Multiple Intelligence

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/index.htm

Welcome back

Student and Parent/Guardian,

Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed a nice summer. I am looking forward to this year and have planned a bunch of engaging and challenging units of study.

English 5 is an exciting, interactive course focusing on the student’s literacy. Through work in literature and media, students will develop and build upon their interpretive skills, research skills, critical thinking, and creativity. Students will have opportunities to explore a wide-variety of texts, including, novels, plays, poetry, film, advertisements, graphic novels, and etcetera. At the end of the course, there is an intensive exam provided by the Ministry of Education and evaluated externally.

The course is comprised of three competencies: uses language/talk to communicate and to learn, writes a variety of genres for personal and social purposes, and reads and listens to written, spoken and media texts. More detailed information about the curriculum outcomes can be found on the ministry’s website.

You can always get a hold of me if you have any questions or concerns. The best way to contact me is through my school email: jkent@wqsb.qc.ca. You can also call the school and leave a message with Rosemarie at 819-762-2706.

I do not to overload students with homework. However, students are required to complete assigned readings at home, as well as complete assignments that they were unable to finish in class. I do my very best to post assignments on the class blog at NorandaEnglish5.blogspot.com. Occasionally, I will post handouts on drop.io/jordankent in case a student has lost a handout and requires it at home. Students can always benefit from completing extra work at home including reading a good novel, writing creative stories, completing grammar activities that I can provide, and even watching English television if they don’t normally do so.

The following is a breakdown of this year’s plans for English 5. I have provided some detail for the first two units so that you and your child know what to expect. In between units, students will complete grammar assignments, creative writing assignments, and other single-class lessons. The schedule may change or be adjusted.

Month	Unit Description
September	Novel Study: We will begin the year by reading Flowers for Algernon. It is a brief novel that delves into issues of difference, bioethics, and mental disability. Through the study of the novel, we will explore debates, persuasive essays, and literary devices.
October	Children’s Rights: Students will study the United Nations Declaration of Children’s Rights and decide whether children’s rights are an attainable goal or wishful thinking. Part of the unit will include reading a magazine about children’s rights then writing an article for the magazine. Students will also get a chance to create short films of their own.
November	Shakespeare: Students’ reading skills will be challenged as they read through a Shakespeare play. As a class, students will select which Shakespeare play they wish to study. We will examine a variety of themes and literary devices.
December	Literary Movements: Students will research a literary movement and learn its central philosophy, key players, important works, and etc. Students will then write a descriptive essay and create a presentation that captures the essence of the literary movement they studied.
January	Youth Culture: Students will examine youth culture and its effect on society in general. The unit includes a short film, a short story, and a magazine.
February	Magazine Unit: In this independent unit, students will create their own magazine. They will need to demonstrate an acute awareness of audience, tone, and magazine conventions. Students will develop a mission statement, write an article, create a cover page using design software, and create an advertisement.
March	Writing Portfolio and Independent Novel Study
April	Ethnographic or Action Research Unit
May/June	Final ES (Evaluation Situation)

Etherpad

Sadly, Etherpad has been disabled by google. Luckily, they gave away the code for free so there's lots of etherpad sites out there now.

We're using etherpad to write the script.

Opening Scene (murder)
http://typewith.me/BXspd39Kcf
Introductory scene (meet detective, see crime scene, meet friend)
http://typewith.me/YPHK2JF7ZA
Janitor's story
http://typewith.me/Ujpn3f0xSw
Emo kid's story
http://typewith.me/5oJ4QRrqZ4

Try to start the first three scenes.

Media Project Diagram

https://cacoo.com/diagrams/dGpZ7MDnbx7SHFUI

Radio Show

Radio Broadcasts

CBC Program Pitch Guide: http://www.cbc.ca/pitch/PDGroup_Pitch_Guide_newOct23_08.pdf

Outfront Pitch: http://www.cbc.ca/outfront/contribute/index.html

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

CBC Radio: Investigative Journalism

As I mentioned in last class, this unit is a combination of investigative journalism and radio broadcasting. Today, you'll be exploring both of these topics through CBC radio. CBC radio is a national, publicly-funded, internationally acclaimed media source. Below I have assembled a list of top-notch investigative journalism programs that you will get to explore today. Choose one of the programs that interest you and click the link. Each link will lead you to a slew of past episodes created by the program. Find an episode that interests you (the more recent the better) and listen to the complete episode. Episodes range in length from 20min to 35min.
You will be required to complete two tasks associated with this activity. First, complete the handout "Deconstructing Audio Texts." Although the boxes are small, try to include as many details as possible.
Secondly, write a minimum of 150 words about the investigative aspects of the episode you listened too. Explain what the episode was about and how the program explored that issue. Include a list of sources that were used in the episode.

White Coat, Black Art: A program that explores everything to do with the practice of medicine

C'est la Vie: An English program about what life is like in French-speaking Canada

The Current: A news program that goes into depth about current events

Dispatches: A news program that goes into depth about current events by connecting with journalists that are where the news is happening

DNTO (Definitely not the Opera): An entertaining program about pop culture

Age of Persuasion: An interesting exploration of the advertising world (the last show was about Shamwow)

Quirks & Quarks: If you are a science fan, this program is for you

Spark: A program about technology and the world of computers

Q: A fun program about the arts (from street graffiti to ballet)

Inside Track: A program about athletics in Canada

You will be presenting your work to the rest of the class at the beginning of next Journalism class.

Mindmapping

Mindmapping (Inspiration, MyWebspiration, FreeMind, bubble.us, Gliffy)

Type these into google

Voice Thread

http://voicethread.com/#q.b826510.i4395673