the wonder hub

Giftedness from an Indigenous Perspective

2011-06-26T12:12:00.000+12:00

A book was published in March of this year which brings together a selection of articles on "Giftedness from an Indigenous Perspective". The book is edited by Wilma Vialle. You can download a free copy of the book from the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) website.

2011-06-25T12:10:00.001+12:00

I'm going to be using the blog a while to keep track of resources for the gifted. I've just been informed that:

The Australian Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC) has a series of professional development modules that are freely available to anyone wishing to upskill in gifted education. The modules look at understanding giftedness, identification, social and emotional development, underachievement, curriculum differentiation and developing programmes and provisions.

Hemispheres. Kay McKenzie Cooke

2010-02-25T19:07:00.001+13:00

Kay McKenzie Cooke recites her poem Hemispheres for Channel 9.

Tuwhare/short text

2010-02-10T18:37:00.004+13:00

There are a few online resources for Hone Tuwhare:

His official web site
His page at the NZ Book Council
His biography at the Poetry International Web
An NZ Herald story on Hone after his death

The StudyIt site is a good resource for studying and practicing for 'Read short poetic text.'

This year's wonderhub

2010-02-04T08:59:00.002+13:00

Welcome back!

This year, I'll be blogging a lot more frequently on Wonderhub. I'll be posting more sites of interest for students. As well as posting homework assignments and links to resources I'll try to provide links to items of interest. (Who knows--perhaps they will find their way into your reading logs.)

Interested in clouds? Here at the Cloud Appreciation website is a whole flock of poems about clouds.

Formal writing resources

2009-10-27T20:42:00.004+13:00

Dear students

Formal writing requires you to do a little writing before the exam. Remember the basics:

Read the question carefully
Consider your audience
Adopt an appropriate tone
Have a clear structure (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion)
Provide evidence to support your view
Plan your answer
Have topic sentences in your paragraphs
Never be offensive

Study It has a good web page here to help you revise.

Senior revision resources.

2009-10-15T17:14:00.002+13:00

If you are looking for mock exam questions or reports on what examiners are seeking then a good place to go is the page NZQA website linking to resources for all external exams in English.

Level two students go here for mock exams, etc.

Level one students go here for mock exams, etc.

Don't forget that commercial study guides are available for nearly all NCEA subjects at most bookstores.

Bibme

2009-10-11T21:15:00.001+13:00

Are you looking for an online tool to help you compile a bibliography? Try Bibme. For English papers, select the MLA (Modern Language Association) format.

All students remember that Term Four is a big one on this blog. We start to focus on revision and I make an extra effort to try to post to the Hub at least once a week this term with revision related links.

Seven tips for creative writers

2009-07-28T22:27:00.010+12:00

These tips aren't totally original. I've picked them up form here and there. They have worked for me and I use them all the time.

One: Keep a notebook. Record your thoughts, snippets of conversation, images, dreams, unusual words, etc. A notebook is essential.

Two: Set yourself a realistic writing goal for each day. How much time can you spend each day writing your poem, you play, or short story? Set yourself a realistic goal: better ten minutes a day than an hour on Saturday. (I have a minimum of half an hour although sometimes I reduce this when work gets too heavy. I never reduce it to less than 20 minutes. I have to write at least twenty minutes a day. When I have more time I write a lot more). Don't just talk about it: do the writing.

Three: Read as a writer. Want to be a poet? Then read poetry. Want to write horror fiction? Then read horror stories (Anthony Horowitz is good!) When you read, read as a writer. What does the writer do? How does the writer build tension, create atmosphere, write dialogue? Very careful reading can transform your writing.

Four: Consider your audience. Writers write for readers. Our notebook is for exploring our feelings and for finding our ideas and inspirations. But if we want to write for others then we must consider the reader. What is the reader getting out of our writing? Thinking about audience also involves publication: are you blogging your poems or stories or do you want them to go in a magazine? (If so, read the magazine!) Try to find others who are also interested in writing.

Five: Edit your work. Writing is re-writing. When you finish a poem or story, you finish the first draft. You have to go back and polish the draft and then check all the spelling and punctuation so you don't look stupid. While you're doing this you may want to change lines and cut something out. (All lot of good writing is hacking and burning your first draft). I generally go through six to ten versions of a poem.

Six: Let it sit. Unless there's a deadline put it away and have a look in a few weeks (or months). I get so caught up in my writing I can't really be objective about it unless I've left it alone for a while. It really pays to follow this rule. Some people just write and blog nowadays but I think there's a lot to be said for letting it sit.

Seven: Accept rejection and take criticism. Don't pout. Keep at it. Ask yourself what you have learnt from the criticism. If you really want to be a writer than you handle rejections and criticism. Brush yourself off and try again. And don't feel shy about trying a second opinion. Just keep your faith in yourself.

Research: Language of advertising

2009-07-15T19:10:00.002+12:00

Dear Students

Your research for 2.8 is due at the end of the first week of term three.
Your task to conduct research on the langauge of advertising.
A copy of the research task is available for you to download here.

