Friday, August 30, 2013

1.  If you haven't yet, hand in your disclosure signatures sheet with the VIP sheet on the back filled out.  
     All disclosures are due by the end of this week. 

You will have a substitute teacher, since I will be recovering from knee surgery.


2. A Bevy of Prompts 

• Today you are going to experience a variety of prompts.    
• The substitute will give you five to ten minutes to work on each.  
• You may complete the prompts in any order.
• Write each new prompt on the next page of your notebook.  
• Do as much as you can in the time allotted for each, then be willing to move on to the next one.  
• The substitute will give you instructions about how you will share each piece of writing. 

__________________________________
A Bevy of Prompts:

April 3 -- Prompt 1

 April 3 -- Prompt 2

April 3 -- Prompt 3

April 3 -- Prompt 4

April 3 -- Prompt 5

April 3 -- Prompt 6

April 3 -- Prompt 7

April 3 -- Prompt 8

April 3 -- Prompt 9

Sharing

Before you share, tell the people you are sharing with which prompt you are responding to.

1:  Use your appointment clocks and pair share.  -- Use your two o'clock appointment.

     If you do not have an appointment, find someone else who does not until everyone is paired.  If you are still left over, join a group of three. 

2:  Get together with your six o'clock appointment, then find another pair of students to join.  

If you do not have an appointment, find someone else who does not until everyone is paired.  If you are still left over, join a group of three. 

3.  Three volunteers will share what they have written.

4.   Use your appointment clocks and pair share.  -- Use your eight  o'clock appointment.

     If you do not have an appointment, find someone else who does not until everyone is paired.  If you are still left over, join a group of three. 

5.  The teacher will draw names for three students who will share. 

6.  Get together with your twelve o'clock  appointment, then find another pair of students to join.  

If you do not have an appointment, find someone else who does not until everyone is paired.  If you are still left over, join a group of three. 

7.  The teacher will draw names for three students who will share. 

8.  Three volunteers will share what they have written.

The Railway Children

The Railway Children

When we climbed the slopes of the cutting
We were eye-level with the white cups
Of the telegraph poles and the sizzling wires.

Like a lovely freehand they curved for miles
East and miles west beyond us, sagging
Under their burden of swallows.

We were small and thought we knew nothing
Worth knowing. We thought words travelled the wires
In the shiny pouches of raindrops,

Each one seeded full with the light
Of the sky, the gleam of the lines, and ourselves
So infinitesimally scaled

We could stream through the eye of a needle.

Seamus Heaney (b. 1939)

Mr. Heaney died August 30, 2013.

In 2008, Heaney told All Thing Considered that "I have always thought of poems as stepping stones in one's own sense of oneself. Every now and again, you write a poem that gives you self-respect and steadies your going a little bit farther out in the stream. At the same time, you have to conjure the next stepping stone because the stream, we hope, keeps flowing."

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

1.  If you haven't yet, hand in your disclosure signatures sheet with the VIP sheet on the back filled out.  
     All disclosures are due by the end of this week. 

2.  Prompt:  Write about one of these photos.  

3.  Me-Bags

4.  More on Writing Bad Fiction 
See the examples "The Redwoods" and "Mouse Alert." http://cavemanenglish.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/52271632/D20387-01TraitsLessonsIdeas.pdf

5. a. Write a brief piece of "bad" fiction or nonfiction (memoir).  Select a subject that you could make better. 
5. b.  Now, make it better! 

   

Young Writers

http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/community/novel-trends/year-old-pens-another-novel/article_87a502f8-0c14-11e3-9663-001a4bcf887a.html

One Word Story

http://www.reading.org/general/Publications/blog/engage/engage-single-post/engage/2013/10/15/moo-moo-moo-writing-a-single-word-story#.Ul3lw5S9Xa1

Monday, August 26, 2014

• Pick up your composition book, or pull it out of your backpack. 
• Make sure you have your name and class period on the cover of your composition book.

1. Picture Prompt:  In your composition book or on a half-sheet of lined paper, write a response to the video  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.  
You could write about National Parks, camping, travel, the music you're hearing,  the beauty or value of nature --  anything you see or hear or feel as you watch. 

