Google Groups

Google Groups
Svitak, Adora

I've been playing around on Google and I've discovered a new feature called Google Groups. This allows you to create your own group online, like "Mary's Book Group" or "Everything Tech," post messages and pages, customize the look of your online group, etc. You also get your own group email. Our group for Seeds of Learning is called Literature and Fine Arts. Visit it at http://groups.google.com/group/literature-and-fine-arts?hl=en .

Characters Based on Vocab Words by the class

Scenario: All three characters are in the classroom. Edith Smith, the teacher, sits straightbacked in her hardbacked chair at the front of the classroom. Saya Nakamuro is stuffing her mouth with Kit-Kats and sushi rolls while leading an animated discussion with her deskmate, Wichita Rathbone, a tall, gaunt, Goth girl.

Edith Smith says in a monotonous voice: Class, proceed.

The chatter in the classroom dies down--all except for Desk 8, where Saya is chattering about anime to Wichita, who sits silently with a grim expression.

"Saya, Saya, your prattle is worsening my migraine. Desist, you pungent cretin," Wichita says.

"Clause 491 of the School Board's Forbidden Activities in the Classroom expressly forbids the consumption of any edible articles within classroom walls," Edith Smith drones.

Saya keeps eating.

"You're getting crumbs on my cloak, you pestilent rat." Wichita angrily twists away from Saya, who is chattering on about her plans for the evening.

"...I'm going to be getting thirty-two new manga books, twelve boxes of California rolls, seventeen boxes of Kit-Kats, and we're going to be expanding the dining room table so that all my friends can fit..." Saya plunges on.

"Do you ever close that fly trap?" Wichita Rathbone mutters.

"Clause 12 of the Forbidden Activities in Class, draft one by the School Board, expressly states that disturbing, distracting, or otherwise non-pertaining to class primary subjects must stop within no less than two seconds of acknowledgement by the teacher, superintendent, or otherwise authoritative figure in the classroom," Edith Smith intones.

Not a single person in the class hears her over the shrill sound of the school bell.

Web Copy About Monkeys from Two Perspectives by Katie

advertising-
In the world there are many animals for sale to be pets, but the best kind of animal to get is a Monkey. Our monkeys come in many different colors and sizes--their fur is nice and fluffy and cuddly. They are better than the immature monkeys that are offered by less professional organizations. Our monkeys are in a class of their own. They are all the people talk about. They will be potty trained before you buy them and they will be taught to cook, play with children, play any instrument, read, write, draw, feed themselves. They also will be taught to talk in any language that humans can speak and understand. Does this sound like the perfect pet for you and your family? Then go down to the store and pick one up now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Informative:
Many Monkeys are brown with black eyes. There are many different kinds of monkeys all over the world; they are mammals. They have their own language, and they live in the trees. They live in forest and jungles, and they run and play in trees. Oh, did you know that a monkey eats and sleeps in a tree? They make great pets if they are trained.

Two Perspectives on the first footage of the Gerboa, a rare rodent

Gerboa:
The world has so many things that sound so nice, but the one thing we hate to hear is the screech of a cat's meow. We are growing weak and there are growing few of us, but we have just found that there is now one more thing we must fend for our selves from; That is a cat, with its tall ears, their claws as sharp as a blade of a sword, their stealthy movements, and their tails that we can be trapped in and killed, then eaten for that cat's dinner before he was killed as well. We fear humans for their big hand that pick us up and stroke our fur; their hands are rough and big when they touch our fur. They smell nothing like us; all we can smell when they are around is canned foods and other animals so much bigger than us. If the humans didn't care about us, those brobdingnagian animals could eat us in one hole. So thanks to those who care and please try to make other people care so we don't get eaten in a mouthful.

Kid:
The first time I had ever been to the pet store, I saw the pet that I would ask my mom to get me; it was the Gerboa. I love that it had a long tail and that its ears were 1/3 the size of there its head; when my mom looked at the Gerboa, she shook her head in a disapproving way, she said "No no no no no no no no, I will never let that freaky animal in my house". She took my hand and made me look at the dogs. When we done looking I asked for the Gerboa, she shook her head, and we left. Now it has been 20 years, since that day and the Gerboas are growing thin and weak. I still go and see if I could get one, but they stopped selling them because they were going extinct, so I want everyone in the world to care and do something nice to save those small big eared little animals.

posted by Katie

Sample Online Activity Sheet:
Question: What are the origins of the modern house cat?

1. Your mission is not to answer this question. Your mission is to decide, as quickly as possible, which of the following Web sites is most likely to contain information that will help you answer the question.
2. Look at the links. Which two sites do you think are most likely to contain the information you are looking for?
a)
b)
3. Log on to the Web and visit each of the sites below. Try not to spend more than a few minutes at each site.
4. If you think the site might contain an answer to the question, check yes in the box next to the site.
5. If you think the site will not contain an answer to your question, check no in the box next to the site.
Links-

Cats (musical) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and other poems by T. S. Eliot. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical) - 88k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Cats, Kittens - TerrificCats.com
Cats, Kittens - TerrificCats is a website you can find information on cat breeds, cat breeders, cat names and more.www.terrific-cats.com/ - 29k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Cats
This is a collection of pictures of cats found on random places on the internet. If you know of some reason they should not be here, or have pictures of ...www.acc.umu.se/~zqad/cats/ - 88k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Kittens for Sale Cats for Sale Cat Breeders
Pets 4 You provides information on all pets including kittens for sale, dogs for sale, dog breeders, kittens for sale, cat breeders, horses, reptiles, ...www.pets4you.com/cats.html - 82k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Orisinal.com - Cats
Ferry Halim - Orisinal arts collection. Simply relaxing experience for the soul. Soothing music and graphics, beautiful atmosphere.www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/cats.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Cat Fanciers Web Site
The Internet forum for the cat fancy since 1993. Comprehensive site with lots of original content. Articles and links on cat breeds, cat shows, cat care, ...www.fanciers.com/ - 5k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

National Geographic: Cats
Join the Project Cat design team as they hone the blueprints for the 'perfect predator' a mammal that can thrive in almost any habitat on earth.www.nationalgeographic.com/cats/ - 6k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

C.A.T.S.
Provides public transportation services to the Charlotte Metro Area, including service to Gastonia and Rock Hill. Mission statement, information on services ...
www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/

- 38k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
News results for cats

NBC5i.com
Sachse Residents Worry About Big Cat Sightings - Dec 10, 2007
SACHSE, Texas - Residents of a north Texas neighborhood said they are concerned a big cat has been visiting their area. Several neighborhood animals have ...
MSNBC - 7 related articles »

Confidential Files on Charles Stahler

Confidential Files on Charles Stahler
Svitak, Adora

Our mission was to find information on Mr. Charles Stahler. Here we present our research findings.