Scholarship: modernism

2009-05-16T21:20:00.002+12:00

On Monday we'll be discussing modernism. Here are some links to texts to read (please don't cite Wikipedia in your essays--but it's still a useful tool!).
Ezra Pound

IN A STATION OF THE METRO

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;

Petals on a wet, black bough.

T.S. Eliot. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

T.S. Eliot. The Waste Land.

Duchamp. LHOOQ

Wikipedia on:

Marcel Ducamp.

Woolf's To the Lighthouse.

Resources for Deliver a speech: level 1

2009-04-06T20:39:00.003+12:00

There's a variety of resources over at Studyit for English 1.7 Deliver an Oral Presentation in a Formal Setting.

Pop over to Studyit now for the Achievement Criteria, tips on Content, general tips on public speaking, and links to external sites offering advice on speeches and debating.

The Microsoft Word version of the assessment task 'Unaccustomed as I am' is available here.

Please remember that all speeches must be ready by the first Wednesday of term two. Don't forget to think about using a visual aid, remember to use cue cards (unless you have a good memory) and don't read from a piece of paper. Make it interesting and informative.

Liberate your words

2009-03-23T21:08:00.002+13:00

Enter the competition online or find out more at bfm.

Gattaca resources

2009-03-23T20:16:00.004+13:00

There are a number of online resources for Gattaca:

The Wikipedia entry (good for a starting point). Also see the Wikipedia entry for the NZ writer and director Andrew Niccol.

Rotten Tomatoes full listing of online reviews of the film. (Blocked by the School network nanny: please don't ask me why--read as many online reviews at home as you can!)

Emanuel Levy's review of the film in Variety.

A series of online clips at the Official Sony Pictures Gattaca site.

The entire screenplay by Andrew M. Niccol at the International Movie Script Database.

Richard Erlich has an interesting study guide for the film.

There are some discussion questions to help you consider some of the philosophical issues raised by the film over at Philosophical Films.

Hoot research questions

2009-03-12T19:28:00.002+13:00

The Florida Burrowing Owl and Cottonmouth Water Moccasins are both featured in Hoot. Learn more about them by answering the following questions (warning: I'm doing the activity with you for the first time, so I also don't know the answers!). Write your answers in your exercise books and work in pairs.

Florida Burrowing Owls

A. What happened to Bobby the Burrowing Owl?
B. What is the size of an average Burrowing Owl?
C. What do volunteers in Florida do to help the Burrowing Owls?
D. List three places Burrowing Owls can be found.
E. List three things Burrowing Owls eat.

Cottonmouth Water Moccasins

F. What distinction (special fact) does the Cottonmouth have in North America?
G. How did the Cottonmouth get its name?
H. How does the Cottonmouth detect its warm blooded prey?

Go to this dictionary and find the definitions to these words:
A. environment (Choose definition 1 )
B. activism
C. conservation (Choose definition 2-B)

Forest Guardians

Find information on the Forest Guardians enviromental group which is based in Santa Fe.

B. List three states or areas that the Forest Guardians work to protect?.

C. Do you think a group like the Forest Guardians is worthwhile or a waste of time? Give your opinion with reasons.

Big Brother, Little Sister. Witi Ihimaera

2009-03-04T21:49:00.005+13:00

Kia ora tatou

There's a number of interesting resources online for this story:

The National Library has a wonderful online version of the first 1974 print version of the story that includes a facsimile of the original publication (see image above).

There's also a list of other online works by Witi Ihimaera at the NZ Electronic Text Centre.

Witi Ihimaera also has a page over at The Book Council.

Image source: The National Library.

Your shoes. Michèle Roberts

2009-03-01T20:56:00.004+13:00

Michèle Roberts.

Dear students

Your home work due on Friday 7 March is to answer the following questions on 'Your Shoes' by Michèle Roberts. You can use any notes you have taken during our class discussions. for each of the following questions write a substantial paragraph:

Do you feel any sympathy for the narrator as you read the story?
How far does the narrator reveal why her daughter might have left?
How much do we learn from
- what she tells us directly?
- what we find out indirectly (things she doesn't tell us)?
Does the narrator say any things that you think are mistaken?

If you want to revise 'Your Shoes' then the TeachIt online Study Guide is a good place to start. Teach It also provides a PDF with further discussion questions for you to consider. There's also an entry on Michèle Roberts over at Contemporary Writers.

Image source: BBC World.

Innocence: experience. EN200

2009-02-08T14:17:00.006+13:00

Writing exercise 1

INNOCENCE/EXPERIENCE

Can you think of an event in your life that changed the way you see the world or that changed you in some way? What was the event? How did you change?

Write at least one page in your exercise book that answers the above questions. Try to give specific details about the event and about how the event changed how you see the world. Make it real.

Due: Friday 13 February Period 3.

NB: Thanks to Lil Blume for this exercise.

