Book Groups Select Novels

Goal: Getting started on our reading the novel unit. Choosing books, checking them out, getting organized with a calendar etc.

Agenda: 
Read
Book Groups
Book Selection
Library
Calendar

Reading the Novel:
Today we start a new unit called "Reading the Novel." You have a new group to work with.

The novel you read with your group "counts" as one of your two books for this six weeks. You still need to read another one on your own.

If you are absent your assigned group will be picking a book without your input. Don't miss school.

Homework: 
Read according to your group's first goal.
Make sure you are caught up on work in your English Journal.
Request a regrade if you have revised your written memoir.

All this reading stuff

Goals: Reading progress, work submission and book reviews.

Agenda:

Read

Reading progress

Turn in Slides

Book "Reviews"

1. Reading Progress Form:

Complete the READING PROGRESS FORM about your current book, which might even be book #3 or #4. 

2. Turn in slides in Google Classroom:

• Go to https://classroom.google.com
• Find the assignment for Visual Memoirs. 
• Turn in your visual memoir slides. 
• (Sorry we forgot to ask you to do this last week.)

3. Tell us about the books you read in the last six weeks: 

• BOOK "Review" FORM

4. Things you need to know for Tuesday:

• We will be going to the library.
• Bring your ID. You will need it. 

Writing about character

Goal: A sneaky lesson about character, while you think you are doing something different.

Agenda: 

1. Read
2. Writing about character
3. Sharing what you wrote about character
4. Voting on your favorite character description
5. Making it even better
6. Submitting it to Mrs. R
7. Reading while she picks the very best one

1. Writing about character:

• Describe a character in the book you are reading.
• Include a physical description, but also consider personality, speech, thoughts, and things other characters say about this character. 
• Adding details about a place the character spends a lot of time helps too. 
• Use interesting, specific, adjectives. 
• Use figurative language, similes work really well here. 

2. Share what you wrote with your table:

• Agree on a favorite
• Give the author some advice to improve it more
• Submit the "winner" at your table HERE. (Only one submission per table.)
• Read or catch up on other work while Mrs. R reviews the entries. 

Visual Memoir Self Evaluation

Goal: Reflecting on our progress, learning, and next steps.

Research shows that the most important thing for learners are the questions we ask ourselves about our own learning. When do you ask yourself these questions:

• Why am I learning this?
• How will I measure my own success? 
• Who with and how might I best succeed? 
• What are my next steps?
• How am I tracking my progress? 

With those questions in mind I offer you the opportunity to reflect a bit on your own progress.

1. Your Visual Memoir Slides: 
Complete THIS FORM and reflect on how your slides are going.

2. 9th Grade Reading Survey: 
We need to know more about what you think about reading and what kinds of books you like.
TAKE THE SURVEY

3. Catch Up Day: 

• Are you caught up on all assignments in your English Journal?
• Is your Visual Memoir done? 
• Do you need to revise your written memoir? 

Reminders:
Open House TONIGHT! See you there. Freshmen parent orientation in the Library at 5:15.
Be sure to keep reading.

Reading Inventory

Goals: District reading inventory assessment.

Agenda: 
Reading inventory assessment
Read

• Today we take a reading inventory assessment. 
• It may take you the whole period, or you may have some time to read your book when you finish.
• It will give us valuable data about how you read. This will not become part of your grade, but you will get your results when you finish. 

START HERE
(If you are absent don't try to take this test at home.)

Reminders: 
Keep reading. You'll be finishing book #2 by Friday.
You can still call in your dramatic reading.
Check your memoir. You can work on revisions.
Visual Memoirs due Thursday 10/5.
Open house Thursday 10/5.

Work on Visual Memoirs

Goal: Make progress on your digital memoir slides.

Read: 
Books out
Planners open

Grades: Don't Panic!

• We have reached that part of the semester when students begin to worry more about their grades. 
• Today we will explain more about how your grade is calculated and what to do if you need to improve your grade. 
• Please note: Extra credit is not an option. However, you can request a regrade on major writing assignments after you revise them. (See Request a Re-grade tab above.)

Work on Visual Memoirs: 

• By the end of class today you should have all the pictures you need in your slides to tell your story. 
• Remember to use pictures from http://photosforclass.com or your own images. 
• Use the slide notes section to write the words you would say to go with the pictures. Don't put words on your slides. 

Reminders: 

• Read. You should be finishing book #2 this week. Its fine if you are starting book #3. 
• Catch up if you didn't finish the AOW from Friday in your English Journal. 
• A few of you still need to call in your dramatic reading. 
• A few also still have release forms to return. 

Screencasting Visual Memoirs

You don't actually need a separate microphone.

Goal: Learn how to make a quick screencast and work more on visual memoirs.

Read: 
Books out
Planners out

Screencasting: 

• Recording your screen and adding your voice is not hard. 
• There are several free sites and apps that do this. 
• We will try Screencast-o-matic. 
• Today we just want you to try it. You won't be making a perfect recording today, just a little practice. 
• Don't practice too much because the free version limits you to 15 minutes of recording. 

Work on your Visual Memoir: 
Remember copyright free images only. Use Photos for Class. 
Visual memoir projects are due Wednesday 10/4.

Reminders: 
Read. You are finishing book #2 this week.
Make sure you finished the AOW assignment from Friday.