The Last Two Days

It is up to you to finish all assigned work.  You have no excuses.  You have been given many extra days to complete any unfinished work.  You will have until 2 pm tomorrow to finish all assignments.  That is when I will do the final input of grades for the trimester.

If you are finished with the first 31 assignments you need to finish The Amazing Dare Dozen.  The score to beat is 1167.  If you beat that score you will receive 10 pts. of extra credit.

I'm out for today (nanny is sick)

To this point there have been 32 different assignments.  Including today you have 3 class days to finish all assignments. 

Some of you are on track and will get 5 credits.  Others of you are missing some/many assignments and will end up with no grade and zero credits.

This class and the computers are for completing assigned classwork.  Do not listen to music through the computer.  Do not watch videos.  Do not waste time socializing.  In short, get to work.

#32- The Amazing Dare Dozen (the final graded assignment for this class)

This Assignment is only to be done after everything else is finished.

Go here and play The Amazing Dare Dozen until you reach the finish line.  Take a screen shot of your final score and post it to a new blog post titled "I finished the Amazing Dare Dozen."  This assignment is for those that have completed all assignments for this class.  Once you complete this game you will have the opportunity to do other "school appropriate" things on the internet.

My current high score is 1167.

Assignment #31 Free Choice

You can write about anything school appropriate as long as you fulfill the following requirements.

At least 150 words
At least 3 paragraphs
At least 3 pictures
At least 1 link to a related website.

If you can not find pictures and/or a link to your topic, then you must choose another topic.

Assignment #30- Internet research

Do some internet research on GMOs (genetically modified organisms).  What/who is Monsanto?  Read a few different websites to familiarize yourself with the topic.

1) Write a one paragraph (at least 3 sentences) summary about what GMOs are.  Include at least 1 sentence about Monsanto.

2) Write a one paragraph (at least 3 sentences) summary of your opinion of GMOs.

3) Include at least 1 link to a related website.

After today there are 8 school days left.

To this point there have been 29 different assignments.  There will be at least 3 more assignments during the next 8 class days.

Some of you are on track and will get 5 credits.  Others of you are missing some/many assignments and will end up with no grade and zero credits.

This class and the computers are for completing assigned classwork.  Do not listen to music through the computer.  Do not watch videos.  Do not waste time socializing.  In short, get to work.

Assignment #29 Use your brain

Today's Blog assignment will show in the Schoolloop gradebook as 10 pts.  For every problem you correctly complete (1-11) you will receive a point.  Problem #12 is worth 9 points.  You may collaborate with others to solve the problems.  If you do not do this assignment then you will get a 0 (zero).  If you do this assignment correctly then you could earn as much as 20 points which would be 10 pts extra credit.

Number each answer that you do in your blog post.  Fully explain your answers when necessary.

1.)  Using a tap or filled pool or a magical waterfall, a three gallon container and a five gallon container, can you measure exactly 4 gallons, you may empty the containers down the drain or on the ground or back into the pool?  Explain why or why not.  You can't guess or estimate.

2.)  Jack has three daughters and each has one brother. How many children does Jack have?

3.)  Three teachers were discussing how long they had been teaching.
Adam and Betty had been teaching for a total of 36 years.
Charleen and Betty had been teaching for a total of 22 years.
Charleen and Adam had been teaching for a total of 28 years.

How long had each been teaching?

4.)  At dawn on Monday a small gecko fell into a bucket that was 12 inches deep.
During the day it climbed up 3 inches, however, during the night it fell back 2 inches.

On what day did the small gecko finally manage to climb out of the bucket?

5.)  Which is larger, the number of seconds in a week or the number of minutes in a year? By how much?

6.)  If you were to spell out the numbers in full starting with one, (One, Two, Three, etc), how far would you have to go until you found the letter 'A'?

7.)  Last week I spent half of my money on a new jacket and then I spent half of that amount on some new trousers. I was left with $24.50. How much did I spend?

8.)  If I give you seven Fuji apples, you will then have five times as many as I would then have, however, if you give me seven Fuji apples, we will then both have the same number of Fuji apples. How many Fuji apples do I currently have?

9.)  An fire ant has six legs, a black spider has eight legs and a field mouse has four legs.  In my backyard zoo, I recently counted 612 legs which came from an equal number of each of these animals.

Can you identify how many animals there are in my zoo?

10.)  What would be the number you get if you divide 400 by 1/2 and add 7?

11.)  Which number is larger, the number of seconds in a day or the number hours in 10 years? By how much?

