Writing 1 Class Notes -- September 26

Greetings!

We had a good class this week.  For our Quick Write, the students wrote 5 alliterative sentences.  We had short and long sentences in which the students used words that began with the same beginning sounds. I also drew a tree with an apple on the ground telling that that it was a clue about a significant event of the day.  A couple had an idea that it was connected to Johnny Appleseed.  In fact, September 26 was Johnny Chapman's birthday.

I handed back their final copies of their Observation Essays.  I grade the the papers in three areas:  mechanics, organization, and content.  The total possible score for the paper is 30 points (10 points for each section).  I tend to be an easy grader; it's hard to evaluate a student's skill, effort, and improvement.  Over the course of the year, I am looking for each student to improve in all three areas of mechanics, organization, and content.  I especially look for corrections made from suggestions and comments made on the rough draft.

During the Grammar portion of our class we finished our discussion of the 8 parts of speech with the last two components:  conjunctions and interjections.  I gave the students handouts for this week and for next week.

Part of next week's assignment includes watching some videos.  I've found some good, short, and to-the-point instructional videos that can help with our grammar and writing instruction.  Below are the video options:
Conjunctions & Interjections
Conjunctions #1
Conjunctions #2
Interjections
Coordinating Conjunctions/Comma Splices

Verbs and Tenses
Verb Overview
Troublesome verbs
Simple verbs

I enjoyed our discussion of Animal Farm this week.  The students are doing a wonderful job of looking for deeper meanings and making connections.  We especially looked at the strategies used to manipulate and induce fear by those ambitious to be in power.

Next Week's Assignments:
-- Read Chapters VII and VIII.
-- Choose 3 questions from the Discussion and Short Answer options for this section.  Write your answers to these questions.
-- Watch 1 Grammar video about Conjunctions and Interjections.  Write 3 things you learned from this video.
-- Watch 1 Grammar video about Verbs.  Write 3 things you learned from this video.

The weather has been spectacular.  Enjoy!
Mrs. Prichard