oh yea!

i think these budget cuts are ridiculous. Dps has done nothing wrong and should only be rewarded with raised budgets. not lowered. At voyager, it is costing dps $400,000 just to add a 9th grade. All of those kids who are going there are districted to regular public schools but for some reason aren't going. Dps should not be spending money on people who are scared to go to regular high schools. they should just have to deal with it rather than costing dps almost another half a million dollars off of their budget.

Those of you that posted about the budget cuts make some very good points. According to research and statistics your generation is going to have a lower life expectancy because of obesity. So we know that PE and Healthy Living is critical. Some people are gifted in the areas of music and art, so to take those away would be awful. You live in a world that is all about 21st century technology, so you have to know about computers and how to use them. In fact, this blog is a 21st century skill that will be useful to you. It's important to know how to read, write and work mathematical equations, science helps you understand the way things work, and how things in the world are intertwined. History is a window to our past. What is there to cut? What class would you not miss? What about our custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, nurse, guidance counselors, principals, secretaries....could we do without them? The decisions that these county commissioners make this year will have an impact on you. They will bring about a change that may be positive but most likely will be negative. What can we do to make a difference in their decision? Here is a picture of the commissioners. None of them have children in DPS. If they have children, they are all adults now. Do you think this makes a difference?

Yea one more day until spring break :)!

Yoda-dog. Hehe.

DPS

I think that some non negotiable things are theater arts, fewer sports and chorus because I love theater arts and chorus, and I play girls' tennis. That would really stink if they had to cut all of that. I mean why can't the economy get better and then we don't have to have all of these cuts. It's very sad.

1 more day of school til spring break u guyz, isn't that awesome!!!??

DPS Cuts...

I think that the cuts are totally unfair! Why don't we get a say about what happens. The classes that probablly would be cut are electives. We like electives because we get to choose them ourselves (execpt for gym) and look forward to them everyday, for some people it helps them get through the day. For others it's sports. Sports are the reason some of us don't fail classes, are lots of fun, and are something to look forward to everyday. I think that fewer teachers is a really dumb idea. Our classes are already too big. With bigger classes it is harder for the teacher to cover what YOU need to be covered because the have to deal with the other people in the class. So I don't think that a $3,000,000 budget cut would be a very smart idea.

Durham schools

i think that some things that are non-negotiable are gym, and strings and band because gym is like an elective that helps you to be healthy and teaches how to be healthy. Strings and band because the kids in that elective have wasted money in their instruments to recieve classes at school. I think it wouldn't be fair for them to to stop getting that education. Maybe life skill and computer classes could be cut and recieve them in high school but i'd like them not to be because it's fun and you do actually learn things at an early age. also because maybe there are higher courses in high school.

1 more day

1 more day till spring break! my birthday is on friday!!

smile!

smileee :D

pictures

how do you post a picture?

Today's reflection....

I see that some of you have beaten me to the blog! Good for you! Hopefully, you'll take another look and can add your opinion....according to today's newspaper, the Durham County Commissioners would like Durham Public Schools to cut $3,000,000 from our budget. For us here at Carrington, that might mean no agendas, no new textbooks, no more Renzulli Learning, fewer teachers so larger class sizes, some classes being cut all together (not Language Arts, Math, Science or Social Studies), no new computers, fewer new books in the media center, or maybe even fewer athletic teams. A non-negotiable is something that can't even be considered or even talked about, for instance for me, when it comes to you as my students, a non-negotiable is bullying. I'm not going to ever let you bully or be bullied by someone while you're with me. When you look at this list of possible cuts, what things do you think are non-negotiable and why? How do these things help or hinder your education?

Hehe. I thought this was funny.

Now you know how cats laugh. Hehe.

I thought this picture was cute. It made me think about language arts.

change is everywhere but like Mrs Marlowe told our group the only thing you cant change is you history unless you have a time machine

Change

Change happens everywhere. There is no way to stop change. Like in Ancient Egypt. They preserved the bodies of the pharaohs. But over time they eroded and become fossilized bone.

