Agenda, February 28

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Go see Lost in Yonkers. All tickets are $8. Doors open at 6:45. Get there early! 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write dialogue in verse.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #36: "Mommy, why ..." OR Write about a character who constantly interrupts others.
2. "The Neighbors," by Jonathan Richman
3. PW #51: Dialogue in Poetry
4. "Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet," by Naomi Shihab Nye

Agenda, February 27

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Go see Lost in Yonkers. All tickets are $8. Doors open at 6:45. Get there early! 
• Late: Pre-writes 27-47

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write between the lines.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. Forecasting Questions?
2. Freewrite #35: "No, seriously ..." OR Give somebody a pep talk.
3. Revisit PW #48: Subtext
4. PW #49: Showing subtext through action.
5. PW #50: The concert or the playoff game?

Agenda, February 26

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Do Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Go see Lost in Yonkers. All tickets are $8. Doors open at 6:45. Get there early! 
• Late: Pre-writes 27-47

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write between the lines.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #34: "I've been meaning to tell you ..." OR Write about a disastrous dinner conversation.
2. An excerpt from Ricochet River
3. PW #48: Subtext
4. Unfreewrite

Agenda, Febraury 22

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 27-47

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write dialogue that communicates character.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #33: "After the storm ..." OR How to enjoy a snow day.
2. Laptop time: 15 minutes max
3. Pre-write #47: Improv #3

Agenda, February 20

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Due Thursday: Pre-writes 27-47

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write dialogue that communicates character.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. Pre-write #46: How to say "Hi."
2. Dialogue Slide Show

Agenda, Febraury 15

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Late: Final Draft of Character Packet, typed. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can identify the qualities of believable dialogue.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. FW #32: "Is this yours?" OR Write an apology.
2. Pre-write #44: Good dialogue notes
3. Pre-write #45: Showing with dialogue.

Agenda, February 14

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Late: Final Draft of Character Packet, typed. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can chat with a friend.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. FW #31: "Come on in ..." OR Write a Valentine's story
2. Pre-write #43: Types of Tags
3. Pre-write #44: The Tattoo

Agenda, Febraury 13

Unit 4: Writing believable, properly formatted dialogue in a variety of modes.

• Late: Final Draft of Character Packet, typed. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can chat with a friend.
• I can correctly punctuate dialogue.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. FW #30: "Is this seat taken?" OR Write about a fight between significant others
2. Pass a note
3. Dialgoue Rules!
4. Pre-write #41: Four lines of correctly punctuated dialogue.
5. Pre-write #42: The Haunted House

Agenda, February 12

• Due Monday: Final Draft of Character Packet, typed. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can share my work with my classmates.
• I can write for pleasure.
• I can submit my work to the Lit Mag for publication.

Agenda:

1. FW #29: "As the plane took off ..." OR Make up a good excuse.
2. Small group sharing
3. Whole class sharing
4. Exquisite Corpse

Agenda, February 9

• Due Monday: Final Draft of Character Packet, typed. Please don't give your work to Ms. Grade; I'll collect it Monday. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can type like the wind.
• I can submit my work for publication.

Agenda:

1. Type like the wind
2. Submit to Lit Mag

Agenda, February 8

• Coming Friday: Laptops for final drafts 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write an engaging title.
• I can work with others to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. FW #28: "I was in search of ..." OR Write from the POV of an object that's been lost.
2. PW#40: Titles, Take 2
3. Work time

Agenda, February 7

• Late: Rough draft for Packet 3 (at least two pages of fiction OR two poems, in a document separate from your freewrites and prewrites)
• Coming Friday: Laptops for final drafts 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can revise a paragraph to create interesting word choice and syntax.
• I can work with others to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. Varying Syntax Exercise
2. Work time

Agenda, February 6

• Late: Freewrites 13-25
• Late: Rough draft for Packet 3 (at least two pages of fiction OR two poems, in a document separate from your freewrites and prewrites)
• Coming Friday: Laptops for final drafts 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can show character through action.
• I can work with others to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #27: "On my way to the [store] ..." OR Write about a surprising discovery.
2. PW #39: Showing Character Through Action
3. Work time

Agenda, Febraury 5

• Due Now: Freewrites 13-25 (If you need them to finish your draft over the weekend, turn them in on Monday.)
• Due Now: Rough draft for Packet 3 (at least two pages of fiction OR two poems, in a document separate from your freewrites and prewrites)
• Due Now: Optional Grammar Exercise Revisions 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can show character through body language.
• I can work with a peer to make good writing better.
• I can develop an idea into a rough draft.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #26: "When I picked up the phone ..." OR Write about a great victory.
2. PW #38: Body language
3. Packet 3 Writing Goals
4. Work time

Potential Sources of poems / stories

• Any of your freewrites
• PW 31, 34, 35, 36, 37

Agenda, February 2

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters

• Late: Grammar Exercise 1-6
• Due Today: Freewrites 13-25 (If you need them to finish your draft over the weekend, turn them in on Monday.)
• Due Monday: Rough draft for Packet 3 (at least two pages of fiction OR two poems, in a document separate from your freewrites and prewrites)
• Due Monday: Optional Grammar Exercise Revisions 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can find in long story in a small moment.
• I can develop an idea into a rough draft.

Agenda:

1. And the winners are ...
2. Freewrite #25: "Every once in a while ..." OR Write about the setting in PW #36
3. PW #37: 10 second story
4. Packet 3 Writing Goals
5. Work time

Potential Sources of poems / stories

• Any of your freewrites
• PW 31, 34, 35, 36, 37