Monday 9/24:

• SSR
• Sassy Sentences
  • Appositive Phrases Notes:
    • Appositives interrupt the sentences to provide more information.
    • They describe the noun or pronoun they are placed next to, often giving more vivid details.
    • Appositive phrases usually come after the noun they describe, but can sometimes precede it.
• Creative Writing Prompt
  • Our focus is, once again, on using precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language.
  • Use one of the pictures from today’s PowerPoint to act as inspiration for a fictional story.  Feel free to write whatever comes to mind, as long as it’s school appropriate, while remembering what standard we are honing in on.
    • Ideas for how to start:
      • Create a list of potential scenarios for each photo.  Why might they be taking place?  Then select the scenario that’s the most interesting to you.
      • Answer the following questions to help you start figuring out a plot:
        • What is the setting? (time and place)
        • Who is the character? (age, gender, job)
        • Why are they alone?
        • What is the main problem/conflict?
        • Who are the other characters (if any)?

Tuesday 9/25:

• Library Orientation – Please let me know if you were absent so I can clue you into the policies and layout of the library.
• Mini Presentations
• Work time – Students had some time to finish their rough drafts for their creative writing assignment.  The rough draft is due tomorrow Wed. 9/26!

Wednesday 9/26:

• Grades Conversation: We discussed students’ current grades as well as gave a reminder as to how standards-based grading works. 
• Practice with Conveying a Vivid Picture:
  • Showing vs Telling Foldable
  • Strong Verbs List (#13 in binder) – Use this list to help you use stronger verbs (precise words and phrases) in your writing.
  • Sensory Words (#14 in binder) – Use this list to help you include more of the 5 senses (sensory language) in your writing: touch, smell, hearing, sight, and taste.

Thursday 9/27:

• Using your rough draft, choose one chunk (about 1-2 paragraphs) of your story to showcase your ability to convey a vivid picture (Standard W 9.3D). Follow these instructions in order to make sure you include everything and highlight it properly:
  • At least 2 examples of precise words and phrases, ie. strong verbs or dialogue (highlighted in yellow)
  • At least 2 examples of telling details, ie. actions (highlighted in green)
  • At least 2 examples of different sensory language ie. smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing (highlighted in pink)
• This is due to the Google Classroom assignment titled “Creative Writing – Final Product” before midnight tonight.

Friday 9/28:

• SSR
• Maya Angelou – Still I Rise (pages 5-6)
  • We watched a brief bio on Maya Angelou and finished the following sentence starters:
    • I was interested in…
    • I was surprised by…
    • I wondered…
  • We did an activity analyzing quotes (pages 1-4) by Maya Angelou and answering the following questions:
    • What stuck out to you after reading the quote?
    • What is her message in the quote?
    • Do you agree/disagree with her message? Why?
  • Main Idea through Pictures
    • We did an example as a class with the first stanza.  See me if you were absent and need this tutorial.
    • Students were expected to draw one picture for each stanza before Monday.