CHAT Writing 1 Class Notes--Week 12 (11/20)

 Dear Students,

The weather is turning and we are all ready for a break! But before the break:  one last class!  

Visual Vocabulary

I opened class with a Bellringer activity to practice paraphrasing. After that, we did our usual visual vocabulary words.  This week the words are:  felonious and elated. Hopefully, you are not elated about something felonious!

Writing

Today, the KWO on Victorian Inventions was due.  During their work time today, I circulated and gave credit to those who met their deadline. I will close this assignment by midnight tonight. Part of learning how to be a good student is learning how to budget time wisely. I hate being a stickler about deadlines–on the other hand, since we are on about a three week essay cycle, and I know from experience that once a student gets behind, it is very difficult to dig out of that hole. That is why I tend to be strict about writing due dates. On that note, I have changed the due dates for this last essay, see below:

Victorian Invention KWO due–11/20 (WK 12)               🦃~~Thanksgiving Break~~🦃 Victorian Invention Essay due–12/4 (WK 13) Final Edits due–12/18 (WK 15)

In preparation for writing the final essay this semester, which incorporates some research, we had a Writing Circle discussion about MLA Style citations. Students have been handling this skill fairly well, but supporting claims using citations can always use some practice. Each small group was given a folder with directions on how to cite the most common sources:  books, online articles, podcasts, videos/Youtube, and movies. After taking a look at those, I gave each group a stack of cards with an example of each type of source. Their job was to compose a Works Cited entry AND show how to cite the source in their writing. They were very engaged in this task! 

Literature

Over break, students should read the rest of Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol and answer 3 Questions from the worksheet.  They should also answer the fun Discussion question posted on Google Classroom about who played Scrooge the best on the “silver screen.” 

Though we haven’t had the opportunity to have a full-blown class discussion on this novella yet, I gave the preview that in this Stave, we meet the final ghost.  After break, we will have a discussion and activity on how these three “spirits of Christmas” nudge Scrooge towards his transformation. Last, I reminded the class about the A Christmas Carol vocabulary worksheet that is due 12/11 (WK 14).  If they have been defining four vocabulary words from each Stave as they have been reading, it should be a simple matter of finishing. It is worth 40 pts, so it is a big project! 

Grammar

The Pronouns Group presented today with a fun mini-lesson, game of Bingo and worksheet. As usual, they have two worksheets from me. Don’t forget to fill out the Evaluation for the Pronouns group. Our last presentation on prepositions will be presented when we come back from break on December 4th (Jediah, Toby & Aaron).

That’s all for now. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and break. We have so much to be thankful for!

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homework

Victorian Invention Essay–due 12/14

Final Edits–Biography Essay

Pronouns–1

Pronouns–2

Pronouns Evaluation

Read Stave 4 ACC

3 Questions

ACC Discussion Question–Which Scrooge?

Links for this week

Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 11 (Nov. 13)

Hi Everyone!

We had a great class today!  I am always encouraged to see such bright, inquisitive students each week who are engaged and ready to learn!

We kicked off with our Quick Write.  First we had  a mini-lesson on our next Dress-up called strong verbs. We discussed a great way to identify verbs and strong verbs vs. weak verbs. One of the best ways to encourage strong verbs is to ban weak verbs, so we banned our first weak verb:  go/went (come/came.) Students started building a list of alternatives to that oft-used weak verb. We started an alternative word list for these banned verbs and will add to it throughout the year.

 I gave them a choice of writing prompts to practice using strong verbs:

• National Parents as Teachers Day

• National Fast Food Day or

• Tell some current faves: songs, Youtube channel, Podcast or game.

Writing

Today, the Biography Essays were due. After they are graded (and coded) I will hand them back. Students will then use their Grammar and Content Codes to perform their Final Edits. 

We took a few minutes to discuss introductions and conclusions using a worksheet. We identified a clear thesis and roadmap sentence, style points and the topic-clincher rule for the sample I handed out. 

In the meantime, it was time to introduce our next and LAST essay for the semester. Students will be researching and writing about a Victorian Invention. It goes well with the time periods of Peter Pan and A Christmas Carol. Today we went over the requirements of the essay and brainstormed some ideas. The Victorian Invention KWO is due next week.

Please note, there is a change in due dates for the last writing assignments. See below:

Victorian Invention KWO due–11/20 (WK 12)               🦃~~Thanksgiving Break~~🦃 Victorian Invention Essay due–12/4 (WK 13) Final Edits due–12/18 (WK 15)

Grammar

Today’s part of speech presentation was the Adverbs group. They had a mini-lesson, a fun game of  hangman and a worksheet. They also had two worksheets from me. Though I have decided to cancel the Conjunctions worksheets from last week due to printer issues, there was an option for extra credit by doing one of the Conjunctions worksheets from last week; simply turn it in the bin next week. 😀

I hear the weather is going to warm up! Enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. G

Homework

Victorian Invention Essay KWO

Read Stave 3 A Christmas Carol

3 Questions on ACC

Favorite Christmas Foods Discussion Question (GC)

Adverbs Homework–1

Adverbs Homework–2

Adverbs Evaluation

Links for this Week

Quick Write #5 & strong verbs

About the Victorian Invention Essay

Introduction and Conclusion practice

CHAT Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 10 (11/6)

 We are buzzing along in our semester and these students are learning a lot!

We started the class with our Visual Vocabulary words:  pensive and beleaguered.  We also had a Door Quiz over the acronym ICE for in-text citations:

I=Introduce C=Cite E=Explain

Writing

Speaking of writing, today was our Peer Review day for the Biography essays. Using a checklist, students gave some high quality feedback to their peers. I am hoping that it will be incorporated as they continue to polish their essays.They are due next week.

Grammar

We have now finished the IVAN section of our mnemonic device and are moving on to CAPP. Today’s topic was C=conjunctions.  They had teaching, a very creative activity and a worksheet designed by them. They are to finish the group’s game and worksheet. No grammar sheets from me this week. Make sure to fill out an evaluation for that group.  

We need to adjust our presentation schedule and push it back by one week. Next week, the Adverbs group  will present–see below:

Literature

Students have started the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens has named each of the five chapters of his book “staves”--like the lines on a music staff.  There are five lines/staves in musical notation, and there are five chapters.  It is a carol (song) afterall!  No time for a discussion on  Stave 1 today, but they are to read Stave 2 as homework and answer questions.

Have a blessed weekend!

Mrs. G

Homework

Read Stave 2

3 Questions–Stave 2

Biography Essay

Conjunction Groups’ Game & Worksheet (handed out in class)

Conjunctions Evaluation

Links for this week

Visual Vocabulary #5

Conjunction group video