Poetry Reading Day!

After reading these instructions, please join us down in the library and check out one of the available poetry books. From the library, we will move up to the courtyard (weather permitting) and spend our time outdoors reading poetry. When inspiration strikes us, write poetry in your journal/notebook. Keep all poem drafts in your notebook.

The RULES:

• --Use the time in the courtyard to READ.
• --Use the time in the courtyard to WRITE. As during last class, observe nature and your surroundings. Then write these details in your journal/notebook.
• --Stay at least 10 feet from any other person in the class. Separate yourselves. Do NOT communicate with anyone during this assignment. Spend time SILENTLY reading and writing. Practice writing in silence without all that jabbering going on. If you need to: meditate.
• --NO TALKING. That means SHUT UP. Let your mind do the thinking. Give your mouth a rest. Note what happens to you creatively when you do this.

When time is called, please gather your things and we will return to the lab.

Ordinary Things, Poetry Walk; Module 1

This afternoon, please select a partner. This will be your poetry "buddy" for today.

With your buddy, take turns naming common items found in your house, in your yard, or common items people use everyday. Try to come up with a common list of about 20.

Then say good-bye to your buddy for a few minutes. Read SILENTLY the packet of poems by Ralph Fletcher (Ordinary Things). Spend 15-20 minutes reading silently. If you finish early work on module 1 in eLearning or wherever you left off last class.

After 20 minutes of reading, gather your belongings, grab a pencil/pen and your journal and/or notebook and await further instructions. Stand with your buddy and let's begin.

HOMEWORK: Please read the handout from last class "Line, Common Forms, and Verse that is Free" by Mary Oliver. As you read, please take notes on key concepts in these chapters. You should know the terms rhythm, meter, scansion, stanza, stanza forms, open and closed forms, and free verse. You may continue to work on the assignments in Module 1. More assignments will be added by next class. 

Poetry: Module 1

This afternoon, please log on to eLearning and begin MODULE ONE.

Additionally, spend some time today reading the article by poet Mary Oliver on Line, Common Forms, and Verse that is Free.

As you read, please take notes on key concepts in these chapters. You should know the terms rhythm, meter, scansion, stanza, stanza forms, open and closed forms, and free verse.

HOMEWORK: Please complete reading the chapter handout by Friday. Work on the module lessons for module one. Module 0 is past due. Complete any of these assignments as well, if you haven't yet done so.

Sections 8 & 9; Module 0 Deadline Looming!

Please turn in your homework. (see previous post for details).

During class, please read sections 8-9 of Pictures That Storm Inside My Head. As you read, consider the THEMES the poets use in each section. If you need help finding themes, examine this list of common poetry themes and see if you can apply one of these themes to the poem you are reading. Consider what clues or words the poet uses to communicate their point or theme.

Examine the groups of poems you read today and choose either section 8 or 9 to respond to. In your journal/notebook, write down some reactions both positive and, if applicable, negative to the poems in that particular section. Compare your style of poetry writing with those who have been published and are "famous." To hand in by the end of class today, please write a paragraph response evaluating the poems in either section 8 or section 9 (do not evaluate both). Use specific examples to support your response or opinion.

HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK RUBRIC:

Score 5: Assignment is done with care and shows depth and thought; all parts of the question are answered adequately with appropriate detail, support, or critical thinking.
Score 4: Assignment is done, but may show less depth than a 5 score; one part of the question may be incorrect or inexact; may have mechanical, formatting, or punctuation errors.
Score 3.5: Assignment is carelessly done; shows lack of depth or understanding; more than one part of the question is unanswered or incorrect; assignment is late. Comprehension is difficult due to mechanics, grammar, or formatting errors (fragments, incomplete sentences, inappropriate formatting, inappropriate punctuation usage, etc.)
Score 1: Did not complete assignment or turn in assignment

After completing the reading assignment, please continue to work on the assignments in eLearning Module 0.

HOMEWORK: Complete the assignments in MODULE 0 in eLearning. Complete your reading of Pictures That Storm Inside My Head. Bring your books with you to next class.

Part IV: The Houses That Our Fathers Built & eLearning Module 0

This afternoon, please take the first 10 minutes of class to read section 4: "The Houses That Our Fathers Built" (pp. 73-87). As you read, copy down any metaphors or similes you find in the poem collection. Keep this in your notes or writing journal.

After 10 minutes of reading, please find a partner for a collaborative poetry exercise.

The exercise is as follows:

1. With your partner, select 3 metaphors or similes from your list. If you didn't find any, apart from reading more carefully in the future, please create your own. Have these 3 metaphors or similes listed clearly between you and your partner.
2. Either you or you partner should name a specific letter of the alphabet. Choose ONE letter of the alphabet.
3. Starting with your chosen letter, together with your partner, create an opening line for a poem. The rule: you must start your line with a word that begins with the letter you chose. 
4. The next line should begin by continuing with the next letter in the alphabet.
5. You must use at LEAST TWO of your three metaphors somewhere in the poem. Your poem can be any length provided that it is done and good. 

Work with your partner to create your poem, then print it out and turn it in for participation credit.

When you have completed this exercise, please continue to work on MODULE 0 in eLearning.

HOMEWORK: Please complete a reading of sections V, VI, and VII (pages 89-143).
For each section (5, 6, and 7) choose ONE poem from that section and SUMMARIZE the poem by identifying the following:
A. The Speaker (who is speaking in the poem?) Provide a short description of the speaker.
B. The Situation (what is happening in the poem?) and
C. The Setting (where is a likely place, location, or season for this poem to occur?)

Be prepared to hand in your homework next class (Thursday, September 19).

