Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Prompt:  THE STORY!
Part 1:  
   Step A: On strips of paper, write your own ideas for 

• 5 characters --  examples:  a 5 year old child, a daring young firefighter, one of your classmates, a talking zebra  (pink for people)
• 5 settings (place) -- examples: American Fork Junior High School, an abandoned warehouse (blue)
• 5 settings (time) -- examples: after midnight,  in the 1800s, last week   (goldenrod)
• 5 conflicts (problems) -- examples:  an evil villain (who?) is planning to. . . . , ______ is flunking _____  (green)
• 5 objects (any object that could be included in a story) -- examples:  a hairbrush with hair still on it, an ancient mummy, a rock from a distant planet, a bowl of spaghetti  (yellow)

    Step B:  Place your strips into the appropriate bags.  

Reminder of  Story Grammar and writing process.

Most short stories follow this pattern called a Plot Map, Plot 

Diagram, Story Map, Story Grammar


1. Exposition -- introduces the main characters and setting 

and gives any necessary background information.

2. Rising Action -- introduces the problem or problems, then 

builds tension.

3. Climax -- the problem is solved or things somehow 

change.

4. Falling action -- What do the characters do after the 

problem is solved or after there is a major change?

5. Resolution -- What was the end result? 

Part 2:  On your own or with a partner, draw one item from each of the bags and create an outline or  rough draft for a story that uses each of those word strips. 

Part 3:  Discuss the importance of revising and editing.  

   

 Revise and Edit it yourself.

  

Enlist other eyes to look closely at your work.
Required: Have Ms. Dorsey check it before it is printed.

      

Receive grading rubric for books for children.
Schedule and Due Date: 
Today:  Lab 223 -- Work on your Children's Books
February 6: Lab 223
February 12: Lab 223
Febuary 19:  Lab 223  
February 21:  Books Due -- Completed!  

Friday, January 31, 2014

Prompt:  Write a poem, story, reflection, description, informative piece -- anything you wish that you can any way connect to this image.

Present Me-Bags and take notes on them 
Computer Lab 211:  Work on Children's books.
This is a link to our kidblog. Select your name from the drop-down list. Your password is your student number.

Jelly Bean

Oh Jelly Bean,
Looking like a tiny rounded speckled cow
your colors, brown and cream
Excite my taste-buds.
I pop you in my mouth,
Delight in sweetness,
Sweet memories of campfires,
toasting deliciousness.
You are the best of jelly-goodness.
I praise and devour you forever.
      -- Ms. Dorsey

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Announcements and Reminders:  Today is our "field trip" to Legacy Elementary. Dress for the weather and for the walk!  Maybe not quite like this. . .  or like this.

Today’s Agenda Prompt:  Respond to this painting with a story, poem, description, or other format.  Me-Bags Fieldtrip to Legacy to interview the children.  Do NOT lose your interview papers.

If you were absent:

Monday, January 27, 2014

Announcements and Reminders:  Bring a favorite children's book today. On Wednesday we will go to Legacy to interview the children in preparation for creating books for them.  Dress for the weather and the walk.

This is a link to our kidblog.

Today’s Agenda: 1.  Writing Prompt:  Select a prompt from your list of prompts about yourself and your thoughts.  Give it a fitting label and add today's date.  2.  Share Me-Bags and Books 3. Computer Lab 223 to finish posts about your writing process and to create a post for your favorite words.  Title the latter "Favorite Words."  If you get done early, type up your "If I Were In Charge" poem. This is a link to our kidblog. Select your name from the drop-down list. Your password is your student number. Tentative: Computer Lab 223 to write about "My Writing Process." See the instructions here: Your Writing Process Sample: Ms. Dorsey's Writing Process

If you were absent:  See above.

Hopefully, we will be able to use Lab 223 today.
Join class blog and complete assignment about your own writing process. This is a link to our class blog. Select your name from the drop-down list. Your password is your student number.
Tentative: Computer Lab 223 to write about "My Writing Process."
See the instructions here: Your Writing Process
Sample: Ms. Dorsey's Writing Process

Also on Kidblog,  create a post with a list of favorite words.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Announcements and Reminders:  Do not forget to come prepared on the day you present your Me-Bag.  Next time:  Bring a favorite book from your childhood.   We will be going to Legacy on January 29 to interview children in preparation for creating books for them.  Dress that day for the weather and for the walk!  Maybe not quite like this. . .  or like this.

Today’s Agenda: 1. Prompt:  1. Respond to this picture prompt with a poem, story, description, explanation, commentary, or whatever you wish. Label it "Small" and add today's date. http://www.demilked.com/surreal-self-portraits-14-year-old-fiddle-oak/ 2. Share Me-Bags and Take Notes 3. Finish your "If I Were in Charge of the World" poem. 4. About the Children's Book Project       and  Practice Interviews   View some photos from last semester. 5. (if time)  Begin Collecting Favorite words      "Bulbous Bouffant"

If you were absent:  See above.

Qualities and Features of Children’s Books

 Alphabet – based on one subject – guessing

Easy to understand and read

Use big words – a few for fun

Lots of illustrations

Whole page of illustration

Fun or funny – humor

Short sentences – rhymes

Animals, bugs,

Fractured fairy tales – like something familiar with new twist

Alliteration

Word play

Things that can’t happen in real life

The hero is kid

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Announcements and Reminders:  Don't forget your day to present your Me-Bag.

Today’s Agenda: 1.  Prompt:  Use the ideas you collected in your three columns last time as you create an "If I Were in Charge of the World" poem. What bothers you? What do you love or enjoy? What would you change if you could?  [Appointment Clocks] Try them out. 2.  Share Me-Bags and Take Notes            and one or two headlines   3.  Join class blog and complete assignment about your own writing process. This is a link to our class blog.   Select your name from the drop-down list.  Your password is your student number.  Tentative: Computer Lab 223 to write about "My Writing Process."   See the instructions here: Your Writing Process Sample: Ms. Dorsey's Writing Process

If you were absent:

What is "The Writing Process"?  

The Writing Process
Prewriting
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Publishing

This looks really good, but actually revising should come before editing! Do you know way? 

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

To help your writing:  Here is a huge list of adjectives!  http://www.momswhothink.com/reading/list-of-adjectives.html#Adjectives List

http://kidblog.org/MsDorseysWritersSemester2/