Agenda, December 18

Late: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can work with my classmates to properly punctuate dependent clauses.
• I can compare my thoughts to a psychologist's thoughts.

Agenda

1. Mix it up
2. Think happy thoughts

Agenda, December 17

Due Today at the end of class: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use technology to share and improve my writing. 

Agenda

1. Type even faster than the wind

Agenda, December 16

Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).   

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use technology to share and improve my writing. 

Agenda

1. Type like the wind 

Agenda, December 15

Due Now: Rough draft of a short story based on one of your freewrites. Handwritten is okay.  
Coming Tomorrow: Laptops for typing final drafts.
Due Thursday at the end of class: Typed final draft with all drafting materials (rough draft, original freewrite, completed plot pyramid, three openings exercise, mood paragraph, and revision exercises).  


Today's Learning Targets:

• I can take good writing and make it better.
• I can help my classmates understand a story.

Agenda

1. Three Fine Words: run, happy, scared
2. Exploding the Moment
3. Revising Time
4. Winning "The Bet" 

Agenda, December 13

Due Dates

• Due Tomorrow at the beginning of class: Rough draft of a short story based on one of your freewrites. Handwritten is okay. Laptops will be here on Wednesday and Thursday to type final drafts.

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can create an effective mood. 
• I can help my classmates understand a story.
• I can develop an idea into a rough draft.

Agenda

1. Mood Paragraph
2. Winning "The Bet"
3. Drafting Time

Agenda, December 11

Due Dates

• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!
• Due Tuesday at the beginning of class: Rough draft of a short story based on one of your freewrites. Handwritten is okay. Laptops will be here on Wednesday and Thursday to type final drafts.

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a graphic organizer to develop my ideas.
• I can share my ideas about a story with my classmates. 
• I can write an engaging introduction.

Agenda

1. Story development
2. "The Bet," by Anton Chekov
3. Three Openings

Agenda, December 10

Due Dates 

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Late: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can break the plot pyramid.
• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can practice good reading skills. 

Agenda

1. How can you mess with your readers?
2. Freewrite #4: "Searching for a way out ..." OR Write about a time you won or lost a bet.
3. "The Bet," by Anton Chekov

Agenda, December 9

Due Dates

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Late: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can write a complete, concise summary.
• I can take good writing and make it better.
• I can break the plot pyramid.
• I can actively participate in whole class and small group discussions.

Agenda

1. IVF Summary #2
2. How can you mess with your readers?
3. Whole class discussion

Agenda, December 8

Due Dates

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Now: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can take useful notes.
• I can practice what good readers do.
• I can write a complete, concise summary.
• I can take good writing and make it better.

Agenda

1. What Good Readers Review
2. "Just Deserts," by MT Anderson
3. IVF Summary #2

Agenda, December 7

Due Dates

• Late: "11 Things We Know About How The Brain Works"
• Tuesday: Post a friendly comment to the Blog
• Do This Week: Go see Little Women! It's a world premier!

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can take useful notes.
• I can practice what good readers do.

Agenda

1. Freewrite #3: Writing from an image
2. What Good Readers Do
3. "Just Deserts," by MT Anderson