Mr. Mordica, Happy Principals' Week

We want to thank Mr. Mordica. I know a lot of people think he's just the man who gives out SIPS and OSS. He does so much more! Here are some ideas for your post:

• If you think Mr. Williams and Ms. Custer do a good job, Mr. Mordica should get some of the credit. He's in charge of all the Social Studies teachers.
• Did someone who hurt you get punished? Wasn't that nice? Let Mr. M. know how that felt (you may post anonymously).
• Did you get in trouble but escape with just a warning? Mr. Mordica chose to give you an extra chance!

Remember, using your best grammar, punctuation, and spelling is one of the ways to honor the person you are thanking.

Bellwork April 29th!!!

Go to this site and take the quiz.
http://www.leasttern.com/Reading/RRpassage1.htm

Stay on the page with the quiz until we go over it as a class.

Next:
1.  Find an interesting news story on http://www.tweentribune.com/
Pretend you are going to write a book or make a movie about that story. Describe the Initiating Event and Climax.
Your comment must be at least 50 words.

2.  Comment on any other person's post on this site. Each sensible comment of 20 or more words will earn you a bonus point.
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Causes, Effects, and Helping the Author

Your task this week is very simple. Find an article on http://www.tweentribune.com/ that contains an example of cause-and-effect. Post a comment to this blog with the following:

1. The title of the article.
2. Why you chose to read that article, and one question you would have asked that would have made the article more interesting. Why do you think this would have made it more interesting?
3. The example of cause-and-effect.

Be sure to sign your name!!!

Main ideas in the News

Remember the three concepts we reviewed this week:

• Topic is the general person or concept that a passage addresses.
• Main idea is a brief, overall summary of a passage.
• Theme is the way the article applies the main idea to a larger idea about life in general.

Click on the link below:
http://tweentribune.com/frontpage 


Read any of the articles on the site. Then, post a comment that does the following:

1. Gives the article's complete title.
2. Gives a possible alternate title.
3. Lists the main idea.
4. Lists five key details.
5. Mentions a theme that could apply the main idea.

I look forward to what you have to say! A sample is listed below.

Spring Vacay

Hello, Symsationals.

Over Spring Break, I spent time in Fairfax, VA, with my sister's family.

My nephew Jose SKYPEd us from France, where he plays professional basketball. He was depressed. His teammates in Bordeaux are much less disciplined than other people with whom he's played. They go out partying the nights before games and eat junk food. Everybody shows up late for practice--even the coach! He's very frustrated because he feels sometimes like he's the only one who takes the games seriously.

Please post a response to the following questions using 30-100 words:

If you were in my nephew's position, how would you handle it?

Alice in Wonderland

Using the photocopied title page and verso from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, create a citation of the book using World Book Student's citation builder. Paste that citation as a comment to this blog.

Follow the directions sheet if you do not know how to do this.