Peer Reviewing

Today you will work with a peer to read and offer suggestions on each other's writing. Your peer is not responsible for making all of the corrections to your story, but they should be able to read through your story and offer suggestions. Students will make sure that the story makes sense, flows well, and offer suggestions for improvements on editing and revising. We will work on this in class today, and tomorrow students will be editing their own story. 

How to Peer Revise and Edit on Google Drive

1. At the top right of your document you want to share, click the blue “share” button.
2. Type in the person’s email address (be sure to spell EVERYTHING correctly).
3. To the right of the email address where there is a picture of a pencil, click for the drop down menu and choose “can comment.”
4. Last, click “done.”
5. Your peer reviewer should be able to find your document under “shared with me” section of his/her Google Drive Home Page (it may take a few minutes before it appears).
6. To write comments on your partner’s page, put your cursor where you want to comment, then click “comments” at the top right of the page.
7. Next choose “comment” and type your suggestion.
8. Read through your peer’s document as they read through yours.
9. AFTER you have both given suggestions to each other, you can click back to your original story and view the comments.
10. View the comments your peer wrote, and click resolved when you are done with it. You do NOT have to choose to use their suggestions if you don’t feel it is correct. It is your story, so it is up to you. However, consider what they are saying to see if it will improve your story.
11. Once you have made the changes you’d like to make, re-read the story and make sure everything still makes sense.

Revising "Dead Verbs"

A dead verb lets us know an action has taken place, but it doesn't provide a detailed picture of the action. A list of common dead verbs is shown in the picture below. This list also includes the "ing" forms and contractions of dead verbs. Using dead verbs saps the life out of writing. Once you understand what dead verbs are, you can change your sentences haunted by dead verbs into lively descriptive writing.

Keep in mind you want to "show" your reader what is happening through description...rather than just "telling" what is happening with dead verbs.

1st Nine Weeks Benchmark

We will take the 1st nine weeks benchmark test today. Make sure you read each question and all of the answer choices carefully. See the directions below:

• After you click on the link below, enter the room number posted on the board
• Type your name: (last name, first name)
• Take the test 
• Once you finish, continue working on your mystery story. 
• Your rough draft is due on MONDAY. 
• You should have 3-7 typed pages on your Mystery Story Google Doc
• Be sure to include all of the things we have discussed in class: interesting lead, dialogue, details, description, and suspense strategies throughout. 
• Next week we will revise and edit the document, so you just need to be done typing your rough draft and be ready to move on to revising by Monday. 
• See my post below on helpful hints for logging into your Google Drive from home. 

Follow this link to take your grammar test online: Socrative

Caught Ya Grammar

These two Caught Ya Grammar sheets will be taken up for a grade on 10/24/16. We covered them all in class together. If you have misplaced your copy, you can print a new one from here and complete it before the due date. 

CYG 9/26-10/3

CYG 10/10-10/17

These two Caught Ya Grammar sheets will be handed out on 10/24/16. We will cover them all in class together. If you have misplace your copy, you can print a new one from here and complete it before the due date. 

CYG 10/24-10/31

CYG 11/7-11/14

Imagery in Writing

Create imagery for your readers in your mystery story through figurative language, details, and description. You need to make the reader picture the scene you are describing as if they are really there. Look for opportunities to add figurative language in your writing. Also, look at the chart below when you could exchange a boring or overused word in for a descriptive word!

IXL

We will be using IXL to help students practice various grammar and punctuation skills throughout the year. This is an amazing resource that allows students to have unlimited practice for skills at home or in class. Students only need to log-in and choose the skill they wish to practice. I have the ability to see how long students practice, how many questions they completed, and their scores. IXL also gives great explanations for problems that the student misses. In the future, students will complete some of their grammar practice through IXL, so they can practice as much as they want at home before a test.  This week we are covering comma rules, so we will be using IXL to practice using commas correctly. 

Students will use their TCS information to also log in to IXL. 

Signing in to IXL

• Your username is the same as the beginning of your chrome book log in. Your name (as it appears in iNow) and the four digit number in your TCS email. Example--Brianna1234
• Your password should be your six digit lunch number only...no initials at the front. 
• Use this link to sign: HTMS IXL Sign In

Mystery Story Drafting

Today we are beginning to draft our mystery stories. Students will be drafting their stories in a document created for them in Google Classroom. Students will have several days to work in class on their drafts with mini lessons at the beginning of class on elements they should include in their stories.

Rough Draft Requirements

• Don't change the formatting on the document. It is already how it should be. Don't change the font, size, margins, or spacing. 
• Typed story should be 3-7 pages long. Absolutely no more than 10 pages. 
• Follow your prewrite sheet and the requirements listed there. 
• Remember to include at least 5 events in the rising action and a good lead at the very beginning (action, reaction, or dialogue). 