Reading Log Student Resource

2009-02-08T13:10:00.004+13:00

Dear students

Here's my first post of the year. Once again, I'm blogging resources because I find blogging both useful and fun.

Mike Fowler has created a handy little question and answer sheet that contains a good overview of Reading Log 8808 Level 1 Wide Reading. (Don't ask me why its 8808 and not 123 or 52 or whatever--that's an interesting question!)

Please complete your Reading Logs in your Exercise Books.

Just for the record, I'm currently re-reading: Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden and Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner. For the first time I'm reading Seeing Things byTed Hughes and I've just nearly finished P. Craig Russell's graphic novel of Neil Gaiman's excellent Coraline.

Letter to The Listener

2008-11-03T10:46:00.003+13:00

I wrote this in twenty minutes so I'll need to proof it!. Here's my 'formal writing':

Dear Editor

I was surprised to read that The Listener has decided to no longer publish poetry. I have always enjoyed poetry in the Listener and I’m disappointed in this short sighted decision. Every week I flick through the pages to see which poem has been printed and I’m shocked that what I thought was a temporary drought of poetry is actually a hard headed editorial decision to purge poetry from your pages.

Poetry is a vital part of New Zealand literature and The Listener has a long tradition of encouraging poetry. The Listener’s large circulation as a weekly magazine means that readers have the opportunity to read poetry without turning to a literary journal or more specialised publication. That’s good because The Listener provides poetry to a mass audience and this helps to stop poetry becoming a purely specialist activity.

Surely the reason for this decision cannot be the paltry $150 you pay a poet for a poem. I find it hard to believe that $150 takes such a bite of your finances. I also wonder who has been complaining about or bemoaning poetry in your magazine. Who would want to give verse the chop? It’s true that poetry may not be the most notable feature readers identify in your magazine but does this mean that you cut out any content that does not immediately make a shock impression? You are well-respected magazine and a record of our art and culture—not a tabloid newspaper.

You are in danger of ruining your magazine’s reputation and standing in New Zealand and you are also pulling the shutters down on poetry. I’m saddened that you’ve decided that our poetry is now longer worth publishing. As a poet and a teacher I know it’s going to more difficult to connect with a wider audience. Why shaft poetry?

Tusiata Avia

2008-10-16T12:29:00.003+13:00

Tusiata Avia

There's lots of information on the web about Tusiata:

Here's a brief biography at the Book Council.

Here are a some poems and some great videos of Avia reading at the New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre.

Internet leak brings end to US cult book series

2008-09-01T15:15:00.004+12:00

I've taken this story from Graham Beattie's excellent Beattie's Book Blog. (I hope that he wont mind!)

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Internet leak brings end to US cult book series.

Peter Beaumont writing in The Observer, Sunday August 31 2008

The US author of an internationally bestselling series of books about vampires, aimed at teenage girls, has announced that she is scrapping the final episode after an unfinished draft was leaked on the internet.Stephenie Meyer, listed by Time magazine as one of its 100 most influential people of 1998 for her Twilight Saga, last week posted a letter to thousands of fans on her website announcing that she could not continue with the final book after the leak.
The film of the first book, Twilight, is said to be the most anticipated cinema release of the autumn in the US. Now, her retelling of the Twilight story from the viewpoint of Edward Cullen - the 'vegetarian vampire' and the series's love interest for the human teenager Bella Swan - seems likely never to be finished.

'I have a good idea of how the leak happened,' wrote Meyer, 'as there were very few copies of Midnight Sun that left my possession and each was unique. The manuscript that was illegally distributed on the internet was given to trusted individuals for a good purpose. I have no comment beyond that as I believe that there was no malicious intent with the initial distribution.'

Link here for the full story.

American Beauty

2008-08-25T07:52:00.002+12:00

Please read the first page of Jon Johansen's article at http://www.nzlistener.co.nz/issue/3552/features/11195/american_beauty_.html and answer the following questions:

1. Write a bibliographic entry for the article. Follow this format: Author name, Article title, Journal name, date, volume, issue number.

2. Why does Jonson begin his article with a poem by Langston Hughes? How does the poem relate to Jonson's topic?

3. In the poem, why does the speaker have to eat in the kitchen?

4. Why does Jonson put the phrase "War on Terror" in quotes?

5. Jonson uses alliteration in his third paragraph. Write down the two phrases that employ alliteration.

6. Who or what is "Billary"? (Clue: think of past presidents of the US and Obama's main rival for the Democratic Presidential candidate nomination).

7. When did Black voters in the southern US states finally get full and fair voting rights?

8. Name one book written by Barack Obama.

9. The extract from the article ends with a metaphor. What is the image conveyed by this metaphor? How does it develop Jonson's key idea?

10. For Johnson what makes makes Obama's success different from that of Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice?

11. What would be the historic significance of Barack Obama becoming the next president of the United States? Think of three reasons why this would be an historic event.

Essay Competition

2008-08-14T09:23:00.001+12:00

NGĀRIMU VC and 28th (MĀORI) BATTALION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ESSAY COMPETITION 2008

The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board Essay Competition has been an annual event since 1948. All New Zealand Māori students in Years 7 to 13 are urged to participate, with the aim of increasing fluency in written English and Māori.

