Students

This is a note to my students from last year:

Hi!  I hope your 8th grade year is going very well and I wanted you to know that you are missed.  I have many keepsakes and notes from you all and from students from years past that keep me reminded of my home in Princeton.

An update on your former teacher:
Things are going well at my new school.  I am teaching 9th grade Geography and am still coaching.  I'm not coaching volleyball this year but will be doing basketball, track and soccer.  
The drive home is only 5 miles as compared to the 55 miles it used to take me to get to you so you know I am loving that change.

Coach Walsh (Mr.) and my mother are doing well.  They still live in Princeton for now, so make sure you head over for Halloween!  

We are all thrilled that my sister, Mrs. Lowder, is expecting another boy in April. I know some of you had her in 1st grade at Lacy Elementary, so I wanted to keep you updated on her.  

I would love to hear from you and hear how you are doing this year.  If you find the time, drop me a line on the blog!

Best wishes to you all,

Mrs. Buchanan

FINAL BLOG!!!!!! Texas Facts-Due by Wednesday, the 5th!!

For our final blog you must post 1 fact about Texas.

It must be verifiable and supported with a web source (no Wikipedia).


I'll begin:

1) In Texas there have been found remains (fossils) of the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur.  
2) Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/texas/


****Due to the short week and grades being due you will only have until Wednesday by 11:30AM to post for this grade.  


Time has changed due to grades being due. -MB

Extra Credit Week-Texas Quotes

You will need to find a quote either from a famous Texan or about Texas for this Extra Credit Blog.

You must post the following:
1) The quote.  Please use quotations and correct punctuation/grammar/capitalization, etc...
Make sure that you have written the quote word for word.  **Do not use a quote with any profanity.

2) Who made the quote.  Please write their full name (if possible) and the date it was said (if possible).

The blog will close on Friday at 2:05 pm as usual.  All posts after this time will not be counted.

Please use this blog post as the chance to make up a missing grade (ehem, last week's blog) or to boost your average with an extra daily grade.

See me for questions.

Good Luck!
-Mrs. Buchanan

Texans

Please pick a Texan of your choice that has had some kind of impact on our state.  You will need the following:

1) Full Name
2) Date of Birth
3) Date of Death (if they are deceased) 
4) A 3-4 sentence summary of why they were chosen (why you personally chose them) and what impact they had on our state.


If you can support your answer you should have no problems!

Spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation errors will be counted off in points if not corrected on your own before Friday.
Though we are not in school Friday, the due date is still the same.
Blog will close at 2:05 pm on Friday, May 24th.

Here is to a great (and short) week!

-Mrs. Buchanan

Blog Topic

Ok ladies and gentlemen, it is now your turn.

This week's topic is for you to come up with a blog topic for Texas History.  You can look at the previous posts I have used for a guideline.  You will need to be specific and you will need to pick a topic that at least 65 people can respond to in an original fashion.

You will need:
1) Your Topic
2) Outline of what is required
3) Specify if you need a citation or source

Complete posts this week will remain while incomplete posts (including misspellings, capitalization and grammar errors) will be removed.

Any time frame from our course this year will apply.

Remember this is a short week, so stay on track.

-Mrs. Buchanan

Texas History Timeline-Domino

Posting IN ORDER, post an event from the history of Texas.  

You will need to state:

1) Date (at least the year)

2) Name of event

3) Summarize the event (2-4 sentences in your own words).

Posts must be in chronological order or they will be removed.  Try to stay as close to the previous year as possible or we will run out of events. 

If you have any problems come and see me this week during tutoring.

**Spelling, capitalization, grammar and punctuation will count.  Any mistakes and your post will be removed.  

Check the post that you plan to respond to, if it has any errors, do not post to it.  You will need to post to the most recent post that is correct.  

No Blog this week

There will be no blog this week.

-MB

STAAR Testing Domino Blog Part 2

Like the previous STAAR week blog, we will be asking questions and answering questions, with a few added changes...

Your post must have the following:


1) The name of the person who's question you are answering
2) Retype their question
3) Type your answer
4) Then type your question  ***Here is the twist.  It must be a question that takes place during the time period of 1950-1970.  It can be anything from class material to pop culture (movies/music/entertainment) to facts you would like to know more about.  

***Another twist.  If the post you wish to answer is not typed correctly (spelling/punctuation/capitalization) then you will not respond to it. 
*You will need to respond to the most recent (correct) post.  
You are going to have to both edit yourself and your classmates.  I will simply remove incorrect posts and you will need to check to see if you have edited yourself and your classmate correctly.

This blog will require you to PAY ATTENTION.

Have fun with this and simply stick within the time frame given (1950-1970).

Happy STAAR Testing!

Civil Rights Movement

This week's blog will allow you to add on to someone else's post for credit IF you provide information that is relevant and that has not already been posted.

You will need to pick a person, event, group or court case that specifically deals with the Civil Rights Movement.