Change

Change is everywhere and is happening all the time. The time is always changing, it never stays the same. Your age is always changing, (CONGRATS ON BEING ABOUT 3 SECONDS OLDER THAN WHEN YOU READ: YOUR AGE IS ALWAYS CHANGING! :D) Change is everywhere, all around you things are changing shape, direction, and appearance. The sky doesn't look the same as it did 20 min. ago...

here is my blog for the polar bear thing.
Change is drastically affecting this polar bear and its habitat. This is all being caused by global warming which us humans are responsible for. Sooner or later this polar bear would have died. the more carbon dioxide we put out the more animals will lose there habitats and eventually die. ps i am reading a book about this

hi. well i am very happy because i am now able to post. the reason i couldn't before was because i had never excepted my invitation to be apart of the blog through through my email.

Change

I agree that change is predictable and unpredictable. Predictable because meteorologists can predict a change in weather. Unpredictable because one day your friend would live in your neighborhood and the next day he/she can move to another state. Then it would change because they would go from one place to another.

Change is linked to time

isn't this pic. HILARIOUS!!!

i think that change is linked to time. Why?, because time passes and we can't stop that, it's a part of life. Change happens during that time, you dont' stay frozen all the time you have to move. That is change, it may be little but it's still change, you can't stop time to do change. Change has to happen during just like time has to too, day to night, asleep to awake, it's like over time you do the opposite of what you were doing.

my group has issues, just as ms.marlowe said. we don't get a lot done and we annoy each other

Change

Our group picked that change is everywhere, change is linked to time and that change is either a positive or a negative thing.

Norms of my group:

My group just works together really well. We all get along and know how to work as a group and individually. We are quiet, on topic, and listening to what others have to say.

Jacob! I was so surprised to hear you're moving to Seattle! That's really going to be an adventure for you! Are you excited? I've always wanted to go to Seattle! You'll have to let me know what it's like and if you like it! You're right....that's a huge change for you!

Ashlyn, Femi and Jayla~ your thoughts are good! I can tell you understand about changes! The good ones and the bad ones! Thanks!

I picked: change is linked to time
Change is linked to time because alot of people change over time. Like in elementary school I had a lot of friends who were respectful, nice, and made good grades. Now that we are in MS they seem like they dont care anymore, and that's because of CHANGE.
*Nicole-IM SOOO GLAD YOU COULD FINALLY GET ON!!!!! ; D*

Change

Change is linked to time...everything has to change at some point. Change is one of those things in life that are inevitable. Caterpillars turn into butterflies, day changes to night, people change(whether we like it or not), and seasons change. If you think of practically anything, something can change. Hopefully, it's for the better!:)

Change

Did your literature circle figure this out today?

• Change is everywhere.


• Change is linked to time.


• Change is systematic (predicted) or random (not predicted).


• Change is growth (positive) or regression (negative).


• Change is natural or imposed by people.

Choose one of these generalizations about change and reflect about how you witnessed this first hand. For instance, if I chose change is random, I would tell you about the time that Dr. Spencer told me your teacher was not coming back, so I volunteered to step in. I never could have predicted that I would enjoy it so much, and that I would have such smart and wonderful students to work with! This has been a wonderful, extraordinary change for me!

My group's norm should be to...
1)Don't talk when other people are talking
2)Don't get WAAYY off topic(which some of us are not good at:)
3)Actually PAY ATTENTION to what is going on in the discussion
4)Just give you're opinion! It doesn't matter if our viewpoints are different
5)Don't mess with each other's hair...

Welcome Nicole and thanks TJ!!!

Nicole! I'm so glad you were able to blog! It's not as hard as it looks is it? I'm so glad you're with us!

Now to what some of you are saying about the norms of your groups....do you really:

1. listen to each other?
2. stay on the task at hand?
3. speak one person at a time?
4. respect each others ideas?

I noticed that some of you try to talk over each other which is not very productive. Notice tomorrow what your group does when people interrupt each other.

