Showing posts with label Tim's Newsletters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tim's Newsletters. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Letter 23: Newsletter vol. 8, no. 40 3 June 2018

1. Read the following newsletter:
Newsletter vol. 8, no. 40 3 June 2018
--1. Memorial Day Picnic Dinner
--2.The “Rat Pack” has arrived!
--3.The Big Show is Coming!  (Tim is anxious to hear all about our play!)

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 23 in response to the newsletter and talk about our yearly presentation (our play in particular) with some of our photos included in the letter.  (Title: Letter 23_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Thu. 7 Jun.)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.


                                               The Big Show is Coming!
Ms. Lin’s Class 220 at ZZHS should be becoming famous for its “productions”.
They certainly spend enough time and effort working on them. Last year it was their
chorus production, and their small class of only 21 students won first place.
For this class, apparently working hard and trying their best to win at whatever
they do has become a class tradition. This year, it’s a play. But for this class, just going
on line and pulling up “student play” of the internet wasn’t going to do. They need
something a little more challenging.
So, somehow, they found a 17 th century French “romantic comedy” by Moliere
called the ”Medecin Volant”, or “The Flying Doctor” . It’s one of those somewhat
complicated romantic comedies that were popular in France and Italy at the time, where
the man is in love with the beautiful girl, but the girl has been promised to someone else,
so the man’s servant assume a role, so that he (the servant) can help love find a way.
Things get complicated after that.
But the talented students of Class 220 have been doing this from just about
nothing. The play had to be “adapted”, with a lot of editing, so that is was the right
length for a student performance, “casting” had to be done to get the right student into the
right part, the stage sets had to be designed and constructed, and so on, and so on, and so
on. Lately the class has been spending a lot of evenings and the occasional Saturday to
get things ready.
The play is Thursday, May 31 st . I’m sure to hear all about it, so I’ll pass the news
along next week.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Letter 21: Newsletter, vol. 8, no, 34 22 April 2018


1. Read the following newsletter:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no, 34 22 April 2018
-1. Flour Sack dresses- It was a different time
-2. Taiwan – Flour Sack Underwear
-3. Nestle “Pure Life” bottled Water Bottled water tastes better, and is healthier for you?

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 21 in response to the newsletter and answer at least 3~5 study questions.(You can answer more questions to get your score higher) (Title: Letter 21_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 29 April)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.

Study Questions
You must answer the questions in complete sentences. You must give enough information from the question so that the teacher can understand your answer without having to look up the question. If you are using quotations from the story as part of your answer, those quotations should be in “quotation marks”

1. Why did many American women during this time use old flour sacks to make clothing for their families? 
 --Many American women would make clothing for the families from old flour sacks because…. 

2. How did the flour and animal feed companies try to take advantage of this practice? 
--The flour and animal feed companies tried to take advantage of this practice by… 

3. What were some of the reasons for the decline in popularity of the “flour sack” dresses? 

4. Why does Mr. Maher say that his grandmother (who would have been a young woman and mother during much of this time) would be “spinning in her grave” over the revival of the flour sack dress? 
--Mr. Maher’s grandmother would probably be annoyed with the revival of the “flour sack dress because… 

5. In what ways was the United States closely involved with life in Taiwan before 1972? 

6. Why were the flour bags in Taiwan used to make clothing for boys, but not for girls? 

7. What would be humorous about the placement of the “logo” (the printing) on the boys’ clothing? 

8. According to their advertising, where are the source(s) for most bottled water? 

9. What reasons do the bottling companies give us to encourage use to buy bottled water? 

10. Would you buy a bottle of Nestles “Pure Life” bottled water? Why or why not?

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Letter 20: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 33 15 April 2018


1. Read the following newsletter:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 33 15 April 2018
- More on the Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival 
    Read more about how other people observe the day. 
- Mei Mei the cat
- Class Trips

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 20 in response to the newsletter. (Title: Letter 20_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 22 April)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Letter 19: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 32 8 April 2018


1. Read the following newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 32 8 April 2018
1. Tomb Sweeping Day – Qingming Festival
Read how one teacher observes the day.

