Below is an explanation for Writer's Notebook entries and Reader Responses.
I'm expecting about 3 writer's entries per week in your notebook. I will
check your Writer's Notebook at least twice every Six Weeks.
The Writer’s Notebook
A place for you to live as a writer. Keep all your writing in this notebook
and/or portfolio envelope— writing in and outside of class!
What makes a writer? A writer sees something cool and does something about
it.
If a writer overhears a crazy conversation, they write it down.
If they see an unusual person, they write a quick character sketch of them.
If they have a vivid dream, they write it down and extend it.
If they wish they would have said something during an argument, then they re-
write the argument.
Other Ideas: Memories, drawings, newspaper articles, quotations, images,
word lists, ideas for stories, poems, songs, rap lyrics, dialogues,
experiences, events, rewrites of any of the above . . .
*THE WRITING IN THIS NOTEBOOK WILL BECOME PUBLISHABLE PIECES THAT YOU WILL
TURN IN TO ME AND SHARE WITH OTHERS IN A YEAR END ANTHOLOGY! *
HOMEWORK- 2nd Sixth Weeks
Week of 10/05/09: I just realized what I posted last week did not appear for
some reason. I apologize for that. Last week, Master Words #4 were due and
they needed to finish at least a first draft with revision on their lead and
another area of their story.
This week will be no Master Words and we will write the final copy of our
personal narrative. The final copy will be seperate from the writer's
notebook and due Thursday at the end of class.
Week of 10/13/09: No Master Words this week. Only homework is to find and
bring an expository text over a topic that they would like to read or know
more about. They need the expository text by Friday. We are starting the
Bookmark Assignment on Friday, which is a response to a published piece of
writing, so I would like them to have the freedom to choose their selection
and enjoy what they read for the Bookmark Assignment. For this first
Bookmark Assignment, the selection must be expository and appropriate for
school of course.
Week of 10/19: I didn't update my page because I've had issues with the
lesson plans page on my teacherweb. I was about to get rid of it and write my
lessons on this homework page but it was able to work now. (Written on 11/02)
I was gone this week for TAG training, the students read "Exploring the
Titanic" article and did a Bookmark Assignment and had a small group
discussion about the article and fairness. "Fairness in Society" is the theme
for this unit where they will write an expository piece along with some
research and discuss fairness/justice/equality in many different spectrums.
We also begin reading short fiction with similar themes and a class novel.
Week of 11/02/09: There is no major homework this week. We will be
reserching topics and writing expository articles with the major theme
being "Fairness in Society." It is the last week of the 2nd Six Weeks and if
you're missing any work, this is the week to turn it in!
