Alexandria ESL Classes

Wednesday is April Fools Day. Said to be originated with the adoption of the new Gregorian calendar in place of the old Julian calendar in 1582, April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day, was once used to be celebrated as the New Year’s Day. It evolved into its present form through several centuries and influenced by several cultures and has limited itself to be the fun and hilarity associated with Spring. Practical jokes and pranks are the order of the day. Sober and upright media organizations such as BBC have also participated in fooling and tricking people in its own way.

We bring you the gift ideas for April Fools’ Day, the history, traditions and customs of this fun celebration, April Fools’ Day special recipes, the arts and crafts for the day and some really interesting and hilarious sections for you. You will really enjoy the quotes on April Fools’ Day, fools and foolishness and may even have the real fun by playing pranks suggested by us. Our pranks are easy-to-do and not too dangerous, keeping in with the spirit of April Fools’ Day. But before you start exploring the contests, read about the ‘one-million-dollar contest’ we are offering you. The button is on the right hand side or may be the left hand side. APRIL FOOL!  http://www.thefoolsday.com/

Do you celebrate this day?  do you celebrate this day in your country?

I also have signed up for a website called QUIA.  I can create activities, quizzes, and surveys.  Please go to this site to see what has been assigned.  http://www.quia.com/pages/rfinke12/alexandria 

Today is the Vernal Equinox - the first day of Spring.  For the next 3 months, we will have more hours of daylight than night.  Spring means the renewal of life and warmer temperatures.  It also means the return of  birds to Minnesota.  The one true sign that winter is over is the return of the Robin. Earlier today, I saw 8 Robins just 1/2 block from my house.  What is your favorite thing about Spring?

Thurs, March. 5, 2009

No Class – Spring Break

Thurs, March. 12, 2009
5:30 – 6:30 pm Individual Time/Blog Response
6:30 – 8:30 pm Speaker at Alex Tech - Rick Theissen

Thurs, March 19, 2009
5:30 – 6:30 pm Individual Time/Blog Response
6:30 – 8:30 pm Writing Activity : When I was young …
Ventures 3 , p. 116 - 119

Thurs, March 26, 2009

5:30 – 6:30 pm Individual Time/Blog Response
6:30 – 8:30 pm Writing Activity : My Favorite Thing about Spring.
Ventures 3 , p. 120 - 121

Full name: Gaius Julius Caesar

Caesar is remembered as one of history’s greatest generals and a key ruler of the Roman empire. As a young man he rose through the administrative ranks of the Roman republic, accumulating power until he was elected consul in 59 B.C. Over the next 15 years he led Roman armies against enemies abroad, especially in Gaul, while fighting Pompey and others for political control at home. In 45 B.C. he reached his ultimate success, being named dictator of Rome for life. That rule was short-lived: the next year he was stabbed to death in the Senate by a group led by his follower Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar’s life and death were dramatized in the William Shakespeare play Julius Caesar, with Caesar’s famous death line: “Et tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar!”

Caesar is thought to have been assassinated on March 15th, a date known in the Roman calendar as “the Ides of March”… The ruling titles Kaiser and Czar are derived from the name of Caesar… Caesar had a famous romance with Egyptian ruler Cleopatra, and he fathered her son Caesarion… One of Caesar’s trusted generals was Marc Antony, who became a lover and ally of Cleopatra after Caesar’s death… Caesar’s adopted heir was Octavian, who later defeated Antony and became the emperor Caesar Augustus.

Here are the schedules for Monday and Wednesday classes.

MONDAY 

Class Notes – ESL Class – March. 2, 2009
No Class – Spring Break

Class Notes – ESL Class – March 9, 2009
Guest Speaker – Kay Anderson
Affirmative Action community Resources
Idioms : bad mouth, in over one’s head, pull someone’s leg
Noun Clauses Handout

Class Notes – ESL Class – March16, 2009
All Star 4: P. 130-131
Idioms : not on your life, tell a white lie, you’ve got to be kidding
Sentence Structure Handout : P. 19 (Noun Clauses)

Class Notes – ESL Class – March 23, 2009
All Star 4: P. 132-133
Idioms : as easy as pie, a piece of cake, chow, yummy, yucky
Sentence Structure Handout : P. 20

Class Notes – ESL Class – March 30, 2009
All Star 4: P. 134-135
Idioms : Beats Me, Catch some Zs, Junk Mail
Sentence Structure Handout : P. 21

WEDNESDAY 

Class Notes – ESL Class – March 4, 2009
No Class – Spring Break

Class Notes – ESL Class – March 11, 2008
Step Forward 2, P. 55 -56 Workbook P. 32 – 33
Activity Book p. 60
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Class Notes – ESL Class – Feb. 18, 2008
Step Forward 2, P. 57 -58 Workbook P. 34
Activity Book p. 61
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Class Notes – ESL Class – March 25, 2008
Step Forward 2, P. 59-60 Workbook P. 35
Activity Book p. 62

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Class Notes – ESL Class – April 1, 2008
Step Forward 2, P. 61-62 Workbook P. 36
Activity Book p. 63

Thursday class schedule will be posted later this week.

I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who attended the Legislative Forum with me yesterday, March 3, 2009.  All of you did an exceptional job communicating with the legislators.  You represented yourselves and your school with pride and honor.  It would be nice if you e-mailed all of the legislators who spoke with us yesterday and say thank you.  It would mean a great deal to them.  Here are their e-mail addresses:

Senator Bill G. Ingebrigtsen : sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn

Senator Tarryl L. Clark (follow this link to send her a thank you) : http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1071&ls=86

Representative Carlos Mariani : rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn

 Representative Mary Ellen Otremba : rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn

Representative Marty Seifert : rep.marty.seifort@house.mn

Representative Torrey Westrom : rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn

If you would like to stay up to date on what is happening at the state capitol, use this link: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

What was the most important part of the day for you?  What will you remember most?  How is this different than what you would experience in your home country?

Have a great week of vacation and I will see all of you on Monday.