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October 31, 2006
If you have not submitted your narrative essay, please do so by class time on Friday.
http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/authoring/login/login.jsp
Reading logs will be collected on Thursday, Nov. 9. Students will need to show 5 consecutive reading log entries between Wed., Nov. 1 and Wed., Nov. 8.
Materials:
Point of View
Warm Up:
Identify the 2 sides in the conflict in "Rikki-tiki-tavi?
What is the resolution, or final outcome, of the conflict?
Activity 1:
What is meant by point of view? Give examples from a situation in the class. Show Point of View.
Activity 2:
Working in table groups, students will complete a point of view chart including:
*Determine the conflict of the story, and write a question that includes this conflict.
Example:
Oliver Twist: Due to the recent "crime wave," do you think kids are being unfairly blamed? Why or why not?
Rikki-tikki-tavi:
Due to the survival of the fittest, do you think inhabitants of the jungle are unfairly killed. Why or why not?
For each entry on the point of view chart you must include the following characters- Rikki, Nag, Nagaina, Teddy, Karait, Darzee, Chua, Chuchundra
You must include the following personal information for each character with each entry -
Name
Picture
Age
Job
Address
Answer to question
*Describe the issue that caused the conflict from the antagonist's point of view. Describe the issue that caused the conflict from the protagonist's point of view.
Example-
Antagonist:
Oliver Twist was accused the other day of taking Mr. Brownlow's wallet. Oliver tried to act as if he were chasing the criminal, when he really didn't take it. Artful Dodger was the real "criminalist" in the crime, not Oliver Twist.
Protagonist: Mr. Brownlow’s wallet is missing.
Homework:
Night Write-
Complete a point of view chart with the following information:
Conflict:
Due to the decline in discipline and academic performance in school, do you think students should wear school uniforms? Why or why not?
Answer the question according to how you think the following people would respond:
Dr. Tyson
Mrs Abrams
Mrs. Jackson or Ms. Haag
One of your parents
You
Reading-
Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete a reading log entry answering the 5W's.
Posted by Abrams at 07:44 PM
October 22, 2006
Warm Up:
Appetizers pg. 13
Activity 1:
Students will read their chapter book for 30 minutes, and then have a book chat with the folks at their table stating:
title
author
main characters
setting of the text just read
1 event that just occurred in your 30 minutes of reading.
Homework:
Have a fun and safe Halloween experience.
Posted by Abrams at 12:57 PM
Students will go to the MAC lab to type their final copy of their personal narrative. Students will print 1 hard copy and will submit to the computer grading system.
Reading-Read your chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering the 5W's.
Write to Learn-If students did not finish typing their essay, this task should be completed at home. Be sure to print 1 hard copy and submit to the computer grading system.
Posted by Abrams at 12:50 PM
Materials:
Literature text – pg. 412-422
Reading logs will be collected on Thursday, Nov. 9. Students will need to show 5 consecutive reading log entries between Wed., Nov. 1 and Wed., Nov. 8.
Once a student has submitted their narrative essay to e-rater, they must turn in all of their rough drafts to me for a grade.
Warm Up:
Name the 5 elements of a plot.
Activity 1:
Review the beginning of “Rikki-tikki-tavi” and review the elements of plot.
Activity 2:
Following the step-by-step guide the teacher presents, students will read silently and discuss the story from the introduction of the character Nag on page. 411 to Rikki’s pride in himself on pg. 422.
Activity 3:
As a whole class discuss the literary analysis of the story on pg. 423 of the text.
Homework:
• Read for 30 minutes each night in a challenging chapter book. Complete an entry on your reading log.
Posted by Abrams at 12:42 PM
Materials:
Literature text – pg. 406-411
Overhead:
Dog and cat pictures
Warm Up:
Place the overhead on the overhead projector and have the students respond to:
Jot down your first reaction to the animals. Write some descriptive phrases, adjectives, or idioms that describe the often animosity (bitterness, ill feeling) between these animals. Share some of these responses aloud with the class.
Activity 1:
Have students share their responses with their classmates at their table. Have 2 or 3 volunteers share their response with the entire class.
Activity 2:
Explore the associations we make between animal behaviors (aggression, stealth, curiosity) and human ones. Lead students to “Rikki-tikki-tavi” by telling them that they will read about animal enemies who engage in a “great war” that is made to seem as important as a human conflict.
Activity 3:
Read pg. 406-407 aloud to the students discussing mongooses, parts of a plot, conflict, and predicting along the way of the oral reading. Discuss and give examples of the vocabulary introduced on pg. 407. Have students read the exact sentence in the story where the vocabulary word appears and review the meaning.
