Agenda, May 31

Due Now: Bring your old FW and PW
Due Mon: Bring Packets 1-4 

Unit 5: Re-vision

1. Writer's Workshop Debrief
2. Freewrite #35: "When he picked up the phone ..." OR "She burst through the door ..." 
3. Pre-write #51: Distillation #2
4. Pre-write #52: Exploding the moment
   

Agenda, May 30

Due Now: Bring your old FW and PW
Due Mon: Bring Packets 1-4

Unit 5: Re-vision

We are done with personal reading. Sorry. Please return your books to my library.

1. Any more pieces for workshop?
2. Freewrite #34: "How to be perfect" OR "Final failure notice"
3. Writer's Workshop

Agenda, May 29

Due Now: Bring your old FW and PW

Unit 5: Re-vision

We are done with personal reading. Sorry. Please return your books to my library.

1.  Kiva Advisory Board
2. Any more pieces for workshop?
3. Freewrite #33: When I think ... OR In the dark ...
4. PW #50 : Author led revision
5. Revision sharing

Agenda, May 25

Due Now: Bring your old FW and PW
Due Now: Packet 4

Unit 5: Re-vision

We are done with personal reading. Sorry. Please return your books to my library.

1.  Jar o' Justice update
2. Any more pieces for workshop?
3. Freewrite #32: She looked over her shoulder ... OR He shielded his eyes ...
4. PW #49: Distillation
5. Distillation sharing

Agenda, May 24

Due at the end of class yesterday: FW 24 - 31Due Friday: Bring your old FW and PW


We have 2nd lunch today.

1. Who donated to the Jar o' Justice?
2. Lab Time. When you are done typing, retire to the other side of the library to read.

Agenda, May 23

Due at the end of class yesterday: PW 36 - 48
Due at the end of class today: FW 24 - 31
Due at the end of class today: Teacher Conference
Tomorrow is Lab Day
Due Friday: Bring your old FW and PW
 
Unit 4: Dialogue

1. Who donated to the Jar o' Justice?
2. We have 2nd lunch on tomorrow.
3. FW #31: "Finally ..." or "Come on in ..."
4. Say it with dialogue: Revise the following sentences into short scenes that include at least two lines of dialogue. In this exercise, use four different types of tag lines. Remember to indent! 1) He was shy. 2) She was fed up. 3) They were in danger.
5. Work Time

Agenda, May 22

Due at the end of class Today: PW 36 - 48
Due at the end of class Wednesday: FW 24 - 31
Due at the end of class Wednesday: Teacher Conference
Next Thursday is Lab Day
Unit 4: Dialogue

1. Who donated to the Jar o' Justice?
2. We have 2nd lunch on Thursday
3. Reading time
4. FW #30: Find a line of dialogue in a previous freewrite and incorporate it into a new freewrite.
5. PW #48: Say it with dialogue: Revise the following sentences into short scenes that include at least two lines of dialogue. In this exercise, use four different types of tag lines. Remember to indent! 1) He offered to help her carry her books. 2) She was the best friend ever. 3) They were in danger.
6. Work Time

Agenda, May 21

Due at the end of class Monday: Rough Draft of Packet 4
Due at the end of class Tuesday: PW 36 - 48
Due at the end of class Wednesday: FW 24 - 30
Due at the end of class Wednesday: Teacher Conference
Next Thursday is Lab Day

Unit 4: Dialogue

1. FW #29: "Often I wish ..." or "Why can't you just...?"
2. Pre-write #47: What are they talking about?
3. Are your characters fighting about more than they're fighting about?
4. Work time
5. Work Time

Agenda, May 18

Due at the end of class Monday: Rough Draft of Packet 4
Due at the end of class Tuesday: PW 36 - 4?
Due at the end of class Wednesday: FW 24 - 30
Due at the end of class Wednesday: Teacher Conference
Next Thursday is Lab Day

Unit 4: Dialogue

1. FW #28: "I've told you a  million times ..." or "Did you drop this?"
2. Pre-write #45: Fill in the Bubble Dialogue
3. Pre-write #46: Poem for Two Voices
4. Work Time

Agenda, May 17

Due at the end of class Monday: Rough Draft of Packet 4
Due at the end of class Tuesday: PW 36 - 4?
Due at the end of class Wednesday: FW 24 - 30
Due at the end of class Wednesday: Teacher Conference
Next Thursday is Lab Day


Unit 4: Dialogue

1. Reading Time: Pay Attention to Dialogue
2. Pre-write #43: Cite three examples of effective dialogue from your book. Why are the effective? Be sure to include the Author and the Title
3. Dialogue Read Aloud with partners
4. FW #27: "I can/can't explain ..." or "Are you going to eat that?"
5. Pre-write #44: How would this person say "Hi?"

