SENIORS: We continued with the partner short story.  At this point, you should have all 5 elements present and your story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Next week, along with some short in-class assignments, you should work on creating the final draft of the short story by Friday, Oct.5.  Remember to bring your IRB (you should have it with you everyday anyway).

SOPHOMORES: We had a book talk in the library with Mrs. Sine, and you had time to find your IRB if you haven't done so already.  You must bring your IRB to class tomorrow.  Your homework is to finish charting An Appointment with Love; it will be collected tomorrow.

SENIORS: We returned to the partner story you started last week.  Now that some time has passed, you might have some new or different insights.  Continue with your partner, focusing on rising action and climax.

SOPHOMORES: The following was collected: Notebooks, work on The Interlopers, and work on The Poison Tree.  We started a new story, The Bracelet, and began charting information.  We will continue to work on this story for a couple more days.

SENIORS: Notebooks were collected, 100 points were given to those who brought their Independent Reading Book (IRB), and you were to share with me through Goodreads why you choose that particular IRB and your first impressions of it.  Don't forget to finish the transcript work (you received your transcripts along with a purple paper) for Monday.

SOPHOMORES: Today you were assigned a Netbook; you are to create a Googledocs account and a Goodreads account.  "Friend" me on Goodreads (use either my gmail address or my name, Jenny Gardham).  Add your Independent Reading Book (IRB) to Goodreads and share with me why you chose that book along with some first impressions.  Have your notebook complete and ready to turn in on Monday along with the work from The Interlopers and The Poison Tree.

SENIORS: Today we got on the Netbooks and established a Googledocs account and a Goodreads account.  Make sure you use your regular name (don't make up something weird; I have to quickly recognize that it's you) and friend me (My first name is Jenny).  While we were waiting for the Netbooks to work, we read a handout titled Show Up For Work and answered some questions (see me for the handout and the questions).  Make sure your notebook is up-to-date and have an Independent Reading Book for Friday.

SOPHOMORES: We shared the rest of the character clues from the short story The Interlopers (character clues: what the author says, what the character says, what the character does, what other characters say about them).  Then we reread the story, looking for character motivation (motivation is why a character does or thinks things: if you're hungry, that motivates you to get food; if you're lonely, that motivates you to make friends).  In your notebook, write about what surprised you in The Interlopers.

SENIORS: In your notebook, do another stream-of-consciousness freewrite for 10 minutes straight.  Title it "What's On My Mind #2."  Remember, the goal is to keep writing without stopping.  Let your thoughts guide your pen; it doesn't matter if the thoughts don't connect with each other.  Also, we continued the partner work on your short story, concentrating on Exposition and Inciting Incident. 
     I will be doing a notebook check this Thursday, so make sure you bring your notebook with you every day; it's a good habit to get into for this class.

SOPHOMORES: We began reading "The Interlopers," focusing on how we learn about characters in a story.  If you were absent, please see me for a copy of the story.

SENIORS: In your notebook, write about a car trip: Where were you going? Who was in the car? When did it happen? What happened in the car?  Did anything happen to the car? Include descriptive language using the 5 senses.
Also, we teamed into pairs and looking at last Friday's "10 things that happened to me" bullet list, choose ONE thing (either from your list or your partner's) and brainstorm ideas for a story.

SOPHOMORES: Today we did a CAHSEE-style essay diagnostic.  Please see me for the handout.

SENIORS: In your notebook, create a positive spin for the following negative words: (example: gossip/chatty  The negative word "gossip" gets the positive spin "chatty.") lousy, garbage, filthy, fat, stupid, crisis, drunk, miserable, fanatic, polluted, freak, & nosy.  Next, create a negative spin for the following positive words: (example: slender/bony  The positive word "slender" gets the negative spin "bony.") sweet, unique, dignified, popular, young-at-heart, humorous, stoic, glamorous, wise, open-minded, devoted, tidy, & elderly.
      Also, we did some story starters. First, write down 10 things that have happened to you since school started.  You can write them as bullet points; just 10 random things.  Then circle the one thing that resonates with you the most.  Follow that with (in bullet points) listing possible story elements based on what you circled. List things like where could this take place (setting)?  Who else is involved (characters)?  What could be a conflict?  When did it happen (past, present, or future)?  What genre could it fit into (science fiction, romance, western, etc.)
      Make sure you bring your Independent Reading Book with you on Monday.

SOPHOMORES: In your notebook, respond to the following: Describe a time when you did something that caused someone else either physical or emotional pain.  It could be something that you did on purpose or it could be something that was an accident.  Tell who was involved, where it happened, what happened, how you felt, how they felt, what happened afterwards, and anything else you can think of that connects to the event.
     Also, we read the short story "The Sniper" and answered the following questions on a separate sheet of paper: 
1. Pick out the 5 elements of plot
2. Was there any irony in the short story:  If so, which type?  How do you know?  Why was it ironic?
3. What is the theme of this story? How do you know?
4. Was there any symbolism? What was it, and what did it represent?
5. What type of characterization was used to develop the character? Give an example.
6. Was there flashback?  If so, how did it enhance the story?
7. What was the overall mood of the story?
     Lastly, make sure you bring your Independent Reading Book on Monday. 

SENIORS: We did a lot of work in your notebook to build a vigorous, descriptive vocabulary; please see me for the handout. Also, we read an article called "See the Seeds" in which we discovered that ideas for stories are everywhere.  Please see me for a copy of the article.  Homework was finishing the article if you didn't finish it in class.

SOPHOMORES:  We completed the literary terms review list and focused on identifying and creating imagery.  Please see me for the handout.  There is no homework unless you didn't finish the imagery work.

SENIORS: We finished the planner hunt and did an exercise about loaded words.  Please see me for the handout.