Mr. Stahler is codirector of the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG), which "provides information about and advocates vegetarian and vegan lifestyles." VRG publishes the Vegetarian Journal, a magazine which features, among other things, vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Mr. Stahler has co-written Meatless Meals for Working People with Debra Wasserman (according to Google Checkout, www.checkout.google.com ). Google Checkout has been extremely helpful on finding books by Mr. Stahler, as it carries links to websites like Barnes and Noble, http://www.alibris.com/, and http://www.al1books.com/ , which provide further information. Mr. Stahler has also written Vegetarianism for the Working Person and No Cholesterol Passover Meals, all of which are published by the Vegetarian Resource Group. These books are also co-written with Debra Wasserman.

We were unable to find Charles Stahler or the VRG on Wikipedia, the renowned online encyclopedia. Does this mean that Mr. Stahler and the Vegetarian Resource Group are too minor to catch Wikipedia's notice?

As for Mr. Stahler's personal background, he is married to Debra Wasserman, who, as you may have noticed, is a frequent collaborator with him on publications. Mr. Stahler has children and resides in Baltimore.

We advise our readers to keep low unless they want themselves profiled.

You could be next.

Note on investigating an author

Yesterday, I read a web article by Charles Stahler; I was to look him up and see what his background was, what other things he had written, and about his life. I had found many good strategies to find things out about him. I looked on wikipedia and found that there was no page on him, so what I did was went on Google and looked up things written by Charles Stahler. It took many sites to find what I wanted, but I found what I was looking for. I looked at many sites but I found that www.vegparadise.com , www.a1books.com , www.grist.org , www.alibris.com , and www.bn.com (barns and noble ) were the most useful. These sites gave me the best information the quickest, and they had it in a way that was really easy for me to understand. I found that Charles Stahler is codirector of vegetarian group (vrg), he writes with his wife Debra Wasserman. He is a father and he wrote the books Meatless maeals for Working People, and No Cholesterol Passover Recipies. Interested in more about Charles Stahler? Then go to www.vrg.org .
-posted by Katie

Good Learning Resource

Good Learning Resource
Svitak, Adora

Through the King County Library System's list of recommended sites, I've discovered www.bookrags.com, which has summaries, book guides, author info, etc. on (I think) every book on the planet. If you're writing a book report/review, etc., Book Rags provides a lot of great info.

Child Labor

I just came across Adrianna's excellent Write to Learn paragraph from our unit on child labor:

"I climb the steep blackened chimney, holding in my coughs and splutters. I am short of breath, so I inhale. I inhale black dust and charcoal, and my hollow coughs echo around the narrow tunnel. Tears sting my eyes, but I musn't cry. I have to work. I scrape the chimney sides that are black with dust. It's dark and lonesome, and hard to breath. All sorts of dust fills my lungs. I cry as I sweep the chimney."

I'd like to compliment Adrianna on her vivid use of imagery. Her empathy really shines through.

Investigating a Web Author

Let's play private eye and do a little investigative work on some Web authors.
First, read the following articles. Second, research the authors' backgrounds on the Web.
What are their credentials? What else have they written? What is their educational background?

http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue4/vj2006issue4poll.htm

http://newcats.blogspot.com/

When choosing a topic for topic based blogging, there's something to be said for the extremely specific...

mustaches of the nineteenth century

Vietnamese Education posted by Adora Svitak

The basic structure of Vietnamese education is similar to American education: pre-primary, primary, intermediate, secondary, and higher education.

As a poor country, Vietnam's public schools are dramatically under funded. The average public school teacher receives about sixty to one hundred United States dollars a month.

Sadly, the dropout rate increases after fifth grade. School is expensive--the government is not able to provide mucch money for students' supplies, and parents have to provide funds for their childrens' education.

Despite the drawbacks in Vietnam's public school system, Vietnam's average literacy rate is over ninety percent.

Activity for Tuesday-Weds.

Activity

Now that you have chosen an expert to investigate, it’s time to get started. Answer the following questions during the course of your investigation.

1. Where did you discover your expert?

2. What is your experts name?

3. What distinguishes your expert from other experts on your topic?

4. When did your expert first become interested in your topic?

5. Why did your expert first become interested in your topic?

6. How did your expert become an expert?

7. Describe a process that your expert uses to gain more information on your topic.

8. Has your experts published any published any books on your topic or appeared in any other media presentations on your topic?

9. How has your expert influenced your understanding of your topic?

When you have answered these questions, write a blog entry based on your answers. You can add other information, and be sure to include any thoughts or feelings you have that relate to each question. So, for example, if you answered question #6 with something like, “Delia Solquis attended school for eighteen years to become an expert in photography!”, in your blog entry you should include your answer to question #6 and then add your own thoughts on it, such as, “I already feel like I’ve been in school for ever, and I’ve only been here for six years. No wonder Delia’s blog sounds so smart.”

When you are finished writing your blog entry, use your self editing checklist and publish.

A Note on My Imaginary Country's Slang

This note on Voledadian slang is provided by your correspondent in Voledads, Adora Svitak.

While Voledads prefers to consider itself elite, the "bumpkins" of society do use a certain amount of slang. Because of Voledads' elitist standards for proper Dadish (the language of Voledads, similar to British English in pronunciation and American English in spelling, but with some added words and convoluted spellings), you will not find these words in dictionaries. Some examples include:

Pigseye (peeg-saay): Pigseye means a fire. In the countryside, peat (also known as peeg or pig) is the main fuel for fires, and seye is a superstitious term used to describe a warm tingling as though by magic. As one farmer described, "fire is like magic when it warms yer bones after a day in the field," perhaps giving rise to the slang phrase pigseye.

Arcking (Arrr-king): Heavy coughing, most likely from the sound of severe coughing.

Rolt: Brought. Probably some form of the word "rolled."

Backnocker: A beggar. Those begging for food often came to the back doors of restaurants and other establishments to get leftover food scraps, and thus the word "Backnocker." Backnocker can also be used to describe a freeloader or a shiftless person.

Nodder: A sycophant, toady, minion--a person who agrees with everything their master, etc., says. Nodder originated as a propaganda term in anti-government groups, which led the oligarchy to censor its appearance in books. It remains, however, a pop term for the teenage generation, and "nodder" is forever memorialized in the pantheon of high school insults.

Three Narratives From My Imaginary Country, excerpted in "A History of Voledads," the most widely-read schoolbook in Voledads.

