Thursday, December 9, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 14 (December 9)

 Greetings!


We had a wonderful day in class today.  A lot of the hard work of the semester is over, so we our "work" today was a little more fun.

Quick Write
We had 3 options for today:  1) Favorite family Christmas traditions; 2) Invent a new tradition; and 3) what toy/item have you always wanted?

Words of the Day 
natal -- fr. Latin natus, "pertaining to one's birth" -- often this word is used to describe the star that appeared over Bethlehem, i.e. Jesus' natal star  [Note:  nativity also comes from the same root.]
epiphany -- fr. Greek epiphainein, "to reveal" -- a festival, manifestation, or commemoration; traditionally, Epiphany is on January 6 and is a celebration of the the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12).
poinsettia -- fr. John Poinsett, an ambassador to Mexico who brought this plant to the attention of botanists -- a plant of large green leaves and large red blossoms that is used to decorate at Christmas.
wassail -- fr. Old Norse, ves heill, "be well/healthy" -- a greeting of good cheer; also hot mulled cider, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, a Medieval Christmastide English  ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year.
swaddling -- fr. Middle English, swathlen, to bind with clothes -- longs strips of cloth used to wrap or bind.  Jesus was "laid in swaddling clothes."   

Writing
I handed back the rough drafts of their Comparison/Contrast    Essays.  I really enjoyed reading these; they've chosen some fascinating topics, and they're becoming better writers.  The final drafts are due next week.  They MUST bring their rough drafts back to class next week so that I can use them to correct the final drafts.  

Grammar
The class was given a Fall Grammar Test about parts of speech and verbal phrases.  We had some time in class to work on it, but they could take it home to finish it.  I explained to the class that the best way of learning grammar is through lots of reading and writing. Direct instruction of grammar is important and helpful, and combined with literature and writing it can be pretty potent.  Next semester we'll be working on commas!

Literature
We had some more presentations today.  Each one of them showed not only that the students had a good grasp on the details of our book, My Antonia, but they also had a strong understanding of the themes and motifs of the book.  We saw some new book covers, an ABC book, and a stop motion video.  The students have done a great job with their book projects.  The final ones will take place next week.

Next Week
Our last week of the semester is next week, December 16.  All work should be handed in by that date.  That said, I've given them until Sunday, December 19 to get any last work in.  They should not wait until then to do their work and hand it in.  Next week we will have our "Classy Classmas Party."  I will bring treats, and students can bring goodies if they like.  We will have a contest, play a Jeopardy Game, and sing some songs.  

This Week's Class Notes

Assignments for Next Week:

Have a great weekend!
Be Blessed!
Mrs. Prichard





Tamera M. Prichard
Writing Instructor at CHAT
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Friday, November 19, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 12 (November 18)

 Greetings!

We had a good day in class and covered a lot of ground.

Quick Write
For today's Quick Writes, we had the following prompts:
1 -- Contribute to the list of Quick Write ideas to be used for my classes for the rest of the year.
2 -- Write about a sports mis-hap that happened to you or that you know about.
3 -- November 18 is National Princess Day and November 16, 1553, was the day that Queen Elizabeth I became the queen of England following the death of her sister, Mary.  Write about any royalty that you are especially interested in.

Homework Check
A reminder to students:  make sure you correct your grammar worksheets and show on the worksheet or the Google Classroom assignment that you're corrected it.  Also, make sure you turn in assignments that you've done on Google Classroom.  A number of assignments have been finished, but students have forgotten to turn the work in .  

Writing Discussion
Students have been assigned another essay -- a Comparison/Contrast Essay.  The Pre-Write and Rough Draft are due the week after Thanksgiving break.  We did some brainstorming about how to organize a Comparison/Contrast Essay.  On the handout that they were given, they have a couple of organizational plans.  

Literature Discussion
We started with our My Antonia book project presentations.  We had a model of the farmland around Antonia and Jim's home, an original song, and a "book in a bag."  Joe, Tate, Rachael, and Annelise did great work.  After Thanksgiving, we'll have presentations from Grace A, Michael C, Sofia P, Nina N, Danica, B, Katelyn G, Gracie M.  As part of the project, students need to fill out a self-evaluation rubric about what they think of their own work.  (See the link below.)

Grammar
For homework, students are to complete a Phrases Review, which is posted as a Google Form on Google Classroom.

Assignments for December 2

Links for This Week
Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 12 (November 18)


Have a great Thanksgiving weekend!
Blessings!
Mrs. Prichard
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Saturday, November 13, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 11 (November 11)


 Greetings!


