Week of February 9, 2009

Monday, February 9th
Bell Work: What are three of the behavior expectations when there is a guest teacher?
1. Read aloud and complete “Make the Connection” page 138 in Elements of Literature.
2. Read “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.
3. Then, use this table to take notes on the main character, Mike, and his characteristics, while reading the story.
4. Read: “The Moustache” pages 139-146 in the Elements of Literature textbook.
5. After reading the story, summarize it by using the “Somebody Wanted But So” strategy.

Tuesday, February 10th
Bell Work: Story Mountain (define in own words, draw a picture, & rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Plotting With a Story Mountain”
2. Quiet Writing:
a. Draft a possible story mountain for your story.
i. Remember to keep giving the character something that makes it harder and harder to climb toward his/her goal.
ii. The starting scene (first two dots) shows what the main character yearns for, and shows the trouble
iii. The mountain gets steeper. So the problem gets worse and worse!
3. Share Time: Students will complete the checklist and share their story mountain with their partner.
Homework~ Complete the Building Story Mountains Checklist

Wednesday, February 11th
Bell Work: Scene (define in own words, draw a picture, & rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Writing Scenes Like Small Moment Stories”
2. Quiet Writing: Transfer your story mountain onto a story booklet, and then use that booklet as a support for storytelling your story.
a. Write your scenes keeping in mind “Things Writers Include in Scenes”: 1) A beginning, middle, and end 2) A setting 3) Characters who wants things 4) Characters who feel and think 5) Obstacles that get in the way of what characters want 6) Action 7) Dialogue (most of the time)
b. Make sure that each scene you write sounds like a story. Create a kind of word-movie with dialogue (make a character talk) and action (or react physically to what is going on in the scene).
3. Share Time: Choose one of your scenes and read it to your partner. Give each other verbal feedback (1wish &/or 1 star).
Homework~ Getting More Acquainted with Secondary Characters

Thursday, February 12th
Bell Work: Heart of a Story (define in own words, draw a picture, & rate understanding)
1. Mini Lesson: “Feeling & Drafting the Heart of Your Story”
2. Quiet Writing: Remember that writing is a lot like drama. Drafting is a form of acting on the page. Step right into the character’s skin, right into the story, watch, listen, and feel what is happening as the story unfolds. Reread your lead, then turn to page 2 of your story booklet and to the second dot on your story mountain, and act out – write out – that story. Zoom in on three key moments and continue writing until those moments have been drafted.
3. Share Time: A few students will share a scene from their story.
Homework~ Revising Story Mountains

Friday, February 13th
Bell Work: What did you do last and what is your next step in the writing of your realistic fiction story?
1. We will go to the library.
2. Return, renew, and check out books.
3. Students will continue gathering their outside source information.
4. Complete and turn in the draft of their realistic fiction story.
5. If finished early, students will read silently for the rest of the hour.