Cool link...

Listen to the week's news in rap.

What's coming up when you get back....

Hey kids,

We will be reading and acting out the play, 12 Angry Men.  It's a ton of fun.  Over vacation, if you can find a bunch of button-down shirts and ties to use for costumes, I will give you bonus points for everything we end up using.

Make sure you have your parents' permission.  The costumes need to fit everyone...so might as well go with XL.  If we use your costume or clothing item, 5-10 other people will be wearing it, and we will be using it for approximately two weeks.

Check out this character PowerPoint for inspiration.

Moo.

Happy Holidays!

Hi folks!

You did well on the test today.  The tests, along with some other grades will be updated over the break.  There is no homework, but I will be putting up an opportunity to gain some bonus points over the break, so check back after the 26th.

When we get back, we are starting to read, and act the CLASSIC play, 12 Angry Men.  It has been a student favorite every year.  We get to dress up.

Until then, rest up, take care, and have fun.

Anyone want to ask some questions?

If you want a question, comment to this post!  I'll be checking it until around 9pm.

Here are the answers to the questions asked so far....

• Yes, you can use any note that is hand-written.
• If you're looking for a Cask quote on symbolism, look anything that mentions how either one is dressed, or look for the "De Grave" wine, or even Fortunato's name.
• The primary conflict in LRotL is a person vs. person conflict between Kitty and Larry.
• There is, at this time, only a link to Cask....look below....the other three have no links that I can find.
• And "My God" is not an allusion...but there is a reference to Harrison looking like a Thor, the god of thunder....that is an allusion....and a simile as well!

Review for the Open-Note Test

Hi Kids,

Today your received the review packet for the open-note test on literary terms and short stories.  Again, there are three parts to the test:

Part 1:  Matching terms to definitions.

Part 2:  Matching terms to quotes from the short stories.

Part 3:  Short response and plot diagram.  You will need to draw the plot diagram for one or two stories (depending on what challenge-level you are), AND you will need to be able to describe the theme, and central conflict for them, and defend your responses.

I will open this blog for you to post responses and questions.  If you have questions, please post them, and I will be able to answer them later tonight.

Links to the short stories

FYI:  there is a link to some Quizlet flashcards for the literary terms, if you feel like it would be helpful (see last post).

Links to the short stories....

"The Cask of Amontillado"
"Harrison Bergeron"

"All Summer in a Day"

"The Pit and the Pendulum"

"The Case of Four and Twenty Blackbirds"  (check out this link to "Who Killed Cock Robin"....)

           (Four and Twenty Blackbirds)      (Humpty Dumpty)

"Flowers for Algernon"

More Literary Terms

Hi kids,

Today we discussed four more terms, some of them were review, some were new: antagonist, protagonist, foreshadowing, and flashback.

For a complete list of terms, that you will be tested on one week from this Wednesday are on quizlet.com right here!

Homework:  Harrison Bergeron response short story - due Tuesday for Extremers, due Wednesday for everyone else.

"The Dinner Party" and "Harrison Bergeron"

Hi Kids,

Today we are going over the short, short story "The Dinner Party" and discuss how it matches up to the plot diagram.  Afterward, we will go over the different types of irony and discuss how it applies to satire in the short story "Harrison Bergeron."

Read the short story here and answer the four questions that go along with it!

Irony Definitions

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

Plot and Conflict Review

Today in class, we reviewed the plot line diagram, and the different types of conflict and how they applied to short story, "The Last Rung on the Ladder."






Homework: Read "The Dinner Party" and answer all eight questions on the back under "For Discussion" and "Plot" with at least one complete sentence each. Due Friday.

Quiz Day - "Harbinger"

Today you took the vocab quiz for the song, "Harbinger."  Grades are already in Powerschool.


Homework:  Worksheet for "The Last Rung on the Ladder" due in class on block day.

Literary Terms

Here are the terms we went over on Monday (allusion, antithesis, personification, hyperbole, metaphor, and simile):

How to publish your storybird at home

1. click "menu"
2. click "publish this storybird"
3. write a brief summary, scroll down
4. for tags, write some words that describe this storybird, scroll down
5. make sure "private is selected" (it is by default), scroll down
6. when it asks you if this is for an assignment, select "Harbinger Storybird."  That way it shows up for me to grade.
7. click "publish" and voila!  You are done!

"Harbinger" Quiz

Happy Friday!

Today in class is our LAST day with the computers to work on your storybirds.  If you do not finish in class today, and publish your storybird, you must complete it over the weekend.  Those who have finished their storybirds already will be studying their vocab, finishing a vocab crossword puzzle, and peer-editing classmates' storybirds.  If you want the bonus 5 points, you must pass in a complete peer-review sheet by the end of class today.

The quiz on Tuesday is just like the last one:  I'll give you a sentence or definition, you give me the correctly spelled word and the part of speech.  Study both the definitions and the sentences flashcards (below)!


Homework:   flashcards and review sheets due today.
                       Monday:  published storybirds and crossword puzzles.
                       Tuesday: Vocab Quiz: "Harbinger"

Vocabulary resources

The song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_I1BzVQN8U

The word lists:

• challenge
• super-challenge
• extreme-challenge

Today, and all this week we are creating storybird stories using our vocabulary lists.  You must use all the words correctly in the story, and the story must have a minimum of eight pages.  Good luck!

You will get a bonus point if you log into Storybird successfully

You will get an additional point if you can come in Monday and recite (word for word) one of the rules under the community guidelines "A few other things" section.

More Storybird Stuff - Vocabulary lists

The vocabulary lists you need are in the form of the flashcards.  The links are below.

