Best case scenario the Class Notes get sent out Thursday evening. Worst case scenario they don't get sent out at all. This week, we're somewhere in the middle.
This week for the Quick Write I asked the students to give me some ideas for future Quick Writes. I often choose our weekly beginning of class writing with something that is current or somehow related to the date. Or I may hear something fascinating on the radio on the drive to class. I was sure that the students had some great ideas lurking in those wonderful brains of theirs. I'll put together a list from their suggestions and pull from that list throughout the year.
Our Words of the Day:
Caftan -- fr. Persian qaftan -- a long garment having long sleeves and tied at the waist by a belt, worn under a coat in the Middle East.
En clair -- fr. French, en clair, in clear -- in ordinary language; clearly spoken
Ça m'est égal -- fr. French meaning "That's equal to me" -- It doesn't matter; "Whatever"
Students handed in the Final Drafts of their Personal Essays, which means that it's time to start the next round of essays. This next essay is an Examples/Illustration Essay. We took some time to brainstorm what this essay might look like, especially how to develop a thesis statement. As I've told the students many times, writing the thesis statement for an essay can often be the hardest part. When a student has a good thesis statement, the organization and direction for the paper fall nicely into place.
This paper also marks the shift from a two-step process in writing to a three-step process -- I'm adding an additional step, Pre-writing. The essays are becoming more complicated, so students need to take more time to gather information and to organize. The pre-write can look like an outline, mind map, brainstorming list, etc. This is also a week to do any research for their topics. NOTE: The pre-write homework should be done this week but doesn't need to be handed in until the following week when they hand in the rough drafts.
We had a great presentation this week about Pronouns from a well-prepared group of students. They had a poster board, group activity, and homework. I really enjoy watching and listening to students giving presentations. Next week, the Adjectives group will be presenting.
We've finished reading Animal Farm, and I handed out a quiz for them. One of the questions that I asked the class had to do with the idea of a sequel for the book. What would it look like?
Assignments for Next Week:
-- Finish reading Animal Farm -- in class test next week
-- Finish Vocabulary Worksheets, due next week
-- Pre-Write for Examples/Illustration Essay
Links for this Week:
Class Notes (with pictures!)
Have a great week!
Blessings,
Mrs. Prichard
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