Summer Reading Assignment

Junior Reading List Read THREE books total.
1. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
2. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

3. Choose one:
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, OR
Hiroshima by John Hersey


Assignment:
Select a book from each number under the appropriate grade level.
Reading Log: Every 1-3 chapters write a reflection in your composition notebook journal. Reflections should be around 1-3 pages and should address the following questions:

o What is going on in this chapter(s)?
o What issues and/or conflicts are presented in this chapter(s)book?
o What questions do I have?
o Make a personal connection to what you have read thus far.

Contact Mr. Paul mrpaulenglish@gmail.com with questions.

Summer Reading Assignment

Junior Reading List Read THREE books total.
1. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
2. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

3. Choose one:
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, OR
Hiroshima by John Hersey


Assignment:
Select a book from each number under the appropriate grade level.
Reading Log: Every 1-3 chapters write a reflection in your composition notebook journal. Reflections should be around 1-3 pages and should address the following questions:

o What is going on in this chapter(s)?
o What issues and/or conflicts are presented in this chapter(s)book?
o What questions do I have?
o Make a personal connection to what you have read thus far.

Rubric for Doomsday Project

Podcasting and Skype

Good Morning class!

Below I have attached a podcast I made which teaches how to set up a Skype account. While we do not use Skype at school for many reasons, feel free to use this to set up your home computers with an account- it's free video conferencing for PC or Mac.

I learned a lot about Skype and podcasting by trying out Garageband. Feel free to see me if you would like to do your project as a Podcast.

Doomsday scenarios

Students will create a research based presentation on one issue that they worry about.
Examples: Swine flu/pandemic flu, 2012, sunspots/sun exploding, nuclear war, biological warfare, food/water shortage, global warming, bee extinction, etc.

Presentations should include: text, media (audio/videos), effects (animations) and viduals (photos, charts, graphs)

1. Facts behind the hype
2. Likelihood of this scenario happenig
3. Preparedness
4. Prevention

Pandemic Flu- Get the Facts

Research Budget / Taxes /Services

Choose one area from Phila Budget Challenge and research the PROS and CONS of each argument (raising taxes or cutting services).

Create a Powerpoint or Pages presentation which discusses the various issues involved, as well as a definition of your topic and place it in teh larger budget (If X is cut by y% , then Z will affect a, b, and c).

Balanced Budgets

Objectives:
Students will understand the basics of revenue and expenditures for our city government
Students will attempt to create a balanced city budget.

Activity
http://economyleague.org/budget
Fill out the form and click NEXT

1. Review Revenue sources at http://economyleague.org/budget_challenge/sim/popups/revenuepie.html
2. Review Expenses at http://economyleague.org/budget_challenge/sim/popups/expensepie.html
3. Click Next and review 'How the Budget Challenge Works'
4. Click Next and begin making your selections
5. Take SCREENSHOTS of each choice (Teacher demo)
6. When complete, write 5 things you learned about our city's revenue, and 5 things you learned about expenditures.
   
7. Post your thoughts to your blog, along with your final number
   

Assessment:
Post to blog 5 things you learned about our city's revenue, and 5 things you learned about expenditures.

Assessment on Personality Projects

Please post to your blogs 3-5 facts you learned about ALL 4 categories

Guardian (SJs)

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Artisans (SPs)

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Idealists (NFs)

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Rationals (NTs)

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Extroverts VS Introverts

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Overall thoughts about personality and our discussions. CHOOSE TWO and write a paragraph for each.

1. Do opposites attract, or is it easier to have relationships with your own type? Explain.
   
2. In schooling, should students be grouped homogeneously (same personality, backgrounds, skills) or heterogeneously (different personalities, abilities, cultures)? Why?
   
3. How large a part does personality play in who you are? Explain.
4. What did you learn about yourself from this project? What did you learn about others?
   

Personality Presentation

Objectives:
1. Students will work individually or in small groups based on their personality type.
2. Students will research their type to create a presentation (Powerpoint, iMovie, skit) or information source (newsletter, brochure, iWeb, poster) for their group.
3. Students will receive 20 point per day for research, participation, and project construction. The end project will be 100 points (rubric will follow).

Activities
Work in groups based on your personality type to design a presentation on your type.

• What is Personality? How does it affect us?
  
• Overview/summary of your type
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Percentage of Population
• Subcategories
• Study Skills
  
• Career Possibilities
• Famous Faces of Your Type
• Symbols of Your Type
  
• Compatible Personalities
• Conflicting Personalities
• Conclusions

Research
http://www.davenevins.com/personalities/
http://www.4temperaments.com
http://www.typelogic.com/

Work: http://www.keirsey.com/personalityzone/wz2.asp
School: http://www.keirsey.com/personalityzone/cz1.asp
Relationships: http://www.keirsey.com/personalityzone/lz1.asp

Personality Overview: http://psychology.about.com/od/overviewofpersonality/a/persondef.htm

Resources
You may use any of the following
Powerpoint, iMovie, ComicLife, iWeb, Microsoft Word, Pages, Garageband

Presentations will start on MON. APRIL 13.

