| 
View
 

7  Write Lessons

This version was saved 18 years ago View current version     Page history
Saved by PBworks
on November 29, 2006 at 1:01:10 pm
 

Lessons for Writing Grade 7

Second Quarter

First Quarter Lessons



 

11/30 Spelling and Fiction

 

* Skillbook pages 71-74; 75-78: Subject/Predicate; clauses/phrases

* Prompt: Write a nomination speech explaining why a person you know deserves an “Appreciation Award.”

 

    • Project:
      • Survivor: What is a survivor?

 

      • Text: Wolf

 

    • Plot Profile:
      • Read the story. Mark the important events--find the ten most important events.
      • Write the ten important events in order.
      • For each event, mark the graph excitement level--was that event ordinary (1) or suspenseful (10) or somewhere in between. Make a dot above the number of the event on the graph. Connect the dots.

 

    • Character Analysis
  • Who are the characters?
  • What do they look like (physical characteristics)?
  • What are the personalities like? (see adjective list)
  • Analyze the two main characters using the CA chart.
  • Write the name of the character. Tell from the text, what the character says and/or does to show one of the traits. Write an adjective trait in the last column.

 

      • Literary Elements: Expositon, Setting, Characters, Plot, Climax, Resolution, Theme
      • Author's Craft: organization and word choice

 

Thoughtful Thursday

Word Origins

 

Today, learn the origins of five different words from your spelling list. You will need a dictionary. If you don’t have a dictionary at home, go to study hall in the morning.

 

Directions:

1. Choose five different words. (The base words are different.)

2. Write one of those words.

3. Write its base word.

4. Look up the base word in the dictionary.

5. Find its word origin (English, French, Latin, Greek, etc.)

6-8. Write the language origin, the origin words, and their definitions.

9. Repeat 2-8 for each of your five words.

 

Example:

1. First word chosen: “theory”

2. Write one of the words: theory

3. Write its base word: theorem

4. Look up the base word in the dictionary.

5. Find its word origin: Greek

6-8 Write the language origin, the origin words, their definitions:

6 Greek 7 theoria 8 to look at (I had to look up the base word theorum to find the meaning).

 

Are you ready for Friday’s test?

 

 

11/29 Review and Fiction

 

* Skillbook pages 71-74: Subject/Predicate

* Prompt: Write a nomination speech explaining why a person you know deserves an “Appreciation Award.”

 

    • Project:
      • Survivor: What is a survivor?

 

      • Text: Wolf

 

    • Plot Profile:
      • Read the story. Mark the important events--find the ten most important events.
      • Write the ten important events in order.
      • For each event, mark the graph excitement level--was that event ordinary (1) or suspenseful (10) or somewhere in between. Make a dot above the number of the event on the graph. Connect the dots.

 

      • Literary Elements: Expositon, Setting, Characters, Plot, Climax, Resolution, Theme
      • Author's Craft: organization and word choice

 

 

* Spelling

Wordy Wednesday

Practice getting to know your words.

1. Say each of your spelling words in parts. These do NOT need to be correct syllables.

 

Examples:

Exercise ex er cise

Certain cer tain

Forcible forc I ble

Efficient e ffi cient

2. For each of twelve of your hardest words, do the following:

a. Write the word.

b. Say the word and count the word parts

c. Draw a line for each word part

d. Say the word again, and write each part as you say it.

e. Say the word again, writing it as one word as you say the parts.

f. Example:

a. Exercise

b. “ex” “er” “cise” 3

c. ex/er/cise

d. “exercise” ex er cise

e. “exercise” exercise

 


 

11/28 Sentences, Spelling, Essays

 

    • Project:
      • Survivor: What is a survivor?

 

    • Turn in LC Essays

 

    • Skillbook 70-71 --sentence structures

 

    • Prompt: Write a nomination speech explaining why a person you know deserves an “Appreciation Award.” (Not discussed yet)

 

 

    • Spelling: Terrible Tuesdays

 

      • Mistaken Spelling Fun

Good spellers can write words different ways to find the right way. This fun practice helps you learn the many different ways “sounds” are spelled in English while helping you learn the correct pattern for each of your words.