• challenge definitions
• challenge sentences
• super-challenge definitions
• super-challenge sentences
• extreme-challenge definitions
• extreme-challenge sentences

Storybird

Hi Kids, Today we went over the paragraphs and questions you completed for the story "The Somebody." Afterward, we took a brief tour of storybird.com, a website that we will be using all week when we get back.

Once you go there, you'll get to play around, but take a look at the vocabulary assignment I posted there for you....if you want the vocab lists, that is in the posting right above this one.


 Homework:  
1)  log into storybird.com with the temporary password that I gave you in class today.
2)  change your temporary password to your network password.
3)  read the "community guidelines"  It will keep you from getting kicked off.
4)  play!

Realize that this is a safe site, and only kids in your class will be able to see your stories, unless you mess with my default settings, which will get you in trouble with me.

"The Somebody"

Over the weekend, you read "The Somebody."  Today we will discuss it, and talk about the following terms:

• P.Q.E. (Prepare, Quote, Explain)
• Direct characterization
• Indirect characterization
• Unreliable narrator

Notice that the definition for the last three terms are on my flashcards, here.

To reinforce your understanding of these terms, you will need to write a "min-paper" due tomorrow as well.

The instructions are below:

Mini-Paper on “The Somebody” Due Tuesday.

Directions:  Write two paragraphs in response to the following questions.  Your paper can be either typed or handwritten in ink.   It should be “final draft” quality work, so be sure to edit.

·      Paragraph 1:  What is Chato’s character like?  Name one or two clear personality traits, then give several examples of how those traits are shown through indirect methods.

·      Paragraph 2: How does Chato’s family have an impact on who he is and what he is like (personality traits)?  Give several details about his family and explain how they impact Chato.

In each paragraph, be sure to follow the correct structure for a paragraph:

1.     Topic sentence

2.     Supporting details (PQE)

a.     Prepare the reader by giving at least a phrase that tells us when in the action the following quote your are giving us shows up.

b.     Direct quote from the story (any sentence that you take from the story, whether it is dialog or narration – it doesn’t matter).

c.      Explain the significance of that quote:  How does it help prove the main idea of that paragraph?

3.     Concluding sentence

The Somebody

Hi kids,

Today in class we took the Commonly Confused Words Quiz #2 today.  We graded it in class, so you should know how you did right away.  If you did poorly, study more, and then re-take by Tuesday of next week.

After the quiz, we started reading "The Somebody" by Danny Santiago.  We have copies in class, or you can read the text online here. 

After reading the story, answer the following questions, with at least two complete sentences each:

1.     What is Chato’s character like (traits)?  How are they shown in the story?

2.     What details do we know about Chato’s family life?  What are his relationships with his parents like?

3.     Give examples of times where Chato jumps to a conclusion

4.     Look carefully at the scene where Chato goes into the boys’ club (bottom of pg. 3 and top of pg. 4).  What important information does the reader learn from this scene?

5.     Does Chato care about what other people think of him?  Give a couple of specific details to support your answer.

6.     In what ways is Chato an unreliable narrator (which means he is not trustworthy to be able to tell the story accurately. 

 


Homework:  (See above).  All questions must be answered with at least two complete sentences each.  In addition, you must find a quote (dialog or narration) to support your answer for your assigned question.  Due Tuesday!

New Commonly Confused Words Quizlet Flashcards are up!

Hi kids,

Today we will finish off all videos that we can see, we will study our flashcards, go over any bonus posters, and correct our last Commonly Confused Words Quiz.

Here are the online flashcards:

Challenge - List 2
Super-Challenge - List 2
Extreme-Challenge - List 2

Once more, if you have an iPod Touch, you can download a bunch of flashcard apps - just make sure that it can download flashcards from quizlet.com ... look for user "cmsteacherstowell".  A student told me that there was a really cool app called iReview - it's free!

Commonly Confused Words - Part II

Ha, Ha, Ha!  You thought you were done! 

Yesterday in class, you took the quiz on part I of commonly confused words.  You did quite well, generally speaking!  Today we start part II - the nitty-gritty if you will.  I consider this second group even more important!!   I was grading your essays yesterday, and boy-oh-boy, I noticed that many of you need to know the its vs. it's rule....sheesh!

Today in class we are changing seats, checking your last quiz's flashcards, and working on the new list of commonly confused words.


Homework:   Exercise 2 - due in class today.
C.C.W. II bonus poster is due Thursday.
C.C.W. II flashcards are due Thursday.
C.C.W. II quiz is this Friday.

Commonly confused words and mnemonic devices

Hi Folks,

Today we went over the some of the online flashcards for the commonly confused words.  See below for the links!  Don't forget that I'll be checking your flashcards and you will have a quiz on Monday.  For some of the harder words, we might need to come up with mnemonic devices. We have a couple awesome ones:  RAVEN, and CHILE, and ARID, but we could use some more!

Can you think of mnemonic devices for the following groups of words?

council, counsel, consul
allusion, illusion
emigrate, immigrate
all right, alright
all ready, already
further, farther
complement, compliment
accede, exceed

If you come up with a brilliant one, email me at cmsteacherstowell@gmail.com with it by Monday, and if it is awesome, I'll break you off some bonus points.  Remember, a good mnemonic device is short, meaningful, and above all, is memorable.  The point for these devices is that they show the difference in meaning and spelling of these homonyms, so folks will know when to use them properly.

Commonly Confused Words, Part I.