SOPHOMORES: We finished the planner hunt and the poem presentations.  In groups, we worked on a review of literary terms you should know.  Please see me for the handout.

SENIORS: Today we wrote in our notebooks about the purpose of fiction, wrote a response about your feelings/knowledge of the attack on 9/11, and began a planner search.  See me for the questions.

SOPHOMORES: Today you wrote in your notebooks about your thoughts, feelings, or knowledge about the attack on 9/11; also we finished presenting your poems and began a planner scavenger hunt.

SENIORS:  In your notebook, on a clean sheet of paper with the title "What's On My Mind," write exactly what is on your mind at that moment.  Write for 10 minutes without stopping.  How do you do that?  Just keep writing; don't worry if one thought doesn't logically connect with the next--whatever pops into your head, get on paper.  The other thing we did was create a chart--so on the next piece of paper in your notebook, title it "5 Senses Chart," write down the 5 senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) and for each sense, write down 5 positive examples and 5 negative examples (ex. Sound: positive-the ocean  negative-baby crying)  Finishing the chart is homework.

NEGATIVE:  In your notebook, on a clean sheet of paper with the title "Freewrite," write exactly what is on your mind at that moment.  Write for 5 minutes without stopping.  How do you do that?  Just keep writing; don't worry if one thought doesn't logically connect with the next--whatever pops into your head, keep the pen moving and get those thoughts on paper.  We also did some collaborative work by creating a two person poem.  You'll need to see me for the format.

SENIORS: In your notebook, write 6 statements about yourself, 3 true and 3 false, then with a partner, we guessed which was which.  You can use these statements as inspiration for character development, conflicts, plots, climaxes, etc.  After that, we got back into yesterday's groups and made corrections in the group story (deserted on an island).
     For Monday, bring your planner and your Netbooks Agreement Form (if you haven't done so already).  No homework; have a great weekend!

SOPHOMORES: We corrected and posted the 6 Word Memoirs.  We also played a True/False game--in your notebook, write down 6 statements about yourself, 3 true and 3 false; then, with a partner, we guessed which was which.  You can use these statements as inspiration for character development, conflicts, plots, climaxes, etc.  After that, we got started on a writing diagnostic: Write a 3 paragraph essay about yourself.  One paragraph about your past, one paragraph about your present, and one paragraph about your future.  Make this your BEST writing because I will use this to determine the things we'll need to work on for the CAHSEE exam.  The completed essay will be due first thing when you come back on Monday, so that is your homework.  
     Remember to bring your planner and your Netbooks Agreement Form on Monday.  Otherwise, thank you for a great start to the year, and have a great weekend!

SENIORS:  Now that you have individually written in your notebooks about what you wished you had with you on a deserted island (see yesterday's blog), we are going to work with others in the class to create a short story about several people stranded on a desert island and how they use what they have to survive.  Every person has to have at least one line of dialogue.
     Don't forget to turn in your Netbook Agreement Form by this Monday, if not sooner.

SOPHOMORES:  Today you got your textbooks from the library.  We also worked on "6 Word Memoirs."  In order to do this, write a sentence or a phrase or a series of words that tell us something about you.  Example: Every day is a new experience.  This assignment is based an Ernest Hemingway short story that goes like this: For sale, baby shoes, never worn.  If you didn't finish it in class, it is Homework and it is due at the beginning of the period on Friday.
     Don't forget to turn in your Netbook Agreement Form by this Monday, if not sooner.

SENIORS:  Today we went to the library for textbooks.  In class, we worked on a story-starter: in your notebook (title it "Shipwreck"), respond to the following: You have been in a shipwreck and are now stranded on a deserted island! What are you wishing you had with you at this very moment?
     1. Choose the ONE thing you'd have with you (guitar, dog, pillow, etc.)  What you choose has to be  small and something you could easily carry.  No technology, no make-believe things (like a genie in a bottle), no other people.
     2. In one paragraph, give a strong reason why you chose that item.

Also, I passed out the Netbook agreement form; return it completely signed to by Monday, Sept. 10 for 25 points.  If you turn it in after that date, you get 13 points.  Since I have to have this contract signed for you to use a netbook, please do us both a favor and get the form signed and returned ASAP.

SOPHOMORES: I passed out the Netbook agreement form; return it completely signed by Monday, Sept.10 for 25 points.  If you turn it in after that date, you get 13 points.  Since I have to have this contract signed for you to use a netbook, please do us both a favor and get the form signed and returned ASAP.
     Also, we did some work in the notebook.  First, pretend you are stranded on a desert island; what is the one thing you wish you could have?  It has to be something small that you can carry (like a guitar, a dog, a pillow, etc.); it cannot be anything technological or make-believe (like a genie in a bottle), nor can it be another person.  After making your choice, write one paragraph explaining the why of that choice.  
     Remember, tomorrow we go to the library for textbooks, so bring your I.D. and your class schedule.

SENIORS: Yay!! We got through Day 1!  I'm looking forward to this year, and I hope you are too.  Make your senior year one that you will remember because you did your best.  Today we made an "identity tent": fold a regular piece of paper in half; write your first name REALLY BIG in the center; write two adjectives that describe you in the upper left hand corner; write two hobbies in the upper right hand corner; write a future goal in the lower left hand corner; and write your favorite OR least least favorite class in the lower right hand corner.
      We also played a game called "Agree/Disagree" in which you demonstrated your opinions to statements by standing or sitting.
      I was a talking head for awhile, going over the syllabus and some classroom rules.
      Tomorrow, make sure you bring a standard-sized notebook, something with which to write, your planner, your I.D., and your "identity tent."

SOPHOMORES:  This will be one of the few times that you did the same thing as the seniors, so please read what I've written for them.  Let's have a great year!