Updates and Reminders

(Image Credit: www.beyondhollywood.com)

Hello there, Periods, 1, 2, and 7,

First of all, there are reading days scheduled for all classes on Friday, November 4!Period 1, we will be focusing on final drafts of nature-related pieces. Periods 2 and 7, please have final drafts of your violence awareness poems ready to go. (Be sure to revise and edit throughout the week - focusing on structure, punctuation, detail, imagery, etc.).

Second on the list:

Period 1 - Writer's Notebook entries - due on Monday, 11/7 (8-12 entries); Periods 2 and 7 - Writer's Notebook entries due on Tuesday, 11/8 (6 entries).

Finally...

Reptar and the Wantage Library and I (What a crew! Better, I think, than VOLTRON! If you don't know Voltron, please brush up on your 80s cartoons...) are planning an open mic for a date in December. Stay tuned for details about this (supremely fantastic) future event!

That's all for now. Thanks for being such great classes.

See you in 215,
Ms. Strout

"Want to be a writer? Don't know how or when? Find a quiet place - and use a humble pen..." ~from "Hurricane Eye" by Paul Simon

Assignment for Periods 2 and 7!

Dear Periods 2 and 7,

Good morning (or, good afternoon, as the case may be...)! You have several tasks to complete on this lovely Wednesday (our last lab day). Here they are, in the order in which they should be completed:

1. Make sure your link works from our home page. If it does not, please let me know so we can correct the problem. (If you already did this step, please move on to Number 2.)

2. Using the "New Post" feature on your "Dashboard," please create at least one new post (a rough draft, a WN entry, your "I am From/For" poem, etc.).

3. Take some time to explore your friends' and neighbors' blog pages. Poke around in the work of Periods 1, 2, and 7. Leave some meaningful feedback to your peers on their work! (Comment on the work of at least 5-8 individuals.)

4. Access your HP e-mail account and send me a message (hstrout@hpregional.org). Tell me something you liked about your classmates' posts. Also, e-mail me an original metaphor (in preparation for our next unit of study). From there, please tell me something about your day, a favorite (appropriate!) joke, the kind of music you are listening to right now, something neat you can do, etc. Remember: You are e-mailing an English teacher. Please use proper capitalization and punctuation in your note!

First Final Drafts of the Year!

Dear CWW and CW,

Your first final drafts of the year ("Word Meditation" pieces and "I am From/For" pieces) are due on Friday, September 30.

Friday is going to be a great day: we have "first reading days" happening in all sections of CWW and CW! I can't wait to hear your work and have some great conversation about it.

I am one lucky duck that I get to have such great students. Thanks for all your efforts that help to make our classes great!

See you in 215,
Ms. Strout

Word Meditation Pieces

Dear Period One,

At this point, you should be narrowing down your ideas for two rough drafts of "word meditation" pieces. Keep in mind, at the Workshop level, your writing may take whichever form you wish: poetry or prose.

Great job today on the large group critique session; I was very proud of your efforts (as I typically am... :).

See you in 215,
Ms. Strout

Updates and reminders

Helllllllllloooooooooooooooo, Periods 2 and 7,

I just wanted to give you some reminders about upcoming due dates. Here they are:

1. Monday, September 26 - Poetry Survey

2. Tuesday, September 27 - Writer's Notebook (six entries)

3. Tuesday, September 27 - Rough draft of "I am From"/"I am For" poem

See you in 215,
Ms. Strout

Welcome, Students!

Dear CWW, CW 2, and CW 7,

Hello there! Welcome to the school year! Welcome to Room 215! We are going to have a fantastic year together; I really can't wait to get to know each and every one of you who will help to form our writing community. This blog will be our online space to continue the essential work of writing. More details will follow in class, so please stay tuned.

Looking forward to you, I am,
Ms. Strout

It's the Last Day of School!

Dear Periods One and Nine,

It has been a pleasure being your teacher this year. Thank you for all the fantastic memories. You will always have a home in Room 215. Best wishes for a safe and memorable summer! Please remember to write it all down. :)

With love and thanks,
Ms. Strout