Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ category

No more ‘i before e’

June 21st, 2009

I find it funny that:

  1. There is a Spelling Society.
  2. The author of the article had misspelled the Spelling Society guy’s name.

Here’s the article from the Associated Press:

Sat Jun 20, 3:49 pm ET

LONDON – It’s a spelling mantra that generations of schoolchildren have learned — “i before e, except after c.”

But new British government guidance tells teachers not to pass on the rule to students, because there are too many exceptions.

The “Support For Spelling” document, which is being sent to thousands of primary schools, says the rule “is not worth teaching” because it doesn’t account for words like ‘sufficient,’ ‘veil’ and ‘their.’

Jack Bovill of the Spelling Society, which advocates simplified spelling, said Saturday he agreed with the decision.

But supporters say the ditty has value because it is one of the few language rules that most people remember.

(This version CORRECTS spelling of Bovill, sted Bovell, in graf 4.)

1Q84

May 29th, 2009

Is it a reference to 1984? Is it a book about tax codes? Whatever it is, it’s a book that’s selling out in Japan before it hits the shelves – no one knows what it’s about, except that they want it.

Paper Rollercoasters

February 12th, 2009

One of our science teachers is working on paper rollercoasters. Here’s a demo online and I’m planning on recording her students’ designs.
The inspiration:

Florence Superintendent Sets up Budget Cut Website

February 12th, 2009

Dr. Gary Nine has set up a great website to get information out about the Arizona educational budget cuts: http://respectforregularfolks.com/

How to Paraphrase

January 5th, 2009

Here are some great guidelines from Purdue:

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Click here for a link on how to cite a newspaper article.

Click here for your newspaper article.

Benefit Car Washes

November 21st, 2008

Check out the local car washes tomorrow to help out Kelly Tracy’s family:

Mesquite HS – Sonic Restaurant, NE corner of Val Vista and Williamsfield, 8-noon

Gilbert HS – 24 Hour Fitness, SE corner of Val Vista and Elliot, 9-noon

Desert Ridge HS – Valero Gas Station, SW corner of Guadalupe and Ellsworth, 9-noon

Midnight Sun postponed indefinitely

September 3rd, 2008

A rough draft of ‘Midnight Sun’ got published online before Stephenie Meyer gave the okay. She’s too upset and won’t continue writing until she feels better.

She’s put the rough draft up on her website to be fair to her fans. Click here to read the draft.

High School Science Projects Busts Fish Fraud

August 23rd, 2008

Check out how two young women at a New York high school helped prove that you may not be eating what you think you’re eating.

Educational Games

May 13th, 2008

If you’re looking for some educational games/sites, here are some options:

Looking Glass Wars – Card Soldiers

Ranger’s Apprentice Target Shoot

What kind of apprentice would you be? Quiz

Percy Jackson

http://www.ringsoforbis.com/ – author P.J. Haarsma

http://allycarter.com/

http://www.benmikaelsen.com/

Hof’s picks:

www.funbrain.com

www.thekidzpage.com/learninggames/index.htm

www.gamesgames.com/cat516_1.html

www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=1&lid=2

www.discovery.com

http://kids.discovery.com

http://animal.discovery.com

http://sikids.com/

http://123facts.com/trivia/main_cat/for-kids-11-0.html

http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/for_children/index.html

http://www.quizland.com/

http://www.history.com/

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/braint.htm

My Favorite Author Gets an Asteroid

March 25th, 2008

Michael Stackpole, one of my favorite authors ever, just got an asteroid named after him. I’ve met the guy. He’s nice. He deserves an asteroid.