Monthly Archives: May 2020

This week’s assignment is pretty light; we will be asking for your opinion on Spelling Bees.

Read one of the articles (“max” lexile or grade level) and view each video, below. Then pick one of the texts-article or one of the videos- and share your opinion on it in the comments.

Here are a few language frames to get you started:

-I think it’s OK to have an 8-way tie because________________. That’s just my opinion!
-I think we shouldn’t end up with 8-way ties because___________. That’s just my opinion!
-It’s a good idea to have an online Spelling Bee because_________. That’s just my opinion!
-It’s NOT a good idea to have an online Spelling Bee because_________. That’s just my opinion!
-6 year olds can go to the National Spelling Bee because___________. That’s just my opinion!
–6 year olds should not go to the National Spelling Bee because___________. That’s just my opinion!

I look forward to your responses!

Ms Seyan ;o)

“With spelling bee canceled due to coronavirus,
two teens launch online bee
 By Ben Nuckols, Associated Press on 04.29.20
Word Count 819″

With spelling bee canceled due to coronavirus,
two teens launch online bee
By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 04.29.20
Word Count 437

May 4, 2020

Hi, C3WP-ers!

Back in January we started learning about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. In addition to learning about how viruses spread and how we can stay healthy during an outbreak, we had the chance to peek into life in quarantine through the “eyes” of an Amazon drone flying over Wuhan, China during their lock down in January 2020. Below is the video Noah requested during class, if you’d care to revisit it. As you watch, remember that about 11 million people live in the city of Wuhan – that’s 10 times the population of San Jose.

We also analyzed the relative impact of flu vs. COVID -19. Aarohan applied his analysis skills when he made the claim that COVID-19 was of more concern than the flu, because A. we know very little about the new coronavirus, and B. more people die of it when they get it than die of the flu. I also know Diego was listening when we discussed the Spanish flu epidemic that occurred around the time of World War I. If you’ve been watching the news, you may notice that networks have been discussing the patterns of the Spanish Flu outbreak. There was a “second wave”, more virulent than the first, that came the following winter. Some experts use the Spanish Flu outbreak as a template for what might happen with COVID-19, and are anticipating a second coronavirus outbreak next fall or winter.

You knew more about COVID-19 than many adults did when the Shelter in Place started in March. This week, we will expand our knowledge when we explore how illness spreads from a mathematical perspective in the “It’s Okay To Be Smart” video from PBS titled, “What this chart actually means for COVID-19”.

Instructions:
1. View the Power Point presentation of our lessons for the week.
2. Complete a “Would Your Rather” prompt Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (or any 3 days you can).
3. Read the instructions in the Power Point before watching the video.
4. Follow the instructions for each time you view the video-for example, the first time you watch it, get an overview and tell someone about it. The second time, learn a fact you didn’t before, etc.
5. Post your answers to the questions in the “Reply” field below.
6. When you finish all three tasks for the video, complete your Exit Ticket and write it in ‘”Reply” field below.

Have a wonderful week!
Ms. Seyan :o)

Lesson For May 4-8, 2020

“It’s Okay To Be Smart” video “What is Really Means to flatten the Curve”

Thank you for spending the month of April on poetry with me.

As a bonus, below are resources that inspired me to expand my views of what poetry is, who can be a poet,  what poets can talk about, where poets find ideas, and more!

The Poetry of Hip-Hop: A Playlist For Your Classroom

• Britannica Digital Learning, April 18, 2018
• “Expand literacy through rap music with a 1-hour playlist that’s squeaky clean for classroom listening.”
• Includes a Spotify sample list, a description of each song included, and an interview between Neil De Grasse Tyson and GZA of Wu Tang Clan.
• Top quote: “Your life is dependent on your relationship with words,”-Newbery honoree Jason Reynolds.

Everything is Everything: A Tween Looks for Positive Messages in Songs

• Sara Sarasohn, January 12, 2011, “The Record” on NPR.com
• The author’s son “came home from sixth grade with a homework assignment about pop music.”

Tolerance.org Resource: “Window or Mirror?”

• An activity asking students to evaluate whether texts are a mirror, reflecting their experience, or a window into others’ experiences.
• Based on ideas in the the essay “Curriculum As Window and Mirror”.
  • Curriculum As Window and Mirror. Emily Style Social Science Record, Fall, 1996. First published in Listening for All Voices, Oak Knoll Schoolmonograph, Summit, NJ, 1988.
  • The National SEED Project – http://www.nationalseedproject.org

National Poetry Month on The Academy of American Poets website

• Almost all of the poetry you could want, catalogued, categorized, and cross-referenced.

•Books: Hip Hop Speaks to Children and Out of Wonder

• Zinn Education project article on Hip Hop Speaks
• NPR article on Out of Wonder