Jump Off (5 mins.)
--Open your notebook to a clean page. Put today's date (9/10/2014) in the lefthand margin and label the page "Thematic Writing Assignment--Partner Interviews". Then, based on memory from past English courses, define the literary concept "theme statement" in your own words. Be prepared to share and discuss your definition later on during today's class block.
--Take out your completed "Day 1 Review - You betcha vs. Nah, not so much" sheet. We will begin class today by going over the sheet in detail.
S. the C. (5 mins.)
--agenda/HW
Instruction -- Important Information Document (25-30 mins.)
--go over policies in depth via the "Day 1 Review –You betcha vs. Nah, not so much" sheet
Transition (5 mins.)
--pick up an index card from the front table
--follow the directions on PowerPoint for creating commitments and establishing classroom consequences quietly and independently
Discussion – Establishing Our Classroom Environment: Commitments & Rule of the Room/Consequences (25-30 mins.)
--share commitments from poster/students share ideas from index cards
--share Rule of the Room--potential "breaks" discussed (link to student commitments)
--brainstorm consequences--discuss and make decisions via T-chart
Transition/Looking Ahead (15-20 mins.)
--Pick up both the "Questions to Ask Yourself When You Are Assigned a Writing Task" sheet and the "Thematic Writing Assignment--Partner Interviews" sheet from the front table. Also, you might want to grab a highlighter! First, purposefully read the "Questions..." sheet. Then, purposefully read the assignment sheet and respond to the "Questions..." accordingly. Your goal here is to fully "wrap your mind around" our first writing assignment of the school year.
Teambuilder/Research/Writing Workshop -- Thematic Writing Assignment--Partner Interviews (time permitting)
--process through the work just completed during the "Transition/Looking Ahead" block
--information shared about the Cumulative Writing Portfolio (blog post)--THIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WILL BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE PORTFOLIO
--What is a theme statement?
--gather additional information about your partner (yet AGAIN--now with a better understanding of the assignment!)--DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DIRECT QUOTATION COMPONENT OF THE ASSIGNMENT!
HW
--Continue getting in touch with your partner and engaging in the "research" process (especially now that your purpose is clearer). The more intriguing information you have gathered about your partner by the end of this week, the better! Expect to "officially" begin the writing process in class soon!
--Finish your work with Article of the Week #1, which is due at the beginning of class next time (Friday, 9/12) . This task will include purposefully reading the directions in the box at the top of the page and completing your best work with regard to the directions. I look forward to collecting and reading your work at the end of this week!
--If you have not done so already, bring your English 9 binder to Room 203--we will be using the binders for English 9 review soon!