GUIDELINES

1. Students must be in Years 7 to 13 and of New Zealand Māori descent.

2. All entries must be typed and in hard copy format, 1.5 Line Spacing; the student's name, year and school name and address must be printed clearly on every page. Only legible handwritten entries will be accepted.

3. The competition does not need to be run under examination conditions but entries must be the original work of the students. The use of research material is encouraged with any direct quotations attributed to the source.

4. All entries must meet the following minimum word requirement:
800 words for Year 7-8 students;
1000 words for Year 9-10 students; and
1200 words for year 11-13 students.
The word count must appear on the student’s manuscript.

5. Each essay entry must have a completed cover sheet (see attached).

SECTIONS

6. There are six sections: Junior English and Māori (Years 7 & 8); Intermediate English and Māori (Years 9 & 10); and Senior English and Māori (Years 11-13).

TOPICS

7. The topics by section are as follows:

Year 7-8 Māori

1. Whiria tētahi o ēnei toa – Te Moananui a Kiwa Ngarimu, Haane Manahi rānei, ā, whakamāramahia te pānga o ā rāua mahi pakanga ki te hunga tamariki o tēnei rau tau.

2. Ki a koe he aha te tikanga o te rā whakamaumahara i ngā hoia, ara te rā o ANZAC.

3. Ki ō whakaaro, he aha te take kei te waiatatia tonutia e te iwi Māori i ngā waiata i titohia mō Te Hokowhitu a Tū 28?

Year 7-8 English

1. Choose one of these war heroes – Te Moananui a Kiwa Ngarimu, or Haane Manahi and describe the relevance of their war exploits for tamariki of the 21st century.

2. What does ANZAC day mean to you?

3. Why do you think that songs composed for the 28 Maori Battalion are still being performed today?

Year 9-10 Māori

1. Whiria tētahi tīpuna ō tō hapū, iwi rānei, ā, whakamārama mai i ngā āhuatanga hautū o tēnei tīpuna me tana pānga ki a koutou ko tō whānau.

2. Whakamāramatia ngā āhuatanga whawhai o Tumatauenga i hāpaitia e ngā hoia o te Hokowhitu ā Tū 28 me te whakamahinga o ērā āhuatanga i te wā i hoki mai rātau ki te kāinga.

3. Whakamārama mai i te hiranga o te waiata me te haka ki ngā hoia o te Hokowhitu ā Tū 28.

Year 9-10 English

1. Choose an ancestor of your hapu or iwi and describe the leadership qualities of this person and the influence that they have had on you and your whanau today.

2. Describe the positive leadership qualities of the men of the 28 (Maori) Battalion and assess how these were used when the men came home from war.

3. Describe the importance of song and haka for men of the 28 (Maori) Battalion.

Year 11-13 Māori

1. Torutoru noa iho nga morehu o te Hokowhitu ā Tū 28 e ora tonu ana. Inā mate ai te katoa, mā hea tā koutou whakatipuranga e mahara ai ki a rātau?

2. The Price of Citizenship he tuhinga tēnei i tuhia e Tā Apirana Ngata. Ki ō whakaaro he aha te ngako, kua tutuki hoki rānei ngā wawata i wawatatia i roto i te tuhinga nei?

3. I riro i a Kāpara Wiremu Apiata i te Ripeka Wikitoria mo āna mahi tino māia ki Afghanistan. Whakamārama mai i roto i āu ake kupu i te take he tauira pai a Wiremu mō te hunga rangatahi i roto o Aotearoa i ēnei rā.

Year 11-13 English

1. There are only a small number of survivors of the 28 (Maori) Battalion still alive today. When the last soldier passes how will your generation maintain the memory of the 28 (Maori) Battalion?

2. Sir Apirana Ngata published an essay called The Price of Citizenship. What do you think were the important messages in the essay and how far have these been achieved today?

3. Corporal Wiremu Apiata won the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery in Afghanistan. Describe in your own words, the importance of Willie as a role model for young Maori in Aotearoa today.

TIMELINE

8. All entries must be received by the Ministry of Education by 26 September 2008.

9. Prize-winners’ schools will be notified by 8 December 2008.

Prize Values

10. Prizes will be awarded to successful students and their school based on the following:
1st 2nd 3rd
Junior Māori $200.00 $100.00 $75.00
Junior English $200.00 $100.00 $75.00
Intermediate Māori $300.00 $150.00 $75.00
Intermediate English $300.00 $150.00 $75.00
Senior Māori $450.00 $200.00 $75.00
Senior English $450.00 $200.00 $75.00

11. All entries and enquiries should directed to:

Lani Goldsmith
Ngarimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Essay Competition
Group Māori
Ministry of Education
Phone: 04 463 8957
Email: lani.goldsmith@minedu.govt.nz

Downloads
Essay competition cover sheet

Social message poster

2008-07-31T12:00:00.004+12:00

Look at the above poster.
What is the key message being communicated?
How is this message communicated visually?
How are words used to communicate the message?

