Return to Classes March 27th, 2017

It's that time again! 💝

All students will return to classes on March 27th☺.  Remember that this week the computer lab will be packed to the brim. PLEASE, please be patient. 

 We do have Kindles to help ease the overflow. I will try to have tables and chairs for all in class this first week. After this week, we will employ Room 2o2 to help ease the overcrowding.

If you have a laptop, Ipad, or Kindle that you are comfortable with bringing to class, it would help.  There is free wi-fi at the college, all you have to do is click on "agree" to use it (it's just saying you will not upload anything malicious or viral). 

This first week, New Students will receive their Log-In IDs and their RFW and DOS assignments, we will go over the class syllabus,  usage of Aztec, how it is changing, and for the new students, all about our class. It will be a good thing for everyone to listen. Some students still do not use Aztec the way it is intended to be used. A refresher would help. 

Aztec is one of the main ways of completing your GED.  Each lesson is designed to help you towards that goal. Each lesson helps in explaining what will be asked of you on the GED test. 

Using Aztec has facilitated the completion of the testing for many students.  We have many that have gone through this course and have come back to say how much it helped to use the software. 

If you are serious about completing and earning your Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency, then use AZTEC to it's fullest. 

Our only link this week is Aztec:

Aztec 👀

Spring Break **Added a couple of links

😊I know it is hard to be motivated during Spring Break. I do. Honestly.

The more that you are able to work in Aztec, the more prepared for the GED exam you will be...

So I am asking that you work at least 30 minutes during this week in AZTEC 😍 Because I want you to succeed!

There are numerous places you can find items that will help you with the GED, they may be disguised as other lessons, but every time you work on Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language, you are working toward your goal of completing your studies. I am adding my link to Live Binders for you to check out the links for learning. You can find it here: Live Binders
Please enter code: Deadrick203 There are a number of sites that are listed for GED practice on my LiveBinder page, it is possible to get to that page with the link to the left of the page. ⇚ Check it out. I will add a few more onto the GED tab this weekend.

*Something to help your reading skills and to boost your knowledge is to go to Digital Readworks. I have set up an account that has assignments to read. This is different than going to readworks.org. I set this up so that if you do not have an email yet (which you should already, but some still do not) you can access the lessons I assign.

There is a class code (XZB3NW) . You look down the list, it is alphabetized by Last Name, but I haven't written in your last name... so use your brain on how to find your own name! 

When you have found it, click on it, you will be asked for a password (1234) You can change the password if you would like. 

Here is the link: digital.readworks.org/student
  
You should already have an account with Readworks, it is a great place to look for articles

I am giving you a list of options for writing practice to help with your essay skills. This is a list of subjects that you can write out in Word, Wordpad or simply in an Email and send to me... If you want to actually send them, I will add the addresses of the actual entities listed.

OPTIONS for Writing:

Dear Future Me - Write a letter to yourself on the subject of what you want to accomplish this Semester. You can write it out in an email if you don't have a computer, email it to me.
This is a great opportunity to set a goal, put it away and then look at it again in a few months to see if you have met that goal.

 You can do this as well for weekly goals, long term goals, you can simply print out what you want to accomplish and put it into an envelope, set it aside and then open it later on.

Write an Editorial for the Newspaper:  Write a letter for the local newspaper telling them about the Mardi Gras festivities here at OC. Include what you learned in classes, the activities that you did, the parade, and what type of food was included. Many people do not know that we have this program, or that we do activities along with the students at OC. This would be a great opportunity to enlighten our community that we are hard working and also active.
Make an outline,
Write a rough draft,
Revise your letter,
You can mail to the paper if you want,
Letters to the Editor
Odessa American
PO Box 2952
Odessa, TX 79760
REMEMBER to Email a copy to me.

Letter to the President:  - Write a letter to the President about our classes. It should be written in the same format that you wrote the letter to Congress. Formal, and polite. Tell him about what we are doing in class, how Computer Literacy has helped you, and what you plan to do in the future with your Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency.
Remember to write a rough  draft and to read over it several times, revising each time until it is what you want it to be.
If you want to actually send it, please do.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington,
DC 20500
Remember to Email a copy of it to me.

If you are serious about contacting President Trump, there is a page that you can fill out for doing just that. The page is called Get in Touch with the White House.
Remember to always be polite, respectful, and stick to facts. Also remember to use Spell Check!


