Creating Visual Memoirs

Goal: 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.
• Remember for photos you can only use your own pictures (credited) and Photosforclass.com.

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 10/3. Tell your parents. 

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. What's in your memoir:

• Highlighting specific things in your memoir can help you see what you have and what you need. 
• Use THIS DOC of directions to color code your writing. 

2. Self score your memoir: 
Use this MEMOIR SELF SCORE FORM to evaluate your memoir.
Memoirs are due today.


3. Article of the week

• Read THIS ARTICLE in Newsela. (Hint: Sign in with Google)
• Open your English Journal. 
• Add a new entry at the TOP with today's date. 
• Write two paragraphs about the article. The first one is a summary. (Use the summary frame below if you need it.) The second paragraph is your opinion. (You can say "I" in the second paragraph.)

Reminders: 

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

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 should finish book #2 by 10/4

Rubric:

Criteria (standard)	5
Structure (9.3c)	An interesting introduction captures attention. The main event in the narrative (memoir) is logically organized and clearly described.
Language (9.3b, 9.3d)	Uses precise words and phrases, details, figurative language, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experience. Uses authentic dialog, pacing and description to develop the experience.
Reflection (9.3e)	The writer reflects on the experience including any change in perspective.
Grammar and mechanics (9.3a, 9.5)	The writer uses the first person consistently. The writer has revised the memoir to strengthen writing and demonstrates command of standard written English.
Word Count	Memoir is 700-800 words in length

Writing Groups Day 1

Goal: Writing groups for feedback on our memoirs

Agenda:
Read
Writing Group Procedures
Writing Groups
Debrief

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. 
• Remember, share your work as "CAN COMMENT" not edit. 

Absent?

Read your memoir out loud to someone. Hopefully someone who was not there when your event happened. Ask them what questions they have about your story. 

Homework/Reminders: 

• Read! (Really not kidding about that.)
• Memoir final drafts due 9/27. FRIDAY. (If you think you will need more time talk to me about it before Friday.)
• If you need more help I am here after school every day this week. 
• Open house is Thursday 10/3. 

Closings and Reflections in Memoirs

Goals: Writing a great closing for your memoir and maybe even some great reflection too.

Read: 
10 min independent reading

Closings: 

• Yesterday you got a copy of a doc with openings and closings. 
• It was the green one, remember? 
• We worked on openings, but most of us didn't get to closings. 
• Open that doc and start looking at the closings. 
• What do you notice or like about each closing. 
• C/P two you like and write a version for each that fits YOUR memoir. 

Reflection: 

• When authors reflect they tell us why the moment mattered. 
• Your memoir needs reflection too. 
• Use one of the docs below to look at some reflections. 
• Write your own version that fits YOUR memoir for two of them. 
• You have two choices. You can look at both and then click "Use Template" on the one you want to use. 
• LOTS OF EXAMPLES   FEWER EXAMPLES

Memoir Rubric:

• The final draft of your memoir is due Friday. 
• Take a good look at the rubric. (Click the picture to see it larger.)
• What does your memoir have/do well? 
• What do you still need to work on? 
• Wednesday and Thursday you will get peer feedback in writing groups. 
• If you need more help than I can give you in class I am here after school everyday this week. 
• You can also ask for an advisory pass. 

As always -- Keep reading!

Openings and Closings

Goal: Emulating mentor openings and closings for our memoirs.

Read: 
It's week 5. Are you making progress in your second book?

Reading Progress Update: 
It's Monday; lets see how your reading is going.
CLICK HERE to tell me about your reading.

Mentor texts for openings and closings: 
A great opening creates interest in your memoir.
A great closing leaves a final thought with the reader.
Lets look at THESE EXAMPLES and you can choose some to emulate.
(Follow the directions on the doc linked above.)

Reminders:
The final draft of your memoir is due Friday 9/27. (Note: The final draft of this memoir will be your only assignment in the writing category in PS for this 6 week grading period. Writing is 50% of your grade.)
And keep reading.

Happy Homecoming Friday

Goals: A quick quiz about mentor sentences. Adding dialog, and formatting it like a boss.

Read: 
We always read.

Mentor Sentences Quiz: 
Access the quiz here. 

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.  

Improving Memoir Drafts

Goal: Adding description to the middle/during part of the moment in your memoir.

Read: 
10 Minutes

Memoir drafts: 

• Most of you have a draft. 
• All of you need more time to develop your draft. 
• But first you need a lesson about slowing down time. 
• Let's read THIS passage of an moment described in detail. 

Step 1: 
Divide your draft into three sections: before / during / after

Step 2: 
Add more details to the middle/during section of your draft.
Suggested things to add include:

• What you were wondering in that moment
• What you thought was going to happen
• What you worried was going to happen
• Something someone (or you) said in that moment
• Sensory details, about what things smelled like or looked like
• The look on someone's face
• Add a simile or a metaphor, or a lot of adjectives 

Need more help? 
Here are a few more examples.

Reminders: 

1. Complete your memoir draft by 7:30 am Friday before school. (I'm looking them over during 1st period.) (If you need more time for your draft let me know that today.)
2. Quiz Friday (tomorrow) about mentor sentences. Can you copy/change a sentence I give you? We learned about this Friday and Monday. Here are some of the slides we learned from. 
3. Keep reading.

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. 
• These are the examples I showed you yesterday.

Writing prompt:

1. The Google Doc for you to write your memoir has already been created for you in Google Classroom. 
2. Once you open the doc you should add it to your English 19-20 folder in your google drive. 

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. 