2. Capitalization lesson

3.  Me-Bags

4.  What makes a Bad Story?


5.  (if time)  Writing Your Own Stories 
Did not do #5

Bad Beginnings

Did share the last two bad beginnings.

Writing Your Own Stories

Read what the author of Trash Can Days has to say about writing your own stories.

http://www.reading.org/general/Publications/blog/engage/engage-single-post/engage/2013/08/22/nobodys-story-is-boring-write-yours

Capitalization

What should you capitalize? 

• beginnings of sentences
• the pronoun "I"
• proper names/proper nouns  (for example: states, countries, cities)

(This is a link to more information:)

Some Common Confusions About Capitalization 

What about

1. school subjects?

2. seasons?

3. directions on the compass?

4. mom, dad, grandma, uncle, etc. 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Find your assigned seat.


1. Picture Prompt:  In your composition book or on a half-sheet of lined paper, 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. editing  

Capitalization

3. me-bags
take notes!

4. prompt -- my writing process

Model: Ms. Dorsey's Writing Process

5.  Making Appointments  

Teacher notes:  Story Based on Me-Bag Notes

Gail Carson Levine An Author's Blog

Silent conversation:  What sorts of things do people write?  What genres could you write in?  Name a really well-written book -- one you've loved reading.  

   

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Welcome to a new school year and a new class!

1a. Self-Starter:   On a half-sheet of lined paper, 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. 

1b.  If you haven't filled out a sticky note for your birthday, do it, please. 

2. Practice lining up for school evacuation. 

Receive folder/computer number.

3. Receive disclosure document.  Take a quiz on it.  If you have extra time, start filling in the VIP form.
3b. Also receive donation slip and list of supplies (if you don't already have it).

3. Receive the me-bag assignment.

     Ms. Dorsey will demonstrate.

Pick one of the options from the post linked below, and use it as the beginning of a story: 

Prompts from Gale Carson Levine

Making Appointments

 Making Appointments   

1.  On one of the last pages of your notebook, draw a big clock face with just the numbers -- no hands.   It should fill  a whole page.
2. Move around the classroom to make "appointments" with other students. 
• Find one other student and pick a time on the clock face.  
• Near that number on the clock face, you will write your name on his or her clock and he or she will write his or her name on your clock. 
• Move on to another student and do the same thing with him or her.   
• Keep making appointments until all numbers have been used.   For each number on the clock you will have an "appointment"  with  one other student.

Life Instructions

Create your own life instructions.  What four rules would be most important to you?

Love That Boy

Love That Boy by Walter Dean Meyers

Love that boy,
like a rabbit loves to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
"Hey there, son!"

He walk like his Grandpa,
Grins like his Uncle Ben.
I said he walk like his Grandpa,
And grins like his Uncle Ben.
Grins when he’s happy,
When he sad, he grins again.

His mama like to hold him,
Like to feed him cherry pie.
I said his mama like to hold him.
Like to feed him that cherry pie.
She can have him now,
I’ll get him by and by

He got long roads to walk down
Before the setting sun.
I said he got a long, long road to walk down
Before the setting sun.
He’ll be a long stride walker,
And a good man before he done.
 ___________________________
http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/lovethat.htm

Punctuating Conversation I

From Nancie Atwell, Lessons That Change Writers
Quotation marks began in ancient Greek texts as two curved lines that represented the lips of a person speaking.  One curved line was placed at the beginning, as if the writer were saying, "I'm telling you something someone else said."  The other curved line came at the end, to say, "I've finished writing the words that came out of the other person's mouth."

Rules to Remember

• Quotation marks are placed before the first word of a quote and after the punctuation that follows the last word.

EX.  The teacher said, "In this class there will be no talking, chewing, breathing, unnecessary eye movements, or tap dancing."

• If a sentence that includes a quotation is a question or exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks. 

•  A quoted remark begins with a capital letter: it's the speaker's first word.

EX.  "I questioned, "Are you up on the furniture again, you bad dog?"  She was driving me crazy.  I hollered, "Get down now!"

