Agenda, November 27

Due Now: Freewrites 1-3.

Today's Learning Targets:

I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
I can participate in small group discussions. I can use art to explore literary devices.

1. Freewrite #3: "At this table ..." or "Thankfully ..."
2. 16 Examples
3. Poetry Term Posters

Agenda, November 26

Due Wednesday: Freewrites 1-3. Don't lose them.

Today's Learning Targets:

I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
I can participate in small group discussions.
I can work with a group to review familiar definitions.
I can express my thoughts about a story or poem clearly and thoroughly, using evidence from the text to support my opinion.

1. Freewrite #2: "That's four times now ..." or "When you've been away ..."
2. Text Analysis: "Crusoe" or "Sisterly Love"
3. The Writer's Toolbox
4. Group Poems

Agenda, November 25

Today's Learning Targets:

I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
I can participate in small group discussions.
I can recognize writing that is fresh, imaginative, and powerful.
I can work with my classmates to review familiar definitions.

1. Freewrite #1: "At the water's edge ..." or "When she opened the door ..."
2. Small group guidelines
3. Group sharing
4. Class rules
5. The Writer's Toolbox
6. Group Poems

Agenda, November 19

Unit 5: The Final
Today's Learning Targets:
I can properly punctuate 5 different types of sentences. I can recognize what makes a piece of writing effective. I can write an imaginative story that meets state standards.

1. 5 sentences
2. Why is this story good?
3. Writing time. Music is okay so long as you are the only one who can hear it. Set your ipod on shuffle and let it roll; don't touch your ipod during writing time.

Agenda, November 18

Unit 5: The Final
Today's Learning Targets:
I can define "good writing."
I can recognize what makes a piece of writing effective.
I can write an imaginative story that meets state standards.

1. FW #44: What have you learned (or been reminded) about writing this trimester? OR What makes good writing?
2. Why is this story good?
3. Writing time. Music is okay so long as you are the only one who can hear it. Set your ipod on shuffle and let it roll; don't touch your ipod during writing time.

Agenda, November 15

Due Friday: Bring all old freewrites and pre-writes.

Due Now: Freewrites 35 - 42 and Pre-writes 39-55

Coming today: Sharing time from any freewrite or pre-write. 

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can make something new out of an old freewrite.
I can identify the strengths of my own writing.  I can help Mr. Kline interpret a confusing song.
I can share my work with my classmates.
I can use small group discussion to help my classmates develop their ideas. I can evaluate my own work.  

1. PW #55: Text Analysis: "The Curse," by Josh Ritter
2. Find a freewrite.
3. Sharing time
4. Find another freewrite.
5. Distillation
6. Sharing time

Agenda, November 14

Due Friday: Bring all old freewrites and pre-writes.

Due Friday: Freewrites 35 - 43 and Pre-writes 39-?

Coming Friday: Sharing time from any freewrite or pre-write. 

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas. 
I can define the elements of good writing.
I can help Mr. Kline interpret a confusing song.
I can evaluate my own work. 

1)   Freewrite #42: "In the rearview mirror..." OR "Around the next corner..."

2)   What does that look like?

3)  Text Analysis: "The Curse," by Josh Ritter

Agenda, November 13

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Due Friday: Freewrites 35 - 43 and Pre-writes 39-?

Coming Friday: Sharing time from any freewrite or pre-write. 

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas. 
I can define subtext. I can create subtext. I can write dialogue following the rules of script format. 

1)   Freewrite #41: Act it out, write it out

2)   Pre-write #53: Writing Subtext

3)   Pre-write #54: Script Format

Agenda, November 12

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.   
I can create dialogue in poetry.
I can describe effective dialogue.
I can use character and setting clues to craft effective dialogue.  

1)   Freewrite #40: Act it out, write it out

2)   Pre-write #51: “Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet”

3)   Naomi Shihab Nye Video

4)   Review Pre-write #42: Dialogue Notes

5)   Pre-write #52: Fill in the Bubble Dialogue

Agenda, November 7

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.    
I can explain how poets use dialogue. 

1. Freewrite #39: Act it out; write it out
2. Pre-write #49: Dialogue in poetry
3. Pre-Write #50: Dialogue in songs
4. Pre-write #48: How would he say "Hi"? (cont.)

Agenda, November 6

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.    
I can use a variety of tag lines.  
I can help my classmates punctuate dialogue correctly. I can use vivid word choices to express character. 

1. Freewrite #38: "Seventeen years from now ..." OR Write about a conflict between two (or more) siblings.
2. Pre-write #47: Types of Tags
3. Pre-write #48: How would he say "Hi"?

Agenda, November 5

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.    I can punctuate dialogue correctly. I can help my classmates punctuate dialogue correctly.
I can use vivid word choices to express character. 

1. Model Text Analyses
2. Freewrite #37: "On the other side of ..." OR Write about a conflict between a father and a child.
3. Pre-write #44: Dialogue Rules!
4. Pre-write #45: A classroom discussion. Be prepared to share with a classmate.
5. Pre-Write #46: Word Choice and Character

Agenda, November 4

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Due Yesterday: Freewrites 24-34 and Pre-writes 32-38 

Unit 4: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.   
I can infer the rules of dialogue from an example.
I can use dialogue to show.

1. New seating chart
2. Freewrite #36: "With an extra 60 minutes ..." OR Write about a conflict between a mother and a child.
3. Pre-write #41: "Taking the Plunge"
4. Pre-write #42: Dialogue Notes
5. Pre-Write #43: Showing with Dialogue

Agenda, November 1

Reminder: Keep all your work, including graded  freewrites,  pre-writes, and published drafts. We'll need them to revise.

Due Yesterday: Syntax Practice 1-5  
Due Now: Freewrites 24-34 and Pre-writes 32-38 

Unit 3: Dialogue
Today's Learning Targets:
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.  I can invent actions that would make a good poem. I can define objectives, obstacles, and tactics.
I can use a variety of tactics to pursue an objective.

1. Freewrite #35: "Is this seat taken?" OR "You want me to do what?"
2. Pre-write #39: 20 Actions
3. Pre-Write #40: Objectives, Obstacles, and Tactics