Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday Oct 23rd

Today I handed back portfolios to students - some beautiful projects.  I appreciated reading and looking through your work.  Thank you.   This piece of writing was a benchmark, a good place to start.  From here we will get more technical and specific about what and how we want our writing to sound.

We discussed genres, and looked through a lengthy list of what categories there are.  Students should now begin to use this vocabulary when describing their reading.

We moved into finishing off our 'I am the reader/writer' piece.  Students were given a marking rubric, and time to finish their writing.  This time the focus is on voice, pictures, and flow...ensure that your writing appeals to the senses and is easy to understand.  Have someone else read your writing out loud to you so that you can hear (your voice) and see (their face) problems in your writing.

Good copy + rough copy + rubric is due next class - TUESDAY OCT 28th.

Have a nice long weekend!!

Homework:  READ, revise and type 'I am the reader/writer' - due Oct 28th

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tuesday Oct 21st

A short, but very busy block.

Today we were in the library for our first SMART reading session.  We made preliminary connections, predictions and asked a few questions before moving into the text.

The article was split into 3 chunks and students listened and read for particular information each chunk. Students then had an opportunity to share with each other before sharing ideas with the whole group.  At the end of the article students had to do a quickwrite - a text to self connection about the article as a whole.

Today was a good practise session...as we will revisit SMART reading again.

Homework:  READ!!!

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Friday Oct 17th

Today students were introduced to voice, pictures, and flow and began a new piece of writing.  We are writing a creative piece about our journey as readers and writers (the good and not-so-good).  Included in this piece is the goal of appealing to the senses through writing.

We're in the library on Tuesday learning about SMART reading, Thursday we'll finish and polish  'I am the reader/writer'.  The week following we'll get started with our Media Unit.

Have a great weekend!

Homework:  READ!!!!  You'll be checking in with your Term 1 goal soon...

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Wed Oct 15th

Today classes worked with Ms. Kugelman...here's what you covered and what's coming next...

Portfolios are now IN - please hand these to me directly if for some reason you didn't hand it in today.  I've had a quick look through and they look pretty good.

Today the focus was on sensory writing and what writers can include to appeal to their readers' senses. You read and went through "The Exam Room" and made notes about what senses are appealed to.

Today's quickwrite was - "the pen is mightier than the sword"...

Next day we'll talk about voice/pictures/flow in writing and begin a new piece of writing...

HOMEWORK:  READ!!!

OVERDUE:  Portfolio project

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Wednesday Oct 8th

Today we did a bit of reading and then moved into portfolio work.

I read students an exerpt from a book that includes sensory writing...this is something that students will have to try on their own soon.  Students shared their reading and goals  

We will not have anymore time in class to work on collecting quotes or images for the collage.  On Friday we will work on Audience and Purpose and then begin to draft the writing for the portfolio project.

Homework:  READ!!!  Students should be well into their first independent novels

Portfolio project is due on October 15th.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Monday Oct 6th

Another busy busy day in English class.

We started with a new seating plan - students were really efficient about finding their seats, getting work out and ready and beginning to read their independent novels.

Reading goals for Term 1 are in the edit stage.  Remember your goal must be SMART and have a solid plan for your reading this term.  Today we added the novel list sheet to binders - a place to record all the reading that you do from now until Christmas.

Audience and Purpose Part 1 - who writes at work and for what purpose?  We considered different jobs, what they have to write, and what the purpose of that writing is.

Portfolio Project - DUE OCT 15th.  We got started today by going over specifics and getting a few visuals.  You will get some more time next day to work on this.

HOMEWORK:  READ!!!  You should have an independent novel.  Spend at least 30 minutes (in addition to ER) reading each and everyday!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Thursday Oct 2nd

Today we talked about goal setting and how to set a goal that will actually work.  Goals that get results are SMART - specific, measurable, appropriate, realistic, and time sensitive.  Each student wrote a reading goal for Term One (now until Christmas Break) - reasons why, and a plan to achieve goal.  I have read through all your goals and will return them to you next class for revision.

Classes then headed to the library to hear about some fantastic reads and choose a book to get started.

Next up - Portfolio project (please bring glue sticks, images, and quotes)

Overdue - any and all forms, "You Can Grow Your Intelligence" connections/response

Homework:  READ - remember, your independent novel now comes to class with you each and every day.