Activity 4:
Following the step-by-step guide the teacher presents, students will read silently and discuss the story through the introduction of the character Nag on page. 411.
Homework:
Reading-Read a challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-Take a writing vacation.
Posted by Abrams at 12:40 PM
Materials:
The Wonders of Writing
Write Source – pg. 105-116, 572-573
Guidelines and Checklist (pg. 1-8)
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Warm Up:
Appetizers - pg.12
Activity 1:
Using all 8 pages of Guidelines and Checklist refine your personal narrative.
Activity 2:
Read your essay aloud to your writing buddy. How does it sound? Are you pleased? Do you need to make just a few more changes?
Reading-
Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-
Complete (all pages 1-8) Guidelines and Checklist making any necessary changes (with your focus on editing).
Posted by Abrams at 12:29 PM
October 21, 2006
Warm Up:
Last night I _____________________ in the neighborhood, and then I _____________.
Experiencing Halloween as a 7th grader _______________________________. A lesson learned from last night’s experience would be _____________________________. Showing a sense of responsibility was important, for the reason that____________________. Therefore, I _________________________________. All in all Halloween 2006 was _______________________, since__________________. Halloween 2006 will be remembered, because ___________________________.
Reading logs will be collected on Thursday, Nov. 9. Students will need to show 5 consecutive reading log entries between Wed., Nov. 1 and Wed., Nov. 8.
Activity 1:
Students will complete a reflection log on the personal writing unit of study. This will be collected for a test grade.
As a class, go over each item on the test with examples:
1. This piece shows that I’m able to use_________, _________, ________ in my narrative writing because…
Ask the class to give criteria or guidelines that are specifically for writing a personal narrative. Some of the answers should be:
3 types of dialogue
a lesson learned
beginning, middle, and ending paragraphs
sensory details
transitions in the 3 middle paragraphs
2. This piece shows I really understand the content because…
Ask the class to give some specific examples of responses. . Some of the answers should be:
I used…
3 types of dialogue when I explained…
showed the speaker’s personality
kept the action moving
added interesting facts
a lesson learned which was…
beginning, middle, and ending paragraphs when I…
sensory details to describe…
3. If I could show this piece to anyone, I would show it to _______________ because…
Students need to explain specifically what they have included in this paper that they have not in any other piece of writing.
4. People who knew me last year would never believe this piece because…
What evidence does the student explain in their writing that shows improvement in their writing from last year?
5. The most challenging part of this writing piece was ____________ because…
Students need to identify the most challenging part of writing this paper. Explain why this part was such a challenge.
6. My (parents, friend, teacher)(Circle one.) liked this piece because…
When students conferred (talked with) a peer, a friend, a teacher, a parent; what was a positive comment made on this piece of writing?
7. One thing I have learned about myself is…
Students are to identify and explain the work ethic involved in the completion of this assignment. What was involved in completing each of the steps in the writing process?
8. I still have questions about…
What are some of the areas of the writing process or the specific criteria for writing a personal narrative that needs more work? “None” is not an answer.
Comments:
Students are to write any comments they want me to know in order to improve the teaching of this unit or comments in the areas of this unit that were the most helpful.
Homework:
Night Write- Take a writing vacation.
Reading-Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete a reading log entry answering the 5W's.
Posted by Abrams at 06:29 PM
October 18, 2006
Materials:
Write Source – pg. 117-119
The Wonders of Writing
Guidelines and Checklist pg.8 Editing
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Conferring Checklist
Warm Up:
If I submitted my essay today, I feel my grade would be____________. The reason I believe my essay is ___________ is because____________. Having one more day to add final touches would be_____________.
Activity 1:
Demonstrate this interactive website to assist in the editing step of the writing process.
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_grammar_hndbk.html
Activity 2:
Students will complete Conferring Checklist with their writing buddy's rough draft. Students will get their rough draft back and make any necessay revisions.
Activity 3:
Students will use Guidelines and Checklist pg.8 Editing to assist in the editing step in the writing process.
Reading-
Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.8 making any necessary changes (with your focus on editing).
Posted by Abrams at 06:37 PM
October 17, 2006
Materials:
Write Source – pg. 114-116, 572-573
Guidelines and Checklist pg. 7
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Warm Up:
How has the revising processing adding vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives made you feel about the quality of your personal narrative?
Activity 1:
Students will read their challenging chapter book for 30 minutes. While students are reading, they are to make a list of at least 10 prepositions used in the writing of their novel.
Activity 2:
Discuss the corrections made on Guidelines and Checklist pg. 6.
