Friday, September 28, 2018

Working on Visual Memoirs

Note the visible black bar of attribution. 
Goal: Continue working on your visual memoir.

Read:
Because we always read.
Get out your book.

1. Reading Assessment
  • Today we need to take a quick reading assessment. I will give you instructions in class. 
  • When you are done work on your visual memoir.


2. Things to be working on: 
Visual Memoir (Due Wednesday)
Do you need a presentation date?
Did you finish your AOW from Wednesday?

Copyright free images:
  • For your visual memoir you can only use pictures from http://photosforclass.com or personal pictures you or someone you know took. 
  • All pictures must have a visible black attribution bar OR be listed on the credits slide of your visual memoir. 
  • You may also use Creative Commons licensed images from other sources, but you must provide a link to that source in your credit. 
  • Citation format for images is:  Creator's Last name, First name. “Title of the digital image.” Title of the website, retrieval date. URL.
  • Note: Providing a citation DOES NOT mean you are allowed to use the image. If you are in doubt about image rights ask a teacher. 
Reminders: 
Read
Work on your visual memoir


Thursday, September 27, 2018

Creating Visual Memoirs

Goal: Self scoring memoirs and learning about creating visual memoirs.

Agenda: 
Read
Visual Memoirs Project Explained
Visual Memoirs Work Time

Your Visual Memoir Project Has two Options

Option 1: Make slides and a script for your memoir.  (0-85%)
Option 2: Turn those slides and script into a video or present it in class. (O-100%)
You can find more information about this project on the tab above that says Visual Memoir Project and on Google Classroom.

Work Time: 
Get started on your visual memoir project.

Reminders: 
You should be almost 2/3 done with your second book.
Open House is Thursday 10/4. Tell your parents. 

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Evaluate your memoir and read an article of the week

Goals: Self evaluate your memoir, then read an article and write about it in your English Journal.

Agenda
Read
Self score your memoir
Article of the week


1. Self score your memoir: 

Use this MEMOIR SELF SCORE FORM to evaluate your memoir.
Memoirs are due today.

2. Article of the week

  • Read THIS ARTICLE in Newsela. 
  • Open your English Journal.
  • Write two paragraphs about the article. The first one is a summary. The second one is your opinion. 
Reminders: 




     
  • Keep reading
  • You should be almost 2/3 done with your second book.
  • Open House is Thursday 10/4. Tell your parents. 






Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Writing Groups Continue


Goal: Continue writing groups with even better conversations!

Agenda: 
Read
What's working in writing groups?
Writing Groups (need to finish today)

Getting Started:
  • What's working in writing groups?
  • What kinds of discussion help writers most?
  • Follow the procedures in the chart or on THIS PAGE with your group. 
Memoir Rubric: (below)
How does your memoir compare to the rubric?
Anything on here your memoir still needs?

Reminders: 
Finish polishing your memoir. It is due TOMORROW!
Read: You must finish two books by 10/8
Homecoming: VOTE HERE

Rubric:
StructureStructure: An interesting introduction captures attention. The main event in the narrative (memoir) is logically organized and clearly described.
LanguageLanguage: Strong dialogue or description draws the reader into the story. The writer includes sensory details, figurative language, and strong verbs.
ReflectionReflection: The writer acknowledges the significance of the incident directly or indirectly.
Grammar and mechanicsWritten consistently in the first person. Is free from grammar/spelling errors.
Word CountMemoir is 700-800 words in length

Monday, September 24, 2018

Writing groups

Goal: Writing groups

Agenda:
Read
Reading Progress
Writing Group Procedures
Writing Groups
Debrief

Reading Progress:
Click HERE to update your reading progress.

Writing Groups: 
  • Sharing your writing with a group will help you improve your writing and learn what a reader might think while reading your work. 
  • Follow the procedures in the chart or on THIS PAGE with your group. 
Homework/Reminders: 

  • Read! (Really not kidding about that.)
  • Memoir final drafts due 9/26. WEDNESDAY. 
  • Open house is Thursday 10/4. 

Friday, September 21, 2018

Exploding a Moment

Goal: Exploding a moment and/or making memoir progress.

Read: 
You are 1/3 done with book #2?

