Choose a Clip

Your job is to listen to the YouTube clips (yes, I mean listen to all of them), and decide which one is the most interesting and then explain why.

Review the assignment steps:

1. Listen to the four different YouTube clips
2. Decide which one is the most interesting and vote for that one
3. In the comments section of this blog, explain how you decided which clip is the most interesting
4. Your completed assignment is due: Thursday, December 5, 2013

YouTube clips

Thank You for a Wonderful Year

Thank you everyone for a memorable year!

I hope that you will all keep reading and writing this summer. Think about fun ways to use words, read fun books (you don't even have to take a test on the reading), write poetry, rap songs, stories, even essays if you are so inclined to.
You can always send your writings to me and I will be happy to read them.

I look forward to seeing all of you in September!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!

Mrs. T.

The End of the Semester

This semester is coming to an end. You have worked hard--or at least attempted to work hard. Now you only have a few days to make sure that everything that you have done and learned this semester, will show in your grades.

Here is your task:

1. Write what you have learned this semester. Be specific! (Nobody wants to read that you have learned "stuff.") Use academic English, not slang.
2. What is your next goal in learning English and becoming proficient in all the four domains: listening, reading, writing and speaking?
3. If you could choose two (2) questions for the final exam, what would they be? (they can be for either class)

       a. you can write two actual questions
       b. you can indicate which two types of questions and about which topics you
          would like to have questions in the final exam

Each of these three questions is worth five (5) points. Therefore, you can earn up to 15 points for this assignment for your 4th hour class. Your deadline is June 5, 2013 11:59 p.m.
                                                                                                                                 

Calling for Opinions and Responses

This quote by Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has surfaced again. Please read the quote and then give your opinion. Make sure to include your reasons when you write your opinion.

Here is the quote:

"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids," he says. "Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong (in out clothes), and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

Your deadline is Monday, May 20, 2013 11:59 p.m.
This post grade will go towards your 4th hour grade.

***Don't forget to spell check your post before submitting it!!***

P.S. In case you are wondering what Abercrombie & Fitch is, it is a clothing store at the mall.

What is social justice?

You could be writing an essay that deals with social justice. Where would you start? Do you even know what social  justice means?
Here is your opportunity to let the others in the class know your definition of social justice.
Maybe you will find the definition in a dictionary. Maybe you will definite it in your own words. Maybe one of you will give some examples of social justice that we can share with the rest of the class.

Your comments are due on Sunday, May 12, 2013 by 11:59 pm. This assignment will go towards your writing class grade.

Which character is most like you?

As we say goodbye to Romeo and Juliet and their families, think about yourself in the play: which character is the most like you? Or, if there is not a character that resembles you, create a character for yourself. Make sure that you explain which family you are part of, who are you most close related to, who are your friends, and most importantly: what kind of character you are?
If you were in the play, would you have changed the course of the events? How? Why? What would have been the end result?

Make sure you write your answer in the comment section
by Tuesday, May 7, 2013 11:59 p.m.

Your well crafted comment can be worth up to 10 points. Make sure to check your spelling before submitting your comment.

I look forward to reading your comments.

Mrs. T.

What is going on with Friar John?

What could Friar John have done to make sure that Romeo got the letter on time?
Is there anything that someone else could have done better?

Also, how would the story have changed, if Romeo had received the letter on time?

In the comments section, please write your reply. Make sure to use complete sentences in your writing.
Your assignment is DUE: Wednesday, April 24.2013 11:59 p.m.

This assignment is worth 10 points for your 4th hour class.

Smart Goals for the Last Quarter

Graphic by http://arcticcompass.blogspot.com/

The last quarter of this school year is beginning. There are only 9 and half weeks left!!! Imagine! That means there are only about 47 school days left!  So much can happen in that time.

What are your goals for this last quarter of the school year? Think about what you want to accomplish? Do you need a higher grade this quarter? Do you want to learn any specific skills? If so, what are they? Is there a deadline that you have to meet in order to accomplish these goals?

In the comment section, please write about your SMART goals for this quarter. Look at the graphic above: what does it mean for a goal to be smart? 

After everyone has had a chance to write their goals, let's find a way that we can help each other to meet those goals! If we work together, everyone can succeed!

