Agenda, June 6

1. Five Card Flickr

Agenda, June 2

• Due yesterday: Pre-writes 43-53
• Due yesterday: Final Draft of Packet 4 + Dialogue Revision Exercise

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can share my work with my classmates.
• I can actively listen to others' work.
• I can provide feedback to my classmates.

Agenda: 

1.  Sharing day!

Agenda, June 1

Unit Four: Dialogue 

• Due at the end of class: Pre-writes 43-53
• Due at the end of class: Final Draft of Packet 4 + Dialogue Revision Exercise
• Coming Thursday: Sharing day! You can share anything you've written this tri. 
• Last day to turn in any late work is YESTERDAY. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can develop a rough draft into a final draft.

Agenda: 

1.  Goodbye Poem / Typing Time

Agenda, May 31

Unit Four: Dialogue 

• Late: Freewrites 25 - 34
• Due Tomorrow: Pre-writes 43-53
• Coming Tomorrow: Laptops for Packet 4
• Coming Thursday: Sharing day! You can share anything you've written this tri. 
• Last day to turn in any late work is TODAY. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can properly punctuate dialogue.
• I can format dialogue in poetry.
• I can communicate subtext through showing.

Agenda: 

1.  Who needs the Dialogue Slide Show directions?
2. PW #52: "Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet," by Naomi Shihab Nye
3. PW #53: Showing subtext through action
4. Dialogue Peer Review

Agenda, May 27

Unit Four: Dialogue 

• Due Now: Freewrites 25 - 34
• Last day to turn in any late work is Tuesday, 5/31. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can properly punctuate dialogue.
• I can use technology to improve my writing.
• I can work with my peers to master a difficult skill 

Agenda: 

1.  Dialogue Slide Show
2. PW #52: "Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet," by Naomi Shihab Nye

Agenda, May 26

Unit Four: Dialogue

• Due Friday: Freewrites 25 - ?
• Last day to turn in any late work is Tuesday, 5/31. 

Today's Learning Targets:

•  I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can incorporate subtext into dialogue.
• I can use dialogue in poetry.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #34: "Did you drop this?" OR"How many times do I have to tell you?"
2. PW #50: Subtext
3. PW #51: Dialogue in Poetry
4. PW #52: "Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet," by Naomi Shihab Nye

Agenda, May 25

Unit Four: Dialogue

• Due Friday: Freewrites 25 - ?
• Last day to turn in any late work is Tuesday, 5/31. 

Today's Learning Targets:

•  I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #33: Write a scene in which a child asks for an increase in his or her allowance. Consider ulterior motives.
2. PW #49: Showing with dialogue
3. PW #50: Improv 3

Agenda, May 24

Unit Four: Dialogue

• Late: Final Draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focused on character.
• Due Friday: Freewrites 25 - ?
• Last day to turn in any late work is Tuesday, 5/31. 

Today's Learning Targets:

•  I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #32: "Come on in ..." OR "Please let me ..."
2. PW #48: Types of Tags
3. PW #49: Improv2

Agenda, May 23

Unit Four: Dialogue

• Late: Final Draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focused on character.
• Due Friday: Freewrites 25 - ?
• Last day to turn in any late work is Tuesday, 5/31. 

Today's Learning Targets:

•  I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.

Agenda:

1. Pass a note.
2. Freewrite #31: "Is this seat taken?" OR "Go ahead. See if I care."
3. Dialogue rules, dude!
4. PW #46: Punctuating a note.
5. PW #47: Improv 1

Agenda, May 20

Unit Three: Character 

• Due at the end of class: Final Draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focused on character.
• Do this weekend: Go see The Giver.

Today's Learning Targets: 

•  I can use technology to improve my writing. 

Agenda: 

1. Juniors: Who wants free money?
2. We are Joy Team
3. Exquisite Corpse: "We left at dawn ..." OR "Up in the attic ..."

Agenda, May 19

Unit Three: Character 

• Due at the end of class: Final Draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focused on character.
• Do this weekend: Go see The Giver.

