Class on 3/29/12

Reminders:
No Class on April 5th and No Class on April 12th.
Do some lab hours and visit the Learning Center at least once.

Summary of Class Activities
Class practiced use of don't in context of foods they like and dislike.

Whole class review of Quiz #2

Whole class discussion and celebration of 2 examples of successful paragaraphs. Student re-wrote paragraphs individually.

The instructor demonstrated the grades so far and the documentation of missing assignments.

Homework:

Write a paragraph about Patty Smith Hill (page 26) or about the history of Kindergarten in the US (pages 24 and 25). Study the last of the Common Irregular Verbs (from 1/2 sheet).  Possible activity with a Tutor? Write a sentence for each verb on the list and read aloud with the tutor and have the tutor correct and you re-write sentences.

Class on 3/22/12

Students practiced individually writing sentences with our past tense verb list. Sentences were shared with the whole class and discussions on the synonyms of hear, here (and the similarities of heard, hurt, herd) were discussed. Class also discussed the phenomonen of hording or being a horder.

The instructor highlighted two good examples of recent paragraphs. Then returned corrected paragraphs and students did re-writes in class.

Students took Irregular Verb Quiz # 2

Homework:
Read about Patty Smith Hill on page 26 (don't have the book yet? Then google some information):
Be prepared to write a paragraph next Thursday about Patty Smith Hill, or the Kindergarten information form pages 24 and 25.

Class on 3/15/2012

Work place phrases: Students wrote sentences asking a hypothetical boss to leave early. Instructor wrote some examples on the board and made connections to last weeks "excuses for being late." Whole class discussed the need for clear assertive language and how this language is often different from formal and "polite" language.

Instructor discussed the successes of some students in writing a paragraph on Rousseau and his grading/marks on all homework. Instructor made it clear that all paragraphs without a check plus" had to be re-written. Also some students were instructed to work directly with a tutor. Corrected paragraphs and Quizzes were returned to students. Common errors on quizzes were explained.

Students practiced pronunciation of 2nd set of common irregular past tense verbs (middle row of half sheet given to students 4 weeks ago). Students then wrote 3 sentences about themselves that answered the following question: What accomplishments did you have in the past year?

Sentences were read and corrected by the instructor and re-distributed to other students. The instructor then explained that each person had the "text" of another student. They have to write a paragraph about that person's accomplishments. They can quote one time but must re-write the other 2 accomplishments/sentences.


Homework:

Write a paragraph about your compañera or a friend (see paragraph above).

Study the 2nd set of past tense verbs (there will be a quiz)

Read page 23 to 25 on Kindergarten (don’t read Patty Smith Hill) and there will be one quiz question on this reading too.     

Class on 3/8/2012

Warm up Exercise: Scenario: your boss asks you: "Why were you late?"Individuals tried to write 5 good excuses. Later some answers were volunteered and written on the board. The instructor corrected some sentences for grammar. After a dozen examples the class discussed their strengths (note: all were assumed to be true statements). Some themes from discussion included that strong answers needed to be conventional:
"My alarm clock did not go off" is better then " My alarm clock did not ring."
Traffic was terrible" is stronger than "Traffic was very heavy."
Also strong answers blamed inanimate issues outside of the person. "The person I carpool with was late" is stronger than "My sister picked me up late."

Students took their first Quiz on common simple past tense verbs.

Class discussed the lab hours that are due at the end of the semester. Students turned in their paragraphs on Rouseau.

Whole class offered up a question for the instructor. The teacher then created a paragraph and then the students critiqued it to see if it had all the elements of a paragraph that the class has been practicing.

Students then formed small groups to discuss the following question. The small groups tried to out line or write sentence but not to attempt a paragraph. What important topics were discussed last night in Mr Palma's class? The instructor circulated to see how groups were progressing

Homework: Take the ideas discussed and write a paragraph to answer the same questions (in bold above).

Class on 3/1/2012

Homework: Write a Paragraph about Rouseau

Class on 2/23/12

Whole class listened to instructor model pronunciation of Maria Montessori paragraphs. Students practiced reading out loud in pairs the pages on Montessori. Individuals contributed their sentences on Montessori. Whole class practiced a paragraph together.

Whole class took a tour of the Learning Center. They learned about the importance of signing in, how to make an appointment for a tutor (ESL tutors are available for one-on-one help 5 days a week!)

Individuals attempted paragraphs by themselves on Locke.


Homework: Read page 16 on Rouseau. Write 4 sentences (only one can be a quote). If you are ready put your 4 sentences in paragraph form. 

Class on 2/16/12

Students recounted sentences about what they did over the weekend while the instructor placed the verbs they used into two categories: irregular and regular simple past tense verbs. The instructor also pointed out that verbs ending in the letter T and D are pronounced with an extra syllable when the "-ed" is added to the end of the verb. Students then wrote their own simple past tenses and shared example with the whole class.

Instructor passed back corrected autobiographical paragraphs. He demonstrated (two scanned examples) how two paragraphs were edited/corrected and explained typical references that are used. The importance of making mistakes was reinforced and also the importance of rereading and REWRITING corrected work. Students then worked independently to re-write their paragraphs.

Students then wrote a paragraph based of the following questions. "What did you do last Saturday?" The instructor reinforced how to turn the question into a statement and student were asked to use the instructor first sentence example as their own. The instructor circulated to make sure that students understood the assignment, used the assigned first sentence and that they indented the first sentence.

The instructor prepared the students that next week would include a "Field Trip" to the Learning Center.

Homework: Read page 18 and 19 about Montessori. Write 4 sentences about this important educational pioneer. 2 sentences can be quotes (copied from the book but with quote marks) but 2 sentences must be in your own words.