Norms

The norms in my group are: 1) We dont go WAY off topic 2) We listen to one another 3) We work together and listen to each other's ideas :D :D :D

I made it!

Okay thank you tj for setting this up with me. FINALLY! =] now i am going 2 be posting like crazy!

Norms

The norms for our group should be as follows:
listen while others are talking
stay on subject
work together!!
omjizzle i am so happy the blog workedd :D thanks tj!

pictures

It won't let me do the pictures. Can anyone help me?

Our Norms - going home lit circle

I think our norms are just to wait until someone is finished talking to talk, taking turns, staying polite, giving everyone a chance to talk, those kinds of stuff.

Norms

My team's Norm is basically this- get work done (quickly!) sperate work so we can get it done faseter, and, it is really helpful to do your work!

I think norms are really important because they help your group to be organzied. Some of my group norms are to let everyone have an equal amount of work, that we should all come prepared EVERYDAY with our book, pencils, and paper. We should always be focused and give everyone a chance to speak and make sure everyone is included. If someone wasn't doing their part in my group, which will never happen : ) we would just TELLLL THEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

our gourps norm is to be quiet when others are talking because it is just mean to talk and dont talk about things that dont have to do with what we are talking about because it will not help us at all unless it has something to do with what we are talking about

I mean our group doesnt really have a like schedule for talking but I think we all just say what we think and we wait for others to finish talking before we talk. Plus were all friends in my group so i think that helps us respect each other more.

Just like me!

I do think norms are important because without them your group would just be disorganized. My group works well together because we all are friends and we try to seperate the work equally. If someone isn't participating we will just keep working and eventually tell them they need to help. I think our group is productive but I think we can be more productive. Some norms we do have are that we all give each other a chance to say what they think about a question. If we don't understand what the other person says we ask them nicely what they mean and why.

Literature Circle Norms~Does your group have them?

Today in class, when you were working with your literature circles, I walked around and talked to your groups about norms. What are some norms that your group follows? Do you have a system for talking? How do you decide as a group who the recorder will be? What have you decided to do as a group if someone is not doing their part? Every group that is successful has to have norms. In classrooms, norms might include raising your hand to speak, putting your name on your paper, calling your teacher by his/her last name, putting your homework in the same spot, coming to class with pencils, paper and other supplies. Are norms important? Why or why not? What is something your literature circle needs to set a norm about? Do you work well together as a group? Are you productive?

looks just like.......

Lightsaber squirrels.

Really funny!!!!!

Hilarious

Funny, funny, funny!!!!!!!

well things are obviously changing for that poor polar bear global warming has effected his habitat, and now he's losing it. his ice is melting and personally i think he looks confused. mrs. marlowe i dont usually type notes with grammar am i allowed to type them my way?

Try these new directions to post!

1. Go to http://www.blogger.com/ to sign in using your email address you gave me and your password.
2. This will take you to your page.
3. In the right hand corner, midway down, you will see " View blog" and "New Post". Look at the blog and see what we're discussing. You may click on the "comment" button below a post and respond that way OR you may hit the arrow back button at the top of the page and come back to your home page where you may post something.
4. The reason that you no longer see the New Post button is because I disabled the Navbar at the top so that you can't use the Next Blog button from our blog. Unfortunately, some people don't put appropriate things up, so that when you click "Next Blog" you could get some blog that is totally inappropriate for all of us! I don't want you to see something inappropriate especially when you're doing something for school! It's a shame that it's like this, but it is what it is, so we'll just avoid it! Monday, I'll bring my computer up to show you this process just in case you're having issues!
5. Thanks for being patient!

The changes I see that are going on in the picture are how global warming is effecting the Arctic. The ice is melting and it is getting harder for the polar bear to survive. I mean that bear can't stay on that little piece of ice forever! And who knows how far away the next piece is.

things i see

for me it seems that the trees are growing slower then last year last year they all had leaves on them

Umm... the changes i see in the picture are that the ice is going down because of the bear's weight, which then creates the water to send those wave thingy-magigies. That then means that the polar bear doesn't have much ice to be on, and pretty soon It will be in the water.

