Directions for First Period English Creative Project

The students who have Ms. Shafer for first period (that's A-day, folks, not B-day, which begins with fifth period) have a creative project instead of a test for their current reading genre (which is of the genre of their choice).  Here are the directions for the project:

Students in first period English,
You need to become graphic designers for this project.  Your assignment is to create 3 promotional products for the book you are reading: a tee-shirt, a button with a slogan and/or design, and a bookmark.  You may not just use the cover design on the book to do this, but the 3 promotional items may use the same design modified to fit their different shapes.  You need to design something original that could be a new cover or show an intriguing scene from the book.  (Remember that the goal of a real graphic designer would be not only to sell the merchandise, but to promote the reading of the book or to hook new readers in.  You need to do that, too.)
The easiest way to do this is to use a digital camera and editing software.  If your computer can put photos into jpeg files, free and easy editing can be done at the picnik website (no downloading of software required, no registration, no money), or you can use your own software.  (Picnik makes it easy to put text over your photo so you can have words on your design.)  You can then simply e-mail your jpeg files to Ms. Shafer or put them on a flashdrive to hand in (be sure to use some masking tape with your name on it before handing a flashdrive in).
You may also, of course, choose to make the items, using fabric paint on an actual tee-shirt, and creating the button and bookmark out of posterboard.  (Yes, you'll get your stuff back, so be sure to choose a tee-shirt size for you!)  The one problem with this is the expense, as you have to buy the materials.
The third way will produce the least showy results, but it is likely the only option for those whose families  or neighbors do not own a digital camera and who do not wish to spend money on a tee-shirt.  You may simply draw or cut and paste the designs on paper and hand them in.  Be aware, though, that sloppy, poorly-planned work is unlikely to earn a high score.  If you choose this method, it still needs to look good.
Whichever method you choose, you must label your designs with your name, the book title, the author's name, and the book's genre in order to receive credit.  (Note: those items need not appear in the artwork, but they need to be attached physically or added to the e-mail for the digital items.)

An Important Message From Mr. Walker

Mr. Walker is new to Brockbank this year, and his webpage has not yet been set up.  Please be patient while we get this organized for him.

He would like to remind the yellow team students and their parents of supplies needed for his class.  For social studies this year, yellow team students must have the following:

Black pen

Colored Pencils

3-Ring Binder

Paper

Pencil

Planner

Red Pen

Please bring these items to class every day.

How To Monitor Your Child's Progress In Her/His Classes

After asking your child about her/his homework, your next step is asking to see her/his planner.  All yellow team students are required to write a brief summary of each class each day.  This allows both students and parents to keep track of what is happening, what is due, etc.  A parent can use the planner to learn how often the student is taking notes, watching videos, doing research, being assigned homework, and/or finishing work in class.  The planner also puts the responsibility on the student to keep track of all assignments, projects, and tests.

We also strongly encourage all parents to check the grades program frequently, as soon as we can smooth the kinks out of the new system.  (A post will follow when things are up and running.  This should be within a couple of days.)  Yellow team teachers update the grades program frequently, and this is one of the best ways for parents to check for any missing work or low scores.

Each yellow team teacher also has a website with additional information to help parents and students.  Mrs. Nielson, for example, has many of her assignments in a downloadable form on her website.  And reading lists for Ms. Shafer's classes that use such lists can easily be printed from the "documents" section of her website.

If you need, however, information which cannot be obtained from the student planner, the grades program, or the teachers' websites, feel free to e-mail the yellow team teachers.  All contact information can be found on the Brockbank homepage  (or use the link in the side bar).

Welcome To A New Group Of Yellow Team Students!

We've been clearing the dust off the old blog and getting the new one ready.  Very soon we will have info for the parents about the new grades program, as well as all the correct links for teachers.
For 2011-2012, the yellow team is the "small" team of 7th-graders, with only three groups that circulate among the core classes.  This year's yellow team teachers are Mrs. Pienezza for math, Ms. Shafer for English, Mrs. Nielson for science, and Mr. Walker for social studies.
We're all excited to start a new school year on Monday!