Thursday, May 24

This is our last computer lab class, and it is the most fun one yet!

You are going to get to direct your own movie version of the CLIMAX of your book using a fun website called Xtranormal.

Here is a sample I made:
Ms. Nickle's Sample
by: msnickle
Your Turn! Remember, READ the instructions carefully and try to figure out how to do it by yourself, before you say "Ms. Nickle! Ms. Nickle!"

 Here is a HOW - TO video - watch it first

Step #1
Sign up for a student account.
Go to Xtranormal 
 Enter the token: IFEKX
Set-up your account. Don't forget your password!

Step #2 
Click on the Assignment
Choose the style you like (that will work with your book!)
Choose "2 Actors"
Then you will pick your background, characters, character voices and sounds

Step #3
Create your movie! Remember, it should be about the CLIMAX of your book
Create a dialogue between the two characters
Play around with faces, pauses, pointing, movements and camera angles

Here is an example of a great video! It's funny too...

PREVIEW your movie if you want to see what it will look like
SAVE your movie often, just in case

Once you have finished your movie, then click PUBLISH. 
You must PUBLISH in order for your movie to be seen by Ms. Nickle

Once you have published it, then you need to EMBED it into a blog post.
Check your blog - do you see a video box (like mine above)? Then you have embedded your movie.

IMPORTANT - NEW Program

PREP E

TAGXEDO doesn't work now.

So we are using another program

WORDLE

Go to:
www.wordle.net
Click "Create"
Then, do a Google search to find a book review or an article about your novel
Add that link to WORDLE to use the words from that website (or COPY/PASTE
You can change shape, arrangement, color, order, font and everything
Try different combinations until you have something that looks good and represents the meaning in your book.

Then Save your Wordle and add it to a blog post
Add a PARAGRAPH explaining the choices you made.
 Job #2 is DONE! (See extra credit below)
 

Thursday, May 17

PRESS PLAY!

 


Today's Class: You will be creating a few different creative projects using fun internet programs. You need to read the instructions carefully and use what you've read from the novel!

You have two jobs today plus an extra credit.

JOB #1. Create a Voki (like the one above)

How to get started: 
www.voki.com

• Click on the orange button “GET VOKI”
• “Create Your Voki Account” – add information and click “SIGN UP”
• REMEMBER YOUR PASSWORD
• Check your email, and click the link to activate your account
• Enter your login information
• Then “Create a New Voki” – follow instructions

INSTRUCTIONS:
You need to create a voki that looks like the main character. Your VOKI needs to speak in FIRST person to explain the characters thoughts about the MAIN CONFLICT in your novel. 

For example: "Hi! My name is Jane Eyre. I'm in really big trouble because I took a job as a babysitter for this little girl and now her dad is totally hitting on me. But that's really creepy because I'm pretty sure that he's already married! Still, I really feel like I could fall in love with him. I don't know whether to follow my heart or just run far, far away!"

REMEMBER:
You need to personalize your character! Don't just go with the first one you come to.
You can talk into the microphone to tell your VOKI what to say
or
You can type what you want your VOKI to say.

Once you have finished, you need to embed your VOKI into a blog post. Write ONE SENTENCE to describe or introduce your VOKI
JOB #1 is finished!

JOB #2. Create a Tagxedo (a cool word cloud) 

Here is a sample Tagxedo:

The words are all from a research paper about frogs. See how the shape and color and words all work together to make meaning!

How to Get Started:
www.tagxedo.com

• Click on "CREATE"
• (If you need to, click "Install" to add Microsoft Silverlight to your computer)
• Then, do a Google search to find a book review or an article about your novel.
• Add that link to Tagxedo to use the words from that website.
• You can change shape, arrangement, color, order, font and everything.
• Try different combinations until you have something that looks good and represents the meaning in your book.

Here's one I made about my ISTA international theatre trip to Hong Kong (I chose to save it at 250KP as a JPG file - you could also chose 500KP)

Once you have finished, you need to embed your TAGXEDO into a blog post.
Add a PARAGRAPH explaining the choices you made.
JOB #2 is finished!

JOB #3. Extra Credit: Make a Glogster

IF you have finished JOB #1 and JOB #2 and you still have time, then you can do the extra credit. You will get extra credit if you do a GOOD glog. You will not get extra credit for a simple glog that only takes you five minutes to make. DO YOUR BEST!

How to Get Started:
www.glogster.com

• Log in using your old account (if you forget, make a new account)
• Create a new glog. Make sure you list it as "PUBLIC"
•  Your glog must be about a THEME in your novel. Do NOT just make a Glog about your novel. Not good enough. Choose a theme.
• The glog should incorporate images, websites, video, color and music / sounds that explain or connect to the theme from the novel

Here are two student samples:



Once you have finished, you need to embed your GLOGSTER into a blog post.
Add a PARAGRAPH explaining the choices you made.
JOB #3 is finished!

Sample Prezi

Sample Prezi Post

See assignment in the post below "Thursday, May 10"

Ms. Nickle's Sample Prezi

Of Mice and Men

 This Prezi introduces you to the six key events that set up the action in the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. I used natural colours that reminded me of the dusty and earthy farming area where the book is set. I chose images that matched each key events and included a variety of different versions of what Lennie could look like.