I'm going to Maryland tonight and returning Sunday night,

I'll notice things that are changing there

Wow! Finally more people are joining us!

Welcome Emily, Jason, and Jayla! Good to see you again Ashlyn! Now, see it wasn't so hard was it? Sort of like learning what a bicuspid is, since let's see you should have...like eight!

For your homework this weekend, I want you to notice things that are changing in nature. Next week we're going to really evaluate changes. Right now, there are all sorts of changes going on all around you. You don't have to write them down, just notice them.

For the blog, look at this picture and tell us what changes you see taking place:

I have the exact same question as Sarah.....how do you get those pictures on the blog?????????????

I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO POST STUFF!!!! YAYYYY! : D

did i finally learn how to post? is this actually showing up? did i truly do it? tell me if u can c dis post so i know im not insane

today

what is todays thing

Hi blogger's!!!! Just wondering what the question is today.

I'm just wondering. How do you get pictures on there?

Oh my gosh TJ, this is cuter than last night's puppy!

Just a picture to get everyone laughing!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

opportunities

I think that the statement is the like the Robert Frost Poem because for every action in the poem and the statement, there is a reaction or something that happens because of what the people chose.

Point of View

I think this means that Even if bad things happen, always try to look at the positive side of it and you will see that there always is something good, even if its tiny. Like when my great grandmother died it was really depressing for me.Afterwards though I felt happy for her because she could now have peace and rest and forget every worry she had. The Road not taken relates to this by it picking one choice and that choice makes a great amount of difference. In Ralph's quote talks about two things and you have to either choose to look at it the bright side or the bad/sad side.

Welcome Jacob!

I'm glad you were able to get on Jacob, and I love your post. I think you are exactly right. We can't be everywhere all of the time, so we have to choose. Hopefully our choice is the right one for us at that time!

Opportunity

I think this means that when you're somewhere else, other opportunities occur that you won't be able to gain, however, opportunities where you are would pop up that you could gain. In other words, there are many opportunities in life but you can only pick a handful of them at any given moment in time

Even though I missed being in class with you today, I did have a very uplifting time at the life celebration I attended today!

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Read this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Can you relate this quote to the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken?" Explain. What about things you might have missed....what do you think this means?

Things never change

I think that things do change, they may not change fast on the regular basis but they do change. Like your room, things may be in the same place for a couple of years, like your bed is always there. A couple years later you change your style so you decide to move things in a different place of your room. but things change just like day to night and night to day.

Who is that beautiful dog?

MY DOOOGGG!!!

What is that beautiful puppy's name?

I love this picture of your dog. She is so beautiful! What kind of dog is she? I'm assuming it's a girl....Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try to post a picture of my puppy, Gracie!

Mrs. Marlowe it finally worked! Thank you!

Welcome TJ!

TJ! Welcome! I'm so glad you have been able to blog tonight! Your job is to help Nicole now!

Listen carefully when adults are talking about something they don't like...you'll hear them say, "Some things never change!" I always want to say, "Like what?"

I don't think some things never change because like Mrs. Marlowe said, your personality changes when you get mad or sad, etc. What sport you enjoy can change from time to time also. No one has ever said "some things never change" to me I think I have heard it on tv and in books though.

To me it means that even as the world changes, some things just won't. Like at we need air to live, or at night the sun goes down and gets dark, and in the morning the sun comes up and it gets lighter outside.

every thing changes

before you can say something didn't change you would have to live a life a full life nothing can or should be the same change is good and bad but its just the way you a accept it that makes it a true change

What things never change?

Well for me, one thing that dosen't change is my personality. Possibly your parents cause their gonna be your parents for ever. Your family, your friends( if you are really close to them.) are other examples.

Some things never change....

Have you ever heard the phrase (or had it said to you) that "some things never change?" What does that mean to you? Give an example of when you've had that said to you or you have said it to someone else. Are there really things that never change? What would be some examples of that?

Literature Circles start tomorrow!

