Completed vocabulary quiz. Traded and graded.

Did first surprise writer's notebook check. Many of you surprised yourselves, writing more than you expected and finding things in your writing that you did not know were there. Terrific.

At Katie Conroy's suggestion, I have posted a list of writing ideas or prompts. Click to access that list.

Considered the nasty editor/voice on our backs, the one who cramps our writing and stops us from getting to the good stuff.

Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down The Bones, says: "If the voice says: 'You are boring,' and you listen to it, stop your hand from writing. Hear 'You Are Boring' as distant white laundry flapping in the breeze. Eventually it will dry up and someone miles away will fold it and take it in. Meanwhile, you will continue to write."

Corrected punctuation work and handed in.

QW: 10 minutes, one page: If you had to choose deaf or blind, which would you choose to be? Why?

Began work on newspaper literacy and the lives of presidential children. To be continued on Friday.

HW: Fri: Study for vocabulary quiz; be ready for surprise notebook check; novel choice.

Vocabulary work, continued. Trade/grade and share context sentences.

Punctuation work. See Write Source, starting on pg. 387.
Three handouts. Work on in class; finish for homework.

End punctuation.
Comma rules.
Commas in a series.

Thank you notes to Quinn and Ren. Mention at least two things you found interesting or two questions you had. Graded.

New vocabulary work. Worksheets. Write at least 6 context sentences using at least 6 of the vocabulary words. Due Weds. Vocabulary quiz on Friday. Spelling counts, too.

Still looking for books for new novel assignment? Try this, The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, which just won the National Book Award. New and used, on sale at Amazon. Do also, check the school and local Sonoma County library. Can reserve ahead.

HW: Weds: Vocabulary sentences due. Quiz Friday.
Look for new novel.
Write in writer's notebooks.

Trade/grade spelling test and exercises #10 from Friday.

Finish writer’s conferences. (Carry over to lunch Monday and Tuesday if necessary)

Handed out 2^nd semester novel assignment. Due Date, Feb. 27. Worth 100 points. Choose novel by Friday.

While conferencing, movie: The Red Pony and The Old Man and Sea.

NOTE: If you miss a quiz on day you were out, it is your responsibility to arrange with me a make-up time at lunch within two days of your return, or zero.

HW: Look for new novel
Write in writer's notebooks: 10 minutes and one page a day!

We took spelling test #10 and handed in exercises. Will do the trade/grade on Monday.

Guests: Quinn Fujii and Ren Cassity, Twin Hills graduates now Analy seniors presenting their digital arts/video projects and discussing how they put it together and how much writing essays in 8th grade prepared them for life and their video projects! (Yes, true.)

Writer's Conferences to finish on Monday. Be ready.

HW: Start writing in your writer's notebooks. Be creative. Get them going. Checks begin next week.

Be looking for a novel to read, fiction only, not non-fiction, not biography, not memoir. At least 250 pages. Assignment next week.

Check us out, today on Press Democrat's education blog!

New guidelines for Writer's Notebooks handed out.

Third-quarter late passes handed out. Worth 5 points at end of quarter if turned in.

Spelling pretest #10. Exercises p. 52 for everyone, regardless of score on pretest.

HW: Spelling #10 post-test and exercises due Friday.

We read the newspaper. Picked an article. Paraphrased or summarized it for its main points.

Then, we wrote in writer's notebooks about the article -- reacting to it, connecting to it, asking questions. Responding in writing. Thinking.

More writer's conferences today. Will continue on Thursday.

Handed in first semester portfolios. Could have used one late pass in this. Passes for 3rd quarter coming Thursday.

"In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun--" Elizabeth Alexander, inaugural poem, Jan. 20, 2009.

WOD: inauguration (n) The ceremonial induction into a position. "The new president obviously enjoyed his inauguration." The formal beginning or initiation of any movement, course of action, etc., as the inauguration of a new system, a new condition, etc.

Inauguration Day!
After watching the speech, we read a transcript of President Obama's speech and highlighted passages or phrases that moved, interested or captivated us. We wrote and explained and discussed. I posted some of your writing at the link above and hope to put up more when I can get a hold of your writer's notebooks!

It was a great moment for me as a teacher, having you as close and immediate to the news as possible. It felt like I was back at the newspaper, a reporter again, only this time, you guys did the work, and you were fabulous.

