Monday, May 18, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 18, 2015

Focus: What can we learn about our society through each other's films?

1. Warming up with a few final thoughts:
  • Take out/Google share your Works Cited page (unless your Works Cited is part of your film).  
  • Keep it on the quiet side...tests could be happening on the other side of the wall.
  • No late work will be accepted at this point; make-up work and revisions were due yesterday.
  • Final grades for this class will be posted by noon the day after your English final.
  • An 89.4% = B+; an 89.5 = A-. Grades are non-negotiable, so please don't e-mail me.
  • Watch each other's mockumentaries respectfully, and enjoy!

2. Presenting our films!

3. Clicking HERE to complete the online course evaluation.

HW:
Have a fantastic summer, and please stop by next year to say hello!

Friday, May 15, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 15, 2015

Focus: What can we learn about our society through each other's films?

NOW is the time to e-mail me your film link and to turn in that F451 book if you haven't yet.

1. Warming up with a few final thoughts:
  • Take out/Google share your Works Cited page (unless your Works Cited is part of your film).  
  • Keep it on the quiet side...tests could be happening on the other side of the wall.
  • No late work will be accepted at this point; make-up work and revisions were due yesterday.
  • Final grades for this class will be posted by noon the day after your English final.
  • An 89.4% = B+; an 89.5 = A-. Grades are non-negotiable, so please don't e-mail me.
  • Watch each other's mockumentaries respectfully, and enjoy!

2. Presenting our films!

HW:
See you Monday, and good luck with the rest of your finals!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 14, 2015

Focus: What final editing does our film need?

1. Warming up with Ms. Leclaire's final mini lesson on publishing:

Be sure your film is finalized and shared BEFORE class tomorrow (it can take some time, so don't wait until class).


  • You will likely click "Publish," and/or "Exports" and/or "Upload to Youtube"; you don't have to convert to a youtube video, but you need to have a link you can share with me and simply click "play." 
  • Check to make sure it works.
  • E-mail your link to me at kleclaire@lps.k12.co.us OR share it with me by placing it in your English 10 folder in Google Drive.
  • You want it in a place where you won't have to sign in on my computer.

2. Working on your films for the final time!

3. Looking through the rubric one last time; make sure you have a copy for me to use tomorrow. Remember also that your Works Cited page must either be part of your film or printed; it cannot just be shared with me via Google Drive.

Do you know when your English final is?
(If you are not present at your final, your film will be counted as late and receive half credit.)

1st hour: Monday, 7:15 am
3rd hour: Tuesday, 8:56 am


HW:
1. Mockumentaries are due at the beginning of class tomorrow, Friday, May 13. 

2. Please print your Works Cited page or include it in your film. 

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 13, 2015

Focus: How can we edit and polish our films?

1. Warming up with a mini lesson on Works Cited pages: Try easybib.com

Your two Works Cited options:

Include a Works Cited slide in your film.

OR

PRINT a hard copy of a Works Cited page and hand it in BEFORE you present your film.  Please do not just Google share it with me because I will be grading your films on the spot.

Remember to include all sites on your Works Cited page.

2. Working on your mockumentary films and checking out the rubric

3. Reminding you of your work habits grades

You start off with 50 points in the Growth category (5 work days left, 10 points each).

You lose a point each time you...
  • Distract or are distracted by someone sitting near you
  • Play on your cell phone
  • Do other homework
  • Use language inappropriate to class
  • Pack up early or start late
HW:
1. All make-up work and revisions are due Thursday, May 14; remember that you can only make up or revise work from the most recent 6-week grading period. This also includes any preparatory work from your mockumentary I have not yet seen.

2. Mockumentaries are due at the beginning of class this Friday, May 15. Any late work will be penalized by 10 points, and our finals period on Monday will be the last day you can present your film. No exceptions will be granted as this your final exam.


3. I will start grading your websites this Friday.

Monday, May 11, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 12, 2015

Focus: What can we take away from our book club novels?

1. Warming up by perusing the book-film club website rubric (click HERE)

2. Understanding the final task of your book clubs: THEME

3. Extending your learning and earning some bonus points (optional, not required): Synthesizing the book and film

HW:
1. Mockumentaries are due by the beginning of class this Friday. Late mockumentaries are penalized ten points a day, and Monday is the final day they may be presented for credit.

2. Narration should be recorded before you walk in on Wednesday. You need Wednesday and Thursday to synthesize your work into a polished film.

3. Book club websites will be graded on Friday; if you have anything to add to your website, please do so by Friday morning (I'll start grading them around 9:30 am).

All Boys, All Blogged: May 11, 2015

Focus: How do we turn our preparatory work into a film?

1. Warming up with happy Monday thoughts and self-editing your script

2. Offering you a few film-making options:

  • If your film will be five minutes or less (or you're willing to pay), try wevideo.com
  • If you have a Mac, use iMovie.
  • If you have a laptop with Windows and your film will be longer than five minutes, try Movie Maker.


