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Developed by classroom teachers during the development phase of Minnesota's Graduation Standards, this performance package is made up of locally designed assignments that, taken together, show whether a student has learned and can apply the knowledge and skills related to demonstrating effective English language communication skills in personal, family, community, and/or work situations. It begins with reference to the particular content standard addressed in the package, the educational level of the package (high school), and a summary statement of the content standard. It then describes the tasks associated with the student performances: (1) analyze communication, interaction, and problem-solving strategies in a simulated situation, and make recommendations for improvement; (2) participate in a dialogue, and demonstrate effective speaking and listening skills; and (3) participate in a group, plan for and complete a project, and maintain a reflective record of involvement. It then offers specific statements from the standard regarding what students should know and should do, the products, task description, special notes, and feedback checklists for each task enumerated in the package. (RS)

1True Life Story of Swiftwater Bill Gates

By Iola Beebe

The life of American frontiersman, adventurer, and prospector "Swiftwater" Bill Gates as told by his mother in law. During the Klondike gold rush of the 1890's, Gates made and lost several fortunes. He once gave a dance house girl her weight in gold. His exploits in the Yukon are still talked about today. - Summary by Nick Bulka

In 1908-1909, Mary Blair Beebe and her husband, C. William Beebe made two private expeditions to Venezuela and British Guiana, exploring and collecting live birds for the New York Zoological Park. They then collaborated on a book about their "search for a wilderness," with Mary Blair doing the bulk of the writing. The Beebe's supplemented tropical birding with visits to gold mines in British Guiana and a lake of pitch, which was being mined in the middle of the Venezuelan jungle. Mary Blair's take on things is evident. "A word must be said here from the woman's point of view about the costume which was adopted as being absolutely suited to the bush life. In the first place it was light... and thus freed from the drag of heavy clothing one would come in unfatigued from tramps which would have been impossible for a woman in orthodox dress, no matter how short the skirt. In light khaki knickerbockers, loose negligee shirts of scotch flannel or fibrous cellular cloth, stockings and tennis shoes and a waterproof felt hat, one was ready for anything. One realized as never before with what handicaps woman has tried to follow the footsteps of man; with the result that physical exhaustion has robbed her of all the joys of life in the open." After her divorce from C. William in 1913, Mary Blair wrote several more travel books in the 1920's and 1930's under the pen name Blair Niles. - Summary by Sue Anderson