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Friday, March 31, 2017

Summative: Social Issues Story

Summative for scene writing instructions below:

Turn in a digital copy of your final piece


Final draft  - Make a copy of this file and drop it into the RLA folder



You will design a cover page for your piece that hints at meaning or message. e.g. below:
Inline image 1


Student Sample - How does yours compare?

Like glass eyes, my vision was locked to the screen. I scooted forward in my seat and leaned closer to the television as Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, raced across the field, dodging other players while holding a football. He crossed the goal scoring a touchdown! I was the first to stand up and cheer, my arms flailing around as if I had just scored the winning point for my team.
Well, at least that’s what I wished had happened. Instead, I watched as an army of muscular men dressed in chunky armor of bright colors battled furiously, comprehending nothing. Okay, maybe a bit like I knew the leather 3D rhombus is called a football (I think), but that’s pretty much it. You see ‘football’ isn’t my first language, in fact it’s not my second or third or fourth. Instead of trying to learn how to ‘speak’ football, I was focusing on some more important things. You see when you are someone like me, your priorities are just different.
As I was saying, I sat there on our cracked and stained, dark brown leather couch waiting until I could finally go back up to my room. I could feel my legs getting numb from sitting down so long, which is why I switched it up a bit and placed my right leg over my left. Ah, comfortable again.
But I immediately changed this when I saw how my older brother, Bart, was sitting. I studied the positioning of his legs, how he placed his arms and how much his head was tilted. Why am I doing this you may ask, well who else better to copy that Brawny Bart. You see Bart speaks fluent ‘football’ plus fluent baseball, soccer, hockey and pretty much any sport you can possibly imagine. Surprisingly, Bart doesn’t bother me about knowing how to speak effortless ‘kitchen’, but instead is especially supportive, especially during my Easy Bake Oven phase, or maybe this is just because he likes cookies. My parents on the other hand cannot stand it when I’m in the kitchen instead of out in the scorching sun, throwing some ball around. Which is why I am here watching this football game in the first place. After my careful analysis, I then uncrossed my legs and spread them out, placed my feet flat on the floor, draped one of my scrawny arms over my left leg and leaned forward just enough so that my elbow could rest on my right thigh as my chin rested on my knuckles.
How is this natural at all? I thought to myself as I awkwardly stared blankly into the screen.
My thoughts strayed away from the game, and instead drifted to what I was going to wear the next day- Ripped, baggy jeans beneath a dirty, navy shirt like Bart or my floral button-up shirt paired with navy short-shorts. In other words, sporty guy I want to be or me. Why is it so hard, don’t ask me. I hadn’t yet finalized my outfit before my thoughts turned back to the game.
Stop losing focus! The only way you can be more like Bart is to make sure you do what he does, if you aren’t paying attention how is anyone supposed to believe you? I scolded myself. I glanced at the timer at the top right hand corner of the screen. Only a few minutes left, thank jesus. The Green Bay whatever were behind by 5 points (I don’t understand football but I can still do math okay) and according to what Bart was muttering to himself, the only way they could still win is by scoring a touchdown (um what even?). But really, 6 points and less than 3 minutes left? No way.
That is where I was completely and utterly wrong.
I guess christmas miracles, I mean just miracles happen because with barely anytime left I watched as the brown pointed cylinder thing shot across the field like a bullet and landed right into the hands of a man dressed in white and green. Final score: 32-33.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Writing Craft Techniques: Participles - Leads - Figurative Language

Word Level - Addding adjectives like professionsal writers

Paragraph level - Craft moves to create openings


Language - Adding figurative techniques




Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Writer's Craft TECHNIQUES


Final draft  - Make a copy of this file and drop it into the RLA folder

Which craft moves will you have in your piece?



Adding symbolism to writing




Monday, March 27, 2017

Planning a Scene

TRi Time Toolkit - This is for my HB. There are lots of resources on here for your Tritime.

