CHAT Writing 2 Class Notes--Week 3 (1/30)

 Hello, Dear Students!  

Back with another action-packed and learning packed class!

We started out with a Quick Write on a very out-of-the-box subject:  Yodeling!!  In honor of National Yodel for your Neighbors Day today, we learned a few facts about this art from and then I asked the students to think of as many writing topics on this subject as possible.  We also had some fun trying to “break” our voices into a yodel and listening to some experts.  

We started the class by narrating this week’s Writing homework assignment.  As a class, we told back the process of making a Key Word Outline for the series of pictures they chose from last week.  Then in table groups, they shared their outlines and storylines with each other.  I think they are enjoying this inventive writing assignment!  I circulated and gave credit to the students who met today’s deadline–either on GC or on paper.  They must submit their KWOs with their Final Draft next week.

After that, we had a mini-lesson on how to properly write dialogue using quotation marks and proper punctuation (they have an Edpuzzle video to watch on that at home) and then I handed out the Checklist for the composition and an example.  It is due next week.

Switching gears, we turned to Literature, and had a check-in about the Sherlock mysteries we have read so far.  There are mixed opinions on Mr. Holmes’ character, but we can all agree that he is a very interesting person!  We watched a clip from “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” (Jerem Brett).  Some students thought the actor portrayed him well and some were not very impressed! Students are assigned to think deeply about Sherlock’s character using a worksheet I handed around.  It will be a springboard for some writing and is due next week.  Our Sherlock study will conclude with the last two stories that are assigned for next week.  They should read those and answer the questions.

After that, we dove into a Grammar lesson about compound and complex sentences.  The point of these lessons is part of our larger goal this semester:  the comma!  We are studying where the commas should go in different scenarios–in this case when using subordinating conjunctions.  To that end, we watched part of a short video and worked through some examples together.  Students should complete and correct their worksheets and hand them in next week.

That’s it!  Keep up the good work and reach out if you have any questions.

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homework

Writing from Pictures Assignment & Checklist

Edpuzzle–Punctuating Dialogue

Read “The Final Problem” & “Adventure of the Empty House”

4 Questions

Characterization of Sherlock Holmes

Grammar

Complex Sentences and Commas

The Complex Sentence 1,2,3 & Comma video (optional)

Links for this Week

Yodel Quick Write

About Writing from Pictures & Tutorial

Jeremy Brett in “Mystery of the Speckled Band” YouTube

Audio version of “The Final Problem”

Audio version of “The Adventure of the Empty House”

CHAT Writing 2 Class Notes–Week 2 (1/23)

 Today, we started our Visual Vocabulary words for Spring.  This is where we work with some ACT/SAT vocabulary words; we learn the definition, the part of speech, and use it in a sentence.  I gave them this semester’s worksheet where the words will be cumulatively compiled.  They turned in the sentences or prompts that they completed to help cement this word in their memories and to “furnish the mind” as writing teacher Andrew Pudewa says. I hope to see some of these words in composition this semester!  The words today were:  cajole and iconoclast

Writing

I have been looking forward to today’s lesson–an “inventive” (creative) writing assignment.  I handed out a series of three pictures.  Although the pictures suggest a story, they are fairly minimal.  I told the students that their job is to describe the events depicted in each picture.  Simply report.  

After that, they are to think about the pictures.  I asked them “how do you think?”  After pondering a few minutes, we concluded that in order to think, one must ask questions!  This is something we have been practicing in our Quick Writes last semester:  who, what, (what are they thinking/doing/saying/feeling) when, where, why, how?  And then a level deeper:  what happened before the picture?  After?  Outside the picture?  What may have happened before or after?  In this way, students begin to access their thinking and imagination.  The great news is that ANYONE can do this!!

After taking notes on the process, we make a Key Word Outline for the first two pictures together.  They wrote their own outline for the third picture and then compared it with a table mate.  Their homework is to finish this KWO and post it for next week.  They are welcome to make any changes to their story.  Four points per picture (plus the topic and clincher is plenty.  Changes will happen organically as they begin to write.)  I gave an option to use a different set of pictures if they’d rather.  The second set has only two pictures, so they will need to “fill in the blank” for the missing picture.  The three paragraph composition will be assigned next week (due Feb. 6).  We are working those creative writing muscles for writing an original mystery story of their own.

Literature

We switched gears to discuss the first two stories from our Sherlock Holmes study.  We did a quick preview of our mysteries for next week and I recommended the BBC version of the Sherlock mysteries featuring Jeremy Brett available through YouTube. (Watch them AFTER you’ve read the stories ;)  For next week, they are to read two of the most famous stories “Adventures of the Speckled Band” and “The Engineer’s Thumb” and answer the four questions.  

Grammar

They have been assigned three worksheets on coordinating conjunctions and some finer points of where the comma belongs.  They are to complete and correct those worksheets for next week.

Homework

Man & Woman At Table OR Cereal Surprise KWO

“...Speckled Band” & “The Engineer’s Thumb” PDF and audio stories & Four Questions

Grammar Worksheets

Commas and Coordinating Conjunctions

Is It a Compound Sentence?

Writing Compound Sentences

Links for this Week

Visual Vocabulary #1

About Writing from Pictures

Writing 2 Class Notes–Week 1 (January 11)

 Hello Dear Students,

Even though some may not be that excited to start up again, I am very proud of you for all your effort this past year.  There’s much to be grateful for!

We started the day out with a Quick Write.  Today’s topic was a bit humorous as they were to imagine that their toaster has gone on strike.  They were to come up with a list of demands from the toaster (Clean my crumb tray!  Stop sticking forks inside!) and optionally, to design a snappy sign with a slogan.

After that, we previewed the Spring Syllabus, Homework Checklist and Late Homework dates.  We highlighted the important due dates and took a brief look at what this semester has in store.  I told them a good strategy is to use the Homework Checklist to help them parcel out their work during the week to avoid having it all pile up at the last minute.

For Literature, we kicked off the class by introducing our new book:  Six Great Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conon Doyle.  Some students had seen a TV show or movie based on the stories–and some had read a few stories themselves.  After handing out the book, we had a  discussion on what images come to mind when you think of “Sherlock Holmes” and what elements make a good detective story.  

Some students were surprised to hear that Sherlock Holmes never actually said, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”  He merely said “Elementary!”  We watched two short videos on Sherlock and the fact that this character is so enduring that he is a palimpsest–he’s been reinterpreted so much over which makes him an enduring and timeless character.   I hope students will thrill at meeting this calculating and intense sleuth themselves.  

We read a few pages of the first story aloud and they are to finish reading “Scandal in Bohemia” & “The Red-Headed League” this week and answer 4 questions from the Study Guide.  As they encounter new words, they are assigned to define three words per story on a Vocabulary Sheet.

Lastly, for Grammar, I introduced the comma unit we will be studying this year. We discussed coordinating conjunctions–FANBOYS and compound sentences. They got started on the three worksheets they will need to complete this week.  Don’t forget to correct your work and mark it!  KEYS are posted in GC.

Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings, 

Mrs. G

Homework for This Week

Syllabus

Homework Checklist

Homework & Late Dates

Sherlock Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle videos (in class)

Read Ch. “Scandal in Bohemia” & “Red-Headed League” 

Study Guide Questions

Sherlock Holmes Weekly Vocabulary sheet

FANBOYS

Compound Sentences and Commas

Sentence Structures:  Simple and Compound Sentences

Links for this week

Sherlock Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle videos (in class)

Comma Reference Sheets