My dear students of 1º Bachillerato - A,
When you read this, it' s supposed you have just listened to the song (Sittin' on) the dock of the bay and done the activities. So now it´s time to evaluate it!
Did you like the song? Why?
Did you like the activity?, Was it interesting?
Name some facts you read about the 50s and 60s that you consider shocking, interesting, funny...
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
Welcome to school year 2006-07
Hello everybody,
Now we have started the school year and everything seems arranged, it´s time for us to start working on our projects and reporting our suggestions, feedbacks, evaluation and so on to this blog.
Perhaps the first thing to do is to briefly comment about the beginning of the year: How you feel,your first impressions...
Now we have started the school year and everything seems arranged, it´s time for us to start working on our projects and reporting our suggestions, feedbacks, evaluation and so on to this blog.
Perhaps the first thing to do is to briefly comment about the beginning of the year: How you feel,your first impressions...
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Greece
On 30th March, I went to Greece on a school exchange trip. We are involved in a european project which implies meeting our partners twice a year for a week.We were a team of three teachers and four students eager to know more about Greece and the Greek.First we stayed for two days in Athens. We went to the Acropoli , saw the change of the guard, went for a walk to the Pireo and wandered around the Flea Market.
Then, we took a train and went to Thessaloniki. There we met our Greek and Polish partners.The four students were hosted by families. We went to school, worked for a while, toured around and socialized.
It was both a holiday and a working time. It was a short visit, but also exhausting as we tried to asimilate as much as we could and didn´t want to miss neither their architectonical wonders, nor the opportunity to learn more about their school system, nor the chance to experience their love for their music and dances...It was amazing, at least for me, to see how young people enjoyed their free time listening to and dancing their traditional music.
When I came back, our Easter holidays started so I could rest...and do nothing. I read a lot, listened to music, went for walks by the seaside, cooked for my family...So, this year I feel I had a great Easter holiday: I´ve travelled, I´ve learnt a lot of new things, I´ve rested and now feel ready to start the daily routine again.
What about you my students? Have you had a good holiday? What have you done?
I´m looking forward to reading about your holidays...
Monday, March 20, 2006
A Virtual Trip to the Grand Canyon
My students of 4º ESO have just finished their webquest for this term: A Virtual Trip to the Grand Canyon.
Now it' s time for them to evaluate the activity in this blog.
I've asked them to write comments evaluating if it was interesting or not, if it was difficult to do, and if they think it was worth doing it.
Now it' s time for them to evaluate the activity in this blog.
I've asked them to write comments evaluating if it was interesting or not, if it was difficult to do, and if they think it was worth doing it.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Project Work
My students of 1º Bachillerato have been doing project works using ICT in order to improve their oral and written skills.Also,a very important target for this kind of activities is to develop their abilities in group work.
During the first term we tried a web quest activity,"A Virtual trip to London",while in the second term we have been doing a music project.The students had to do all the tasks asked,do a final written work and an oral presentation of it.Finally they were asked to evaluate them.
During the first term we tried a web quest activity,"A Virtual trip to London",while in the second term we have been doing a music project.The students had to do all the tasks asked,do a final written work and an oral presentation of it.Finally they were asked to evaluate them.
To all my students: I´m waiting for your comments!!!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Taking part...a motivating tool
As a teacher I´m always aware of how others motivate their students and try to learn from them.Here , in Santa Cruz de la Palma, there´s a School of Music which develops, I think, really motivating methods.They make their students take part in projects, performances...and make them feel main actors in their personal development: they are much more eager to learn music , but , at the same time, they develop other skills as persons. As they take part in group tasks, they learn how to deal with others, how to share , how to appreciate others work and efforts...Don´t you think the main point in teaching is to involve our students and make them take an active role in their learning process?