Unit 8812: Produce simple transactional text

2008-07-30T13:05:00.001+12:00

Hi guys
here's the unit standard.

ES 300 Poster

2008-07-30T10:14:00.001+12:00

Look at the above poster.
Can you find and name a language feature?
Can you find an name a specific viusal language convention used in movie posters?

Posters

2008-07-30T09:30:00.003+12:00

Here's a poster for V for Vendetta

I'd like you to note the following:

1. The slogan 'Freedom Forever.' Notice the snappy alliteration?
2. The composition. Look at the strong diagonal line that runs from bottom left to top right that splits the poster.
3. The use of contrast. See how light and dark are played out in the poster.
4. The figure of V who is an ambivalent, somewhat menacing figure.
5. The image of the oppressed masses in the background and the figure of V in the foreground.

Homework:

I'd like you to come up with a slogan, or caption, or quotation, or rhyme or any words you like that will work with the images you will use in your

Produce transactional text

2008-07-25T09:38:00.003+12:00

Kia ora tatou

Produce transactional written text in simple formslevel: 1 credit: 4

Over the next few weeks we'll be writing up our exam papers to produce a polished piece of writing that could be published. The full details of what you need to achieve for your asessment is here.

Homework: Due next class

Write a short paragraph on your favourite film. Give two reasons why you like this film. Write a draft of the paragraph and then revise the paragraph, polishing your work so that it contains as few errors as possible. You do not need to type this work.

Apirana Taylor

2008-06-13T05:59:00.003+12:00

Apirana Taylor

Apirana Taylor will perform to the seniors of our school on Tuesday 17 June during period 5. The cost is a measly gold coin. This will be followed by a writing workshop for a select number of students (so please let me know soon if you are interested).

I attend poetry readings regularly and I'm also interested in astronomy. I heard Apirana perform at a Matariki celebration at the Carter Observatory a few years ago and he blew me and my sons away. He uses his voice as an instrument and once you've heard him then his voice stays within you forever. He has a very direct, no nonsense style and is a distinct, unique poet. He is not to be missed!

You can find out more about him at his website and read his poem Hinemoana's daughter at the NZ Electronic Poetry Centre.

Of Mice and Men resources

2008-06-04T09:39:00.005+12:00

Talofa lava

All of these resources can help you think about the novel and prepare for your essay. I recommend the Sparks Notes resource.

Of Mice and Men Sparks Notes.

Of Mice and Men Novel Guide.

Of Mice and Men Survival Guide.

Of Mice and Men essay questions

2008-06-04T09:33:00.004+12:00

Here are your questions of for Mice and Men. We will have some time in class next week to write to essay. These are very similar to the questions you'll answer on the novel at the end of the year in your NCEA exam.

Choose ONE topic. Make sure you understand BOTH parts of the topic before you start writing.

Write an essay of AT LEAST 200 words for your answer.
Support your points with specific details from the text.
Make sure you answer BOTH parts of the question. Each part is equally important to help you show understanding of the text.

TOPICS (Choose ONE)

1. Describe an important change that happened to ONE character or individual in the text.Explain why this change was important.

2. Describe an important event at (or near) the end of the text.Explain how this event helped you understand an idea (or ideas) in the text.

3. Describe an idea (or ideas) in the text that you found interesting.Explain why you found this idea (or ideas) interesting.

4. Describe an important character or individual in the text.Explain why he or she was important in the text.

5. Describe at least TWO techniques used to make a character or individual in the text interesting.Explain why these techniques made the character or individual interesting.
Note: “Techniques” could include language, structure and / or narrative point-of-view.

6. Describe an important aspect of setting in the text.Explain how it helped you understand a key idea (or ideas) in the text. Note: “Setting” may refer to time and / or place.

10 EN: Homework

2008-05-26T06:47:00.001+12:00

Dear Students

Just a reminder that your homework sheet on Metaphor is due in on Tuesday, 27 May, period 6.
Don't forget!

EN100. Homework

2008-05-26T06:37:00.002+12:00

Dear students

Just a reminder that your homework is due tomorrow. You are to bring a movie review from a newspaper (such as The DominionPost) or magazine or online source to class. A good online source for movie reviews is Rotten Tomatoes although you may have difficulty accessing this at school as for some reason the network nanny software doesn't want you to read movie reviews (I have no idea why!).

Image source: I-reviewmovie.

ES300: Homework. Research sheet. Text 5

2008-05-26T06:32:00.004+12:00

Dear Students

Your worksheet for Research Text five is due on Thursday, 29 May, Period 5. Here are the questions you need to answer. Cut and paste these into a Word Document and give yourself space to answer the questions.

Name:

Text 5

Title:

Author (if given):

Source (magazine, journal, website, etc):

Why did you choose this text?