Part #1
Exploding a moment: 
  • Authors make their writing more memorable by describing some moments in great detail. 
  • The moment practically explodes as it gets bigger and includes more information. 
  • Read THIS passage of an moment described in detail. 
  • You can also click this link for tips on "exploding a moment."
Part #2
Writing practice: Exploding your own moment. 
  1. Open your English Journal.
  2. Choose a specific moment from your memoir that you could explode. 
  3. Write a version of that exploded moment in your English Journal. (You can add it to your memoir later if you like it.)
  4. This will be a timed writing. You have 10 minutes. 
Part #3
Choosing the best explosions:
  1. Read your exploded moment to your table group. 
  2. Vote for the best one at your table. 
  3. The "winner" will submit their exploded moment HERE. (Only the winner at your table.)
  4. Add your exploded moment to your memoir if it makes your memoir better. 
Reminders: 
  • Work on your memoir. It will be DUE Wednesday next week. 
  • Keep reading book #2. 

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Adding to our memoirs

Goal: Making better memoirs.

Read: 
How's it going with your second book? You should be approaching 1/3 of the way done with it. 

Using Sensory Details:
  • Smell - and the water smelled like lemons and a heated swimming pool in summertime, all rolled into one." 
  • Sound - Trash cans rattle outside restaurants. Metallic jaws on sanitation trucks gulp and masticate the residue of daily living, then digest it with a satisfied grind of gears. 
  • Physical Sensation - A burning drop of sweat raced down the side of my face. I could feel a vein that I previously didn't know existed popping out of my forehead.
  • Taste - and once they are in your mouth, they dance around like crazy gypsies setting fire to anything they touch. Miguel started to run. His tongue was blazing, tears poured from his eyes, and he yelped in pain. 
  • Sight - The spear moved forward inch by inch ….Then Jack grabbed Maurice and rubbed the blood over his cheeks . . 
Writing Time: 
  • I want to give you as much time today as possible to do the work of writing and adding to your memoir. Many of you still need more dialog. Some of you need to add more reflection. And almost all of you could use more sensory details. Let's go. 
Reminders: 
  • READ-You should be about 1/3 done with your second book. 
  • Complete your memoir draft, including dialog, reflection, and sensory details. 
  • If you meant to nominate someone for the homecoming court you can scroll down to do that with the link below. (You can only complete the form once.)

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Adding elements of reflection

Goal: Understanding what my memoir needs and learning some ways to make it better.

Read: 
Books out.

Homecoming Nominations: 

  • Click HERE to nominate two classmates to the homecoming court. 
  • Note: You must be signed in to your sandi account and you can only complete the form one time. 

Memoirs: 
  • You have a draft of your memoir. You know what you're writing about.
  • Lets look at what it needs to make it better.

Rubric:
StructureStructure: An interesting introduction captures attention. The main event in the memoir is logically organized and clearly described.
LanguageLanguage: Strong dialogue and description draws the reader into the story. The writer includes sensory details, figurative language, and strong verbs.
ReflectionReflection: The writer acknowledges the significance of the incident directly or indirectly.
Grammar and mechanicsWritten consistently in the first person. Has consistent verb tense. Is free from grammar and spelling errors.
Word CountMemoir is 700-800 words in length

Working on Reflection: 
  • Get a copy of THIS DOCUMENT. It has some small parts of several memoirs we read. 
  • We are going to look at them together, but I want you to highlight the words and phrases that show that the author is reflecting on the event. 
Reminders: 
Complete your memoir draft. By now it should have dialog and reflection
Keep reading your book.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Adding dialog to memoirs

Goal: Adding dialog, and formatting it like a boss.

Agenda:
Read
Dialog challenge #1
Dialog challenge #2

Dialog challenge #1
  1. Copy and paste the text below into your English Journal. 
  2. With your partner discuss how you would correctly format this dialog. You probably need to add some paragraph breaks and punctuation. 
Well, why were you down at the swimming pool anyway? my mom asked as she pulled the dripping carton of eggs out of the shopping bag. I told you I need to get in shape before the swim team tryouts. Damn half these eggs are broken. But sweetie, you know that kids under 13 aren’t allowed at the pool without an adult. Why didn’t you ask your father or I to go with you. Because you guys are busy and if I wait for you to take me it will get later and the pool will get more crowded with adults who want to swim laps and I just don't like sharing a lane with some hairy dude in a speedo. Honey, the lifeguards know you are under 13 and they will be watching for you. They just aren’t going to let you swim there. I’m sorry, but we need a better solution.
Dialog Challenge #2
  1. Add dialog to your memoir. 
  2. You don't need to remember the actual words anyone said. You can write what you think they said or what you think they probably said.  

Monday, September 17, 2018

First Draft Memoir

Goal: Writing the first draft of your memoir.

