Agenda, January 29

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.          
Do This Weekend: Read 30 minutes each day.
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.       
Due Today at the end of class: Typed final draft of short story. We'll have laptops Wednesday and Thursday.
    
Today's Learning Targets:                       
I can use technology to improve my writing.

1. Type like the wind
2. Independent Reading

Agenda, January 28

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.        
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.      
Due Now: Complete rough draft of a short story    Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft of short story. We'll have laptops Wednesday and Thursday.
    
Today's Learning Targets:                        
I can read for pleasure.     
I can write a concise summary.        
I can analyze the character in my personal reading.  
I can use technology to improve my writing.

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Type like the wind

Agenda, January 27

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.      
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.    
Due Now: Complete rough draft of a short story   
Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft of short story. We'll have laptops Wednesday and Thursday.
    
Today's Learning Targets:                      
I can read for pleasure.   
I can write a concise summary.      
I can analyze the character in my personal reading.  
I can correctly punctuate a sentence with an introductory clause.
I can help a classmate improve his or her writing.

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Introductory Clause Notes & Practice
3. Peer Review

Agenda, January 26

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.    
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.  
Due Now: Complete rough draft of a short story 
Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft of short story. We'll have laptops Wednesday and Thursday.
    
Today's Learning Targets:                    
I can read for pleasure. 
I can write a concise summary.    
I can analyze the character in my personal reading.  
I can correctly punctuate a sentence with an introductory clause.
I can help a classmate improve his or her writing.

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Introductory Clause Notes & Practice
3. Mood Exercise

Agenda, January 20

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.  
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.
Due Monday, January 26: Complete rough draft of a short story   
Today's Learning Targets:                  
I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary.  
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.      
I can analyze the mood in a story.
I can practice the skills good readers use.
I can use the plot pyramid to shape a story.    

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Talk about the mood
3. Freewrite #5: Write about an animal, either domestic or wild.
4. "Just Desert," by M.T. Anderson
5. Drafting time

Agenda, January 16

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.
Do This Weekend: Read 30 minutes each day.
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.  
Today's Learning Targets:                 I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary. I can use an image to inspire a story.      
I can analyze the mood in a story.
I can practice the skills good readers use.     

1. What is mood? What is point of view?
2. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
3. Talk about the POV.
4. What Good Readers Do
5. "Just Desert," by M.T. Anderson

Agenda, January 15

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.  
Today's Learning Targets:                
I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary.
I can use an image to inspire a story.      
I can analyze the mood in a story.
I can practice the skills good readers use.     

1. What is exposition?
2. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
3. Talk about the exposition.
4. Flat and Round Characters
5. Freewrite #4: Using an image as an inspiration.
6. What Good Readers Do
7. "Just Desert," by M.T. Anderson

January 14

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.
Due Now: Bring your independent reading to class.  
Today's Learning Targets:              
I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary.      
I can analyze the characters in a story.
I can support my opinion with evidence.     

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Talk about your characters
3. "The Leap" in small groups
4. "The Leap" and the Plot Pyramid

Agenda, January 13

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.
Due Now: Bring your independent reading book AND your textbook to class   
Today's Learning Targets:            
I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary.      
I can analyze the characters in a story.
I can support my opinion with evidence.     

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Talk about your characters
3. Elements of Characterization
4. "The Leap"

Agenda, January 12

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes.
Due Monday: Bring your independent reading book AND your textbook to class   
Today's Learning Targets:           
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary.      
I can analyze the characters in a story.
I can support my opinion with evidence.     

1. Independent Reading / Independent Reading Journals
2. Talk about your characters
3. Freewrite #3: Tell a story about one of your parent's childhood OR Write a story set in a circus / amusement park
4. Elements of literature review
5. Elements of Characterization
6. "The Leap"

Agenda, January 9

Due Now: Bring an independent reading book to class.
Do This Weekend: Read 15 minutes tonight, and 30 minutes each on Saturday and Sunday.
Due Monday: Bring your independent reading book AND your textbook to class  
Today's Learning Targets:           
I can read for pleasure.
I can write a concise summary.      
I can analyze the theme of a story.
I can support my opinion with evidence.    

1. Library Orientation
2. Independent Reading
3. Elements of Literature Review
4. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard: Summary
5. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard:Thematic Statements

Agenda, January 8

Due Tomorrow: Bring an independent reading book to class.
Today's Learning Targets:         
I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.    
I can analyze the plot of a short story.    
I can write a concise summary.

1. Freewrite #2: Write about a time you got in trouble OR Write about a dare.
2. Book Talk
3. Elements of Literature Review
4. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard

Agenda, January 7

Due Friday: Bring an independent reading book to class.
Today's Learning Targets:       
I can correct common conventions errors.  
I can analyze the plot of a short story.  
I can write a concise summary.

1. Book Talk
2. Elements of Literature Review
3. Common Conventions Errors
4. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard

Agenda, January 6

Due Monday: Bring an independent reading book to class.
Today's Learning Targets:     
I can analyze the plot of a movie.
I can write a concise summary. I can correct common conventions errors. 

1. Let's talk about the movies!
2. Elements of Literature
3. What's a summary?
4. Common Conventions Errors
5. Book Talk