HW: Essay and portfolio due Weds., one extra day, BOP. No lates!

Be ready for writer's conferences:
2--Luke, Mariana, Jordan, Sierra, John, Tanner
4--Max, Ryan, Emily, Tristan, Jesus, Miles, Caitie F., Sarah
5-- Stefan, Gina, Ry, Kirsha, Shannin, Alyssa, Madi, Parker

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Holiday.

Read the text of his famous "I have a dream" speech.

The beginning is always today -- Mary Wollstonecraft

We continued writer's conferences on Friday.

Be ready for your conference with me on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Due date for portfolio has been extended by one day, until Wednesday. Everyone worked so well in class that you get another day to do it!

Please take your time with your essay and reflection. Your opinion of yourself matters. A lot. So, take it seriously. This will be your first grade of second semester and everyone should be able to get a good one!

Report cards are sent home next week. You should all know your grades by now. Remember that a letter or number grade does not say everything about you and your work. That is why the portfolio reflection is so important. In it, you can say exactly how much you think you have learned and how far you have come. It is your opportunity to talk about yourself; your perspective is the one that matters.

See you Tuesday! Inauguration Day.

Writer's Conferences.

Class time to work on portfolio contents, cover and essay. Due Tues., Jan. 20.

Friday conferences:

Per. 2: Marlen, Simon, Becca, Cassidy, Kiana
Per. 4: Joe, Manna, Kyndall, Caitie F., Sarah
Per. 5: Nick, Kyle, Amanda, Stefan, Avalon, Gina

Handouts and appointments on writer's conferences to begin Thursday.

Be ready:
2nd period -- Natalie, Nia, Jasmine, Johan, Ricky, Sarah
4th period -- Jacob, Devyn, Sam L., Norzin, Sean, Chris M., Jessie
5th period -- Jonah, Dylan, Colette, Bryce, Nick

Received list of assignments handout for portfolio. You must include list and choose 25 to put in your final 1st semester portfolio.

Settled grade disputes with me.

HW: Writer's Conference and Portfolio

WOD: reflection (n) - contemplation; reflect (v) -- to think seriously on or upon.
John reflected on his first semester work and was awed by his progress.

QW: Free choice. OR The sound of a blueberry muffin broke the silence. OR What is the difference between what happens on TV and what happens in the real world?

First semester portfolio assignment handed out. Due Tues., Jan. 20.

Grade sheets handed out. Look over. Settle all disputes with me on class Weds. Last chance.

HW: Look over grade sheets for discrepancies; begin work on portfolio project.

Start of third quarter/ second semester.
The beginning is always today -- Mary Wollstonecraft

WOD: emote (v) - to give expression to emotion, especially in acting. Think emo!
Trina's ability to emote effectively makes her very interesting to her friends.

QW: What would you do if everyone in your family and your friends forgot your birthday?

Return multiple choice part of finals. Check over.
Turn in extra credit/late slips. And Mini-novels

Movie: The Red Pony (2nd period) and Old Man And The Sea (4th and 5th periods)

Watch for and note differences between book and movie.

HW: Make sure all your first semester work is in class on Tuesday to work on portfolio reflection and essay and writer's conference.

First semester and second quarter are over!

Completed multiple choice final.

Next week we will be doing portfolio review and an essay, as well as writer's conferences and picking our next novel.

One half of final finished. Yeah!
One to go.

HW: Study for multiple choice final on Friday.

Grammar. Spelling. Essay Terms. Second Mini-Novel.
All the good stuff!

Finals review Day 3:

Grammar and Essay practice.

HW: For Thursday's in class final: bring water, sharpened pencils if you use, and something else to do if you finish early. Your SSR book or other work. No one will be excused during the final.

Friday: study for multiple choice test on final.

Finals review, day 2.

Finals review handout.

Spelling words for final.

Discussed and did exercises on:
1. Literary elements of fiction
2. Grammar and punctuation

Happy 2009! Welcome back.

Resolution (n) a thing determined upon, decision as to future action. Her New Year's resolution was to learn how to ski more than competently.

New Seats
Returned papers.
Resolution. Got one? Write it. Share it.

Spelling review for final.

HW: English final Friday, Jan. 9
Week of Jan. 12: portofolio review and essay. Writer's conferences.