If a student needs to work from home, he/she will need to log-in to the Google Drive account to access their rough draft.Students should know their log-in information, but is some information to check if you are having log-in problems

• The username should be the student's legal first name and a four digit number as follows:
• example: brianna1234@trussvillecityschools.org
• MANY students accidentally type in ".com" instead of ".org" check this if you are having issues
• The password should be your first and last initial and your six digit lunch number
• example: bo123456

If you cannot access your account from home, and you have checked the hints above, send me an email. Hopefully, I will see your email and be able to help. NOTE: not being able to log-in is not an excuse for an incomplete assignment. If you can't log-in, continue working on a separate piece of paper to make sure you have it finished when it's due. We can get it typed into your Google Doc later if that happens. 

I am also more than happy to meet students before school to allow them time to work on the chrome book. If you want to come before school, just ask me the day before, so I can write you a pass. Students will not be allowed to leave the gym to come to a classroom without a pass from a teacher.

Mysteries of Harris Burdick- Mystery Story Insprirations

We are beginning a new unit on "Mystery Writing" this week. Each student will choose one image from the "Mysteries of Harris Burdick" as inspiration for this writing assignment. Below, you will see several pictures from the "Mysteries of Harris Burdick." Choose one picture on which to base your mystery story. You will need to use the caption in your story.

Picture Title: The Third Floor Bedroom

 Caption:"It all began when someone left the window open..."

 Picture Title: The House on Maple

Caption: "It was the perfect lift off..."

 Picture Title: Missing the Venice

Caption: "Even with her mighty engines in reverse, the ocean liner was pulled further and further into the canal..."

 Picture Title: Oscar and Alphonse

Caption: "She knew it was time to send them back. The caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand, spelling out 'goodbye.' " 

 Picture Title: Uninvited Guests

Caption: "His heart was pounding. He was sure he had seen the doorknob move..."

 Picture Title: Archie Smith, Boy Wonder

Caption: "A tiny voiced asked, 'Is he the one?' "

 Picture Title: A Strange Day in July

Caption: "He threw with all his might, but the stone came skipping back..."

 Picture Title: The Seven Chairs

Caption: "The fifth one ended up in France..."

 Picture Title: The Harp

Caption: "So it's true, he thought, it's really true..."

 Picture Title: Another Place, Another Time

Caption: "If there was an answer, he'd find it there..."

Picture Title: Captain Tory

Caption: He swung his lantern three times and slowly the schooner appeared..."

Van, Allsburg Chris. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. Print.

Once you have chosen the image/caption you want to use, you will need to write down some ideas and brainstorm for your story.  Title it "Mystery Brainstorm" and answer the following prompt: 

• What is the picture title and caption you have chosen to use? 
• Write a detailed description of the picture. Consider the setting you see, any potential characters you notice, and anything that stands out to you from the image. 
• Next, write any and all ideas you have for the story using the picture as inspiration. The ideas do not have to flow together at this point; you are just jotting down ideas for possibilities within the story.  Consider ideas for character(s), conflict, plot, and setting. 

Figurative Language Test- Corrections

Students took a test on figurative language on Friday, 9/30/16. The class averages for grades ranged from 77-88. Many, many students did very well on this test. However, there were also a lot of students that did not. I am allowing any student who would like to improve their grade to do so by making corrections to their test. This is entirely up to the student, but I would advise any student that made less than a 75 to make corrections. Students will need to complete their corrections on their own time (not in class). If you need to use a chromebook to access the test, let me know, and I will be happy to write you pass to come early to school and work in my classroom. This blog post will only be active for a few weeks, so don't wait until the end of the nine weeks to make up your points.

Directions

• Use this link to access the Figurative Language Test
• Look at every question you missed. Use your notes, study guide, and any resources you have to find the correct answer. 
• Write the correct answer (either beside the incorrect one or on another sheet of paper) AND explain WHY you know this is the correct answer
• Turn in your original test and the corrections (with explanation of "why") to me

NOTE: You will receive half credit back for every correction you make. Example: current grade 70/105, your new grade would be an 88/105. 

Roots Test

We have a Roots Test this Friday, 10/7/16, on Roots 4-6. The roots are: chron, dict, min.

Roots Test 2 Quizlet

Strange Visitor Analysis

Tuesday we read "Strange Visitor" in class. This story is full of suspense and mystery...and it even ends in a cliffhanger! Today, we worked in class on analyzing the plot, conflict, and setting of the story. Many students finished in class, but if you did not finish it will be due at the beginning of class on Thursday.

Below is a copy of the story for you to use if you need to work from home. Additionally, there is another copy of the analysis sheet if you misplaced your own copy.

"Strange Visitor"

"Strange Visitor" Plot, Conflict, and Setting Analysis

Identifying Plot, Conflict, and Setting

Hyperbole and Onomatopoeia

Hyperbole in Pop Culture

Onomatopoeia Song