Hi kids, today we went over commonly confused words - homophones.  We did exercise 1 in class, (finished it for homework if we needed to) and started making flashcards.  If you have an iPod Touch, I did put some flashcards on quizlet.com:

Extreme-Challenge List
Super-Challenge List
Challenge List

If you download these onto your iPod, I'll give you homework credit for them.  Now, of course, these won't work unless you study them on a daily basis.

Homework:  Exercise 1 due Tuesday.  Flashcards due Wednesday.  Quiz on them the Monday you get back.

Vocab Quiz is in PowerSchool

Check out your grade on PowerSchool.  By in large, you guys did really well.  If you bombed it, then you need to schedule a retake before this coming Wednesday.

Vocab Quiz today!

Today there is a vocab quiz.  If you are absent, you will be taking it when you come back on Monday during a study hall or lunch.  It is up to you to schedule it, or it will be a zero, and that is baaaaaaaad! 

Plus, to see how many of you actually read this blog, I'll give you a bonus buck if you come into school on Monday with a piece of paper that has the name of the author (correctly spelled) who wrote One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest.

Homework:  (None)  Please take a moment to insure that you have handed in your instructional essay, that you have turned in your project, that you posted your five vocabulary posters, AND you have made 5 comments on kidblog.org.

Have a great weekend!

Time to study that vocab!

Okay kids, for the last two days, we have been showing our how-to videos and PowerPoints (which have been awesome!) and reviewing the vocab.  Tonight....you need to study!  Listen to the song at least five times, and review the flashcards.  For some extra fun, check out your classmates' vocabulary posters that they posted on kidblog.org.

For the link to the video, check this!


And for those flashcards, click the appropriate ones below!

Challenge Definitions
Challenge Sentences
Super-Challenge Definitions
Super-Challenge Sentences
Extreme-Challenge Definitions
Extreme-Challenge Sentences


Spelling counts!  You need to know the part of speech as well.  Good luck!

Passing in Projects, Studying Vocab, and Commenting on Kidblog

Hi Kids,

Today we're in the library, with computers.

Projects are due today, please pass them in to me.  I need the thumb-drives back....today!

In class, while Mr. Stowell is collecting projects, we are doing three things:

1. Log into kidblog.org and make at least five comments to your classmates.

• Each comment must be at least three complete sentences.
• Each comment must specifically mention what you liked about the posting.
• At least one of the comments must be on someone's artifact.
• Each comment must be for a different classmate....don't stick with your buddy.
• Each comment must be polite, well-punctuated, and grammatically correct - no "text-speak."

     2.  Finish your own "motivational posters" (all 5 of them) and post the links to them to kidblog.org if you haven't already (I showed you in class yesterday, see below, or look at your classmate's examples, or ask a friend if you still don't know how to).

    3.  Study your flashcards, or the flashcards that I made for you on Quizlet.com....see yesterday's post on this blog (right below) for directions on how to do that.  YOU NEED TO STUDY THE EXAMPLE SENTENCES TOO!

Homework: (see Monday's post, below)

Monday's Class

Hi Kids,

Today in class, we are reviewing the music video for the "Silence, Reticence" vocabulary lists.  Try to watch/or listen to it at least 10 times on your own.  You can get the song from iTunes, or you can listen to it on the English Moodle page.  For the link to the video, check this out.

Afterward, we checked out the www.quizlet.com site - there is where I have all the flashcards for you to download.  Search for the title of the song, and then look for the creator, "cmsteacherstowell." 

Notice that you need to study spelling of the word, the part of speech, the example sentence, and the definition.  Click below for the cards for each list:

Challenge Definitions
Challenge Sentences
Super-Challenge Definitions
Super-Challenge Sentences
Extreme-Challenge Definitions
Extreme-Challenge Sentences

If you haven't made 5 "motivational posters," go to gotbrainy.

Homework:  

• Projects due tomorrow!
• 5 motivational posters due Wednesday
• Typed, Final drafts of "Instructional Essay" due Thursday.
• Vocabulary Quiz is Friday.

Last "Production Day" for using the computers in the classroom

Hi kids,

Today we used the entire day for producing our PowerPoints and videos.  Many of you did not finish, and will have to be finishing on you own.  All projects have to be passed in by this coming Tuesday, no exceptions.

Some of you signed out thumb-drives.  Those need to be returned by Monday. 

Also, many of you finished the 5 vocabulary posters and posted them to your kidblog.org.  For those of you who haven't, you have to do that by Tuesday as well.  See the below postings for further information on that.

TWO flashcard apps for your iPod Touch

There are two apps that I found out there that work with your iPod Touch, an expensive, awesome one, and a cheaper, okay one.  Both let you download the flashcards that I made for you through Quizlet.com.

ACE flashcards - the cheap, okay one (99 cents).  When you use it, search for cmsteacherstowell in the "creator" field to download the cards I made on Quizlet.

Flashcard Touch - the expensive one with more features ($4.99).  It's cooler, buy you have to pay five times as much for it, which is a bit much.

Production Day 2

Hi Kids,

Again, we are producing our PowerPoints or Instructional videos.  That means if you have your media, you are editing it.  If you do not, you need to get a start on the electronic vocabulary assignment, which will be due for everyone eventually.

For the brainypic vocabulary assignment:
Visit my example, posted below.  Then create your own, finding an image on the Internet that fits both your vocabulary word (chosen from your vocab list) and the example sentence you make up.  Be sure to copy the URL address from where you got the image.  Once you create your "motivational poster," you need to copy the link they give you, and post it on your kidblog.   YOU NEED TO MAKE 5 POSTERS TOTAL!

Homework:  ALL Media due to class by this FRIDAY!  FINAL DRAFTS of essays and projects due next week.  VOCAB Posters due Tuesday.