 

      • Directions:

Choose five different words (the base words are different) from your spelling list. Write each word correctly twice. Then write each word in as many different ways as it could be spelled phonetically, but isn’t. Box in the correct words. This exercise helps you learn all the possible spellings so you can learn to pick the correct one. Use a dictionary, if necessary.

 

      • Examples:

 

Exercise exercise

    • exorsise exorsize exersighze

 

Certain certain

    • sertin sertun surtin scurtin

 

Forcible forcible

    • forsible forsable phorsable phorscabel ghorscible

 

Efficient efficient

    • ephishant uphishant eghitiant ephiciant

 

Leaf leaf

    • leef leiphe lleaphe lief leif

 

11/27 Affixes & Sentence Structure

 

Affixes

Write Source 328-331

Spelling c/g ly ed s

ceiling

damage damages damaged

deceive deceived

evidence evident evidently

forcible forcibly

instance instances

mileage

procedure procedures procedurally

violence violently

wreckage

__Sentence structure__

Composing Write Source 85-92; 434-438

Today's focus: 434-5;

Skillbook: 69-70

All sentences must have a subject and a predicate (verb).

Can dogs fly?

Who or what? dogs = subject

What do dogs do? fly? = verb (predicate)

 

 


11/22-26 Thanksgiving

 


11/22 Assembly; Homeroom

11/21 LC Evaluation

  • Finish final draft.
  • Organize your prewriting and drafts from earliest to most recent, which should be on top.
  • Use the checklist under 's' to self-evaluate your essay.
  • Trade papers; under 'p' evaluate a peer's paper.
  • What do you need to add/change/delete/improve?
  • If you believe you are ready to turn in, rate your own essay on the rubric; ask a peer to rate your essay.
  • If your work is turned in today, you may revise for a better grade when you receive your final grade.

11/20 LC Essay due today

  • Confer with teacher
  • Revise your final draft.
    • Look at your checklist.
    • Did you include everything?
    • Can you add more detail, strong verbs, nifty nouns?
    • How is your sentence fluency?
    • Did you write like you cared?
    • Did you include figurative language?

 

  • Edit your essay.
  • Finish your essay (type or handwritten)


11/17 Workshop

  • Work on LC essays

 

Note: We will be revising and finalizing this essay on Friday and Monday. Essays are due Monday at the end of class. Only assignments turned in on due dates can be revised for a better grade. If you are behind, work at home.

 

  • Confer with teacher

11/16 Workshop

 

  • Choice Time Friday for students who consistently work towards our school goals:

 

Try your hardest and do your best.

Stay focused and think carefully.

Complete and turn in work on time.

Ask questions when needed.

Help others and yourself to learn.

Listen.

Participate appropriately (independently, partners, teams).

Work on task.

Manage yourself.

Keep your work, folders, materials organized.

Prepare for classes with supplies, completed assignments.

Use your planner.

Respect all persons, spaces, feelings, property.

Be courteous to all.

Follow directions and corrections without comment.

Treat others with kindness and respect.

Be courteous to all.

Encourage others.

Include all in groups.

Take care of property.

Organize your own areas and work.

Put litter in its place.

Handle equipment safely and carefully.

Leave others' property alone.

 

  • Work on LC Essay
  • Teacher confers with students
  • Spelling Test (20 words)

 


11/15 Conclusion Ideas

  • Conclusion sample and ideas
  • Scheduled work today: revised drafts of goal and event paragraph, introduction, and poem; start of conclusion

 

Note: We will be revising and finalizing this essay on Thursday and Friday. Only assignments turned in on due dates can be revised for a better grade. If you are behind, work at home.

 

  • Confer with students for guidance.

11/14 Poem Samples

 

Val

Speaks in soft tones

In the lazy afternoon with sunlight streaming in

To the dining hall, as steaks simmer.

She encourages us to follow our dreams and our native traditions.

Eldin

Stands proud and strong

In the early morning of grey clouds

After the breakfast in the meal site.

He shares to never give up, even what life is tough, like boot camp.

Gary

Thin, soft-spoken, shares his thrill as Olympic torch runner

In the crazy afternoon of ping! Ping! Pouring rain

Under the wooden-beamed roof of the mess hall.

He says, “Keep going. Never give up.”

