Finally Friday

We finished the video (Heart of Darfur) after which I had you read and complete Reading #2. I assigned Reading #3 for the weekend...and do not forget about your Oceania test on Monday!!! I used the video-watching time to view and sign your course registration cards. If you forgot it, bring it to me next week.

If anyone missed one of the readings, know that I got them online here. You will have to write a one-page paper with STRICT formatting guidelines. Since you are reading this, I'll give you the assignment here:

What should be done about the situation in Darfur? Your recommendation must be realistic and justifiable. Do some research. The actual paper will be ONE PAGE in length. No longer. Be concise, cogent...and coherent. It must also follow these parameters:

one inch margins 12 point Times New Roman 1.5 spaced No title/heading. Name will be WRITTEN ON BACK.

Read. Write. Proofread. Re-Write. Read more/again. Re-write.

I will be giving you an extra credit assignment next week as well...

Crappola - I cannot stay and enter your classwork grades today. Look for an updated portal grade by Sunday PM/Monday AM.


Adios...

It is NOT just about YOU...It IS about US

The next student who asks me about his/her grade risks being eaten alive by the monster within Romo. Patience is a virtue best exhibited in my classroom - I will no longer discuss individual grades DURING the school day. If you want to discuss your grade, see me before or after school. There are too many students, we have too many things to do, and nothing close to the necessary amount of time to stop everything for you when it is something that is better discussed at a different time. I LOVE talking with students about anything and everything. However, class-time is for the class as a whole. Please respect my expectations.

In class today, I tried to explain your course registration, which I will sign tomorrow. I want you to come in with your preferred choice checked off with a pencil. If I agree, I'll simply sign it and return it to you. If I disagree, we can talk about your choice/preference and come to a shared decision.

I asked everyone to write one (1) question on a small note card about Darfur or Africa in general that you have. We then began watching "Wide Angle: Heart of Darfur" from PBS. If you missed it or want to share it with someone, go to this site. We'll finish the video tomorrow and then go over another reading.

Use Lizardpoint or Sheppardsoftware and these Oceania Maps for Monday's test:

Dies Mercurii

You're smart - figure it out. I distributed some maps today and a homework sheet due Friday. You will need to use the collection of Africa maps (population, resources, etc.) given to you when you were making your New Africa map. You will have a test on the Pacific Region (Oceania, plus island nations of Asia) on Monday. You should know where the following places are located:
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, East Timor, Brunei, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Melaniesia (specifically Fiji), Micronesia (specifically Guam and Bikini Atoll), and Polynesia (specifically Easter Island, Hawaii, Midway Atoll, Pitcairn, and Samoa).

We then began our Darfur focus. There are three readings (one of which we will do today) and a video I will split over Thursday and Friday (25 minutes each day). Then you'll get an assignment in the form of a Policy Paper due next week.

Tip of the Day: Wild animals are wild. They should not be confused as domesticated pets. Hence the use of the term wild when describing them. Now a woman is missing her face and some fingers while a teenage chimp is dead after it's "owner" gave it valium to calm down. Check out the side effects of valium use...this whole story is so sad.

Lastly...something a lot of you seem to enjoy:

It's Tuesday

I may not keep up the blog since I continue to get the "what did we do yesterday?" question from absent students. I think it's pretty obvious...if you check the blog!

Today we had the Asia test. You were given approximately 30 minutes. I still do not know why people are asking me questions about the maps and/or names of countries and territories. Is Hong Kong its own country? No, it is a part of China...BUT it has its own laws including extra rights and privileges. And you should have noticed one VERY IMPORTANT country missing from your list - you were supposed to list it at the bottom.

We then finished our study of the Nile.

Funny and only 20 seconds: