Magic! and Observing!

What other item could depict a life in just a few photos?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theprotojournalist/2013/12/26/211664418/1-000-words-the-wheels-of-life

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Prompt:  Picture all the ornaments on your Christmas tree.  Which one would you be?  Describe it and write about why that is the one you would be,  or base a story on it.

Attend the Charity Basketball Games.

Those who stayed completed a Christmas poetry activity for extra credit.

 Thursday – Friday without CAVE Time

     1^s Lunch                                          2^nd Lunch                                                                 

A1/ B5	8:15-9:40		A1/ B5	8:15-9:40	85 minutes
A2/B6	9:45-11:15		A2/ B6	9:45-11:15	90 minutes
Lunch	11:15-11:45		A3/ B7	11:20-12:45	85 minutes
A3/ B7	11:50-1:15		Lunch	12:45-1:15	30 minutes
A4 /B8	1:20-2:45		A4/B8	1:20-2:45	85 minutes

Updated 8/20/2013

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Happy Week Before Christmas Break!

Prompt:  You will receive three candies.  Describe one or more of them  as thoroughly as possible.  

https://jellybelly.com/info/funstuff/Flavor_Guides


2.  Students wrote (in their notebooks) a lead (beginning) for a story about the picture they viewed on the overhead.

Respond to this picture with a lead for a story based on it.   A lead is the beginning of the story.

Leads 

1. About Leads --
Students received a tape-in about leads for their notebooks.

"Good writers sweat their leads." -- Nancy Atwell

The lead is critical because it: (a) sets the tone, (b) determines the content and direction of the piece, (c) establishes the voice and verb tense, (d) beguiles -- or doesn't -- the potential reader."

It's a good idea to "start your story in the story." Often you've already written a good lead, but it is buried in the story. Richard Peck (famous author for young adults and children) recommends writing your story, then cutting off about the first two pages.

Three types of narrative leads:
1. action
2. dialogue
3. reaction or thought

"Much of a writer's work is to generate options and make deliberate choices."
-- Atwell and Dorsey

"A lead you love will fuel you as a writer."

A sample GREAT lead from our class:
Ring, Ring. “Will you send Tori down to the office,” the loud speaker said. As I walk down the hall hoping they have the wrong Tori, “I didn’t do anything today,” I thought to myself. When it hit me – Paul’s MRI was today – my pace quickened along with my heartbeat. (Tori 9/07)

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

Titles 

“Much of a writer’s work is to
generate options
and make deliberate choices.”
--Atwell and Dorsey

Some Thoughts on Titles
-- Students often select titles that are
Labels – “When I Tried Out for The Wizard of Oz”
“My Dog”
or Clichés – “The Best Christmas Ever,”
“The Winning Goal”

-- Look for a word or phrase in your writing that
sums up your story or essay.
(and/or) Generate other ideas for the title.
• Discard it if it is too misleading.
• Discard it if it is cliché.
• Discard it if it is just a label.

-- Sometimes you can tweak a tired title to tantalize:
“Dorothy, the Wizard, and Me”
“My Life as a Dog” (I haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but it does have an intriguing title.)
“The Best Misery”
“The Losing Goal”

--Effective titles tend to be intriguing, memorable, distinct, deliberate.

-- Consider the theme of the piece when selecting a title.

--You may begin with a title or (more often) not select a title until the piece is otherwise finished and polished.

Computer Lab 211

Reindeer

Friday, December 13, 2013

Happy Lucky Friday the 13th!   








Prompt: 

Answer the above question and then answer these: What genre would it be?  Write a blurb  (one of those brief introductions to the story) for the back of the book, and at least one praise from a famous author or author person for the book. 

________________________

Describing a Character

a voluptuary under the horrors of digestion

We worked in the computer lab on short stories/memoirs.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Emergency child's book?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

1.  Pick a "paint chip."  Describe your color.  What things are or could be that color?  Pick one thing and describe it thoroughly.  Describe the item so well that the reader could "see" it without actually seeing it.

