List of students who have web sites

March 2005

Ashley "
Faith"  Comments:  Choice of a beautiful background and the student has started to build a multi-layered web site with internal links.  Next Challenge:  create web pages for Karriyma and Akira with connections...and make that CD.
Negus 
vmklx The student has demonstrated appropriate use of links to other web sites that have useful information.  Next Challenge:  work with Bryan, Michael, Keirstin to create interconnected web sites.
Tess  
Piratesfan1000
The student has demonstrated an understanding of web site structure and has created an eye-catching array of .   Next challenge:  add some of your own content with more insights about what you like about the pirates.

Bravo to
Muhammad with his "GAMES SITE" -- he taught me something about anime', too.

Congraulations to
Chamba60 (go, Destin!).

October 2004
What did your student learn this quarter?
1.  We learned that four hurricanes can hit Florida in the space of six weeks...

You can be your own judge....

GO TO "Check Yourself!"


Web Pages by DATA's Students
Return to
Mr. Mac's main page

Here are some of the links to my students' web sites

Storm for links to games that Storm recommends!

Byron and his dad made a splendid web site about drumming
www.underratedbeats.com

More Book Reviews at
www.angelfire.com/fl5/datadata

More sites by students: 
Lil-Ty2004       datavick  

www.oocities.org/liltwan84

Mr. G's web site at
www.thesongroup.org/thesonshop

www.oocities.org/brooksdwight

www.oocities.org/nicole5518    Nicole in Grade 8

Wesley's web site:  angelfire.com
falcon2/nbalife2005

A site from 7a  






+++++++++++++++++++++=+

By Tav, 6A
WELCOME TO LIL CARTER's WEBSITE
CLICK NEXT
LIL CARTER   lil_carterson@yahoo.com
* GAMES
* SONGS
* STORY

GAMES
* NFL MADDEN 2005      ESPN 2K5 FOOTBALL
* NCCA FOOT BALL 2005    DRIVER3
* NBA LIVE 2004       DEF JAM FIGHT FOR NY
* NBA BALLERS
* NIGHT FIGHT 2004
* SPIDER MAN 2
* NFL STEET
* NEED FOR SPEED UNDERGROUND 2
SONGS
* LIL JON                      MAC 10
* BIRD MAN                 50 CENT
* B.G.                             G UNIT
* BOW WOW                D 12
* 2 PAC                         LL COOL J
* JAY Z
* TRICK DADDY
STORY
* I AM 11 YEARS OLD I'M IN THE SIX GRADE I AM  FROM HOLLY WOOD. I WAS BORN IN 1993 JANUARY 13. I LOVE FOOTBALL AND RAPPING

*  *  *
Book Review (October) by Jessica S, 7th Grade
Achingly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has written a series of Alice books about teenage girls and their everyday life adventures.  When I read Ms Naylor’s books I feel like I can see inside Alice and understand her feelings.  Ms Naylor makes Alice seem real because you can understand her thoughts and feelings.
Alice Kathleen McKinley, Al for short, is trying to figure out her life and priorities.  Her first priority is to get her widowed father to marry Miss Summers, a teacher at her school.  Alice also wants to decide on a career that she will really love, get to know some other boys – even though she has a boyfriend named Patrick, work on her body, and be a better sister and friend.
Alice misses not having a mother since her mother died when she was five years old.  She would like Miss Sylvia Summers to be her new mother because she is caring, lovable, and understanding of Alice’s problems.  She is also a great teacher and very beautiful.  Miss Summers is dating Alice’s father and the vice-principal at Alice’s school.  When Alice learned that Miss Summers was going to spend Christmas at her house Alice was very happy and she thought that her dad was going to give Miss Summers an engagement ring.  Later in the story, Alice tried to make Miss Summers distrust the vice principal by telling her a lie about him.  Alice learned that telling a lie hurt people, made people not trust her, and it made her feel bad about herself.  Alice also learned that Miss Summers was a forgiving person when she forgave Alice for lying.
Patrick has been Alice’s boyfriend since sixth grade.  They talk about their parents, what they are feeling, and things that close friends share.  Patrick has red hair, long legs and is slim.  He plays the drums and is a good kisser.  When Patrick found out that Alice wanted to meet other boys he got jealous.  Patrick learned to get over his jealousy because he knew it was wrong to keep her away from other boys because of insecurity.
Elizabeth has been best friends with Alice since sixth grade.  Elizabeth, Liz for short, is a teenage girl who gets embarrassed easily and was petrified when she had to go to the doctor to get a pelvic exam.  She never reads or says anything sexual, and is very protective of herself.  She felt left out because other people were talking about other things like boyfriends.  When Elizabeth got asked to the semi formal, then she felt like she had something to talk about.  Liz learned to loosen up a little bit.
What I learned from this book is not to tell lies because lies might hurt other people’s feelings.  Deceit causes a loss of self respect, and self love.  I was reminded that for every action there is a reaction.  I also kept in mind that not every reaction is a positive one, but varies in what I do.