Continue filming, shooting, and editing your instructional video or PowerPoint

Today is a "production day."  You will be working on either shooting or editing your PowerPoint or Video.

If you have no work to work on, you must create a motivational posters for your vocabulary words.  Five minimum.  Go to the following link:

http://www.gotbrainy.com/flashcards/show/8576

Oh man, if you have an iPod Touch, check out this app. now!

Download the Flashcards Touch app from Quizlet.  Then, search for "Silence, Reticence" Rock the S.A.T. cards created by a user named "cmsteacherstowell."  There are free flashcards for you to download.  Challenge, Super-Challenge, and Extreme. Boom.  Click.  Done.

Do you want vocab flashcards online?

visit Quizlet.com....check out this link!

Vocabulary Work

Hi Kids,

Since I'm out sick today, you have a little vocab work to do in class, since we can't have the computers in class without me.  You have a list, a crossword puzzle, and some flashcards to make.  If you finish, work on any other unfinished business, i.e. "planning boxes" that I know many of you have not yet done.  Continue to film/photograph at home!  See you tomorrow!

Homework:  Crossword puzzle and flashcards due tomorrow!

How to set up your instructional essay

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

Continuing to work on our Instructional Essay

Today and tomorrow we have the computer lab to work on typing out our "Instructional Essays."  It's a good thing that you pre-wrote ten steps of your procedure last night for homework.  Make sure you set up your essay in the following way:

(see screen-shot above)

After you type up your essay, it is time to work on your planning boxes.  Remember: some of your steps will take several camera shots, because you may need a medium-shot of the step, and then zoom in for a close-up.

Homework:  See yesterday's post - it still applies!

Introduction to "How-To" Instructional writing and creation of videos or PowerPoint presentations

Hi Kids,

Today in class, we went over the handout for instructional writing.  Afterward, I showed you examples of the "Instructional Essay" and the "Planning Boxes" that you will need before you create either a PowerPoint presentation (challenge or super-challenge), or a video (extreme challenge).  Then, the rest of class was spent in drafting the instructional steps for the thing you plan to teach. 

Please see the page on the upper-right corner of this blog which has some additional resources.

Homework:
        Due tomorrow (beginning of class):  Write a rough draft for at least ten steps of the thing you plan to teach.
       Due Friday (by the end of class): 

•         at least 10 planning boxes
•         a TYPED rough draft of your "Instructional Essay" with a conclusion, list of materials, and introduction paragraph
•       your second kidblog.org posting....which you've known about for over a week.  Many of you have already done this - hooray for you!

During NECAP testing

Today, since we have shortened periods, and I won't see you again until Wednesday, we have a few things to start in class, which you will finish on your own.

1)  Kidblog:  Choosing your Instructional Writing topic, and this week's writing prompts (see yesterday's post, below).
2)  Help you pick which topic to use for instructional writing.

3)  Pass out the handout for instructional writing.

Homework: (see post below)

Here are the two prompts that you need to post on kidblog.org

Hi Kids,

Now we’re going to get things going.  There are two prompts for which you need to respond.

Prompt 1:  Who are you as a writer? Or….Who are you as a reader? (Due Wednesday) You can respond to one or both of those questions in a prompt of at least 10 sentences in length.  Some ways to respond would be to mention your strengths and weaknesses in your habits or skills; mention a favorite or worst assignment, talk about your grades in English, how some particular teacher really helped you, what activities you really enjoyed, if you work better in groups or alone, what you do outside of school  (do you read or write outside of school?), or whatever you can think of related to one or both of those two questions.

Prompt 2:  Artifact. (due next Friday) Copy and paste an example passage of your writing that you have done in the past.  It can be any saved file that you have, this year or even in previous years.  It needs to be at least a paragraph in length, but try not to go over three paragraphs.
Answer the following questions to introduce the copied and pasted text:

1. What is this piece of writing?
2. Aside from being told to by Mr. Stowell, why did you choose this piece of writing?
3. What does this piece of writing show about you as a writer?
4. Does this piece show any of your strengths?
5. Does this piece show any of your weaknesses?

Prompt 2 (alternate): If you can’t find a piece of text to copy and paste (shame on you for not saving anything!), then you may write a two-paragraph response to the following prompt, and then answer the questions above.

• It’s the year 2030 and your space-car just crash-landed on an alien planet, while you were traveling on vacation with your two friends.  Your car is broken; you only have what you packed with you for your vacation to the beach planet, Vespia.  This planet looks like a prehistoric jungle.  It looks like you may be stuck here for a loooooong time.  Include dialog and sensory details.  Be sure to also answer the questions above.

Today - NECAP Testing - meeting only periods 2 and 3

I hope you guys are making me proud!  Following the directions, inserting quotes and summarized information from the text, and filling the box!  Don't forget those thesis statements and conclusions!

In class today, we are continuing our discovery of the kidblog.org website as an educational tool.  You need to respond to two writing prompts, prompt one due Wednesday, 10/20, and prompt two on the following Friday.

Homework:  Post the following two prompts on kidblog.org, first one Wednesday, second one Friday.  If time permits, you may be allowed to give constructive feedback to other's postings.

Today's Activities: Assessing Sentence Combining and Introduction to kidblog

Hey Kids,

Today we took the assessment on your sentence combining skills.  If you were absent, you need to make up this quiz tomorrow during flex.
Afterward, you were introduced to kidblog.org.  It is a safe and secure for you to post brainstorm lists, and display your writing assignments, and have only your classmates and your teacher respond to them.  See me if you forget how to log in.

Homework:  Post your "Five Teachable Skills" list onto kidblog, and comment on as many other classmates' posted lists as you like.  Remember, I moderate all comments, and expect you to not only demonstrate proper manners in giving constructive feedback, but that it is also correctly spelled and punctuated.

Answer keys

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

Today's Activities: Run-ons and Fragments

If you missed the notes today on "Finding Verbs and Subjects" and on run-ons and fragments, check out this link: notes. 

After the notes, we started the homework in class.  If you were absent, pick up the homework from me tomorrow.


Homework:  finish the sentence combining review and run-on/fragment worksheets.

Today's Activities

Hey Class,

Today we talked about sentence combining.  You were given a handout that explains it in class today.  If you were absent, make sure you get it tomorrow.  Basically, there are two rules to remember when you combine smaller sentences into a longer one.

1) Make sure the combined sentence has the same meaning as the smaller sentences.
2)  Make sure that the sentence flows smoothly, without a lot of repeated phrases.

Homework:  Complete the two worksheets.  We corrected most of the first one in class.  The second one deals with sentences from Harry Potter and we'll correct it in class tomorrow.

Today's Activities

Today in class we played "NECAPORDY," a Jeopardy-like game that involves NECAP grammar questions.  Some of the categories were: verb tenses, spelling, capitalization, comma usage, apostrophes, colons, semicolons, fragments, run-ons, dialog punctuation, and sentence combining.

Homework:  None.

Today's Activities

Today in class, we reviewed the homework.  Afterward, we saw examples of what a "level-4" response would be to the reading, and also saw other levels.  The important thing was that your paragraph response included a thesis statement, several examples of how the pounds were different, and then ended with a conclusion sentence.  Of course, your response had to fill the box.

For tonight, you have one more reading response concerning two poems.  We read the poems in class, and discussed the message of each poem.  Then we talked about what a thesis would look like for that response paragraph.  It was something along the lines of....

The titles of the poems "Progress" and "A New Age" really show their message of changing technology and its relationship to music.

Homework:  Finish the reading response if you didn't finish it in class.

Today's Activities

Okay, so today is a bit of a catch-up day. You will be getting your dialog quizzes back. If you wish to retake it, you need to meet with me and take it after school (or in flex) by next Wednesday. While we're at it, all narrative rewrites due tomorrow...I only had three people meet with me to rewrite.

Today in class:

• pass back quizzes.
• grade


• "A Storm is Coming" and "How to Eat a Poem"
• "Lightning" and "Letter to Mr. O'Malley"
• narrative reflections and top-10 lists


• While I'm grading and collecting assignments, you will do another NECAP test prep. exercise.  It's another dialog, based off of a visual prompt.  You will finish it in class.
• NECAP example responses - discussion
• Afterward, we will share parts of our narratives, top-10s, or dialogs.

Homework: NONE! (unless you didn't finish the in-class writing)

"How to Eat a Poem"

How to Eat a Poem

Don’t be polite.

Bite in.

Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that

            may run down your chin.

It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon

or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core

or stem

or rind

or pit

or seed

or skin

to throw away.

                                              —Eve Merriam

Today's Activities - More NECAP writing

Hi Folks,

Over the weekend you responded to two writing prompts: 1)"Lightning" and 2) "Letter to the Principal."  In class today, we went over examples of real student work at all levels.  We saw what a "4" response is, and what makes it awesome, and what a terrible "1" looks like.  For another look at the examples, you can go to the state's website here.

Next, we talked about the two prompts that you have for tonight's homework.
1)"A Storm Is Coming" asks you to simply use your sharpened skills of sensory detail description to describe an approaching storm.  Make sure you mix up long and short sentences.  That's it - describe every one of the five senses for that storm!

2)"How to Eat a Poem" is a poem that compares the act of reading/experiencing a poem to the act of eating a juicy, delicious piece of fruit.  Whenever you here "compare" in the directions, like with this assignment, your response paragraph should look like the classic "C & C" paragraph.  See the screenshot in the previous posting.  This is the harder of the two writing responses.

Homework:  (see above)  due tomorrow

C & C Paragraphs

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

Today's Activities - NECAP test taking strategies.

First off, we went over the homework that is due today.  You had to create a dialog between two people having an argument.  We went over how the NECAP scorers actually grade your response, and we saw examples of students responses for scores of 4 (perfect) - 1 (really terrible).  Essentially, the main criteria they looked for was...

• length...sad, but true
• use of dialog punctuation rules....don't forget to indent with each change of speaker!
• detail, and being "on-topic"  You can have fun, and please be creative...as long as you flow and stay on topic.

Secondly, I actually applied those scoring techniques to your homework...congratulations, most of you scored a 3 or a 4!

Next, we talked about today's homework, which is a sample part of the reading test.  We talked about certain strategies you want to apply:

• First thing you do, is read the questions.  If you can answer some of the questions using logic, without even reading the passage, go for it!
• Secondly, after every question, write a "to-do" list of things you will be looking for while reading.
• write in the margins, a two-three word summary of each paragraph.
• once you do that, you can look back at all the summaries, and figure out the "main idea" (a.k.a. "also known as" the thesis).
• Now, as you read, and summarize in the margins, you will also highlight....be choosy about what you highlight.   Only highlight...
• sentences with words you need to define.
• parts that directly answer questions.
• sentences you think are the thesis.  (Even though your teachers have always taught you that your thesis needs to be the last sentence of the intro paragraph, in these passages, it's not EXACTLY the case...but the thesis will always be SOMEWHERE in the first couple of paragraphs.

