Wednesday morning both 7th grade families green and orange, took a trip to the Little Rascals Orchard in Harvard, Mass. Where we investigated a crime scene. The crime was`nt real but it seemed real enough to believe. We looked for evidence to prove or disprove a crime that really happened, and that there was a reason for the body imprints, the hoove, foot and boot prints that were left behind along with a stick. We searched through the orchard, the farm and fields and apparently we did find clues. At the end of about an hour of searching and guessing what happened we had to turn in our stories of what we had thought happened. The winners were`nt announced but will be on friday, the 11th. Then we all got go out into the field and run around and even get wet it got pretty crazy but we really enjoyed the trip and the owners of the Crime Scene Investigation were very kind.

Thank You!!....To all at the Little Rascals Orchard!!!

Geek Squad Summer Academy

Are you into technology? Do you want to learn more about computers and video games? We have the program for you! During this 3-day program on July 7-9, Best Buy's Geek Squad will teach you how to use the internet to it's full potential, explore the wonders of movie making, compose your own song and build a personal computer. Only 200 students maximum. Register today!

www.imakenews.com/techboston

Build a Robot: April Break Technology Workshop

Here is a free learning opportunity for you technology-inclined students to consider.

TechBoston and Machine Science are teaming up again during the April Vacation Break to offer Boston middle and high school students a chance to engage in hands-on engineering activities. This 3-day course will give you the chance to build and control your own electronic devices and robots.

The training will be held Tuesday through Thursday, April 20th to 22nd, from 8:30 AM to 3PM at Madison Park TVHS.

There is no cost for a student to participate, but students must pre-register and return a completed parent permission form either via email or upon arrival on April 20th. Go to this link to register on line. http://bit.ly/tb-ap2010

Space is limited to a maximum of thirty (30) students.

Thumb ups or Thumbs Down: Williams vs. Yusef

I just got finished reading YuYu's book review on the Giver and I couldn't disagree with him more! I loved the Giver. I thought it was very thought provoking and it had a twisting surprise, which, left me with mixed feelings. This is what I think a good book is suppose to do! YuYu seems like he wanted the ending to give you an answer, but come on, Yuyu this is not an elementary book!!! I think it was a good move on the author's part to keep us wondering.

I will agree with parts of your review; I found it slow moving in parts, but when you find out what is really happening in this society, didn't it even stir up any interest, in that, some things were very controversial?

risk taking

In my class (315) we have been talking about risk taking and how some people need to take risks. People take risks in many different ways, like, student council. They had to step up and say they will take a risk and be the ones to represent their class. Also when people try things to get extra credit even if its hard they still try without complaining about it. The biggest risk that all the students took was getting in front of their classes and doing an oral presentation. How do you take a risk on your own without any one telling you to do so?

What are you doing this summer?

Do you already have a job lined up? Do you know of a special opportunity that you would like to share with your classmates? Boston has a great variety of jobs, camps, internships, and other things for middle schoolers to do in the summer. What are you doing?

Marijuana 2 be or not 2 be Legal!

I read in a newspaper about a voting poll that took place. Out of the people that took the poll, about legalizing marijuana, about 44% of those people voted for marijuana to be legal, however, 54% voted that the Congess should not legalize this law. Do you think this type of drug should be legal? Why or why not?

What's your Choice?

The oral presentations that have been going on over the last week have proven to be a great way to share knowledge with your classmates. I know I have my favorites, but would love to hear what presentation you favored the most. Tell us your favorite and don't forget to tell us why. Please be specific; remember the rubric and use it if it helps you to get your points across and tell us what the presenter did well.

Talk My Friend,Talk

For Black History Month our class read autobiographies on famous black personalities. This is what I found out by reading about Malcolm X. On March 12,1965, Malcolm X left the Nation Of Islam. Why, you ask, because he saw the truth. The truth is not always what people say they are, or, what people think they are. For instance Elijah said that he was the prophet , that he was the savoir but once he made a mistake everyone got mad. Malcolm's leader, his idol, his hero Elijah Muhammad went against rules of Islam. Not only did he break the rules of Islam , but he broke the trust of Malcolm. Malcolm once talked his way into the Nation of Islam, and there wasn't any man that could tell him he couldn't leave the nation and he eventually talked himself out of it. Once he was out, he felt more comfortable speaking the truth.

