Film Festival Friday

Hey students,

Great work on your video book reports.  Really, I am so proud of how amazing they were.  Each one was so different, you all had your own style and it was so much fun to watch them and see how you applied your book report to a video. This class is really amazing and from September until now you have improved your English, your creativity, your confidence. I think that I will see even more amazing work from you this next term.

Here they are, for you all to watch and comment on.  Ela, please include a link to yours if you have the chance and I will put it on the blog.  It was really a perfect video with such a creative idea.

Please enjoy! I am off to travel in Lebanon for the vacation and when I return, I hope to see MANY, MANY comments on the blog!!!

T-Teach

The Eye of the Teacher - Our Class Theme Song

You guys put together a killer music video for Drama Friday.  It was a good connection to poetry, use of syllables, and creativity.  I'm watching it right now with a friend and we're both chuckling a little.

So, I'm sure you'd like to see it too.  Well, not so fast!!!  A little webquest is your challenge to see the video.  The questions will get harder and each question will be rewarded by getting you a bit closer to seeing our class theme song in action!

Question 1:  What are the first and last children's book that Roald Dahl wrote?
Emre Blue said...
The Gremlins was first and The Minpins was last book that he wrote.

Rising up, back at our desks

Did our homework got some cubes

Went the distance now we’re back at our seats

Just a class and its will to succeed

So many times, it happens too fast

You get sent to the corner

Don’t lose your grip on the dream of drama

You must fight just to keep the cup full

It’s the eye of the teacher, it’s the thrill of the class

Rising up to the challenge of our journals

And the last known teacher checks our homework at night

And he’s watching us all in the eye of the teacher…

Question 2: Great authors use the stories of their lives to create their fiction. People they know and experiences they have had become a part of their stories. Using the website roalddahl.com, connect these parts of Dahl's fiction to his real life.

The Grandmother in 'The Witches':
The Matron at St. Peter's Prep School:
The sweet shop he went to from ages 7-9:

leo said...

the grandmother in the witches book was actually his mom
the sweet shop he went from the ages 7 to 9 were the first seeds of charlie and the chocolate factory
the matron in st. peter's prep school was miss trunchbull
Efe

Congratulations to Efe and Emre Blue for their answers...

Video Book Reports

Hi students.  Remember to do your video book report this weekend!  To help you, here is the example video that Mr. Bennett and I made....

Remember the tips that we talked about in class.
- use specific parts from the book to support your opinion
- think about set and costume design
- pick a quiet place in your house and speak very loud!

Here are a few websites that will help you add music and sound effects to your video...
http://www.stonewashed.net/sfx.html
http://www.stonewashed.net/free-music.html

Here is the Microsoft website for Movie Maker with lots of tutorials and help for you!!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/create/default.mspx

This is how you will be marked on the video:

1. Clear, opposing viewpoints between the two characters that show you really read and understood the book
2. You used specific quotes from the book to give examples of metaphor, simile, adjectives and other things that we learned in descriptive writing work
3. The characters speak fluently, use new and interesting words, don't repeat adjectives over and over and use the kind of words that sound like a professional book review
4. Presentation is creative, interesting and dramatic
5. BONUS:  Video is edited with sounds, music, titles and transitions.

Good luck!  I'm very excited to see your work!  Make them awesome!

Welcome to the eye...of the teacher!!!

Ok, so what's this all about is our first question? I want to hear everyone's ideas and thoughts.

First, me.

I think that this blog is a chance for our class to share some of the cool things that we're doing with each other and our families and friends. Videos that we make, songs we create, pictures we take. All of these things make more sense on a blog than in a notebook. We're so future here.

I also think that this blog is a chance to share some ideas and do some activities that we can't do in class and to remind you of deadlines and things we need to do. 'Cool blogwork' is what I call it. When you guys go to high school and university, you'll be doing so much of your work online that this will be a good head-start for you.

Finally, I think that this blog is a chance to express ourselves and share stuff that we can't always do in class. For example, I was not always crazy. I was really shy in school, so in class I didn't always say much, but in my writing I did. I think that some kids in this class remind me of myself when I was a kid.

I just want to let you know one more thing. This blog is something that can only be cubistically rewarded. Good work and comments and ideas on here earn cubes. If you don't want to participate, you won't be punished for it!

Peace to you all, 5A.

-- Tomek

My first year as a teacher, September 2002