PLAN 'B' and AAAWWUBBIS

PLAN B

Successful students are those that solve the problems they are daily faced with. Today, we spoke about the importance of having a 'plan B' - just in case. Anticipate problems before they emerge - no printer ink, running out of paper, etc. What will your 'Plan B' be for future projects/assignments?


Recap
We we learned some big words today:

• Subordinating Conjunction
• Independent Clause
• Dependent Clause

Win a +1 if you sing the "AAAWWUBBIS + Even though" song to a parent and explain what they are    
use for.




H/W - You must bring a printed final draft for your narrative:
WILF

• Correct presentation (Heading, comic sans, font 12, paragraphs)
• Strong lead and close 
• Effective title
• Strong word choice
• Emotions and a setting clearly described

This is your first official writing grade.  Make it strong!

Math
2.8

RLA
Complex sentence worksheets

H/W

Finish your narrative endings using the google doc. Bring a printed copy to class tomorrow for final editing.

How can you create writing that ends with the type of emotion displayed at the end of these classic movies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8UL_9R_W-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7ZpLgkVxA

Remember E.T.C.C.
Describe a lasting EMOTION
Write a TRIBUTE to somebody
Talk about CHANGE
Go full CIRCLE with your story
Math - Study Link 2.7 and IXL F.8

Today's Core Value focus should be an important reminder to all of us of how important it is to make sure we are treating each other with RESPECT, DIGNITY, CIVILITY, and COMPASSION.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Ghandi.

Feel free to add your thoughts on today's session to the voicethread below or as a comment to this post


Watch these videos again for reminders of the message from today's session

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Inside - Outside Help!

H/W
Grammar Package (Due: Fri)
Spelling Test will be next Tuesday

Inside/Ouside poem about yourself. (Due: Fri) - further advice below

Don't make your poem more complicated than it needs to be...Think about the assignment for a second... all i'm asking you to do is write a poem about yourself. Now...going a bit further...i'm suggesting ways you can go about doing this by using categories...for example.. write about your personality, your dreams, your fears, your weaknesses etc etc... by thinking about categories gives you a way to organize your thoughts... so the next step is ... how do you do that...???


well why not begin by just writing about yourself in a literal way...
What do other think of you?
They think... all i enjoy writng and i a super students...
your poetry might soon like...  outside
A test taking machine some may suggest
Fear of failure is why I strive my best
inside
I think... ..i like doing art....
 how can i do that in a poetic and/or figurative way..?
Drawing and mixing paints brightens my days
Being artistic and creative in countless ways

You need to do just 12 lines like this... and maybe find a special way to end...
no...the title doesn't count....(but give a realistic title)

Also..VERY IMPORTANT...there is a rhyming dictionary on the left side of the blog...use it to find words and phrases that rhyme if you want...

Remember my old phrase... NIKE!!!!

Carpe Diem - Make your lives extraordinary

Free free to comment  about today's lesson introducing poetry.  Feel free to add any of your drafts of your personal poems for others to comment.

Below is a chance to see the video clip from today's session again.

Invictus - Reflection

Listen below to  an interview with the captain of the South African rugby team (Matt Damon's character) as he speaks about Nelson Mandela.



How will you use the last lines of  Invictus in your life going forward?

I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of  my soul

Watch the real live ending of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final below.



H/W
Character Sketch due in tomorrow - Make sure you are making 'clear'  judgments throughout.

Bring in your comfort zone rectangles (if you still have it) for discussion in tomorrow's class (Fri). How have you stepped out of your comfort zone recently?

Personal Narratives

Feel free to share some of your best sentence (s) that you create in your narratives on the blog.  State what type of sentence your are sharing e.g. sensory, figurative, action,  emotion, use of proper nouns, quotes etc... Other students are encouraged to give  polite, respectful constructive feedback where possible.

Narrative Writing - Time Shift (Past Perfect)Sentences

Use these exercises to practice creating 'time shift' sentences in narrative writing.
Who said 'time travel' was impossible?

http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/pstperf1.html
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/tenses/past_perfect/pastperf3.htm
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/tenses/past_perfect/pastperf1.htm
http://www.learnenglish.de/Games/Tenses/PastPerfectTest.htm
http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/grammar/tense/3.1.xml
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/140.html

This is a 'challenge' exercise that only a few of you will understand. +2 if you can do these questions!!!
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs11.htm

Enjoy these videos to see the 'time shift' sentences, more commonly known as past perfect sentences, used in real context.

