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Sunday, October 13, 2013

Memoir: Progress Report

I am finding it difficult to add feedback to many of your memoirs as so many of you do not seem to have your memoirs close to being finished. This is an important grade, make sure you are not leaving your work to the last minute! Below are two sample paragraphs from Teagan's work. The first is an example of setting 'background' using the 'status quo' technique - She used this very effectively as an opening for her entire paper.

 I have never really been the person to trust people with new things. I always try to think of the negatives and what could go wrong. I get this idea in my head that I shouldn’t do something; that it will be too hard or too dangerous. Over the past few years, people have told me I need to try new things. After a while I started to believe them and to realize they had a point. These are the moments I remember as clearly as if took place yesterday.

The second piece is an example of  the type of 'reflection - learning - change'  that could come at the end of an anecdote.


 If you asked me two years ago to do something like ski down a black run, I would never have done it. I would have been stubborn and started rattling off anything dangerous that could happen. I would have banished the idea from my head before the idea even got there. Before, I was totally content with staying in my comfort zone. Now? Now I do things I would usually never consider. Now I expand my horizons. Now I am not pessimistic and worried. Now I do not let negative parts of things hold me back from being adventurous.


This is another example of reflection on an anecdote, this time from Isabella.

In a way, I guess I enjoyed the feeling because I just started to laugh and sing out of no where. I could tell that my mother wasn’t exactly thrilled that I had in a way “cleaned the toilet” when I had only cleaned the cover. But it was more than that, I felt so free (almost), even though I was cleaning a toilet, I still felt as if it was my decision and I had this sense of freedom. Shock, was all I could read when I saw my mothers face. I stopped cold once I had finished examining, I hated disappointing my mother. “What are you doing?!” I told her I was cleaning the toilet, but it was all Lidi’s fault. Lidi was my best imaginary friend, we did everything together, but somehow in the end I was always the one bossing her about...she didn’t mind. My mother looked at me seriously, sighed, and chuckled as she added “Have Fun!” I was confused in a way but grateful in how my mother would let me continue my “moment of happiness”. Sweat was dripping down my head but I couldn’t care less I was as a three year old having the time of my life! Puzzled, there was still this pit that I could feel in the bottom of my stomach. To this day I still can’t figure out what it was, maybe it was guilt, maybe it was shame, or maybe it was even just simply my knowledge of what I had done wasn’t controlled by someone else. It was controlled by a big girl. Me.

Many of you will start to see 'voice' feedback on your papers. Go to this website kaizena.com and follow the instructions to give the app permission to be added to your google drive. Doing so makes it easier for me to email you your voice feedback.

Hope these examples help!


What have you been complaining about recently?

Smile...you've no idea how good you have it!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Editing and Redrafting

Use this file link for suggestions on how to edit and redraft some of  the scenes in your memoirs.

Use this file link to organize your edits and redrafts. You must 'drop' this file for me to see

Do you have a slow motion moment in your paper?


Next Week
Be prepared for book clubs by:
  • Coming with a discussion topic/question
  • Coming with a claim about the character(s)
  • Coming with what you believe are the themes of your novel
Your final memory paper will be a .pdf version that includes some images. (I'll show you out to do this next week.) Be thinking about what images ( 2 or 3) you would like to use in your final paper.  You do not necessarily need to use  photos; you can get an image of the web that is symbolic or representative of your message. e.g. a mountain showing resilience You will need these images on Monday 22nd Oct.  (this is now the final submission date.)

Is there anything you would like me to say to your parents about you at conferences?

Have a great break!

Who holds your heart?

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Digital Reading Response

Your written reading response is due tomorrow. Mentor is below:


Your digital reading response is due NEXT THURSDAY. Your finished product will be a printed image of your book cover (or any image that represents your story) with the video QR code embedded. It will look something like this.
Use this video to help you with put your digital reading response together.


Step 1: Make sure you make a video recording of your reading response
Step 2: The website you need is here: http://www.qrcode-monkey.com/ (this site allows you to put image of yourself in the QR code!)
Step 3: Follow the advice in the video. 
If you know how to do this without using the video feel free to use what every software you know.


You are graded on your spoke delivery of your reading response.  Bring your writing to life with effective expression and intonation.

You are also graded on your ability to follow 'multi-step directions.' Your ability to persevere and  show resilience if confused and solve your problem is also being assessed.


What is Love? This video is actually a great way to emphasize the difference between 'telling' an idea and 'showing' one!

Monday, October 7, 2013

Writing Effective Endings

Opening Adjectives and Adverbs Package: 1st page only: Due Wed

Today, we learned three very different techniques to craft endings that show learning, change, and growth. You are invited to use a combination of these endings with each of your anecdotes. To use these endings effectively, you will need to THINK deeply about each individual anecdote and why you choose that anecdote to write about in the first place. Used correctly, these types of ending are VERY powerful.

Link: Techniques to end Memoirs

Final Memoir: Due Oct 18th
You should have 'almost' a completed first draft of your memoir by Wednesday's class.

Wed 9th and Wed 16th will be redrafting and editing days.

You will have about 35-45mins of class time Tuesday to work on your Reading Response which is due Wed. Make sure you are making 'claims' about your character.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Weekly Reflection

Learning Behaviors bi-monthly grade added to powerschool. Well done to the vast majority of you who have been keeping your reading log up to date!

Congratulations on your first assessed discussion today. Discussion grades will be in powerschool by Sunday 12pm Three points to consider:

1) If you do the work, (read and think about the text beforehand) you will LEARN. If you don't...
2) Always think about how setting effects characters
3) State unique claims that could beyond the most obvious statements

Reminder: If you perform badly on an assessment, you can redo it. I had three people today redo their 'parts of speech' assessment. Each one improved their grade score! I will not chase you. You must ask me!

Next Week

  • Character reading response due: Wed - Make sure you are stating a clear claim. Look at mentor text example on blog for guidance.
  • Be prepared for your first 'Book club' discussion - Tue
  • First Draft of Memoirs finished by end of class: Wed - Due date for memoirs will be: Friday Oct 18th.




Put a smile on your face this weekend



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