You must have the following for your post:

1) Name the item chosen.
2) Identify the date or time period in which it takes place.
3) Explain (in complete sentences) how your item is relevant to the Civil Rights Movement.
4) Cite your source (no Wikipedia please)

**You must have proper grammar, punctuation, spelling and capitalization throughout your post in order for it to receive any credit.  All entries that are found to be incorrect in this manner will be deleted without comment.

**Just slow down and proof your post before hitting the Publish button.

See me personally for any questions.

Good Luck!
-Mrs. Buchanan

Six Weeks Test Questions

Using your textbook, notes and beautiful brains, please write a question you feel should be and could be on your six weeks test later this week.

This six weeks we have studied:

1) The Age of Oil 
     a) 1880-1920 Progressive Era
     b) 1900- Hurricane of 1900
     c) 1901- Spindletop
     d) 1917-1918 World War I
     e) 1918-1931 Prohibition (reform movement)
     f) 1920- 19th Amendment -Women's Suffrage (reform movement) 

2) Texas in the Great Depression and World War II  
     a) 1929-1939- The Great Depression
     b) 1932-1941- Dust Bowl
     c) 1941-1945- World War II



Criteria for your question: 
1) You must cite which era your question is from using the information above.
2) You must then cite what sub topic your question is from.  Example: Spindletop or Prohibition
3) Your question must be well written and easy to understand.  Use the material we have learned from this six weeks.
4) You must have correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization and spelling.  
5) You must check back on the blog to see if your question has been removed for any reason or to see if you need to make any changes per your teacher.

Good luck!

STAAR TEST WEEK

This week you will need to pay attention to your POSITION in the blog post.  
We are going to do a Domino Blog.  What this means is that you will have to answer the last question posted on the blog and then post a question for the next student.  You will have to pay attention and make sure that you posted in the correct order and if someone else snuck in ahead of you, you will have to re-post.

So, to begin with, I will ask a question, the first person to answer it will need to write the following:

1) The name of the person who's question you are answering
2) Retype the question
3) Type your answer
4) Then type your question  (If a question is ridiculous, impossible or inappropriate it will be deleted by me and you will have 10 points taken off your grade if you post again.)  *Stick to something that someone will know, but do not ask with specific friends in mind.



Blog will close on Friday at 2:05 pm.

Question 1: In the newly released movie "G.I. Joe: Retaliation", what popular game was the 'President' playing on his iPhone?

****So, the first person will type my name, retype the question, post their answer and then post a question of their own.  Please make sure you space out the 4 criteria, numbering would probably help.

Keep it appropriate.

Happy STAAR Testing!

World War Heroes

While all who fought should be considered heroes in the eyes of their country, I wish to have you focus this blog on those who received commendations for their services during World War I and World War II.

You must find a decorated military person from either war, but they must have resided in Texas.  
They could have received the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star or the Purple Heart.

1) Name the person
2) Identify World War I or World War II
3) City or County of Residence in Texas
4) Please list their award and if possible why it was awarded.


Though we do not have school on Friday this week, I will extend the blog through our normal time on Friday, the 29th of March, at 2:05 pm.

Only complete posts will receive a grade.  
Be respectful and be sure to do your research in a thorough method.  

*No Wikipedia sources

Student Choice Blog

Choose from the topics listed below and answer with the following information:
[We are having a difficult time lately following all directions given, so let's make the corrections needed to stop this habit.]

1) Topic chosen
2) Your statement/opinion/fact
3) Your citation (website or textbook page number used to support the information you posted).
**You may post an opinion, but must be able to site a source that helped you arrive at that opinion.
NO WIKIPEDIA SOURCES
4) Keep topics together in the blog thread this week.  Check before you post and remember no duplicate posts will be accepted.


Topics to choose from:

1) Suffrage Movement:
How did the Suffrage Movement effect Texas specifically?  Provide specific details.

2) Great Depression:
List a cause of the Great Depression.  (Check your source!)

3) Dust Bowl:
List a fact about the Dust Bowl.  Make sure you note the areas of its impact. 

4) Prohibition:
How did the Prohibition Movement impact Texas specifically?  Provide details.

5) Terrell Election Law:
What was this?  Where does it fit in with a topic we are studying?

6) Civil Disobedience:
Define and add specific details of how it began and how it was applied in reform movements.

Spring Break-Extra Credit

What has been your favorite thing to learn about in Texas History so far this year?  Why?  Please explain for full credit.  

Have a safe and FUN Spring Break!

-Mrs. Buchanan

Reform Movements

We are beginning our discussions on the reform movements of the Progressive Era this week.  You will need to find and research a reform movement in the history of the United States of America (from the beginning to present day) to discuss.
                               
             reform: make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices

We are going to try our discussion format on the blog now that everyone is more familiar with posting.

1) You must post the name of the reform movement you have chosen and cite a FACT about it.  Name the reform movement at the beginning of your post even if you are adding on to someone else's original topic.
2) You are welcome to post on someone's original post if you have additional information to add regarding that reform movement.
3) You are NOT allowed to copy and paste.  You will need to rewrite the information in your own words and also cite your source (web address or textbook page).