Descriptive Sentences - Brag Sheet

Enjoy these impressive descriptive writing pieces rom your classmates. Notice how there is limited action taking place in the writing. It is as if 'time froze' and just a 'moment in time'  is being  described.

Fishing with Dad
Miles W.

As I listened to the hypnotic sound of the beach volleyball being bounced back and forth on the sandy court, all was peaceful. The half-bare trees had their own special way of beauty by shaking slowly (as if in a dream) their artistically designed red/yellow leaves. Faint footsteps in the distance awoke my senses, and I started to think in a clearer state of mind. Being able to think more clearly, I realized that there was an assortment of knobby twigs that must have fallen from the tree branch hovering above me. Red/yellow leaves in the grass and cold, crispy air also surrounded me. Suddenly something on my lap moved! A fishing rod! I then remembered that I was fishing with my dad, and he had gone to the car to get more bait.

Descriptive Paragraph: A Moment In Time

By: Kate Mace
The shiny galas and crisp mackintosh were just begging me to pluck them off

the branches. Somewhere else out in the orchard, a small child shouted out in frustration. Clover and trees in the area created an earthy, inciting aroma that made me want to stand there under that tree and breathe it in all day. Suddenly, a loud rumble that came from under my shoulders interrupted my peaceful daydream in paradise. I could understand the grumbling from my stomach. It was saying, “Feed me Kate, I’m famished. I could hear the apple treats being set out on the table for just my family and I to enjoy. As I sat down on the table, the mouth watering smells wafted up into my nostrils from the outdoor kitchen. The apple pie and apple cider were for dessert of course, but I thought we should eat them now. For they would be cold if we waited any longer, and nobody wants cold apple pie or warm cider. Apple juice is what we would drink instead of cider. Apple tarts and apple donuts were just now being set out on the table. I put away a second or two to soak it all in and take a mental note of it. Sprinkled with powder sugar, the petite donuts seemed extremely delicious. They were arranged on a platter decoratively, and they made you want to grab the giant platter and start wolfing them down. As for the apple tarts, lets just say that they tasted better when they were in your mouth, not on yourshirt. When I could get them in my mouth, they were the best donuts I had ever tasted. Even though we had to go home right after lunch, I had a great time at the orchard on the mountain.

A Perfect Day of Winter
by Maddie

Branches and leaves of all colors crinkle as I step on the ground in the wooded area. Pine needles on the evergreens brushed against my coat and boots. Although the snow and air was cold, it had a welcoming feeling. The frosted leaves and weak branches fell as the wind howled throughout the trees. My fingers and toes were numb, and my breath made white clouds in the air. Small and large, icicles hung upon the dormant trees sparkling like crystals because of the afternoon sun above. Snowflakes fell from the sky dancing in the wind, each twirling like how dancers skip across the floor. There were no flowers anymore, and all the plants were drooping as if they knew there had been a winter’s frost. The trees shook as the wind attacked them, and the branches rattled as if they were mad. Animal prints decorated the snow in patterns in the same way a stamp would decorate a piece of paper. Winter is beautiful, but I always miss the animals that are hibernating for the season. Snow falling from branches way high in the trees fell and made me think my friends and I were in a snow fight. Sitting in a branch high in my favorite tree made me feel so small to the big woods around me. The wind up my spine made me shiver all over and reminded me what it would be like to be on the streets without a coat. Snow drifts were all over like little hills of snow to make snow forts out of them. The beautiful white snow reminded me of how perfect the world really was. All my worries drifted out of my head as I thought of how good I had it. The nature of the woods reminded me that life was more than the newest ipod or the biggest house. The woods was a place were life thrived, and it felt as if you were on top of the world. Dad’s voice echoed through the trees “ Time for hot chocolate!” for that was our favorite drink after a day in the snow. Tripping over stumps and roots, I darted toward the cozy house.