Three Narratives from Voledads

Svitak, Adora



Before you Read:

An excerpt from Me: or, a True Tale of Voledads’ Little Princess, by Maisie Clayton (Stage and Screen, pg. 144)

Key Terms
Retain
Roaad’s Point
Bustling
Pageant
Flannels
Chenille
Debutante
Sanitarium
Formidable
Faux
Reticule


It was a cold morning when I was born, the midwife said, and indeed the first thing I remembered in my life was a cold sort of chill, if I could remember much; for I was probably only three years when I began retaining information conveniently.
We were common folk. My father owned a small parcel of land ten miles from Roaad’s Point. Every month our father and my two older brothers would go to Roaad’s Point and barter things at market: sheep, pigs, goats, and geese, jugs of the creamy milk of Bellatine the cow, and my mother’s fine woolen garments. My mother was the best dressmaker about. If us girls—my elder sister Therese and my two little sisters Louise and Lora—were good and did all that our mother bid us, we could come along as well in our father’s rattling wagon, bundled up tightly in our veils and flannels for the cold part of the year.
The market was a bustling place full of novelties that we country girls found the most amazing. I remember that upon seeing a printing press, I, for a great length, begged my father to buy me one. He, of course, had better things to do than listen to my silly pleas, and so disposed of me conveniently by bringing me to the market pageant. It was at the market pageant that I first saw the greatest inspirations in my acting career.
I was dazzled by the damsels in distress, blinded by knights in shining armor, and drunken with the rum of rasping pirates. At the time ladies on the stage were considered “fast.” This meant, as far as I knew, that we girls were supposed to keep a good distance away from them and not get any bad ideas. But rather than avoid them and hurry away like my prudent sisters, I stayed and watched respectfully as my idol, the olive-skinned, black-haired Mia Gardenioff, swept off the stage in her signature yellow chenille. It would be long before I got my chenille. But then again, it would be long before I would get on the stage.
When I became a young debutante I received a green chenille with matching chiffon about the waist—but enough of the clothes, for my coming-out was more important. I was said to be the “belle of the ball,” but can I tell you! Eighteen-year-old girls are more apt to think themselves scrawny, ungainly, and hopelessly ugly. As such an eighteen-year-old, I was very much surprised when I overheard a remark about my being a good candidate for a role in the new play, Bella Sanitarium. It was said to be quite a comedy, but one of the understudies had broken a leg—in the literal sense, that is—and the original player of the role had backed out citing religious reasons.
Sanitarium was touring through Tiola, and as it happened, my formidable Aunt Aurelia wanted me to visit her in Tiola, I wanted to go abroad like the rest of my “set,” and it was our family’s tradition for the girls to finish at the Mount Bauxite Women’s College in Tiola. The director of Sanitarium contacted me by letter later in the year, inviting me to sign on to the playacting set. I agreed at once, packed my belongings and schoolbooks in my worn little faux-leather satchel, tucked my tickets for the Mount Bauxite train and the Elvern-to-Tiola steamboat into my reticule, and set off. --------------------


An excerpt from the 1919 Labor Reports:

Being the eleventh boy in a poor family that got to make money somehow doesn’t do much for your education except physical. All of us got to work when we can, what we can, and how we can. In our fashion we mined coal and my sisters did what they could to help our ma with the washing and sewing for the rich folks. My ma, she washed so hard that her hands got reddish like. None of us kids knew what rightly to do about it, cause we were just kids.
My ma was from a high sorts of family at first, and got proper schooling, and taught us how to write and add sums when she could if she wasn’t too busy with the washing. Her da was a merchant but lost his ships at sea, and so his rank doesn’t have much influence on us now. My brothers worked in the mine with our da and the youngsters got our water and tools and food.
Being a coal miner requires exercise. At the end of the day our knees are all sore from going down the tunnel, stop and go. Our shoulders and arms are sore from hacking away at the coal, our necks are sore from craning them to try to see above our heads (there be some nasty accidents in the mines from above), and our feet are sore from being pinched in our boots. We can’t afford to buy new ones so our toes stick out and, well, too bad if anything falls on them. Our whole bodies are sore from pulling up the carts of coal. The mine owners wouldn’t buy a mouse to pull those things. They harness us to the carts with yokes like oxen, whip us like we’re horses, and say they’re going to throw us out if we complain about pulling the cart in the dark when the rain is dripping and you’re really supposed to have a rest. Does a miner really ever have a rest? I don’t think that the number of rests I’ve gotten would be enough time to say “Mine’s crashing in!” That’s quite fast. I know from the number of times I’ve heard the unfortunate man shout it over from the tunnel twenty feet over. The mine owners don’t honestly care. They cover up and threaten to make mincemeat of us if we tell the constable that a tunnel crashed in and that they didn’t open their fat purses to pay for some men to go and find the poor soul. Oh well, we get our pay and that’s enough to feed the girls at home. That’s some comfort, even though my blisters are hurting like anything. What I would really like right now would be some toffee, but all I’m getting is bitter coffee with coal shavings in it. Fact that I made a rhyme—toffee and coffee, that is—doesn’t do much to lift my spirits, cause I’ll be working overtime.------------------



My name is Sylvius Junius Jacquelle van Bartholemeo-Nottlewood [Note to the reader: Nottlewood was Sylvius’s wife’s father’s surname, van Bartholemeo her mother’s. Junius was Sylvius’s father’s surname, and thus the most prominent, while Jacquelle was his mother’s surname. Voledadian monarchial names were very complicated, if not excessively so], and I am the fifth Sylvius Junius of Junius House, in Voledads. My life has been an uneventful fusion of fame, diet, and drink. I am particularly fond of the cognac of my mother’s countrymen, the Carmellans.
This day in 1520 I came upon a strange desire to record some of the happenings these years, as I know that even young kings so fair-of-face as me may be cut down by a stray arrow or sickened by plagues or killed in battle. Therefore I wish to leave some imprint on the world beyond my laws, which could be overturned as easily by the next king, oligarchy, or whatever the easily impressionable people of Voledads fancy for themselves, as a feather could be blown away.
I was born noonday in the month of August. The astrologists had predicted a girl and thus it was that, my mother having great faith in astrology, I was not found to be a boy until I was brought to christening and my voluminous silken robes were unwrapped. It is inauspicious to look at a baby before he or she is fully wrapped, and so it was only at my naming, when I was doused in holy Trinansitic water, that the court discovered my gender. Or a story something along these lines.
Before the time of my birth, the house of my father, Junius, was at war with the Jacquelles. While typically Voledadian and Carmellan families have feuds between each other, the two houses’ constant social battle ballooned out so alarmingly that both houses were quite weak when the Nottlewoods attacked. The Junius and Jacquelle houses found it necessary to ally themselves through the marriage of my father (a Junius) to my mother (a Jacquelle), and fought against the Nottlewoods. When I reached sixteen years, this fight began to die down, and I was betrothed to the valiant Canerle van Bartholomeo-Nottlewood to end the feud more conveniently. This Canerle, my wife now, is a virago of sorts, and once threw the Minister of Finance out the window by his ear. Thankfully it was the first floor, but the good Minister landed in a thorn bush and needed a great deal of fixing up. There is no one in the kingdom who can tell Canerle what to do. My father, the eminent former king, tried to hint that Canerle’s ways were too forward, but Canerle tossed her hair and rode off to her country estate. Nevertheless, Canerle rallies, disciplines, and fights alongside the soldiers, so she has garnered the title of Lance Majoress (a word of my own making) for herself. Canerle will continue the historical area of this narrative in the event of my death. I hope that she will not turn my noble writings into a smear campaign against me. It seems like something Canerle would do, considering that I just cut her budget for weaponry. --------------

