WELCOME DEAR STUDENTS

Every new year brings, new emotions, new challenges and this year will not be the exception. Next Monday I will be waiting for my lovely middle school students, together we will learn lots of new things and we have a lot of new projects to develop.

EARTH DAY

What is EArth Day? Earth Day is designated to remind us to take care of our Earth. We need to take steps to prevent those problems that affect our enviroment. It is our responsibility to work together to protect the natural gifts of our planet, we have to follow the basic rules of "reduce, reuse and recycle daily and keeep our planet clean.
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, but Earth Day is really everyday. We must commit to buid a better future, to do something nice for our Earth and make the difference.

20 Tips to Promote Positive Self-Esteem

Value each child as an individual with unique strengths, needs, interests, and skills.
Focus on the child's strengths. Emphasize and celebrate his "islands of competence."
Reject the child's behavior, but never reject the child. Use affectionate terms and nicknames when scolding ("Your room is a mess, honey. Now turn off the TV and make your bed.").
Remember that sincere interest can be more effective and meaningful than praise. Demonstrate a genuine interest in her activities, hobbies, etc.
Establish realistic, achievable goals for your child. Anticipate success.
Avoid using sarcasm with kids; children with language problems often misinterpret it.
When discussing an issue or a problem, avoid bringing up past difficulties.
Never compare one child to another.
Help the child develop decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Understand that mistakes are an inevitable (and valuable) part of any learning experience. Use mistakes as an opportunity to teach and assist.
Divide large tasks into smaller, manageable ones. This will ensure success, mastery, and retention.
Maintain a file of his academic work. Use this to demonstrate his progress and development when he is feeling down.
Encourage him to maintain "collections" (e.g., baseball cards, stamps, rocks, etc.). This allows him to be the resident expert on a topic.
If she does not participate in team sports, promote individual sports (e.g., skiing, golf, swimming). This will provide opportunities for success, exercise, and peer interaction.
Communicate your confidence in the child and in her future.
Permit and encourage the child to follow the normal fads of his peer group (e.g., clothing, music). This will enhance his acceptance at school and in the community.
Emphasize the positive aspects of her behavior or performance, even if the task was not completely successful. Reward direction, not perfection.
Anticipate that the child will have plateaus, failures, backslides, setbacks, and regressions. Support and encourage him at these times. Kids need love most when they deserve it least!
Look for opportunities to offer him choices to allow him to practice decision-making skills.
Never communicate disappointment to your child. The disappointment of an adult may be too great a burden for a child to carry

Remember:
Your child's self-esteem will be determined by the conditional acceptance that he receives from others - and the unconditional acceptance that he receives from you. Your child's self-esteem will be determined by success and progress in four areas:
Social (acceptance, friendships)
Competence (in a skill area)
Physical (clothing, attractiveness)
Character (effort, generosity, etc.)
Emphasize, recognize and reinforce all four areas!

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_20_Tips_Promote/

ADVENTURE AT THE MOUNTAIN

Last February, 21 students and part of the faculty of our school meet each other very early in the morning to begin our adventure. Our trip to "Casa de Campo San Vicente" was really an exciting adventure. Our day was all full of challenges and new experiences we learned lots of new things. We also had the oportunity to develop and put in practice some pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS as caring, trustworthiness and responsability. Our students and faculty enjoyed this trip a lot It was really an ADVENTURE!!!

THE PIRATES INVADED OUR SCHOOL

Our students and faculty arrived to school this morning wearing pirates costumes as part of the English week activities. We had the visit of Jack Sparrow and Queen Elizabeth. They came to read stories to our littler ones. The students created posters for the exhibition. P-kinder to 1st grade celebrated their Treasure hunt, and 6th to 9th grade students read stories too.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS KNOW!!!!

Colegio Dr. Roque Diaz Tizol and its English Faculty is Getting ready to begin the adventure. With the theme English is an Exciting Adventure, Get ready for it! We will celebrate our English Week. It will be a week full of advunture and different activities.
Take a look to all the activities we have planned specially for you with all our love.

ENGLISH WEEK ACTIVITIES

*Monday, February 18, 2008
Holiday-President Day

*Tuesday , February 19, 2008
Vocabulary Treasure Hunt / Poster Exhibition / Story Telling

*Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Story Time / Spelling Bee Contest / Tongue Twister Contest

*Thursday, February 21, 2008
Nursery Rhymes Riddles / Dictionary Search / Trip to "Casa de Campo San Vicente"
Enjoy the adventure!!!

*Friday, February 22, 2008
Say it in English Day! / Show me your T-Shirt Show and Tell
Play, The Fountain of Youth (Author: Miguel De Jesús, 9th grade student)

Colegio Dr. Roque Diaz Tizol and its English faculty hopes you enjoy all the activities we have planned with all our love, specially for you!
Jennifer Ortiz (PK-1st grade), Melinda Cintrón (2nd grade-5th grade), Sasha Ortiz (6th grade to 9th grade)

WHO IS THE MYSTERRIOUS SAINT?

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?

Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death.
Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today.

Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time.

***The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.***-Helen Keller



Enjoy your day and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY.


***more information visit www.history. com

How To Improve Your English

1. Understand Why You Must Learn English!
English is a widely used language today. In its spoken and written forms, many people around the world use English to communicate with one another. It is also the working language in most countries.

You may wonder, "Why do I have to learn English"? After all, I’m not a native English speaker and I love my own language.
By learning English you will have more oportunities in life.


2. Learn To Appreciate And Love The Language!
English is an interesting and, some may say, beautiful language. It is very lively because you can express the same idea in more than one way.
It is useful, though not necessary, to appreciate and love the English language if you want to master it. This principle applies to all other languages. If you appreciate and love the language, you will find that you will be more motivated to learn it.

