My ePortfolio

Recap

myeportfolio — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:22:03 +0000

After completing AP Pre-Calculus, my class had to write a massive paper summarizing all of the information gained throughout our junior year. The topics we had to write about were the basics of functions, the basic properties of graphs of functions, and advanced properties of graphs of functions. Writing this paper helped me to recap on everything we have learned in AP Pre-Calculus, thus getting me ready for AP Calculus my senior year.

To read my paper, click here.

Standards Covered:

Writing: Process: Students shall employ a wide range of strategies as they write, using the writing process appropriately
Writing: Purpose, Topics, Forms, Audiences: Students shall demonstrate competency in writing for a variety of purposes, topics, and audiences employing a wide range of forms.

Who Knew!

myeportfolio — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:54:10 +0000

Who knew that rhetorical devices are everywhere—even in magazine advertisements! This advertisement for Dove is with Wilma Flintstone. One major example of a rhetorical device in this ad is the simplicity of it. By using Wilma Flintstone, wife and mother, and a simple, white background, mothers everywhere can see how easy and simple this product is to use during their busy, hectic lives.

To see this power point presentation, click here.

Standards Covered:

Oral and Visual Communications: Speaking: Students shall demonstrate effective oral communication skills to express ideas and to present information
Oral and Visual Communications: Media Literacy: Students shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media as a mode of communication
Reading: Comprehension: Students shall apply a variety of strategies to read and comprehend printed material
Reading: Variety of Text: Students shall read, examine, and respond to a wide range of texts for a variety of purposes
Creativity and Innovation: Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
Communication and Collaboration: Interact, Collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
Communication and Collaboration: Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
Communication and Collaboration: Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems

Having trouble?

myeportfolio — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:59:54 +0000

Troubleshooting has been a main issue in learning how to create our own blogs and our own ePortfolios. When trying to decide what to write, how many pages we need, who to add to our blogrolls, and what our theme will be and look like, my class asked many questions and figured out many answers ourselves. One main problem I faced was putting widgets on my blog. At first, everything was fine. I was able to add everything on there that I wanted to. But when I got to adding a ClustrMap, I had some trouble. I needed some outside help. First I used Yahoo to search how to set up ClustrMaps, and I found a blog that shows you a step by step process to set up ClustrMaps. Using this site really helped, and I advise to never give up. With a little drive and want to, you can accomplish anything with just a little help.

Standards Covered:

Technology Operations and Concepts: Select and use applications effectively and productively
Technology Operations and Concepts: Troubleshoot systems and applications
Technology Operations and Concepts: Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

You Are Where?

myeportfolio — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:49:38 +0000

ClustrMap, an available widget on blogs, is a great way to see where the people that visit your blog live. I look forward to seeing how my ClustrMap grows with viewers as I add more commentary to my personal blog and others.

Standards Covered:

Communication and Collaboration: Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures

Keeping Our Eyes Open

myeportfolio — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:23:11 +0000

During the first semester of our junior year, my class had to read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. As we read, we had to complete a reading response journal. This journal consists of the quotations, a paraphrase or summary of the quotations, the rhetorical strategy or style element, and the effect or function of that rhetorical strategy or style element. These journals were used to help us become better readers, writers, and thinkers. They will also help us when we take the AP English 11 test, because it has helped us to learn to keep our eyes open for any rhetorical devices the author might use.

To see my reading response journal, click here.

To read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, click here.

Standards Covered:

Writing: Purpose, Topics, Forms, Audiences: Students shall demonstrate competency in writing for a variety of purposes, topics and audiences employing a wide range of forms
Writing: Conventions: Students shall apply knowledge of Standard English conventions in written work
Reading: Foundations of Reading: Students shall apply concepts of print, acquire knowledge of spoken words and understand the relationship of speech to print as they develop a foundation for literacy
Reading: Comprehension: Students shall apply a variety of strategies to read and comprehend printed material
Reading: Variety of Texts: Students shall read, examine, and respond to a wide range of texts for a variety of purposes
Reading: Vocabulary, Word Study, Fluency: Students shall acquire and apply skills in vocabulary development and word analysis to be able to read fluently
Creativity and innovation: Create original works as a means of personal or group expression

Reading, Thinking, Writing…

myeportfolio — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:57:50 +0000

All year my class has been learning how to become a better reader, writer, and thinker. Just recently, my class put these accomplishments to the test. We read, we thought, we wrote. We participated in group discussions, and presented our ideas to the class. This demonstrated not only our speaking skills, but our listening and writing skills as well. After marking up the text that we read, Professions for Women by Virginia Woolf, we wrote a style analysis essay over her work.

