We began taking Utah's SAGE writing assessment.
Focus: How important is knowing your audience?
Objective: Students will consider the perspective of an intended audience when listening to a message. 1. We listened to each other's Problem/Solution presentations. While listening, we tried to pretend we were the intended audiences for each presentation. We then wrote down our reactions. Homework: No homework. Focus: What is parallelism? Why do speakers use it?
Objective: Students will use an example of parallelism to add emphasis to an idea or power to a message. 1. Independent reading & reading log. 2. Writers Notebook #44 3. We reviewed the requirements for the Problem/Solution presentation 4. We worked independently on completing our Problem/Solution presentations. Homework: Come ready to delivery your Problem/Solution presentation. We attended a College & Career Readiness presentation by the Counseling Department.
Focus: How do you open or close a presentation?
Objective: Students will be able to draft an effective introduction and conclusion. 1. Independent reading & reading log. 2. Writers Notebook #43 3. In small groups, we created dating skits to learn the principles of good set-ups and wrap-ups. Strong set-ups (introductions) hook interest, provide background information, and provide a plan. Strong wrap-ups (conclusions) provide closure, recap important points with enthusiasm, and provide a take-away message or challenge. 4. We worked independently on writing introductions and conclusions for our presentations using a Set-up & Wrap-up sheet. Homework: Complete your Set-up & Wrap-up sheet by next Thursday. Focus: How can we begin to change a problem?
Objective: Students will develop a thesis that confidently proposes a claim to an audience while still acknowledging concerns or alternatives. 1. We each set new reading goals and read independently for 15 minutes. 2. Writers Notebook #42 3. We introduced our Problem/Solution Presentation assignment. 4. We learned how to choose an audience and prepare a thesis for our presentations. 5. We worked independently on our audience analysis & thesis sheets. Homework: Complete your audience analysis & thesis sheet. Focus: What can be done about problems around us?
Objective: Students will use research and creative thinking to discover and evaluate multiple ways to approach a problem. 1. We discussed how to search for possible solutions to problems online. 2. We discussed the benefit of brainstorming many different ways to approach a problem. 2. We worked individually on researching solutions to our chosen problems and completing a solution brainstorming sheet. Homework: Complete your solution brainstorming sheet. Focus: What ideas have we taken away from Speak?
Objective: Students will contribute productively to discussions about literature. 1. We individually finished reading the Fourth Marking Period of Speak. 2. In small groups, we completed our destiny word projects and presented them to the class. 3. We had a final "fishbowl" discussion about Speak. Homework: Enjoy the weekend! Focus: How can symbols develop themes?
Objective: Students will collaborate with others to interpret literature. 1. We watched the first poem on this video clip. 2. Writers Notebook #41. 3. We individually read from the Fourth Marking Period of Speak. 4. We worked in groups on projects about our destiny words. Homework: Prepare for our final discussion about Speak. Focus: What are allusions? Why do people use them?
Objective: Students will analyze how and why a piece of literature draws on outside sources through allusions. 1. Independent reading and reading log. 2. Writers Notebook #40. 3. We individually began reading the Fourth Marking Period of Speak. 4. We learned that an allusion is when an author refers to another person, place, or event. As a class, we discussed reasons why Picasso might be alluded to in Speak. 5. We broke into small groups to learn and discuss some of the different allusions in Speak. 6. In new small groups, we shared what we had learned about each allusion. Homework: Bring your Writer's Notebook for a notebook check (pages 34-41). |