**You do not have to use a movement from the Progressive Era, but as we are currently studying this time period, it might be wise for some of you to utilize the extra information.

Please remember to REPLY to the original thread/post if you are adding onto their topic.  This makes it much easier for others to follow and also keeps the duplicate information down to a minimum.  


If you have any questions, come and see me during morning tutorials this week.  They will be on Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 7:05 am.  There will be no tutorials on Wednesday afternoon this week as we have a teacher's meeting.  

I'm looking forward to some higher level information and insights from you this week.
-Mrs. Buchanan

Oil

As we start to learn about how oil impacted Texas it is important to know the uses of oil both in the past and today.

1) Please find and list ONE use of oil (or a byproduct of oil) for your blog post this week.  

2) As usual, you will need to cite your online source for your blog to receive full credit.  
3) The type of oil must originate from the ground.  

***Please only list one use, as these are limited.  

*********Also, if you post an example that has already been used, you will not receive credit for the blog this week.  You will need to check previous posts before posting yourself.

6 Weeks Test Week

Due to the 6 weeks testing schedule this week, we will forgo the blog.  

Enjoy your week off!

Study, be prepared for your exams, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

-Mrs. Buchanan

Six Weeks Test Review-4th Six Weeks

1) Pick one item from your review and type it first (word for word as it is listed).

2) You must then add an additional piece of information regarding the item you picked.  *You must cite the page in the textbook or the web address (URL) where you found your additional information.  

3) You may comment on someone else's post this week, but make sure you verified your information and have not accidentally used duplicate information. 

4) Wikipedia is not allowed for this blog topic.

5) Due to Early Release on Friday, the blog will close at 12:00 pm on Friday, the 15th.

6) PLEASE capitalize as well as check your spelling and punctuation.

Cattle Brands

You will need to find and identify a cattle brand used either in the past or present for this week's post.  You MUST have the following items in your post:

1) Describe what the brand looks like and post a URL where I can see a picture of the brand.  (Correction of original instructions)
2) The full name of the brand and the year of the brand's beginning if possible.
3) A small summary of the brand including 
          a) the people involved  
          b) the location of the ranch (state required)

Please see the following example below:

1)    2) Smith-Gilman 1871  3) In 1869, a young Oregon bachelor, James M. Gilman, arrived and then married Martha (Mattie) Smith on January 11th, 1871.  Mattie Smith had been 3 years old when her family, the Smith's, came to Whitewater Pass in California.  Gilman bought an old ranch and used the new Smith-Gilman brand on the property.  

Jim Crow

Please find an example of a "Jim Crow Law" from any state that implemented this type of 'separate but equal' policy.

You must have the following for the post to be complete:
1) Please list the state your chosen law came from.
2) Please write the FULL language of the law.
3) Please copy and paste the URL of the website where you found your information.

Important Confederate Figures

Using your textbook, class notes and the Internet (please limit Wikipedia use), list an important PERSON from the Confederacy.  Please cite their importance in the overall war as well as their importance specifically to the Confederacy.

You will need to summarize the information in your own words.  If you wish to post on someone else's person you will need to provide IMPORTANT information that was missing from their original post.  Please also feel free to ask questions about the persons posted.  

***Remember that your posts can be removed if they are not satisfactory in nature.  Hopefully you all learned that posting early is in your best interest.

Also, be sure to RESEARCH your information before posting, as only factual information will be left on the blog.  


*Capitalization, punctuation and spelling are still important.  You are on a public forum and are representing our class and school as well as yourselves.  

Have fun with this topic.  Talk about important figures, but do not be afraid to do some research to see if your own family has any ties to such a person in history.  

State's Rights vs. National Rights

In class on Friday, we discussed the rights of our federal (nation-wide) government and the rights of the individual states.
Using either your handout (from class last week) or the Internet, please pick a right of either the individual state's or the nation you feel should be the opposite.  

Break it down:

If you feel a specific right of the state should actually be the right of the nation, please list the example and explain your reasoning for the switch.  

OR

If you feel a specific right of the federal government should actually be the right of the individual state, please list your example and explain your reasoning for the switch.  


*Grading purposes:  If your comment is removed from the thread, you will need to post again, as your original attempt was not sufficient.  The blogger (Mrs. Buchanan) will not update you on your grades at school nor via email.  

Please give the blogger (Mrs. Buchanan) a full school day to review and evaluate posts.  Grades will be posted daily on Infinite Campus.  
Please do not ask after your blog grade.  Use your resources (Parent Portal) to look up specific grades.  

***Note from Mrs. Buchanan: I will allow this week to ask questions regarding the blog post as this is new to us all.  After this week, you will need to use your deductive reasoning OR come to tutoring to ask questions about the topic.

Good Luck!!!

Testing...Testing....Testing....

Welcome!  Firstly, lets see if this is successful.  Students, please leave a comment with you first name and the initial of your last name.  Please also add your class period.  

So, for example: Stephen F. Austin in my 5th period class would put: Stephen A. 5th

Thanks!