Hey student writers:
There's a great writing contest open to students in grades 7 through 12. You can check out the details and register here: http://www.artandwriting.org/
Check it out!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
This Week in Language Arts...
This week in language arts, we're beginning a new unit in Springboard. Some of the early topics, discussions, and terms we'll explore include tone and diction in writing, denotation and connotation, nuance, and strategies of definition. We'll start the week by looking ahead to the next embedded assessment: A Definition Essay, unpacking the skills and knowledge needed for success on that assessment. We'll discuss the differences between expository and narrative writing, and we'll analyze and compare a poem (Nina Cassian's "A Man") and an informational text ("Soldier Home After Losing his Leg in Afghanistan" by Gale Fiege) on similar subjects. We'll also continue our exploration of the parts of speech, focusing on prepositions.
Friday, October 10, 2014
End of First Quarter
END OF FIRST QUARTER
Believe it or not, the end of the first quarter is upon us! The quarter ends on Thursday, October 16th.
WHAT STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN L.A.
This week, in language arts, students met for the first time in critique groups, where they shared and responded to each other's writing, giving feedback and commenting on both the strengths and areas for improvement in their classmates' work. Critique groups will be an ongoing part of the writing process this year, and the students did a great job with their first critique group session.
NEXT WEEK
In class next week, we'll be finishing up the Hero's Journey Narrative, writing a reflection of the narrative (how it reflects the Hero's Journey archetype and how it reflects an understanding of key literary devices: setting, point of view, figurative language, etc.) In history, students will finish their colonial brochures and take a "Tour of the Colonies." For reading, students should be sure to have read both of their non-fiction books, and they should try to reach their point goals by Thursday.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Last but not least, a quick book recommendation. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is a wonderful and quirky and heartbreaking love story. The characters came to life from the first page, and they remain with me now, long after I finished the last page.
Believe it or not, the end of the first quarter is upon us! The quarter ends on Thursday, October 16th.
WHAT STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN L.A.
This week, in language arts, students met for the first time in critique groups, where they shared and responded to each other's writing, giving feedback and commenting on both the strengths and areas for improvement in their classmates' work. Critique groups will be an ongoing part of the writing process this year, and the students did a great job with their first critique group session.
NEXT WEEK
In class next week, we'll be finishing up the Hero's Journey Narrative, writing a reflection of the narrative (how it reflects the Hero's Journey archetype and how it reflects an understanding of key literary devices: setting, point of view, figurative language, etc.) In history, students will finish their colonial brochures and take a "Tour of the Colonies." For reading, students should be sure to have read both of their non-fiction books, and they should try to reach their point goals by Thursday.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Last but not least, a quick book recommendation. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is a wonderful and quirky and heartbreaking love story. The characters came to life from the first page, and they remain with me now, long after I finished the last page.
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