Props

One of my favorite posts lately is
this simple update from Katie's blog. It's not long, but it's neatly written, and I like how Katie ties her topic to her own personal experiences, and a personal memory. That's what blogging is all about.

Painting the Town Red Redux

We turned up some interesting phrases during yesterday's activity, wherein we created phrases and phrase origins for our imaginary countries. Some of my favorites include: Adrianna's slug hair phrase and the interesting historical origins of Adora's phrase one hobbling crook is better than ninety-two strong monks.
I thought Adrianna's idea of posting a Czech menu as part of her 'Becoming an Expert' project was pretty cool, so I assigned this homework topic: create a menu for a restaurant in your imaginary country. As preliminary research, students will study the evolution of cuisine in real countries around the world. I'm looking forward to inspecting the results.

Painting the Town Red- posted by your teacher, Beastie

Have you ever been to the Big Apple? What about the Big Easy? Have you painted the town red lately? Are you in the pink? Are you out of sorts? Are you more fun than a barrel of monkeys? Do you take everything I say with a grain of salt?
Do a lot of phrases we use regularly not make much sense to you when you really think about them? Today, we're going to look at the origins of some common phrases, and then create phrases and accompanying origins for our imaginary countries.
1. check this out
2. Open a blog entry and write a list of phrases that are used in your country, accompanied by theories on their possible origins.
3. Use the phrase a day website for guidance on style and tone.

Activity

Now that you are well on your way to becoming an expert on your subject, it’s your job to keep your readers updated.

Activity: Take some time today to read about your subject in one of your books, or via your Google alert feed. Share your information with your readers. To get started, read my example on the following page, then follow the steps below.

First, answer the following questions:
1. What new thing have you learned regarding your topic?
2. Where did you learn it? (if website, include link)
3. What does it make you think of?
4. How does it make you feel?
5. What new questions does it raise?

• Now, open a blog post, title it ‘Update’ and transcribe your answers into your post in complete sentences.
• When you are done writing, use your self-editing checklist and publish.
• If you have time, visit your classmates’ blogs and read their posts.
• If you have any questions about their posts, you can leave them in the comments section.

Update

Our history from a pet's eye view project turned out some pretty cool results. Check out

Katie's beautifully written blog post on her blog, Minakochouko, and read Adora's post below. Nice work. I love the wistful tone of Katie's post, and of course Adora knows that I'm partial to anything that touches upon one of my favorite subjects, the illustrious General Hamilton. Even if it's not particularly flattering....Hem. Hem.

A Pet's Eye View of History

A Pet’s Eye View of History
Svitak, Adora

I am the renowned tomcat, Hamilton of Mt. Vernon. I have, since the day of my celebrated birth, been companion to Martha Washington of Mt. Vernon. This being a common 1762 day spent laid upon the carpet with lethargy most uncommon to my namesake, curse him, I have chosen to talk to my lowly readers to pass time.

I live in a great house for humans, with tall windows stretching from the ceiling to the floor and curlicues of ivy wrapping around the Venetian-railed verandah, and balconies with potted plants on the second floor, but nothing for a tomcat like me.

Mrs. Washington is the typical society matron doing all sorts of goodly works and such, and takes great comfort in eating. She is more of a mother than a wife to the eminent Mr. Washington, who is absent most of the time, takes good care of the animals in her care, and usually lies back on the davenport.

They say that Mrs. Washington is a most impressive figure. Perhaps they mean her girth, for else I would say that she is the average president’s wife and do-gooder. Of course, I cannot judge too well, having not seen any other presidents in the fledgling nation, but she is no different from any other women to me.

A curse upon my name and my namesake. Hamilton! How did humans get to name us felines, I daresay? I profess to be an anti-federalist, myself, and have clawed a Federalist Paper on occasion. The simple Mrs. Washington, however, took my destructive intent to be adoring fondling, and christened me Hamilton with great ado. This Hamilton is a hotheaded fop with about as much genius as deserts have floods. Upon arriving to pay a visit to Mrs. Washington, he shooed me out of the way like a common alley-cat and paid less attention to me than a flea! Would that I had a different name.

"Forms of Government" from The Phrontistery

Duarchy government by two people
Hagiarchy government by saints/holy persons
Plutocracy government by the wealthy

DUARCHY

In 1438, members of the ruling oligarchy in Voledads were assassinated in a popular attempt to get a king or queen back on the throne. The Voledadian people got more than they bargained for—the two grandchildren of the last king assumed power and ruled on a dual throne. The Grand Duke Dananan and his sister, the Grand Duchess Georgietta, appeared together at all social events. Instead of saying “I and my royal sister/brother” when talking to people, the duarchy introduced “we” as the formal term to encompass two people. “We” took hold, however, and spread to documents and speech internationally.

HAGIARCHY

In 1482, not long after the reign of the Grand Duke Dananan and the Grand Duchess Georgietta, a hagiarchy came to rule Voledads. Duke Dananan and his sister had always been deeply devout throughout their lives, and so it was no surprise that Archbishops were always named Regents in their absence. As it happened, Georgietta died unexpectedly after a fall on the stairs, and Dananan, so overcome with grief, retreated to his country estate and left the country to the Archbishop of Elvern. After Dananan’s death by smallpox, the Archbishop took control, more firmly tying church and state together than ever before. The Archbishop, known as “The Pursuer,” persecuted atheists, agnostics, and non-Trinansitic (the main religion at the time) people in Voledads.

