Dialog day for my students is Thursday.
Here is a list of situations that could be used as a content piece for some of these days. I have borrowed heavily from Warm up Exercises Calisthenics for the Brain by Rita Kisner and Brooke Knowles Book 2.
You are about to have the last piece of pie when three friends drop by.
Someone keeps copying your paper
Your at the check stand at the supermarket and you realize that you left your money at home
You have invited to a pool party and it starts to rain
You loaned someone your ipod but you can’t remember who
You are doing your homework but you don’t understand the assignment
Your friend has borrowed some money from you and he hasn’t paid it back
A friend invites you to a party and you don’t want to go
A friend asks to borrow something that you don’t want to loan.
A date wants to see a movie that you’ve seen and didn’t like
You just got your hair cut and you don’t like it.
Ask a friend for a ride home from school
Ask a friend if you could join the group for lunch
Ask where he got the new jacket
You need a pencil for the next class, ask your classmate
Ask directions to a party from a person who is also going
You meet your teacher at the mall
You have to break an important date that you made weeks ago.
You need someone to help you move furniture.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
New Word- Eponyous
In reading a review for Sin Nombre a movie made in 2009 regarding a group of people making the move into the US from Honduras on the top of a train, the reviewer mentioned the next project for the producer of this movie was going to be Jane Eyre.
The reference here is that the movie will be named after the character. It is therefore an eponymous work.
officially:
eponymous
adj [ɪˈpɒnɪməs]
adj
1. (of a person) being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc., is named the eponymous heroine in the film of Jane Eyre
2. (of a literary work, film, etc.) named after its central character or creator The Stooges' eponymous debut album
eponymously adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 6th Edition 2003. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
The reference here is that the movie will be named after the character. It is therefore an eponymous work.
officially:
eponymous
adj [ɪˈpɒnɪməs]
adj
1. (of a person) being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc., is named the eponymous heroine in the film of Jane Eyre
2. (of a literary work, film, etc.) named after its central character or creator The Stooges' eponymous debut album
eponymously adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 6th Edition 2003. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Fall Music
New Music for the Walk each morning:
Eva Cassidy- Somewhere- Eva was known for her technical ability to sing in any genre and make it distinctively hers. What a voice! She died in the 80's of melanoma. She was in her 20's. I heard her songs being played in the local Starbucks and used shazam on the Iphone to find out who she was. My emusic only has her paired with others in albums. I looked her up on the Wiki because someone commented in the Emusic review how when she recorded one song.. songbird she was already losing it.. or rather was almost gone. Her local familiarity was in the DC area. After her death she was very popular in the UK.
Norah Jones, the daughter of with some musical linage has issued a new album for the fall. On ITunes it comes with about 5 bonus tracks. She plays the piano and comes in rather understated.
I downloaded the soundtrack from Sleepless in Seattle. Its been a good companion on the trail. Its got some Jimmy D and some Louis Armstrong. It even has one by Joe Cocker, a new friend of Francisco's in Rome. He took him around the sights last week.
I down loaded a selection from the sound stage that commemorates the chick films. It had 50 songs not from the original artists that came from various "chick"films. On those they charge off 12 of your monthly selections for the actual download of 52 cuts.
Blaine Larson has been downloaded for the country fans. He has some interesting songs.
I ran into the group "Train". There new songs have several that reference the Bay Area. Its nice to hear some contemporary that is not rap. They have a very nice full sound.
These songs and songlists are hitting the road with me each morning. If I start early I can hear the songs the entire way. If I wait a littel and do not hit my 5:30 wakeup and and the road mark, they have to accompany me on the quiet residential side of the trip.. the last half.
I thought that I would share my playlist with you! In this forum.
Have a great weekend!
Pat
Eva Cassidy- Somewhere- Eva was known for her technical ability to sing in any genre and make it distinctively hers. What a voice! She died in the 80's of melanoma. She was in her 20's. I heard her songs being played in the local Starbucks and used shazam on the Iphone to find out who she was. My emusic only has her paired with others in albums. I looked her up on the Wiki because someone commented in the Emusic review how when she recorded one song.. songbird she was already losing it.. or rather was almost gone. Her local familiarity was in the DC area. After her death she was very popular in the UK.
Norah Jones, the daughter of with some musical linage has issued a new album for the fall. On ITunes it comes with about 5 bonus tracks. She plays the piano and comes in rather understated.
I downloaded the soundtrack from Sleepless in Seattle. Its been a good companion on the trail. Its got some Jimmy D and some Louis Armstrong. It even has one by Joe Cocker, a new friend of Francisco's in Rome. He took him around the sights last week.
I down loaded a selection from the sound stage that commemorates the chick films. It had 50 songs not from the original artists that came from various "chick"films. On those they charge off 12 of your monthly selections for the actual download of 52 cuts.
Blaine Larson has been downloaded for the country fans. He has some interesting songs.