2. It’s time for Baseball!
Regular baseball season starts!
3. Dragon Boat Races – Arizona Style
These Dragon Boat Races have nothing to do with the Duanwu festiva
l.

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 19 in response to the newsletter. (Title: Letter 19_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 15 April)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Letter 18: Newsletter, vol. 8, no.29-31 March 2018

1. Read the following newsletters:

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 18 in response to the newsletters. (Title: Letter 18_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 8 April)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Letter 17: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 28 11 March 2018

1. Read the following newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 28 11 March 2018

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 17 in response to the newsletter or write about your new year. (Title: Letter 17_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 18 Mar)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Letter 16: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 27 4 March 2018


1. Read the following newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 27 4 March 2018

2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 16 in response to the newsletter or write about your new year. (Title: Letter 16_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 11 Mar)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Letter 15: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 26 25 February 2018


1. Read the following newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 26 25 February 2018
and the he previous ones in the winter vacation:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 23 4 February 2018
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 24 11 February 2018
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 25(A) 18 February 2018


2.In your own blog, finish your Letter 15 in response to the newsletter or write about your new year. (Title: Letter 14_____-->your own title)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 4. Mar)  You will need to stay after school to finish the letter if not submitting it on time.



Thursday, January 4, 2018

Letter 14: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 18 31 December 2017

1. Complete reading the following Newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 18 31 December 2017

2. In your own blog, finish your Letter 14 in response to the newsletter or write about your new year. (Title: Letter 14_____-->your own title, or Response to Newsletter vol.8 no 18)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 7. Jan)

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Letter 13: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 17 24 December 2017


1. Complete reading the following Newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 17 24 December 2017

2. In your own blog, finish your Letter 13 in response to the newsletter or write about your new year/ new year resolution. (Title: Letter 13_____-->your own title, or Response to Newsletter vol.8 no 17)  DUE: 11PM Sun. 31. Dec)

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Letter 12: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 16 17 December 2017


1. Complete reading the following Newsletters:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 16 17 December 2017

Topics:
1. The Christmas Story
2. Christmas Traditions
3. The Creation of Santa Claus
4. The Globalization of Christmas
5. Christmas Music

2. In your letter 12, respond to the topics in the Newsletter, and then, design and upload your Xmas card for Tim. You can also take pictures of the Xmas trees you can find at home, in your neighborhood, or in the city. Upload the picture(s) of the Xmas tree(s) and tell us where you have found it/them.  (Title: Letter 12: Merry Christmas)  DUE: 11PM Thu. 21. Dec




Tim:
I had just finished decorating the tree, when Chole showed up to study it carefully.  Her favorite pastime is to swat the balls and knock them off the tree.  It's the doges who gently pick the balls off the tree, and then take them away and chew them up.
    It's going to be a fun Christmas.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Letter 11: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 15 10 December 2017

1. Complete reading the following Newsletters:

Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 14 3 December 2017
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 15 (A) 10 December 2017

Topics: 
no.14
1. This is one smart Turkey!
2. Decorating for Christmas
no.15
1.  Some tastes of Mexico
2. Some basics about Mexican foods
3. Recipes of Burritos and Enchilada

If you are interested in reading more recipes, please check the Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 15 (A) Supplement.
2. In your letter 11, respond to the topics in the Newsletter, and answer at least 2~3 study questions respectively for each newsletter (no 14 and no 15. (The more, the better)

3.In your own blog, finish your Letter 11 in response to the newsletter. (Title: Letter 11_____-->your own title, or Response to Newsletter vol.8 no 15)  DUE: 11PM Fri. 15. Dec)

4.Visit "T" Time, and leave at least  one comment  in no.11.  Please sign your comments with your first name and your school or your town, (i.e. Angela, ZZSH Taipei) DUE: 11PM Fri. 15 Dec)



Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 14 and 15, Study Questions
You must answer the questions in complete sentences. How do you know if it is a complete sentence? You must give enough information from the question so that the teacher can understand your answer without having to look up the question. If you are using quotations from the story as part of your answer, those quotations should be in “quotation marks”

 no. 14
2.       What is the “liturgical calendar” of the Catholic Church?
3.      What is the “Advent season”, and how long does it last?
6.      In Mr. Maher’s house, what is supposed to happen each of the three weeks before Christmas?
7.      Where do the “natural” Christmas trees come from, and why will  they probably cost a little more this year?
8.      What are the two different philosophies  that can be practiced when it comes to decorating the tree?  Which one does Mr. Maher try to follow?

no. 15
1.      In Mexico, what is a “Chili”?  What is “chili” in the United States? 
2.      What is masa?  What is the difference between masa and corn meal?
3.      What is a tortilla, and why is it so important in Mexican cooking? 
4.      What is a “tortilla press”, and why would it be common in Mexican homes? 
5.      What is the ingredient that will determine is your salsa is “mild” or “hot”? 
6.    What are the major differences between a taco, a quesadilla.  and a tostada? 
7.      What is the major difference between a burrito and an enchilada?  Which one would you be more likely to eat in a regular restaurant, rather than as “fast food”.

There are Mexican restaurants in Taiwan and Macau.  I always judge the quality of a Mexican restaurant by the enchiladas.




Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 12 19 November 2017

Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 12 19 November 2017

Newsletter, vol. 8, no 12 Study Questions
 You must answer the questions in complete sentences.  How do you know if it is a complete sentence?  You must give enough information from the question so that the teacher can understand your answer without having to look up the question.
        If you using quotations from the story as part of your answer, those quotations should be in “quotation marks”

1.What is going to be the centerpiece of any Thanksgiving dinner, and how is it prepared?

2.What is Mr. Maher’s “signature dish” for his Thanksgiving dinner?  How do you calculate how much to prepare?

3.Describe the two different styles of cranberry sauce?  What foods do the cranberry sauces go with?

4.What is the difference between “dressing” and “stuffing” What ingredients does Mr. Maher like in his dressing or stuffing, but usually doesn’t get.?

5.How does Mr. Maher get everyone to help cleaning the table and the kitchen after dinner?

6.What was the “Columbian Exchange”?  What were some of the most important foods coming from the “old world”?

7.Why does the Columbian Exchange make the American Thanksgiving even more of a traditional feast?

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Letter 10: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 11 12 November 2017

1. Complete reading the following Newsletter:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 11 12 November 2017

Topics: 
1. I Stand Corrected
2. Armistice Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day
3. A visit to the “Ol’ Sod”
4. Autumn Leaves

2. In your letter 10,  talk about  World Press Photo 2017 (世界新聞攝影展), respond to the topics in the Newsletter, and answer at least 3~5 study questions. (The more, the better)

3.In your own blog, finish your Letter 10 in response to the newsletter. (Title: Letter 10_____-->your own title, or Response to Newsletter vol.8 no 11)  DUE: 11PM Fri. 17 Nov.)

4.Visit "T" Time, and leave at least  one comment  in no.10.  Please sign your comments with your first name and your school or your town, (i.e. Cathy, ZZSH Taipei) DUE: 11PM Fri. 17 Nov)



Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 11, Study Questions
You must answer the questions in complete sentences. How do you know if it is a complete sentence? You must give enough information from the question so that the teacher can understand your answer without having to look up the question. If you are using quotations from the story as part of your answer, those quotations should be in “quotation marks”

1. Where is Jason going to attend school in January?  What will make this a “shocking”  experience for him?  What should be his new baseball team?

2. Why was the November 11th holiday first created?  What was it first called?
What are some of the names it is called today, and where is it still celebrated?

3. What did Mr. Maher do to qualify for his “free breakfast” on this holiday?

4. Why are Collen (the mother) and Echo (the daughter) in Ireland at this time?

5. What is Echo’s job while she’s traveling in Europe?  What characters does she play?

6. Why does Mr. Maher call Ireland “the Ol’ Sod”?

7. How does Mr. Maher describe Toomevera?

8. In the second picture of the “Autumn Leaves” article, what are the two crops waiting to be harvested?

9. Why aren’t you allowed to burn the leaves any more?


10. What are at least two different things that think that the city of Cedar Rapids should do with all of the old leaves?