Today's Activities

Today we took the dialog quiz.  It will take me a few days to get it graded.  When you get it back, and find that you did not do well, you may make it up by the following Wednesday, only if you meet with me first (flex or after school).

Homework:  Finish the NECAP test-prep dialog you started in class after the quiz.

Today's Activities

In class, we corrected the last dialog worksheet, which focused on rules 8 and 9, from yesterday's notes.  Afterward, I passed back the personal narratives, and awarded the "hookiest hook."  Students reviewed teacher comments on their essays, then answered the following two questions, adding them to their narrative reflections:
1)  Did I get the grade I thought I was going to get?
2) What's one thing I want to pay more attention to on the next essay?

Students are asked to keep their narratives in the English section of their binder for one week. 

For homework:  Study for the dialog quiz!

• prewrite the dialog, if you are taking the extreme version of the quiz
• copy down examples from your corrected exercises, (don't forget that I gave you the answers on this blog.
• make sure your notes are clear, readable, organized, and in you English section.
• make flashcards for the seven rules!

Mr. Stowell's Editing Marks

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

More on rule #8: "Change-Indent"

check out this link

Dialog Rules

Today in class, we will...

• learn the important dialog rules
• learn the MOST important dialogue rules (number 8 and then 3) (see screen-shots in below post)
• if you have time, either start the homework, or check out a book from the library for Wednesday's independent reading.
• tomorrow we will go over our personal narrative reflections, you will get your narratives passed back, and we will go over the top 10 lists.

For homework, you will....

• complete the new grammar exercises (the brown sheet).  Due tomorrow.
• Dialog quiz is on Wednesday - open "hand-written" notes.
• Bring in an independent reading book for Wednesday flex-time.

Screen-shots of the Dialog Punctuation Rules

So, if you want to bulk up your notes, you can do two things:  1) copy over the below examples; 2) copy examples from the two worksheets.

Publish Post

Last Night's Parent Night!

Hey kids,  We had a great time meeting with your parents last night!  I told them all to bake me cookies - feel free to keep nagging them!  Below is the presentation that I showed them, in-case you're curious.

Today's Activities - Presentation from Guidance

Hi kids,  Happy Friday!  Today guidance is giving you a presentation to start you off for the year.  The next time we meet as a class is on Monday. 

Homework:  If you haven't passed them in already, you need to have printed off two things for Monday:
1)  Your narrative reflection.  See the questions in the post below.
2)  Your "Top 10" List...again see below if you're stuck for categories.

Today's Class Activities

First, we will type a writing reflection on your personal narrative essay.  Be sure to address the following questions with a complete sentence each:

1. How proud are you of this personal narrative?
2. What do you specifically like about it?
3. What do you wish you could have done better?
4. How hard was this writing assignment?
5. How long did it take you?
6. Did you split up the assignment into chunks, or write it all at once?
7. How well did you stick to the main idea in your essay?
8. How do you think you did with respect to including sensory details?
9. Do you think your anecdote has a clear point to it?
10. How have you changed as a writer as a result of this essay?
11. What did you learn about writing from the personal narrative assignment?

Secondly, we will begin brainstorming in pairs or alone, a top-ten list.  Possible categories are:

Cool websites, sports stars, energy drinks, sci-fi bad-guys, pizza toppings, action movies, scary movies, American Idols, "metal" bands, Greenday songs, songs to learn on guitar, things you need to survive the zombie apocalypse, things you would want on a deserted island.

Homework:  finish brainstorming your top-ten list.  Due tomorrow.

Answers to exercises 4 and 5

Exercise 4 (p. 238)

    “Good evening. Welcome to the Jay O’Casey Show. Our guest this evening is Mr. Noah Life who has spent the last several years reading the complete fifty-volume set of the Oxford English Dictionary. Welcome, Mr. Life.”

    “Thank you, Mr. OKC.”

    “Call me Jay. Now tell me, what motivated you to read the entire dictionary?”

    “Well, Mr. OKC, I mean J, because it was there.”

    “I see.” 

    “J, those happen to be two of my favorite letters.”

    “Okay.”

    “Those, too, J.” 

    “Let’s move on. Let me ask you this. In addition to I, C, and O, K, what are some of your other favorite letters of the dictionary?” 

    “Well, I’d have to say P because it has plot, but the A section was pretty good too because it has action.” “I see. Do you like T?” 

    “No, I prefer coffee, thank you, J.” 

    “You know, Mr. Life, some people say that you’re quite a shallow person. How do you respond to these critics?” 

    “I enjoy deep sea diving, J.” 

    “I see. Well, unfortunately we’re out of time. Thank you for joining me.” 

    “Uh, J, before I go, I’d just like to say hello to my kids, Dee, Bea, and Kay.” 

    “Join me tomorrow night when our guest will be the great-great grandson of the inventor of the paper clip.  Good night for now, America.”

Exercise 5 (p. 239)

“Over

“I 

“The

“I 

life.”

How to upload files to Google Docs

click this link

Helpful slideshow in how to do MLA

After collecting some of you essays, I noticed some of you still didn't quite get this down.  Most of you forgot to either double space your name, teacher name, etc.....or some of you even centered all of your text, instead of just your title.......Check it OUT!!!

MLA screenshot

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

M.L.A. Format

Today in class we will...

• log into the computers and bring up our essay drafts, if possible.
• Go over M.L.A. format (see board screen shot in the post above)
• apply the format to our essays.
• put finishing touches on our essays.
• dialog homework is checked, and corrections will happen Wednesday (or you can see the post below).
• begin exercises 4 and 5.

Homework:

• finish exercises 4,5
• check last night's homework corrections
• bring in your corrected final draft for class tomorrow, in MLA format.