3. The first step in learning English is listening. Research studies have shown that humans learn languages by listening, speaking, reading and writing, in that order.
The right places to start listening in English include radio programs, television programs and movies.

4. Second Step In Learning English - Speaking
Like the baby who speaks after listening to its parents speak, you should also begin speaking in English once you have started listening to those radio programs, television programs and movies. If you’re taking your first steps in learning English, try to speak along as the radio presenter, newscaster or movie actor speaks.

You may sound awkward at first, but so did you when you started speaking when you were a baby! Be bold and repeat the lines that the radio presenter, newscaster or movie actor has just spoken. If you are shy, do it in your own privacy. If possible, speak into a recorder and then playback to find out how you sound!

Continue to listen and speak in English in the same manner above for a period of time. Once you are ready, try to speak in English to a family member, friend, classmate or colleague who can speak good English. They may have difficulties understanding you at first, but don’t give up. If you don’t want others to give up on you, never give up on yourself first!

4. Third Step In Learning English - Reading
In the same way, once you have learnt how to speak English comfortably, the next step is to learn how to read in English. Get a storybook, a newspaper, a magazine or any other material that is written in English by a qualified English writer. If you’ve just started learning how to read in English, get a short one!

You would also need help from a family member, friend, classmate or colleague who can read in English.

As you read, observe how each English sentence is constructed. At the same time, recall how the radio presenters, newscasters or movie actors have spoken in English. Recall how you and your family members, friends, classmates and colleagues have spoken in English too.

As you progress in your reading skills, shift your focus from observing the English sentence structure to understanding what you are reading. This is important because without comprehension, you will not be able to proceed to the fourth step in learning English – composition.

6. Fourth Step In Learning English - Writing
So now that you can listen, speak and read in English, what next? Well, you have to be able to pen in English.Make routine to write everyday you will see how quikly your writing skills will improve.

CANDY LAND BOOK FAIR HAS BEGAN

Last Friday, October 26, 2007 Scholastic’s Books arrived to our school and everything has been excitement and happiness since that day. We have been working arduously to make of this book fair an unforgettable experience. There are lots and lots of different books; you can find a book for every style and taste.
Everything around our school talks about Candy Land Book Fair; take a look of what’s happening in our school.

CANDY LAND BOOK FAIR

At Colegio Dr. Roque Díaz Tizol we are passionate about reading and we want to transmit you our passion, Come to visit our Book Fair and find great reads for every person in your family.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our Book Fair Family Event on
Saturday, November 3, 2007

We hope you and your family can be part of our Book Fair experience. You will enjoy fun activities and lots of surprises.

PILLAR OF THE MONTH

HOW TO BE TRUSTWORTHY

BE HONEST. . .
Don't lie, cheat, or steal.

BE RELIABLE. . .
Keep your promises and follow through on your commitments.

HAVE THE COURAGE. . .
to do what is right, even when it is difficult.

BE A GOOD FRIEND. . .
and don't betray a trust

http://www.goodcharacter.com/pp/respect.html

Welcome Character Counts to our school

Colegio Dr. Roque Diaz Tizol is integrating the Six Pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS to our curriculum and our lives. We are all very excited with this new program because we want our students to become persons with character, someone to look up and admire. Persons how know the difference between right and wrong and always try to do what is right. We are all working together to make the world a better place. I exhort you to become part of this team,together we will make the difference.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

Colegio Dr. Roque Diaz Tizol is getting ready for our next Book Fair. We are very excited. We have lots of things to do, but it will be a good oportunity for the students to master new skills, learn teamwork and develop a strong sense of ownership in the fair. This will be their Book Fair and they will love it.

SHOW and TELL

This a technique for teaching the skills of public speaking. It is the process of showing an audience something and telling them about it. Sometimes you will bring the object from your home and some others your teacher will give you an object and ask you to describe it. There is no reason to get nervous because all you have to do is describe the object by indicating its color, what it is used for , indicate why it is special for you and how did you obtain it.
Next time that you hear that you have a SHOW and TELL don't panic take it easy, relax and do your best

SPELLING BEE STRATEGIES

The ability to spell is an important skill.Those that are able to spell words correctly develop more vocabulary and have more academic opportunities.It is not coincidence that most students who spell efficiently also recognize more words in reading and are better writers.
These are some study strategies for spelling. Use these steps to study.
1. Find a quiet place to study. Avoid watching TV, listening to music,and having other distractions while you are studing.
2. Say the word. Be sure you are pronouncing it correctly.
3. Say the letters of the word.
4. Pay special attention to syllables and special letter combinations, for example double vowels or consonants.
5. Close your eyes and see the words in your mind.
6. Focus your mind in the letters of the word.
7. Spell the word
8. Write the word.
9. Check that you have spelled the words correctly.
10. Keep a notebook of words you have trouble spelling.
11. Dedicate time to study your spelling everyday.

ENJOY THE PLEASURE OF READING

I exhort all my students to enjoy the pleasure of reading. When we understand the intention of the author the ideas that are fundamental and those that are not. We construct meaning and we capture the real sense of the text. Because reading is more than just recognizing written symbols. Reading is about understanding and fellings.

Read, read and read everything you can because a competent reader is capable to learn freely and idependently. Reading competence is knowledge that is always developing. It is never complete but is perfected by practice.

READERS BECOME GREAT LEADERS!!!

BACK TO SCHOOL

Dear students!
I am so Glad to have you back again together we are going to have a WONDERFUL time. We are going to be singing, dancing, exploring, writing, reading, spelling, expressing ourselves and learning lots of new things. ENGLISH will be an exciting adventure, Are you READY?