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Letter 9: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 10 5 November 2017

1. Complete reading the following Newsletter:
Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 10 5 November 2017

Topics: 
1. Celebrating Halloween….and Día de Los Muertos
2. Other Halloweens
3. Nogales and Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
4. The World Series

2. In your letter 9, respond to the topics in the Newsletter, talk about the dubbing contest and answer at least 3~5 study questions. (The more, the better)

3.In your own blog, finish your Letter 9 in response to the newsletter. (Title: Letter 9_____-->your own title, or Response to Newsletter vol.8 no 10)  DUE: 11PM Fri. 10 Nov.)

4.Visit "T" Time, and leave at least  one comment  in no. 9.  Please sign your comments with your first name and your school or your town, (i.e. Aubrey, ZZSH Taipei) DUE: 11PM Fri. 10 Nov)


Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 10, Study Questions
You must answer the questions in complete sentences. How do you know if it is a complete sentence? You must give enough information from the question so that the teacher can understand your answer without having to look up the question. If you are using quotations from the story as part of your answer, those quotations should be in “quotation marks”

  1. What time does “trick or treating” usually start, and what time does it usually finish.  During that time, about how many “trick or treaters” came to Mr. Maher’s house?
  1.   How do the dogs act on Halloween night?  Describe how Mr. Maher’s dogs react, and well as the other dogs in the neighborhood.
  1. What was the Halloween costume that you would probably only find in Arizona?
  1. What was different about Hugo’s “tellytubbie” costume”?   How did another member of the class take advantage of this?
  1. How dos Mr. Maher suspect that Ms. Lin made it through the day on Halloween?
  1. What is “Tinga”, and how is it usually served?  If you were Rachell, would you complain about your Halloween?  Why or why not?
  1. In Mexico, what are some of the things that they do to the graves on Dia de Los Muertos” ?
  1. What is the “bone fair”, and why would Imalda call it that?
  1. What is “walnuts”?  Normally, what type of words are not translated into English?
  1. Who won the World Series?  

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Letter 8: Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 9 29 October 2017

1. Complete reading the following Newsletter:

Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 9 29 October 2017

Topics: 
The World Series
The Day of the Dead/Día de Los Muertos
It’s a busy weekend for Sports

2. In your letter 8, respond to the topics in the Newsletter and answer at least 3~5 study questions. (The more, the better)

3.In your own blog, finish your Letter 8 in response to the newsletter. (Title: Letter 8_____-->your own title, or Response to Newsletter vol.8 no 9)  DUE: 11PM Fri. 3 Nov.)

4.Visit "T" Time, and leave at least  one comment  in no. 8.  Please sign your comments with your first name and your school or your town, (i.e. Aubrey, ZZSH Taipei) DUE: 11PM Fri. 3 Nov)



Newsletter, vol. 8, no. 9, Study Questions

You must answer the questions in complete sentences. How do you know if it is a complete sentence? You must give enough information from the question so that the teacher can understand your answer without having to look up the question. If you are using quotations from the story as part of your answer, those quotations should be in “quotation marks”

1.       Why should the Los Angeles Dodgers be considered the favorite in this years’ World Series?
2.      Why would the Huston Astros be considered the “sentimental favorite”?
3.      With three games having been played so far, which team has won more games, but why are the Dodgers still the favorite to win the Series?
4.      In what ways doe the Mexican “Dia de Los Muertos” resemble the Asian “tomb sweeping day?”
5.      What are traditionally used to decorate the graves on Dia de Los Muertos?
6.      What are “Calaveras”  and “catrinas”, and why are the such an important part of the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations?
7.      “Halloween” is actually “All Hallows Eve” the day before All Saints Day, while Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated on, and the day after All Saints Day.  In what ways are Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos celebrating the same thing?
8.      What are the important sporting events that will be played on Saturday, October, 28th?  If you could watch two of the events, which ones would you watch , and why?
9.      What are the dangers of Mr. Maher trying to watch ALL of the sporting events on Saturday?

10.  How does he plan to compromise?