Relevant information you took from this text:

The main idea stated in the text:

A supporting idea stated in the text:

An opinion clearly stated in the text (ie an 'overt opinion).

A hidden opinion or 'bias' in the text (ie an 'cover opinion).

All students: Read Hot!

2008-05-23T08:21:00.003+12:00

Do you love books?
Are you stuck for ideas on what to read next?

Try the Readhot site: it's a great site with book reviews by teenagers. See the latest top 10 book list and take part in online polls and discussions. Create your own online profile and let others know what books you love to read. Go to Readhot!

ES300. Research 2990 Resource: OWL

2008-05-15T09:49:00.001+12:00

Hi everyone/Talofa lava
Having a few doubts about how to prepare your bibliography?
All you need to know is over at the OWL resource at Purdue University.
Please spend a few minutes looking through OWL. Click here and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the page. There you will see valuable links to information on how to present research information. Please read the section on footnotes and preparing a Works Cited page. This is also a useful resource when you get to univerity!

EN100 Deadline Creative Writing

2008-04-10T12:32:00.005+12:00

Just a reminder that your assessment for AS 1.1 Creative Writing is due Wednesday April 16.

A full set of online resources for this assessment is available over at StudyIt.

Tearaway Competitions

2008-04-10T12:30:00.000+12:00

These might interest you . . . All these competitions are in the latest Tearaway:

April Tearaway will be at your school now. We would be grateful if you could forward this newsletter to all teachers who may be interested in using the April edition with their students.

APRIL'S SPECIAL FEATURE: 'EATING'

Some eat too much. Or at least, too much unhealthy stuff. Others starve themselves, with or without binge bouts. In April Tearaway, young people tell their stories - and we show where to go for more info and help.

CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR STUDENTS

April Tearaway contains numerous opportunities for your students to build their skills with words, images and ideas - with the chance to win!

• HELP A POLYTECHNIC PREPARE ITS PARENT GUIDE: UCOL seeks questions for its FAQs, and a design for the Parent guide booklet cover! Lots of prizes to be won. See Tearaway Page 46, or go to www.tearaway.co.nz/index.php/plain/content/view/full/15492

• DESIGN A BAG - THAT JUST MIGHT BE SOLD AROUND THE WORLD! $250 Jansport backpack and $150 in vouchers also to be won. See Tearaway Page 23, or go to: www.tearaway.co.nz/index.php/plain/content/view/full/15491

• CREATE A POSTER OR YOUTUBE COMMERCIAL about the new minimum wage laws. Prizes and fun with this competition from the Department of Labour. See Tearaway Page 18, or got to: www.tearaway.co.nz/index.php/plain/imagine/creative_competitions/create_an_ad_and_win

• POETRY COMPETITION! New Zealand Post National Schools Poetry Competition. See Tearaway Page 43, or go to: www.nzpost.co.nz/poetryawards

• ASTHMA ESSAY and MEDIA STUDIES COMPS. Write an essay, and/or summarise the recent big stories on asthma. See Tearaway Page 22.

• 40 HOUR FAMINE SPECIAL TEARAWAY PRIZES. Take part in the Famine to win. See Tearaway Page 26.

APRIL SCAVENGER HUNT

Here's the way to keep your students productively occupied! http://www.tearaway.co.nz/files/scavengar_hunt_april.pdf

My New Zealand: ES300 New Unit

2008-03-28T14:48:00.002+13:00

My New Zealand (This is a research based unit where students will conduct their own research on a self-selected topic using five different texts. The topic choices could evolve from the first unit of study or be drawn from future career ideas/choices or from any area of interest. Topics can include any cultural groups/aspects that are represented in NZ. Students will need to understand the research process and their responses may be oral, non-verbal, or written).

Texts could include – textbooks, non-fiction books, information sheets, dictionaries, encyclopedias and subject reference books; could involve – technical maps, charts or graphic representations; could include forms, directions, signs, notices, messages, notes ,labels, classified advertisements, advertisements, promotional material, manuals, handbooks, incident reports, minutes, business letters, job descriptions and newspapers; could include complex graphic material, complex language and structures.

Ugly Shakespeare: Year 9s & 10s

2008-03-23T10:30:00.002+13:00

Dear students

Just a reminder that the Ugly Shakespeare company are coming to our school on Thursday 27 March at period 5. So you will be treated to seeing them instead of going to your regular class. The cost of entry is just one measly gold coin which you need to give to your English teacher on Wednesday. You can find out more about Ugly Shakespeare on their website.

Image: Ugly Shakespeare site.

ES 300: Final Assessment & Maning Online

2008-03-23T09:49:00.005+13:00

Original book jacket

Just a reminder that your final assessment for US 12428 Read Transactional text starts on Friday 28 March, period 6. This is a long assessment as you need to read three pieces of work and we will continue the assessment next week.

If you want to revise Maning, there's an online edition of Old New Zealand at The New Zealand Electronic Text Centre. Chapters 1 and 2 are well worth studying.