Lesson Recap

Scene planning - You need to finish your scene plan for class tomorrow. Your graphic organizer MUST be filled in.




Exemplary Paper - How will yours compare?

Title of Story: Draw on Iron Bars

The water splashes my face and wakes me up to a dreary day. It’s identical to the dreary days that came before and the dreary days that will come after. Luckily, the sink is only a few steps away from my bed, as I’m already not able to walk around the white compound by myself. It doesn’t bother me too much, for I’ve never been one to love wandering a boring white hospital amongst worried visitors and identically clad patients. The stench of fear, misery, vomit and generously dispersed disinfectant is enough to drive anyone away. Instead, I spend most of my free time watching the television. I reach for a paper towel and dry my hands.
My parents swear they try to visit. Whenever they repeatedly apologize over the phone, I want to hate them for their absence. That’s always followed by guilt. After all, it is my body’s fault for the fresh lines on their face and the extra holes in their shirts. They can pretend the holes doesn’t exist. We all know they do.
That hurts. To know that the thrifty fashionista my mom used to be, gives up the sales and night markets to doll up a ticking time bomb. That my father calls everyday on his way to work, as if hugging and protecting the cold orb will stop its foreboding ticking. Anyone in their right mind, would throw a bomb as far away as possible. I know this, while I watch them in their painfully happy facade. But I’m not stupid. Fifteen days turned to twenty-eight. Twenty-eight to thirty-five, and the money is still draining down a bottomless pit.
I glance at myself one last time in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes. A dull, empty look. Pale complexion. Rashes. A bald head. I used to wear a wig, an expensive, glossy and elegant wig, back when I cared. Back when I believed my appearance mattered more than the itchy, sweaty feeling. But, what’s the point of decorating a prison cell? I turn away from the sink with a surprisingly smooth motion. Today was a good day. My mind wasn’t as blurry and hazy, and my train of thought was surprisingly fluid. Ish. Maybe I’d actually finish a few episodes of the Big Bang Theory without forgetting halfway the plot halfway through. I really have my priorities straight.
I rush back to my bed with my turtle pace and slight nausea. I know the steps by heart, and I keep my eyes straight ahead at the rows and rows of identical white beds, matching the white walls, white doors and white labcoats. For the past few days, I haven’t really thought about too much. Maybe it’s hard to think with so many tubes and annoying machines around you, or maybe it’s hard to think when you’re locked in your own jail of a body with the execution date labeled on your forehead. I sluggishly lay back in my pillow-lined coffin and watch as a nurse hurriedly buzzes towards me, hooking me back up to some leukemia-related machine.
Closing my weary eyes, I try to drift away. Suddenly, something pokes me in the arm. I groan with an incredible amount of annoyance for a girl who knew very well she wouldn’t have fallen asleep. The eight year old boy who usually occupies the bed to my left is standing over my body. He’s only just been admitted into the hospital, and I usually just ignore him and his restlessness.
“Hi. Um, I know I don’t really know you, the nurse said that your mommy said that you can draw really well.” I stared at him in confusion, I hadn’t drawn in years. As he shifted from side to side, I didn’t even attempt to save him. “Yeah, so, my mommy wants me to make friends, and I really like drawing,” He glances sheepishly at the floor, before procuring an object from behind his back.
“This is for you.” I glanced dumbfounded at the new notebook in his hand. Optimus Prime was staring valiantly back up at me from the front page. Feeling a little awkward and confused, I smiled and accepted the Transformers book. I don’t know what he’d say if I told him right now that I’d never watched the Transformer movies.
“Thank you so much,” I say instead. My tone sounds forced even through my own ears.
“I have an idea,” he pulls out his own Bumblebee notebook, “I think we should draw pictures to put up on the walls and you know, make this place happier. We can draw cars or robots or ponies,” he pulled a face and I tried not to giggle, “We can fill up this entire wall with collages,” his eyes brightened, “Oooh, and maybe, we can draw portraits of other people for money.” His wild gesturing stopped and he cautiously flipped to a page in his own barely used book. “I already drew one of you, you don’t have to pay me or anything, I know it’s bad, but maybe you could also teach me?”
I was staring back at a mirror image, well sort of, of me. A bald stickman with googly eyes and a wide, wide smile. Instead of faded blue uniforms, I was clothed in an outfit I wouldn’t exactly choose myself. A flowery skirt and a baggy yellow shirt. I covered my mouth, but this time, the laugh rang loud and clear. My gaze shifted to the boy next to me. The boy with bright eyes and a wide, wide smile.
A dam broke inside of me. Nearly toppling out of my bed and ignoring the sharp pain in my side, I reached out and tightly hugged the confused boy. We may be in a jail cell, but we can always draw on the iron bars and paint over the emptiness. Nothing’s to stop us, from singing, laughing and drawing.
“I’d love to teach you!”