• A quote is separated from the "he said" part or explanatory phrase with a comma OR a question mark OR an exclamation point, but never with a period.  A period would create two sentences and a full stop.  

EX.   "I just finished reading I Am the Cheese," she remarked. 

         "So what did you think of it?" I asked. 

         "It was excellent!"  she effused. 

         I agreed, "I loved it, too."

Note:  The punctuation that follows a quoted remark belongs inside the closing quotation marks.  It's part of the sentence and shows how the speaker said what he or she said.  Also note that the first word of the explanatory phrase is not capitalized when it follows the quote:  "Beggin' Strips® are my favorite snack," she said.  

• In writing dialogue -- two or more people having a conversation -- begin a new paragraph each time you alternate or change speakers. 

EX.  

     "I wish today were Friday," she said.  "I've been looking forward to it for months now."
     "How come?" he asked.
     "Because finally, finally, I'm supposed to get my braces taken off.  At least that's what my orthodontist promised."

___________________________________
Another way of putting it: (Handout)

The Low-Down on Punctuating Dialogue
Using quotation marks mini-lesson

Rules: Quotation Marks and Punctuation

• Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of a direct quotation. Do not use them, however, to set off an indirect quotation.
  
  
  • Bob said, "I doubled my money in the stock market last month!"
  • Bob lied about doubling his money in the stock market last month.
• Punctuate a speaker's words with a comma, question mark, or exclamation point inside the quotation.
  
  
  • Bob cried, "I'm ruined!"
  • Bob wondered, "Am I ruined?"
  • "I'm happier than Lenny at a petting zoo," Bob's enemy said.
  •  
• Place a comma after explanatory words (he said, for example)
• In dialogue, begin a new paragraph each time the speaker changes and use a separate set of quotation marks.
• Use single quotation marks when using quotation marks inside of quotation marks.
  
  
  • He said, "I know she said, 'Let's go to the Dominican Republic, this summer,' but I'd rather go to Hawaii."
• Put a colon or semicolon outside the closing quotation mark
  
  
  • Here are things "not to do": thing 1, thing 2, thing 3.
• If a sentence that includes a quotation is a question or exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks. 

__________________________________________________

Punctuating Conversation II

Self-Starter:  Punctuating dialogue

Punctuate these statements or bits of conversation (dialogue):

1.   The teacher said   In this class there will be no talking, chewing, breathing, unnecessary eye movements, or tap dancing

2.  I questioned   Are you up on the furniture again  you bad dog  Get down now

3.  I just finished reading The Lost Hero   she remarked

     So what did you think of it    I asked

     It was excellent    she exclaimed

     I agreed    I loved it too 

4.  I wish today were Friday     she said     I’ve been looking forward to it for months now

     How come   he asked

     Because finally I’m supposed to get my braces taken off.   At least that’s what my orthodontist promised

Checking Punctuating Dialogue

__________________________________________

The Low-Down on Punctuating Dialogue
Using quotation marks mini-lesson

Rules: Quotation Marks and Punctuation

• Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of a direct quotation. Do not use them, however, to set off an indirect quotation.
  
  
  • Bob said, "I doubled my money in the stock market last month!"
  • Bob lied about doubling his money in the stock market last month.
• Punctuate a speaker's words with a comma, question mark, or exclamation point inside the quotation.
  
  
  • Bob cried, "I'm ruined!"
  • Bob wondered, "Am I ruined?"
  • "I'm happier than Lenny at a petting zoo," Bob's enemy said.
  •  
• Place a comma after explanatory words (he said, for example)
• In dialogue, begin a new paragraph each time the speaker changes and use a separate set of quotation marks.
• Use single quotation marks when using quotation marks inside of quotation marks.
  
  
  • He said, "I know she said, 'Let's go to the Dominican Republic, this summer,' but I'd rather go to Hawaii."
• Put a colon or semicolon outside the closing quotation mark
  
  
  • Here are things "not to do": thing 1, thing 2, thing 3.
• If a sentence that includes a quotation is a question or exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks. 

Poetry!

Ms. Dorsey's Writing Process

My Writing Process   by Ms. Dorsey   

     I have a love-hate relationship with writing.  I love it, and I love it when I come up with a finished product that makes me feel proud.  I hate it because it is so very hard.