Thursday, May 10

Today's TASK: 

MUST BE FINISHED IN CLASS (Due at the end of period 2 on Thursday) 
(IF you are taking the DELF exam, you will be given an extension to finish it Thursday night.

  

1. Create a Prezi account  www.prezi.com  

2. Create a Timeline Line for your novel using Prezi.com   

•  Your Timeline must have 6 or more items (from the beginning of the book until the current chapter you are reading).  
• Each timeline item must have an image. Include a citation / link to the website where you got the image either in the Prezi or on your blog post.       

3. Create a blog post and link to your Prezi in the post. (See my sample post for an example). Write a short description of your timeline in the post.

Extra Credit:

If you finish steps #1- #3, then you can complete the following task for extra credit:

Read and comment on one other class member’s blog who is reading your book. Say three things that you like about their COMPARE / CONTRAST post from last week and ask a       question. It should be about 100 words.

             

Thursday, May 3

Today's Task: Compare / Contrast Post        

Due: By the end of the day on Thursday, May 3

TASK:

           

Write a compare and contrast blog post 

• the current novel you are reading 
• a novel that you read earlier this year

Blog about:

• How these two novels are different. Give two examples and provide proof (Quotes from the book and provide page number)

• How these two novels are similar. Give two examples and provide proof.  (Quotes from the book and provide page number)
   Your blog post should be about 400 words (including quotes)

Include 2 images (one for each novel) which show what you have compared / contrasted.  
Cite the URLs at the bottom of your blog to show where you got the images from.

This needs to be started today in class and posted before the end of today.

Thursday, April 26

Thursday’s Reading Class

                              All tasks due: Thursday, April 26

TASK 1:

Update Your Blogger Profile

1.   Login to your blogger account.

2.  Click on “Blogger Profile”

3.  Add extra information (but NOTHING too personal!)

4.  Add a picture. It can be a photo or an image that represents you.

TASK 2:

Read and Comment

1.   Using The Prep E Reading Class Blogroll, go to visit TWO blogs of other members of your group (who are reading the same novel).

2.  Read their posts from yesterday, and comment. Write three things that you like about their post. Be clear whether you agree or disagree with their choice of song / music video. End by asking a question. Your comment should be about 100 words.

3.  Any comments that are mean, insulting or include bad language will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment and a possible discipline referral. Be nice!

TASK 3:

Blog Post

1.   Write about your favorite scene so far in your book. Describe      why you like in this scene. Give two quotes (with page numbers) to reinforce your opinion. 250 words.

2.  Add one or more images or photos to your post that communicates something about the setting or scene you have chosen.

3.  Remember to make a title for your blog post

Remember, if you don’t have time to finish, it becomes homework. I will be checking that you have finished the assignments on the day that they are due. Anything posted late will be graded according to our late policy!

Wednesday, April 25

Wednesday’s Reading Class
All tasks due: Wednesday, April 25

TASK 1:

Write your first full-length blog post. It has three parts:

1.   Write a summary about what has happened in your book so far (200 words).

2.  Find a song or music video that you think might fit the current mood of your novel. Embed the video or song in your blog (do not just link!)  

3.  Write a second paragraph (100 words) explaining why you chose that song.

4.  Remember to make a title for your blog post

TASK 2:

Post your reading calendar schedule to your blog.

1.   Using the Reading Calendar you created in class yesterday, write a new blog post (or make a sidebar gadget) that outlines each of your check-in dates and the page numbers to be read.

2.  See Ms. Nickle’s example: Reading Schedule

Reading Schedule

Reading Schedule

My Book Name: _________________

My Group Members:
 _________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________

Check-ins:

I started reading my book on Tuesday, April 24 

#1 - Thursday, April  26 -  pages ____________
#2 - Monday, April 30 -  pages _____________
#3 - Thursday, May 3 -  pages ______________
#4 - Monday, May 7 -  pages ______________
#5 - Thursday, May 10 -  pages _____________
#6 - Monday, May 14 -  pages ______________
#7 - Thursday, May 17 -  pages _____________
#8 - Monday, May 21 -  pages ______________
#9 - Thursday, May 24 -  pages ______________
#10 - Monday, May  28 -  pages _____________
#11 - Thursday, May 31 -  pages _____________

I will finish the book on Thursday, May 31

Reading Groups

Here are our Reading Circle Groups - with links to each student's blog:

Group #1 - Great Wide Sea

Sergen
Naz Y.
Kaan
Murat Can
Furkan


 

Group #2 - If I Stay

Naz P.
Beste
Batuhan
Şeref
Yavuz

 

Group #3 - Thirsty
Irmak
Özgür
Tugay
Mustafa

Group #4 - Tunnels

Alpay 
Deniz
Halide
Mazlum

Welcome!

Welcome to the homepage of Prep E Reading. On this page, you can connect to your group members' blogs in order to read and comment. You can also check out some of the other books Prep E is reading. Keep reading and blogging! Ms Nickle