Answers to the Dialog Homework

Exercise 1 (pp. 235-240)

. . “I collect jellyfish on the beach,” said Ralph, “because they make excellent erasers.” 2. “ How did pioneer women fix their hair?” asked Dody. “I don’t think they had blow dryers.” 3. “My favorite song is ‘Tomorrow,’” said Opie. “I wish I could play it on the xylophone.” 4. “I prefer to play jumbo golf,” said Durwin, “not miniature.” 5. “I got a part in the school play!” exclaimed Bula. “I’m going to be a pitted olive!” 6. Horace exclaimed, “I can’t believe those mutant gnats actually attacked a rhino!”
7. “I think the reason Maude is a starving artist,” remarked Dodson, “is because she only paints pictures of cephalopods.” 8. “As a member of the Ferret Preservation Society,” remarked Waldo, “I’ve learned to appreciate rodents.” 9. “Doctor,” said Donald to his psychiatrist, “sometimes I think I’m a turnip.” 0. “A pushy officer pulled me over,” blurted Prissy, “and I was only going ninety-five in a school zone!” . “I’ve noticed,” observed Egbert, “that clocks always run clockwise.” 2. “I just heard a cow bark,” remarked Opal. “It sounded like a Chihuahua!” 3. Wilamena excitedly told her mother, “For Halloween, I’m going to be a grilled cheese sandwich!”
4. “I bought a new mouse for my computer,” muttered Mortimer Duncely, “but it crawls all over my monitor.” 5. C

Exercise 2 (pp. 236-237)

. “ Large roaches,” Hubert noted, “sometimes feed on cattle.” 2. Timmy cried, “I want a pony for my birthday!” However, his parents gave him a pack of gum instead. 3. “I have insomnia,” yawned Ronald, “but it doesn’t keep me up at night.” 4. “Ostriches with fleas,” remarked Louise, “are often ostracized by their peers.” 5. “I have a pet turtle,” announced Roland, “and he looks just like my grandfather.” 6. “ I wish Christmas would come in July,” whined Lizzy, “so the shops wouldn’t be so busy.” 7. “The reason my bulldog’s face is flat,” admitted Barker, “is because he chases parked cars.” 8. “Sometimes I wish I were the windshield, not the bug,” moaned Dudley. 9. “Instead of wearing a hat with my outfit,” said Rhoda, “sometimes I prefer to wear a matching toad.” 0. C . “I was shocked,” said Holly, “when the principal shouted, ‘We’re having a meteorite storm! Take cover!’” 2. “For my poetry presentation,” said Scuzzy, “I would like to read a selection entitled ‘Dustmites.’” 3. Vinnie inquired, “Why is it impossible to tickle yourself?” 4. “I was so excited when Arnold looked into my eyes!” Zoey exclaimed. “I was crushed, though, when he told me that I had a piece of spinach between my teeth.” 5. The guide shouted, “Watch out for the killer chiggers!”

Exercise 3 (p. 237)
At the County Fair, Senator Sham was campaigning furiously for his shaky reelection bid. “Senator,” asked one reporter, “will you raise taxes if you’re reelected?” “That’s a good question,” the senator replied, trying to look thoughtful. “So let me give you a straight answer. I
don’t intend to raise taxes unless, of course, in case of a serious situation like war or rain or something. However, even then I won’t, unless I do.”
The reporter looked puzzled but continued. “Will you support education?”
“Of course, I think that every young person should be illiterate enough to read and write.” “Also, Senator, how do you intend to handle the budget?” “Simple. Let me give you some concrete ways. I’ll make a detailed budget that’s within budget. First, I’ll clean
out the attic and sweep out the dust. Then I’ll budget for the budget with funds from various funds.
“And one last question, Senator. How do you explain your recent criminal conviction?” The senator’s tanned face turned slightly pale. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear that last question,” he finally
stammered, and in a flash he was off to kiss a nearby baby and hug a retired person.

How to get points for your essay....

• 5 points for each dialog quote....if it's correctly punctuated.
• 3 points for each smell sensory detail...only if it is DETAILED!
• 3 points for each touch sensory detail...only if it is DETAILED!
• 2 points for other sound, sight, or taste sensory details...only if they are DETAILED!
• 1 point for each transitional word or phrase.
• 10 points for the most interesting title in class
• -10 points for no title or something lame like "My English Essay"
• 15 points for having your guardian or parent write "I have read and discussed this draft with (your name) and think it is ready to turn in." ON YOUR RUBRIC!  

Did you lose your rubric?  Get another one here.

Dialog, Tranisitions, and Revising our complete drafts

In today's class we will....

• complete the dreaded seating chart - get out your name tags!
• go over some of the rules for dialog
• go over transitions
• "since that time..."
• "what I learned from that was..."
• "the next thing that happened...."
• "from all of that I know that..."
• "the first thing that happened..."
• "next....," "then...," "afterward....,"
• check our drafts for transitions, thesis, and sensory details - in-class competition for bonus points!!

For Homework:

• finish dialog exercises 1, 2, 3 - due Monday if you couldn't do it in class.
• revise draft, check your rubric - get it signed by a parent/guardian for points.
• Final draft due at the end of class on MONDAY!

Working on Introduction and the Conclusion

Today's class activities -

• Review the introduction paragraph and share within your groups
• does it properly set up your anecdote?
• Example of my introduction paragraph
• revise your intro
• What goes into your conclusion paragraph?
• Example of my conclusion paragraph 
• Write your conclusions

Homework:  Okay, it's time to put it all together!  You need to bring in a typed rough draft of all three pieces: the intro, the body (the "anecdote" or the "exploded moment"), and the conclusion.  Yes, you need to bring in a typed draft.  Yes....typed.  Tomorrow.  If you know you wont be able to do this, let me know in class today.  Or, if a problem arises tonight, email me at dstowell@sau16.org

 ....Hey, want to see my entire essay?  Click here!

The conclusion paragraph

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

The body

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

Intro paragraph

Sent on the run with my lovely iPhone!

Revising your anecdote and writing an introduction

Today we'll do two things - revise our anecdote and talk about writing your introduction paragraph.

Check out how I revised my appendix operation anecdote here:

•  Go over my rough draft and revision example (the link is above)
• In partners, share anecdotes, and find two more types of sensory details to add, and one vivid verb.
• please copy down the outline diagram that I put on the board (the next three blog postings have the pictures of it) - this will show you how to set up the three parts of your essay: introduction, body (anecdote), and conclusion.

Homework:  Revise your anecdote to include more dialog, sensory details, and vivid verbs.  Write a rough draft of your introduction.

Stations - working on your narrative

Today we are working on the "anecdote" of our narrative.  There are three stations in class today.

• Station A:  Analyzing an example essay.  Use your rubric (that's on the back of your narrative handout) to figure out why the example essay received the grade that is on the example essay.
• Station B:  Filling out a graphic organizer.  There are three types of graphic organizers to choose from.  
• Sensory details - invent the sensory details that may have occurred during the anecdote
• What is the point? - use the surrounding questions to help you find out what the "thesis" or the main point of your anecdote.
• Outline - only do this one if you have a good idea what to do for your anecdote, and also your intro and conclusion paragraphs - this is an advanced graphic organizer - make sure you read your handout THOROUGHLY.
• Station C:  Jumping right to the rough draft of your anecdote - write at LEAST ONE paragraph concerning your anecdote.  The anecdote concerns the 5-10 most important moments of the event you choose to write about.  It must be chock-full of sensory details - especially the sensory detail of sound...for sound....you MUST include dialog.

Homework: both items are due tomorrow.
1) You must either have completed the paragraph for Station A, or the graphic organizer for Station B.
2) You need to "explode the moment" for the 5-10 most important minutes of your event.  This most important part of your event is called the anecdote.  You explode it by adding as many SPECIFIC sensory details as possible.  You MUST also include some DIALOG (speaking).  Invent those details if you don't remember them!  Your anecdote must be AT LEAST one paragraph of 7-9 sentences...but do more if you want to!

Do you have an iPod Touch with a microphone?

Dragon Dictation is an awesome little "app" that can help with your writing!  You can talk to it and it writes down what what you say!  Then you can email the text to yourself...cool, huh?

Thursday, September 2nd

Congrats on your first week of school - it was a great one!

Today's activities:

• One more paragraph!
• Groups of three - vote on the best paragraph - that option will most likely be your best story.
• Discuss the narrative handout - any questions?
• Narrative essay - what's ahead for Tuesday.
• (if time) Last year's examples
• (if time) Name game

Homework:  none.  Enjoy you last summerish, long weekend.  Think about your narrative, and try to come up with sensory details - if you're itching to start - go right ahead; don't wait for us!

Wednesday, September 1st

Today's Activities:

• contest: who knows the most names?
• discussion: mnemonic devices, working memory, and learning
• Introduce the narrative 
• http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddh7j72z_166ff4s3jfz 
• Free-write: narrative scenarios.

 Homework:  Free-write to at least two of the following scenarios.  Write enough to give your reader an understanding of what happened (a good paragraph each should do).  Due tomorrow.

Free-write scenarios:

A)  Write about a time when you were scared out of your wits.
B)  Write about the most memorable moment you have of your mom/dad/grandparent/uncle/aunt/sibling...etc.
C)  Write about something you did that was hard, but you did it, and you're really proud of yourself for doing it.
D)  Write about the coolest place you went - not cool because you had fun, but cool because you learned something important.
E)  Write about a failure (sports or school, or disappointing someone) that really affected you.
F)  Write about a time when someone close to you really helped you out of a jam, or when you helped someone out of a jam.
G)  Write about a significant illness or injury that you had to deal with (in either yourself or a family member).
H)  Write about a time where you accomplished a life's goal, or a family member did while you were around.

Tuesday, August 31st.

Today's Activities

• review alliteration and full-rhyme
• homework check: A, B, C, D, U.
• Class Policies and Rules - the basics.

• Complete list of class rules and policies

Homework:  Be prepared for a contest on names tomorrow.  Review class rules.  Check Moodle.  Find this blog.

Monday, August 30

Today's Activities:  Monday, August 30

• Resources you need to know, now.
• Class Moodle Page
• Class Daily Blog
• Alliteration/Full-Rhyme Name Tags - started in class, finished at home.
• Definition of Alliteration and full-rhyme can be found on this poetry terms definition page:
• http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddh7j72z_33cxjcmfdh
• Name tags must have a picture of a meaningful symbol that has either an alliteration or a full-rhyme with your name (first or last, or whatever name you wish to be called in class by your teacher and fellow students - be appropriate, of course), and your name written clearly.
• Example:

• Homework:
• Name tags need to be in full-color, and have above named requirements for credit.  Due tomorrow.  There will be a contest for who can know the most names in class Wednesday.

Welcome Class of 2015!

Hi Folks!  This is where I'll post assignments, pictures (of the whiteboard), videos, links, and other resources for you to use in this class!  Also, you'll be able to respond, ask questions to myself of other team members, and let your voice be heard.  Take a look around!