Grades

Come to the office SA201 tomorrow at normal class time to get your grades.

Russ

Tomorrow

We'll go over the tests tomorrow. Nice job with presentations today.

Back to School

Whew! It's been fun, but it's time to put the nose to the grindstone one last time this quarter.

We have presentations due Monday (and Tuesday possibly if we don't finish on Monday). Everyone in your group must present it, so please plan out who's going to do what. If possible, can you come to the office (SA201) before 11am to give me a copy of it. I will make a transparency of it for you to use on the Overhead Projecotr in class if you need to.

You must:

Discuss the new ad (Read the new Slogan)
Ask people if they understand the new slogan and then explain it if necessary
Say why you think it's an effective slogan
Read the new desription of the product
Accept questions from students

Each presentation should be between 5 and 10 minutes including questions.

Present it like you are introducing it to your boss and colleagues at a company.

Important things to remember are:

Eye contact: Make eye contact with everyone in the class when you're speaking
Volume: Speak loud enough so eveyone in the class can hear and understand you clearly
Preparidness: Make sure that you are prepared. Also, be prepared to ask questions

And while you're watching the presentation:

Pay attention: This is vital since you will be expected to ask questions afterwards



Please have "Holes" completed by Wednesday.

We'll go over the tests on Tuesday.

Tomorrow's Tests

Wow, you guys did really well on the Reading Proficiency test today. Tomorrow will be grammar and writing (How Fun!!!). I know that all of you are very excited about it; I am, too.
Study Commas, Semicolons, Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses. Don't forget the grammar from the grammar book as well.

Study hard and sleep tight.

Russell

Tuesday

So, tomorrow will be a Reading Proficiency Test. You know the routine.
We will start it at 12:05 so don't be late.

I think a lot of you neglected to finish the reading assignment. Tsk Tsk! Please finish the book by next Wednesday.

Goodnight.

Russ

Sunday

Well, tomorrow we'll work on HOLES and review for the tests on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please have questions ready if you're still confused about anything.
The reading test will be on Tuesday and the Grammar test will be on Wednesday. Bring in your Bluebooks tomorrow.

Russ

Thursday

Tomorrow is the SLEP test. We'll review for the final on Friday, we'll also do Holes that day.

Goodnight.

Russ

Tuesday's Lesson

Well, There will be a lot of brainstorming and research needed in order to be successful with this assignment. Familiarizing yourself with some useful idioms or expressions will help you as well. You will need to be flexible with your grammar use, as well, in order to write a creative and coherent advertisement for your product. Tomorrow, I need to see some ideas from everyone. Make sure that everyone is contributing equally. Remember, tomorrow is "Holes" day, so read the assigned pages.
I will had back vocabulary notebooks back tomorrow and I will try to hand back your papers ASAP. Remember that Thusrday will be the SLEP test so do come to class on time (and go to bed early Wednesday night).

I think that's it for now.

Russell

I almost forgot...

I forgot; submit your vocabulary lists on Tuesday.

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend homework includes the following:

"Holes" pp. 127-165 for Wednesday
Complete the "Commas" worksheet

There will be a SLEP test on Thursday, so don't miss that day.
Have a good weekend. I might post something else this weekend, but it won't be additional homework.

I don't imagine that any of you will need to meet me to study anything this weekend, but if you do, I'll probably have some time Sunday morning.

Russell

Reading Proficiency tomorrow.

Read something tonight for practice.
We'll have another make-up class in the computer lab in SA304 tomorrow at 10am.

Make-up Lessoon

And, we will be meeting in SA304 tomorrow morning and at 3pm (for those of you who want to) for a make-up class.

Wednesday

Tomorrow at 1:20, there will be a presentation on the SLEP test given by Omar, who is a teacher at SCCC. It will last from 1:20 until the end of class.

Please work on your papers from today's lab and bring them in tomorrow. Remember to self-edit them, type them, and write an introduction for them.

We'll also finish the reading in the book tomorrow.

We will have a reading proficiency test.

Goodnight.

Russ

HOLES

You can read pp.
107-129
tonight.

Tuesday

Students!!!

Tomorrow we'll meet in the computer lab. There, we will work on some writing. After that, we'll go to the classroom and work on "Holes".
Do the homework tonight from the reading book; also write the short paragraph from the ditto.

See you tomorrow.

Monday

So, read the Big Money reading again and answer the questions on the next two pages.

Also, read Holes pp. 107-147 by Wednesday.

Russell

Once last comment for tonight...

I almost forgot; read pp.107-147 of Holes for Thursday!

Please don't hate me. I'm the teacher.

Russ

;D

OK, we will be having a "little" HOLES quiz tomorrow. Don't panic! Panic, do not. It should be fairly easy; it will require you to think, though.