Agenda: 
Read
Writing small
How to access your writing prompt
Writing time

Writing Small: 
  • A short memoir should be about a single incident. 
  • The focus should be on one event. 
  • You can include a before and after, but keep the focus on the main event. 
  • Let me show you some examples.

Writing prompt:
  1. A Google Doc for you to write your memoir has already been shared with you!
  2. Go to Drive.google.com, and look in the "shared with me" section. 
  3. Open the Doc called (period, name, memoir prompt.) Add it to your English 18-19 folder. 
Writing time: 
  • You may listen to music, but if you aren't getting writing done, or if anyone else can hear your music, then your music privilege goes away fast.
  • You may not talk. Writing requires concentration. Please respect your classmates need for a quiet writing space
  • Write a complete draft, beginning, middle, and end. If you finish early go back through your writing and continue adding details, dialog, and descriptions. 
  • You may write about the event you put on the form on Friday, or change your mind. 
Homework: 
  • Finish your draft. It does not need to be perfect (yet). It does need to be the whole story. 
  • Read: You should have completed your first book by now. You need to finish your second book by 10/5/18. (That's sooner than you think.)
  • Open House is Thursday, October 4th. Tell your parents. 

Friday, September 14, 2018

Our first Article of the Week

Goal: Write a concise summary of a recent news article including main idea and supporting details.

Agenda: 
Read
Reading progress update
Article of the week.

Reading Progress Form:
Click HERE to update your reading progress.
Remember to keep reading you book at home too.

Article of the week: 
  • Sometimes on Fridays, (and sometimes other days) we read a news article and write about it. 
  • After you read the article you'll write TWO paragraphs about it in your English Journal. 
  • The first paragraph should be a summary of the article, the main idea and key details. 
  • The second paragraph is about what you think, your opinion, experience, or thoughts about the article. 
Read the article and write about it: 
  1. Sign in with your district Google account. 
  2. Click HERE to access the article. 
  3. If it does not take you directly to the article click on the "binder" to see what's assigned to you. 
  4. After you read the article open your English Journal and add a new entry AT THE TOP. 
  5. Write two paragraphs about the article, a summary paragraph, and one about your experience/opinion. 
Quick Memoir Form: 
Fill out THIS FORM before you leave today.
It just asks what you think you might write your memoir about. 

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Close reading and group discussion

Goal: Close read and discussion of the memoir we read yesterday.

Agenda: 
Read
Group discussion
Group presentations

Get a copy of the text we are using today HERE. (You will need to be logged in to your stu.sandi.net account to get the text.)

Group Discussion: Part 1
  • With your group have a discussion about the two questions from the text assigned to your group. 
  • Be prepared to explain those answers to the class. 
  • You must include evidence from the text to support your explanation. Be able to point to the sentence or two that proves your explanation about the answer is the most correct. 
Find your group # and the questions you are responsible for discussing. 
Group 1: 2 and 6
Group 2: 6 and 1
Group 3: 5 and 3
Group 4: 7 and 1
Group 5: 3 and 8
Group 6: 1 and 2

NEXT: Part 2
  • Looking at the text again, what is it really about? What is the author's experience? 
  • What is your closest similar experience? 
  • Add a row to the table in your EJ with this information. (You know the table you started on Tuesday.)
Reminders: 
Finish reading your first book asap.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

One more memoir reading

Goal: Reading one more memoir.

Read: 
Books out, lets make those pages fly by.

Reading a new Memoir: 

  • I've assigned a new memoir to you in GoFormative
  • Be sure you sign in with Google. 
  • Please ask for help if you aren't able to get to the reading. 
  • Remember each numbered blue square is a question. Answer them as you read. 
  • Finish reading for homework if you run out of time in class. 
Reminders: 
  • Keep reading. You should be finishing your first book this week!
  • Do you need to finish something in your English Journal?

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Sharing out memoirs

Goal: Explain the memoir you read yesterday to a new group and make connections to personal experience.

Read:
Books out, let's go.

Memoir Groups: 
Talk to your group about the memoir you read yesterday.
Make sure everyone in your group can explain it.
Is it a memoir? Why or why not?
What is it really about?

English Journal: 
  • Open your English Journal. (It's already in your Google Drive.)
  • Make sure it has an entry about the memoir you read yesterday. (At the top.)
New Groups: 
  • I'll be moving you to a new group.
  • Make a table in your EJ.  It should look like the one below.
  • As you hear about each memoir make a note about the author's experience.
  • Then note the closest similar experience you have had.