PLUTOCRACY

The start of Voledads’ industrial revolution began in 1899 at the turn of the century. Around this time large monopolies were the norm in Voledads, and the oligarchy was soon infiltrated by big business owners of all kinds. While ruling under the banner of “freedom and free enterprise,” the plutocracy also introduced many self-beneficial laws, including the controversial “Yarn-threader’s Law,” which decreed that those involved in threading in factories could not hold employers responsible for factory-retained injuries. On the plus side, however, the plutocracy introduced a higher standard of education; because of the near inexistence of private schools in Voledads, business owners wanted their children to get the best education possible in public schools. The plutocracy also beautified Voledads’ public buildings with marble floors, potted plants, etc., with money from their own business investments.

Nice work-posted by Beastie

I really enjoyed reading the posts from yesterday's assignment, in which we created a profile for one of the founders of our imaginary countries. Adrianna's names were especially good (I will never forget Gorgoslav), Katie's profile was very creative and carefully written (good job on the spelling and punctuation!), and I thought
Pestito Adora's death sequence was quite hilarious. Nice insights into van Sprawitz's college years as well, Pestito.

Vocabulary

Choose four words from this list to use in sentences. Be prepared to define your words for the class.

beastiocracy

Visit this site and choose three forms of government. Write a creative paragraph describing each of your chosen forms of government.

Time Capsule Constitution Revised

Time Capsule Update
Svitak, Adora

For our class assigment we are going to be learning about the Constitution. As a preliminary assigment, we're going to be summarizing everything we know about constitutions and our Constitution. I know some of the history behind the Constitution's beginnings from our previous lessons. One impressive guest at the Constitutional Convention was Benjamin Franklin (much weather-beaten at this time). His diplomatic counterpart, John Adams, was away at the time. Amendments to the Constitution have been made over time, to allow things such as voting rights for women and African-Americans. The Constitution continues to be an influential ruling force in the way we act today. "Unconstitutional" is a common news term, meaning that something does not follow the Constitution, and is used especially frequently in political debates. I think (making my best guess, not something that we learned in class) that there are constitutions, or similarly formed documents, in other democratically governed countries but not all countries of the world. I would guess that our Constitution is modeled after British documents stating laws, since most of our founding fathers came from Britain, but I can't name a specific British document. Admittedly, I know little about the Constitution. This gives us all the more reason to launch ahead with our Constitution project.

Time Capsule Constitution Revised

Time Capsule Update
Svitak, Adora

For our class assigment we are going to be learning about the Constitution. As a preliminary assigment, we're going to be summarizing everything we know about constitutions and our Constitution. I know some of the history behind the Constitution's beginnings from our previous lessons. One impressive guest at the Constitutional Convention was Benjamin Franklin (much weather-beaten at this time). His diplomatic counterpart, John Adams, was away at the time. Amendments to the Constitution have been made over time, to allow things such as voting rights for women and African-Americans. The Constitution continues to be an influential ruling force in the way we act today. "Unconstitutional" is a common news term, meaning that something does not follow the Constitution, and is used especially frequently in political debates. I think (making my best guess, not something that we learned in class) that there are constitutions, or similarly formed documents, in other democratically governed countries but not all countries of the world. I would guess that our Constitution is modeled after British documents stating laws, since most of our founding fathers came from Britain, but I can't name a specific British document. Admittedly, I know little about the Constitution. This gives us all the more reason to launch ahead with our Constitution project.

cool blog

I'd like to encourage all Seeds of Learning students to periodically write posts about sites of interest, and new blogs they have discovered. In order to practice what I preach, I'd like to recommend a soviet poster a day. The blogger's choice of a visual topic hooks readers in, making the potentially heavy subject matter seem less dry. While the blogger's writing style is a little clunky at times, it is obvious that he or she knows a lot about the subject matter, and some of his/her observations are very insightful. Plus, the reader gets the opportunity to peruse some really interesting images that aren't readily available in the United States.

Comments on the "Becoming An Expert" Project

As a class assigment, we've all been learning more about topics that we're interested in with the "Becoming An Expert" project. We've been posting blogs about information that we've learned from a variety of mediums like the World Wide Web and nonfiction books. My topic is Chinese history.

So far the Becoming an Expert project has been very interesting. I’ve been able to discover more about not only China but the way that its history influences us today. I’ve also been able to share the information I discover with my readers by publishing updates on my topic to my blog, and I’ve sharpened my research skills in finding info about my topic.

I’ve noticed, however, that having a general topic like China makes it difficult to write my material in a structured or chronologically correct way. I think that suggesting having a specific topic—Ancient China, for instance—would make for more in-depth information on one topic instead of being able to cover only a few things in China’s enormous history.

Overall I am enjoying the Becoming an Expert project a great deal. I believe that kids will like the Becoming an Expert project because you are able to choose a topic that you are interested in and want to know more about, and the variety of resources you can use to gather information. I think that the Becoming an Expert project is easy to utilize, fun to do, and a great learning journey.

Time Capsule: The Constitution

Time Capsule Update
Svitak, Adora

For our class assigment we are going to be learning about the Constitution. As a preliminary assigment, we're going to be summarizing everything we know about constitutions and our Constitution.

I know some of the history behind the Constitution's beginnings from our previous lessons. One impressive guest at the Constitutional Convention was Benjamin Franklin (much weather-beaten at this time). His diplomatic counterpart, John Adams, was away at the time.

Amendments to the Constitution have been made over time, to allow things such as voting rights for women and African-Americans.

The Constitution continues to be an influential ruling force in the way we act today. "Unconstitutional" is a common news term, meaning that something does not follow the Constitution, and is used especially frequently in political debates.

Admittedly, I know little about the Constitution. This gives us all the more reason to launch ahead with our Constitution project.

Expert Project

So far I am very impressed with the results of our 'Becoming an Expert' project. For an example, check out Adora's blog. Good job citing your references, Adora. I also really love your humorous asides.

Poetry is a pastime-posted by Adora and Felisa

Poetry is...
a pastime.
Poetry is...
a summing up.
Poetry is...
a medium to vent our emotions.
Poetry is...
a potential political or religous weapon.
Poetry is...
a caricature of life.
Poetry is...
life condensed.
Poetry is...
canned life.
Poetry is...
a doorway.
Poetry is...
a paradox.
Poetry is...
a collage.
Poetry is a pantheon.
Poetry is...
monkeys crying sorrowfully above.

Link

link name
Watch Adora on Adora TV

wikipedia.org

Today's Activity

Activity: Update

Now that you are well on your way to becoming an expert on your subject, it’s your job to keep your readers updated. Take some time today to read about your subject in one of your books, or via your Google alert feed. Share your information with your readers.

First, answer the following questions:

1. What new thing have you learned regarding your topic?
2. Where did you learn it? (if website, include link)
3. What does it make you think of?
4. How does it make you feel?
5. What new questions does it raise?