Personality Inventory (Tuesday)

PERSONALITY TYPE INDICATOR

Go to http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

Answer YES or NO to the 72 Questions. SEE ME with questions/definitions/clarifications.

READ the KEIRSEYand BUTT/HEISS TYPE ASSESSMENTS and look at the career and famous people by clicking on the links



To answer the following questions (Email me your responses).

Can be found at http://www.keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=1&c=overview http://typelogic.com

QUESTIONS
1. What is your type? Example- I am a ENTP

2. What was the strength of each preference?

I or E = %
S or N = %
F or T= %
J or P = %

3. What does the Keirsey description call you? Ex. ENTP are inventors

3. What does the Butt and Heiss type description call you? Ex: Clever professor

4. What are 5 personality traits common to your type? Ex; ENTPs are quick witted, love to argue, innovative/ingenius, problem solvers, optimist, but gets frustrated by small obtacles.

5. What 3 famous people share your type?
EX. Michaelango, Walt Disney, Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison share my type

6. What are three careers that are good for your type?
Natural sciences, high school education, and computer science are all good careers for my type. As a high school computer teacher, I have to agree!

7. Do you agree with the results? Why or why not?
Yes, I agree because I love to argue a point, and I consider myself innovative and clever.

8. Add any additional comments or questions (EC)
I learned a lot about what type of person I am, but where can I go to learn about other types?

Learning Style Inventory (Monday)

Learning Styles

Answer the 70 questions at
http://www.learning-styles-online.com/inventory/questions.asp

NOTHING like YOU = 0
A LITTLE like YOU= 1
A LOT like YOU = 2

After Q70, Click SUBMIT

Fill out the GENERAL Information

AND


PRINT PAGE 1 of your Results:


Go to http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/

Read the Top 2 or 3 (in Example this is Verbal and Aural)

Email mgt2011@gmail.com

1. What are your main learning styles?
2. What did you find out about your styles?
3. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. What changes can you make to improve your learning?

Service Update

Join the Constitution HS Team for the March of Dimes

http://www.marchforbabies.org/teams/660977

When: Sunday April 26, 8:30 am
Where: Art Museum, 26th and Parkway
What: Raise money and awareness for babies born with disabilities
Why: To help others and to get 5 hrs of credit for Independent Service!

We are trying to raise $1000 for this event
See Ms. Thompson for sponsorship forms and more info.

Book Fair at Constitution High

We need you to donate new and slightly used books for Home and School fundraiser.
Books must be donated by APRIL 3rd!

Why: Raise money for Home & School, Earn an hour of service credit for 5 donated books (2 hour limit)
When: Saturday April 25, 2009, 9 AM
(Raindate May 2)
Where: Constitution HS

Contact: joannpttman@aol.com (Mrs. Puttman) for more info and to volunteer for the event (up to 5 hours of service credit!)

Term 3 Assignments and Points

Posted to Blog/Service Blog

• 50 points NHD Reflection (regular Blog)
• Service Blog Created (links, description)
  
• 25 points Reflection on 2/18 Service Blog
  
• 25 points Reflection on 3/4 Service Blog
  

Emailed to mgt2011@gmail.com

• 50 points Photo and Blog URL
• 25 points 3-5 websites for presentation
• Service Blog URL (see in class assignment)
• 25 points Poster for Service Learning
• 25 points Learning Style Assessment
  
• 25 points 3 Goals (time frame, how to reach them)
• Civil War Essay (see in class assignment)

In Class Assignments

• 100 points Presentation on Website
• 25 points Audience participation
• 50 points Service Blog Created with links, description
• 100 points Civil War Essay
• 75 points Participation and behavior (over all of term 3)
  

600 Total Points

A: 540 - 600 points
B: 480 - 539 points
C: 420 - 479 points
D: 390 - 419 points
F: 389 points and below

Random Act of Kindness/Service Flyer

Design a card or flyer advertising your service group, an upcoming service event, or random acts of kindness.

Flyer:
Using MS Word or online tool (Picnik.com) design a service flyer.

1. Find an inspirational quote and copy it. Use Word Art or change text size and color.
2. Find an appropriate picture and copy it into your flyer (Resize as needed)
3. Put all information (What, where, when, why, who, etc) in LARGE, easy to read font.
4. Email as attachment to mgt2011@gmail.com

Card:
Design a Random Act of Kindness Card in MS Word

1. Front Cover- Inspirational Picture
2. Inside- inspirational quote and examples of Random Acts of Kindess
3. Back Cover- your name or "A Friend"

Example:

Lesson Unit #2 - Feb 17 - Feb 27

Design Your Own SERVICE LEARNING Website

Objective #1: Students will use what they learned from web presentations to create a useful website for their service learning group

Objective #2: Students will write a comprehensive description of what their service group is, accomplishments so far, and goals for the future.

Objective #3: Students will create a list of resources, links, and other important information on their service topic and for their group.