12.)  Go here.  It's the extra credit problem on the left side of the webpage.  Worth up to 9 points.

Assignment #28

Wow! I've seen this with the letters out of order, but this is the first time I've seen it with numbers. Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this OUT LOUD you have a strong mind. And better than that: Alzheimer's is a long, long, way down the road before it ever gets anywhere near you. 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F U C4N R34D 7H15. To my 'selected' strange-minded friends: If you can read the following paragraph, show this to your friends to see if they can read it too. Only great minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting! If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid, too. Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still ra ed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseaethe huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! Copy and Paste the last paragraph above in a new blog post.   Then type,  "I can read it." or "I can not read it." depending on which is true.  Then type one paragraph (at least 3 sentences about yourself) using this same technique of mixing up the middle letters.

Assignment #27 Ten Words

Write five (5) nouns that best describe you as a person.  Do not waste one of those nouns by using man or woman.  Consider your gender a given.

Write five (5) adjectives that best describe you as a person.

You will get one point for each of the 5 nouns you type and each of the 5 adjectives for a total of ten points. 

This is a very short assignment designed to give you easy points and to allow you extra time to complete any unfinished assignments.  In order to earn 5 credits in this class all assignments must be done.

For Credit in This Class...

You must complete all eight (8) Google assignments correctly (a grade of 7 or higher).  
You must have a grade of at least 5 posted for every blog assignment.
Your combined total grade must be at least 70%.

If all of these conditions are not met you will get a "no grade" and zero (0) credit on your report card.

After today there are 13 school days left in this trimester.  We will have about 6 more assignments.

So far we've had 24 ten-point assignments, the fifty-point Codehs assignment and the fifty-point Fontstruct assignment.  The current point total is 340.  With 6 more ten-point assignments our final point total will be 400.  That means that you will have to have at least 280 points for a C-.

All assignments are on this blog.  Your grades for these assignments are at bbhs.schoolloop.com.  It is your responsibility to finish each assignment.  If you finished an assignment late (after I originally graded that assignment) you might have a zero.  It is your responsibility to let me know that it is done and ready to be graded.

Assignment #26 Critical Film Review

This blog assignment is not to write a summary of the film that  you choose.  This blog assignment is to write about your specific opinions of the film that you choose.

You are the one and only expert of your opinions.  Write about your specific opinions about the specific elements from the film that you choose that stood out to you.  You can write about specific characters, actors, overall character development, dialogue, cinematography, story, plot, etc.

Include a picture relating to the movie you choose (movie poster, etc.) to begin your review.

 This critical review will be written in paragraphs and be at least 200 words.  

When referencing character’s or actor’s names make sure you spell them correctly with capital letters beginning each name.

Paragraph 1

1)  Begin your critical review with a general synopsis of the story (short summary- 2 sentences maximum) followed by one sentence that tells your overall opinion of the film.  Do not include spoilers anywhere in your review. 

Paragraphs 2,3,4

2-4)  Go in to detail about your opinions and the film elements that support your opinions.  Write about each element in its own paragraph. Include examples from the film to support your opinions. For example, if you liked/disliked a character from your film, you could write a paragraph about what you liked/didn't like about that character citing examples from the film. (3 paragraphs minimum).  There are many specific elements that you could focus on in your paragraphs 

Paragraph 5

5)  Conclude your review with a final paragraph summarizing your opinion and giving a final recommendation (thumbs up, thumbs down, 3 out of 4 stars, C+, etc.).  You choose one way to grade the film. 

This outline will give you a 5 paragraph critical review.  You can write more than 5 paragraphs if you so desire.

Assignment #25 Pop (Popular) Culture

This is a blog assignment.  Write about something in today's culture that you are into.  It could be a television show, a movie, a video game, sports team, performing artist, lifestyle (culture), hobby, etc. One of my favorite shows still currently on television is the Walking Dead.

Include at least 3 related pictures
at least 200 words written in paragraphs 
at least 1 link related to your topic.

Assignment #24 Typing

In today's society typing is a very important skill.  Some of you may have had a typing class where you learned the basics.  There are many online sites that provide exercises to improve your typing accuracy and speed.

1.)  Briefly describe (minimum 2 sentences) any classes or exercises you have done to be able to type.

2.)  Go here and do this typing test.  Screen capture (shift/apple/3) the results and post to your blog.

3.)  Then go to a search engine and find a free typing website that you think will help someone improve his/her typing skills.  Explore the site to see what it offers.  Write a short summary of the website (minimum 4 sentences) that includes a link to the website.