Today's Learning Targets: 

•  I can use technology to improve my writing. 

Agenda: 

1. Juniors: Who wants free money?
2. Type like a group of students who are typing really fast.

Agenda, May 18

Unit Three: Character 

• Late: Rough draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focusing on character.
• Coming Tomorrow: Laptops for final drafts. 
• Do this weekend: Go see The Giver.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can write concisely.
• I can work with a peer to improve my writing. 

Agenda: 

1. PW #45: Dead Words
2. Work Time

Agenda, May 17

Unit Three: Character 

• Late: Pre-writes #27 - 42
• Late: Rough draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focusing on character.
• Coming Thursday: Laptops for final drafts. 
• Do this weekend: Go see The Giver.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use punctuation to shape the meaning of a piece of writing.
• I can work with a peer to improve my writing. 

Agenda: 

1. PW #44: Dear John ...
2. Work Time

Agenda, May 16

Unit Three: Character 

• Due at the end of class today: Pre-writes #27 - 42 (You can give them to me at the end of class, if you don't need them for your rough draft.)
• Due now: Rough draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focusing on character. This is a document separate from your freewrites or pre-writes. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can work with a peer to improve my writing. 

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #30: "Remember when ..." OR "If he/she had more courage ..."
2. PW #43: Varying Syntax
3. Work Time

Agenda, May 13

Unit Three: Character 

• Due Monday: Pre-writes #27 - 42 (You can give them to me at the end of class, if you don't need them for your rough draft.)
• Due at the beginning of class on Monday: Rough draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focusing on character. This is a document separate from your freewrites or pre-writes. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can stretch the definition of character. 

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #29: "Her / His first mistake ..." OR Tell me the monkey story.
2. PW #42: Obituary for an Object

Agenda, May 12

Unit Three: Character

• Due Monday: Pre-writes #27 - ?
• Due at the beginning of class on Monday: Rough draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focusing on character. This is a document separate from your freewrites or pre-writes. 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can stretch the definition of character.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #28: Write a story that involves broken glass OR Write about a character who is always late.
2. PW #40: Setting as character
3. PW #41: Symbolic Characters

Agenda, May 11

Unit Three: Character

• Late: Grammar Exercise #6 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can develop characters with distinct voices.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #27: "On a sunny day ..." OR Write about a character who spends money carelessly.
2. PW #39: Poem for Two Voices

Agenda, May 10

Unit Three: Character

• Late: Freewrites 15 - 24 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can develop a character through action.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #26: "The strangest thing he/she ever saw ..." OR Write about a character who is precariously forgetful.
2. PW #37: Show, Don't Tell
3. PW #38: 20 Actions

Agenda, May 9

Unit Three: Character

• Late: Freewrites 15 - 24 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate a variety of sentences.

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #25: "I wish you would ..." OR "The first time ..." OR Write about the zombie apocalypse from a dog's POV.
2. Grammar Exercises #6: The Epic Sentence

Grammar Exercises 1-5

Grammar Exercises #1:

Simple sentences have a subject and a verb.

Some simple sentences have two of each.

Rudolph and his friends laughed and played.

Simple sentences don’t have to be boring.

She smiled icily.

Write three simple sentences.

Grammar Exercise #2: Compound Sentences

Write a simple sentence first, and follow it with a conjunction and another simple sentence.

You should put a comma before the conjunction, but you need to have a complete sentence afterwards.

Many other words are conjunctions; however, some require special punctuation rules.

Conjunctions: FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)

Write 3 compound sentences.

Grammar Exercise #3: Semi-colons

Semi-colons link two complete sentences; the subjects of the sentences must be closely related.

I’m not winking; I’m punctuating.

Write 3 sentences that include a semi-colon.

Grammar Exercise #4: Dashes

Dashes – no doubt about it – can be used to add thoughts for emphasis or to show a break in thought.

Dashes can be used like an appositive – a fancy way of saying “renamer.”