Task:
Set up new blog:
1. Sign into your blogger account
2. Click Create a Blog (upper right)
3. Blog Title: Your Service Group
Blog Address: yourgroup1.blogspot, yourgroup2.blogspot.com
4. Type word verification and click Continue
5. Choose an appropriate template from the list.
6. See me with problems or questions
7. EMAIL me your service learning url (http://yourgroup.blogspot.com)at mgt2011@gmail.com

Design Blog:
1. Write an introduction explaining what your group is and does.
2. Describe in detail projects you have worked on and what you have accomplished. Describe how you did these things and why, how long it took, how many other people or organizations were involved, etc.
3. Describe your realistic goals for this group for this year, next year, and your senior year.
4. Describe your dream goals for the group- if you had plenty of money and time, what
would you like to do with this group?

SPECIFIC REFLECTIONS ON Service Meeting (Feb 18):

1. Just the facts. What happened, what did you accomplish, what problems did you encounter.

2. Goals and responsibilities of the group decided THIS meeting (Feb. 18)

3. Successes from Feb 18 Meeting

4. Areas to Improve from Feb 18 Meeting

5. Personal goals

6. Personal responsibility

7. Create a plan for March 4. Address the areas to improve, organization, communication with group.

Resources and links
1. Research other internet sites that relate to your group
2. Create a Learn More, or list of links with a short description for learning about the topic.
3. Create a Give Now, or a list of organizations that raise money for this topic.
4. Create an Act Now, or list of people to contact to improve awareness, funding on the topic. This could be organizations, government officials (foreign and domestic), media, other schools, etc.


Example: http://slavery21st.blogspot.com/

Reminder/EC Word Wall Poster

CLASS OF 2011:

Mr. Ackerman's Word Wall assignment is due Wed. Feb 11. You must create a poster with a word, definition, a synonym, an antonym, a sentence using the word, and a picture that describes the word.


Extra Credit (20 pts)
Create a TECHNOLOGY Word Wall poster:

Use one of these terms found at these sites:

http://www.tekmom.com/buzzwords/
http://www.techterms.com/
http://www.techdictionary.com/

Due. Fri. Feb 13

Feb 2-13 Lessons (Weeks 2 and 3)

Objective #1: Increase student participation in Study Island.

Objective #2: Student will be able to evaluate positive and negatives of academic and personal interest websites through a presentation and rubric.

Objective #3: Students will gain confidence in public speaking and presentation skills (using projector and whiteboard, using laptops, checking connections).

1. Start off each class with 15 minutes on Study Island. See me if you do not know how to log in.

2. Whole class: we will watch a short presentation on how to evaluate websites at http://muse.widener.edu/~tltr/How_to_Evaluate_9.htm
If you MISS the presentation, you must watch it yourself with headphones.

3. Please copy and paste the following criteria into MS Word. Use this rubric when evaluating your own and classmates presentations.


Your Name:
Date: _______________ Class Period: ___________

Name of Presenter:

Name of Site:

Site URL: http://

Design
Can move from page to page easily. 1 2 3 4 5

Good use of graphics and color. 1 2 3 4 5

Content
Additional resource links are included. 1 2 3 4 5

Information is useful. 1 2 3 4 5

Rich content and will likely be revisited. 1 2 3 4 5

How this web site compares in content to
similar websites. 1 2 3 4 5

Technical Elements
All links work. 1 2 3 4 5

Can see meaningful information within 30 seconds. 1 2 3 4 5

Credibility
Contact person is stated with their e-mail address. 1 2 3 4 5

States the name of the host school or institution. 1 2 3 4 5

Links have been kept current. 1 2 3 4 5

States when this page was last updated. 1 2 3 4 5


Total Possible Points = 60

Points for this Site =

4. Sign up and begin website presentations and evaluations.

Additional Resources

Webquest on Evaluating Websiteshttp://www.sdst.org/shs/library/evalwebstu.html

Use the evaluation chart to keep track of your results: http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/evalrole.html

Welcome Back and First Assignments

Class of 2011:

I am excited to see you on a regular basis again after our long hiatus.

Please note that until further notice, you should work on Study Island for the first 15-20 minutes of each class period. Please see me with problems signing into or working on Study Island.


Your assignments for the first week are:

1. Reflect on your blog about the NHD Process.
a. What you LEARNED
b. Problems and how you SOLVED them
c. How you have CHANGED since last year

2. Email me at mgt2011@gmail.com your
a. current photo
b. current blog address (eg http://mgt2012.blogspot.com)
c. copy and paste the 3 paragraphs from your blog about NHD

3. You must research and design a presentation on useful websites. For this week, I want you to email me 3 websites that are USEFUL for school and 3 personal interest sites.

I DO NOT want sites that are well known, or search sites (yahoo, studyisland, msn, etc). ALSO- sites that are BLOCKED by the district (myspace, facebook, etc) are NOT ALLOWED.

Please include a brief description of what this site is about, how you use it, and why other students might find it useful or interesting.

Next week, we will begin presentations on the sites. Please follow school guidelines of acceptable use (no pornography, explicit language, etc.) Presentations or sites that violate the code of conduct or common sense will receive an F grade.

* EXTRA CREDIT- Email me a list of 5-10 things you would like to learn this semester in my class and why you would like to learn it.