School vocabulary

We are going back to school very soon. You will probably need these words to speak about school and classes.

 

 

What is a leap year?

February 29, also known as leap day or leap year day, is a date added to most years that are divisible by 4, such as 2016, 2020, and 2024. A leap day is added in various solar calendars (calendars based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun), including the Gregorian calendar standard in most of the world. Lunisolar calendars (whose months are based on the phases of the Moon) instead add a leap or intercalary month.

In the Gregorian calendar, years that are divisible by 100, but not by 400, do not contain a leap day. Thus, 1700, 1800, and 1900 did not contain a leap day; neither will 2100, 2200, and 2300. Conversely, 1600 and 2000 did and 2400 will. Years containing a leap day are called leap years. Years not containing a leap day are called common years. 

Information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_29

Resolutions for this New School Year

September is a great time to reflect on the changes we want to or need to make in our studies. This is a good set of ideas for you to improve your results:

Keep a calendar

1. Stop procrastinating. Don't postpone  the work you have to do. Do it as soon as possible as tasks usually take longer than expected.
2. Commit yourself to getting good grades. Good grades are essential for  any student. They will help you get to your favourite "instituto", faculty, etc. so make your mind up and start right now.
3. If a subject is too difficult, ask your teacher outside school, study for the subject with other classmates but don't leave anything that looks too difficult for the end of the term when you won't have much time for everything.
4. Don’t do it all. It’s better to concentrate on a few things and excel in them than if you join every sport, activity and club that you comes accross. Just do a couple of things and make sure you have plenty of time for your studies.
5. Keep a calendar. Deadlines creep up quickly. And the closer the date, the more you’ll feel the pressure. You can use a traditional paper diary or use an online calendar, such as Google Calendar but all exams and deadlines should be written down.
6. Take your exams seriously and study for them on time. Waiting for a second chance is not a good idea as you will be losing opportunities
7. Don't forget handing your school reports on time and remember that a percentage of your final qualification depends on them so don't underestimate their importance.
8. Try something new. Secondary school is a great time to spread your wings. It’s about new experiences and self-discovery. You can try a new sport, learn a new language, find new topics of interest or join an NGO. Just try.
9. Explore your possibilities for the future, consider what you would like to study and find information about those studies, where they can be carried out, etc.
10. Banish the self-doubt. Doubting your own abilities only holds you back from achieving what you want to achieve. Just say no to these thoughts and others like them:
• “I can’t do this.”
• “I’m not as smart as my classmates.”
• “I’ll never get better than a 2.7 grade-point average.”
• “I’ll only get into a community college anyway”
• “There’s no point in thinking I’ll get into my first choice college.”

adapted from http://internationalcollegecounselors.com/es/10-new-year-resolutions-for-high-school-students/

International Book Day

Reading Club session

The Ghost Teacher by Julie Hart

These are the two next books for our Reading Club session in English.

THE GHOST TEACHER
This book is for 1º and 2º ESO students.
You can download the audio files here.

Summary:

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

THE CALL OF THE WILD
This classic novel is for 3º and 4º ESO students.

You can download the audio files here.
This is a longer version.
This is an easier version
This is the original ebook. You can select the type of file you need for your ebook, tablet or computer.


Summary:

Rules for students and teachers

RULES FOR STUDENTS

• You must be respectful.
• You don't have to wear a uniform.
• You don't have to have lunch at school.
• You mustn't eat in class.
• You mustn't use your phone at school.
• You mustn't cheat in your exams.
• You mustn't run inside the school.
• You have to come to school on weekdays from 6 to 16 years old.
• From 3 to 6 years old you don't have to come to school but you can.
• You mustn't speak in class.
• You must ask for permission if you want to go to the toilet.

RULES FOR TEACHERS

• Teachers must explain lessons.
• Teachers must be respectful with students.
• Teachers mustn't eat, drink or smoke in class. You can drink some water if needed.
• Teachers must follow the director's directions.
• Teachers mustn't put their feet on their desk.
• Teachers must help students.
• Teachers mustn't sleep in class.
• Teachers have to come to school on weekdays.
• Teachers must pay for the lunch if they have lunch at the school canteen.
• Teachers don't have to wear a uniform.
• Teachers and students must say please and thank you.
• Teachers mustn't hit the students.

Hilarious rules around the world.

Classroom material

marker
whiteout
scissors
rubber / (eraser US)
pencil
flash memory / USB memory
propelling pencil (mechanical pencil - US)
leads
pencil sharpener
crayon
highlighter
colour pencils (color pencils - US)
cello tape (Scotch tape - US)
paper
glue stick
cardboard
notebook = binder

• ring binder
• spiral binder

diary
desk
folder

A new school year

This year in ESO-3 and ESO-4 English we are going to learn English by improving our reading,
writing, listening and speaking skills.
These are the materials you will need:

• A textbook:

• English in Use 3 for ESO-3 students
• New English in Use 4 for ESO-4 students

• something to write with: a pen
• a notebook, binder or some other type of paper
• a folder or any other system to keep the photocopies and handouts you will be given
• and most of all, enthusiasm and energy to learn English

We will do many activities from the textbook but we will also:

• bring real texts, songs and websites to the classroom
• devote 1 (out of 3) classes every week to oral activities and interaction
• have games and use many internet resources
• use this blog to organize the materials and activities we will carry out
• have one eTwinning project

There will be at least one written exam per term but exams will only account for 60% of your final mark.The rest will be awarded like this:

• 60% exam
• 20% written work done in class
• 10% oral activities
• 10% report about books you have read