We had another full class time this week.  When I first started teaching at CHAT, I didn't know how I would fill a 90 minute class.  Now I wish I could have the students for even more time because there's always more to cover.  

Quick Write
Our prompts for today:
Nov. 10 was the birthday of the US Marine Corps
Nov. 11 was Veterans/Armistice Day
Nov. 12  was National Chicken Soup for your Soul
Students could write something about the military or about something that has to do with social/mental/emotional self-care.

Words of the Day
Today's words were war-related:
military -- fr. Latin militis, "soldier" -- of or relating to war, soldiers, army
veteran -- fr. Latin, veteranus, "old, aged, experienced" -- someone who has served in the military; someone who has had long experience in an occupation/skill
armistice -- fr. Latin, arma, "weapons" and stitium, "to stand, be firm" -- a temporary halt in battles
war -- fr. PIE (Proto-Indo-European) wers, "to confuse, mix up" -- a fight carried on in battle using arms

Writing Instruction
The final drafts of the Extended Definition or Classification Essay were due this week, and we're on to the next essay -- a Comparison/Contrast Essay.  For the rest of the essays that they will write for Writing 2, students will write a Pre-Write, Rough Draft, and Final Draft.  I have the Pre-Write "due" next week because I want students to take the week to plan and research for their essays.  However, they don't have to hand in the pre-writes until they hand in the rough drafts, which will be on December 2 (3 weeks from this week.)

I divided students into 5 small groups for Writing Circles so that they could talk about some sample introductions.  Reading samples, even bad ones, of introductions helps students get a better idea about how to write ones themselves.  I overheard some good discussions.

Note:  If students are late in handing in their essays, they should send me an email so that I can correct it as soon as possible.  ALL rough drafts and final drafts must be handed in via Google Classroom.

Literature
We didn't talk about Giants in the Earth this week.  Next week we'll talk about Giants in the Earth and Grapes of Wrath.

Grammar
This week's Grammar discussion centered on Indicative and Subjunctive moods of verbs.  For the most part, students get these correct when they write (or it's easy for me to correct), but they often struggle when they are learning a foreign language.  We did half of a worksheet together, and I have a video posted below that gives a more detailed explanation.

Assignments for Next Week
First 5 Corrections (if not done)
Comparison/Contrast Essay Pre-Write (work on for 11/19 and due 12/2)
My Antonia Final Exam (if not done)
Read Grapes of Wrath excerpt


Links for This Week
Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 11 (November 11)

Enjoy the changing of the seasons!!
Blessings,
Mrs. Prichard
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Thursday, November 4, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 10 (November 4)

 Greetings!


We had a full day, but the we do every week!  We had some difficulties with Zoom today.  I'm not really sure what happened, but I've recorded the class and posted it on Google Classroom.  The link is at the bottom.

For today, we had a few options:
Students could write about favorite sandwiches, candy, and political activism.

Words of the Day
Autumn -- fr. Latin autumnus, "increase" -- the season of harvest between summer and winter
Equinox -- fr. Latin aequus, "equal" and nox, "night" -- the time when day and night are equal length
Cornucopia -- fr. Latin cornu, "horn" and copiae, "plenty" -- a horn-shaped container containing food, drink in endless supply
Susurrus -- fr. Latin susurrus, "humming, whispering" -- a soft murmuring or whispering sound
Hibernaculum -- fr. Latin hibernaculum, "winter residence" -- the winter quarters of a hibernating animal




Homework Check
Usually our first concern after our beginning of class activities is to check in regarding homework.  Because last week was a rough draft week for all 3 of my CHAT classes, I did not enter all of the scores for the other homework.  That will be done by next week.

Writing Discussion
I handed back their rough drafts of the Extended Definition or Classification Essays.  (Those who didn't get theirs back will get their rough drafts by Saturday)  We talked about these common writing errors:  the word 'things" and "there is/are" sentences..  Students should revise their rough drafts into final drafts. They were also given an 1/2 sheet to list their first 5 corrections on the their essays and their primary area to work on.  Those who still need to hand in their rough drafts, should send me an email as soon as they've submitted their essays on Google Classroom.

Literature Discussion
We've finished My Antonia by Willa Cather and discussed whether we liked or disliked the book.  The students made many astute comments about the content and quality of the writing.  For next week, students should read the handout with the first chapter from O. E. Rolvaag's Giants in the Earth.  This is a classic about immigrant life on the prairie. As they read this piece, they should pay special attention to the description of the place that they feel will have an effect on the story.  For next week they should also complete a final exam that is posted on Google Classroom.

