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

CHAT Wrting 1 Class Notes--Weekk 9 (10/30)

 Dear Students,

We were rolling quite along today and spirits were high!

Quick Write

After a Quick Write about this artistic interpretation of Peter Pan (with stop  motion animation using American Girl Dolls!), we got started with the class.

Literature

We finished Peter Pan this week which means it was time for the final exam :)  Students took the exam in class.  Students picked up their copy of  A Christmas Carol this week. We read part of the document called “Introduction to A Christmas Carol” in class. There is a quiz assigned on Google Classroom over that material.They should read Stave 1 and answer 3 questions (Reader Response) this week. I also handed out the A Christmas Carol Vocabulary worksheet. This is a long range project that they should work on as they read. They should define 4 words per Stave. It is due at the end of the semester.

Writing

The Biography KWO was due today. Students who met the deadline received points for that. If you didn’t show it to me in class today, you may scan and upload it to Google Classroom by midnight tonight for full credit. After that, I will close the submissions. 

This essay requires some research and students will be getting practice incorporating MLA style quotes and paraphrases.   To help students include these quotes smoothly, we use the acronym ICE. We had a mini-lesson on this concept today. Next week, there will be a Door Quiz on what the acronym ICE stands for.

I=Introduce C=Cite E=Explain

Since they are required to incorporate at least one quote and one paraphrase, they will need to complete a Works Cited page for this essay. I handed out a sample of what that should look like and  posted a slideshow on details. Since most academic writers use online helps, I encouraged students to consult the MLA Style Center if they have questions about how to format a citation for their Works Cited page. Online citation generators like My Bib or Owl Purdue are also VERY helpful.

Grammar

No Grammar today. I decided to postpone the Grammar presentations today. Instead, we will have two presentations next week:  Conjunctions & Adverbs. (See below.)

Have a great weekend and–try not to eat too much candy!!

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homework

Biography Essay--bring it to class for Peer Review!

MLA Quotations, Summarizing & Paraphrasing

Quiz–Introduction to A Christmas Carol 

ACC 3 Questions

ACC Vocabulary–Not due until Week 15!

Links for this week

Quick Write

ACC Introductory Material

MLA In Text Citation Practice + MLA Sample

Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 8 (10/23)

We are officially halfway through the Fall semester now.  Can you believe it?!? Things are heating up homeworkwise in Writing 1. You will definitely need to work a a little each day to keep up this week. Be encouraged, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Visual Vocabulary

Our words today were obtrude and licentious.  We talked about how Elsa’s catchy song is essentially about licentiousness. When someone else’s licentious behavior obtrudes on another person, in some cases, it could be considered a crime! Deep conversation while learning vocabulary words!

Writing

Today was a writing heavy day. I handed back paper copies of their essays. If they were submitted on GC, I printed them out. I find it is helpful to have a hard copy in order to do this next step:  Final Edits. 

Here’s a step by step of that process:

Step 1:  Number all the marked errors on your paper for both grammar and content issues. (Each student has a copy of the Grammar Codes and the Content Codes for this essay.)

Step 2: On a separate sheet of binder paper, work through each of your errors by (neatly) writing the rule you violated and showing how you would correct the error.

Please note: you do NOT need to rewrite the entire essay

Step 3: Staple these hand-written corrections to a paper copy of your essay and turn in. They are due next week.You may also submit on GC by scanning your marked up essay and your handwritten corrections and posting them to the Edits assignment. (No pictures, please.)

Optional Step 4:  If you are not satisfied with the grade your essay earned, you are invited to resubmit it after you have polished it and applied the suggested corrections. In this case, write “Resubmitted” on the Edits you will turn in

After practicing this skill together on a sample paragraph, students got a start on those edits in class.

Last, I handed out the description of our next essay: the Biography Essay. Students will choose a fascinating person and write about their life and work. Here are the parameters:

• They must be an important historical figure

• They must be no longer living

• No pop stars

They are required to include some Style elements and a Works Cited page for this one. I will do some teaching on that subject next week. The KWO is due next week along with a list of possible sources. 

Grammar

We're continuing with the Parts of Speech presentations, and today we had the Nouns group.  After a short teaching, they had a Mad Libs style activity for students to play and a worksheet. They have homework to practice identifying nouns.   Here are the next next two groups on deck:

Literature

This is our last assignment on Peter Pan. They are to finish the book and answer the 3 Questions Reader Response. Have your tissues ready as the Darling kids return home. It is especially poignant when Peter visits years in the future only to find Wendy completely grown up with a daughter of her own.

To review for the in-class test next week, students should look at the Study Guide & KEY that is posted on Google Classroom.

That’s it!  Reach out with any questions.

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homework

Personal Essay Final Edits

Biography Essay KWO

Finish Peter Pan– Chapters 16 & 17–Review for Final Exam

3 Questions–Reader Response

Nouns Homework–1

Nouns Homework–2

Nouns Evaluation

IVAN Review Quizzes (open notes)

Interjections

Verbs

Adjectives

Nouns

Links for this Week

Visual Vocabulary

About the Biography Essay

Peter Pan Study Guide