Now, open a blog post, title it ‘Update’ and transcribe your answers into your post in complete sentences.

When you are done writing, use your self-editing checklist and publish. If you have time, visit your classmates’ blogs and read their posts. If you have any questions about their posts, you can leave them in the comments section.

Time Capsule

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the Czech Republic? Or are you thinking "What the heck? Where in the world is the Czech Republic?" I've got the answers to both of those questions, and quite a bit more. The Czech Republic is located in Europe, South of Germany and Poland. It used to be connected to Slovakia (which is right next to the Czech Republic), so the Czech Republic used to be called Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic's people speak Czech (of course). The Czech Republic holds many ancient castles and buildings; it is a country filled with history. Most people in the Czech republic play violin. The Czech Republic is a country filled with culture. I chose this topic because I believe that the Czech Republic is a very interesting country. I also chose to write about the Czech Republic for my topic because some of my ancestors came from the Czech Republic, and I thought it would be nice to know more about the Czech Republic.

My questions about the Czech Republic: What kind of architecture is predominant in the Czech Republic? What are some historical sites in the Czech republic? What words are hardest for Czech children to learn? What artists have come from the Czech Republic? What kind of food is in the Czech Republic? What inventions have Czech people made?

Menu
Soups
zelná polévka (sauerkraut soup)
bramborová polévka (potato soup)
česneková polévka (garlic soup)
koprová polévka or koprovka (dill soup, made from sour milk)

Side Dishes
vařené brambory (boiled potatoes)
houskové knedlíky (bread dumplings)


Desserts
borůvkové knedlíky (blueberry dumplings)

Blog Evaluation

Have you ever read a blog with borders that looked like sweaterneck designs? If so, I sympathize. The blog www.instapundit.com, a political blog, is not only fringed by these drab borders, but flashy ads matching its sensationalist tone. I was not impressed by www.instapundit.com, and I realized the importance of choosing designs and advertisements with taste.

One blog that I found particularly interesting was www.worldhistoryblog.com, about, evidently, world history. Their sky background is nicely staying in the background and not drawing attention away from the subject. The unobtrusive sky colors of blue and white also compliment the blogger's speculative tone. I liked the subject matter but I was disappointed that many posts were articles he recommended that were written by other people, instead of his own work. This blog helped me learn that displaying your own work makes your blog more unique, and that images are essential to helping readers get a good grasp on the subject matter.

Www.classic-literature.blogspot.com, a blog about classic literature, has a lack of images and is set against a plain dark blue background that emphasizes the blogger's serious tone. I felt that the blogger did not address us and I was somewhat pushed away. I thought that the blog, while focusing on interesting subject matter, was slightly boring. I knew after reading this blog that addressing your readers or their key interests directly helps "pull people in."

Blog Eval

Blogging is about more than just creating an online journal; blogging is about communicating with other bloggers, and learning new things from the feedback you receive in your comments section. Exploring other blogs is a part of being a successful blogger. We can learn from other blogs. Which blogs do you like? Which blogs do you dislike? Why?

Activity:

Vocabulary:

Tone- the characteristic style of a piece of writing, the way somebody says something

Examples: optimistic, pessimistic, light-hearted, gloomy, casual, formal, academic, gossipy, sarcastic, warm, serious, facetious, dramatic, dry, outraged, enthusiastic,

1. Visit a blog that specializes in a specific topic.

2. Explore the blog for a few minutes. If you like it, stay a little longer.

3. Answer the questions below.

4. When you are done, continue exploring the blogs on your blog list. In your notebooks, answer the blog eval questions for each blog.

Blog Eval Sheet-

1. Name of blog:-----------------------------------------------

2. Is the blog visually appealing? ---------------------------

3. Are there many images? ----------------------------------

4. Do you like the way the blog looks?--------------------

Describe the way the blog looks:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. What is the blog’s primary topic? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. What kind of tone does the blogger use? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Labor Lecture

My hands are cracked and dry...
sweat cascades down my face like tears,
my eyes hanging low, drooping with tiredness,
and pain echoes across my eyes,
so sore and sleepy...
I have been staring, concentrating for so long
on the task not yet completed...
But completed so many times before,
completed again, and again,
the same thing
over, and over again.
Something scratches my hand
like sharp pebble,
I take no notice...
it is only a scratch. My hands are
already
cracked, dry,
wasted.
They've no use
but for work.
The same thing,
over and over again.
The hot, stuffy air brushes
my face. I inhale stiffly...
the air smells of stale sweat and pain and sadness.
I keep working....Just a few more hours.
Over, and over again.

frassy tomboy's opposite

Grgrum was a heartless giant who lived in a damp, hollow tree. He lived in Cdonslka, a place where it always rained. The rain never stopped, not even for a brief moment. It had been raining since the beginning of time. Grgrum was a giant fellow with grey, lumpy arms, and a giant, lumbering body. He always wore a crooked sneer. Maloderous drool ran down the sides of his face. Every time he spoke, speckles of spit would come flying from his mouth. Grgrum never took showers...In his whole lifetime, he had never changed his clothes once. His clothes were ragged with age, and stiff with stink. He wore blue breeches that were caked with mud and food-stains. Grgrum knew nothing, except how to kill living beings. He could not perform simple math problems, he could not tell you what the word "eye" meant. He was completely ignorant of the world around him.
Grgrum was tone deaf, and despised music. He considered the word "melody" a swear word. He hated all forms of art, especially cubism and portraits of people. Grgrum was a hateful being. He believed that animals were stupid and deserved to be killed. So Grgrum was a carnivore all his life. He was an un-humane, uncaring carnivore, ignoring all the screams of the pigs he brutally murdered.
Grgrum hardly ever talked. He usually just grunted and grumbled, with the occasional roar. He walked slowly, and was very lazy. He didn't wake up until noon, each day. He was unbelievably obese, and undeniably stinky.

The Red Pony Final Draft by Adora

The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck, is a story about growing up and learning lessons. Jody, the protagonist, is a ten-year-old boy growing up in the Salinas Valley, with an infinite number of chores to do. Obscure in school and sternly treated at home, Jody is delighted and proud when his stony father gives him a red pony named Gabilan.



A major reason Jody cares for the pony is pride. Although he makes sacrifices for the pony's health, the seemingly noble lad harbors ulterior motives. Jody boasts about the pony to earn himself prestige. He worries that, upon riding the pony, he'll injure himself. Jody does not consider Gabilan's safety and he forgets about the pony after its death.



