Thursday 11/29/12

In class we were allowed to see how structured debates worked in practice. Ms. Ortega divided the room into two and we were to argue about Dirks' salary bonus. Obviously the pro side one, but before we were given a strangely written editorial about Dirks to learn how to argue both sides of a debate,which will be helpful for Model Assembly in order to know what the opponent will say. Lastly, for homework don't forget to check dailyoped.com daily. Ms. Ortega will be checking to make sure we have been researching.

Wednesday 10/28/12

Ms. Ortega wasn't here today, but we still learned about how to research editorials and articles after SSR. We were given the article "Is Grover over?" and were to answer the five questions on the board. After we were allowed time to write the beginning of our three minute speeches about our bills. That's about it. It was a pretty easy day.

Monday, November 26, 2012

After SSR, Ortega introduced our next Model Assembly component. We are expected to write two 3 minute speeches, one supporting our own bill and the other in support or against someone else's bill. We will be needing this both for the week of Model Assembly and the week before in order to recite them to Ortega. In order to write professional and political though, Ortega suggested and requires us to research news daily on this website (you may use others though, this is just an option). The more we read of this genre of writing, the more familiar it will become to us. This is why she taught us how to write captivating intros to our speeches. After reading a few of our editorials intros, we gathered that a good introduction will contain one of the four following methods: shocking or surprising statements (including statistics), rhetorical question, an anecdote, or a quote. For homework we are expected to write an amazing introduction for the support of our own bill. If you need help, look through editorials and study how the professionals write theirs. It just takes time to pick up the writing style.

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." - Stephen King

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Today's Plan

SSR
Timed Writing Assignment

Homework
None

Reminders
Do more research on your bills

After SSR we spent the whole block working on the timed writing assignment. It was about our bills: the problems they addressed and the solutions they offered.

Thursday, November 8th, 2012

Today's Plan

• LC Presentations

Homework

• I don't think there was any homework

Reminders

• I don't think there are any reminders either.

Today was a pretty easy day. Sadly, there was no SSR today. We went straight into the presentation. All the groups were able to present, so great job to everyone who went up today! After the presentations, we shared out what worked this  time and what could be done better for the next Literature Circle presentations. Well, that's pretty much it. Have a great day everyone!

Wednesday November 7th, 2012

Today's Plan

• SSR
• LC Presentation Prep

Homework

• Work on Literature Circle presentations

Reminders

• Presentations will be done tomorrow
• Bring printed script or song for your presentation to turn in

Today we stared off by having 20 minutes of SSR. We had another day to work on our presentation with our group. Remember, we will be having presentations tomorrow so make sure you and you're group are prepared for that.

Monday November 5th, 2012

Today's Plan

• SSR
• LC Prep for Presentation

Homework

• Work on Literature Circle presentation with your group

Reminders

• We will have another day to work on our Literature Circle presentations on Wednesday
• Presentations will be done this Thursday (11/8/12)

The first thing we did today was 20 minutes of SSR. Afterwards, every group had the opportunity to work on their Literature Circle presentations for the rest of the block. Even though I put it already in the reminders, don't forget presentations will be done on Thursday this week!

Thursday November 1st, 2012

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Halloween!

Today's Plan:

• SSR
• Reader's Theater
• LC Discussion #10
• Class Share-out

Homework:

• Work on Lit Circle Presentations 
• Read books for competition

Reminders:

• None!

We are tied with North House for 29 books in the competition, keep reading! Ortega explained what Reader's Theater is and said she'll bring a Goosebumps audio book next class block for us to listen to. Today was the last Lit circle discussion, everyone should be done with their books and working on their presentations. We'll get more time to work on them tomorrow in class too. Have a nice rest of the day everyone! Cheers!