The Plot Thickens

Today's revisit with Plot was fantastic! Students were engaged, and were able to play the Plot scramble well, identifying the elements/stages of plot well. I had them view a PowerPoint, and review their notes from a previous viewing, in order to ensure that they had the appropriate details for the test noted.

Students worked hard, listening with a purpose. We then moved to the Plot Map, as I told them about a movie I saw this weekend, The Chaos Experiment. I moved through the Plot Map, telling the movie details, with the stages in mind, and parts of a story. I tied in their Personal Narrative, so that they could see that storytelling and moviemaking are all connected into the Personal Narrative written products.

After that, I had my High Schoolers use story books of their choosing, and for a grade, complete a graphic organizer Plot Map from children's literature SSR bins. The students were spread out all over the room, quietly reading high interest children's literature, ranging from DR. SUESS's Butter Battle Book, to The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, to Epposomondus Saves the Say. It was a long assignment, and they didn't all complete it, because they were tied up in detials, and how to manage the graphic organizer. Some did a great job, and others were excited to be able to sit and just read a kids' book.

In the end, it was a great class, because they gained a review of Plot, an application to relevant text, and a fun way to use their knowledge in context.

Tomorrow, we move on to a review of Conflict.

Sunday Night Prep

Looking towards the week, I'm planning a Unit test for all my grade levels, 6-10 on Thursday. I intend to prepare them with a revisit on Monday for Plot, followed by a revisit of Conflict, with types of Conflict on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, a Study Session and Study Guide. Thursday is the Big Test, and we're hoping all the kids do well.

Friday we start in earnest on a Personal Narrative project. Kids will use Inspiration to rapid fire ideas for their topics. There, now I can focus on my 4 yr old, who is sitting here, playing with scissors. Shoow! Now hold on, Connor!!.... Momma's coming!

Portable Princess cranks the heat!

This is my first BLOG ever! I am so excited to rant and rave about myself, my job, my life, and my mundane existence for all the world. I've done journals for my kid, but never for myself. As an English teacher, I am trying to prove to my students that Journaling has explicit value over simply talking, and that the artifact left from the written word is priceless. So, here goes.

Day one: Blog.