* * *
Dajan's Recommendations
and List of Movies and Games
            
SPIDERMAN2 it has more action and better than spiderman1

ALIENVSPREDATOR it has a lot of killing and a cool ending

THE COOKOUT it is funny and a lot of people walking streets

BABERSHOP2 it is better than babershop1 and a little more of different people

CATWOMEN it has a lot of saving people and fighting people

LOONEYTOONBACKACTION it have a lot of cartoon charaters and alot of funny stuff

You got served it have alot of dancing and a little bit of killing

CHEAPER THAN A DOZEN it is funny and it is alot of moving

SCARYMOVIE3 it is funny and alot of phones ringing


* * *
Zachary, 6A
My World
    Once upon a time there was a world full of evil and despair. A world with no life, swarmed by chaos and destruction. Where    an almighty Warlord reined over all life on the planet. He demanded continuous sacrifices to feed his hunger for blood and it was endless. And he thought he ruled all life on the planet. Until one day band of mages stood together with the greatest mage of all time Koga of  kaziar. Which wielded the most powerful necklace. The only way to defeat the almighty Warlord. Many casualties were lost that day. Finally Koga got to face the Warlord and a horrific battle it was. Until Koga used the necklace and won but could only imprison him. But the necklace took to much energy and almost killed him that day
   
    [2 months later]   ... to be continued...

