Piano Slam Poetry Contest

To all my students, Here is an opportunity to create a poem, enter it and possibly win $100! (I had a winning entry last year and would love for someone to win this year as well.) Go to the following website: www.pianoslam.org/download.htm to get more details about the contest. If you want me to look over your poem before entering it please bring it by. The deadline is next week -- April 7th!

Women's History Month Project

It's time to have some fun because "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"!

With a group (up to 5 people) or on your own you will rewrite a song in honor of Women's History month.
1. Select a song by a woman singer or group.
2. Write background information about the singer or group. (In other words, a short biography.)
3. Print out the original lyrics to the song.
4. Rewrite the song either as a parody or singing about famous women in history or events that have impacted women.
5. The creative part. :) You can create a music video, a Powerpoint with images and words of your new song, or perform the song as a skit in class. (If you have any other ideas please see me ahead of time.)

The project will be due April 6 (periods 2, 4, 6) or April 7 (periods 1, 3, 5).
Worth 10 points (doubled)

Peer Edit Questions

1. Is their attention getter interesting?
2. Underline/highlight the person's thesis.
3. Do they make a connection to the novel and the word they are defining?
4. Do they have at least three sources? (A Lesson Before Dying and two other sources)
5. Does their conclusion do a good job of summarizing their definition and wrap-up their essay or does it leave you with more questions?

Congratulations!

I am so proud of the following students for being recognized by the Scholastic Writing Awards program for their creative writing.
Their work will be on display at the Dade County Youth Fair.

Yailin Alvarez - Poetry - Third Place
Sandra Arango - Poetry - Third Place
Juan Bermeo - Short Story - Second Place
Allison Delgado - Poetry - Third Place
Jose Diaz - Poetry - Third Place
Kenneth Gutierrez - Poetry - Third Place
Jonathan Lam - Poetry - Third Place
Melissa Martinez - Personal Essay - Second Place
Robert Ortiz - Poetry - Third Place
Frank Perez - Poetry - Third Place
Gabriel Quicano - Poetry - Third Place
Susan Serpa - Poetry - Third Place
Olivia Socorro - Poetry - Third Place

Memorial Service for Jefferson

You are all invited to attend the Memorial Service for Jefferson, which will take place either
Friday, March 4 (Periods 1, 3, 5) or Monday, March 7 (Periods 2, 4, 6) where we will share our memories from A Lesson Before Dying.

Elegies will be collected and refreshments will be served.
*Remember your elegies should be 10 lines long, include details about Jefferson and how he passed away, how he impacted the community and how he will be remembered.