun way to prepare for the Literacy Test!  Something to do on those nights you don't have homework!