Agenda, May 16

Due Tomorrow: Bring a book.

1. "Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet"
2. Pre-write #41: What would this poem look like? 
3. Freewrite #26: "It's about time ... " or "Would you like to dance?"
4. Pre-write #42: Dialogue in poetry / Scriptwriting

Agenda, May 15

Due Now: Bring your book.

Unit 4: Believable Dialogue

1. Reading time: Pay attention to how you author uses dialogue.
2. Pre-write #39: Constructing the rules of dialogue
3. Pre-write #40: Types of tags / Adding tags
4. Pre-write #37 OR #38: Read aloud

Agenda, May 14

Due Tomorrow: Bring your book.

Unit 4: Believable Dialogue

1. Is anyone interested in scriptwriting?
2. "Taking the Plunge," by Armistead Maupin
3. Freewrite #25: "Tell me why ... " or "Where did you get that?"
4. Pre-write #38: Three two person scenes
5. Read alouds

Agenda, May 11

Due by the end of class yesterday: Packet 3

Unit 4: Believable Dialogue

1. Freewrite #24: "Is this seat taken?" or "What are you talking about?"
2. Passing notes (this is a public document)
3. Pre-write #36: What makes believable dialogue?
4. Pre-write #37: Three two person scenes

Agenda, May 10

Due by the end of class yesterday: Freewrites 16-23

 

Thursday is lab day. Two pages of fiction or two poems are due by the end of the day Today.

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Typing Time. Poets need to be done by 11:30. Be sure to follow the formatting directions (on the pink half-sheet of paper you received on the first lab day).
2. Reading time
3. e.e. cummings poem puzzle

Agenda, May 9

Due by the end of class yesterday: Pre-writes 21-35
Due by the end of class yesterday: Rough Draft
Due by the end of class today: Freewrites 16-23
Due by the end of class today: Teacher Conference

 

Thursday is lab day. Two pages of fiction or two poems are due by the end of the day Thursday.

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Freewrite #23: There used to be ... or In the backseat ...
2. Varying Syntax Style
3. Work time / Peer review

Agenda, May 8

Due by the end of class today: Pre-writes 21-35
Due by the end of class today: Rough Draft
Due Wednesday: Freewrites 16-23
Due by the end of class Wednesday: Teacher Conference

Thursday is lab day. Two pages of fiction or two poems are due by the end of the day Thursday.

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Reading time
2. Freewrite #22: Write from the point of view of an older/younger sibling
3. Pre-write #35: Pick an interesting sentence from your freewrite and revise it three times. Consider employing vivid verbs, figurative language, and show, don't tell.
4. Work time / Peer review

Agenda, May 7

Due Yesterday: SDT, 1-3
Due Tomorrow: Pre-writes 21-35
Due by the end of class tomorrow: Rough Draft
Due Wednesday: Freewrites 16-23
Due by the end of class Wednesday: Teacher Conference

Thursday is lab day

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Hello / Goodbye Sharing
2. Freewrite #21: After the storm ... or In the crowded room ...
3. Pre-write #34: "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros
4. Work time

Agenda, May 3

Due Now: Bring yer book.
Due Today: Show Don't Tell, 1-3

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Reading Time: Pay attention to your setting as a character. How does it shape / limit / challenge your characters?
2. Pre-write #32: Write a well developed paragraph in which you explain how your author uses the setting to affect the characters. Be sure to include the author and underline the title.
3. Show, Don't Tell #3: Revise each of the following sentences in 1-3 sentences, focusing on the physical action: 1) He was scared; 2) She was scared; 3) I was scared.
4. Pre-write #33: Hello / Goodbye Poem

Agenda, May 2

Due Tomorrow: Bring yer book.

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Freewrite #20: Write from the point of view of one of the people in the six-word memoirs.
2. Show, Don't Tell #3: Revise each of the following sentences in 1-3 sentences, focusing on the physical action: 1) He was scared; 2) She was scared; 3) I was scared.
3. Pre-write #30: Setting notes
4. Pre-write #31: Setting as Character: Write a scene in which the setting presents an obstacle to your character.

Agenda, May 1

Due Now: Bring yer book.

Unit 3: Setting and Character

1. Reading time: How does your author create setting?
2. Show, Don't Tell #2: Revise each of the following sentences in 1-3 sentences, focusing on the physical action: 1) He tried not to cry; 2) She was ready for the wedding; 3) I'm in trouble.
3. Pre-write #29 (continued): 20 Actions that might make a good poem. Pick one. Write the poem/story.
4. Pre-write #30: Setting notes
5. Pre-write #31: Hello / Goodbye Poems