Ardiel, my eldest son, 14, is learning how to play the violin. He also belongs to the String Quartet and the Symphonic Orchestra in that school. Dailos,11, attends percussion lessons. He belongs to the Batucada group and the Symphonic Orchestra.Imagine how they feel when they are given the opportunity to play with proffesional musicians, as for example last year when they played with a tenor and a soprano; or when they are taken for a tour to other islands...Of course I know they have to learn a lot, but I also check that studying music is not a duty but a pleasure for them...Wish I could get that with my students!In addition, their teachers take advantage of that and try to develop some important attitudes in life. Last December , for example,the youngest students played in the streets, wearing football T-shirts...each one wore their favourite team´s and played their hymn...but at the end they all together played a beautiful song called " Friends forever" and changed their T-shirts...just a symbol?
Ardiel, my eldest son, 14, is learning how to play the violin. He also belongs to the String Quartet and the Symphonic Orchestra in that school. Dailos,11, attends percussion lessons. He belongs to the Batucada group and the Symphonic Orchestra.Imagine how they feel when they are given the opportunity to play with proffesional musicians, as for example last year when they played with a tenor and a soprano; or when they are taken for a tour to other islands...Of course I know they have to learn a lot, but I also check that studying music is not a duty but a pleasure for them...Wish I could get that with my students!In addition, their teachers take advantage of that and try to develop some important attitudes in life. Last December , for example,the youngest students played in the streets, wearing football T-shirts...each one wore their favourite team´s and played their hymn...but at the end they all together played a beautiful song called " Friends forever" and changed their T-shirts...just a symbol?
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
The Lord of the Rings
I´m a teacher of English in a secondary school in Spain. I try to make my students read books in English, but they are not fluent enough to read original versions, they have to read adaptations. However, I use fragments of novels both to introduce them to "real literature" and as a tool to improve writing or oral skills.
So, for example, I used a fragment of "The Lord of the Rings" to show how to make descriptions...they were really interested because the films were so popular at that moment.
You can listen to the recording of the text made by my colleague and friend Jenny Elliot.
ACTIVITY:
The Lord of the Rings
Suddenly as they were talking a single clear bell rang out.” That is the warning bell for the Council of Elrond,”cried Gandalf.”Come along now! Both you and Bilbo are wanted.”
Frodo and Bilbo followed the wizard quickly along the winding path back to the house; behind them, uninvited and for the moment forgotten, trotted Sam.
Gandalf led them to the porch where Frodo had found his friends the evening before. The light of the clear autumn morning was now glowing in the valley. The noise of bubbling waters came up from the foaming river-bed. Birds were singing, and a wholesome peace lay on the land. To Frodo his dangerous flight, and the rumours of the darkness growing in the world outside, already seemed only the memories of a troubled dream; but the faces that were turned to meet them as they entered were grave.
Elrond was there, and several others were seated in silence about him. Frodo saw Glorfindel and Glóin; and in a corner alone Strider was sitting, clad in his old travel-worn clothes again. Elrond drew Frodo to a seat by his side, and presented him to the company, saying:
“Here, my friends, is the hobbit, Frodo son of Drogo. Few have ever come hither through greater peril or on an errand more urgent.”
He then pointed out and named those whom Frodo had not met before. There was a younger dwarf at Glóin´s side: his son Gimli. Beside Glorfindel there were several other counselors of Elrond´s household, of whom Erestor was the chief; and with him was Galdor, an Elf from the Grey Havens who had come on an errand from Círdan the Shipwright. There was also a strange Elf clad in green and brown, Legolas, a messenger from his father, Thranduil, the King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood. And seated a little apart was a tall man with a fair and noble face, dark-haired and grey-eyed, proud and stern of glance.
He was cloaked and booted as if for a journey on horseback; and indeed though his garments were rich, and his cloak was lined with fur, they were stained with long travel. He had a collar of silver in which a single white stone was set; his locks were shorn about his shoulders. On a baldric he wore a great horn tipped with silver that now was laid upon his knees. He gazed at Frodo and Bilbo with sudden wonder.
“Here,” said Elrond, turning to Gandalf, ”is Boromir, a man from the South. He arrived in the grey morning, and seeks for counsel. I have bidden him to be present, for here his questions will be answered.”
(A fragment of The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien)
BEFORE READING THE TEXT
1-ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
A-Have you read the book?
B-Have you seen any of the films based on the book?
C-Can you tell what the book is about?
D-Did you like it? Why? Why not?