Please write your goals by Tuesday, April 16, 2013 11:59 pm

Romeo and Juliet Part II

From Zeffirelli 1968

Here is a task for you:

Describe the first meeting between Nurse and Mercutio. Be specific. Give examples
Leave your response in the comment section.
Well crafted responses could earn extra credit. J

Your answers are due: April 10, 2013 by 11:59 pm.

Romeo and Juliet Part I

From Zeffirelli's film: Romeo and Juliet

Here is a question for you:

If you had to choose to be either Romeo or Juliet, which one would you be and why?

In the comment section, leave your response. Well crafted responses could earn extra credit J 

Your answer is due by Monday morning 8 am (on April 8, 2013).

My 6 Word Memoir

-Areej-

My 6 Word Memoir

-Salah-

Spring

Spring is my favorite season from the four seasons. I love it so much, because it come after winter , and it give alive  for everything  after  the winter killed  all the flowers, trees, and grass etc. when spring start, everything  start with beautiful and new life, full of clean air, and the flower’s beautiful smell, beside seeing the tree’s green leaves. That doesn't just for the plants and trees. That can be for human and animals too, both of them start with new fresh life. The most thing I like in spring is the smell which coming of the soil, I’m enjoying by smelling this beautiful smell. It’s really amazing season. I’m happy that spring is coming.

-Areej- 

Spring Break

This break my family is going to Pennsylvania expect me and my brother; we stay in the home.

I’m go with my brother to swim, go in my uncle and go in the mall to shopping.

Then I go in restaurant to eat dinner.

-Moe-

My Grandmother

When I was little kid my grandmother would play with me and give me games to play with. I go to my grandmother house every weekend. I go with my grandmother to shop. I go to swim and I go to the park with my family to make barbecue and we play in the park. After I eat I go to the mall to shop with my family, and I go after this to the home to do my homework.

-Mohammed A.-

My Favorite Player

Kevin Durant is 24 years old he plays for the OKC the Oklahoma City thunder. The OKC is one of the best teams in the NBA. They went to the finals last year but they lost to the heat all because of king James the devil hate him so much. I hope he goes to the final I’m 85% sure he will make it and beat whatever team faces them. I’m wishing that he wins the NBA final but it’s going to be hard for him because he has to face lots of hard unlike the east there’s clippers and Lakers it’s going to be hard but I have feeling that he could make it. Why I like him? Because his great player the first I watched him I just had feeling that he was the best until today I am his number one Fan.

-Abdilahi-

Spine Poems Part 2

Here are some of the other spine poems created by students in class!

I Love You Mom

When I see you my body retrieves his soul

and on myself I lose control
.
When I see you I can't help not looking into your eyes

Because seeing their brightness are moments of joy that I can't deny

When I see you I can't wait to hold you tight

because with you by my side I feel that everything is alright.

You are the person who I can never get enough of his love

I love you mom

 

-Masa-



Spine poems part 1

These are spine poems that students did last week in preparation to put them on the blog. This is our first attempt in creating spine poems. 

The Universal Language

Maybe i dont speak the language you speak

 

maybe i dont understand greek

maybe i dont know how to preapare a chineese meal

maybe i dont know how to make a business deal

maybe i dont know the area of the earth

but i sure know your emotions worth

no matter what language you speak

no matter what food you eat

no matter what do you believe in

or what are your dreams

you will always have emotions to share

thats why i call emotions the universal language

-Zafer-

Sunny Day

 

 

 

 

Yesterday it was a sunny day

It’s in the middle of May

We are going to cedar point

With brothers and cousins

We leave home at 8 A.M

And get home at 7 P.M

I ride most of the rides

Like power tower and dragster

I get dizzy and start walking like a drunk man

We go eat after riding scary rides

Then get home and

Wanting to sleep

Until my birthday in July

 

 

 -Yahya-

 

 

 

 

I wish, I want, I need

I need to be organized

I need to focus on school 

I need good job to feed my family

I need good college degree

I need to live my life

 

I wish was not ESL student

I wish I go to good college

I wish I get married

I wish to become more religious

I wish my wife lovely 

 

I want to be one of the richest guys on the world

I want to get money for college

I want to get kids

I want to become a PA

I want smart kid that doesn’t give me hard time on school

 

 

-Salah-

My Future

I'll finish high school.

