Ms. Madrid Language Arts Class

Friday, August 29, 2008: Writing Process Vocabulary

Agenda:

Opening: 1) Warm-up- Parts of speech paragraph

Work Session: 2) Group Vocabulary  3) Read Aloud/Check reading log

Closing: 4) Ticket-out-the-door (Vocabulary)

*Homework: Extra Credit- bring back definitions signed by parents and Read for 20 minutes

Today the students received a handout of a paragraph and a highlighter. They had to highlight all the nouns in the paragraph and then we went over it as a class. To see the paragraph click on the link below. Then the students received a handout with vocabulary words for this unit. We went over all the vocabulary words and came up with a definition together. They have to review this words for the vocabulary quiz on Tuesday. To see our notes and print the handout for the vocabulary, click on the link below.

Download warmup_aug_29_la.ppt

Download 829.pdf

Download the_writing_process.doc

Thursday, August 28, 2008: Pop Quiz Part 2

Today the students continued with their writing process pop quiz. After they finished they D.E.A.R. To see the pop quiz click on the links under Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008: Pop Quiz!!

AGENDA

Opening: 1) Quick review of the writing process. Get ready for quiz.

Work Session: 2) Pop Quiz!!! (The Writing Process) 3)*if time allows* D.E.A.R. - Post-it notes (emotions and feelings as you read)

Closing: 4) When you evaluated your writing, how did you rate it? Was it the best it could be?

Today the students practiced the writing process in the form of a pop quiz. The quiz was four pages long. It included each of the steps in the writing process and they had to complete each step with a checklist before they could move to the next step. Each period was provided with a different topic to write about. If you were absent, please click on the links below to take the quiz, print it, and bring it to class tomorrow. The topics are in power point format. If you are in first block write the topic in the first slide. If you are in second block write about the topic on the second slide, and if you are in third block write about the topic on the third slide. In the links below you will also find the actual quiz, and the graphic organizer of an ice-cream cone that you will be using during the prewriting part. You will need one extra sheet of paper to write your final draft ready for publishing. Good Luck!

Download story_prompts.ppt

Download pop_quiz_1.doc

Download icecream.pdf

August 26, 2008: Writing Process Flipbook

Our Agenda for class today was:

Opening: Warm-Up: Unscramble the scrambled paragraph.

Work Session: * Writing Process Flipbook  * D.E.A.R. with Post-it notes (new vocabulary)

Closing: How will the writing process help me engage my audience?

The students received a group of sentences out of order. They were to unscramble the sentences and put them in order so that they would make sense. We then checked to see if our paragraphs looked the same. The students then received a piece of yellow or blue paper. They were instructed how to cut it so that they could make a seven flap foldable. The first flap read: The Writing Process, the rest of the flaps were labeled with each of the six steps in the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, evaluating, and publishing). Then they had to write under each flap what they need to do in each of the steps. After they finished they had to D.E.A.R. with a post-it note. In the note they had to write all the vocabulary words that were new to them and what they thought they meant. At the end they had to answer the closing question as a ticket out the door. Watch out.... a pop quiz might be on the way! To view the warm-up and a sample of the flip book click on the links below.

Download warmup_aug26la.ppt

Download the_correct_paragraph.ppt

Class in Action! Pictures from Yesterday's Lesson

Students are comparing cooking and writing in yesterday's lesson. Students are also shown reading during D.E.A.R. time. Click on the picture to make it larger.    

Monday, August 25, 2008: Cooking & Writing

Today we cooked in class. How is this related to writing? They both follow a series of steps in order to achieve successful results. The students were to complete a chart with the steps they would follow if they were cooking with those they would follow if they were writing. We completed the chart together. First we decided what we were going to cook: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Bars. Along with that one students had to decide the topic he was going to write about. Then we got the recipe and the student wrote down a list of subtopics. We then gathered the ingredients for the dessert and the student gathered the necessary information through research. Now it's time to put the ingredients together and for the student to start drafting. As we put the ingredients together we are checking for the correct measurements of ingredients and the student is revising for any spelling errors. We started with the crust and the student started witht eh topic sentence. We then put some peanut butter filling on top of the crust and the student started writing supporting details. Next, we put some chocolate fudge on top and the student ended the writing with a concluding sentence. We refrigerated the dessert for thirty minutes while the students D.E.A.R. (Dropped Everything and Read). Finally, the timer rang meaning that the dessert was ready for us to eat and the student's writing was ready to be published! Yummy! To see the handouts we used and the notes we took in class click on the links below.

Download warmup_aug_22_la.ppt

Download 822flipcharts.pdf

Download cooking-writing.ppt

Class for 8/22/08: Media Center Visit

Today we visited the media center and the media specialist gave a power point presentation on how to use the resources available. She showed the kids how to understand the call number and where to find books according to their interest. The students then had the opportunity to check out books. From now on, the students will have to read every day for 20 minutes. They must also complete a reading log which will be checked every Friday. There must be an entry for every day. To download the reading log, click on the link below.

Download 25_books_reading_log.doc

Class for 8/21/08: Pre-Writing Part II

Today we continued talking about all the steps involved in pre-writing. We talked about how it compares to everything else in life that has a process: cooking, drawing, etc... For the warm-up, the students had to write story elements (character, setting, problem, solution, and climax) on each petal of a flower diagram provided. They were to write the title in the middle of the daisy. To view the warm-up and the hand-out, click on the links below.

Download warmup_aug_21_la.ppt

Download daisy_details.doc

We continued taking notes on the pre-writing step and started creating a flip-book of the steps in the writing process. We will continue on Monday.

The Writing Process: PREWRITING

For the warm-up activity, students had to complete a prewriting activity: The 5 W's star diagram. Then, using the information in the star, they had to write a rough draft of a silly story about a lonely sofa cushion. The link to the power point instructions of the warm-up and to the hand out for the star diagram are below.

Download warmup_aug_20_la.ppt

Download 5ws_star_diagram.ppt

During class, we talked about prewriting and the steps involved in it. This were our notes:

Why is Writing Important?

Today in class we talked about the relevance of writing. We worked on the warm-up in which the students had to design a car. First they had to make a plan of how they wanted the car to look and what they wanted the car to be able to do. Next they included safety features, and lastly they presented their final result. We went into the center of the pod and play the game "Broken Telephone" to emphasize the importance of writing. The students realized that information needs to be written down because when it is passed on orally it changes. We talked how writing needs to be organized for it to make sense. We will need to learn the writing process in order to learn writing organization. Tomorrow we will talk about prewriting and drafting.