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Who's got the power?

Recap - Ways authors show power in stories!


What will your outline be like?

Be prepared to share your outline in class on the Monday we return from Spring Break



Make sure you finish your next book (the book you are reading for inspiration for your RF -social issues story) over Spring Break



Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Capturing the Heart of your piece

Lesson Recap

Weaving in our social issue to create meaningful writing


C/D and E/F class tomorrow - BOOK CLUB Summative Talks - These talks will be video taped.

See this sample from last year

Monday, March 13, 2017

Lesson Recap - Absolutes



E/F and C/D - Your book club talk should be ready for Tuesday
Remember - notebook inspections this week

All Classes
You should have collected and completed your research on your course  of study by Wed.   (This is the topic you are planning to write your realsitic fiction social issue paper  about) You must be able to talk about what you have learned about your topic and how you plan to use that information in your piece. Make sure you have a way of collecting your research


 You must have notes (for inspection) that shows your research on your social issue  topic

Example: 





Friday, March 10, 2017

Choose a social issue video to watch and begin creating your course of study. Next week you will read fiction and nonfiction text about your social issue and WRITE many short scenes realted to your fiction story. Monday will be a RESEARCH day. You need to be reading as much about your topic BEFORE you write your story.

Social Issues Topics


Best claims for today


Thursday, March 9, 2017

Intertextuality - Build a Course of Study

Sentence Fluency RETAKE OF RETAKE

Make one copy of this file as a book club: http://padlet.com/rbuxton1/oj1m08505pnp

Use this link for today's class: Intertextuality Practice



H/W - Bring one link  that relates in some way to a big idea in your book club text. This can be a song, poem, video clip, magazine article, poster. In Thursday's class, you will work as a book club on your second summative assessment using these links. Do not let your team down by forgetting to bring something in!  - DUE FRI  -  G/H - DUE MONDAY - 
All teams must have a padlet for inspection - responsibility grade given. Remember the SAS database as an option - only try to think out of the box when choosing your sources

Enjoy a recap of the POScars 2017 champion performance



Course of Study - For next week
LENS OF RACE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/education/black-at-stuyvesant-high-one-girls- experience.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/education/at-explore-charter-school-a-portrait-of- segregated-education.html?pagewanted=all
https://www.newsela.com/articles/teachers-diversity/id/3846/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/19/scholastic-pulls- childrens-book-starring-george-washingtons-happy-slaves/
LENS OF CLASS:
https://www.newsela.com/articles/homeless-kids/id/27/
http://www.citylimits.org/news/articles/4936/class-in-the-classroom-the-income-gap-and-nyc-s- schools#.U2vyPK1dWuo
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/inside-a-divided-upper-east-side-public-school-6428826
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/majority-of-us-public-school-students-are-in- poverty/2015/01/15/df7171d0-9ce9-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html
LENS OF GENDER:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02sex3-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/are-toys-too-gender-specific/ http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/08/07/3468380/gender-roles-health-risks/
http://sociology.about.com/od/Current-Events-in-Sociological-Context/fl/Full-Transcript-of- Emma-Watsons-Speech-on-Gender-Equality-at-the-UN.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/education/edlife/in-oakland-building-boys-into-men.html
LENS OF IMMIGRATION:
http://indykids.org/main/2014/09/the-child-migrant-crisis/
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2015/09/10/immigration-demagogues-like-donald- trump-are-hurting-children
Duplicate with permission only
Please contact permissions@readingandwritingproject.com DRAFT 2016-2017 ©
30

Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Reading Curricular Calendar, Sixth Grade, 2016-2017 Social Issues Book Clubs: Developing Critical Literacies
http://www.kidsdiscover.com/shop/issues/immigration-for-kids/ http://time.com/4050914/1965-immigration-act-pew/
http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2016/04/03/new-app-helps-undocumented-immigrants-find-college- scholarships
LENS OF RELIGION:
http://indykids.org/main/2016/03/salam-i-come-in-peace-muslims-stand-up-against- islamophobia/
http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/tt_debunking_misconceptions_0.pdf http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-43-spring-2013/religion-locker-room
http://www.colorlines.com/articles/study-trump-effect-gives-children-color-alarming-level-fear- and-anxiety
LENS OF LANGUAGE:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/dual-language-classes-for-kids-grow-in-popularity-1459535318
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/bilingual-education-nyc-set-big-expansion- article-1.2587215
https://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english?language=en
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/travel/making-language-immersion-fun-for-the- kids.html?_r=0 

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Role of Supporting Characters

Lesson Recap 



No H/W - Read! - Your 2nd book must be finished by Friday

Reminder: If you wish to retake the grammar test this Thursday during ASK THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE , then you must provide evidence of further studying before this day.

Hint - Learn the rules of compound and complex sentences!

Practice exercises

Sentence Fluency: Test Practice Exercises -

http://www.quia.com/quiz/299540.html (ignore question 13 and 16)


Some of the questions on this exercise, we have not covered yet...but we will. Try it for fun!


Monday, March 6, 2017

Social Issues Writing - Generating Ideas

Reminder: If you wish to retake the grammar test this Thursday during ASK THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE , then you must provide evidence of further studying before this day.

Today's Recap - Writing scenes that indirectly hint at a social issue

Generating Ideas:  Humans of New York





H/W - ALL CLASSES

Read this scene. Write a comment at the end of the post saying what the author has done to show the social issue


Mentor Sample - What moves has this writer made? How will yours compare?