******************************** 
Erin's Book Report (Sept) 
Before Spell Check
        There once was a queen named  Amethyst or Amy. This is her story of how she became queen. One day    in the city of Phanff a seveth prince was born.Everyone in the city was excited that their was going to be a seveth princess.Her name was  Amethyst. One the day of her christening Amethyst got showerd with gifts like: wit,charm, courage,heath,wisdom,and grace. Then her most powerful godmother Crustace proclames "you shall be ordinary!".Everyone was in shock.People were shouting and running in all derections.
              As the years went by Amethst become so ordinary that no  one called her by her greand name anymore,now everyone called her Amy.The Queen did not want to  give up on Amy yet.She tried vary hard to mack Amy walk, talk,and act like a real princess.But it was know use. When Amy was left alone she would clime done the tower, where her  room was  and go to the Forist of Faraway, where she climed trees, colected flowers, and learned to swim.When ever someone asked wher she was Amy would say "some wher about.". To tell the truth everyone was glad she kept to herself.
            When it came time for Amy to get  marryed no one could be found to marry her. One of the consle members sugjested that Amy should be locked in a tower and a dragon should be gard it until  a prince could kill the dragon. The king thought it was a great idea.When Amy heard about the dragon idea she was  so mad she decided to run away. the next day at the palce everyone was in an uprour !Serch parties went every where but  she was not found.
            While everyone was looking for her, Amy was living in the middle of the Forist of Faraway. She was vary happy to be there. Since Amy was kind she was able to make friends with the forist animals.Her best frends of all was  a squarl (Peter Androles) and
a crow (Mr.Pempthey). One day the Ordinary princess was talking to her friends about her clothes. She needed new ones for sure. She looked like a rage woman. then out of no wheresomeone appers.It was Amys god mother Crutacea.Amy and Crutacea talked for a while. Then amy asked"What do people when they need clothes?". Crutacea told her to get a job, so she could get a new dress.
           Amt went to the palce of  the city of Amber to find work. She was tackin in imeditly. As it turned out  a kichin maid had sprand her anckle  they needed  someone to replace her. So a royal  princess ends up working like a comon person.
           Amy had not been working at the palce long when, Queen Hedwig and Princess Prhopel came for a " frendly vist". On the first night of her stay there was a grand ball in her honor.Wich to Amy was a lot of work. Late after the ball was over,Amy went to the ball room looking for nut(for Peter Androles).When she enterd the room she saw a young man.Amy introduced herself and so did the nice young man. His name was Parry.As it turned out Parry also worked at the palce, but he did a little bit of everything. Amy then asked Parry if would like to go on a when she had off. Parry was delited. Amy and Parry like to go picneing together when ever they could. One day Parry brought  a hammer and nails to biled a small  winter house(so thy could picnice in the winter).It took a vary long time to billed but it was finaly finshed.
           One day while Amy was working she ackcdtily drooped and broke four plates. She was instly fired.When she was on her way to her room ,she saw Parry waiting for her.Parry was about to tell her something when a chamberlin came waking throgh the door.He was a  little shocked but, requested that Parry or the king  would please cxome to a consle meeting. Amy was socked  she could not speek. When she recoved she  asked why Parry had not told her." For the same reson you didn't tell me."was his answer.
         The next morning Amy found a note to meet Parry at the summer house they bilt. When she got there Parry gave her a warm clock so she would not get cold.Parry the asked her if she would marry him.Amy was a little socked but said yes, she would . Amy then need to go back to home to Phiff. When Amy walked down to breckfist in the morning her mother thought she was seeing a gost,and her father was saying "bless my soul" so many times it seemed he would  never stop.When everyone calmed down  the Queen tryed vary hard to make Amy look like a real pricess.
           A week later a marige propersol came for  Amy. Everyone was excited. The wedding was set for the last  week of April.Amy thought that spring would never come, but it finaly came. And so  Amy and Parry  were marryed and lived happly ever after.
                                                 THE END




============================== 

AFTER Spell Check

  There once was a queen named Amethyst or Amy. This is her story of how she became queen. One day   in the city of Phanff a seventh prince was born. Everyone in the city was excited that their was going to be a seventh princess. Her name was Amethyst. One the day of her christening Amethyst got showered with gifts like: wit, charm, courage, heath, wisdom, and grace. Then her most powerful godmother Crustace proclaims "you shall be ordinary!”. Everyone was in shock. People were shouting and running in all directions.
              As the years went by Amethyst become so ordinary that no one called her by her grand name anymore, now everyone called her Amy. The Queen did not want to give up on Amy yet. She tried varying hard to make Amy walk, talk, and act like a real princess. But it was know use. When Amy was left alone she would clime done the tower, where her room was and go to the Forest of Faraway, where she clamed trees, collected flowers, and learned to swim. When ever someone asked where she was Amy would say "some where about.” To tell the truth everyone was glad she kept to herself.
            When it came time for Amy to get married no one could be found to marry her. One of the counsel members suggested that Amy should be locked in a tower and a dragon should be grad it until a prince could kill the dragon. The king thought it was a great idea. When Amy heard about the dragon idea she was so mad she decided to run away. The next day at the place everyone was in an uproar! Search parties went every where but she was not found.
            While everyone was looking for her, Amy was living in the middle of the Forest of Faraway. She was varying happy to be there. Since Amy was kind she was able to make friends with the forest animals. Her best friends of all was a squall (Peter Androgens) and
A crow (Mr.Pempthey). One day the Ordinary princess was talking to her friends about her clothes. She needed new ones for sure. She looked like a rage woman. Then out of no where someone appers.It was Amy’s god mother Crutacea.Amy and Crutacea talked for a while. Then Amy asked” What do people when they need clothes?” Crutacea told her to get a job, so she could get a new dress.
           Amt went to the place of the city of Amber to find work. She was tack in immediately. As it turned out a kitchen maid had strand her ankle they needed someone to replace her. So a royal princess ends up working like a common person.
           Amy had not been working at the place long when, Queen Hedwig and Princess Prhopel came for a “friendly vast". On the first night of her stay there was a grand ball in her honor.Wich to Amy was a lot of work. Late after the ball was over, Amy went to the ball room looking for nut (for Peter Androgens).When she entered the room she saw a young man. Amy introduced herself and so did the nice young man. His name was Parry. As it turned out Parry also worked at the place, but he did a little bit of everything. Amy then asked Parry if would like to go on a when she had off. Parry was deleted. Amy and Parry like to go pinching together when ever they could. One day Parry brought a hammer and nails to billed a small winter house (so thy could picnic in the winter).It took a vary long time to billed but it was finally finished.
           One day while Amy was working she ackcdtily drooped and broke four plates. She was instly fired. When she was on her way to her room, she saw Parry waiting for her. Parry was about to tell her something when a chamberlain came waking through the door. He was a little shocked but, requested that Parry or the king would please come to a counsel meeting. Amy was socked she could not speak. When she recovers she asked why Parry had not told her." For the same reason you didn't tell me.” was his answer.
         The next morning Amy found a note to meet Parry at the summer house they built. When she got there Parry gave her a warm clock so she would not get cold. Parry the asked her if she would marry him. Amy was a little socked but said yes, she would. Amy then needs to go back to home to Whiff. When Amy walked down to breakfast in the morning her mother thought she was seeing a gost, and her father was saying "bless my soul" so many times it seemed he would never stop. When everyone calmed down the Queen tried vary hard to make Amy look like a real princess.
           A week later a marine propersol came for Amy. Everyone was excited. The wedding was set for the last week of April. Amy thought that spring would never come, but it finally came. And so Amy and Parry were married and lived haply ever after.
                                                 THE END


