MEC Assignment #2

While viewing the projects at http://gilligan.mec.edu/~groves, I found a unit on the Lowell Mill Girls http://cgi.mec.edu/~groves/millgirls . Our center sometimes takes field trips to some of the museums in Lowell. Although the pathfinder was constructed in 2003 and some of the links weren't able to be accessed, there is still some good background knowledge to be found. The students are instructed to go to websites, gather information, share their research with other students and then as a group write an editorial to the Lowell Sun Newspaper about the working and living conditions, recreational activities and general information about life as an individual Mill Girl http://www.sun-associates.com/mercer/handouts/millgirls.html . Specific links are provided about the aforementioned including an article about women and history http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/pwwmh/ma48.htm . There is also a rubric provided as an evaluation tool.
My adult students often ask me about US patriotic symbols. At http://cgi.mec.edu/~groves/symbols, information about the US flag, the Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, the White House and the Liberty Bell can be found. Facts about displaying and folding the flag are at http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagtiq.html.

MEC Assignment #1

Finally....
While all of you have been busy blogging , teaching and/or shovelling, I have been watching beautiful sunsets, snorkeling in the crystal clear ocean and sipping on pina coladas. JUST KIDDING!
After my initial computer induced breakdown accompanied by great wailing and gnashing of teeth (NOT KIDDING), I slowly approached the Toshiba Terrifying Tarantula (TTT) on my kitchen table. There I repeatedly tried to type in my user name and password for Merlot. At last the TTT took pity on me and allowed me to access ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) materials. I landed at http://www.nadaisland.com where I clicked away at several general ESL teaching sites. "Teacher Plus" brought me to www.alphabet-soup.net/ which I'm sure all of you have seen. I explored "Presidents' Day" and "Winter Wonders" to use with my adult learners. My ESOL classes study basic history and government information so I'll be able to use the presidents' worksheets. An ad popped up for Myrtle Beach which gave me the feeling I really should be on vacation.
I discovered an interesting article at htttp://www.linguist.orgcn/doc/su200605/su20060510.pdf titled "Sociocultural Factors in Second Language Acquisition" discussing the relationship between culture and language, cultural confrontation and culture familiarization. It helps one to appreciate the many aspects of language acquisition.
Network Nuggets led me to http://www. 5 minuteenglish.com where you can find just some of the many grammar rules that a second language learner must learn.
The TTT cooperated with me and for that I am very grateful. Stay well everyone. Until next time...

mec class