2. Share.

3.  Examples of description: Gary Soto and Gary Paulsen

Examples of Effective Description

3.  Shells!

Helmet shell -- description from George Hillocks  
about eight inches long
nearly six inches in diameter at the widest point
tapers down gradually from the widest point for a couple of inches and then drops precipitously to a curlicue-like tai
At the opposite end, the whorls gradually increase in size form the tiny innermost ones to the large, most recent growths.
The outside is covered with smooth wrinkles, and there are regular protrusions around the top of the outer whorl.

Colors:
fudge ripple
caramel sauce
butterscotch
shadow
beaver
wet sand
vanilla - chocolate twist

4. Qualities/Traits of an Effective Memoir

• enough detail
• sensory detail
• descriptive words
• similes and metaphors
• (emotions)
• length is not too long and not too short
• effective titles
• what else? 

After you write a draft, use you ARMS
Add
Remove
Move
Substitute

Use your eyes and ears to revise.


5. Work on your memoir or short story.

Inside the seashells were iridescent, shining with the colors of the ocean. Blues swirled with greens and shone prettily in the early morning sun.

robertgreen described this, November 9, 2013.

http://www.descriptionari.com/describe/seashells/

Later

Monday, February 25, 2013  fruit animals

Monday, February 4, 2013 Minimal Day  optical illusion

Monday, December 9, 2013

1. Prompt:  Something is hiding behind this tree. What is it and why is it hiding?

2. Dialogue

      Writing a script to develop dialogue

Creating a Scene to Create Dialogue for a Short Story or Memoir [This scene took place last summer on 63rd Street under the El on a Friday afternoon.  My friends and I walked down the street.  We heard a siren and we went out into the street to see what was up.  All of a sudden, a car whipped out of Drexel Avenue and turned to come at us.  But it was going all over the street.  The next thing we saw was a cop car with lights blinking, siren going.  The car was running away, going all over the place.] HANK: [jumping out of the way] Hey, get out of the street! Look out! That driver  crazy! GERALD:  Watch out!  He coming at us! SNAKE:  We outta here. [The car slammed into one of the posts for the El. Blam!  Big crash. The cop car stops about 40 feet behind the crashed car. A cop jumped out with is gun drawn.  He crept nearer to the crashed car.  The cop looked at us.] COP:  You kids, get outta here.  This guy has a gun.  He isn’t afraid to use it. HANK:  He look dead from here. COP: What is he doing? HANK: Ain’t doin’ nothin’ ‘cept bleedin’ COP:  Is he bleeding bad? HANK:  Yeah.  Look like his face hit the windshield. COP:  Okay.  You keep an eye on him from there. Yell if he moves. [The cop crept to the side of the car.  He stood up slowly with his gun pointed at the dude’s head. . . . ] Example adapted from George Hillocks, Jr.  Narrative Writing

3. Computer lab 223: Work on your short story or memoir.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Announcements and Reminders:

1.  Today's Prompt:  You just got $1,000.  Where would you go?  Who would you meet?  What would you buy? 2.  Looking at memoirs. 3.  Working on a memoir or a short story.

If you were absent:

If you have extra time, write letters to Santa to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. 

Michael Vey Assembly on Friday, December 6

For more information, download this document;
Dec 6 Assembly.pdf

Skyward Outage

I am continuing to grade student work, but with the Skyward outage, do not know when I will be able to update grades.  Like you, I will be busy with family activities over Thanksgiving, so will try to find a time when my schedule and Skyward availability mesh!

Textual Analysis of Words/Sentences in Popular Series

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/11/hunger_games_catching_fire_a_textual_analysis_of_suzanne_collins_novels.html

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: Child's book? Newsletter? Fiction and nonfiction Have a Beautiful Thanksgiving!

Today's Prompt:  

Imagine that you are a stranger (someone you don't know) who has been invited to spend Thanksgiving with your family. Write from that person's point of view about what he or she sees, hears, etc.  

Finish your Thank You!  Hand it in on Kidblog. 
Make sure your name is on it!!!!!
 You may also print a hard copy to deliver to someone.

To post your Thank You's, log in to the Thank You Blog on Kidblog.  The password is [ask me or see the post on Kidblog.]   
Then create a new post with your thank you.  Make it creative, lovely, meaningful!  It can be to someone near or far, living or dead, real or not. 