Image: Otago University Library

ES300 12428 Assessment Questions

2008-03-17T13:36:00.001+13:00

Transactional Formative Assessment Reading Test

Unit Standard: 12428 Read transactional written text closely

Answer these questions on the Listener article "What happens when the oil runs out?"

Name:

Title of text:

Instructions:
Read the text closely and complete the following activities:

1. (a) What are central ideas or meanings conveyed in this text?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(b) Select one quote from the text that show these ideas or meanings.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Ideas and meanings in the text are analysed with reference to relevant sections of the text 1.1□

2. Give your opinion why these are important ideas (issues) and support your discussion with examples from the text and from real life.
Importance relates to social, historical, cultural, physical, political and personal contexts

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The significance of a main idea is explained with reference to at least one relevant section of the text 1.2□
3. Identify five examples of language features and explain their effect using the grid below.
Language features could include: metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, assonance, consonance, colloquialism, irony, symbolism, grammatical usage, punctuation, choice of words.

Name of technique
Example
What effect does this technique have in expressing a point?
Technique 1:

Technique 2:

Technique 3:

Technique 4:

Technique 5:

Five examples are identified using appropriate terminology, and each example is analysed in terms of effect
1.3□

4. Identify two techniques used to shape the text and evaluate its effect using the grid below.
Techniques could include structure and narrative technique.

Name of technique
Example
How effective is this technique in helping convey the message and appealing to a specific audience?
Technique 1:

Technique 2:

Two techniques used to shape the text are identified.
Each technique is evaluated in terms of its effect with reference to relevant sections of the text 1.4□

Hooks and Feelers. What's a feeler?

2008-03-12T09:54:00.001+13:00

Not being into fishing, I find it difficult to explain exactly what a 'feeler' is in terms of fishing but a good set of picrures can be found at http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10335.htm

Hooks and Feelers Essay

2008-03-10T14:55:00.006+13:00

Keri Hulme

Dear EN 100_1.

By Thursday 13 March, period 3, you should hand in a 200 word essay on a major theme in Keri Hulme's short story 'Hooks and Feelers.' You are allowed to use any of the ideas we brainstormed in class. Remember to develop your ideas using paragraph and to support your points with references to the story.

A copy of the story is available on here.

Image:Canadian News.

When the Oil runs out: formative assessment

2008-03-04T21:30:00.004+13:00

Whitby

Dear ES300_1

I'm very pleased with the enthusiasm and interest you've shown so far. I'm enjoying this unit of work and the general positive atmosphere you've created in the classroom. Thanks.

But don't forget that we have to do the written work!

I've handed out a 'formative assessment' reading test for 'What happens when the oil stops coming?' by Denis Welsch and Matt Nippert. An online copy of this article is available at The Listener website.

Remember that the questions for this article are exactly the same questions you have when you site the final assessment: the difference is that in the final assessment you will answer questions on three unfamiliar texts. Please complete the assessment tomorrow whilst I'm away on a school trip. It must be handed in by Period 6 on Thursday.

Image: Wikipedia.

EN100. Themes in Films Exercise

2008-02-23T08:24:00.002+13:00

The Matrix

Pick three movies that contain a key idea or theme. Name the movie and write a short paragraph explaining the key idea. Remember that you do not have to recount the plot of theme.

Example: The Matrix. A key idea in The Matrix is that technology may one day control us. We might become servants for the machines. We see this when Neo discovers that computers are running everything in his world.

Due: Thursday 28 February.

Please don't use The Matrix for one of your films!

ES300. Language Features Exercise

2008-02-23T08:08:00.002+13:00

Read carefully the first and last two paragraphs of Pana's Choice. Identify any language features (metaphor, simile, alliteration, etc) that you find.

Present your findings in this way:

Name of language feature. Specific quotation containing the language feature. Effect.
(Read the pages on language features in the class workbook for a specific example of how to present your work.)

ES300: When the Goblins came to Whitianga

2008-02-20T20:11:00.005+13:00

Talofa Lava/Kia ora tatou/G'day everybody.

Please read 'When the goblins came to Whitianga' for tomorrow's class.

We'll have a general discussion on 'close reading' and putting prose 'under the microscope.' We'll touch base on spotting language features and their effects.

Tomorrow you'll work in groups and note one or two features of the piece that you find interesting. Then we'll take it from there...

But there's two discussion questions I'd like you to consider:

Who are the goblins?
Why do you think the writer/speaker calls them 'goblins'? (Note how I put the word in single quotes to show that it's the writer's word).

See you tomorrow!

HM

Reading Logs: ES 100

2008-02-20T09:24:00.002+13:00

Talofa Lava/G'day everyone

Your homework for this week is to complete a reading log entry for the poem 'A Pakeha Friend tells a racist Joke' by Hone Tuwhare. Make sure that you write complete answers and say what parts of the poem had an effect on you. Don't just write one or two sentences! Think about how the poem makes you feel.

Remember that you can't use this for your final reading log assessmenet as we've discussed the poem in class. This is just important practice for your reading log.

And I'm interested to know what you think of the poem.