I ran into the group "Train". There new songs have several that reference the Bay Area. Its nice to hear some contemporary that is not rap. They have a very nice full sound.
These songs and songlists are hitting the road with me each morning. If I start early I can hear the songs the entire way. If I wait a littel and do not hit my 5:30 wakeup and and the road mark, they have to accompany me on the quiet residential side of the trip.. the last half.
I thought that I would share my playlist with you! In this forum.
Have a great weekend!
Pat
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Vets Day 2009
Its veteran's day 2009.
Again we are at war.
Someone that graduated from one of my high School's was killed this week in Iraq. His Humvee flipped. He was sitting on top.
It seems such a waste to put our military at risk for every pot shotting cook to try to take them out. So we run humvees up and down the territory.
Our mission in Afghanistan started out to get Osama Bin Laden. Now we are there to seems to be a change in the mission. We are after the Taliban, their drug trade and rebuilding a country with infrastructure that doesn't want it. Again we think know best.. I hate that attitude.
In the US we are having to deal with our own fundamentalists. Will it ever end? Captured by the grip of an entire TV network these folks do not listen to reason because they heard it from Rush. They spew out crap that they are sure is true but was mainly designed to get people to fear and by extension hate.
We really do not need to waste our resources and the blood of our strongest in a far away land. We need to think of our military as part of the agency they serve.. the department of DEFENSE. I don't think the military is the proper agency to give countries new governances. We should not be training the world's policemen or training the world's armies.
Love to All.. Pat
Again we are at war.
Someone that graduated from one of my high School's was killed this week in Iraq. His Humvee flipped. He was sitting on top.
It seems such a waste to put our military at risk for every pot shotting cook to try to take them out. So we run humvees up and down the territory.
Our mission in Afghanistan started out to get Osama Bin Laden. Now we are there to seems to be a change in the mission. We are after the Taliban, their drug trade and rebuilding a country with infrastructure that doesn't want it. Again we think know best.. I hate that attitude.
In the US we are having to deal with our own fundamentalists. Will it ever end? Captured by the grip of an entire TV network these folks do not listen to reason because they heard it from Rush. They spew out crap that they are sure is true but was mainly designed to get people to fear and by extension hate.
We really do not need to waste our resources and the blood of our strongest in a far away land. We need to think of our military as part of the agency they serve.. the department of DEFENSE. I don't think the military is the proper agency to give countries new governances. We should not be training the world's policemen or training the world's armies.
Love to All.. Pat
Friday, November 6, 2009
Clover at Starbucks!
In Foster City.. I took my walk this morning. The old mall that used to be covered with a fiberglass tent is no more. The Ice Challet is there. No food court but there are a few restaurants that have taken their places.
In this outdoor "mall" was the only business outside of Verison that was doing any business. Starbucks. Inside there was line that almost reached the door. Signs touted their one year anniversary of their clover machine. If you go back through my blog archieves you will find an article I copied and pasted that talked about the innovations of the clover machine. (November 24th 2007) Each cup is individually brewed. It takes a little longer and that some places were charging a premium for this treatment. Heather has a nice report on what she thinks of it in response to the Clover aticle.
I did not think that I would find one of these machines in a Starbucks with their fast turnover and their carmel machiado lattes. But here it was.
I ordered one up... no significant surcharge. 2.95 for a tall. The robot like machine sprung to life after the barista individually ground the Guatemalin Medin Antiqua... yada yada yada.
It brewed a beautiful cup of coffee that I compared to the regular "Thanksgiving" blend coming off the boil system. It was a little brighter and less watery. It did not have the punch of an espresso but it did have a soft after taste that you may get when the espresso is so bitter that it sweetens out.
During the time that I was in the store I was the only one to order a "clover" everyone else seemed in such a hurry that that took their drinks and ran to get back in their cars and head for work.
Would I do a clover again... sure.
: ) Pat
In this outdoor "mall" was the only business outside of Verison that was doing any business. Starbucks. Inside there was line that almost reached the door. Signs touted their one year anniversary of their clover machine. If you go back through my blog archieves you will find an article I copied and pasted that talked about the innovations of the clover machine. (November 24th 2007) Each cup is individually brewed. It takes a little longer and that some places were charging a premium for this treatment. Heather has a nice report on what she thinks of it in response to the Clover aticle.
I did not think that I would find one of these machines in a Starbucks with their fast turnover and their carmel machiado lattes. But here it was.
I ordered one up... no significant surcharge. 2.95 for a tall. The robot like machine sprung to life after the barista individually ground the Guatemalin Medin Antiqua... yada yada yada.
It brewed a beautiful cup of coffee that I compared to the regular "Thanksgiving" blend coming off the boil system. It was a little brighter and less watery. It did not have the punch of an espresso but it did have a soft after taste that you may get when the espresso is so bitter that it sweetens out.
During the time that I was in the store I was the only one to order a "clover" everyone else seemed in such a hurry that that took their drinks and ran to get back in their cars and head for work.