Make sure your name is on it!!!!!

__________________

If you have extra time, write letters to Santa to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Prompt:   Write to another from the list of prompts in your composition book.



A rubric for our school newsletter

Could include a survey 
Could include an interview
Could use a rhetorical question 

At least one paragraph! 
Include background  -- Make it clear what you are talking about!
What, Who, Where, When,  Why, How 
Interesting!   
Title
Author -- Byline 
Edited carefully 

Due November 22 -- today!

Sample:  http://cavewriting2010b1.pbworks.com/w/page/34385746/Caveman-NewsWiki-January-2011

Write for our "school magazine." 
Have you been invited to our newsletter blog on Google?

Then --
Write a creative, lovely, sincere thank you to someone near or far, living or dead,  real or fictional.

To post your Thank You's, log in to the Thank You Blog on Kidblog.  The password is [ask me or see the post on Kidblog.]   Then create a new post with your thank you.  Make it creative, lovely, meaningful!  It can be to someone near or far, living or dead, real or not. 

http://kidblog.org/MsDorseysWriters/

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Prompt:  Briefly rewrite a classic story from the point of view of the "bad guy/antagonist/villain."  This could be from a fairy tale, legend, myth, etc.

Here is an example:

  

 Snow White from the point of view of the Queen

            I’d been a single woman for far too long when I met Stephan.   Oh, I was known as a great beauty – the fairest of them all (successful careers in acting and modeling) and I’d dated a lot of men, but none of them swept me off my feet  like he did.  After all, he was handsome and kind and King!

  His daughter Snow White – he doted on her – Yes I did feel a little jealous, but I loved the child as a daughter  except she could certainly be irritating

always singing into  wells – you know that echoing sound – grates on the nerves

and when you have a lot of birds gathering around --  you know what birds leave behind

After Stephen died,  I tried to be the best mother I could to little Snow White – didn’t want her growing up a spoiled princess – had her do some chores around the house –

She did grow more and more beautiful with each passing year –

Had huntsman take her for a healthy outing in the woods – apparently when I told him it would be good for her heart – he thought I’d said to cut out her heart – how can a man be so stupid?

she ran away –

It was because I’d provided opportunities for her to clean and cook in the castle that she was able to get a job working for the seven dwarves.

Duh. . . I said "good for her heart,
"not "cut out her heart"!

I knew that men aren’t all that good at grocery shopping, and they never remember to get fruits and vegetables, so I decided to take her some apples which were just ripe. . .

I figured she would still be frightened of me because of the heart misunderstanding, 

so I dressed in a disguise – an old-woman costume from my acting days.

She ate so fast she choked. I tried the Heimlich maneuver. It didn’t work, but when that prince came along and kissed her, she gasped.  I would have too if he’d kissed me --and the piece came loose.

_________________________________________________________
Priorities:
#1 Child's Book if not completely finished and turned in
#2 Newsletter article -- due Friday
#3 Thank you due next Tuesday
#4 Beginnings of a fictional story and a nonfiction/memoir/personal narrative due December 5.


Some of you are doing GREAT on your newspaper articles!!!!!  I can't wait to see the rest!

To post your Thank You's, log in to the Thank You Blog on Kidblog.  The password is [ask me or see the post on Kidblog.]   Then create a new post with your thank you.  Make it creative, lovely, meaningful!  It can be to someone near or far, living or dead, real or not. 

Because You are Creative. . .

. . . here is contest you could enter:


https://www.facebook.com/IfYouGiveBooks/app_435468303230358

Monday, November 18, 2013

Prompt: Last week we celebrated Veteran's Day.  Write anything you wish that has to do with Veterans or Patriotism or War or the Military or Gratitude or . . . . 



Create a rubric for our school newsletter.
What should we expect?

Could include a survey 
Could include an interview
Could use a rhetorical question 

At least one paragraph! 
Include background  -- Make it clear what you are talking about!
What, Who, Where, When,  Why, How 
Interesting!   
Title
Author -- Byline 
Edited carefully 






What do you need to do to finish them? 
Due November 22.

