Week of December 1, 2008

Monday, December 1st
Bell Work: What do you already know about writing essays? What essay writing strategies/steps do you remember learning in the past?
1. Mini Lesson: “Collecting Ideas as Essayists”
a. Create a list of issues
2. Quiet Writing:
a. Pick one issue and write down your ideas about it.
b. Write a lot about that one idea.
3. Share Time
Homework: Writing About Big Issues
Advanced Homework: Collecting Observations and Thoughts About Them

Tuesday, December 2nd
Bell Work: Term-Essay (define in own words, draw a picture, rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Growing Essay Ideas”
2. Quiet Writing: Begin by writing observations, “What I notice…” Shift to writing about your thoughts about the observations, “What it makes me think…”
3. Share Time
Homework: Growing Ideas from Observations

Wednesday, December 3rd
Bell Work: Non-narratives (define in own words, draw a picture, rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Narratives vs. Non-narratives”
2. Quiet Writing:
3. Share Time
Homework: Collecting Essay Talk from Life
Advanced Homework: Collecting Essay Ideas from Talk

Thursday, December 4th
Bell Work: Furze(define in own words, draw a picture, rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: Take notes on the Question Answer Relationships (QAR) strategy
2. Read "The Three Little Pigs".
3. Asnwer the QAR questions on "The Three Little Pigs"

Friday, December 5th
Bell Work: Turn in your bell work sheet
1. Go to the library
2. Book exchange-Return, renew, and check out books
3. Library Bingo (Take Accelerated Reader quiz, silent reading, etc.)