I said the last time, that I was going to write more often on this blog.  Apparently, not happening.  I remember when I was a teenager, I used to write a lot.  It was so easy; but as the time goes by, it seems like there is no time, or is it that I am scare of what I have to say? When I look back at my life, there are many regrets. Things I wish I could have done differently, ideas that I didn't pursue, opportunities I missed or simply bad decision I made.  It is scary; that is why it is so important for young adults nowadays to not let life go by without jumping in and participate of everything it offers. Get your hands dirty, do the work, walk the extra mile, because 40 years from now, it is sad to say: I should have grab what life offered me.

I guess I only remember about this blog when is this time of the year, when my students have to start their own.  I remember when I was a teenager and love to write; and I was a pretty good writer I must add.  But lets see how this time goes with my kids.  I know they think this is a drag but I am confident that they will get the hang of it, and will end loving it.

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT!

It is easier to whine the whole time because you think you are having a bad day. You know what? stop the whining! Life is tough but you have to make the best out of it. If life throw you lemons you make lemonade. Is as easy as that. Take every new day as a new experience and learn as much as you can. Sometimes we think our burdens are too heavy but God never sends us more than we can handle and with each burden we learn; we just have to be positive and see always the brighter side. Today has not been a good day; lots of work, anxieties, tiredness and many more, but I put all my worries in Gods hands and trust he will work on my favor.

So, keep walking and pick up the rocks and pebbles that get in your way; they are experiences that will make you grow stronger and wiser.

I completely forgot about this blog I started 2 years ago. So many things had happen since that time and my life has also change a bit.

First, my son already graduated from high school and is studying in the United States at The University of Tampa. It is kind of bittersweet because even though I am so proud of him and all of his accomplishments, I miss his dearly. He is studying International Business and Government Affairs. What a mouthful! He is doing pretty good and making all kinds of plans for the future.

That leaves my daughter who is almost 16 now. She has turned into a beautiful woman and she is doing great in school. I don't have any doubts she will do great things in the future. She is already looking forward to getting her driver's permit and graduating and going to college. I don't want to think about that moment yet.

In school things have change too; I no longer teach middle school. I am now the English teacher for 10th and 11th grade. I am very happy with this change. It is a new challenge and I am enjoying every minute of it. I can do so many things with my students and even though they have to study a lot, I want to think they also enjoy my class.

Many things are going to happen this semester starting with the Forensics competition in April. Hope we do better than this year.

I also hope this blog will help my students in their studies and I promise this time I will try and not let another 2 years pass before I write again.

See you next time

Lizette Dieguez

Mrs. Lizette Dieguez - English Class - Colegio La Piedad

Welcome to my Blog! I am very excited to share with you this new addition to my class. Here you will have the opportunity to share your concerns and information about the English Class. We will start with our next big project which is The Holocaust Presentation. I hope you will take advantage of this new tool and start blogging!

The Importance of Group Work

The Holocaust
English Class - Mrs. L. Dieguez
The Importance of Group Work
Few of us act alone in the real world. Most things are done with the help or ideas of
other people. Group projects are great practice for high school, college, and real life,
when you will probably have a job that requires working with others. Group projects also
give you a chance to get to know kids you might not otherwise know or talk with.
Group projects are also a great way to practice skills you're not so sure of. For example:
working on a deadline, staying organized, or being patient. And if you're a little nervous
talking in front of a group, a joint project can help you become more comfortable with it.
Steps for a great teamwork project
1. Getting Started
One of the most important things about group work is talking and meeting together. It's a
good idea to continually check with everybody on their progress and to see if anyone
needs help. Here are some other tips for making group work really work.
You might think the first step is figuring out who will do what, but actually it's getting to
know one another a little. Take a few minutes to chat. Even if you know each other well,
it can help to take a minute to think about your skills and share your strengths and
weaknesses.
The second step is to go over ground rules from your teacher and any that you want to
create together as a group (for example, how the group will help people who are behind
on their work). Will all of your meetings be in class? Do you need to plan time to work
together outside of school? Now's the time to talk about it.
2. Focusing on Fairness
Figuring out individual jobs within the group is a really important part of the process. One
of the most common pitfalls of group work is that someone may end up doing all the
work if the rest of the team can't quite get it together. From the beginning, it's important
to divide the work fairly and evenly. If you feel like you or another kid is doing too much,
gently bring it up with the group. If nothing changes, you might want to talk with your
teacher.
3. Holding Good Meetings
One key to a good meeting is having a leader, who should help the group
stay focused.
And try not to play any of these negative roles:
The non-participant does not contribute and/or discourages the others.
"Captain Critical" responds to other people's ideas with criticism.
The dominator talks more than listens and interrupts.
The clown distracts the group and keeps it from focusing on the work.
4. If Problems Arise
Just as it takes work to complete your project, it also takes work to make a group
successful. Maybe you can’t stand the way one group member always talks over other
people, or you're sick of one of your group members being a non-participant. The best
approach is to try to talk about the problems, in a nice way.
Bring your concerns up gently with the group as a whole. (It's a bad idea to whisper to a
few group members to try to get back-up. A good group requires honesty and everyone's
involvement.) Again, If you can’t solve these problems on your own, talk to your
teacher.
A word on parental involvement. It's natural to ask your mom or dad for help on a big
project. It's fine if they give you advice and encouragement. But it's not OK for them to
do the actual work for you. They shouldn't do your research or write the letters on your
poster — even if they can do it perfectly. A project, like other homework, is to help you
learn by doing.
If a parent is too involved, bring it up with your teacher or with the group as a whole.
Usually, group projects end with a presentation to the class. Then, the teacher gives
your project a grade. If you cooperate and do your best, you just might be sharing an
"A"!