E-Can you name the most important creatures in the story?
2- CLASSIFY THE ADJECTIVES BELOW :
broad-shouldered - clever - bossy - arrogant - long-legged - sensible - down-to-earth - sociable - reliable - stubborn - honest - quarrelsome - warm-hearted - easy-going -
good-tempered - wise - cruel - rude - sensitive
Character(positive meaning) Character( negative meaning) Physical appearance
-ADD ANY OTHER ADJECTIVE YOU KNOW.
READ THE TEXT.
AFTER READING.
1-UNDERLINE ALL THE ADJECTIVES AND EXPRESSIONS USED TO DESCRIBE A CHARACTER.
2-READ THE TEXT AGAIN.
-Boromir is the only character fully described in this fragment.
-Read again all the words you have underlined to describe Boromir.
-Make sure you understand the meaning.
GROUP WORK.
Ø Divide the class into groups .
Ø Give each group a creature , people ..( wizards, hobbits, elves..) from the book. Choose only the most important ones.
Ø Each group will look for information and describe the character given to the whole class.
Ø Each group will explain any new words they use in their speech.
Some notes on how to do the activity:
BEFORE READING THE TEXT
-Tell your students you are going to read a text, which is also a “pre-text” to describe a person or any other creature.
-Introduce the book and author.
1-ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
-Help the students with names such as ELF/ELVES , DWARF , WIZARD , ENT , ORC , HOBBIT , BLACK RIDER …
4-READ THE TEXT AGAIN.
If you prefer you can only read Boromir´s description. “And seated a little apart…… He gazed at Frodo and Bilbo with sudden wonder.”
Make the students aware of the fact that a person – almost any creature – can be also described through habits, likes and dislikes, clothes, tools and attitudes.
5- GROUP WORK.
If you have enough time , make the groups do a project work. They can do some writing work to display on walls along with drawings , photos, perhaps they can see some parts of the films…
So, for example, I used a fragment of "The Lord of the Rings" to show how to make descriptions...they were really interested because the films were so popular at that moment.
You can listen to the recording of the text made by my colleague and friend Jenny Elliot.
ACTIVITY:
The Lord of the Rings
Suddenly as they were talking a single clear bell rang out.” That is the warning bell for the Council of Elrond,”cried Gandalf.”Come along now! Both you and Bilbo are wanted.”
Frodo and Bilbo followed the wizard quickly along the winding path back to the house; behind them, uninvited and for the moment forgotten, trotted Sam.
Gandalf led them to the porch where Frodo had found his friends the evening before. The light of the clear autumn morning was now glowing in the valley. The noise of bubbling waters came up from the foaming river-bed. Birds were singing, and a wholesome peace lay on the land. To Frodo his dangerous flight, and the rumours of the darkness growing in the world outside, already seemed only the memories of a troubled dream; but the faces that were turned to meet them as they entered were grave.
Elrond was there, and several others were seated in silence about him. Frodo saw Glorfindel and Glóin; and in a corner alone Strider was sitting, clad in his old travel-worn clothes again. Elrond drew Frodo to a seat by his side, and presented him to the company, saying:
“Here, my friends, is the hobbit, Frodo son of Drogo. Few have ever come hither through greater peril or on an errand more urgent.”
He then pointed out and named those whom Frodo had not met before. There was a younger dwarf at Glóin´s side: his son Gimli. Beside Glorfindel there were several other counselors of Elrond´s household, of whom Erestor was the chief; and with him was Galdor, an Elf from the Grey Havens who had come on an errand from Círdan the Shipwright. There was also a strange Elf clad in green and brown, Legolas, a messenger from his father, Thranduil, the King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood. And seated a little apart was a tall man with a fair and noble face, dark-haired and grey-eyed, proud and stern of glance.
He was cloaked and booted as if for a journey on horseback; and indeed though his garments were rich, and his cloak was lined with fur, they were stained with long travel. He had a collar of silver in which a single white stone was set; his locks were shorn about his shoulders. On a baldric he wore a great horn tipped with silver that now was laid upon his knees. He gazed at Frodo and Bilbo with sudden wonder.
