9/10/09: Slightly dissappointed edition.

We will be redoing today's presentations next Wednesday on the half day.
Nuff said.

9/09/09: The Audio Edition

Memoir Plan Presentation Rubric

Plan is complete, well thought out, actionable, and realistic.
1-----2------3------4------5------6-----7
Plan is well-described in a manner intended to persuade the audience.
1-----2------3------4------5------6-----7
Presentation is well-organized, rehearsed, and well-delivered.
1-----2------3------4------5------6-----7
Each member of the group plays an important role in the presentation.
1-----2------3------4------5------6-----7
Technology is utilized to enhance the presentation.
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Proper presentation protocol is followed.
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Presentation is complete, ready, and on time.
0-----8

9/8/09: Work it people!

We've spent two weeks learning about memoirs, now it's time to get producing! There are two things that you need to be working on that I'll discuss here.

First, your memoir.

Remember:

1- Every text event has to have a purpose.

2- The memoir needs to show attitudes or feelings before, so that the reader understands the author's learning at the end.

3- The memoir needs to show the before several times, not just once.

4- The memoir needs to show the after: How did the learning change the author's life? Why was it significant?

5- Every text event needs to build toward, show, or explain the significance of the author's learning.

Also Remember

Ways to Show Meaning In Text

1- Through the character's actions.
"I tuck the kitten under my jacket and run out of the woods."

2- Through the character's dialogue.
"'Don't worry,' I tell it, stroking its scabby head until the mewing is replaced by a faint purr. 'Everything will be okay.'"

3- Through the character's thoughts.
"I feel the warmth of the kitten through my shirt and start thinking of names."

4- Through comparisons.
"This time I was alone. Lucky for you I was, I think to the kitten. Otherwise, David or Claude might have decided you'd be good practice for their slingshots.

Second, your group presentations. Remember that you are creating a plan to disburse our memoirs to the 8th graders. You must create a plan and create a presentation to be due Thursday that sells your plan to voters, utilizes technology in its presentation, and involves all of your group members. Good luck!

President Obama's Education Address Backchannel

We had the opportunity in second period today to watch a Presidential message on education. This is the backchannel discussion that accompanied that message.

9/01/09: The Substitute

In case you didn't notice, I wasn't in class today. Instead, I was at the district office with a reading/writing specialist, Superintendent Bailey, and teachers from the high school and middle schools learning new methods for teaching writing.

Hopefully everything went well in class today. You should have read "The Great Rat Hunt," (Available Here) and then completed a three-column chart that details the events, feelings, and evidence for the story. Following the chart, you should complete a 1/2 page reflection on the meaning or importance of the memoir. Remember to look for the turning point--the point at which the authors feeling about the topic changes.

If you have questions, please contact me at nshellabarger@uinta1.k12.wy.us

Good luck! Bien Suerte!

8/28/09: Memoirs

We finally finished introduction presentations today, and we're on to memoirs (yea!).

As a class we read James Howe's memoir "Everything is Going to be OK." (you can read it here)

Each student is to create a 3 column list that includes all of the events that happened within the story, how the author was feeling during those events, and textual evidence that proves how the author was feeling. This lists are due at the start of class Monday morning.

That's about it for today, but on Monday we will be participating in one of my favorite classroom activities for the year, so be ready!

8/27/09: Presentations Begin

Today we presented our first presentations. We learned quite a few things today. First, we will have technology problems and that is never an excuse. You must plan ahead, verify your equipment will work, and have a backup plan. Second, presentations take a lot of time. It's not very often that we will have individual presentations, but when we do, we need to be prepared, organized, and quick-moving.

We will finish presentations at the start of class tomorrow and finally begin our memoir unit. I'm excited!

8/26/09: Computer Confusion

Today we spent a good deal of time getting computers, figuring out passwords, figuring out power issues, figuring out PowerPoint issues, and so on. We will begin presentations at the start of class tomorrow.

8/25/09: First Presentation

Your first presentation assignment will give you a chance to practice your presentation skills (which we'll use often in this class) as well as help everyone else to get to know you. For this assignment you must create a PowerPoint presentation of appropriate length that tells the class who you are. The presentation must be illustrated with photographs and I do not want you to read off of the board! Should be pretty simple.

Watch the following video for the classroom lecture.

8/24/09: Introduction

Hi everyone. Hope that you didn't miss the first day! If you did, you missed a lot of getting-to-know you and introduction type stuff. We'll just have to work extra hard the next few weeks to help you catch on.

Homework:

1. Have your parent/gaurdian send me an email at nshellabarger@uinta1.k12.wy.us that includes their name, your name, and a phone number I can reach them at. Make sure they send this email from an address that I can reply to with future communications.
2. Bring tissues for 10 points extra credit.
3. Bring a notebook that can be left in class.

That's it for the first day. Good luck.

Check out the slide show from the first day below.