Book Review Day

Goal: Looking at what makes a good book review and starting on a draft of your own.

Agenda:
Read
Read a good book review
Write your own book review

Looking at awesome book reviews

• Take some time to READ this book review about a book called The Alchemist.
• In your English Journal, write about what makes this book review a good book review. What are the qualities that make it strong? What is the difference between a book review and a summary?
• If you would like another example to learn from, check out this one about City of Thieves.

Write your own book review: 

1. Write your book review in your English Journal. DO NOT move on to step two before finishing step one.
2. Log in to your Goodreads account.
3. Find your book and click "edit review." (If you can't find it, ask someone at your table. If you're still stuck ask one of the adults.)
4. Rate your book. Copy and paste your book review into the box for the review. 
5. Make sure you hit "Save."

More Work On Visual Memoirs

Goal: Making progress on our visual memoirs.

Agenda:
Read
Example of a digital story
Work on Visual Memoirs

Example of a digital story: This example uses pictures and voice over to tell the story of his family trip. It covers a longer span of time than most of your memoirs, but remember what we are looking at here is the way the author uses words and images together.

Basic Option: 

• Split your time today. Spend half your work time adding images to your slides and the other half of your work time adding text to your script below your slides. I'll help you time yourselves. 
• Remember to use photosforclass.com for your images
• PS If you were absent yesterday you need to scroll down and read yesterday's post. 
• Want to see how we will grade these? Check out the RUBRIC. 

Advanced Option:

• If you plan to present your memoir to the class please see me today to agree on your presentation date next week. (Your slides are still due Monday 10/19.
• If you are interested in screencasting your memoir you might want to use http://presentme-edu.com/ 
• If you want to use other screencasting tools then you can still upload to youtube and email me a link to your finished video. 

Homework: 

• READ: Tomorrow we begin working on book reviews, so you need to finish reading your second book if you have not already. 
• Call in your memoir if you haven't already. It is still worth 8 points if you call by 9pm tonight. 
• Grading period ends this Friday. 

Visual Memoirs Projects

Goal: Creating visual memoirs of our memoirs. Yeah, it's going to be fun.

Agenda: 
Read
Visual Memoirs Project
Preview the rest of this week

Visual Memoirs Project- Basic: 

• I sent you a new slide deck. (Look in "Shared with me")
• Use this deck as a template for creating your own visual memoir. 
• You will probably need to add more slides.  
• Write a script for your memoir in the slide notes. (The space below the slides.) NOTE: Your script should not be your full memoir. You will need to cut it down.
• Use only copyright free images, pictures you took or things from photosforclass.com. 
• Grades for this basic project will range from 0-85%.
• Due Monday 10/19/15

Visual Memoirs Project- Advanced:

• Create the slide deck described above and the abbreviated script of your memoir in the slide notes. 
• Screen record the slides while narrating using your script from the slide notes. 
• You are welcome to edit, add music and visual effects as needed, but do not detract from the message of your memoir. 
• Your video must be between 2-5 minutes. 
• Upload your video to YouTube and share the link with your teacher via email. 
• Grades for advanced projects will range from 0-100%.
• Due Tuesday 10/20/15

In Class Presentation - Advanced:

• Prepare the same slide deck described above.
• Let your teacher know that you would like to present your memoir in class.
• Print out and/or memorize your abbreviated memoir script.
• Practice presenting your slides and script to friends or family.
• Present your slides and speak your script in class.
• Grades for advanced projects will range from 0-100%.
• Presentation dates will vary but slides must be complete by Monday 10/19/15. 

Article of the Week & Calling in your Memoir

Goal: Article of the week reading, catching up etc.

Agenda:
Read
Article of the week.
Catching up
Homework: Calling in your memoir.

Article of the week: 

• Go to Newsela.com and CHOOSE you own article to read. 
• Yes, you get to pick one for yourself! 
• Check the DATE though. It must be something from 2015. 
• SUMMARIZE the article you choose using the summary frame. (Write that summary in your English Journal.)
• Hint: To find out the author's name use the MAX setting on Newsela. 

Calling in your memoir: 
Before 9pm TODAY call Mrs. Roberts and READ your memoir to the voice mail. Use the number posted in our classroom.

Other Homework:
Read: You must have your second book finished by 10/14. (That's next Wednesday.)
Be sure your English Journal has ALL your work in it so far.

District Survey about AP Courses

Goal: Completing a district survey about AP courses.

Agenda:

1. Read, keep your book handy
2. District survey (It is supposed to take 25 minutes, but other teachers have told us it takes much longer, so lets get started.)
3. Read more if you finish the survey before the end of the period.
4. You can also work on final edits of your memoir.

District Survey: 
You are being asked to take a brief 25-minute survey to allow us to collect information regarding your perspective on Advanced Placement (or AP) Courses. We need information from all of you regarding this issue—especially students who have never taken an AP class. We are interested in knowing about your favorite subject areas, your educational goals for the future, whether you feel challenged in your classes, if you have taken or plan to take AP classes, if you have been encouraged to take AP classes, what would make you interested in taking AP courses, and which adults on the campus you trust to advise you on your academic or personal choices.

We ask that you answer these survey questions honestly so that we have the best data to help make sure that we are serving your needs. The information you submit in this survey is sent directly to a company called Equal Opportunity Schools when you finish. They sort the information and report back about the overall AP program opportunities at each school.

Thank you for your participation. Please log in and begin.
START THE SURVEY