Tuesday, February 1

Bell-Ringer: Write in response to the painting prompt by Brian Kershisnik: Flight Practice with Instruction 

Brian Kershisnik: Flight Practice with Instruction

Computer Lab 223

Directions for February 1:

Read this:

Some Tips for Everyone on Memoir  for B3

Some Tips on Memoir for Everyone for B4 

 See these same directions on the wiki (perhaps with something added).  

Then

1. If you haven't written your three new leads for your memoir, and if they are not at the top of the page, complete that assignment.
2. Carefully revise and edit your memoir.  Look for suggestions from Ms. Dorsey on your page or in a comment box.  Revision and Editing Guidelines
3. If you have extra time, begin writing a fictional story. Fill out the chart before you write your story.  You may use one you have already written and paste it on your Fiction page.  You will still fill in the chart.   See the folder for fiction in the Navigator box to the right, and find your own page by first name, alphabetically arranged. 

Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Bell-Ringer: Picture Prompt

B3 write to this prompt:

Picture Prompt -- Magritte La Voix. . .

B4 write to this prompt:

Picture Prompt A

Me-Bags
More about Memoirs with Samples -- "Redwoods" and "Mouse Hunt"

Computer Lab 212
Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Poem if not done.
Work on Memoir -- Create a draft of the whole story (This doesn't have to be polished, but just as good as you can get it by the end of class.) By the way, if you start a story and it isn't working, begin a new one.

October 28, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer:  Students wrote about a painting they were shown -- Charles Burchfield's The Sphinx and the Milky-Way.

2.  We read the rest of the stories in the computer writing lab.

3.  If extra time, -- Dogzilla! and/or student-made Mad-Libs.

 image found at ddreesart.wordpress.com

October 12, 2010

Reminder (as if you needed it!):  No school this Thursday and Friday.  Do something fun and come back safe and sound!

1. Bell-Ringer: Finish Wonderful Words -- They are on a poster in the classroom.

2. Check Composition Books -- Also available next class time.

3.  Mini-lesson on titles:  Memorable, Distinct, Intriguing, Deliberate  -- in your composition book.
4. Ms. Dorsey shared a scary story about the students in this class.  Parents, I'm sorry if they have nightmares! : ) 

5. Computer Lab:  Especially focus on scary stories -- Due October 22.  Next computer labs: October 18, 20.
We also looked at the editing and revising pages, and typed in these three problems to check for:
1. Obvious stuff
2. For every word that you're not absolutely certain how the spell it, look it up.
3.  Capitalize titles:  first word, last word, all important words.

May 19, 2008

May 19, 2008
Students received a CD, bookmark, and handout about the author who will be visiting on Friday.

Students went into the computer lab to type up their class finals.

Remember to hand in the class final, and, if you haven't yet, turn in your tall tale and your underland story.

On Wednesday, come dressed to go outside and to sit on the ground.

February 21, 2008

February 21, 2008
Students wrote a poem in response to the picture on the overhead (a painting).
It should be at least 4 lines.
It may or may not rhyme.
If you were absent, find a painting that intrigues you (in a book, on the Internet, etc.) and write a poem about it, meeting the above requirements, or use the painting we did by viewing it at ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/wars_conflict/art/art_frontline_03.shtml

1. Computer Lab
We went to the computer lab today. Students who hadn't done it yet prepared their covers for their "creativity collage" packets.
Students did a Poetry Web Search. Each student was to find three poems they liked, place them on a document in Word, and print them up. See below.

2. If we had time, we read more from Love That Dog.

Creative Writing Class -- Poetry Web Search
Your mission is to find at least three poems you like by going to any of the following websites.
Copy poems you like into a Word document, and select three to print. Make sure your name and period are one the printed page(s). Save your document in your folder under
[your last name]poems.

Poetry Links
Type these exactly.
1. http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/poemiddle.htm
2. http://www.poetry4kids.com/links
3. http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html
4. http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html
5. http://www.kristinegeorge.com/swimming_upstream.html
6. http://www.poetryamerica.com/teen-poetry-contest.asp

February 14, 2008

February 14, 2008
Students received progress reports. These are to be returned for required points and extra credit by February 21.
Students had an opportunity to use the computer lab.
They wrote Thank-you notes to Mrs. Lyon, our guest speaker last time.
Students received back work on their "creativity collages" to organize.

Teams of students posted some of our work for display.
We also shared hot chocolate and lots of yummy candy! Thanks!

Special Note: If you're interested in Fantasy Writer's Club (also known as FWC or the Wyrms Tongue Society) meets on Tuesdays after school.

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.

October 29, 2007

October 29, 2007
1. The teacher shared a short reading from Gary Soto’s A Summer Life, from the story “The Taps.” Soto’s writing provides examples of using description and imagery in a short story.
“A passenger train the color of spoons rushed by.”
“The asphalt was a soft, blackish river on which cars traveled, windows down, the passengers soaked in sweat.”
“A man the color of a sparrow walked near the tracks.”

2. Students went to the computer writing lab to type their scary stories. If you were absent, ask for the check list for your story.

Short Story Check
Is the lead the most effective it can be?
Is my main character well-enough developed?
Is there an interesting conflict?
Is the setting clear and well-described?
Did I include suspense?
Is the ending effective? (Does it feel like an ending, and does it leave the reading thinking or feeling or both?)

Have I checked for complete and effective sentences?
Have I divided my story into paragraphs?
Have I used the best words I could?
Have I used vivid action verbs?
Have I checked spelling?
Have I checked punctuation?

Coming: Wednesday we will share the stories. Students may finish up typing their stories if needed.

September 4

Students taped into their notebooks a prompt for writing about their "writing process." They told in pictures and/or drawings about the process they go through when they write.

We went to the computer lab so each student could type up a personal narrative (a story about an experience of his or her own).