Writing 1: Writing 1 Class Notes

We had a good class today. The students were ready to learn and we got a lot accomplished.

Quick Write

The students had a prompt today about “Fun theory”. They watched a short video about a company’s attempt to encourage commuters to take the stairs instead of the escalator because it’s healthier. Does making something “fun” encourage people to make better choices?

How would you describe “Fun theory”?
Describe a time you devised a way to make an odious task more “fun”.
Pretend you are one of those stairway goers–describe your experience
How could you incorporate “fun theory” into your life?
Or whatever!

Words of the Day

I started something new this week for Words of the Day. I handed out punched index cards with an O ring. Students are to write the definition and etymology of the word. On the reverse side, they’ll do a short activity to make the definition “stick”--like make a list or a quick drawing. Research shows interacting with a word helps us remember it. I hope to hear students using these words in conversation or to incorporate them in their writing.

(Learning-process related words)

Dilettante–fr Latin delectare, to delight, charm, please; formerly positive connotation, but has shifted to negative connotation. Means a person who takes up an art, subject or activity merely for amusement; a dabbler

Neophyte–fr Latin neophytus; neo=new; phytos=planted; means a beginner or novice

Writing Discussion

I handed back the Descriptive Rough Drafts either on paper or Google Classroom–wherever it was submitted. We went over a few common mistakes. Students were to start a document in their folders or notebooks titled either "Watch out for ..." or "Areas to Work On." On this page I want students to keep track of their own common writing mistakes. We will refer to this list often over the course of the year, using it to set personal writing goals and to gauge progress.

Literature Discussion

The class has read the first 2 chapters of Animal Farm and done their first set of reader responses. We talked a bit about the tenets of Animalism. Next week we will have a 4-Square Discussion on Chapters 1 - 4. (More on that next week.)

Grammar Topics

I gave the students two documents to help them plan for their parts of speech presentations. Students grouped up for their parts of speech using a random name generator. I took the liberty to tweak the arrangements and assign the parts of speech to save time. (See the list below). Students will have time next week in class to prepare for their presentations.

As an Extra Credit assignment, they can submit a picture of "IVAN CAPP" (our mnemonic device for the parts of speech) to be voted on as a class favorite to use as a mascot for this unit. As a class, they decided to make this a competition. May the best IVAN CAPP win! We will vote next week, so if a student hasn't done a picture but wants to, there's still time.

Parts of Speech Groups

Interjections -- Celia, Grace, Lydia

Verbs -- Lily, Stella, Maesen

Adjectives -- Doug, Gabe

Nouns -- Vivi, Annie, Phoebe

Conjunctions -- Elliot, Judah

Adverbs -- Teegan, Jack

Pronouns --Kirsten, Avery, Esther

Prepositions -- Zach, Henry

Assignments for Next Week

–Week 4 Take Home Quiz

–Ch 3-4 Questions (EXTRA CREDIT)