HM

Paul Nations Testing

2008-02-17T09:43:00.002+13:00

Hi everyone/Talofa lava

On Monday 18th Feb we'll be having a Paul Nations test during period 1 and period 2. The good news is that you don't have to prepare for these classes!

EN100: guys, please keep up your reading this week.
ES300: Please read the short piece by Joe Bennett "In the name of the people" for Tuesday's class (Period 3) as well as the pages on 'Language Features' in the unit booklet on 'Self and Others in Aotearoa.'

And don't forget to send me an email if you haven't done so yet so I can create class email lists.

Cheers
HM

Reading Log work/ Personal writing (Yr 10).

2008-02-13T16:06:00.005+13:00

Kia ora tatou/Hi everyone.

Please remember that your reading log sheet entry on a poem is due on Friday. (Well done to those of you who have handed in the work early).

In our next class we'll discuss what makes a piece of personal writing interesting. I want you you to think about a time when you have strange, different, alien and out of place. When have you ever felt like a freak? (I have so many times!) But let's not go there . . .

I want you to write a mammoth four or five paragraphs on this event in your life. Write down what happened and what it felt like. (No, you will not be asked to do an embarrassing presentation: it's for my eyes only.)

Bribe: if you all make a good effort writing then (groan!) I'll force you to watch a film ...

(BTW: "Bribe" is an example of irony).

The go-between. Review by Caren Wilson.

2008-02-13T13:32:00.000+13:00

An online copy of Caren Wilson's article is available at The Listener site here. Read through the article and think about the following questions:

Why is the author Paul Diamond mentioned and quoted so often in the article?
What's the significance of Makereti's many names?
What is the significance of the article's title 'The go-between'?
What is significant about Makereti's life for Diamond?
Why is the phrase "hot lakes" placed in quotation marks?
Wilton ends the article with a long quote by Diamond. What is the main point made in this final paragraph?
Why do you think Wilton decides to end her article with this quote?

(Feel free to write your answers as a comment to the post).

Interested in Makereti? There's more information at Monumental Stories and at the National Library.

NZ Poetry Competition

2008-02-13T06:54:00.000+13:00

Are you interested in creative writing? Do you feel that you're a budding poet? Why not have a go at the competition below. You can get competition entry forms from me or from the NZ Poetry Society website. We'll look at a few poems in class to get you started. Go on, have a go. . .

NZ Poetry Society 2008 International Poetry Competition

The New Zealand Poetry Society’s annual International Poetry Competition, Verse and Haiku, is now under way, with Open and Junior Sections. The Junior Open and Junior Haiku sections are open to students who are 17 years of age or younger on 30th May 2008. Please visit our website at www.poetrysociety.org.nz for full competition details and to download the entry forms. Last year’s results, including winning poems, and judges’ reports are also on the website.

There are cash prizes in every section, and the winning poems and other selected entries will appear in the New Zealand Poetry Society’s annual anthology in November 2008.

This year’s judges are:

Tony Beyer (New Plymouth) – Open Verse

Sandra Simpson (Tauranga) – Open Haiku

Helen Rickerby (Wellington) – Junior Verse

Nola Borrell (Lower Hutt) – Junior Haiku

Further enquiries can be directed to: The Competition Secretary, PO Box 5283, Wellington 6145 – or by email to competition@poetrysociety.org.nz

Competition closes 30th May 2008.

Pana's Choice. Discussion questions

2008-02-12T06:15:00.000+13:00

Pana Hema-Taylor

After you've read the article 'Pana's Choice' by Mike Smith, work with a friend to answer the following questions:

Identify a main idea or theme in the article. What is a key idea explored by Smith? Identify a key passage in the article that states this idea.
What is the social significance of the idea for New Zealand? (Why is Pana's story important? What does the story say about New Zealand society?)
Identify five examples of language features in the article. These features could include figures of speech, sound devices, unusual vocabulary or jargon, slang, irony, symbolism, grammar and punctuation.
How does Mike Smith begin and end his article? Describe who he 'sets the scene' for Pana's story and how he ends his article.

Write your answers and hand them in or email them to me by Friday 15th February. You may work in groups but must each submit individual answers by Friday. Go for it!

Image: TVNZ

Seven questions

2008-02-07T14:08:00.000+13:00

Kia ora tatou

We'll begin the year by asking ourselves 'What is literacy'? and 'Why is it important'? These questions have nothing really to do with what year you are at in school--in fact, English teachers and university professors also frequently ask these questions!

In groups, we'll discuss the following questions:

1. What is literacy? (What do we need to learn at school?)

2. Why do we study English at school?

3. What do we want to learn in English?

4. What do we like to read?

5. What do we like to watch?

6. What kind of writing skills do we want to learn? (Why do we need them?)

7. What kinds of books, poems, stories, articles, films do we want to work with?

Welcome

2008-02-06T12:06:00.000+13:00

Kia ora tatou

Welcome to 'The Wonder Hub', a blog for Harvey Molloy's students.