FILL IN THE GAPS!

March is MCAS testing and we are determined to close those achievements gaps. Hope you remember all of the things that will help you do your best, like, getting enough rest, healthy eating, exercise, and READ and WRITE something every day!

Remember the new open response writing strategies (GAPS) we have been learning in class, and,

remember success is a choice, not luck. Don't depend on getting lucky...prepare.

Three of our ELA Students to be Guest Poets at the Dudley Branch Library Feb. 11, 2010

Dudley Branch Library with Boston Poet Laureate, Samuel Cornish, is having a Black History poetry celebration on February 11, 2010. Poems were submitted from our ELA classes to be a part of this program. Congratulations to Alec from 318, Ikiah from 318 and Jataiza from 316 for having their "Where I am From" poems chosen to be included at the library! They have also been invited to be guest poets that day. Hope parents can come to hear the great work of these students.

...and thank you Ms. Doherty for collecting our poems and running them down to the library to make sure they got submitted by the deadline!!!

A Spin on Beyonce's Single Lady

As I was driving home today after school, I heard a song that a sixth grade class (in another city) wrote. It was a spinoff of Beyonce's Grammy Award single song, Single Lady. They changed the title to Scholar Lady. It went like this, "If you learned it than you should have got an A on it." "If you learned it than you should have got an A on it." oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh

I loved it!!!! Why not give it a try yourself. How would you change the words to a contemporary song to go along with a school message?

www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/11/scholar-ladies-get-an-a-o_n_458145.html

Bad Boy

My favorite Walter Dean Myer's story was Bad Boy. It is a memoir of Walter and how he overcame his problems. He was a true example of a person who makes a lot of mistakes, and learns from them. Every mistake he made, he was assured not to do it again. For example, when he jumped off the roof of the church building he hurt his feet but did not tell his parents; he was in pain making the situation worse. It turned out he broke the heels of both feet. This was a great read. Why not pick it up and give it a read!

"A Good Day of Learning" dedicated to Devins

I just made a decision to give a student a chance to come out of a substantially separate classroom into a regular ed. classroom. I resisted the change at first then said I will give it a try and let him know in no uncertain terms it was a "trial basis" and I would ship him back 'quick, fast and in a hurry if he didn't put his full effort into it and fooled around. At the end of one week and a day, he has proved his worth. Today he said to me before he left the classroom, "Thanks for a good day of learning Ms. Williams". Blew my mind ! Imagine if I just blew him off without giving him the benefit of a chance.

To Devins: Thank you for a good day of learning. You taught me how far I have drifted away from why I went into teaching in the first place: to give kids a chance. I don't know how many chances you have gotten in life,but take this one and keep running with it, and if you stumble, I'll be there to help you up and get you going again quick, fast and in a hurry!!!!

Don't be Bored During Vacation Week

Free!!! ages 12-18

Application deadline is Wednesday January 20th.

What are you doing during February vacation week? Want to accompany me (Ms. B. Williams) to a fun filled day along with other youths across the city? Open up the link and let me know if you want to be a part of this. Please let your parents know about this and see if they can get you there, or if you need help getting there. Go to the website below for more info.

http://www.carolecopelandthomas.com

Keith Lockhart, conductor of Boston POPS visits

Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra visited one of my classes today as part of the Big Cheese Reads program. This is a program sponsored by Boston Partners in Education and links business and community leaders with middle school students by coming into the schools and reading to them and talking to them about literacy and career success.

I didn't realize Lockhart was such an avid reader and he impressed me with his knowledge of literature. He says literature is much like the symphony, in that, when words are put together in certain ways it is like music to his ears.

I would like to hear what some of you have to say about his visit today.

Welcome to Our Class Pages

This blog is created so that the students of my English Language Arts classes can share their work, ideas, and sentiments about things they are learning and experencing in class. Topics can range from literature responses to social justice and change. We encourage you to visit our blog and lend your voice and expertise, or just learn along with us.