Jody immediately makes plans to showcase the pony. Jody brings a gaggle of classmates to gape at the pony without considering that Gabilan might be nervous in the extroverted atmosphere. Jody brags about Gabilan to the other boys. He displays the beloved saddle of red Moroccan leather, his pride bolstered by its beauty and showiness, although the saddle is impractical for riding.


Jody is more worried about himself than the pony. When learning that he will have the chance to ride Gabilan, he is terrified “that in the flurry of bucking Gabilan might slip and fall on him and break his [Jody's] leg or his hip. He had seen that happen to men before, how they writhed on the ground like squashed bugs.” Jody is also worried about shaming himself while riding Gabilan—“He didn't like to think what would happen if he grabbed the horn. Maybe his father and Billy Buck would never speak to him again, they would be so ashamed. The news would get about and his mother would be ashamed too. And the schoolyard--it was awful to contemplate.” Heck, have you considered Gabilan?



After a spell of sadness following Gabilan's death, Jody appears to forget completely about the red pony and focuses his attention on caring for Nellie, his father's horse. Jody is proud just thinking about this—“his shoulders swayed a little with maturity and pride.” I conclude to say that Jody enjoys Gabilan's company because it gives him Herculean glory in the schoolyard; his boasts about Gabilan display his want for attention. He considers the pony the perfect tool to execute his plans for prestige. Jody remains, in my opinion, a pride-motivated protagonist and a key figure in one of the most acclaimed works of 20th Century literature.

Today we're doing activities where we write paragraphs using vocabulary words. Mine is "catharsis."

He was an Executive of formidable disposition; he was subjected to twenty-eight conferences a week, including weekends, meeting with obsequious courtiers of the business life. It was a foggy day, thunder booming outside the skyscraper, when a disturbance was caused on the twenty-fourth floor. Rialto had to be fired, the Executive thought. This was undeniable. The same Executive, however, was later reduced to a shuddering mortal upon the church's confessional floor. It was his catharsis; he poured out the pitiful story of his hurried life and washed out the worries until he was wrung out, like a rag, at which point he dragged his feet away from the church, a wretched man, the Executive no longer.

Essay on The Red Pony by John Steinbeck- posted by Adrianna

The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck, is a fictional story documenting the life of a young boy, Jody, and his pony. Jody is a ten-year old boy who receives a beautiful red pony named Gabilan. Jody works hard caring for Gabilan. But one day, Gabilan falls seriously ill from being out in the rain for too long. Jody is terribly sadenned. Gabilan starts to get better, and he is nearly well and healthy again. But one night the wind is strong and blows the barn door wide open, and Gabilan escapes. Gabilan ascends a large, steep hill. In the morning, when Jody awakes, he notices that the barn door is ajar, and Gabilan is gone. Jody's heart beats with "panic and rage", as he races up the hill, following Gabilan's tracks. Jody sees a ring of buzzards circling lower and lower, surrounding dying Gabilan. Gabilan dies of cold and sickness before the buzzards touch him. Jody is tremendously sad.


I believe that a very large portion of the reason Jody cares for and loves Gabilan is because of pride. Jody loves Gabilan, but a lot of that love goes to Gabilan's beauty, not Gabilan himself. I think that if Gabilan were a mangy, dirty, elderly horse, Jody wouldn't care for or love Gabilan at all. In The Red Pony, there are scenes where Jody throws stones at various animals, such as his dog, and a bird. In fact, he kills the bird when he throws a stone at it. He kills the bird for no apparent reason. He slices off his head, and cuts his body to bits. He also throws a stone at his own dog. His dog, whom he calls "Doubletree Mutt", is a mangy, dirty mutt. I'm almost certain Jody wouldn't have thrown a stone at his dog if his dog were a glistening golden show dog. On another occasion, Jody set-up a mouse trap made solely for Doubletree Mutt. Doubletree Mutt stuck his nose in the trap to get the bait, and ended up with a bloody nose.


When Jody receives Gabilan, Jody brings his fellow classmates to the barn, so he can show-off Gabilan to his friends. Jody brags about Gabilan, showing-off Gabilan's new fancy red saddle. When Jody first gets Gabilan, he torments himself by thinking that the mice would have chewed away Gabilan's beautiful tail until it was thin and stringy.
Jody is very sad when Gabilan dies, but only for a day or two. From then on, he doesn't show signs of mourning. I think that Jody was mostly sad because he had lost that pride of having a dazzling, beautiful pony. I don't think that Jody ever thought he and Gabilan were ever friends. Jody thought that he owned Gabilan. I don't think Jody really loved Gabilan as a friend; as an equal.
I believe that Jody loves Gabilan mostly only because Gabilan is strong, powerful and beautiful. I don't think Jody really loves Gabilan, the horse. Having Gabilan gives Jody a sense of pride.

Essay on The Red Pony by Adora

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck is a story about growing up and learning lessons. Jody, the protagonist, is a ten-year old boy growing up in the Salinas Valley, with an infinite number of chores to do. Obscure in school and sternly treated at home, Jody is delighted and proud when his stony father gives him a red pony named Gabilan. However, Gabilan later passes away.

One of the major reasons Jody cares for the pony is because of pride. While he does appear to make many sacrifices for the pony's welfare, he boasts about the pony to earn himself prestige; he worries that, upon riding the pony, he'll injure himself, not worrying about Gabilan's safety. Jody forgets about the pony after its death, upon learning he'll have the chance to get a new horse.

Jody makes plans to show Gabilan off immediately after receiving the pony. Jody brings six boys from his school to see the pony without considering Gabilan might be nervous or inclined towards an unsociable disposition. Jody brags about Gabilan to the other boys, and proudly displays the beloved saddle of red Moroccan leather, liking the saddle because of its beauty, which boosts his pride, in direct disregard towards Billy Budd's criticisms of its showiness.

Jody is more worried about himself than the pony. When learning he'll have the chance to ride Gabilan, he becomes afraid "that in the flurry of bucking Gabilan might slip and fall on him and break his [Jody's] leg or his hip. He had seen that happen to men before, how they writhed on the ground like squashed bugs." Jody is also worried about shaming himself while riding Gabilan--"He didn't like to think what would happen if he grabbed the horn. Maybe his father and Billy Buck would never speak to him again, they would be so ashamed. The news would get about and his mother would be ashamed too. And the schoolyard--it was awful to contemplate."

After a spell of sadness after Gabilan's death, Jody appears to forget completely about the red pony and focus his attention on caring for Nellie, his father's horse, as part of a bargain with his father to earn a new horse. Jody is proud just thinking about this achievement--"his shoulders swayed a little with maturity and pride."