Here's the schedule for our My Antonia book projects:
November 18 -- Tate & Joe, Grace A, Rachael T, Annelise S
December 2 -- Michael C, Sofia P, Nina N, Danica, B, Katelyn G, Gracie M
December 9 -- Lilia W, Eden R, Julia S, Cale B, Anthony S
(Note:  Those who were absent should sign up for a time.)

Grammar
The grammar topic for today was Active and Passive verbs.  We started both sides of the worksheet and did a few as a class.

Assignments for Next Week
     While reading, highlight or underline aspects about the land/place that you feel affect the story


Links for This Week
-- Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 10 (November 4)

Have a wonderful weekend!  Enjoy your extra hour of sleep!
Blessings,
Mrs. Prichard
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Thursday, October 14, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 8 (October 14)

 Greetings!


Great class today, as always.  This is a lively and engaged group of students.   Writing 2 is a great part of my Thursday!

Quick Write
For today's Quick Write, I asked students to choose a topic about which they have strong opinions.  It could be something light-hearted and close to home, or it could be a topic of current cultural or political interest.  Then, they were to think about the perspectives of those who are on the other side of the issue.  My goal is that they would take some time consider what others think.  Not so that they could change their minds about their opinions, but so that they could be more understanding of those who they might view as opponents.  Being able to do this is a mark of a mature, wise, and graceful thinker.

Words of the Day
stubborn -- fr, OE, stybb, "stump" -- fixed or set in an opinion; refusing to change
dogmatic -- fr. Greek, dogmatikos, "pertaining to doctrines" -- adhering only to principles or dogma 
indomitable -- fr. Latin, in, "not" and domitare, "to tame" -- incapable of being subdued
inexorable -- fr. Latin, in "not" and exorabilis, "moved/persuaded by entreaty" -- not convinced or persuaded by requests or petitions.

Writing 
Students handed in their Final Drafts of their Process Essays.  As soon as we complete one essay, we start the next. Our next essay is either a Classified Essay or an Extended Definition.  For our previous papers, we followed a 2-step process (rough draft to final draft).  For the rest of the papers we write this year, we'll follow a 3-step process:  pre-write (which could include a mind map or outline) to a rough draft to a final draft.  We did some brainstorming for both types of essays.  Students can choose which type of essay they would like to write.  The pre-write and rough draft are due on October 28.

Literature 
Students went into their small Literature Circles to discuss My Antonia.  I wandered around and heard some of their conversations.  They all seemed to be prepared for their groups.  We'll continue with the book and reader responses for the next assignments.  Students should keep reading and also be working on their final book projects.  

Grammar
We're continuing with a unit on phrases in sentences.  We've covered prepositional phrases and gerund phrases, and for this week students will be doing two worksheets dealing with infinitives.  Infinitive phrases combine the word "to" with a verb.  (For example, to sing, to jump, to swim, etc.)  Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. These phrases can also have adjectives or even direct objects. One example from the worksheet had an infinitive phrase that was functioning as a noun, and in the sentence it was the direct object.  The infinitive itself had a direct object.  No one said grammar was easy!!!

Fall Break
We don't have CHAT classes next week; October 20 & 21 are our Fall Break days.  I hope you can find some fun outside activities to do.


Homework for October 28
Read p. 141 - 153 of My Antonia

Links for this week:
Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 8 (October 14)


Have a marvelous Fall Break!
Blessings,
Mrs. Prichard
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Thursday, September 30, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 6 (September 30)

 Greetings!


We had a full day in class today.  I'm sure enjoying this group of students!

Quick Write
Today's prompt was inspired by the fact that is was on this day, September 30, in 1890 that Yosemite was named a national park.  I'm afraid I gave some incorrect information.  Yellowstone was the first national park, not Yosemite.  For the prompt, students were to write about some "great out of doors" adventure.  For responses, I heard about some close calls and some good times in nature.

Words of the Day
Vernacular -- fr. Latin verna (home-born slave) & vernaculus (domestic; native) -- "home-style language;" common language
Colloquial -- fr. Latin com (with) & loqui (to talk) -- language of a conversational style
Dialect -- fr. Greek dialektos (talk, conversation, speech) and fr. PIE -leg (to collect, gather, or pick out words) -- language specific to a particular region
Idiom -- fr. Latin idiomas (peculiarity in language) -- a figure of speech; words that have meanings other than their literal meaning

Homework Check
Usually after the beginning of class activities, I check in with the students about any homework questions.  We discussed assignments on Google Classroom.  I want to clarify an issue relating Google Classroom and the Grades Report that is emailed.  If students are missing an assignment, it will say "missing" on Google Classroom.  When I import the scores onto a Google Sheets spreadsheet using a grade book app, the missing scores are changed to zeros.  