Then I'll go to college to be a dentist, because this is my dream since I was a little girl.

 I want to achieve my dream to be a dentist.

 But, I have a problem with that. I'm afraid of everything about medicine.

When I see blood or any surgery even in TV I feel like I will throw up. I have a weak heart.

 But I'll try to be a dentist, it's my dream.

 

-Areej-

 

A World of Silence

I want to live a day of dominated silence

A day of overcastting quietness.

Escape the world noise.

Avoid painful criticizing swords.

A world where all I can hear is the sound of my steps.

Where I can shout out my thoughts without any regrets.   

 

Rip all the maps people had drawn for my future.                                                

To stop feeling like I am a controlled creature.

To see the world from my view not through people's eyes.

To make my own decisions and learn how to take a decisive stands.

Because I want to color my life with my own crayons.

And to have faith in myself which will help me carry on.

 

-Masa-

Love

Let’s forget about the world and think about today
let’s be the one who doesn’t care what people say
let’s be close and take our love to a hideaway
don’t be afraid I’ll be there when ever you want me to stay
let’s cooperate together and break the fear away
I promised you that I will never walk away
you will be in my heart forever no matter when people cast you away
let’s make everything soft  like a waterway
I want you to be happy everyday
so we can celebrate today like it’s your birthday
hold me tight so I will be stuck on your way
do you know what will happen if you leave me and go away?
I will lay in my tomb wasting away
I really love you in a crazy way 

-Yara-

Is Family the Most Important Thing?

How can we change a country that's made of madness?

Is it easier to make the people share happiness?

It's beautiful day why we care about dying.

We should sit with the family and say the truth without lying.

It's a beautiful life we have to enjoy it to the max.

We don't have to hurt our mind with paying tax.

Should I take my family's opinion in everything?

The family is the most amazing gift and we can't compare it to any other thing.

-Mohammed B.-

I Remember

I remember my last day in Palestine.

I remember the tears in my eyes

I remember the last view of Palestine in my eyes

I remember my 3 days in Jordan that I spend with Mohamed

I remember the fights that I and Mohamed had

I remember my first minute in America

I remember all of my uncials waiting for us at the airport

I remember first time seeing new cousins    

I remember new language, new friends and new cousins.

   

I need a car as fast as a light

I need a car that doesn't waste a lot of gas

I need a cheap car for middle class people

I need a car that has technology

I need a big house for all of my family

I also need a big garage for my car

I want to go to Palestine

I want to see my family and friends

I want to visit all the places that I missed

I want to see my grandpa’s grave

I want to visit my old house that I became Yahya in

I also want to visit my old school and see all of my teachers and friends.

-Yahya-

The Most Beautiful thing in the world

The Most Beautiful thing in the world is the clouds.  I could look at them for days without stopping I love the way clouds move and get together. The sun looks amazing I hate when thunderstorms are surrounded by clouds. I wonder how clouds feel about thunderstorms do they hate them. I feel like the clouds dance and change places when I look at them they’re running away from something and I wonder if it’s the thunderstorms. Once I was sitting outside and looking at the clouds for 20 minutes straight it was amazing. All I can say is clouds are the best and most beautiful thing on this world. 

-Abdilahi-

My Favorite Class

I like math because I like solving equations.

I like math because I have a great teacher.

I like math because I like graphing.

I like math because math doesn’t have a lot of memorizing.

I like math because I can understand it in Arabic, so I can understand math in English.

I like math because it’s easier than history.

I like math because it keeps my attention.

I like math because I need math every where.

I really like math ….. J J J

-Areej-

Surprise Party

            In May 1, 2011 my brother graduated from College. It was the best day for him. I never saw him happy like that day before. He graduated from the University of Michigan, which is my future college. He graduated as an engineer. On May first we went to his graduation and we mad my sisters make a surprise party for him. We wanted to have a fun dessert party. After the graduation we went to my brother’s favorite restaurant.