Title the blog post "Assignment #24 Typing"

Include at least 2 sentences about your typing education.
Include the JPEG of your results from the typing test.
Include the short summary (at least 4 sentences) of the typing website that you found.
Include a link to that website.

Assignment #23 Typing Tests

Go here and complete some typing tests.

1)  You will take at least one of each of the 5 timed tests (1 min, 2 min ... 5 min).

2)  You will take a screen shot (shift/apple/3) of the best result for each test.

3)  You will post all 5 pictures on your blogger titled, "#23-Typing Test #2."
      You will insert the 5 results pictures in your blog.

4)  This site also has typing games that will increase your typing speed.  Try out the games and type which one is your favorite and why.

My favorite game was Spacebar Invaders.  Everyone try Spacebar Invaders at least once.

Assignment #22 Smoking

Read this article.  Then do the following:

This is a blog assignment.

1.)  List the 10 reasons given in the article for why people start smoking cigarettes.  Number the reasons 1-10.

2.)  Write at least 100 words in a paragraph(s) about your opinion of smoking.  If you are a smoker, include the reason why you started smoking and continue to smoke?

3.)  Include at least 1 picture that is either for or against cigarette smoking that corresponds with your view.

This week

Because of STAR testing this week's schedule is going to be unique.  All 11th graders will be testing today and miss class.  Tomorrow all 9th 10th graders will be testing.  Wednesday and Thursday some students might be testing as well.

It is important that you use class time to finish all of your assignments.  If you have completed everything, then you need to spend time making your font better.

Assignment #21 Creating a Font

There are specific assignments that we have to do for this class (the "boring" ones) that can't be changed.  Other assignments can be more creative/fun, but we are still limited by what we can do by network blocks, etc.  Other things aren't blocked but require the installation of software on each computer, and that takes time and patience. 

Fonts are a part of all of our lives.  Websites, books, magazines, street signs, written DMV driving tests, CAHSEE all use different fonts for displaying words and numbers.  For the next several days you are going to be creating your own font (font examples- Arial, Courier,Times). 

You will be going to this site. 
You will sign up using the email account that you use for this class. 
Use the same password as your email so you won't forget it. 
You will be sent an email with a link to complete your free registration on the site (the email takes a few minutes to arrive in your inbox).

You will then proceed to create your own unique font.

Make every capital letter the same height (at least 10 blocks tall).

Name your font anything (school appropriate) that you want.

This will be a several day process.  I will inform you as to how you will be turning this assignment in.

Be creative and take some time to create each letter.  "Sloppily done, quickly thrown together with little thought" fonts will receive grades closer to zero than 50 or whatever this assignment ends up being worth.

Assignment #20- Free Choice

Write about anything you want (school appropriate).

Must be 200 words written 
in at least 3 paragraphs.
Must include at least 3 pictures.
Must include at least 1 link.

Assignment #19 Being Charitable

This is a blog assignment.

Mark Cuban mega-rich business man and owner of the Dallas Mavericks shows up at Back Bay High School with two million dollars to spend.  He offers you a job.  The pay for this job is one million dollars. The job is to choose a charity that you care about.   Mr. Cuban wants to donate the other one million dollars to that one charity.

Let's be charitable.

Your job is to research different charities to find one that means something to you.  After you find the charity that you want to support, you will write a blog entry that 1) **briefly describes the charity, 2) details (at least 2 paragraphs) why this charity is important to you, 3) includes a link to the charity's website and 4) includes at least 2 pictures related to the charity.

**The link to the charity's website will include all the information about the charity.  This is why you will only briefly describe (a few sentences) the charity in your post.

Monday, May 6th

Walk-around progress reports are on Wednesday.  Your grade is based on the first 18 assignments in this class.

Only a few of you have finished all of the assignments.  You have all class period today to finish any unfinished assignments.

Day 30

Progress reports are next Wednesday.  Your progress report grade is based on the first 18 assignments (a total of 220 points.).

Any incomplete or not done assignments will get a grade of zero.  Your percentage will determine your grade using the standard grading scale.

Assignment #18 Bucket List

A bucket list is a list of things that you want to do/accomplish before you die.  There is a 2007 movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman called The Bucket List about 2 terminally ill men attempting to complete all the items on their bucket lists.

For today's assignment, you are to come up with 5 things that you want to accomplish during your time here on earth.  Do not include things that you have already done.  Graduating college and having children are not on my bucket list, because I have already done those things.  List the things from 1-5 including at least 1 sentence describing why you want to do/accomplish each thing.

