Relax!

I know... Times have been hard for some of you! But now it's time to enjoy your holidays! Have fun and RELAX!...

That's not my name, The ting tings

I like the rhythm! Can this be a song for this Summer? At least it can be a song to relax between exams!... Have fun!

Exams and more exams...

I know!...For many of you this is a time of stress and hardwork! Exams are about to start and you have been preparing yourselves to do your best in the final track to the end of school! GOOD LUCK FOR YOU ALL! Keep up with the good work!

3 R's, Jack Johnson

Watch the video and learn some things you can do to help the environment!
This is a classroom song that made you think a little bit about the importance of personal attitudes that make of you an environmentally conscious person!

Now... The environment...

We have been talking about the environment in class and all the assaults of man to the planet Earth... What do you think we should do to protect the Earth?

Will Smith is my favourite actor

Will Smith

• Born In:25/09/1968
• Name:Willard Christopher Smith Jr.
• Country:USA
• City:Filadélfia
• Age:40

Filmography

· Seven Pounds (2008)
· Hancock (2008)
· I Am Legend (2007)
· The Pursuit For Happiness (2006)
· Hitch (2005)
· Shark Tale (2004)
· I Robot (2004)
· Jersey Girl (2004)
· Bad Boys II (2003)
· Tupac: Resurrection (2003)
· MIB II (2002)
· The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2002)
· Ali (2001)
· Bagger Vance (2000)
· Wild Wild West (1999)
· Enemy of The State (1998)
· MIB (1997)
· Independence Day (1996)
· The Bad Boys (1995)
· Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
· The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

JOSÉ PEREIRA, Nº14, 8ºD

Alan Rickman is my favourite actor

Alan Sydney Patrick Rickman was born in February 21th, in 1946. He is perhaps best known to American film audiences for his roles as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He also featured prominently as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. More recently, Rickman portrayed Judge Turpin in Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.He is a versatile actor, because he can play many types of roles, such as dangerous and romantic roles. In his role in Harry Potter films, Rickman seems to be a very strict teacher and one of the worst characters in Harry Potter's film. His role is played with an unbelievable naturalness. In my opinion, nowadays there aren´t many actors like him. Do you agree? Tell me your opinions about this issue.

ANA FILIPA SILVA nº2 8ºB

Russell Crowe is my favourite actor

Russell Ira Crowe was born on 7th April 1964, New Zealand. Son of movie set caterers, early cinema was in his blood. Beginning as a child star on a local Australian TV show, Russell's first big break came with two films : the first, «Romper Stomper» (1992) and the second, «The Sum of Us» (1994), that helped put him on the American map. After initial success in Australia, Russell Crowe began acting in American films. He first co-starred with Denzel Washington in "Virtuosity" in 1995. He went on to become a three-time Oscar nominee, winning the Academy Award as Best Actor in 2001 for "Gladiator" (2000). He also has a good performance in "A Beautiful Mind" (2001), where Russell performed the role of John Forbes Nash, a great mathematician who had schizophrenia.

Presently, Russell is married to Danielle Spencer and they have two sons
(Charles and Tennyson). Russell performs his roles with a big reality, as if he was the person that he has to create. That amazing ability conciliated with his strength of will make him one of the best actors in the world.


JOSÉ RUI 8ºB

I like cinema!

Everyone loves cinema! A big screen, a dark room, a powerful sound and a new world right in front of you!...

I love cinema! Some of my favourite films are: The pursuit of happiness, Dead Poets' Society, Chocolate, City of Angels, etc...

What type of films do you like?

What is your favourite film?

Have you got a favourite actor / actress?

I love my computer - Bad Religion

This is a perfect song for the Internet age! Young people nowadays can't live without computers, mobile phones, mp3 players or ipods...
Tell us what you think about this topic! We have been discussing this in class, but now you can write here YOUR honest opinion!