Conclusions
1.  we love spellcheck
2.  spelling is important -- but good writing is more important.

==================================   


What are the favorite web sites of students at DATA?

dolleyden.com

easports.com

miniclips.com

fl5/datastudents
fl5/datadata

Shanae's web site   Email msmetro05

Michael C's website   live05madden05

www.oocities.org/scttngl   Miss Scott's web site


xoceanbreezex

true_bad_mon  Javon

Some sites from 7a
Ira  www.angelfire.com/jazz/clefclef
angelfire.com/weird2/3154
band2/maddenlive
magic2/marcuseubanks
fl5/pooh-f-baby
bc3/ak5
art2/cliffcliff
flg/tocute
ragon2/chamba
fl5/turtleturd4567



Some sites from 7B    (Look for the Class Website, created by Keirstin, Michael, Bryan, Negus and others)
oocities.com/vgmkly
oocities.com/wallenlatoya
Page's web site
The Pirate Fan   piratesfan1000
Juray's site keoshia131

Tierra's remarkable web site

surferchick90D
Nadine's surprising web site

Some sites from 6A
falcon2/redfalcon
oocities.com/storm

Misty's freak2/hip92
hiphop3/bestprince22


What could a web site loook like?  How about visiting Mr. Tyler's web sites?  I like his sties because he shares his writing and his poetry and invites people to create on the internet.  He's involved with a translation project and much more.  Write to Mr. Mac at s2314@tmail.com and describe the great things that Mr. Tyler is doing on the web... and then come up with an idea that you could do if you had the time and the information needed to accomplish your idea...

FOR EXAMPLE  -- Here's something that he wrote on his web page... 
Fiction Overview
This section will contain various works of fiction by myself and anyone else who wants their stories/poetry published. As always, comments are welcome (see address below).
Right now, they're all mine. My personal favorites are "Lake #2" and "Spring" for literature, and "Chapter N" and "Not again" for humerous stories.


Did you find the spelling error?  It's okay, because he's working hard to make something beautiful and useful.  Spelling doesn't really get in the way of his message.