Would I do a clover again... sure.
: ) Pat
Waking up in the Crowne
This morning we wake up in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.
Its Friday and we are taking the day off to do a little touristing. Sue's brother has flown in this week to do some training or be trained on the the latest compliance issues for banks and credit unions. He has some time so here we are.
I conjured this place up off of Hotwire. It is one of the Hotwire exclusive suppliers. A four star in the Bay Area for 68 dollars. Thats pretty good. We are on the fourth floor.
The last time we were here I was in a lot of pain. We had booked this place as the landing area for the retreat night 6 years ago. I had a huge blistery area on my stomach from spilled coffee at a 49er game. We left early from the reunion to get some recovery time at the hotel.
The industry has changed somewhat and so has this hotel. Its still pretty bland in terms of design.. business tan. The beds have been changed to their comfort set. They are pretty nice. The Tvs are now flat screens and bigger.. all the better to show you HD movies that you may buy off the box. Its a bigger TV too.
What is really interesting is there is free network access to the internet and free access to the wifi connection for my Iphone. There is even a cmputer in the room that is free to use (no printer of course) and it has a DVD in it. The monitor is not a mac monitor but it fooled Sue when she walked in. Oh there is an IMac. Well no the tower is just mounted uner the desk.
The had a nonsmoking handicapped room for us at 9:30 pm when we arrived. The fitness area looks cool. The location is great.. just off the San Mateo bridge.. now if I had only remembered to pack my Iphone charger.. there is always something.
Love Pat
Its Friday and we are taking the day off to do a little touristing. Sue's brother has flown in this week to do some training or be trained on the the latest compliance issues for banks and credit unions. He has some time so here we are.
I conjured this place up off of Hotwire. It is one of the Hotwire exclusive suppliers. A four star in the Bay Area for 68 dollars. Thats pretty good. We are on the fourth floor.
The last time we were here I was in a lot of pain. We had booked this place as the landing area for the retreat night 6 years ago. I had a huge blistery area on my stomach from spilled coffee at a 49er game. We left early from the reunion to get some recovery time at the hotel.
The industry has changed somewhat and so has this hotel. Its still pretty bland in terms of design.. business tan. The beds have been changed to their comfort set. They are pretty nice. The Tvs are now flat screens and bigger.. all the better to show you HD movies that you may buy off the box. Its a bigger TV too.
What is really interesting is there is free network access to the internet and free access to the wifi connection for my Iphone. There is even a cmputer in the room that is free to use (no printer of course) and it has a DVD in it. The monitor is not a mac monitor but it fooled Sue when she walked in. Oh there is an IMac. Well no the tower is just mounted uner the desk.
The had a nonsmoking handicapped room for us at 9:30 pm when we arrived. The fitness area looks cool. The location is great.. just off the San Mateo bridge.. now if I had only remembered to pack my Iphone charger.. there is always something.
Love Pat
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween is Over
There is such anticipation at school over Halloween.
The students plot their schemes to do their year "crawl" for candy. One would think that they never get candy during the rest of the year. Success is measured by the bags of candy they drag home.
Almost all of my students still participate in the yearly ritual. They all have an idea of what they will dress "as." Some dress up to help their brother and sister experience the event. There is no sense of danger that once accompanied trick or treating.
In the students eyes they expect teachers to "seed" their quest before they make the rounds. Handfuls of candy are often distributed and we are asked who we are going to be for Halloween. I refrained from such a practice.
Its over now. There a tales the students want to share.. thats a good thing if you are a speech teacher.
There is also a sort of stillness in that the really hot weather is over and sense that it is time to get down to business.
The class is still crawling through the "Rookie" and every little non verbal nuance is getting examined. We are working the state standards in literature except its not in reading but understanding. New words this week will be some of the "academic words." like sort, describe, explain, select.. you know the ones that always show up in the test maker's arsenal.
Forge on.. Christmas is not that far away.
: ) Pat
The students plot their schemes to do their year "crawl" for candy. One would think that they never get candy during the rest of the year. Success is measured by the bags of candy they drag home.
Almost all of my students still participate in the yearly ritual. They all have an idea of what they will dress "as." Some dress up to help their brother and sister experience the event. There is no sense of danger that once accompanied trick or treating.
In the students eyes they expect teachers to "seed" their quest before they make the rounds. Handfuls of candy are often distributed and we are asked who we are going to be for Halloween. I refrained from such a practice.
Its over now. There a tales the students want to share.. thats a good thing if you are a speech teacher.
There is also a sort of stillness in that the really hot weather is over and sense that it is time to get down to business.
The class is still crawling through the "Rookie" and every little non verbal nuance is getting examined. We are working the state standards in literature except its not in reading but understanding. New words this week will be some of the "academic words." like sort, describe, explain, select.. you know the ones that always show up in the test maker's arsenal.
Forge on.. Christmas is not that far away.
: ) Pat
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