Bad Religion - I Love My Computer

I love my computer
you make me feel alright
every waking hour
and every lonely night

I love my computer
for all you give to me
predictable errors and no identity
and it's never been quite so easy
I've never been quite so happy

all I need to do is click on you
and we'll be joined
in the most soul-less way
and we'll never
ever ruin each other's day
cuz when I'm through I just click
and you just go away

I love my computer
you're always in the mood
I get so turned on
when I turn on you
I love my computer
you never ask for more
you can be a princess
or you can be my whore
and it's never been quite so easy
I've never been quite so happy

all I need to do is click on you
and we'll be joined
in the most soul-less way
and we'll never
ever ruin each other's day
cuz when I'm through I just click
and you just go away

the world outside is so big
but it's safe in my domain
because to you
I'm just a number
and a clever screen name

all I need to do is click on you
and we'll be together for eternity
and no one is ever gonna take my love
from me because I've got security,
her password and a key

go away....

[I Love My Computer Lyrics on
http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

For teachers!

Top 10 Tips for Classroom Discipline and Management

From Melissa Kelly,
Your Guide to Secondary Education.

Classroom discipline and management causes the most fear and consternation in new teachers. However, classroom management is a skill that is not only learned but practiced daily. Here are ten tips that can lead to successful classroom management and discipline. These tips can help you cut down on discipline problems and leave you with fewer interruptions and disruptions.

1. It's Easier to Get Easier
Many teachers make the mistake of starting the school year with a poor discipline plan. Students quickly assess the situation in each class and realize what they will be allowed to get away with. Once you set a precedent of allowing a lot of disruptions, it can be very hard to start better classroom management and discipline techniques. However, it is never tough to get easier as the year goes on. While you don't have to follow the adage, "Never smile until Christmas," it does have its merits.
2. Fairness is Key
Students have a distinct sense of what is and what is not fair. You must act fairly for all students if you expect to be respected. If you do not treat all students equitably, you will be labelled as unfair students will not be keen to follow your rules. Make sure that if your best student does something wrong, they too get punished for it.
3. Deal with Disruptions with as Little Interruption as Possible
When you have classroom disruptions, it is imperative that you deal with them immediately and with as little interruption of your class momentum as possible. If students are talking amongst themselves and you are having a classroom discussion, ask one of them a question to try to get them back on track. If you have to stop the flow of your lesson to deal with disruptions, then you are robbing students who want to learn of their precious in-class time.
4. Avoid Confrontations in Front of Students
Whenever there is a confrontation in class there is a winner and a loser. Obviously as the teacher, you need to keep order and discipline in your class. However, it is much better to deal with discipline issues privately than cause a student to 'lose face' in front of their friends. It is not a good idea to make an example out of a disciplinary issue. Even though other students might get the point, you might have lost any chance of actually teaching that student anything in your class.
5. Stop Disruptions with a Little Humor
Sometimes all it takes is for everyone to have a good laugh to get things back on track in a classroom. Many times, however, teachers confuse good humor with sarcasm. While humor can quickly diffuse a situation, sarcasm may harm your relationship with the students involved. Use your best judgment but realize that what some people think as funny others find to be offensive.
6. Keep High Expectations in Your Class
Expect that your students will behave, not that they will disrupt. Reinforce this with the way you speak to your students. When you begin the day, tell your students your expectations. For example, you might say, "During this whole group session, I expect you to raise your hands and be recognized before you start speaking. I also expect you to respect each other's opinions and listen to what each person has to say."
7. Overplan
Free time is something teachers should avoid. By allowing students time just to talk each day, you are setting a precedent about how you view academics and your subject. To avoid this, overplan. When you have too much to cover, you'll never run out of lessons and you will avoid free time. You can also fill up any left over time with mini-lessons as described elsewhere on this site.
8. Be Consistent
One of the worst things you can do as a teacher is to not enforce your rules consistently. If one day you ignore misbehaviors and the next day you jump on someone for the smallest infraction, your students will quickly lose respect for you. Your students have the right to expect you to basically be the same everyday. Moodiness is not allowed. Once your lose your student's respect, you also lose their attention and their desire to please you.
9. Make Rules Understandable
You need to be selective in your rules (no one can follow 180 rules consistently). You also need to make them clear. Students should understand what is and what is not acceptable. Further, you should make sure that the consequences for breaking your rules are also clear and known beforehand.
10. Start Fresh Everyday
This tip does not mean that you discount all previous infractions, i.e. if they have three tardies then today means four. However, it does mean that you should start teaching your class each day with the expectation that students will behave. Don't assume that because Julie has disrupted your class everyday for a week, she will disrupt it today. By doing this, you will not be treating Julie any differently and thereby setting her up to disrupt again (like a self-fulfilling prophecy).

Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes - Addictions

"'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars" - Nickelback, Rockstar

What is your opinion about addictions? Why do young people sometimes feel attracted to dangerous situations that involve the use of drugs and alcohol? Is it the need to be accepted by the group, is it because they have problems and they believe drugs are a way to solve them, is it because they have a weak character?

Rockstar

NICKELBACK - "Rockstar"


I'm through with standing in line
To clubs we'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth
And I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
Quite the way I want it to be

(Tell me what you want)

I want a brand new house
On an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
For ten plus me

(So what you need?)

I'll need a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet

(Been there, done that)

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me

(So how you gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name

[Chorus:]
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair

Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free
(I'll have the quesadilla on the house)
I'm gonna dress my ass
With the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
Blow my money for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name

[Chorus]

And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial, well

Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I'm gonna sing those songs
That offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills from a pez dispenser

I'll get washed-up singers writing all my songs
lip sync 'em every night so I don't get 'em wrong

[Chorus]

And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial

Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

Indiscipline, school violence...

(picture taken from the internet, news.bbc.co.uk)

In the United States of America, between 1996 and 2000, 599,000 violent crimes against teachers at school were reported.

Teachers also face threats of violence and intimidation. In the 1999-2000 school year, 9 percent of all teachers were threatened with injury by a student from their school, and 4 percent were physically attacked by a student.

In the UK,teachers are warning that pupils' violent behaviour is causing staff to leave the profession.

A third of teachers in the UK have faced physical aggression from pupils and more than half have known of colleagues who had left teaching because of poor pupil behaviour.


What is your opinion about this topic? Why is there lack of discipline in the classroom? Why do students disrespect teachers so often? What are the reasons for pupil misbehaviour?

Perfect Body, perfect person?

Crazy diets, crazy thoughts, the wish to be perfect and have a perfect body... This is one of some teenagers' problems. Do we have to be perfect to be successful? Is our body image important?



"Perfect" by Alanis Morissette

Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face

Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder

How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet

Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud

I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem...why are you crying

Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect

MEN VS WOMEN

(picture from the internet)

What is your opinion about the changes in the role of women in the family and in the world of work? Does discrimination still exist nowadays in the modern western societies? What do you think about the status of women in muslim countries like Iran, for example?

Is Communication an Addiction?

(picture from the internet - unknown author)


Why do people in general and especially young people have a growing need to be in touch, to communicate, to send messages and be in chat rooms in the internet all the time? When I ask my students about their hobbies, chatting and sending text messages on mobile phones are always on the list! Even the well-known hi5s are a way of being in touch with friends, meeting new people and sending messages. Why do we have such a need, nowadays? What would we do if we didn't have mobile phones or internet anymore? How do you think you would feel?...

What do you want for Christmas?

Is Christmas special for you? What do you want for Xmas and for the New Year? Only presents? Or do you want something more?...

My dream job...

(picture from the internet - unknown author)

There is a moment in life when we have to choose what we are going to do to make a living in the future. For some people it is a difficult moment, for others it is a moment of joy because they've always known what they would like to do in life! What about you? Do you already know what you'd like to be in the future? What is your dream job?

"Numb", Linkin Park

I´m sure YOU have already felt like the girl in the video... Would you tell us what you have felt and why?...


LINKIN PARK LYRICS

"Numb"

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)

[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take

[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you

[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

[Chorus]
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be