Activity 3:
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.7 making any necessary changes/additions with the use of prepositions.
Reading-
Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.7 making any necessary changes
Posted by Abrams at 10:06 AM
Materials:
Write Source – pg. 114-116, 572-573
The Wonders of Writing
Guidelines and Checklist pg. 6
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Warm Up:
Making sure that no two sentences began with the same word was _________________________ to me because________________. This word choice is necessary for my personal narrative because ___________.
Activity 1:
Discuss the corrections made on Guidelines and Checklist pg. 5.
Activity 2:
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.6 making any necessary changes with vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives.
Activity 3:
Students will be able to use The Wonders of Writing to assist them in making revisions in their word choice.
Activity 4:
Students will put their reading logs from the first of October through Thursday, October 19 in their portfolios. At the top of this reading log is the updated number of books read so far this year. Students will need to have read 12 books for the year by December 15.
Reading-
Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.6 making any necessary changes and/or additions with the use of vivid verbs and desctiptive adjectives.
Posted by Abrams at 10:02 AM
October 13, 2006
Materials
Guidelines and Checklist pg.5
The Wonders of Writing
Warm Up:
What is the importance of an author using a variety of sentence types and a variety of vocabulary?
Activity 1:
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.5 making any necessary changes sentence variety.
At this point in your revising, you may need to print or write a 2nd rough draft in order to have enough space to continue revising.
Activity 2:
Students will be able to use The Wonders of Writing to assist them in making revisions in their word choice.
Homework:
Reading-
Read your challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on your reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-
Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.5 making any necessary changes sentence variety.
Posted by Abrams at 06:35 PM
Materials:
Write Source pg. 123
Guidelines and Checklist pg.3
Warm Up:
What improvements have you made to your essay as a result of your revising?
Reading logs were collected today to update the number of books read.
5W's and H from DEAR reading was returned for a grade.
Activity 1:
Students will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding revising.
Activity 2:
Students will complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.3 making any necessary changes sentence variety.
Homework:
Reading-Read for 30 m,inutes in a challenging chapter book and completing an entry on your reading log that answers 5 W's.
Night Write- Complete Guidelines and Checklist pg.3 making any necessary changes sentence variety.
Posted by Abrams at 06:26 PM
October 11, 2006
Warm Up:
At this point in time, I have read ________(number of books) and I...
Activity 1:
Students will update their genre chart and determine the next genre to read.
Activity 2:
Students will read their challenging chapter book for 30 minutes focusing on the 5W's and an H. Students will write this information down on paper and turn this assignment in for a grade.
Homework:
Reading-Students will read their challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on their reading log answering 5W's.
Night Write-Students will revise their rough draft focusing in on the use of transitions.
Posted by Abrams at 07:41 PM
Materials:
Write Source – pg.116-117,119,120,121,123
Guidelines and Checklist pg.4.
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Warm Up:
Appetizers- pg. 10
Activity 1:
Using Guidelines and Checklist pg.3, students will answer questions 5-15. Students are to make any necessary changes to their rough draft as a result of answering questions 5-15 on Guidelines and Checklist pg.4.
Homework:
Reading- Students are to read their challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete an entry on their reading log answering the 5 W's.
Night Write - Students are to complete the assignment explained and begun in class. Using Guidelines and Checklist pg.3, students will answer questions 5-15. Students are to make any necessary changes to their rough draft as a result of answering questions 5-15 on Guidelines and Checklist pg.4.
Posted by Abrams at 07:31 PM
Materials:
Write Source – pg. 114-116, 572-573
Guidelines and Checklist
Outline for Writing a Personal Narrative
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Warm Up:
Now that I have finished writing the 1st rough draft of my personal narrative, I need to...
Students will turn in their completed Outline for Writing a Personal Narrative
for a grade.
Graded Papers Returned-Sensory Detail Chart
Activity 1:
Students will begin the revising process by completing pg.2 of Guidelines and Checklist. Students will be asked to answer specific questions about the rough draft of their essay referring to:
1. Sensory details
2. Vivid descriptions
3. Grabbing the reader's attention in the beginning paragraph
4. Transitions
Students will be given time to revise their rough draft and make any necessary changes to their paper according to the Guidelines and Checklist pg. 2.
Homework:
Reading- Students will read their chapter book for 30 minutes and answer 5W's in their 1-sentence summary on their reading log.
Night Write- Students will need to finish the 1st revision of their 1st rough draft by finish answering specific questions about the rough draft of their essay referring to:
1. Sensory details
2. Vivid descriptions
3. Grabbing the reader's attention in the beginning paragraph
4. Transitions
Students will be given time to revise their rough draft and make any necessary changes to their paper according to the Guidelines and Checklist pg. 2.