“Here,” said Elrond, turning to Gandalf, ”is Boromir, a man from the South. He arrived in the grey morning, and seeks for counsel. I have bidden him to be present, for here his questions will be answered.”
(A fragment of The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien)
BEFORE READING THE TEXT
1-ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
A-Have you read the book?
B-Have you seen any of the films based on the book?
C-Can you tell what the book is about?
D-Did you like it? Why? Why not?
E-Can you name the most important creatures in the story?
2- CLASSIFY THE ADJECTIVES BELOW :
broad-shouldered - clever - bossy - arrogant - long-legged - sensible - down-to-earth - sociable - reliable - stubborn - honest - quarrelsome - warm-hearted - easy-going -
good-tempered - wise - cruel - rude - sensitive
Character(positive meaning) Character( negative meaning) Physical appearance
-ADD ANY OTHER ADJECTIVE YOU KNOW.
READ THE TEXT.
AFTER READING.
1-UNDERLINE ALL THE ADJECTIVES AND EXPRESSIONS USED TO DESCRIBE A CHARACTER.
2-READ THE TEXT AGAIN.
-Boromir is the only character fully described in this fragment.
-Read again all the words you have underlined to describe Boromir.
-Make sure you understand the meaning.
GROUP WORK.
Ø Divide the class into groups .
Ø Give each group a creature , people ..( wizards, hobbits, elves..) from the book. Choose only the most important ones.
Ø Each group will look for information and describe the character given to the whole class.
Ø Each group will explain any new words they use in their speech.
Some notes on how to do the activity:
BEFORE READING THE TEXT
-Tell your students you are going to read a text, which is also a “pre-text” to describe a person or any other creature.
-Introduce the book and author.
1-ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
-Help the students with names such as ELF/ELVES , DWARF , WIZARD , ENT , ORC , HOBBIT , BLACK RIDER …
4-READ THE TEXT AGAIN.
If you prefer you can only read Boromir´s description. “And seated a little apart…… He gazed at Frodo and Bilbo with sudden wonder.”
Make the students aware of the fact that a person – almost any creature – can be also described through habits, likes and dislikes, clothes, tools and attitudes.
5- GROUP WORK.
If you have enough time , make the groups do a project work. They can do some writing work to display on walls along with drawings , photos, perhaps they can see some parts of the films…
Saturday, January 28, 2006
On Names of Places
There are places around the world with similar names, which leads people to wrong interpretations and uncomfortable mistakes.
I live in La Palma island, one of the canaries, but many people place me in Palma de Mallorca, one of the balearics...well, that just makes me explain where each one is and that´s all...
But, when the mistake is done in an airport, with your luggage, and on holidays, things change drammatically...not so fun indeed!!!
I´ve had several "oportunities to taste the joke": Once,when travelling to Santiago de Compostela, they sent all my luggage to Santiago de Chile- they sent it to other continent!!! and we had to wait for three days to have it back- on a fortnight holiday!... Well, at least I can say "part of me has been in South America".
I also remember a friend who wanted to came to La Palma and got a plane ticket to Las Palmas. I had to pick her at the airport and was waiting for quite a long time.At first I thought she had mistaken the arrival time, but then I received a phone call...It was her, quite upset, asking where I was, and guessing I had forgotten to pick her up...we laughed a lot when we met.
Above some photos of La Palma...if you come here you´ll find deep ravines, volcanoes,black sand...otherwise you´ve gone to the wrong place!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Me,myself and I
I´ve never liked to talk much about myself... but now I´ve started I´ll try to do " my task".
I was born on Thursday, in October, and what´s more in the green and rainny lands of Galicia, North West of Spain...
I studied in Santiago de Compostela and in Madrid.I had a wonderful time at university and I met some very interesting people there.
Then I met my husband and after a time I decided to come to La Palma and start working here.
Now, I have two wonderful sons.
Living in this tiny island is sometimes difficult...that´s why I travel as much as I can afford.I love going out and mixing with the crowds of people in big cities, visiting places that are just the opposite of this island, going to the opera or just shopping in a big centre.And then, when I come back home I can appreciate the peace and the light of this wonderful island.
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