We have our last chance to revise our short stories this week - we have the laptops Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (if needed) to type, share (via GoogleDocs), revise and edit. Students edited each others', I helped edit as well, and students practiced reading them aloud slowly before they let me know they were finished. Everyone had a rubric from which to double-check their work, of course.

Homework
* Read 20 min. / Blog
* Bring reading materials WEDNESDAY!

We revised a bit more today - we added sensory details (effectively!). Students then shared one piece of writing with a friend and they helped each other with the sensory details in the lesson of choice.

For reading, we read "The Noble Experiment" in the Literature book, finishing Close Read questions A, C, E, F, G, I and questions 7 & 8 on pg. 820 for homework if need be.

Homework:
* Finish Close Read questions A, C, E, F, G, I, and pg. 820 #7 & 8.
* Read 60 min. / Blog by Sunday PM

MAP testing today - Our goal was to take our time and try our best!!

Homework:
* Read 20 min. / Blog by Sunday PM

Today was a revision day - we revised sentence length and sentence beginnings. We also added what we felt we needed for parts of our stories that may have been missing.

For reading, we went through more of our independent reading process - we had a few presentations, one-on-one conferences, and time to read what we'd like to read!

Homework:
* Read 20 min. / Blog
* Bring something to read for after MAP testing tomorrow!

The day we've been waiting for - the day we write our climax/turning point has come! Our prompt today: Choose the turning point from your list that you think is most believable. Use details and description to write your character's turning point moment. Remember to keep the turning point consistent with your character's personality. Also remember to add those sensory details to make the moment shine.

For nonfiction reading, we read "Names/Nombres" in the Literature book. Students worked on Close Read questions A, C, and E, and Comprehension questions (pg. 787) 1, 2, & 3.

Homework:
* Finish Close Read questions A, C, E, and pg. 787 - 1, 2, & 3.
* Read 20 min. / Blog
* Bring reading material to class tomorrow!

This week, we're doing a mix of writing our short stories, and starting our short nonfiction unit from the Literature book. We started with Lesson 13 - Playing with Voice in Dialogue. This was a tough prompt, because many students will probably not want to add dialogue to their story, so it was solely a "write to write better" lesson for some. The writing prompt: Go back to your second rising action event. Write a scene of dialogue between your main character and a disagreeing supporting character in that event.

For reading, we completed the Reader's Workshop on pages 754-759 in the Literature book, finishing the 12 Close Read questions on pages 757-759 for homework if need be.

Homework:
* Finish Close Read questions, pg. 757-759.
* Read 20 min. / Blog
* Bring reading material to class Wednesday.

This is what happens when students can choose their own independent reading... Here's Thomas, during lunch, asking, "Are we allowed to read?" See his reaction to my answer!