If you remove the phrase inside the dashes, you will be left with – oh, what are those things called? – a complete sentence.

Write three sentences that use a correctly punctuated dash.

Grammar Exercise #5: Parentheses

Parentheses (those things you use to make emoticons on the computer) are a punctuation mark (like commas, periods, and semi-colons) that can be used for lists – when they break the flow – long winded digressions (like this whole sentence), appositives, and editorial comments (extraordinary, really!).

Write 3 sentences with properly punctuated parentheses.

Agenda, May 6

Unit Three: Character

• Due Today: Freewrites 15 - 24

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate a variety of sentences.
• I can develop 5 elements of character.

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #24: Pass a prompt OR "He/she can't stop thinking about ..."
2. Grammar Exercises #5: Parentheses
3. Pre-write #35: Elements of Characterization
4. Pre-write #36: The first time ...

Agenda, May 5

Unit Three: Character

• Due Friday: Freewrites 15 - 24

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate a variety of sentences.
• I can analyze another author's character development.

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #23: "Just when things couldn't get any worse ..." OR Write about a character who has a crush on another character OR Write about a character sinking in mayo.
2. Grammar Exercises #4: Dashes
3. Pre-write #34: "The Wounded," from Glaciers, by Alexis M. Smith
4. Pre-write #35: The first time ...

Agenda, May 4

Unit Three: Character

• Late: Final Draft of Packet 2.
• Late: Learning Target Poster #2

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate a variety of sentences.
• I can use a name to build a character.
• I can develop a backstory.

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #22: "______ is the type of person who ..." OR "When ______ walks into the room ..."
2. Grammar Exercises #3: Semi-colons
3. Pre-write #33: Character Questionnaire

Agenda, May 3

Unit Three: Character

• Late: Final Draft of Packet 2.
• Late: Learning Target Poster #2: Type ONE learning target at the top of a page of paper. Find evidence in your final draft that you have met that learning target. Copy that evidence onto that same sheet of paper. Type your name below. Format your document so that your writing is as large as possible but it still fits on one page. You may use any font and any size. Print your poster.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate a variety of sentences.
• I can use a name to build a character.

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #21: Use your killer first line from yesterday OR Write about a character who is lost.
2. Grammar Exercises #2: Compound Sentences
3. Pre-write #32: What's in a name?
4. Pre-write #33: Character Questionnaire

Agenda, May 2

Unit Three: Character

• Late: Final Draft of Packet 2.
• Late: Learning Target Poster #2: Type ONE learning target at the top of a page of paper. Find evidence in your final draft that you have met that learning target. Copy that evidence onto that same sheet of paper. Type your name below. Format your document so that your writing is as large as possible but it still fits on one page. You may use any font and any size. Print your poster.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can correctly punctuate a variety of sentences.
• I can define the qualities of a believable character.
• I can write a story starting with the character first.

Agenda: 

1. Freewrite #20: "People like us ..." OR Write about a character who always says the wrong thing.
2. Grammar Exercises #1: Simple Sentences
3. Pre-write #30: What makes a believable character?
4. Pre-write #31: Character First Story Starter

Agenda, April 28

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings, and placing words purposefully on the page. 

• Due at the end of class today: Final Draft of Packet 2.
• Due at the end of class today:Learning Target Poster #2

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use technology to improve and to share my writing.

Agenda: 

1. Type like the wind.
2. Learning Target Poster: Type ONE learning target at the top of a page of paper. Find evidence in your final draft that you have met that learning target. Copy that evidence onto that same sheet of paper. Type your name below. Format your document so that your writing is as large as possible but it still fits on one page. You may use any font and any size. Print your poster.

Agenda, April 27

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings, and placing words purposefully on the page. 

• Late: Rough draft of two poems or at least two pages of fiction focusing on structure.
• Coming Thursday: Laptops for final drafts. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can explore foreshadowing.
• I can work with a peer to make an excellent draft excellenter. 

Agenda: 

1. Pre-write #29: Foreshadowing, your clue to quality literature.
2. Work time