Homework: 

• Finish your draft. It does not need to be perfect (yet). It does need to be the whole story. 
• If you need more time you can have it, but finish your complete draft by Friday. 
• Read: You should have completed your first book by now. You should finish your second book by 10/4/19. (That's sooner than you think.)
• Open House is Thursday, October 3rd. Tell your parents. 

District Reading Assessment and Memoir Ideas

1. Reading Assessment

• Today we need to take a quick reading assessment. I will give you instructions in class. 
• If you have earbuds or headphones you should use them for the test. 
• If you need to borrow some we have extras. 

2. Reading

• When you finish your test you should read your book. 
• When everyone is done we will talk about memoirs. 

3. Writing memoirs

• Tomorrow you'll start a draft of your memoir in class.
• Your homework is to review your ideas and find one you want to focus on. 
• Remember your memoir is about ONE event. 
• Let me show you some examples. 

Reminders: 

• Think about what you want to write your memoir about. Spend some time thinking about the small details of that event. 
• Keep reading. 

More fun with mentor texts

Golden lines / Golden Gate

Goals: Further practice emulating mentor texts

Read 10 minutes:
Have you started book #2 yet?

Review from Friday:
Open your EJ.
Look at the sentences you wrote Friday.
Link to SOCRATIVE.COM

Absent? 
Sorry, we are working again with mentor sentences in class. It's not something you can do on your own. Ask me for an advisory pass when you get back and I'll help you catch up.

Reminders:
Keep reading.
Check your English Journal for anything you might be missing or need to finish.

Memoirs and Mentor Texts

Goals: Finish connecting to memoirs and learn about mentor texts.

Read:
Books are awesome.

Reading Progress: 
Tell me about your book today. 

Finish sharing memoirs:

• Share out the remaining memoirs in your group. 
• Be sure to add your closest similar experience to your chart. 

Learning about mentor texts:

• Keep your English Journal open. 
• Add a new entry for today at the top.
• Go answer this question. 

Are you absent?
That's too bad. You're missing a good lesson today and this one is not something you can do from home. Ask Mrs. Roberts about it when you get back.

Reminders: 
Keep reading. If you haven't finished book #1 yet you really need to read.
Check your English Journal. There are probably things you need to finish.

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.
• Add a new entry at the TOP of your EJ with the date. (Stay below the top line)
• Make a table in your EJ.  Insert/Table/(5 down and 3 across.) 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. Try to relate to a time when you had the same feeling even if the situation was different. 

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

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:

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Group 6

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.

Memoir Elements and Meat

Goals: Noticing the elements of memoir and reading another short one

Read, because we always read.

Open your English Journal: Copy and paste the two questions below into your EJ. Including the chart. Answer the questions and complete the chart with examples (text evidence/quotations) from the text. 

1. Which Elements of Memoir did you notice in "Us and Them"? Provide examples from the text. Use this chart for organization:  

Element of Memoir	Example
Voice is in the first person
Author is the main character
Author shares thoughts, feelings, reflection
Vivid details and descriptions
Authentic dialogue

2. Choose a "golden line" (your favorite line from the story). Describe what you like about it.

Read Another Short Memoir: 

• Return to goformative.com
• Sign in with your district google account
• Read "Steak" and answer the questions as you go. 
• (Apologies to my vegetarian friends.)

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 (You bookmarked it and it is in your Google Drive)
Add a new entry at the TOP. Date it 9/9/19.
Respond to the prompt:

9/9/19
In "Us and Them" David Sedaris decides he will find pleasure in hating the Tomkeys. Write about something you enjoy disliking and why? 


Close Reading Questions: 

• On Friday, 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. (If you don't have a copy of it ask for help.)
• 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 close to finishing your book by the end of the week. Reading is your homework. 

Getting all caught up on Friday

Goals: Finish reading "Us and Them", Look at some of the thematic elements of the memoir.


Read: 
Keep making progress in your book.
Reading is your homework.

Finish reading "Us and Them": 
Return to GoFormative.com.
Sign in with Google and finish reading Us and Them as you answer the questions.

Know what's going on: 
If you are finished reading "Us and Them" you should find out more about what happened with hurricane Dorian. This Newsela article can help you learn more.

I think we will have time for this:
Click HERE when I tell you to.
Be ready to talk about the memoir with your partner. 

Reminders: 
Keep reading. If you didn't read every night this week then read more this weekend.
Add your six word memoir to this padlet page if you haven't already. Read the directions carefully.
Make sure all (both) assignments are turned in in Google Classroom.

Reading, "Us and Them" in Formative

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

Read: 
You should be about 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 Wednesday.)
• Keep reading. 

Reading memoirs

Um, why is there a toothbrush on the blog? 

Goal: Read and compare two memoirs.


Read: 

• You should be almost 1/2 way through the book you started last week. 
• We call this book #1. 
• Remember you'll read two books for this grading period. 
• Your homework is to read. 

When you are absent: 

• It is your responsibility to check the class blog to see what you missed. 
• If you check the blog and still have questions you should ask me. 
• The link to this blog is also on my staff page of the PLHS website. 

Two short memoirs: 
You can read a digital version of these two memoirs HERE.

English Journal: 

1. Open your English Journal. (You bookmarked it yesterday right?)
2. Add a new entry AT THE TOP (But below the line at the top.)
3. Add the date for today. 
4. Write in response to this prompt: 

What do the two stories we just read have in common? What is similar about them? What did you enjoy or not enjoy about each of them? 

Reminders: 
Picture day is tomorrow and Friday. Get your picture taken in room 301 if you do not have a student ID. You need a student ID.

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 19-20
• There is a new doc in your "Shared with me" section of your Google Drive. It's called (your name) English Journal 19-20. 
• Add that doc to your drive and put it in your English 19-20 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 favorite 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.