Greetings!
Friday, May 6, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 15 (May 5)
Friday, April 29, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 14 (April 29)
Greetings!
This week was our penultimate class for the year -- the one before the last one! We had fun during class, which can be a very good thing, especially since, according to research, "humor activates the brain's dopamine reward system, stimulating goal-oriented motivation and long-term memory, which means that humor can improve retention in students of all ages.? (Edutopia, 2015)
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 13 (April 21)
Greetings!
- Today, April 21, is National Kindergarten Day. What is something that you remember from your kindergarten days, when you were about 5 years old? Can you remember toys you played with or activities you liked to do?
- Today, April 21, is World Creativity and Innovation Day. How do you like to express your creativity? In what ways do you like to think outside the box?
- Saturday, April 23, is World Book Day. What books would you recommend that others read? Write convincing comments.
- Saturday, April 23, is also National Shakespeare Day and National Talk Like Shakespeare Day. Write anything but put it in language that soundeth liketh the Bard of Avon hath verily penned it.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 12 (April 7)
Greetings!
On April 6, 1917, the United States officially entered World War 1. What do you know about either of the World Wars? What are your thoughts about the US’s involvement in conflicts in other parts of the world?
On April 6, 1896, the first modern Olympic games were held. Do you have a favorite Olympic sport? What are your thoughts about the Olympics? About amateur and professional sports?
On April 9, 1959, NASA introduced the first astronauts. What do you think about America’s space program? Do you keep up with current developments? Do you think we should continue to explore space?
Poetry: Whitman (p. 25), Dickenson (p. 27), Burgess (p. 39), Frost (p. 44), Sandburg (p. 46), Williams (p. 48), Hughes (p. 53)
Note: All of the poems are in the book and can also be found on this Google Classroom post: Week 13 Poetry
Friday, April 1, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 11 (March 31)
Greetings!
Wednesday (3/30) was National I am in Control Day. What areas of your life do you feel like you are in control of? What would you like to be more in control of? What would you like to NOT be in control of?
Thursday (3/31) is National Taters Day. What is your favorite way to eat potatoes? Or you could list all of the ways that you can think of to fix potatoes.
Friday (4/1) is April Fool’s Day. What is the best prank that you have ever done or heard of? Or what prank would you like to pull?
Sunday (4/3) is World Party Day. If you didn’t have to worry about the expense, what kind of party would you like to throw? Describe it in detail.
1. Fill out a Poetry Worksheet for one or both2. Write a paragraph about the poem(s) that analyzes the poem; discuss what you think it means and why you like or don't like it.3. Instead of writing a paragraph, record a video commentary about the poem. Youtube LiveStream or some other app on a device is OK as long as it can be seen by me.
4. Do a piece of art that connects with the content and meaning of the poem.
5. Make a video of your recitation of the poem.
6. Do some kind of movement (creative dance or acting out) that relates to the poem.
Poetry: Wordsworth (p. 12); Keats (p. 17), Browning (p. 19); Carroll (p. 29); Hopkins (p. 31), Henley (p. 33)
Note: Students were not given the KEY in class (I had printer problems), so the KEY is attached to this assignment. If they finished the work in class, I will correct it. If not, they are to use the KEY on Google Classroom.
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 10 (March 31)
Greetings!
On March 24, 1603, Elizabeth I died and King James I was crowned the King of England, and on March 25, 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland. How much do you know about the history and rule of other countries? Is this important knowledge for us to have? Why?
Prompt #2
On March 26, 1874, American poet Robert Frost, much admired for his depictions of rural New England life and his realistic verse portraying ordinary people, was born in San Francisco. What are your thoughts about poetry? Do you like to read it and do you think it’s an important part of our culture?
Prompt #3
Next Week is National Cleaning Week. How would you describe your cleaning style? Do you do fall or spring cleaning at your house? Write about anything cleaning-related.
Saturday, March 19, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 9 (March
Greetings!
We are definitely heading into spring. I saw some students in shorts and lighter-weight jackets as opposed to the heavier winter apparel.
Here were the prompts for today’s Quick Write:
How do you define success? What would success look like to you in your future?
What qualities do you see in yourself that you also see in other family members? How are you alike or not like someone you’re related to?
Who is someone you admire? Why do you admire this person? What qualities does this person have that you would like to have?
What fictional character would you like to meet? Why? What would you do or talk about?
News Story Pre-Write (due 3/31) (Note: this assignment has the chart that was handed out in class.)
Short Story: Read The Ransom of Red Chief
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 8 (March 10)
Greetings!
We are officially over half way through the Spring semester. I don't know about you, but once we hit daylight savings time and the days get longer, the days also seem to fly by more quickly!
- March 10 is National Pack a lunch Day. Write about your favorite lunches.
- Where is the one place you never want to go to again?
- List 20 of your favorite foods
- And, as always, the "Whatever" option
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Writing 1 Class Notes -- Week 7 (March 3)
Greetings!
- Tuesday, March 1, is National Minnesota Day!! What do you like the most about Minnesota? What might you say to convince someone to move to or at least visit Minnesota? If you were to have visitors from a far away place come to Minnesota, what sights would you like them to see?
- Wednesday, March 2, is World Teen Mental Health Day. What does it mean to be mentally healthy? What do you do to be mentally healthy? How do you help others who might be struggling with their own mental health?
- Friday, March 4, is National Grammar Day (It’s “imperative” that we “march forth” on this day!) Write either a rant or a praise about what you think of this system for understanding language and communicating with one another.
Short Stories: Read Makes the Whole World Kin & The Furnished Room