9/30

Some very good work was completed today and my excitement for viewing the  slideshows is growing.  Monday you will make final changes to the slideshow and practice your delivery.  Tuesday more practice and Wednesday is show time!  Have a great weekend.

9/29

Today we worked on power point for our poems.  I am still waiting on a few one page proposals which tells me a few of you should be working hard to catch up.  Your power point is due on the server by the end of class tomorrow.

9/27

In class 2 people turned in their one page papers outlining their project.  I am out tomorrow but will collect the others on Thursday.  Also on Thursday you will need to have your completed powerpoint in my dropbox by the end of class.  All period tomorrow should be spent working on putting your power point together.  Please also check your grades and speak to me if you have questions.

9/26

Due to technology problems, we were unable to complete the entire one page proposal in class though several of you are almost there.  Your hw is to complete the proposal for the beginning of class tomorrow.

9/23

We worked on the brainstorming for our poems.  Several of you have quite a bit of work to do over the weekend to be caught up.  We will write the one page proposal in class on Monday.

9/22

We again met in the library.  It seemed most of you are pretty close to making a final decision on a poem to use for the powerpoint project.  We will meet in the library tomorrow to work on brainstorming possible connections to make.  HW: Be ready to turn in your Writer's notebook for a grade tomorrow.

9/21

We had a blast reading sifting through poems in the library today.  We will do more of the same tomorrow in hopes of finding just the right one for which to create a power point. Reminder I will collect writers notebooks on Friday for a grade.

9/20

Today we worked a bit more with simile and metaphor and I introduced the power point project we will start in class tomorrow. Please see my  locker for the specifics if you are interested.  Also note the links on the side bar to some of my favorite poetry web sites.  HW: On Friday I will collect your writers notebook for a grade.  Also by Friday you must have chosen or written a poem for the power point AND created a brainstorming sheet.

Monday 9/19

You received the handout that explains your ultimate assignment for the October Slam. You also received a handout with simile and metaphor--HW is to write another page n your writer's notebook wherin you play with similes and metaphors.

Wednesday 9/14/11

Today we talked about enjambment and end stop then word choice.  Your hw tonight is to try your hand at a poem where you have truly considered where your lines end.

Tuesday 9/13/11

Today in class we investigated April 23RD by Jon Sands.  We looked closely at the lines that influenced us in an effort to read as writers-that is to say read to find out more about the craft.  HW for tonight is to write a minimum of half a page about one word (or line) from your favorite line in the poem investigating why it "works". Also be sure to request WIKI membership!

Monday 9/12

Today we looked closely at "I Wanna Hear a Poem" by Steve Coleman and realized that while slam poetry is free verse by nature, it still employs poetic devices and we looked at some of these.  Thanks to Emily and Cody for sharing their poetry and to Rachel for enthusiastically reading Coleman's poem in class! While Cody and Emily did try their hands at poetry, many of you did not follow the very explicit directions from yesterday please reread these directions and be sure the comments are indeed in your writer's notebooks as they will receive a grade. Your HW for tonight is to generate 2 pages of writing in your Writer's notebook. The writing should begin with an inventory of things about which you feel passionate.

Thursday 9/8/11

Nice job in class today stepping out and talking about the poem "Thank You".  I know I threw quite  a few new poems at you but I would encourage you to read those poems again in class tomorrow with your pencils in hand.  Your goal before Monday is to choose one poem that really speaks to you and to "notice" what it is about the poem that makes it work.  Once you have noticed these things-LIST THEM in your notebooks.  We will create a list of ideas we have about what makes a poem work then we will attempt to write our own pieces on Monday.  Besides being able to read your list of what works (be sure to identify the poem or poems to which you are referring) on Monday, I would like to see a page worth of writing by you that begins with your observations of your school community.  You may find you can write the entire page on  this topic or you may veer from the topic as you continue writing.  This will act as a potential source for a slam poem.
To be clear, I will look for and grade the following on Monday:
1) Your personal list of ideas of what makes a poem work based on one or two of the poems in the packet that you have recorded in your notebook
2)A full page of writing that begins with the topic "observations I have made about my school community"

Welcome

Please check back for those poetry links and homework assignments

Welcome

Coming soon.