Here's a letter that I wrote to him....
We have virtually no funding for reading materials.  It's all out of my pocket.  SO we are trying to build a library on CD... is it okay to download your fiction and poetry, put them on disk and let students read your stuff on computer?   WE also want to print out text and poetry for oour library.   Any particular disclaimer or announcement we should put on the colver of the printed copies? 
I'm setting up a link from my site at www.teacherstoteachers.com to your sites.

His home page
http://www.june29.com/Tyler/

Mr. Tyler's writings (prose and fiction)
http://www.june29.com/Tyler/library-main.html

Cool idea... a royalty-free dictionary  (what's a royalty?)
http://www.june29.com/IDP/


GO TO DATA READING WEB PAGE
GO TO
Language Arts
This is a list of links to pages created by DATA Students.


Their personal info does not appear.  We only give first names.  If you don't want your name to appear, send an email message to Mr. Mac at globalcooling@comcast.net or call 954 646 8246 and leave a message. 
s2314@tmail.com goes to his cell phone's email

Remember to visit www.angelfire.com to create your own web pages...

Links to STUDENT web pages...

[ send me your URL ] 
What does URL stand for?
Universal
Reference
List

Here are some activities that I suggest for PARENTS and STUDENTS

Dear Parents
From Mr. Mac at DATA
I overheard a student say, “I really want to do well this year.”  It’s nice to hear the enthusiasm.

The daily reading for 30 minutes with a summary in their own words about the reading is a start.  More activities need to follow…to continue the learning and provide some variety to the reading “monotony.”  
===================
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GETTING YOUR WEB SITE
1.  GET A YAHOO account.

2.  FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
go to
www.oocities.org
enter your Yahoo id
click on FREE website
then hit PAGEBUILDER
and hit the PAGEBUILDER button, then wathc the little house get built, then click on "T" for text and type in something...
then save ... as 'index'
You'll see... ask me if you have trouble.
Mr. Mac

Send your new web address to me.  It is
www.oocities.org/YOUR ID NAME
WRITE TO MR. MAC AT
talkinternational@yahoo.com 

========================
One of the parents suggested that a list of activities could be sent home.


Here’s a start…
1.  ASK FOR POSTERS. Ask your child to write a letter or email to tourism offices to request a map, a poster and up to 10 brochures.  Have the materials sent to your home (because kids love receiving stuff in their name).  For a list of tourism offices in the USA, see the following web link:

http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/
Travel/Destination_Guides/By_Region/
U_S__States/

2.   practice using the telephone to contact tourism offices and embassies – use the 1-800 numbers or email… . 

SEARCH GOOGLE for a list.   Example: 
www.embassyworld.com
EXAMPLE:
http://www.embassyworld.com/
embassy/peru1.htm
Diplomatic representation in the US - chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone : [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

3.  Explore the internet.
Here are some web sites   
www.oocities.org/teachers2teachers
/data.html

http://www.travelspots.com/
travelinfo.htm


4.   Make a web site. 
Most free web site makers require adults to supervise the site.  I have been showing students how to structure a web site but I have no internet access at the school at present (this protects the Odyssey system from viruses).   I suggest the following free web site makers or your internet provider might have some system for you to make a web site with your child.

5.  Request info from tourism boards of various countries in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.  Posters are welcome!
SEARCH google for “tourism office [name of country]” and you’ll get 800 numbers and email addresses.  Work with your child to make the letter to request the information.  Suggested content of the letter:

Dear Tourism Office

I am a student in Florida and I would like to obtain a poster and some brochures (at least 12) about your country.  The materials will be used to help educate our class about your country.  Thank you.
Please mail the materials to :  (give your home address).

If you have more suggestions, please let me know.

Mr. Mac

globalcooling@comcast.net
smccrea@downtownacademy.org  

????????????????????????? 

Dear Parents and Guardians,
About this “checklist”
I’m the reading coach at DATA.  My main task is to serve the entire student body.  The main focus of the curriculum is on the computer and the reading program supports the main curriculum.
Most of the students need to improve basic reading skills.   Your child has many of these basic skills, so I want to develop an individual education plan that fits your child’s needs.

