Thursday, November 29, 2007

November 29, 2007

November 29, 2007
Today we had a mini-lesson on effective word choice -- choosing the best words for anything we write.

Students worked on their books for the kindergarteners. These books are to be finished and handed in by December 7.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

November 27, 2007

November 27, 2007
Self-Starter: Students wrote one or more limericks.
Today we worked on the Children's books for the kindergarten students.
These are due December 7.
The steps are
1. Prepare a storyboard on the worksheet provided.
2. Prepare a "green book" -- a mock up or rough draft showing just what you will have on each page. This is the time to make sure you've used the best words and to check you spelling, punctuation, etc.
3. Make the copy in the blank book provided.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

November 20, 2007

November 20, 2007

Working for Hallmark -- Students will design greeting cards for Christmas, birthdays, etc. and actually make one or two. Each card will contain an original poem in one of the required formats.

Ms. Dorsey will be gone, so extra credit is available to students who are well behaved for the substitute. I'm going to New York City with the American Fork High School Marching Band.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving.

November 16, 2007

November 16, 2007
Bring children's books today. We'll look at them to get ideas for the books we'll create for the kindergarten children.

Also, today we will be in the lab to finish the stories about "A Day As a Bird."

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

November 13, 2007

November 13, 2007
Children's Book Assignment
Today is our Fieldtrip to Legacy to interview kindergartenrs. We will be creating a book for each child.

Friday, November 9, 2007

November 12, 2007

November 12, 2007
"A Day in the Life of a Bird" or "A Day as a Bird"

Self-Starter: In your notebook, quickly come up with a caption for each of the numbered bird pictures that are passed around. A caption is a few words or a sentence or so that would show what the bird is saying or thinking.
Share some of them.

1. Go to the computer lab to write your essay, "A Day in the Life of a Bird." Draft, revise, edit, make it the best you can. Aim for a 4 or more on the overall scoring.

To get into GoMyAccess in the computer writing lab:
Click on the icon for Safari (Internet Browser).
You will be on the school home page.
Go to the lower right hand corner to click on GoMyAccess.
Log in with your username (firstnameSTUDENT#) and password (999lastname).
If your name shows up on the next screen, click on "Yes, this information is correct."
Go to assignments, and click START by the assignment "My Life As a Bird."

If you need help getting started, you might want to check out the "My Prewriting Tab," and look briefly at the Narrative Wizard or the Narrative Outline.
Go back to start typing.
Type up your story.
Submit and Final Submit. Check out your scores and the suggestions for improving it.
Revise and edit. Use "My Tutor" and "My Editor."

Note: When you use "My Editor," make corrections, then click on "My Editor" again to refresh it and see if you've gotten rid of some of the errors.

Don't forget that GoMyAccess doesn't like contractions like "don't" and "doesn't."
Do not
use them.

You can also look at Writer's Models, and at Tutor and editor feedback after you have done a final submit.

Try to get your essay at least to an overall score of 4.
You do not have to print the essay. Just make sure you have done a final submit.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

November 8, 2007

November 8, 2007
Students responded to a painting "Fire and Light Against Darkness" with a brief story or poem.
They also described a "Hot Tamale" candy.

We further discussed conflict, and students listed in their notebooks types of conflict in fiction and nonfiction both, and examples of children's stories so they could consider the types of conflict found there.
"Theme -- not to mention plot -- emerges from the what if? of a problem." -- Nancy Atwell


Students listened to a read-aloud of a book by a local author, Sam Beeson.
We also read a little more of The Old Manor by Roni DaRonche, and a student shared the ending of her scary story.

Today students received a prompt they will prepare to type on Monday in the computer writing lab -- My Day as a Bird

Monday, November 5, 2007

November 6, 2007

November 6, 2007
Did you hand in your scary story last time?
We're moving on to . . . .
Creating Characters and Providing Them with Problems!
If you didn't get them (check the blue envelope), ask for a copy of the tape-in and the yellow character sheet.

Friday, November 2, 2007

November 2, 2007

November 2, 2007
Ms. Dorsey was at an all-day training workshop for READ180 teachers. It was very helpful!

Students were given a story starter and asked to finish the story, using as much detail and description as they could, and using vivid words.
Story Starter: The Unforgettable Fog
I was in a London park with a close friend. As I walked from bench to bench I was amazed at the care that the park had received. The bandstand is unique. The fountains are beautiful. It was then, that he unforgettable fog began closing in around the city. The fog almost seemed to engulf the city and was closing quickly on the park and surroundings we were in. It was so thick and heavy that the fog felt like a burden we were packing on our backs. [Isn't that a great simile?] Then the strange voice said, "Hello."


Some typed their scary stories which were due on Halloween.
Students, did some of you read your stories aloud?