Pictures That Storm: Section 3, Collaborative Writing

Today, during 7th period, please gather in your assigned groups.

Group A: Mitchell, Jaymee
Group B: Radezia, Karla
Group C: Tyshay, Austin
Group D: Saisha, Izzy
Group E: Isaiah, Joshua
Group F: Aleah, Jacob
Group G: Grace (Grace, join any group that is missing a partner)

Yasmine & Tyshon, or anyone missing/absent today, please do the writing task alone.

Writing Task: 
1. Read section 3 in Pictures That Storm Inside My Head: "In Twos and Threes They Whisper Past My House."
2. Taking turns with your partner, each of you should take turns to select a word from each of the poems you read in section 3. This should be a total of 8 words (there are 8 poems in section 3).  Each partner taking turns will pick 4 words (4 x 2 = 8)

Example: 

Partner 1's words: black, look, smile, schoolbus  (4 words chosen from 4 poems)
Partner 2's words: gunwale, tea, casts, strike (4 more words chosen from 4 other poems)

3. Partners will write 1 line of poetry beginning their line with one of the chosen words.

Example:

Partner 1's first line, beginning with one word from his/her list: Look at the sunrise in its beauty...

4. When your partner has completed a line of poetry, let the other partner select one of their chosen words and complete a second line of poetry.

Example:

Partner 2's line, (2nd line of the poem): Like a gunwale resting on the bow of a ship. 

5. Continue to do this until you have written 4 lines of the collaborative poem, and your partner has written 4 lines of the collaborative poem.

Example:

Look at the sunrise in its beauty
Like a gunwale resting on the bow of a ship.
Black stars invisible behind night's eyes
Strike us dreamers as a cold memory. Who will
Smile today after a shadow
Casts its net of grief over our heads?
A schoolbus of children is not as loud as our dreams who drink
Tea and chat about the empty promise of the day.

When you have composed your collaborative poem, please turn it in for participation credit.

In the lab, please continue to work on the assignments for MODULE 0 in eLearning.

HOMEWORK: None.

Key Vocabulary; Pictures That Storm - Section 2

This afternoon, let's take a look at SECTION 2 (41-58) of the collection "Pictures That Storm Inside My Head."

Let's start with "Beware This Poem" by Ishmael Reed, pp. 57-58

As we read this section, collect words, phrases, subjects, or ideas from the poems you hear and write them down on the word spill page. You may use this technique later when brainstorming an idea for a poem of your own.

Brainstorming is the FIRST STEP in the WRITING PROCESS.

Some Key Vocabulary to remember:

Theme: the main topic (idea) or subject of discourse in a written work or speech.

• There are typically 4 major themes in literature: Life, Death, Nature, Love. Each of these themes can be defined more specifically. For more themes, look here.

Connotation: the idea or feeling that a word creates or invokes in addition to its literal meaning.

Speaker: the persona or character writing the poem--this is not usually the writer. The writer is the REAL person writing the piece, but an author may use a PERSONA or mask, who is a fictional speaker from whose POV we receive information.

Setting: The location, time, season or weather patterns in a poem, play, or story.

Class/Homework: Work on MODULE 0 and the assignments for those lessons on our E-learning site.

Pictures That Storm Inside My Head - Part One & Module 0

Please review the "poetry reading strategies" handout at your desk. Keep this paper for easy access in you folder. The other side of this handout you will need for the reading assignment today. 

Let's begin today's class by reading some poetry. After you sign out the book Pictures That Storm Inside My Head, get into small reading groups of 2-4. Taking turns, read part one: "Pictures That Storm Inside My Head" (pg. 28-39) out loud with your group members. After reading the section, complete the poetry analysis handouts together, then turn in your work at the end of class today for credit. 

You may continue working on the assignments and material on the E-Learning site. 

HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK: Please complete Module 0 on the eLearning site by next week (Tuesday). Complete all the assignments and quizzes in Module 0 by 9/17/13.

Elearning, The Writing Process, & Introduction to Poetry

Today, please log onto our elearning log site and begin working on the assignments and material in MODULE 0. When you complete one exercise or lesson, go on to the next lesson in the module. You will be able to work at your own pace for much of this class.

ELearning log in site.

During period 8, let's stop to read some poetry. After you sign out the book Pictures That Storm Inside My Head, get into small reading groups of 2-4. Taking turns, read part one: "Pictures That Storm Inside My Head" (pg. 28-39) out loud. After reading the section, complete the poetry analysis handout together, then turn in your work at the end of class today for credit.

You may continue working on the assignments and material on the E-Learning site. Due dates for module 0 will be discussed soon.

HOMEWORK: None. Please bring your books back with you to class on Monday. We will be using them.

Welcome!: Class of 2016

Welcome back, class of 2016. Glad to see you! I hope all of you had a productive, safe, and enjoyable summer. Well, gosh, let's get back to work!

First a few housekeeping things. You can find our course criteria sheet on my teacher website (check link to the right).

Please check this blog each class period for agendas, deadlines, educational information, advice, and a whole lot of links to enhance your education. All you have to do is read and click. The more you take advantage of this tool, the easier it will be to help you improve and craft your writing. There's good advice here, you just have to pay attention.

If you're absent or missed something in class, please check the blog to get caught up. As stated above, each new class period includes a new post. If you have a question about an assignment and are too embarrassed to speak to me in public (or you have a question that you think you will forget to ask), feel free to use the comment section.

New on our link page is a link to our E-Learning Craft of Writing course. You will be expected to use the site to submit your writing, take quizzes, and move through the course on your own pace.

Today, after updating our passwords, logging in, and going over the finer points of the course criteria, we will get started writing. We'll start by reading Mary Oliver's advice to writers.