 So, I was thinking the surprise party was going to be boring without family and friend. I called all the family members and friends to come over and surprise him. The women went to my cousin’s house. The party was all ready and the house was all decorated. His friends were coming over so I told them to keep the lights off and park their cars on another street. As he walked in he got surprised, he was thankful to us who set it up. He worked hard so he deservesthe surprise party.

My brother on his graduation day.

My Dreams

I am a 17 year old in my junior year.

All I dream about is to graduate from school.

But actually, I’m really worried about my collage; like I don’t know what major I would prefer.

My mom wants me to become a pharmacist because of its really huge and successful future;

Also because she is a pharmacist so she wants someone to complete what she had done !!

Maybe it's too early to think about these things now, but sometimes when I sit alone and start to
think about my future I got really confused ..

 I feel like I have to decide sooner or later

I don’t know why it’s just keep floating in my mind

everybody told me that I should have no worries

eventually I will agree with them …

However, I would never give up my dreams.

-Yara-

Yemen

 

Yemen is the place where people love each other

Yemen is the place that you can find all kind of different cities

Yemen is the place that you can see

the green lands and the deserts

Yemen is the place that has two seas

 and beautiful islands

Yemen is the place that you can find real friends

 that will stay with you in horrible situation

Yemen is a great place to live in

 

In Yemen people help each other and they treat each other like brothers

In Yemen there are some cities that you can’t stand the warm weather and some cities you wish u can repeat yesterday because of its beauty

In Yemen there are cities that’s beautiful with the desert and some are beautiful with the sea

In Yemen you can go to two amazing seas

In Yemen there’s one of the most beautiful islands in the world

In Yemen You will find the real friends that will be with you in all kind of situations

That’s the beautiful Yemen

 

-MBA-

 

Masa's Sonnet #1

The deadly sorrow in her glory eyes

Dew drops were all over her rosy cheeks

Her glossy black hair shelters her neck scars.

Wearing that majestic dress as the Greeks

Her lament dragged me  into world of grief 

If only I could know what's her secret 

A story of what she's been through in brief

Would get my eyes off her tight jail bracelet 

Abusing husband, was not expected

What an awful crime against humanity 

A fair judgment is to get asserted 

Respecting people is morality 

Don't slave people, They were born to be free

That's what all humans need to clearly see

-Masa-

It is All Potential

Maybe its not about time management, maybe its not about developing the right skills, maybe its not about planning, maybe its about our past !

Maybe we only need to remind ourselves of the accomplishments we achieved, and how it ended up being who we are.

Maybe motivation comes from reminding ourselves with our past and somehow create an image in our minds, an image that shows how we feel about the desirable results in future.

A lot of people think that lack of motivation is because they don't have goals, or there is not enough time, no confidence, and the excuses go on and on.

But i have realized that its not about goals, time, or even confident, because i believe that we have it all, somewhere in our hearts, its all in there but its only potential.

Maybe we need an outer force to fire our inner potential, our passion in life.

-Zafer-



Schools in Jordan

 

I’m from Jordan. in Jordan we have an elementary and we have a Secondary School. Both boys and girls go to the same elementary school and the classrooms are mixed. In Secondary School the girls attend in the morning, and the boys came in the afternoon. Female teachers teach the girls, and male teachers teach the boys, but we have the same subject and books.

In college everything is the same; building, teachers, subject, and the same opportunities.

-Areej-

Summer Dreams

Summer dreams

For my dreams I would love to go to Californian and watch the Lakers basketball game. I would love to meet Kobe Bryant and watch him play and see some of his moves. it would be interesting. Then I would love to go to London and go around the city and see the big Ben clock and the guards around. I would visit the queen’s house and talk to her and have good time and then go see one the best football teams in London Manchester united and see them play even meet rondo. Then I would go eat the best food in the world and watch Netflix and repeat everything again and again I hope all my dreams come true one day.

-Abdilahi-

My Favorite Food--Arabic Pizza

My favorite food was what my aunt used to do for me and my cousin. It is Arabic pizza. It was made using an outdoor oven. You put rocks under a pizza stone and you put the pizza dough on the pizza stone. Then you put the pizza in the oven over the rocks that were heated by wood. The toppings on t he pizza were tomato and olives, cheese, mushrooms, onions and olive oil. The oven was on her backyard and her backyard was in front of my house. I used to go eat pizza at least twice a week after school. We used to leave school at 11 am and sometimes at 12pm. When my aunt used to bake bread, she used to call me to go and get it for us. When I came to America I missed the pizza that she made for me.

