Work on your GarageBand Track

Agenda:
I. Do Now
II. Finish Lyrics
III. Add Lyrics to song

I. Do Now: The Media is seen as one of the most important elements of society. Some authoritarian governments restrict the media to keep people from rising up. For over 200 years, the U.S. has given news organizations the right to cover what they please in the name of 'freedom'. Many blame modern-day racism on the media as they continue to portray many people in stereotypical roles. How important is the media? Where do you see the media going?
What should the media be covering?

II. Finish song lyrics - Today, you will work on your songs and some of them will have a chance to record your lyrics into these songs. One thing to keep in mind is that your lyrics must go well with the beat you have created. If you are collaborating with 1-2 other people, you must make sure your rhyme scheme goes well with each other. Work on your lyrics and then finish your garage band beats to make sure they go well together.

III. If you are ready to record your lyrics, see Mr. Amador for the mic. You will have only 15 minutes to record your vocals. Make sure to upload your garageband beat to the network. Mr. Amador will show you how.

Swing Swing Swing

Agenda:
I. Do Now
II. Swing Slang Song
III. Swing Musician biography

I. Do Now: Swing music became famous during the 1930's and changed the way many Americans felt about music. Looking at the pictures above, what do you think is different about Swing and today's music? Is the music of today as vibrant and as energetic as Swing? Why or why not?

II. Swing Slang Song - You will write a short story (3-5 paragraphs) about the youth of today using 20 words from the Hepster's Dictionary (<--click). Email the song to omar.amador.79@gmail.com or post the song on the blog. It is okay to write about a different subject as long as you include 20 words from the hepster's dictionary. Be sure to underline the words. You may not use the same word twice.

III.Work on your GarageBand track. Plan on having your lyrics from yesterday fit the music you are creating.

Group A & B - Amador's Homeroom only

AGENDA:
I. Do Now
II. Type Essay draft
III. Email draft to Mr. Amador (omar.amador.79@gmail.com)

I. Do Now: Space Missions and the Economy
Since the Cold War, mankind has been trying to make scientific breakthroughs by sending people to space. But going to space is not cheap. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the space race stopped and now going to space seems to many as a waste of resources. Others see space missions as vital for the existence of mankind in the future. What do you think? Do you feel space missions is a waste of money? Do you feel space missions are essential and necessary?
Write your answer on the blog with three supporting statements.

II. Essay Draft - Type your essay draft on word. Remember to save every 10 - 15 minutes. Some of you need a clear thesis. Please see Mr. Amador to see if your thesis is okay.

III. Email your essay at omar.amador.79@gmail.com

nuclear arms reduction

Agenda:

I. Blog Question

II. Keyboard Exercise

III. Work on Timeline

I. Blog Question - Nuclear Arms Reduction

President Obama and the president of Russia recently had a meeting and to establish more peace between the countries. They decided to reduce their nuclear missiles in order to bring more safety to the earth.

Some people fear that this makes the US look weak and in order to be the strongest country on earth, we have to appear like we are powerful. Some fear that countries like China, North Korea and Iran will try to take advantage of the US if we reduce our nuclear weapons. If we appear weak to them, then other countries will follow. It it a positive or negative thing that we reduce our nuclear weapons?

II. Review music theory notes by viewing this page (click here). Notice how the piano and music notes are directly connected.

III. Play Notes using virtual keyboard - You will play the following tune and Mr. Amador will give you points once he hears you play the notes on the sheet music. You will play the tune using the online virtual piano or Garageband.

Immigration Proposals

Agenda
I. Do Now
II. Type your Poems and email to Mr. Amador
III. Continue Research

I. Do Now: Recently, we have been covering the topic of immigration reform. Some politicians from different ideologies (conservative and liberal) have come up with a solution that can maybe help President Obama pass immigration reform to help undocumented immigrants get citizenship.


The proposals are:
1. Undocumented immigrants must admit that they broke the law by coming to this country illegally.
2. Undocumented immigrants must pay a fine ($1000 - $5000) for breaking the law.
3. Undocumented immigrants must agree to have their background checked.
4. Undocumented immigrants must go back to their home countries and wait to get clear and then they can have citizenship.

Your response:
What are the pros and cons to these proposals? Do you agree with them? Why or why not?
Come up with a solution to fix immigration reform so that undocumented immigrants can become citizens while ensuring the U.S. economy does not fall behind.

II. Finish typing your poems - You will type your poems that you have been working with Myron. Your finished poems must be given to Mr. Amador by today - NO EXCEPTIONS! Your typed poems are worth 20 points. Mr. Amador must collect your poems before you leave class. You can also email your poem to him to omar.amador.79@gmail.com

III. Continue your research for the timeline. Some of you are using other timelines from different websites. Remember that the events on the timeline must include how ideology effected the country you are researching up until recent history. If you pick a timeline from 1300 - 1880, then your timeline will not be current and you will receive a low grade.

On to the next promise, Mr. Obama

Agenda I.
Do Now
II. Wikipedia.org or CIA World Factbook search
III. Begin Research IV. Find important events and summarize
V. DO NOT PRINT YOUR RESEARCH!

I. Do Now: President Obama has kept his promise to provide more Americans with Health Care, a law that he was finally able to pass and will take affect in 2014. Now that Obama has completed one of his promises, many activist are demanding that he keeps one of his original promise - To have Immigration Reform.

Currently, immigration laws are not working. On one hand, many immigrants continue to come here illegaly, increasing the use of public services. On the other hand, immigrants contribute more than 300 Million dollars to the U.S. economy by providing cheap labor.

Many Americans who have grown up in the U.S. are getting deported because they were brought to the U.S. illegaly when they were children.

While Obama promised to fix immigration to make it easier for "illegal" immgrants to become citizens, he fears that if he touches the issue, he won't get realected. What do you think? Should he try to pass immigration reform, even if it means that he will lose the next election?

II. Wikipedia Search - You will make a search of the country you have picked. Be sure to copy and paste important notes on Microsoft Word. Remember that you are looking for 10 key events.

III. Summarize your research - Remember to look for important events. Concentrate in the 1960's.

IV. DO NOT PRINT - check with Mr. Amador becore you start to print your research!!!

piano notes

Agenda
I. Do Now - Obama's Health Care
II. Quick Review of Notes
III. Play Notes on Online Keyboard or GarageBand Keyboard

I. Do Now: President Obama's health care reform has finally passed. Although some parts of the health care bill will have to be corrected by the Senate, many say Obama's health care bill will be the biggest legislative change since the Civil Rights Amendment, the amendment that guaranteed equal rights for all people.
The bill only passed by a small margin (only a few votes). The bill had to be changed many times and part of that change will not include abortions in the new health care reform. Many feel Obama needed to include that so that conservatives in Congress would not try to block the bill. Others feel Obama's bill should have kept abortion in the health care reform.
Do you feel it is okay that for Obama to try and make conservatives happy or should he have done what he felt was right, even if it means not having a bill pass? If you were President Obama, what would you have done?

II. Review music theory notes by viewing this page (click here). Notice how the piano and music notes are directly connected.

III. Play Notes using virtual keyboard - You will play the following tune and Mr. Amador will give you points once he hears you play the notes on the sheet music. You will play the tune using the online virtual piano or Garageband.