What lessons did you learn the other day when we played Word Builder that you could use in making your literature circle run smoothly? Think about that because tomorrow during your first official meeting you're going to set norms on how your team will work together. Also, make sure you've read the part of the book that you agreed to read when you met last week.

Think back to the poem "The Road not Traveled" that you read last week. What thoughts do you have about change in this poem? Do you remember? We'll reread it tomorrow to refresh your memory.

Lastly, make sure you've been studying your 8 stems....we MAY have a little quiz tomorrow! :) See you in the morning! Mrs. M.

Why Group 1 and 2 had more points

They had more points because everyone else went around, looking at other people's answers--which is cheating! And you could kind of tell which groups cheated because they had the same words.

How did Groups 1 and 2 end up with more points?

I wonder what Groups 1 and 2 did that earned them bonus points in our game of Word Builder today? What did they do that the rest of you failed to do? Was this a fair game? Why or why not? Reflect upon this activity and share your ideas.

Do your best on the math benchmark tomorrow! Remember your calculators, pencils and brains! Love, Mrs. Marlowe

Today

It was so fun today!! I wish you were there, Mrs. Marlowe.

Today in class....

I heard from Mrs. Hartwell that you did very well with the activity that she had planned for you. I wish I could have seen each group act out their sections! I bet it was awesome! I did hear that one person had to give up his shoe....hmmmm.....

Remember that on Monday and Tuesday you have benchmarks. Make sure you eat breakfast and get a good night's sleep. I'll be up to check on you, but remember that Mrs. Hartwell is going to administer the test to our class. There won't be C period either day. On Tuesday you'll need a calculator. I'll have one for you if you need it, but you're welcome to use your own too. Make sure you bring it to class.

I have really enjoyed my first week with you and getting to know you a little. I hope you feel the same way! I'll see you next week! Have a great weekend! Love, Mrs. Marlowe

From Dillon

Its not letting me create my own so i have to do comment on someone else's. Ive had a lot of of good and bad teachers. Usually i like teachers who talk about stuff other than school and has good personalities like Mr. B. I can not stand the ones that go on and on about work and you never get to know much about them.

My Third Grade Teacher

My third grade teacher's name is Mrs. Harward. She was the best teacher. She taught me how to write in cursive and how to multiply. I remember staying after school several afternoons because I didn't know my times tables! I know them now! Mrs. Harward is 90 now, and still just as sweet. I send her a card every once in a while just to remind her how important she was in my decision to become a teacher. The last time I wrote to her she wrote me back the sweetest note ending it with how beautiful my cursive writing still was after 40 years or so. Always the teacher, the cheerleader, the keeper of the heart...always trying to build her students up...even when the teacher's 90 and the student is 51! Wow! I agree with everything you all have been saying. When we know our teachers care about us, we will do whatever we can to not disappoint them. As much as school has changed since I was in school, some things never change...you've highlighted many of those things in your posts. I wonder what that says about schools, learning and growing as people? Hmmmm......Are there things that never change no matter what? So much to think about!

When I think Teachers, I always giggle inside, I always have a wacky personalty and i know some teachers just can't deal with all my wackiness, But the few teachers in life that do put forth the effort to make sure your okay and will never let you give up those are the teachers i would like to applaud. They always saw the light buld go off in our mind before we did, and that's a teacher that really cares.

What Makes a Good Teacher

What makes a good teacher is someone who genuinely cares about their students and believes that it doesn't matter whether the paycheck is big or small. I've had a TON of good teachers, but some of my favorites were my 1st grade teacher Mr.Alban, Ms.Jones the chorus teacher, my 6th grade language arts teacher Mrs.McCall, and Mr. B!!!

Of course, all of my teachers have impacted my life in some way, because that's what teachers are supposed to do...help prepare their students for life.

What makes a good teacher?

Well I think what makes a good teacher is someone who is fair and honest. Someone who can have disipline when needed. Someone who does not let his/her students down.


I have had many teachers who I have liked. My kindergarden, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade teachers are some whom I've liked. My 6th grade teachers were some people I liked too. I think all of my teachers have good teacher qualities.