Posted by Abrams at 06:59 PM
October 10, 2006
Reading in the Content Area Review
1. Doodle
2. Gist
3. Boggle
5. Skills Lingo
7.SPREADS
9. Example of Cloze 2-column notes
Resources for Reading in the Content Areas
Posted by Abrams at 06:17 PM
Materials:
Write Source – pg. 112
Guidelines and Checklist
Outline for Writing a Personal Narrative
The site below gives models of essays written by students.
http://www.thewritesource.com/models.htm#2000
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Guidelines
Outline
Warm Up:
While working on this personal narrative essay so far, I realized…
Activity 1:
Student volunteers share their beginning paragraph and their middle paragraph of their essay with the class. Then students share their work with the people at their table.
Activity 2:
Students need to understand that their ending paragraph must serve 2 purposes: conclude the narrative and explain what was learned. If students are having trouble thinking of their ending paragraph, read through the essay aloud. Think about all the ways this experience is important and how this experience has been a life changing event. Read and discuss the example of the ending paragraph Write Source pg. 112
Activity 3:
Students will write the rough draft of their ending paragraph for their essay.
Reading:
Students are to read for 30 minutes and complete an entry on their reading log answering the 5 W’s.
Night Write:
Students must make sure the entire rough draft (5 paragraphs) for their personal narrative is completed according to Guidelines and Checklist.
The entire rough draft is due on Monday, October 16.
Posted by Abrams at 03:36 PM
October 06, 2006
http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
Posted by Abrams at 09:44 AM
October 04, 2006
Warm Up:
Appetizers - pg. 8
Activity 1:
During the 30 minutes of silent reading today, students will focus on sensory details in their book. Students will need to jot down 5 sensory details included in their reading.
Activity 2:
Students will add any of the sensory details that would be appropriate to their personal narrative to their sensory chart. This chart was complete in class on Wednesday, October 4.
Activity 3:
Students will have an opportunity to ask any questions they might have so far in the writing of their personal narrative.
Homework:
Reading-
Students will read a challenging chapter book for 30 minutes and complete a reading log entry answering the 5 W's.
Night Write-
Students need to make sure they have 3 versions of their beginning paragraph double spaced, in pencil and cursive (if the paragraphs are not typed).
Posted by Abrams at 08:36 PM
Materials:
Thesaurus
The Wonders of Writing Notebook - pg. 33 and 57
Write Source - pg. 105-107,488
Guidelines and Checklist
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_narrative.html(This is a fabulous guide to the steps in writing a personal narrative.)
Warm Up:
Rambling Autobiography Quick write
Activity 1:
Students will use Word Expansion to discover the benefits of using a thesaurus as a resource in their writing.
Activity 2: (Review)
Using page 105 in Write Source as a model, make a sensory chart for your experience. Then write down words or phrases that describe events in your Quick List. Have students work with a partner to share each sensory chart to make sure that the information includes sensory details and also shows their feeling. Students should refer to page 488 in Write Source for addition help with using sensory details in writing.
Activity 3:
Using page 106 in Write Source as a model, review how to use dialogue effectively in a narrative. Plan to use dialogue in at least 3 places in your essay.
Using pg. 57 in The Wonders of Writing Notebook, review the rules for writing dialogue.
Activity 4: (Review)
Divide your papers into thirds, as you would a business letter.
Label the 3 areas Beginning, Middle, and Ending. Write the events (from you chronological list of 8 events)of your experience in the appropriate section. As you are reviewing your details, begin thinking about an attention grabbing beginning that starts in the middle of the action and an ending that helps the reader understand what the writer learned.
Activity 5: (Review)
Discuss the 3 ways to start your narrative using the examples on page 109. Write one of each kind described on page 109. Use Guidelines and Checklist for a guideline in writing the 1st paragraph. Share with a partner and get feedback on which is the most effective in getting the reader’s attention.
Homework:
• Read for 30 minutes each night in a challenging chapter book. Complete an entry on your reading log answering the 5 W's.
• Night Write:
Write one of each type of beginning paragraph for your narrative using one of the 3 examples on page 109, if you have not done so already.
Remember: the 1st draft of your beginning paragraph must be written in pencil on every other line.
Homework:
Reading-Students are to read for 30 minutes and complete an entry on their reading log answering the 5 W's.
Night Write-Students are to complete the 3 beginning paragraphs for their narrative, if they have not already.
Posted by Abrams at 08:05 PM
