Hey guys! Back by popular demand - here's my vocabulary song. Enjoy! Download from iTunes! Put it on your iPod!

Howdy from Wester Middle School in Mansfield, TX

Welcome to our first official, student produced podcast! We are excited to show you a little glimpse into what life is like for a 14-year-old in our town.

We are looking forward to learning about New Zealand's culture, too!

If you have any questions about our life, or school, or anything else, please leave us a comment!

Well, things are shaping up for Paul and Erik. He experiences his first day at Lake Windsor Downs Middle School, and Erik has already got himself some new "friends"...

Just another reminder: New episodes are posted ABOVE older episodes, so if you're looking for readings of earlier entries, please scroll down.

And don't be afraid to leave me a comment or two...let me know if these recordings are helping you out, because it takes up a LOT of my time, and..well...I DO have a life to try to live, too...

Okay guys - here's the next installment of Tangerine. Please note that the most recent episodes are at the top, so if you're looking for something from earlier in the book, you''ll need to scroll down...

Here are Paul's entries for Saturday, August 19 (later) through Wednesday, August 23. We'll meet Mike Costello and find out why he won't be getting any football glory this season, and Paul and his mom take a tour of his new campus...

Howdy!

I've long been away from the podcasting circuit, but I'm back!

Here's my first posting of Tangerine by Edward Bloor. (recorded and published online with permission from Mr. Bloor himself!)

This is SUCH an awesome book and I'm thrilled to be sharing it with my students this semester!

In this installment, we meet our protagonist, Paul Fisher, and his family. They have just moved to Tangerine, Florida from Texas. So what's up with Paul's coke-bottle glasses?

Welcome to my first official video Podcast! Since my advanced class is beginning Tolkien's The Hobbit this week, I've put together a little intoductory video podcast for them.

My regular classes need to be sure to check out Coach Mac's intro podcast for Redwall at

http://teachercoach.podomatic.com

or just follow the link on the right side of the page!

I hope you all enjoy my preciousssssss....

We're cruising through our short story elements, and today we're exploring the element of character. Characters are who brings a story to life. Today you'll get to play the part of a short story author, and design your own character. Click on the link below and follow the instructions:

http://staff.fcps.net/tcarr/shortstory/charpro.htm

Once you've completed the chart and turned it in to me, begin reading the classic short story, "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes,

Click on the link below to read the story at my blogsite. You'll need to right-click it and select "Open in a new window" Then come back to this page to play the audio.

http://koolteecha.edublogs.org/

Next, leave me vocabulary comments for bonus points on this week's quiz! Remember:

1. Use at least FIVE vocabulary words. Two of them must be from this week's list.

2. Use your first name and last initial, and do NOT include your email address. Whose class will leave the most comments????

And last but certainly not least, here's a link to a website for some great, get-your-mind-on-words games!

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/games/

They're lots of fun, but I warn you - Popwords is totally addictive!

Kthnxbuhbye!
Mrs. S

Moving right along through our study of the elements of literature, let's consider setting. What's the big deal with settng? Setting can

1. Create mood or atmosphere
2. Inform readers about a different way of life
3. Make the action of a literary work seem more real
4. Contribute to the conflict or struggle
5. Symbolize an idea the writer wants to emphasize

You'll find that the setting of Jack London's "To Build a Fire" contributes to the protagonist's conflict in a MAJOR way.

You can access the story online at

http://classicshorts.com/stories/fire/lndn.html

Hey guys! It's the second six weeks! Did you know that we only have 55 days until Christmas break? (but who's counting, right?)

Also - and this is of ultimate importance - there are only TEN days until the season premiere of "LOST"! Woo hoo!

This week's vocabulary words are:

Muse- v. to ponder.
Nebulous- adj. Lacking definite form or limits; vague.
Peevish- adj. marked by ill temper; fretful.
Regimen- n. the regular process, procedure, or system of doing something.
Resilient- adj. able to return to a former state.

Your meaningful sentences should have their conjunctions and interjections highlighted. They are due as you come into the classroom on Tuesday.

This six weeks will be one to really crack down and study. We're starting Literary Analysis, which is one of my favorite things to teach. We'll start the six weeks with short story analysis, and then test out our new skills on analyzing Edgar Allan Poe's works.

Please be sure to check out our new podcast for our team - you can find it at http://westerlions.podomatic.com an you should be able to subscribe through iTunes soon.

If there's anything you'd to submit to the team podcast, let me know or tell one of my illustrious Podcasting Club members!