There isn't mush time left in the quarter. We have this week. Next week is only 4 days long. Then the next week is finals week, which is only 3 days long. We only have 9 more days of instruction before finals! It's scary. It's too short. I want about 16 more weeks. Don't you feel the same way? Don't you want 16 or 52 more weeks with me? Yea, me too.

Did everyone move their clocks back an hour? If you haven't yet done so, please do it now.

Daylight's Savings Time

Please remember that today is Daylight Savings Time is today. It means, turn your clocks back '1-hour'.
So, it's not 9:34 - it's 8:34.

It looks pretty cold outside.

russ

It's almost Friday!

Tomorrow we might have a quiz before the movie. Then we'll have a quiz during the movie, and then we'll have another quiz after the movie. Then we'll have a Saturday quiz. Then we'll have a Saturday night quiz.

Goodnight.

Russ (Quizmaster)

Holes

Ok, tomorrow we'll review relative clauses (what we did yesterday). We'll also work on 'Holes'. Please read it thoroughly and discuss it with each other as there will be a quiz on Friday on it.

Goodnight.

Russell

And...

Remember to meet in the computer lab, SA#304 tomorrow.

Aiyaiyai!

So sorry I didn't bring the movie. Don't worry; we'll watch it later.
Tonight, finish the handout I gave you starting with number 11. Also, in your grammar books, complete pp. 74-75.
Review today's grammar; there will be homework on it tomorrow night.

Goodnight.

Russ

So, it's HOLES pp. 77-106, right? For Wednesday.

Have a good weekend.

Tired Teacher Typing...

OK, writing is tomorrow. Holes, too.

I'll try to have your papers (tests) corrected by tomorrow to hand back to you.

Russ

It's Almost Friday! Hang in there!

Tomorrow is the Reading Midterm, and we'll also practice some writing and grammar (I hope we have enough time).
I won't be in the office tomorrow morning, but I'll be there from 3-4 tomorrow.

Russell.

By the way, I didn't see any stories from the 3 students last night. What happened???

Russ

Latenight Dinner: Ochazuke

Students!

Sorry for the late entry, but I just got home. What is homework? Study everything!
We'll go over the test answers tomorrow, and we'll review some writing techniques in class.
I haven't checked the blog yet but everyone knows that they must contribute a comment to it, tight?

Good.

Goodnight.

Russell

Tomorrow

We'll take a practice reading test tomorrow. We'll go over Fanboys and other grammar as well.

Russell

Grammar

I almost forgot, I'd like everyone who does not have an English Grammar book at home to buy one. It's really important for you. Our class Grammar book sonly has a small part of what you need to know. There's nothing in it about articles, prepositions etc...

also, check out: owl.english.purdue.edu

Russell

Drivin'

Please find some time to read "HOLES" this weekend. It's a good idea to "skim" it after you read and take notes from it. Think of questions to ask others and questions to ask the class on Monday. I am expecting a much better discussion tomorrow than last Monday's discussion.

Russ' Weekend Story:

Anyway, this weekend I was driving whe I got a flat tire. I hadn't gotten a flat tired in a very long time - maybe 12 or 13 years ago. So, of course, I had to change it. Luckily, I have a garage, so it wasn't raining on me when I changed it. At first, I had truly forgotten how to change a flat, but soon, it all came back to me. I put on the spare then went to a tire store, and they fixed my "flat" tire and put it on the car. They put my spare tire in the trunk. They did this all for free. I was surprised. What wonderful customer service. It took a while, though. While we were waiting, we went to A&W, which is one of our favorite 'burger joints, next to Dick's.

Please read this, and we'll discuss it. The next time, I will pick 2 students to post a short story on the blog.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Russell

SA304

Oh yes! We're meeting in SA304 tomorrow.

Russell

Articles

Articles
Articles and more Articles. Was it painful. Some of you looked like you were in so much pain. Sorry. I know it was a lot.Homework: Grammar Book pp. 56-57, and then write a (short) story (2-3 sentences are OK) about a mistake you've made. Talk about a time when you gave someone your phone number, and that person stalked you. "I shouldn't have given my phone number." or "I should've given him a fake number."Midterms will be on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.I'll give you more detail on it tomorrow!Please study that vocabulary and use it. We have a paper due tomorrow, don't we?Do you need more time on it? Would you like more time with it? Please let me know by leaving a comment on the blog or emailing me.GoodnightRuss

2 Papers

...So, let me see. Transportation papers are due on Monday and Scary papers are due on Friday.
Let's dive into ARTICLES more tomorrow.

Other homework is in the Grammar Book pp. 40-41

Two students came to see me about their papers today. I hope to see more of you this week.

