Week of February 16, 2009

Monday, February 16th
Bell Work: Lead (define in own words, draw a picture, & rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Revising Leads”
2. Quiet Writing: Remember that the beginning of a piece of writing is called a lead because these sentences are the way an author leads readers into the text. Here are a few ways to write leads…
a. Begin with a small action, and this can be an action in the setting.
b. Begin by creating a mood and a place, and only afterwards does the sequence of actions begin.
c. Setting (time & place) are revealed slowly, bit by bit, as the character sees or moves into the setting.
3. Share Time: Read your top two leads to your partner and decide which one should be used because it is more inviting.
Homework~ Writing Realistic Dialogue

Tuesday, February 17th
Bell Work: Setting (define in own words, draw a picture, & rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Adding Action & Setting”
2. Quiet Writing: Developing setting can help convey tone, and can hint at a character’s mood, feelings, and insights. Reread your draft and revise your writing by adding setting and action.
a. Ask: Will this make sense to readers? Is this clear? Can you picture what is going on? Can you see the place?
b. Consider adding: 1) Places, like living rooms and forests 2) Weather, like heat waves, fog or lightly falling snow 3) Times, like midnight, sunrise, and lazy afternoons
3. Share Time: Students will share a scene with their partner that could use more setting added to it and provide feedback on ways/places to do this.
Homework~ Noticing Setting on Television

Wednesday, February 18th
Bell Work: Evolution (define in own words, draw a picture, & rate understanding
1. Mini Lesson: “Writing Powerful Conclusions”
2. Quiet Writing: Reread and revise your ending. Make sure that your story’s ending ties up loose ends, resolves the unresolved difficulties, answers questions, and brings home the story’s meaning.
3. Share Time: Use the key questions to evaluate and provide feedback on your partners’ conclusion/ending.
Homework~ Explore Endings

Thursday, February 19th
Bell Work: What are three of the behavior expectations when there is a guest teacher?
1. Read aloud “Reading Skills & Strategies-Drawing Inferences: Understanding Character” page 138. Next, create a two column table to identify the following information: What he thinks, what he says, what he does, and how others react to him.
2. Then, use this table to take notes on the main character, Mike, and his characteristics, while reading the story.
3. Read along with the audio: “The Moustache” pages 139-146 in the Elements of Literature textbook.
4. After reading the story, summarize it by using the “Somebody Wanted But So” strategy.
Homework~ Discovery Draft checklist

Friday, February 20th
Bell Work: What did you do last and what is your next step in the writing of your realistic fiction story?
1. Students will turn in their Story Mountain, discovery draft checklist, and drafting booklet.
2. Students will work with a partner to revise one of the scenes from “The Moustache.” Choose between the lead or ending of the story. Focus on adding action, setting, or internal dialogue where it does not currently exist.
3. Each partner pair will share out with their table group. Next, each table will decide which scene should be shared with the entire class. Then, one spokesperson per table will present/share the scene.