 

  • Conferences with students to guide writing.
  • Note: Thank you to the students who focus on task. You know who you are; you will go far in life.


11/13 Past due: two finished paragraphs

  • Due today: revised drafts of goal and event paragraphs; introduction or poem
  • Teacher model of revision and introduction for review of expectations:

 

Revision:

REVISE:

Where can you add details?

Where can you cut clutter -- duplicated information?

Where can you change words to strong verbs, precise nouns, alliteration, assonance?

Can you combine sentences? Shorten sentences? Rearrange sentence structure to start sentences differently?

Introduction:

Title : What slogan or words have you mentioned in your paragraphs would make a good title?

Grabber Beginning : What detail, question, or quote from LC can you include to grab your reader's attention?

Background Information : Your reader needs to know what Leadership Camp is. Explain in a summary statement(s) what Leadership Camp is.

Slogan : Do you want to include a slogan here? Or wait until the end?

Thesis Statement : What is your goal from Leadership Camp?

 

  • Teacher conferences with students about writing
  • Reminder: Make-up work due tomorrow at 9:15 am. This is an extension from the 11/2 due date.

11/09 Introduction, Revision, Poems

  • Be sure you have 20 starred words for spelling tests next week.
  • Due today: two finished drafts: 1) goal paragraph; 2) event paragraph
  • Suggestions for revising your drafts:

 

REVISE:

Where can you add details?

Where can you cut clutter -- duplicated information?

Where can you change words to strong verbs, precise nouns, alliteration, assonance?

Can you combine sentences? Shorten sentences? Rearrange sentence structure to start sentences differently?

 

  • Suggestions for introductions :

 

Title : What slogan or words have you mentioned in your paragraphs would make a good title?

Grabber Beginning : What detail, question, or quote from LC can you include to grab your reader's attention?

Background Information : Your reader needs to know what Leadership Camp is. Explain in a summary statement(s) what Leadership Camp is.

Slogan : Do you want to include a slogan here? Or wait until the end?

Thesis Statement : What is your goal from Leadership Camp?

 

  • Suggestions for Poem :

 

Read sample poems from students in class.

Use your Write Source 2000 for poem ideas.

Go to: 5W, Echoic, Window Poems for directions and samples.

Poem Ideas: Snap a picture of a scene from LC that relates to your essay. Use that picture to describe the imagery (senses) of that scene.

 

 

  • Peer Sharing
  • Confer with teacher for guidance.

11/08 Vocabulary & Workshop

  • Prepare 5 words for spelling tomorrow
  • Vocabulary:

 

Proofread : to correct errors in writing; correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, paragraphing, legibility; in school, we call this editing for conventions of writing.

Revise : to rewrite for clarity and details; make the writing flow from idea to idea through organizational and sentence fluency changes. Add more details to create images in the reader's mind. Cut extra, non-important information; cut clutter. Change words for clarity and details. In journalism, this is called editting. Refer to the progression of essays about the veterinarian.

 

  • Workshop time; confer with teacher

11/07 Workshop: LC Essay

  • Finish paragraphs 1 & 2 of LC Essay LCcamp
  • Note: Basketball players left at 10:45 a.m.


 

11/06 Penmanship; Criteria

  • Practice cursive
  • Criteria for LC Essay
    • Criteria for Ideas
    • Criteria for Organization
    • Criteria for Style: word choice, sentence fluency, voice
    • Criteria for Conventions
    • Links to Sample Rubric:
  • Time for writing paragraphs 1,2
  • Confer with teacher for suggestions

11/03 Penmanship; Models; Conferences

  • Cursive Writing: Copy poem in cursive
  • Time to work on Paragraph 1 of LC essay; teacher confers with students
  • Mini-lesson: Model for paragraph 2

 

Paragraph 2—event/activity that helped you choose your goal—imagery /slogan/ explanation event/activity that helped you choose your goal

Transition As a result

Topic Sentence Jane Snow convinced me to stay away from drugs.

Concrete Detail Jane Snow spoke about the harmful effects of drugs and the positive effects of healthy choices. She was tall with long brown hair and brown eyes. The sun shone on her face.