I conclude to say that Jody merely enjoys Gabilan's company because it gives him stature in a world built upon pride; his boasts about Gabilan display his want for attention and how he considers the pony the perfect tool to execute his plans for prestige. Jody remains, in my opinion, a pride-motivated protagonist and a key figure in one of the most acclaimed works of 20th Century literature.

Descriptive language. No Figuretive Language.

1. The ruler is straight and non-flexible. The ruler is sparkly red and blue, and has a wooden case. The ruler stretches as high as the highest sky-scraper. It was created by Sir Doofusduguduganmisterduppy.

2. The waves of the ocean splash up, icy cold, against the sandy waves of shore. Dusk has spread all over the sky. The salty smell of the sea permeates through the gloom of the rain and gray. The waves have no mercy, spilling frothy white and blue all over the golden sand. Through the fog the sea rolls on.

a conversation

Today we each created a character to match one of our vocabulary words. Adora chose 'Apollonian', Adrianna chose 'jovial', and Katie chose 'mercurial. This conversation takes place in a classroom. Katie (who modelled her mercurial character on herself) has just broken a classmate's nose because he called her fat. Her teacher, the jovial Emily Sumner, is just addressing the situation, when the superintendent, the Apollonian Hester Dickens, drops in unexpectedly.

"Katie I hope you realize that what you did today was very unkind," Ms. Sumner said, sounding unperturbed. "Don't you think you should apologize?"
"Never!" Katie screamed angrily.
"Please, why don't we have a lollipop and talk this over..." Ms. Sumner said gently.
"I'll have a lollipop!" Katie chirped, suddenly cheerful.
After a brisk knock, the superintendent, Hester Dickins, walked into the classroom.
"Hello, I'm the new school superintendent, Hester Dickins"
"Hi my name is Emily Sumner! How are you?" Ms. Sumner held her hand out warmly. "Oh yes, and this is Katie!"
"And what is Katie doing in the classroom? I note that the other children are gone."
"Licking a lollipop!" Katie interjected, and began barking like a lunatic.
"And why might you have a lollipop?" Ms. Dickins inquired calmly.
"I punched someone in the nose," Katie snapped. Ms. Dickins looked sober. "This is not permitted by code 1204 of the school charter," she said, without raising her voice.

Connotative and Denotative-posted by Adora

Negative version
__________________________
Senator Herbert Brown, a gnarled man, his hideous, wart-bedecked face clearly marked by the ravages of time, is a bossy figure. Though he enjoys coffers overflowing with gold, he retains a miserly lifestyle. With pigheaded pushes for privileges to the similarly ostentatious United Golf Club, his ideas are outrageous.

He often wavers in his morals, compromising his so-called "religious principles" for Ferraris and thousands of dollars in wasteful dinners. He promotes each one of his own ideas with babyish petulance, but meets everyone else's ideas with aggressive close-mindedness. Sen. Brown is a blight upon the nation and a miasma of corruption, and only you can stop him.

Connotative and Denotative posted by Adora

For class, we're doing a project where we're writing all-positive descriptions of politicians, though behind the positive connotations lurks the negativity. For instance--"commanding" translates to "bossy." Distinguished translates to "Old" as well as "Ugly." "Warrior" hides "bellicose", "aggressive", or "warlike".
____________________________________________________________________________________
A distinguished figure with a commanding presence, Sen. Herbert Brown enjoys a wealthy life infused with the culture that makes him much-liked among intellectual circles. He is realistic about life, making solid plans for the future during the presidential race. The wisdom he has gained over the years supports these plans.

The causes for which he crusades (fair rights for the United Golf Club, acceptance of beneficial ideals in other countries, and several others) are fueled by his youthful enthusiasm and defended by his dedication. Brown keeps strong principles, and promises to serve the country as a warrior for its moral preservation.

Laurice politely, but firmly, declined the green silk dress that her Aunt Aurora gave to her as a gift, saying that, "they put live silkworms in a giant vat of boiling water! I just cannot wear this. I'm very sorry!". Later, when Laurice returned downstairs to make bread, she thought that half a cup of her flour was gone. Laurice thought that Aunt Aurora had robbed her flour bin, but that was based on a pure guess. Laurice's husband came home from work looking depressed and tired. Laurice asked him what the matter was, but he turned away and walked into his bedroom. The next morning, when Laurice brought Nathan, her son, to school, she felt very happy.

Laurice politely, but firmly, rejected the green silk dress that her Aunt Aurora gave to her as a gift, saying that, "they put live silkworms in a giant vat of boiling water! I just cannot wear this. I'm very sorry!". Later, when Laurice returned downstairs to make bread, she thought that half a cup of her flour was gone. Laurice thought that Aunt Aurora had robbed her flour bin, but that was based on pure conjecture. Laurice's husband came home from work looking dejected and tired. Laurice asked him what the matter was, but he turned away and walked into his bedroom. The next morning, when Laurice brought Nathan, her son, to school, she felt very jovial.

word origins: words adopted from other countries

India:
Priya slept in a small bungalow. The bungalow was warm and comfy, but she couldn't move around very much. She had to do the wash by hand every day. She washed her pajamas in the morning, so that she didn't have to sleep in cold, wet pajamas when she went to bed.

Mexico/Spain:
Eduardo was very macho. He displayed much machismo: He drove a huge Dodge Ram and lifted weights at the local gym every day. He liked playing football and boxing. He had a humongous mansion that had two alcoves.

France:
Jerry wore faux leather, with faux fur lining the edges. He was an animal rights activist, and sometimes walked around town wearing a sandwich board that said, "Les animaux d'amour, ne les mangent pas" (Translation: Love animals, don't eat them). He went out to eat at restauraunts quite a lot, and every single time he went, the waiter would tell him, "bon appetit".
Jerry's wife, Jeanne, had an overstock of envelopes. She had a total of 349 blue envelopes, 400 white envelopes, 19 purple envelopes, and 12 illustrated envelopes.

VOCABVOCABVOCABVOCABULARY

Grugelle was in great dislike with the hotel's rooms. The hotel had a look to it that make you feel unwelcome. The hotel rooms didn't glow with radiant, golden light, and the bedspreads were not the least bit soft and comforting. Many trash-like paintings lined the walls, and a mural of a dark and black side of the sky stretched across the entire ceiling. Despite this, the maids and workers there were completely friendly in every way...by the time Grugelle had left the hotel she had 31 new friends!

VOCABULARY

Grugelle was enamored with the hotel's rooms. The hotel was not in the least way inhospitable. The hotel rooms glowed with radiant, golden light, and the bedspreads were soft and comforting. Many priceless paintings lined the walls, and a mural of the sky stretched across the entire ceiling. The maids and workers there were completely amicable...by the time Grugelle had left the hotel she had 31 new friends!