Items Due: none for today.

Due Friday, 08/26: Genius hour idea proposal.

Coming Up: Summer Assignment presentations during 8th period, Thursday; no 8th period Tuesday 08/30, due to school-wide mock testing schedule.

What we did today: Finish definitions of different types of story.

Today's Bellringer: None today.

Manipulation of Content: Continuing from yesterday's class, students formed into groups and came up with their own definitions of the following genres of storytelling: myth, fable, folktale, fairytale, legend.  As a class, we decided upon an official definition of each, and wrote them on vocabulary cards to be used throughout this week.  Discussed independent/dependent clauses, introductory clauses, word choice, parenthetical phrases, complex sentences, comma placement, importance of varying word choice.  Link to "The Two Wolves".

Vocabulary: anthropomorphosism, hyperbole, embellish, myth, fable, folktale, fairytale, legend, moral, defames.

Skills: Creativity, activating prior knowledge, ability to work well with others, grammar/mechanics

ELA Common Core Standards covered:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
  
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1.b: Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
  
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9-10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  

National Core Arts Standards covered:

• None today.
  

Items Due: last call for school forms; summer assignments.

Due Friday, 08/26: Genius hour idea proposal.

Coming Up: Summer Assignment presentations during 8th period, Tuesday and Thursday.

What we did today: Board Post-It prompt; discuss Genius Hour; begin discussing storytelling.

Today's Bellringer: "Find a quote that MOTIVATES or INSPIRES you.  Write it on a Post-It note with the author's or speaker's name."

Manipulation of Content: Students wrote down a quote that motivates or inspires them.  This quote will be used at a later time.  We discussed the concept of Genius Hour, and students were given the "Genius Hour Project Proposal" form and "Genius Hour Rubric".  We began discussing storytelling, with the question, "What makes a good story?"  We brainstormed on the board, as students threw out suggestions or were encouraged to think more deeply.

Skills: Creativity, activating prior knowledge.

ELA Common Core Standards covered:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
  
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

National Core Arts Standards covered:

• TH:Pr4.1.I.: Shape character choices using given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Items Due today: school forms; summer assignments

Coming up next week: Genius Hour proposals due Friday, August 26.  More information to come.  Summer Assignment presentations.  Literary devices and Into the Woods.

What we did today: brief bellringer (on board); collected housekeeping/paperwork; distributed art supply boxes; reviewed and submitted summer assignments; finished "Summer Vacation" presentations; read There Are Those.

Today's Bellringer: "FRIENDLY FRIDAY: Use your dry-erase marker to describe what makes a good friend."

Manipulation of Content: Students wrote their bellringer response on the board, then we shared them with the class.  We discussed how being a good friend can help someone with depression, and why it's important to always support, not tear down, each other. (Connection from yesterday's 8th period discussion).  After completing the "Summer Vacation" presentations, students offered suggestions about what could be learned about each other from the activity, and how it was essential to give me a quick glimpse into students' baseline skill set.  There Are Those was used to make connections with students, and help them understand they are part of a special group of like-minded students, as well as get them thinking about abstract art and poetry.

Skills: Writing, public speaking, creativity, improvisation; empathy

ELA Common Core Standards covered:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

National Core Arts Standards covered:

• Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
• Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.

Thursday, August 18, 2016
Toady was the first day we had 8th period, which we'll have for 15 days, before students rotate out to another content area.  We took the time to complete the mandated suicide prevention training by watching an informational video about depression and warning signs; discussing the school-distributed handout with helpful links and resources; then responding to "No One is Alone", from Into the Woods.  Please review with your child the information provided in the handout, and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Welcome to GRC! We had a great first day, getting to know each other, and sharing about our summer vacations!

Items Due: school forms; summer assignments

What we did today: bellringer (in composition book); discussed GRC start of year housekeeping and paperwork; shared out bellringer.

Today's Bellringer: "Welcome back! On your Post-It note, write one thing you did this summer."

Manipulation of Content: Students were given a Post-It note other than their own, and wrote in their composition books as though they had experienced that summer activity. They then shared with the class their responses and were asked detail-oriented questions about their experience. Next, the actual student shared his/her version of the summer activity, then read their response to the Post-It note.

Skills: Writing, public speaking, creativity, improvisation.

ELA Common Core Standards covered:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

National Core Arts Standards covered:

• TH:Pr4.1.I.: Shape character choices using given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.