To read my essay, click here.

To read Professions for Women by Virginia Woolf, click here.

Standards covered:

Oral and Visual Communications: Speaking: Students shall demonstrated effective oral communication skills to express ideas and to present information
Oral and Visual Communications: Listening: Students shall demonstrate effective listening skills in formal and informal settings to facilitate communication
Writing: Process: Students shall employ a wide range of strategies as they write, using the writing process appropriately
Writing: Purpose, Topics, Forms, Audiences: Students shall demonstrate competency in writing for a variety of purposes, topics, and audiences employing a wide range of forms
Writing Craftsmanship: Students shall develop personal style and voice as they approach the craftsmanship of writing
Foundations of Reading: Students shall apply concepts of print, acquire knowledge of spoken words and understand the relationship of speech to print as they develop a foundation for literacy
Reading: Comprehension: Students shall apply a variety of strategies to read and comprehend printed material
Reading: Variety of Texts: Students shall read, examine, and respond to a wide range of texts for a variety of purposes

Different Solutions

myeportfolio — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:51:09 +0000

While contemplating how we would design and create our ePortfolios, my class came up with some very interesting thoughts and ideas. Since our ePortfolio is our semester test grade and a way to possibly receive some scholarship money, we all put our ideas together to craft an infinite number of possibilities. Some of these possibilities include: Moonfruit, a quick, visual, and easy way to form an excellent website, WordPress, a website designed to help one set up their own, personal blog, and PbWiki, an “online collaboration tool” that many teachers, students, and businesses use to communicate. As you can see, the strategy that I have chosen to use is WordPress to create a new blog designed especially for my ePortfolio. Because our class is the first to perform this project, our ePortfolios will be showcases in and of themselves for the AP English classes—and who knows, every class—to come.

Standards Covered:

Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
Creativity and Innovation: Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
Communication and Collaboration: Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
Digital Citizenship: Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
Digital Citizenship: Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
Digital Citizenship: Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship

Comments: Connecting Around the Globe

myeportfolio — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:16:31 +0000

Commenting is a great way to connect, share, and learn what other people think about a certain topic. One week, my AP English teacher asked my class to take a week off from blogging and comment on six other people’s blogs: three from my class and three from out of school. As you can see in the pictures above, commenting is a wonderful way to communicate with those whom one may not even know. Also, not only is one able to find people with the same viewpoints as her, but she can see issues in a whole new way. After this assignment, I have found that commenting is a new and great experience to learn from others in a world full of different ideas and viewpoints.

Standards Covered:

Oral and Visual Communications: Media Literacy: Students shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media as a mode of communication
Communication and Collaboration: Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
Creativity and Innovation: Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
Communication and collaboration: Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats

The Essentials

myeportfolio — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:11:48 +0000

Vocabulary: essential for an outstanding reader, writer, and thinker. This list shows what my class had to learn during our first quarter of our junior year. As an AP English Language class, we had to start with the fundamentals: knowing our vocabulary. It has truly developed to where we are able to read fluently, think critically, and write complexly. Vocabulary has helped us come to understand rhetorical devices—something we use daily as AP English Language students. Vocabulary has helped us come to understand words that will possibly be on the AP English test—something we all hope and want to pass. And finally, vocabulary has helped us come to understand better writing techniques—something we will use for years to come. Vocabulary is necessary. It is essential.

Standards Covered:

Reading: Vocabulary, Word Study, Fluency: Acquire and apply skills in vocabulary development and word analysis to be able to read fluently

Highly Recommended!

myeportfolio — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:35:51 +0000

Google Reader, a device available with a Google account, creates a quick, easy way to see when the people I subscribe to have added something new to their blog. There is no limit to your subscriptions. You will notice that I have a range of different subscriptions that consist of my teacher’s blog, my classmate’s blogs, my class wiki, and so much more! One will find that Google Reader will convey who changed their blog, when they changed it, and what they changed/added. It is a great timesaver, and I highly recommend it!

Standards Covered:

· Reading: variety of texts

· Research and Information Fluency: Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tacks