Title of Story: Draw on Iron Bars

The water splashes my face and wakes me up to a dreary day. It’s identical to the dreary days that came before and the dreary days that will come after. Luckily, the sink is only a few steps away from my bed, as I’m already not able to walk around the white compound by myself. It doesn’t bother me too much, for I’ve never been one to love wandering a boring white hospital amongst worried visitors and identically clad patients. The stench of fear, misery, vomit and generously dispersed disinfectant is enough to drive anyone away. Instead, I spend most of my free time watching the television. I reach for a paper towel and dry my hands.
My parents swear they try to visit. Whenever they repeatedly apologize over the phone, I want to hate them for their absence. That’s always followed by guilt. After all, it is my body’s fault for the fresh lines on their face and the extra holes in their shirts. They can pretend the holes doesn’t exist. We all know they do.
That hurts. To know that the thrifty fashionista my mom used to be, gives up the sales and night markets to doll up a ticking time bomb. That my father calls everyday on his way to work, as if hugging and protecting the cold orb will stop its foreboding ticking. Anyone in their right mind, would throw a bomb as far away as possible. I know this, while I watch them in their painfully happy facade. But I’m not stupid. Fifteen days turned to twenty-eight. Twenty-eight to thirty-five, and the money is still draining down a bottomless pit.
I glance at myself one last time in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes. A dull, empty look. Pale complexion. Rashes. A bald head. I used to wear a wig, an expensive, glossy and elegant wig, back when I cared. Back when I believed my appearance mattered more than the itchy, sweaty feeling. But, what’s the point of decorating a prison cell? I turn away from the sink with a surprisingly smooth motion. Today was a good day. My mind wasn’t as blurry and hazy, and my train of thought was surprisingly fluid. Ish. Maybe I’d actually finish a few episodes of the Big Bang Theory without forgetting halfway the plot halfway through. I really have my priorities straight.
I rush back to my bed with my turtle pace and slight nausea. I know the steps by heart, and I keep my eyes straight ahead at the rows and rows of identical white beds, matching the white walls, white doors and white labcoats. For the past few days, I haven’t really thought about too much. Maybe it’s hard to think with so many tubes and annoying machines around you, or maybe it’s hard to think when you’re locked in your own jail of a body with the execution date labeled on your forehead. I sluggishly lay back in my pillow-lined coffin and watch as a nurse hurriedly buzzes towards me, hooking me back up to some leukemia-related machine.
Closing my weary eyes, I try to drift away. Suddenly, something pokes me in the arm. I groan with an incredible amount of annoyance for a girl who knew very well she wouldn’t have fallen asleep. The eight year old boy who usually occupies the bed to my left is standing over my body. He’s only just been admitted into the hospital, and I usually just ignore him and his restlessness.
“Hi. Um, I know I don’t really know you, the nurse said that your mommy said that you can draw really well.” I stared at him in confusion, I hadn’t drawn in years. As he shifted from side to side, I didn’t even attempt to save him. “Yeah, so, my mommy wants me to make friends, and I really like drawing,” He glances sheepishly at the floor, before procuring an object from behind his back.
“This is for you.” I glanced dumbfounded at the new notebook in his hand. Optimus Prime was staring valiantly back up at me from the front page. Feeling a little awkward and confused, I smiled and accepted the Transformers book. I don’t know what he’d say if I told him right now that I’d never watched the Transformer movies.
“Thank you so much,” I say instead. My tone sounds forced even through my own ears.
“I have an idea,” he pulls out his own Bumblebee notebook, “I think we should draw pictures to put up on the walls and you know, make this place happier. We can draw cars or robots or ponies,” he pulled a face and I tried not to giggle, “We can fill up this entire wall with collages,” his eyes brightened, “Oooh, and maybe, we can draw portraits of other people for money.” His wild gesturing stopped and he cautiously flipped to a page in his own barely used book. “I already drew one of you, you don’t have to pay me or anything, I know it’s bad, but maybe you could also teach me?”
I was staring back at a mirror image, well sort of, of me. A bald stickman with googly eyes and a wide, wide smile. Instead of faded blue uniforms, I was clothed in an outfit I wouldn’t exactly choose myself. A flowery skirt and a baggy yellow shirt. I covered my mouth, but this time, the laugh rang loud and clear. My gaze shifted to the boy next to me. The boy with bright eyes and a wide, wide smile.
A dam broke inside of me. Nearly toppling out of my bed and ignoring the sharp pain in my side, I reached out and tightly hugged the confused boy. We may be in a jail cell, but we can always draw on the iron bars and paint over the emptiness. Nothing’s to stop us, from singing, laughing and drawing. “I’d love to teach you!”

Friday, March 3, 2017

Connecting Research to Reading about Social Issues


Lesson Recap




You will have 15mins of Monday's class to turn in your finished piece.



Thursday, March 2, 2017

Internal/External Conflcit


Next week you will be assessed on your 'BEST' reading notebook page - How good will yours be?


We all have pressure - knowing when, where, and how to realize the pressure if often how best to discuss character change or growth.


Membean test tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Reading from different perspectives

Sentence Clauses RETAKE TEST

Reminder: If you wish to retake the grammar test this Thursday during ASK, then you must provide evidence of further studying before this day.

This is a MEMBEAN week - You will have your Membean test FRIDAY

HB - Reminder from today's chat...


Lesson Recap



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