Sample:  http://cavewriting2010b1.pbworks.com/w/page/34385746/Caveman-NewsWiki-January-2011

Write for our "school magazine." 
http://kidblog.org/MsDorseysWriters/


Be thinking about -- 
someone you'd like to write a thank-you to
        near or far, living or dead, real or fictional 

A true story you'd like to write -- an episode from your life
A fictional story you'd like to write 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Prompt:  Choose one from your list.  
Then, if you are finished early, write about an ORANGE or something somehow related to it.




Finish up and turn in remaining children's books.
If you have time and need to, finish up your responses to the scary story assignment and/or the Reflections prompt: Believe, Dream, Inspire.

Write for our "school magazine."


http://kidblog.org/MsDorseysWriters/

New Contest Sponsored by Mrs. John of Lab 211

There is a new writing contest starting. The MyAccess prompt is titled "Favorite Part of the Holiday Season." It is available to all students. 
The writing contest rules are:  
the deadline is midnight, Friday, December 13. 
The essay cannot be more than 2000 words.
Writing must conform to accepted grammar and writing format practices.
MyAccess scores will not be the deciding factor in determining winners.

"Favorite Part of the Holiday Season"

Walk and Write -- Our School

Classrooms:
Computer Labs
      Scary Story Contest?
MyAccess
Edmodo
Testing on Mastery Connect
History
watching videos in class
music in classes
Science
       Mr. Dickerson's first responders, Mr. Dickerson
Lockers
  How are they assigned?
 How many students actually use their lockers?
  Can administrators look in your locker?
  What are the most fun ways to decorate lockers?
(Clubs, extra-curricular?)
Media Center?
     Contests?  Battle of the Books?
     What's available besides checking out books?
CTE
    What do students make?  What are the most advanced projects?
     Are there injuries?  What sorts?  How many?
Home Ec
Lunchroom -- What's it like to be a lunch lady?
Office
      How many students do you see a day for discipline problems?
      What else do you do?
Counseling
Janitors -- Custodians
Music program:  orchestra, choir, band
Theater program
      What's coming up?
P.E.  -- gyms and fields
Math
  How hard is it?
  How do the teachers help students who struggle with math?
The New Addition
 
Community

Friday, November 8, 2013

Today's Google Doodle:  Take the Rorschach test!  

Discuss NaNoWriMo
Link to Snoopy Cartoon:  Friday, January 18, 2013

Your literary answers to the Reflections prompt are due today!

1. Prompt:  Make a story about at least four people in the class.  This is not the me-bag assignment.  Do the opposite.   Must contain at least one explosion.  Be nice!  Title must be "Opposite."

News Magazine  brainstorming  Blog?
2.  Walk and Write
Collecting memories, thoughts, questions

I am on a Walk and Write Fieldtrip.
Most of this is done in absolute silence!
I will be quiet and respectful of the classes going on.
I will save most of the talking until I get back to my own classroom.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Prompt:   Good News!  Make up a headline that you would just love to read in the Newspaper.  Write the article that goes with it.  

Ms. John extended your deadline for your scary stories until Friday.  Do any revisions, additions, etc. by then! 


3. Work on an entry for the PTSA Reflections Contest: 

Believe, Dream, Inspire.

Those are due to the PTA (turn in at the front office) by 

November 8.

If you want to enter the contest, pick up the forms from the school office and prepare your entry.
Your literary answers to this prompt are  due in our class on November 8.  

http://kidblog.org/MsDorseysWriters/

Prompt: A Book Dedication

Brian P. Cleary

If you were publishing a book tomorrow, to whom would you dedicate it, and why?

November 4, 2013

1. Prompt:  Pick one or more of the quotes to write about.

Quotes for Believe, Dream, Inspire

2. Listen to the rest of the Ray Bradbury story, "The Ravine."
We have listened to 20:00 on the radio program of "The Ravine" by Ray Bradbury.  We'll finish listening today.

Ms. John extended your deadline for your scary stories until Friday.  Do any revisions, additions, etc. by then! 


3. Work on an entry for the PTSA Reflections Contest: Believe, Dream, Inspire.

Those are due to the PTA (turn in at the front office) by November 8.

http://kidblog.org/MsDorseysWriters/

It's November!

Happy Halloween! What Cool Kids!