My List of Top Ten

Check out this article:  What Top Ten List Would You Make?

My Top Ten Ways to Procrastinate Grading Papers
1. Playing Scrabble
2. Reading
3. Watching mindless TV
4. Playing with my kids
5. Cooking
6. Finding interesting articles to blog
7. On-line shopping
8. Texting
9. Facebook
10. Running (I hate running...)

Building Vocabulary

What's the value of a word?  Why increase your vocabulary?

As a communicator (reader, writer, speaker), it's imperative to know a variety of words and how to use them. Understanding the nuances between synonyms helps a communicator achieve the elusive feeling of euphoria that comes in using the perfect word.  Finding the perfect word for your idea is like finding the perfect shoe:  when that shoe slips on your foot and hugs it just so... when you stand up and the shoe feels like air when you walk, yet protects you from the nastiness on the ground.... when the perfect shoe provides the ultimate complement to the outfit...That's the same feeling as when you find a word that says "it" just right.

How can you expand your knowledge base?  12 Ways to Learn Vocabulary With The New York Times - Check it out.

When you comment, don't forget to include a snazzy new word.

Another way to add to your vocabulary. Take these Quia Quizzes:  Flocabulary: "Transformation" and  Flocabulary: "Shakespeare is Hip Hop".  Try making these SAT words part of your vocabulary!

Extra Credit

In an effort to put off grading some papers during BAT, I scanned the Internet for some interesting articles.

This one grabbed my attention immediately.  Why Extra Credit is Extra Wrong  I've always thought of extra credit (especially in the way described in the article) as wrong, wrong, wrong.  I also abhor giving extra credit when the assigned work hasn't been done. I mean what's the point in that, really?  Over the years I've succumbed to the pressure, so I offer a bit here and there just because. Although my feeling on the subject is really in line with this article, I still offer it. I'm starting to rethink it again....

Did you know?

(Thanks for sharing, Ryan G.)

Director George Lucas had trouble getting funding for Star Wars because most studios thought that people wouldn’t want to see it.

All the major Hollywood studios passed on Lucas’s script until 20th Century Fox gave in to his final desperate attempt (even though they also thought the film would flop!). Star Wars went on to become the highest grossing film ever at the time! Shows how much studio executives really know... 
(source)

Nov 27, 2010 09:00 AM by Emily L, IL - Facts

Grammar Nerd: Less or Fewer?

Grammar Nerd: Use adverbs, people!

Exercise and IQ

I find this interesting. 

For years, there has been a cry for help in the fight against childhood obesity.  Our kids are too overweight.  Kids are not exercising. They are too plugged into technology. Kids are not going outside to "play" anymore. People depend on the schools to keep children active by making physical education mandatory. Is this enough? What about those students who "opt out" of PE by taking another elective with parental permission (like band) or even completing the course on-line. With recent budget cuts, some schools are cutting the program all together.

Read this article:  Phys Ed: Can Exercise Make Kids Smarter? (shared by Francisco Rivera - thank you).

What are your opinions?  Can you find any other related articles?

Proofreading Matters

A question: Why would anyone submit written work without following the basic, elementary-level rules of conventions?  

I find myself asking this question almost every time I grade an assignment.  I just can't rationalize how my students would turn in anything where they didn't capitalize the first word of a new sentence (for example). Some of you may be giggling, but it's true. It's not just one student either. It's many. 

I just don't get.

Is it laziness? No pride? Do you expect to earn good grades regardless?

can u emagine if i posted this blog without any concern to the basic rules of grammer wat would u think of your teacher that jsut refused to proofread edit or put any thought into writeing can you imagine? u may think im exagerrateing but just look at some of the coments posted and u will see that im not.  

What does the writing (any type: assignments, emails, comments, even texts and status updates) you publish say about you? Are you proud of the way your writing represents you?

Read this article published in The New York Times Not the ‘Hook’ the Admissions Office Had in Mind . The article isn't the only part with interesting information; read the comments, too. Some of them are especially insightful.

Also check out: About.com Top Ten Proofreading Tips .  I love the quote by Mark Twain,

You think you are reading proof, whereas you are merely reading your own mind; your statement of the thing is full of holes & vacancies but you don't know it, because you are filling them from your mind as you go along. Sometimes--but not often enough--the printer's proof-reader saves you--& offends you--with this cold sign in the margin: (?) & you search the passage & find that the insulter is right--it doesn't say what you thought it did: the gas-fixtures are there, but you didn't light the jets.

Are there any tips you can begin to apply on a regular basis?  

*Note:  Commenting on this blog post is optional. However, check your Gmail, for required homework response to the NY Times article.