I will also give back the reading test and the grammar quiz (I hope) tomorrow.
Goodnight

Russell

Tainted Textbooks

It has come to my attention that several students have books that have answers written in them. This is against school rules and is "Plagiarism". If you have a book with answers written in it or if you have the TEACHERS' VERSION of a textbook, please buy a new book and return the teachers verson ASAP.
Thank you.
Russ

Tuesday

Hopefully, the last exercise we did today at the board will help you to think about what you read just a little more. It's not only about reading, but also understanding. You must also develop questions as well as be able to answer them. I am still seeing too many students sitting around with blank looks on their faces when they should be discussing the facts of the reading and offering answers.

OK, see you tomorrow.

Monday

I think that Thursday is too long just to write a paragraph. Let's make it due on Wednesday. Type it again. If you need help...ask.

Tomorrow is quiz day.

What else is there?......I think that's it.

Russ

Sunday Night

Students,

Have you finished your reading assignment? I have your quizzes and your papers all graded. We will discuss "Holes" tomorrow (Monday) and have a quiz. We will work on the rewrites of the scary or nervous situation paper. You will also turn in the Transportation paper tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

Russ

Thursday

Students!!!

I think this class is going really well. Am I right? I see that everyone is starting to loosen up and relax more. This is good!
OK, so you know that knowing how to use a word i a sentence is as important as knowing what it means, right. It's important to be able to recognize which family each word is in: a verb, an adjective, a noun, an adverb etc...
Tomorrow, the test will be based on reading. Practice your skimming & scanning techniques. Also work on trying to understand words from their context, which means, read the sentence that the word is in and look at "clues" in the sentence. For Example:
"Bob is so clumsy sometimes; for example, yesterday he spilled his water on the table twice, and he almost fell down the stairs."
- What does the word "clumsy" mean. What other word(s) in the sentence(s) help you to understand its meaning?

We will also continue with preposition review tomorrow time permitting.

Goodnight

Russell

Wednesday

Hello Students!!!

Homework: Grammar Book - pp.32-33 (Past Perfect Progressive) Yikes!!!

Reading Book; pp. 37-39 Ouch!!!

Find an article on the Internet about animal extinction, read it and be prepared to give a presentation on it tomorrow. I will select a handfull of students to come to the front of the class and give brief summaries on them. Be ready.

OK. That's it. Any questions? Ask me!

Russell

Wednesday

Here's your assignment:


There was a Tornado that hit Seattle early this morning at approximately 2:45am. It uprooted trees and blew the roofs off several homes in the Rainier Beach neighborhood. It also lifted up half a dozen cattle and carried them 2 miles away where people found them virtually unharmed. Seattle Mayor Greg Nicoles called for a state of emergency. Ambulances have brought 2 dozen people to area hospitals and doctors are helping them out.


Please change the necessary sentences in active voice to passive voice.

Other homework, write a 2-paragraph paper about your article. One paragraph is a summary and the second paragraph is your opinion.

Also, make sure you've finished answering the questions related to the reading on Fashion in your Reading books.

Any questions??? Email me or come and see me in my office.

Russell

Cancelled Class

Class,

I'm sorry about cancelling class today. I didn't feel well enough to teach today.

There will be class tomorrow, though.

I will see you then.

Russ

Monday Hoy!

Students!!!

What did we do today??? Tomorrow, I will give you your tests back. I'm pretty sick now so, I'm going to look at your papers later, maybe tomorrow morning I hope.
Complete pp. 25-27 in your reading books.
Do pp. 20-21 in your grammar books.

Goodnight.

And...

My email address at: rajohnson@sccd.ctc.edu

Hooray!!!

TGIF

Students!!!

I haven't corrected your quizzes yet, but I'm sure you all did well on it. Please remember to complete your vocabulary list in your bluebooks and turn them in on Monday.
Also, rewrite your "diagnostic" papers this weekend.

Have a good weekend!!!

Russell

Thursday

Students!!!

OK, we have a quiz tomorrow on present perfect tense. Also, re write your paper from Tuesday. Those are the main things you need to work on tonght. Finally, finish the chapter in you reading book, p.16.Remember to have your vocabulary notebook updated and ready to hand in on Monday.Next week, the tutor list should be up so you can get help from teachers.

Russell

Wednesday

We worked on context clues to understand new vocabulary and general reading practice.
The homework is pp.13-16(B) in the Reading Book and pp.8-9 in the Grammar Book. Finish the worksheet from today, start your vocabulary notebook adn bring your Writing Book tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Russ

New address

Hello students!

I had to change the blog address. Sorry for the inconvenience.
We're working on grammar, reading, and writing. Make sure that you are participating in class as much as possible. Please start making appointments to come see me in my office ASAP.

Goodnight.