Critical Thinking: I will send home additional exercises and web pages for you to visit with your child.  Please start with www.snopes.com and do a google search on “underground legends” or “urban legends.”  Students should learn to question everything they hear on the news.  “There are more people in the hospital during the full moon” is one example of a “truth” or conventional wisdom that is not supported by evidence.  (Or is it?  I hope you didn’t take my word as an absolute truth!  Check it out with your student.)  The www.snopes.com web site should take you three months to examine completely.
At least one book per month – I give extra credit for each additional book report, or for each additional draft of a book report.  If you child creates 20 book reports or revises 10 book reports really well, I will award more extra credit for the revisions.  Writing is improved with re-writing and I will encourage students to be very focused.
It’s wonderful to find students who are eager readers. Their next challenge is to develop the ability to analyze (patiently) one story or book.  Some students look at book reports in quantity (“I did four book reports last month”).  I ask you to encourage your student to work on improving a book report instead of rushing on to write the next report.  To help with the revision, please purchase Strunk and White’s Elements of Style.
Vocabulary building: I enclose the first of several sheets about using “big words”… I urge parents to use these words in every day talking around the house.  Post the words in the kitchen and in the bathroom.  “This is Mr. Mac’s first year teaching sixth graders, but he’s not a novice.”   Point to the word list that includes “novice” and then say:  “This is Mr. Mac’s first year teaching sixth graders, but he’s not a tyro.”   If there is still a puzzled look on your child’s face, say:
“This is Mr. Mac’s first year teaching sixth graders, but he’s not a beginner.” 
A foreign language. In addition to studying Spanish in school, your child could study other languages.  The list of words can be pasted around the home.  If your child already knows Spanish or wants to learn other languages, let me know and we’ll get another list for you to post around the home.  Putting labels on objects is tedious but can make a difference over time.  Make sure the labels are not ignored by moving the label to a new position every month or so.
Interview an older adult.  Use a tape recorder or a video camcorder.  If the interview is on video, then we can edit it in the school on our computers.  The idea is to find out “what’s the main idea” that the adult carries inside.  Can the child learn to ask questions that bring out the wisdom in older people? 
Jay Leno:  The Tonight Show host asks people, “Who was Napoleon?” and “What’s the capital of California?” and “Who said Give me liberty or give me death!”? and “Who was the third president of the United States?” and “What countries did we fight in World War One?”   Your child could know the answers.  A good book to start with is th Encyclopedia of Cultural Literacy.  I’ve enclosed a sample page.  Contact me with questions. All of these suggestions are VOLUNTARY and OPTIONAL.  Your child is responsible only for one book report each month and for maintaining a reading journal in school and a journal at home.    I hope your child will reach higher.   Mr. Mac.


About the Reading Journal in the Home

Dear Guardians and Parents

Please read and sign the enclosed “criteria” sheets (one for Reading and one for Language Arts) with your child and ask your child to return the signed copies to Mr. Mac. 

--------------------------------------
You can glue the second copy to the Reading Journal for the Home.   If your student doesn’t have a reading journal for the home, please start one by pasting the instruction sheet (it is 14 inches long) in a notebook.  (I passed out the notebooks at school but some students might be confused and they keep the HOME journal at school.  There is a CLASS journal, too.)
----------------------------
The rules for the HOME Journal are simple:
a) the student needs to read something every day (pages in a book, an article in a magazine or newspaper)
b) the student writes “the main idea” in the journal.
c) Once a month the journal comes to school (please send the journal to the school during the first week of the next month).  The teacher counts the number of entries in the journal and that’s the number of extra credit points.  These points can be used to raise a grade.
d) If a student writes in the home journal twice a week, that’s only 8 points in the month.  If the student writes every day, the student gains 30 or 31 extra credit points.

The purpose of this exercise is to get the student to read with a pencil or pen.  Write the main idea after reading every two or three pages.  The student should NOT be moving lips while reading – it slows down the speed of the reading.  Look for the important words in the sentence.

Look for the important words in the sentence.  
Don’t read every word. 

If you have questions, please call me at 954 646 8246 and I will return your call.  It’s my cell phone, so I turn the phone off during school hours and between 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  If I’m not on the phone, I can usually answer the phone between 4:30-6:30 and 8-11 pm at night.  Yes, you can reach me up to 11 pm at night.  If you get an answering machine, it’s because I’m on the phone.

