June 7, 2009

Monday is Regatta Day! 

All classes have started working on their commercials.  Every group must turn in a written script the day of filming (starting Tuesday).  The script does not need to be in final draft format but must include all of the elements specified on the rubric that was distributed at the start of the project.

At the end of the week, classes will be writing a final prompt essay to demonstrate what they have learned about persuasive writing.

All students should keep reading and logging their reading time and pages.  Any books that have been borrowed from my classroom library or the school library are now overdue and need to be returned as soon as possible.

May 31, 2009

Students will be conferencing with each other and with me to decide on the final revisions to their "changing the world" letters. 

We will start our final project this week: in pairs, students will decide on the subject and format of a video advertisement to demonstrate their understanding of the elements of persuasion.  Writing, choreographing and presenting the ad will require them to use persuasive skills in writing, visual appeal, and presentation.  We will videotape the ads and view them in the classroom to determine what techniques were most effective. 

All students should continue with their daily reading and recording in their reading logs through the end of the year.  I will check logs for a homework grade periodically.

Any students who have checked books out from my classroom library need to return them this week.