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Showing posts from October, 2017

Tuesday, October 31st

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Happy Halloween!  Of course, we have to read and write something scary!   Next, we will write a scary story. You may work alone or with a friend.   The air turned black all around me. Icy fingers gripped my arm in the darkness. Wandering through the graveyard it felt like something was watching me. The eyes in the painting follow him down the corridor. A shrill cry echoed in the mist. Here is a link to some good ideas

Monday, October 30th

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Today I would like to give you time to work on whatever you like. You may revisit old pieces or start something completely new!  Feel free to share your work with a friend and get feedback using Google.   You may also post to Kidblog or comment on student work. :)

Thursday, October 26th

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Writing Groups-We will meet in the media center. You will get feedback on your piece. We will then revise and post to our blog Next, you will write using the following prompt: My_______ history.  You may consider filling in the blank with words like:  music, hair, fashion, television, friend,  pet, toy, video game, reading, writing, shoe, slang, food, etc.  Feel free to add a picture!

Tuesday, October 24th

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I really enjoyed reading  your scripts over the weekend.  I gave you all feedback.  Today you will have time to revise your script.  You will then print two copies of your final draft and bring to class Thursday. :) Next, we will read an excerpt from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Alexie’s coming of age novel is the hilarious and touching story of high school freshman Arnold “Junior” Spirit who realizes that his life on his Indian reservation is a dead end and so decides to attend the nearby “white” high school.  What he discovers, though, is that by straddling two very different worlds, he is now an outsider in both. There’s a great sequence early in the book where Junior feels like he is being insulted by a boy at his new school.  So he punches him in the face, and is then surprised that the kid didn’t see it coming.  Because, you see. on the reservation, there are what Junior describes as the “Unofficial and Unwritten (but you better follow them or you’re

Thursday, October 19th

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Today we will work in our script writing groups to get feedback from other groups. We will rotate through a variety of stations, so that you get feedback from a variety of people We will then come back to class and take twenty minutes or so to revise our scenes. THEN, ONE person from the group will share the scene with me.  I will give you feedback. :) We will watch  a video about diamante poetry. You will write your own! Format for Diamante

Tuesday, October 17th

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I will give you a handout and we will complete it.  We will look for words to re place RIP words. Here are  50 story starters  that are sure to inspire your writing assignment. Character names/pronouns can be changed to fit the story. 1. It was the last time I'd try that again. 2. He packed his bags and left. 3. No one would believe what happened that night. 4. It's not every day you wake up in a puddle of blood. 5. I could only think of one reason why this wouldn't work. 6. Storms were certain that night, but it wasn't the weather that caused the turmoil. 7. Never again would I utter her name. 8. I believed him one too many times; this was the last. 9. Words were her weapon. 10. "You're fired." We will then have free time to work on what you want.  Make sure your scene is awesome. You will need four copies on Thursday. Then we will work on our scenes!  

Monday, October 16th

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Write a story inspired by one of these pictures.  100 Word Challenge-Post to Kidblog when Finished :) https://100wc.net/week6-18/#more-20924

Thursday, October 12th

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Today we will continue working on our scenes.    You watch our Flipgrid videos. Then, you will give feedback and suggestions to your classmates. Here is the Flipgrid We will work on scenes. IF time, we will be talking about metaphor and writing a poem with metaphors. Here's one Metaphor for a Family My family lives inside a medicine chest:  Dad is the super-size band aid, strong and powerful but not always effective in a crisis. Mom is the middle-size tweezer, which picks and pokes and pinches. David is the single small aspirin on the third shelf, sometimes ignored. Muffin, the sheep dog, is a round cotton ball, stained and dirty, that pops off the shelf and bounces in my way as I open the door. And I am the wood and glue which hold us all together with my love. By: Belinda And another (sorry it's sad) Fifth of July My family is an expired firecracker set off by the blowtorch of divorce. We lay scattered in many directions. My father is the wick, badl

Tuesday, October 10th

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Post your revised piece to Kidblog. Comment on at least three other people's blog posts. Please try to comment on a variety of people's work, and try to make sure that everyone gives feedback. Be specific in your feedback!  What did you like specifically? What questions did you have? What could you relate to and why? What surprised you? How were you thinking, feeling, and reacting as you read? Begin creating our characters for our scenes.  Feel free to refer to or idea generator in yesterday's post for ideas.  Decide on your setting.  Try to keep your scene in one location.  Decide: What is the conflict? What does the protagonist want? What is getting in the character's way of getting what he or she wants?   What are the stakes?  Why does it matter that the character gets what he or she wants? The stakes are what force the character not to give up and to keep moving forward.  How is the conflict resolved? Make sure to use the format I showed you last week

Monday, October 9th

Describe your most treasured item without actually giving what it is away.  Things to think about: Why is it so precious to you? Who gave it to you or how did you come to have it? As you cannot say its name, use lots of adjectives and descriptions. Here is Mr.Murphy’s example: It sits on my finger. It’ been there since April 2014. I chose it with my wife. I really like it; she likes it less so. But, it’s me that’s got to wear it. It goes everywhere with me. I’ll wear it forever. On the odd occasion I take it off, I really worry about losing it! My cold, metal, matt metal object sitting there on my left hand. No one ever really mentions it. I play with it when nervous. But, it’s there for all to see. Especially me! As I finish, I’m looking at it right now…  POST TO KIDBLOG! Today we will discuss our plan for moving forward with our scene writing.  We will vote on whether or not we want to each write our own or work in groups. Then, we will talk about conflicts, as

Thursday, October 5th

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Share scenes from Tuesday if you like Media Center for Writing Groups Revision of piece Ideas for scenes on Padlet

Tuesday, October 3rd

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Scene Lessons (focus) on stage directions Use stage directions to describe Mrs. Karney's entrance into the classroom Work on Scenes using stage directions as needed. Work on the piece you are bringing on Thursday to share with your group.  Bring four copies!