If you click on the link above, it will take you to a website dedicated to people and their bucket lists.  Check out that site to help you come up with ideas for your list.

Minimum requirements

this is a blog assignment
numbered list of 5 things/goals/etc. that you haven't done yet.
at least 1 sentence describing why each thing was chosen

1. run a half marathon in under 2 hours-  I will never be an elite level distance runner, but I consider running 13.1 miles in less than 2 hours an accomplishment.

2.  run a marathon in under 4 hours-  I have yet to attempt this goal.  I will hopefully run my first marathon next year.

3.  complete a triathlon-  I know I can swim, bike and run.  The question is "can I find enough time to properly train for a triathlon?".  One day I will.

4.  travel overseas-  I have a passport, but have never used it (except for Mexico).  One day I would like to travel to many countries.

5.  Donate platelets over 200 times-  I used to donate blood, but I was told for my blood type (A+) it was better to donate platelets.  Platelets can be donated every 2 weeks.  The problem for me is that the process takes about 3 hours and with 2 little ones at home I can't get away on the weekends for that amount of time.  Right now, I donate during the summer and vacation times since 2010.

Finish Programming with Karel

Today is another class period to complete any unfinished work specifically "Programming with Karel." If "Programming with Karel" is not done, then that is what you should be working on.

If that is done, then finish any other unfinished work.

Finish Programming with Karel

This Friday is the 30th day of the trimester.  Walk-around progress reports are next week.  Your grade will be based on the first 30 days of assignments.  The biggest assignment (worth the most points- 50) is "Programming with Karel."  All other assignments are worth 10 points each.

We will have some more new assignments this week.  Today you have more time to finish "Programming with Karel."

Assignment #17- Stranded

In this hypothetical situation you are stranded on a deserted island.  What 3 (school appropriate) things would you want to have with you?  These things can not be people (pets are OK).

Include a paragraph description (at least  3 sentences) of each choice and why.  Include a picture with each paragraph.  Links are not required but include them if they relate to your choice(s).

Minimum requirements:

Publish on your blog
3 different things (school appropriate).
1 paragraph (at least 3 complete sentences)
and 1 picture for each thing 
for a total of 3 paragraphs and 3 pictures

Finish all assignments.

There have been 8 Google Drive Assignments, 4 blog assignments, 2 email assignments, 1 multi-day Programming assignment (50 pts.) and 1 about.me assignment.

In order to get credit for this class you must finish all assignments.  This means every single assignment. It doesn't matter if you were absent, on a field trip, at girls group, in the nurses office, etc..  For credit in this class you must finish every assignment.

If your grade is less than 70% you will not earn credit.  If your grade is 70% or higher, but you haven't completed all of the assignments you will not earn credit.

The 16 assignments equal a total of 200 points.  So at this point, you need to have all assignments completed and at least 140 pts. (70%) to be on track to earn credit.

When you are given extra time to catch up on unfinished work like today, you must be working on unfinished work.

Typing, Linking and Adding Pictures

Creating a link in your post.

Select a word that you have typed.  Click on the link button and type or paste the web address of the site you are linking to.

Inserting a picture in your post.

After saving an image to the desktop of your computer, click on the insert image button to the right of the link button.  Upload the image that you want.  Finally, click add selected.

Writing paragraphs.

Do not indent the beginning of a paragraph.  Separate paragraphs by hitting the return key twice.  This will separate the paragraphs with a space.

Typing sentences in a paragraph.

Each sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with end-punctuation [period (.), exclamation mark (!), question mark (?)].  There are always 2 spaces after every end punctuation.


The word I is always capitalized.

This includes any contraction made with the word I (I'm, I've, I'll).

Assignment # 16- Expertise

We all have certain things that we do well and other things that we might not be able to do at all.  The same goes for knowledge (not just academic knowledge).  I know a lot about beach volleyball, but know next to nothing about World of Warcraft.

My son and 3 time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.

This post is for you to show off your knowledge or expertise of a particular subject (hobby, interest, topic, etc.)  Describe in detail a topic of interest you know a lot about or a hobby or special skill that you are good at.

Volleyball Legend, Karch Kiraly

Describe the topic you choose in your own words.  Do not write the same information that can be found on the website/webpage that you link to.  The link is to give additional information about the topic. 

HB Pier where I've played for over 20 years.

Include at least 3 pictures

Include at least 1 link to a related website (webpage)

Minimum 200 words.

Minimum 4 paragraphs.  

Including a space between groups of sentences is how to separate paragraphs in your blog.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_volleyball