Mr. Mac   954 646 8246


/////////////////  DO THIS  //////////////
Cut an article from a newspaper or magazine...
Work together to find the main idea of this article.  Circle important details that support the main idea.  You can work with another student or alone.  GLUE this article in your Reading Journal.  If you can’t find your reading journal, ask Mr. Mac and he’ll start a new one. 


NEWSLETTER – From DATA to HOME September 2004

Topics:  Books on CDs, Web sites, Powerpoint, and Penpals

CDs -- One way to stimulate students into doing more reading is to create web sites.  I will create web sites and I will collect books on CDs to send home.  If your home does not have a computer, please contact me.  I can arrange for a donated computer to be placed in your home as part of a short-term arrangement.  After your child graduates from DATA, we will ask for the computer to be returned for use by another family.

COMPUTERS:  The school has received six computers recently and these will be set up to allow “off network” exchange of files and editing of videos.  The school is looking for a NON-functioning computer to take apart so we can examine the inner workings of a computer.  Additional working computers are also needed, especially with CD-ROM drives.
Donations are tax-deductible, since the school is organized as a non-profit educational institution.

Web sites – Parents should ask questions when they hear, “my teacher is creating a web site for me!”  No personal information will appear on any web site.  I place information that the student gives me on a web page and then other students can visit the site.  Eventually your child will be able to improve his/her own site.  Easy web-making locations are www.angelfire.com and oocities.com.  Feel free to work with your child to learn to use these programs. 

A PUZZLE:  Three large men were walking under one regular-sized umbrella.  Why didn’t they get wet?

ANOTHER PUZZLE:
How can you make 30 cents with only two coins if one of the coins is not a nickel?

Power point – your child is invited to start learning more about Power point.  The program is standard on most computers and it can be practiced at DATA school.  Students who are interested in making powerpoint presentations may ask the Reading teacher to expand and improve their presentations.  Recent Powerpoint that caught attention were about Jamaica and the Carolina Jaguars.

Penpals -- Mr. Mac taught international visitors to the USA how to improve their English.  He knows four people (Maysam from Iran, Michael from Germany, Daniela from Venezuela and Mitsui from Japan) who are waiting for letters from middle school students.  Writing to a pen pal is a fun way to learn about another culture.  This is an OPTIONAL activity and each letter will earn your team a point.  (We’ll discuss in future newsletters the interesting workings of “academic teams”).  The best part of writing to a penpal comes when the penpal visits the USA or you visit the penpal’s country… you get to meet and talk face to face.  If you are interested, submit your letter to Mr. Mac (by email, please:  talkinternational@yahoo.com) and he’ll forward it to the penpal.

Here is an interesting problem… 

1. It occurs once in a minute, twice in a week and once in a year.  What is it?

2. An interesting situation:  can you name all of the “stans”?  Afghanistan, Pakistan…

3. Can you name all of the countries that touch France?  That touch Afghanistan?  That touch Iraq?

Web site of the month:
www.snopes.com  Is it okay to throw rice on the ground after a wedding?  Or will the birds eat the rice and get bloated?  Hmmm… this web site gives the answer.
Questions:  call 954 646 8246 and leave a message.  I’ll get back with you if I don’t answer. 
ANSWERS: 
It wasn’t raining.  The other coin is a nickel.   The letter “e”.
Describe what you see in the drawing.                   

Write at least three sentences in your Reading Journal.  “It looks like a duck but it turns into a fish.  This reminds me of one of Escher’s drawings with a boat that turns into a fish.  It looks like a six-sided figure, like a hexagon.”


Once a month the book report is due. 
If your child has not finished a book yet, please ask him or her to review a movie.
Answer these questions:

What happens next?
Make a prediction.
What lesson did the main character learn?
Describe the main characters.  What is similar about the hero and the villain?  What is different?

What is the main idea about the moive or book?  For example, Tornado or Twister was about "flying cows and scientists who find out what more important than their work."




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