Week 6: What to Expect

Mon. March. 11th:
* Words of the week
* Dialogue rules and practice
* Write your narrative draft
* Check out How to Write Better- 7 Instant Fixes

Tues. March. 12th:
* Complete Draft: Due tomorrow

Wed. March. 13th:

* Peer conference, revise an edit narrative

* Good copy of narrative and writing process due tomorrow

* Week 5 &6 Vocab Quiz Tomorrow

Thurs. March. 14th:

* Week 5 & 6 Vocab Quiz

* Complete and self assess good copy of narrative

* Portfolio

* See you at Parent-Teacher Conferences tonight!

Fri. March. 15th:

* "The Drunkard"

Have an amazing, restorative, adventurous, sun-filled spring break!

What Writing Is

As you are bleeding, sweating, and wrestling with your mind for the right words, just remember that many have fought this hard-won battle and emerged triumphant. Here is what they had to say about the writing process (and book-love). Who do you think is the most correct? Who said it best?

Week 5: What to Expect

Mon. March. 4th:
* In-class short story synthesis.
* Open book. Use stories of your choice, arguments of your choice. Have your outlines ready!
* Due at end of class

Tues. March. 5th:
* Does where we begin determine where we end up? What role do parents, teachers, peers, money, play in our education and life choices?
* Film Analysis of Good Will Hunting

Wed. March. 6th:
* Class complete Good Will Hunting and film response

Thurs. March. 7th:
* Similes and metaphors through the eyes of a teacher
* Narrative Essentials: Group created recipe.
* Complete Week 5 Vocab: Checked tomorrow

Fri. March. 8th:
* "Show Don't Tell": See the How to Show (Not Tell) support
* Choose your own narrative: Work on outline-Due Monday

Week 4: What to Expect

Mon. Feb. 25th:
* Words of the week: Week 3 & 4 vocab quiz friday
* "The Lottery" group carousel
* Begin synthesis choices and ideas: In-class write next Monday

Tues. Feb. 26th:
* Check your tag: Considering our own scapegoats
* Introduce Literature Circle Options: Choose group and roles
* Independently read "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. LeGuin.
* Online discussions abound. Here's a sample analysis and differing opinions on this enrichingly ambiguous distopian piece: Sample Critical Analysis of Omelas

Wed. Feb. 27th:
* Independently complete role sheet for tomorrow's literature circles on "The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas"
* Study for terms test Friday

Thurs. Feb. 28th:
* Question, discuss, and debate in your literature circles
* Choose your two stories for the in-class synthesis on Monday
* Begin your synthesis outline

Fri. March. 1st:
* Week 3 & 4 vocabulary quiz
* Short story terms quiz
* Complete synthesis outline for in-class write (test) Monday

Community Corrections

This came across my path and reminded me of all of you hunting down atrocious communicators. Seek. Find. Fix.

Week 3: What to Expect

Mon. Feb. 18th:
* Words of the week
* Class guided read of "Hairball" by Canadian legend Margaret Atwood. This story will stay with you! It's disturbing, wonderfully challenging and resonate.
* Check out one literary blogger's summary of this angry piece of fiction.

Tues. Feb. 19th:

* Share of Community Corrections!

* Choose a Creative Character Study for "Hairball" Mobile? Visual Timeline? Prezi? Scrapbook? Journal? The choice is yours.

Wed. Feb.20th & Thurs. Feb.21st:

* Complete Creative Character Study: Due Friday

* Complete Week 3 Vocabulary: Checked Friday

* Consider "Hairball" and our other stories for your final short story evaluation

Fri. Feb. 21st:

* Considering the role of tradition in our lives. What are the positive and negative implications?

* Class read of Shirley Jackson's classic "The Lottery"

* "The Lottery" resources to assist understanding

* Short Story Terms Test Next Friday, begin reviewing your literary devices and how they fit within our stories studied thus far

Week 2: What to Expect

First, I applaud all of you for your thoughtful responses to the TED Talks video "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" Check out each other's ideas and the further replies and questions shared.

Tues, Feb. 12th:
* Dissecting Irony
* Collective guided read of "Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin. Our first story together, aren't you excited! Check out the hyperlinks to see who she was and what her story's all about

Wed. Feb. 13th:

* Taking on Point of View: 4-point quiz tomorrow

* "The Weapon" by Fredric Brown. What do you think it is? What is meant by "only a madman would give a loaded revolver to an idiot"? Who is the mad man? Who is the idiot? 

* Consider the following analysis

Thurs. Feb. 14th:
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
* Important Assembly and Class discussions
* Independent Read and Think

Fri, Feb. 15th:
* Week 1 & 2 Vocabulary Quiz
* Class-created and modeled synthesis.
* Writing resources and quote integration references given

Have a Marvelous Weekend!