Poetry

Start looking for a poem for our Poetry and Chocolate Day on February 14.  Select a poem that you REALLY like.  Song lyrics work if they are in poetic form.  (Most are!)  You will present your poem on February 14 -- and bring chocolate or another treat to share if you would like. 


You may present your poem as a dramatic reading, a power-point, a video, an attractive handout, a reading by the class led by you, or another idea you've come up with that Ms. Dorsey approves.  You do not have to memorize your poem.

Your presentation may take up to two minutes.  

Poetry Resources for Teens  
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/394

Funny Poetry for Kids
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/

http://www.emule.com/poetry/?page=top_poems

Scroll down for poems to recite:
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/86

Poetry Links for Middle School Students:  (Notice that some of these are intended for teachers and others for students.)
http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/cc/poetry/poetryms.htm


Middle School Poetry
http://middleschoolpoetry180.wordpress.com/the-poems/

Poetry 180 -- aimed at high school students
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

Poetry from Scholastic: 
http://teacher.scholastic.com/poetry/

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Picture Prompts -- Children's Books?

Today's prompt was "for the birds."  Tee-Hee!  Don't let me forget to have you share them.

(No biographical prompt today)

Introduce Grading for Child's Book

Me-Bags

Fieldtrip to Mrs. Welcker's Class at Legacy

We will take a fieldtrip to Legacy to interview children for creating books for them.

You will miss about the first half hour of your B2 class.  Please let your teacher know.

We will have three computer lab days to make our books.
February 10 (and find poems?)
February 21
February 27 Finish the books
Deliver mid-March

January 31-- Interviews
February 2 -- Create storyboards  and possible lab to look for poetry.
February 6 -- Storyboards due/Mock-ups
February 8 -- Mock-ups due
February 10 -- Work in Computer Lab on Children's books  -- Look for poetry/MyAccess prompts if extra time.
February 14 -- Poetry and Chocolate
February 16 -- Work on Books 
February 21 -- Work in Computer lab --  MyAccess prompts if extra time.
February 27 -- Finish as needed in Computer lab  --  MyAccess prompts if extra time.
Children's books due February 29.

Notice your   Poetry assignment for February 14.

Friday, January 27, 2012

1. Self-Starter:  Pick up your notebook and folder. 
a.  Pick a prompt from the list titled "Creative Writing Prompts About Me," and write at least a half-page response in your notebook.  Give it a title and today's date.
b.  Write a response to the picture projected on the screen.  You could write a description, a commentary, a poem, a brief story, or whatever you're moved to write based on that picture.  Your response should be about a half-page or so long.  Give it a title and today's date.

Picture Prompt A

 Appointments? 

2. Practice Interviewing 

Student Assignment

3. Me-Bags 

Finish questioning Emmalee.  She brought the  pillow case  she had embroidered. She likes roller coasters and reading – Fablehaven.   In the treasure chest she had shells, silver dollars, clips for fixing her sister's hair, and a tiny pony.  She likes nail polish and eating her dad's Death by Chocolate cake.

To present today: 

January 27 List and

Dallin N.

Katherine L

Porter J.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

1. Self-Starter:  Pick up your notebook and folder. 
a.  Pick a prompt from the list titled "Creative Writing Prompts About Me," and write at least a half-page response in your notebook.  Give it a title and today's date.
b.  Write a response to the picture projected on the screen.  You could write a description, a commentary, a poem, a brief story, or whatever you're moved to write based on that picture.  Your response should be about a half-page or so long.  Give it a title and today's date.
Appointments? 

Topsy-Turvy

2. Mini-lesson on  leads.  Write optional leads for one of the pieces of writing in your notebook.

Leads tape-in 2012.doc  Click on the Download Tab after going to this link.

3. Me-Bags

4. If time:  Learn about a published author.  Today our spot-lighted author will be Christopher Paolini -

5. If time: Create a headline for a true story about you. 

Monday, January 23, 2012

Bring a favorite (or other) children's book today. 

1. Self-Starter:  Pick up your notebook and folder. 
a.  Pick a prompt from the list titled "Creative Writing Prompts About Me," and write at least a half-page response in your notebook.  Give it a title and today's date.
b.  Write a response to the picture projected on the screen.  You could write a description, a commentary, a poem, a brief story, or whatever you're moved to write based on that picture.  Your response should be about a half-page or so long.  Give it a title and today's date.