Commentary First, she explained how drugs affect your body and your family,

Commentary For example, some drugs make you hyper so you cannot attend to basic needs like eating and exercise. You can’t even learn because you can’t focus. Also, your family begins to gripe at you, and you start griping back.

Concrete Detail Next, Jane stressed the healthy choices.

Commentary Exercise is important to stay fit. It’s also a great hobby.

Commentary Healthy foods keep you well.

Clincher Healthy Body; Healthy Mind

Write Paragraph : As a result of the presentation by Jane Snow, I am convinced to stay away from drugs. Jane Snow spoke about the harmful effects of drugs and the positive effects of healthy choices. She stood up straight and tall. She gestured with her hands to emphasize important points, and her long brown hair waved with her passionate words. Her dark brown eyes connected with all of us. Her face shone brightly in the afternoon light, and her words sparkled with hope. We sat still, glued to her ideas like honey to bread as we learned the sweet truth about positive living. First, she explained how drugs affect your body and your family. For example, some drugs make you hyper so you cannot attend to basic needs like eating and exercise. You can’t even learn because you can’t focus. Also, your family begins to gripe at you, and you start griping back. It’s a vicious cycle where everyone is hurt. Next, Jane stressed the healthy choices. Exercise is important to stay fit. It’s also a great hobby. Hobbies keep you active. Physical health builds energy so you have more energy for real fun with your sports and hobbies. Healthy foods keep you well. When drugs fill your life, you loose the fun of friends and sports, and the physical health to stay well. Jane convinced me to choose a healthy lifestyle and better friends. Not only will I have a healthy body, but I will also have a healthy mind. In fact, my motto could be “Healthy Body; Healthy Mind; Healthy Family and Friends.”

 

  • Teacher conferences with students


11/02 LC Goal paragraph

  • Spelling Tests
  • Vocabulary
    • concrete : something physical; real
    • abstract : an idea; a thought
    • commentary : an explanation of a situation or event
  • Review of cursive penmanship (due Friday)
  • What goal did you set for yourself after leadership camp?
    • What is your goal?
    • What steps will you take to achieve it?
  • Paragraph Outline:
    • Transition (from introduction):
    • Topic Sentence:
      • Concrete detail (step one to meet goal):
        • Commentary on detail:
        • Commentary on detail:
      • Conrete detail (step two to meet goal):
        • Commentary on detail:
        • Commentary on detail:
  • Model outline and first draft paragraph

 

 

Paragraph 1 Ideas for goal (what you hope to achieve) and action steps to meet goal:

Transition How will I use my leadership camp training?

Topic Sentence I will choose to live a drug-free life.

Concrete Detail First, I will learn several hobbies.

Commentary Hobbies will keep my busy. I won’t have time for drugs.

Commentary Some hobbies I can choose include beading, sports, and reading. I can learn to bead gifts for friends or to start a craft business. Sports like basketball and volleyball keep me active and healthy. Reading provides an escape of the imagination.

Concrete Detail Second, I will choose friends who will honor my decision. A good friend appreciates me for who I am and does not push me into popping pills.

Commentary I will accept my friends for who they are, but I will make my own decisions that affect my health and safety.

Clincher Hobbies and good friends create a fence against drug use.

Write Paragraph : How will I use my leadership camp training? I will choose to live a drug-free life. One step to staying drug-free includes learning several hobbies. Hobbies will keep my busy. I won’t have time for drugs. Some hobbies I can choose include beading, sports, and reading. I can learn to bead gifts for friends or to start a craft business. Sports like basketball and volleyball keep me active and healthy. Reading provides an escape of the imagination. Another step towards a drug-free live is to choose friends who will honor my decision. A good friend appreciates me for who I am and does not push me into popping pills. Instead, they will join me in my hobbies. I will probably enjoy many different friends if I expand my life to include many hobbies. In addition, I will accept my friends for who they are, but I will always make my own decisions that affect my health and safety. If tempted, I will remind myself, “Lead yourself and younger kids into the future: Be a role model.” I can also say to my tempters, “I choose to control myself, not let drugs control me.” Then I will walk away. Hobbies and good friends will control my life, not drugs.

 

 

 

  • Time to prewrite and draft goal paragraph
  • Resource: LCcamp directions

 


11/01 No School

  • Teacher inservice

 

First Quarter Lessons

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.