This is a fun Venn Diagram to fill out, go to the link and use it to create a goal for the week.

This week would be a great time to work on your resume. this is a link to help you out, it is Resume 101

LINKS:

Sample of a formal letter to the President

Get in Touch with the White House

Sample of a letter to the Editor of a Newspaper

The Odessa American Online

Aztec Software

Venn Diagram

Resume 101

Live Binders 

Digital Readworks

March 6-9, 2017

**Notice the addition of the link to the left⇐ for Live Binders. This is under construction but usable. Let me know if you like the site and if any of the pages help you!  If an image does not load on one of the pages, click on the link and it will take you to that page. **    Live Binders Link

This week will be registration week. If you know anyone that would like to register for classes, please have them go to Saulsbury Center to fill out paperwork. 

 This week, we will work on a short paper due by email as well as Aztec.

Monday/Tuesday:

 Watch Video on "What is Functional Text". 
This is an alternative video if you have problems watching the first link: "Functional Texts"
Email-👉Due Thursday March 9th:

write 1 paragraph (As always you can write more) in Word or WordPad on the subject: 

"What Makes a Text Functional"

 Make sure name and homeroom are listed on page then email it to instructor!

**Please make sure you are working in your DOS in Aztec for at least an hour per week, above and beyond what your class assignment is. If that means coming early or staying late, think of it as your homework each week!

If you are unsure how much time you have logged each week, come see your Lab instructor!
If you have any other questions✋, maybe about testing, please ask.

Wednesday/Thursday:

AZTEC:

Functional Texts:

Foundations:  Language>Writing Skills> Expanding, Combining, and Reducing Sentences

Pre-HSE: Writing> Language Mechanics> Common Writing Issues

GED Prep: Reasoning Through Language Arts> Analyzing Texts> Interpreting Words and Phrases

LINKS for this week:

Video on Functional Text 

Alternative video on Functional Texts

Aztec Software   

More Info 👇 

Last week, I reminded you all that Aztec was supposed to launch the new and improved site...

Just joking. 

We have been informed that it will likely "go live" on the 27th of March instead.

I think you will all like the new improved site, it will be easier to navigate and you can set goals and implement them easier. 

Please be patient, all good things are worth the wait. 

As we are nearing the Spring Break, remember that you can work on Aztec while you are on break. Don't fall behind on your lessons! Work at home, the library or on your phone. 

 Entrepreneurship Class  Students who wish to become business owners have an opportunity to attend this class.  The catch is that you  must start a business by the time the class is over.  Classes run March 21, 2017 through June 27, 2017.  Classes are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 12:30 pm until 2:30 pm.  They must complete each section in order to receive a certificate. Speak to Ms. Pina, Ms. Lerma (106), or Ms. Doolittle.

There is also a class for creating your resume. You must register because the classes will be small. 

Resume Workshop 101 – Rhonda Romine (Ell Wood Staffing)

Monday, March 20^th form 10:00am – 11:00am

Location: TBD (to be determined)

Resume Workshop 101 – Dr. Steve Smith (Business Dept.)

Tuesday, March 21^st from 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Location: TBD (to be determined)

If students are interested in one of these sessions, please have them email me.  Space is limited!! I will send an email reminder to the student for the workshop.

>>Full Name, ID number, email address, and phone number

Lorinda Tercero

ltercero@odessa.edu

Dates to remember:
March 22, all students are back in the classroom (216) There will be a special guest as well.
You will receive your new schedules!

Campus Cary Forums

Some of you may not know that the Texas State Legislature passed a law stating that students and faculty members at public and private universities in Texas could be allowed to carry concealed handguns into classrooms, dormitories and other buildings under the bill that  passed .
Odessa College is conducting forums to discuss this bill and the implementation for this campus.


These are the times for the Campus Carry Forums scheduled thus far..

Student Forum	Thursday, March 2nd @ 5 pm	Wood Building of Math and Science Room 119
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Student Forum	Thursday, March 30th @ 4 pm	Saulsbury Campus Center Zant Community Room
Community Forum	Thursday, March 30th @ 6 pm	Saulsbury Campus Center Zant Community Room

**If you attend, please keep the discussion productive,  RESPECTFUL, and stick to the facts.

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