Reminders:
Keep reading. You should be finishing your first book this week!

Monday, September 10, 2018

Reading an discussing a memoir with your group

Goal: Reading a memoir with a small group

Agenda: 
Read
Read a memoir
Discuss the memoir with your group

Group Reading: 
  1. Click on the number for your group to get the memoir you will be reading:

Questions: 
  • Paste the questions below in to your English Journal (Google Doc) and answer them as you discuss these questions with your group. Talk about the question before you write your answers. 
  • Be prepared to explain more about your reading to another group who has not read this memoir.
  1. What does the writer experience in this text?
  2. What is the writer trying to say about this experience?
  3. What techniques does the writer use to make the story real?
  4. What obstacles did the writer encounter  in this memoir?
  5. What does the writer gain/learn from these challenges?

Reminders/Homework:
Be prepared to talk about the memoir you read today. You should probably read it again.
Read your independent reading book.





Friday, September 7, 2018

Close Reading Questions with your Partner

Goal: Read and then show your understanding of your reading of "Us and Them."

Agenda:
Read
Quick write
Partner work on close reading questions


Quick Write: 
Open your English Journal (in your Google Drive)
Add a new entry at the TOP. Date it 9/7/18.
Respond to the prompt:

9/7/18
Yesterday, we talked about some of the interesting things we love to hate. What is something you enjoy disliking and why? 


Close Reading Questions: 
  • Yesterday, you got a chance to finish reading "Us and Them" and we discussed some questions about the end of the story in class. 
  • Today you get to work with a partner to answer very similar questions in writing. 
  • You are working together
  • You will fill out ONE form with BOTH your names on it. 
  • One partner should open the memoir. 
  • The other partner should open the form. 
  • You can take turns typing your answers. 
  • You are BOTH responsible for the quality of ALL of the answers. LOOK at what your partner types!
Did you read all of the directions above?   YES     NO

Reminders: 
KEEP READING! You should be 2/3 of the way through your book by Monday. 

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Looking closely at "Us and Them" with a partner.

Goal: Look more closely and discuss "Us and Them" with a partner.

Read: 
10 Minutes, read your independent reading book.
You should be about 50% done.

Looking at "Us and Them": 


Reminders:
  • Keep reading
  • Finish the welcome assignment with English Journal 

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Reading, "Us and Them" in Formative

Goal: First read of a memoir, first use of a new tool.

Read: 
You should be almost 1/2 way through your first book for the semester.

Read a Memoir: 
Okay, new tool. We will use it a lot this year, so it is worth a bit of time to teach you how it works. It's called Formative and it will help me understand more about you as a reader. Basically, I put a short reading into Formative and then I add questions right into the reading. You answer the questions as you read. (I can tell from looking at my class lists in Formative that some of you have used this before.)

Directions: 
  1. Go to http://goformative.com 
  2. Choose "Student"
  3. Sign in with your district Google account. 
  4. Find the assignment called "Us and Them" 
  5. Answer the questions as you read. Do not skip questions. If you change your mind about an answer you can go back and change it. 
  6. If you experience technical difficulties do not panic. Just ask for help. We are here for you. 
Reminders: 
  • Complete the first assignment entry in your English Journal (See post below from Tuesday.)
  • Keep reading. 

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Three Things for Tuesday

Three elephants and you have three things to do. 
Happy Tuesday. Welcome back. 

Goals: Read. Get acquainted with your English Journal doc. Add your six word memoir to our padlet.

Agenda: 

1. Read

  • Remember you want to be almost halfway through your first book by the middle of this week. If you aren't you may not be reading enough at home. Check yourself...
  • READING PROGRESS UPDATE << complete the form. We will fill this out every few weeks as a way of checking in about your reading . 

2. Meet your English Journal

  • Make a new folder in your Google Drive. Call it English 18-19
  • There is a new doc in your "Shared with me" section of your Google Drive. It's called (your name) English Journal 18-19. 
  • Add that doc to your drive and put it in your English 18-19 folder. 
  • Open your English Journal and read the directions there. (Do what they say.)

3. Post your six word memoir

  • By now you've had lots of time to think about and revise your six word memoir. It's time to share it. 
  • Go to THIS PADLET. Add your FIRST name, and last initial, then your period number. 
  • Paste your six word memoir under your name. 

Reminders: 

  • Advisory starts today. Go to your advisory class right after 4th period. Ask me if you don't know where to go. 
  • Keep reading. It's your homework. You can do it.