Agenda, January 28

Unit 3: Character (Inventing believable, fully imagined people with our words)

• Due Today: Freewrites 16-25  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can start a story with the character first.
• I can invent important details about a character

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #25: "When she turned 11 ..." OR "I can't help but imagine ..."
2. "Eleven," by Sandra Cisneros
3. Pre-write #27: Elements of Characterization

Agenda, January 27

Unit 3: Character (Inventing believable, fully imagined people with our words)

• Due Thursday: Freewrites 16-25  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can start a story with the character first.
• I can invent important details about a character

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #24: Use the first line you generated in Pre-write #25 to start a story.
2. Review: What makes a believable character?
3. Pre-write #26: Character Questionnaire

Agenda, January 26

Unit 3: Character (Inventing believable, fully imagined people with our words)

• Late: Final Draft of two poems of at least two pages of fiction. 
• Due Thursday: Freewrites 16-25  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can take useful notes.
• I can start a story with the character first.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #23: "When he walked into the room ..." OR Write about a character who can't say no.
2. Pre-write #24: What makes a believable character?
3. Pre-write #25: Character First Story Starter

Agenda, January 22

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Late: Final Draft of two poems of at least two pages of fiction.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can share my work with my classmates.
• I can provide positive and constructive feedback.
• I can write using an innovative structure.

Today's Agenda:

1. Who wants free money?
2. Freewrite #22: "In the rearview mirror ..." OR "Who wants free money? ..."
3. Sharing Time
4. Pre-write #24: Reverse Poems, if time allows

Agenda, January 21

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due at the end of class today: Final Draft of two poems of at least two pages of fiction.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can type like the wind.

Today's Agenda:

1. Type like the wind.

Agenda, January 20

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Late: Complete rough draft of Packet #2 (either two poems of at least two pages of fiction), focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can notice sensory details.
• I can work with a peer to improve excellent writing.

Today's Agenda:

1. Pre-write #23: Noticing
2. Work Time

Agenda, January 19

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Late: Pre-writes 11-21.
• Due Now: Complete rough draft of Packet #2 (either two poems of at least two pages of fiction), focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write using an imaginative structure.
• I can work with a peer to improve excellent writing.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #21:"It was a different kind of [winter] ..." OR Write about or from the POV of a liar.
2. A few more models of cool structure
3. Work Time

Agenda, January 15

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 11-21. If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog. 
• Due Tuesday, 1/19 at the beginning of class: Complete rough draft of Packet #2 (either two poems of at least two pages of fiction), focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write using an imaginative structure.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #20:"Hurry up!" OR "The broken sky ..."
2. Work Time

Agenda, January 14

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 11-? If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog. 
• Due Tuesday, 1/19: Complete rough draft of Packet #2, focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write using an imaginative structure.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #19:"Just when things couldn't get any worse ..." OR Three things: nail polish, a VHS tape, and a scooter
2. 8 Ways to Mess With Structure
3. PW #21: 13 Ways of Looking 

Agenda, January 13

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 11-? If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog. 
• Due Tuesday, 1/19: Complete rough draft of Packet #2, focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write using an imaginative structure.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #18:"The bus that goes by ..." OR Write about three events that happen in the same place at different times.
2. PW #20: Writing in Circles

Agenda, January 12

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 11-? If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog. 
• Due Tuesday, 1/19: Complete rough draft of Packet #2, focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write well within narrow constraints.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #17:"He reached out ..." OR Write about a character who always says the wrong thing.
2. PW #18: 10-second Stories
3. PW #19: Three-part Plots

Agenda, January 11

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Late: Freewrites 6-15. 
• Due Friday: Pre-writes 11-? If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog. 
• Due Tuesday, 1/19: Complete rough draft of Packet #2, focusing on structure. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday, 1/21: Laptops for typing final drafts.  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write well within narrow constraints.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #16:"With everyone watching ..." OR "The soup was ..."
2. Two More Examples of Visual Poetry
3. PW #17 (continued): First Word / Last Word
4. PW #18: 10-second Stories

Agenda, January 8

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due Today: Freewrites 6-15. If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog. 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can share my work with my classmates.
• I can provide positive and constructive feedback to my classmates.
• I can write well within narrow constraints.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #15:"Finally!" OR "As time winds down ..."
2. Whole class sharing
3. PW #17 (continued): First Word / Last Word

Agenda, January 7

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Due Friday: Freewrites 6-15. If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog.
• Coming Friday: Sharing time  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use line breaks to shape the meaning of a poem.

Today's Agenda:

1. Freewrite #14:"Surprise!" OR "This is the third time ..."
2. Sharing preferences: small group v. whole class / positive feedback only v. positive and constructive feedback v. no feedback (just snapping) / current work v. anything / length?
3. PW #16: Lining Poems
4. PW #17: First Word / Last Word

Agenda, January 6

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Late: Final Draft of (at least) two pages of fiction or two poems. Include drafting / conferencing materials and yellow cover sheet.
• Due Friday: Freewrites 6-15. If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog.
• Coming Friday: Sharing time  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use a killer first line as an inspiration for a story or poem.

Today's Agenda:

1. Pre-write #14: What if?
2. Freewrite #13: What if?
3. PW #15: First Line / Last Line

Agenda, January 5

Unit 2: Structure (Powerful beginnings, middles, and endings - not necessarily in that order - and the way your writing looks on the page)

• Late: Final Draft of (at least) two pages of fiction or two poems. Include drafting / conferencing materials and yellow cover sheet.
• Due Friday: Freewrites 6-15. If you've lost any, the prompts are still listed on the blog.
• Coming Friday: Sharing time  

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can identify the qualities of a killer first line.
• I can use a killer first line as an inspiration for a story or poem.

Today's Agenda:

1. Bonus Freewrite Prompts!
2. Freewrite #12: "How you been?" OR "When the ice began to melt ..."
3. Mr. Lovell's Monday Thoughts
4. Visual Poetry
5. PW #13: Great first lines