     I think I spend my whole life prewriting – at least except for when I am actually writing.  I’m constantly noticing things that I could write about.  When I’m smart, I write them down, like the fascinating fact I heard on the radio on the way to work, or a reminder that I saw the most amazing double rainbow.  Also, when I’m going to write, I read a lot.

     My favorite way to write is on the computer because it makes revising and editing so much easier.  I do have a very favorite pen – actually three of the same type of pen, and I have journal that’s just the right size, and shape, and the paper in it feels just right.

       I used to be the writer with the bag of M ‘n M’s.  I just can’t do that anymore, and I actually don’t like M ‘n M’s as much as I used to.  Maybe I spent too much time writing! : )

      One of my favorite places to write is the school after everyone else has gone home (including the other teachers because if they’re here, I visit instead).   Another place I like to write is in my bedroom.  I have a great backrest that I use when I write lying on my bed, and I do have a very comfortable bed.  I’d like to spend more time writing on beaches and in mountain meadows, but just doesn’t happen very often. 

         Revision is my weakness.  I tend to skip to editing, and not do as much revision as I should.  Because I’m usually working on the computer, I don’t count drafts, but I do put in a lot of time on the things I write.

         How I edit depends on the purpose and audience of the piece.   Sometimes I get overly confident, and don’t ask anyone else to look at a piece until I’ve published it.  When I do that, I usually end up at least a little embarrassed.  I am something of an expert on grammar, but another set of eyes is always helpful. 

         As a teacher, most of my publishing happens when I teach the lessons I’ve prepared, and hand out the examples I’ve prepared. I’m also a new and already addicted blogger.  Check out our class blog at cavewriting.blogspot.com.  

This is something like my dream spot to write -- a cabin on a lake in the mountains.

Some Common Confusions About Capitalization

Some Common Confusions About Capitalization: 
What about

1. school subjects?

• School subjects such math and social studies, do not take capitals.
• English is capitalized because it it the name of a language.  That applies to Spanish, French, and German, too. 
• Specific courses, such as Math 7, History 101, or Earth Science 220 are capitalized. 
•   Things to Notice:  
• Is there a number added to the subject?  
•  Is it very, very specific?  For instance, instead of history, it might be History of the American West.  

2. seasons?
The general rule is, don't.  


3. directions on the compass?
Don't unless you are referring to a specific place or region: the Northeast, the Wild West, Northern Utah.
4. mom, dad, grandma, uncle, etc. 
Capitalize only if you are using the word add to or in  place of the person's name.

Don't:  my uncle, our dad,  her grandma
Do: my Uncle Pete, her Grandma Richardson
Try substituting the person's name in the sentence. If it works, capitalize.

Let's say your mom's name is Mary.
I asked Mom for money.
I asked Mary for money.  (Yes, capitalize Mom.)

I asked my mom for money.
I asked my Mary for money.  (No, don't capitalize mom.) 

What makes a Bad Story?

Things that make a bad story:
No punctuation, No words, No capitalization, incorrect grammar, No entertainment, Typos, No plot, Things are cheesey, Doesn't end, No personality, Get off topic,

Bad Beginnings

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Where “WWW” means “Wretched Writers Welcome”

2013 Contest Winners:

“Don’t know no tunnels hereabout,” said the old-timer, “unless you mean the abandoned subway line that runs from Hanging Hill, under that weird ruined church, beneath the Indian burial ground, past the dilapidated Usher mansion, and out to the old abandoned asylum for the criminally insane where they had all those murders.” — Lawrence Person, Austin, TX 2013


“I told you to wear sensible shoes, but no, your vanity would not allow it!” he yelled at me as if that had something to do with the airplane crashing into the jungle and all the bodies draped in the trees, but it was just the sort of nonsense I was used to from him, making me wish one or the other of us was hanging dead above us, instead of Rodney. — Thor F. Carden, Madison, TN

As the sun dropped below the horizon, the safari guide confirmed the approaching cape buffaloes were herbivores, which calmed everyone in the group, except for Herb, of course. — Ron D Smith, Louisville, KY

http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2013win.html