Brian Kershisnik: Flight Practice with Instruction

2. Mini-lesson on editing (especially editing for the children's books).    
Handout  

3. Me-Bags

4. Look at children's books.

Qualities of Children's books:
simple, sound effects, stupid = funny, nonsense, voices, short text, colorful, pictures, tongue-twisters, rhyming, rhythm, simple problems--- quickly solved, repetition,  about food, animals, talking animals,

5. If time:  Learn about a published author.  Today our spot-lighted author will be Christopher Paolini --

6. If time: Create a headline for a true story about you. 

Thursday, January 19, 2012

1. Self-Starter:  Pick up your notebook and folder. 
a.  Pick a prompt from the list titled "Creative Writing Prompts About Me," and write at least a half-page response in your notebook.  Give it a title and today's date.
b.  Write a response to the picture projected on the screen.  You could write a description, a commentary, a poem, a brief story, or whatever you're moved to write based on that picture.  Your response should be about a half-page or so long.  Give it a title and today's date.
For this response, part of your response could be in pictures. 

This is Just Creative -- T.P Rescue  

c. Hand in disclosure signatures and VIP form if you have brought them back.

2.   Mini-lesson on Titles 


3. Present  the me-bag assignments for today.


5. Assignment for Next time:  Bring a favorite (or other) children's book.
If you have a Me-Bag presentation next time, don't forget.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Agenda

Welcome to a new semester and a new class!

1. Self-Starter:  Receive/Select a notebook.  Write your name clearly on the front.
a. One the third page in, pick a prompt from the list titled "Creative Writing Prompts About Me," and write at least a half-page response in your notebook.  Give it a title and today's date.
b.  Write a response to the picture projected on the screen.  You could write a description, a commentary, a poem, a brief story, or whatever you're moved to write based on that picture.  Your response should be about a half-page or so long.  Give it a title and today's date.

2. Receive disclosure document.  Take a quiz on it.  If you have extra time, start filling in the VIP form.

3. Create a headline for a true story about you.  -- Kept for next time.

4. Receive the me-bag assignment.

5. Learn about a published author.  Today our spot-lighted author will be Christopher Paolini -- Moved to next time, January 19. 

6.  If extra time, get acquainted with the classroom.

Inspiration

Goodreads

Quote of the Day from Goodreads on January 12, 2012: "Don't loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club."
-Jack London
The author of The Call of the Wild was born on this day in 1876.

Links of Interest

http://todaysteenwriter.com/

Dear John

  Dear John,

I  want  a  man  who  knows  what  love  is  all  about.  You are  generous,  kind,  thoughtful.  People  who  are  not  like  you  admit  to  being  useless  and  inferior.  You  have  ruined  me  for  other  men.  I  yearn  for  you.  I  have  no  feelings  whatsoever  when  we  are  apart.  I  can  be forever  happy.   Will  you  let  me  be  yours?   Gloria

 

Dear John,

I  want  a  man  who  knows  what  love  is.  All  about  you are  generous,  kind,  thoughtful  people  who  are  not  like  you. Admit  to  being  useless  and  inferior.  You  have  ruined  me.  For  other  men  I  yearn.  For  you  I  have  no  feelings  whatsoever.   When  we  are  apart  I  can  be forever  happy.   Will  you  let  me  be?  Yours,   Gloria

Poetry

from Joe Anson

During a 9th grade discussion about the similarities, differences, advantages, and disadvantages of poetry and prose, a student had this to say:

“Poetry is a testament of a conscious effort on an individual’s part to make structure and beauty out of chaos. Poems have rhythm, rhyme, depth, and usually a profound illuminating thought about our world.”

Picture Prompts -- Children's Books?

Topsy-Turvy

Respond in your composition book to the picture prompt.  If you are absent, here is the optical illusion.  You need to look at it right side up and upside down.

http://thedabbler.co.uk/2010/12/gustave-verbeek-%E2%80%93-the-upside-down-cartoonist/

See the above website for a whole comic strip of topsy-turvy pictures that tell a story.

Quote to think (and write) about

from Goodreads Quote of the Day: "Never laugh at live dragons."  -J.R.R. Tolkien