Friday

Remember that tomorrow, I won't be in class. I'll be at a meeting all day....I wish I was going to be there with you instead! Oh well! Mrs. Hartwell has a fun activity planned for you. Do your best. Be the best listener you can be. After school tomorrow, or over the weekend, post something to our blog about the class. I can't wait to hear!

The Best and the Worst!!!!

Today in class, I told you about all of the teachers that I have had over the years. Remember my story about my fourth grade teacher? I won't write her name in case she happens to be reading this! :) Think about the teachers you have had since you started school. Tell us about some of your best and worst teachers. Don't be mean, but be honest. What makes a good teacher? What advice would you give to a new teacher in the 7th grade?

i hate having 5 yes 5 language art's teachers

What makes me happy?

What makes me happy? Well, just seeing people smile and having a good time. Also helping people makes me happy. I always help a friend in need.

Oh, and for my birthday, Mrs. Marlowe, I am having a sleepover. I've invited 4 of my closest friends. Two of them are in your class, Mia and Catie.

Well for today what makes me happy, is just living everyday to the fullest, because you never know when your day just might come. Also what makes me happy is making others happy, everyday i always love to bighten somones day by being silly or jus letting them know " Hey! I care about you!" we as pepople don't understand that the little things that you do in life can change somone eleses life in a HUGE way. Thats it for now...Now go make somone happy! haha

What makes you really happy?

Tonight, I want you to think about what makes you really happy...I will tell you something that makes me really happy and I didn't even remember it until Monday after our time together...I love teaching middle school students! Having been out of the classroom for 3 years, and having taught at least 1000 students over the last 25 years, I thought that I wouldn't miss being in front of the class. After Monday's class, I realized I'm happiest professionally when I'm teaching and learning with young people like you. I love the way you ask questions, the way you talk too much and I have to get on you, I love the way you still like certain things that are somewhat childlike, but certainly appropriate and I like the way you are able to think deeply and meaningfully about things! The bottom line is I love teaching! Being a teacher, like being a mother, makes me very happy!! Now it's your turn...what makes YOU happy?

How do I feel?

Let's see................. I have 3 days left until my birthday, It was St. Patricks day and I got a 95 on my math quiz, those are some good things. Although I had all those good things, there were some bad things, my social studies class had silent lunch today and that's it. I also changed the world by riding my bike.

How Did I Feel Today?

Some good things that happend today was that i had basketball practice and that i have a 100 in math. Another good thing is that my aunt Anna had her baby this weeken. Her name is Sophia Madison Rodriguez. Some bad things that happend today is that i have a little bit of a headache =[. Also, it looks like it could rain. Another bad thing is that its Tuesday and not Friday. Something I did to change the world today was, when I was in shop, we were using the bandsaw and someone was not being safe and i told them to stop and they did. This changed the world because it is just one less person getting hurt.

How are you feeling about your day?

Today in class we did a lot of things! The time really flies by! One of the things we talked about is part of what you are to write about on today's blog. Here are the things I would like for you to reflect upon:
1. Describe three things you liked about today.
2. Describe three things you didn't like about today.
3. Describe something you did today that helped change the world.

Remember! These things don't have to be about our Language Arts class AND remember the examples I gave....Mrs. Marlowe's pictures might be something you liked....Catie dropping the violin might be something we didn't like....the cafeteria food might be something you do or do not like....Mack changed my world today because he looked me in the eye and used his manners! I appreciate that so much! Thanks Mack! Some of you had games this afternoon (I hope you won!), some of you have birthdays coming up...write about whatever you feel that you can to describe about your day! Mine was better because I got to spend an hour with you! Have a great afternoon and evening! Mrs. Marlowe

Welcome to our new class blog!

Welcome Lightning Bolts Honor LA Students! We will use this blog to discuss things we are reading, writing and discussing. If you have any questions or concerns, know that you can always email me or call me for help. I look forward to reading your thoughts! Happy blogging!