Another note about homework.  I don't have a specific day that I correct homework, but the plan is to have it done and returned for the following class period.  When I'm done correcting work, I will update Google Classroom to reflect both the paper homework that was handed in during class and the assignments finished on Google Classroom.  

Writing Discussion
Students handed in the rough drafts of their Process Essays.  We also discussed the final drafts of their Personal Essays that were returned.  These were graded using a rubric that takes a holistic view of the writing process. It considers the following categories:  Focus, Content, Organization, Sentence Structures, and Mechanics. (For this essay, I did not grade the Focus area because I did not require an introduction, conclusion, or thesis statement.)

We took time and did some brainstorming about thesis statements for these process essays. Thesis statements for a process essay should include why the process and the end product are important.  These are often difficult to write.

Next Week we will meet in small groups for Writing Circles.  They were given a handout that they can fill out beforehand to prepare themselves for the small group discussions.

Literature Discussion
We had a short discussion about My Antonia.  We're in the section of the book title "Hired Girls."  I read a portion that included Jim Burden's comments about winter on the prairie.  I did notice that few of the students were ready to answer questions, which sometimes is an indication that students haven't read the material.  Sometimes when that happens, I prepare a pop quiz the next week.  Just sayin'. . .

I introduced our end of book project.  When we are finished reading My Antonia, the students will complete a project that illustrates some aspect of the book.  It can be an art project, something baked, a paper, etc.  

Grammar Discussion
The first grammar unit was a short review of parts of speech.  There is a Parts of Speech Quiz for students to take this week. This week's grammar worksheets deal with misplaced modifiers, which are adjective or adverb phrases placed in the wrong places.  There is a document describing misplaced modifiers on Google Classroom (link below)

Assignments for Next Week
Discussion Question -- Process Essay (Google Classroom only)
Read My Antonia Book II, Sections VIII – XV (p. 94 – 118)

Links for This Week
Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 6 (September 30)


Have a wonderful Fall weekend!
Blessings,
Mrs. Prichard
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Friday, September 24, 2021

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 5 (September 23)

 Greetings!


We had a good class this week and covered a lot of information.  

Quick Write
For our Quick Write, students had 2 options:  1) For what are you willing to pay "top dollar,"  and for what items would you be willing to go the cheap route? and 2) Do you or someone you know have a notable collection.  As always, they could always take the "Whatever" option.  I also made a big deal about Friday's National Punctuation Day, but no one was excited as I was.

Words of the Day
This week our words were "cheap" and "extravagant."  Rather than discuss their etymologies, we explored 2 online resources:  Visual Thesaurus and Thesaurus.com.  Both of these sites are great tools for writing.

Writing Discussion
Students handed in their final drafts of their Personal Essays; I always want them to hand in the rough drafts so that I can compare them to see what revisions have been made.  As soon as we're done with one paper, we move right along to the next one.  Their next essay is a Process Essay.  For this essay they should explain a process and include information regarding why this process is important.  As a part of the discussion, we went over introductions, thesis statements, and essay structure.  The rough draft is due next week.

Literature Discussion
We had our first Literature Circles this week.  I heard lots of good discussion about the assigned portions of the book and the overall content of the book.  A key to a good Literature Circle is that everyone comes prepared to do their own parts.  When only half of the group is prepared, it's frustrating for those who have put in the work and the effort.  The ensuing discussions are really only half-hearted.  As part of their homework for next week, students need to fill out an evaluation for their Circle.

Grammar
Our Grammar for these first weeks is a review of parts of speech because we will use these terms and designations in our discussions of other grammar topics.  The worksheets they've been given have been fairly elementary.  This week's worksheets have students identifying prepositional phrases in sentences.  Students, remember to correct your work before handing it in!

A Quick Comment about Homework & Scores
As I mentioned in the email before sending out the Grade Reports, if a student wants to know if he/she is missing work, then Google Classroom is the place to look.  If a student wants to know scores and percentages, then the weekly email is what you should look at.

Assignments for Next Week
Read  Book II, Sections I – VII (p. 70 – 94)   of My Antonia 

Links & Resources for this Week
Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 5 (September 23)

Have a lovely weekend!
Blessings,
Mrs. Prichard

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