-Yahya-

Freedom

Freedom

Freedom is the right to escape from the problems and the lives issues, as many people think. Freedom in the view of philosophers is the write to live in peace and not worry about others misbehaves. Moreover, being free is the feeling that guarantees the person self stability and some confidence.

 Also, money can accomplish freedom to many people; however, it doesn’t guarantee you it. As once said, "all that money stuff was so strange; all it ever meant to me was freedom from worry. I'm happier now than I've ever been but I still wish I had that money" (Dana Plato).

Politically speaking, many people figure freedom after the governments misbehave, corner resources, or reserve the people’s rights. Many countries have faced this issue in the last couple of years. Starting with Syria where the need of freedom, privacy, and true government that cares about its people was totally missing. Passing by Italy where an effective government that puts people’s rights before politicians wants was wanted.

 Freedom may have many faces but the bottom line is: only one conclusion serves this valuable word; the right to live with no barriers.

-MBA-

My Favorite Food

             My favorite food is FOOL which is mad of kidney beans. The best drink with it is black tea. Usually on Friday morning I get up and I go to pray at the mosque at 5:30. It’s so early. After we are done with the prayer we—the boys—would hang out for an hour until the sun comes up. Then we would gather and we make teams, so we can go and play soccer.
             When we are done, we are all exhausted.  There is this small restaurant that makes the best kidney beans. They are not expensive, I would ask my friends how much money they have in their pockets. We would then go there and we put our money in the table and we order the same thing that we order over and over kidney beans and black tea with white Arabic bread. We have to wait long time until the order comes. After that we eat the kidney beans and we get our energy back. And I hope you like my favorite food story.         

-Salah-

My word for 2013

2013 had just begun!!!
I wanted to make this year different from the other so I tried to pick a word to help me and lead me through every issue I have a problem with

My word was FAITH why I picked this word!? Actually I have no idea but the thing that I was 100% sure of that when you have faith that you can handle all your barriers alone I can assure you that you will stand for it!!

Having a FAITH in everything made my life so much easier
for example I was really afraid from my exam thing but when I collocate my brain and have a FAITH that if I study well nothing going to obstruct my way to my aims
So why don’t you try to sort and clean your minds and start a fresh new believe me
its going to help you through every single problem you have!!

-Yara-

I wish I can get back to that time

I wish I can get back to that time

when walking and climbing the chair was the biggest struggle,

and all I can hear was the sound of my endless giggle.

When the ultimate joy was playing and pulling that fake gun trigger.

When the only reason I loved going to school was to get that star sticker;

And 2+2 was all I wanted to figure.

But as life goes on, everything starts to change and get tougher.

And the chair is no longer the trouble.

And you may go through moments of hysterical pressure;

That make your life grimmer.

But here come the great memories to shine on it and make it glitter. 

-Masa-

A tear, A smile, And the Guitar

A tear, A smile, And the Guitar

Sam was playing his acoustic guitar in his room; it was dark, with only one candle lightening the room. He was playing a song called Romance by Jeux Interdits. He was playing with all his emotions, every string he plucked, every note he played, he felt it.

When Sam is upset because of anything, as soon as he returns back to his home, he goes to his room, closes the door, turns the light off and starts playing.

He started playing guitar when he was ten years old that means twenty years ago. Ever since his passion about guitar became restless, guitar became his life.

When Sam finished the song he closed his eyes, and the seconds became hours, his breath whispered with a steady rhythm, his left hand still hanging on the fretting neck, ready to play the notes, and his right hand ready to pluck the strings.

As he opened his eyes, he felt nothing and everything at the same time, he only felt his heart beat.

He hugged the guitar as if he would hug a baby, as if he wanted to hug him so tight but he didn't want to hurt him.

Sam felt a tear coming out of his right eye followed by a smile.

Sam stood up and placed the guitar on the wall, blew up the candle, and lay on his bed, with one tear and a smile; he finally slept.

-Zafer-