3. Giving you time to gather images, music, and videos

Here are the helpful conversion websites I had on yesterday's blog:

Click HERE  for a website that converts youtube music videos to MP3s (this is an easy way to get music for your film).

Click HERE for a website that converts youtube videos into videos (MP4s) you can use in your film.

KEEP TRACK OF ALL WEBSITES USED.

HW:
1. Record your narration at home.
2. Assigned book club reading and activities (characterization, setting, motifs).
3. MAY 14 is the final deadline for revisions, make-up work, etc.
4. MAY 15 is the final deadline for mockumentaries; late work will result in half credit only.

Friday, May 8, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 8, 2015

Focus: How can we assess your reading skills?

1. Warming up with and explanation of what platform you'll use to make your video:
  • If your film will be five minutes or less (or you're willing to pay), try wevideo.com
  • If you have a Mac, use iMovie.
  • If you have a laptop with Windows and your film will be longer than five minutes, try Movie Maker.

2. Enjoying MAP testing


HW:
1. Script should be finished at this point; record your narration at home.
2. Assigned book club reading and activities (characterization, setting, motifs).
3. MAY 14 is the final deadline for revisions, make-up work, etc.
4. MAY 15 is the final deadline for mockumentaries; late work will result in half credit only.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 7, 2015

Focus: What motifs are starting to emerge in our book club novels?



1. Warming up: Taking 15 minutes to read your book-film club novel

2. Checking your website to make sure your characterization and setting activities are there

3. Developing ideas about your novels through a motif activity and publishing it on your website

HW:
1. Finish today's motif activity by Tuesday if you did not finish in class; assigned book club reading for Tuesday.

2. Catch up with your mockumentary work; scripts should be done by Friday (otherwise, next week will be painful).


3. All mockumentaries are due by the beginning of class on Friday, May 15.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 6, 2015

Focus: How do we write a script to develop real and imagined events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences? (Common Core Writing 3)

1. Warming up: Listening to an opening clip from a "real" documentary
What do you notice about the script itself (powerful words and phrases)?
How does the script turn this into a movie about us? In other words, how does it capture human interest?
What ideas can you steal for your mockumentary?

2. Looking at a sample script and developing/editing the script for your mockumentary

3. Please make sure that by the end of class, you have shown me your annotated research and your timeline as an absolute minimum; hopefully, you can show me your script as well. Please note that we have only FOUR days of work time left.

HW: 
1. Bring your book club novel to class tomorrow; make sure you have completed the reading assignment (as determined by your book club).

2. Your characterization and setting activities from Tuesday should be finished by tomorrow.

3. Mockumentary script should be complete and edited by Friday so that you can start making your film.

4. We start presenting the mockumentaries on Friday, May 15.

Monday, May 4, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 5, 2015

Focus: How and why do individuals, time and place develop and interact in a text's early chapters? (Common Core Reading Standard 3)

1. Warming up with characters from your book-club novels (30 min)

a. Click HERE for Characterization Option #1

b. Click HERE for Characterization Option #2

Feel free to mix and match Options 1 and 2; be sure to publish your work on your website!

2. Interpreting and discussing setting with your book-film clubs: Please click HERE for instructions.

3. Publishing your characterization and setting activities on your website

HW: 
1. Assigned book club reading for Thursday; finish the characterization and setting activities.

2. Timeline should be finished by now and the script should be in motion (only four days left of in-class work time left, as mockumentaries are due at the start of class on Friday, May 15.

3. Script should be done by the end of class on Wednesday, May 6.

All Boys, All Blogged: May 4, 2015

Focus: How can we turn the timeline into a powerful script?

1. Warming up: Listening to the openings from two "real" mock/documentaries:

Example #1: Remember Epic?
Example #2: Supersize Me

Your task: As you listen, describe the opening of each script, typing up powerful words, phrases, and tactics.

2. Showing me your timeline if you have not yet done so

3. Composing a rough draft of your script with a focus on the following aspects:

It should have a powerful opening and closing.
It needs smooth transitions between years/events.
This is a great place to show off your creative voice; choose your words carefully.
You need to have it written out EXACTLY as it will be narrated.


***Click HERE for a sample script from last year.***

4. Explaining how your work habits for this project are being graded:

You start off with 50 points in the Growth category (5 work days left, 10 points each).

You lose a point each time you...

  • Distract or are distracted by someone sitting near you
  • Play on your cell phone
  • Do other homework
  • Use language inappropriate to class
  • Pack up early

HW: 
1. You must have a rough draft of your script completed before the start of class Wednesday.

2. Assigned book film club reading for tomorrow; be sure to bring your book to class.


3. ALL REVISIONS AND MAKE-UP WORK ARE DUE THURSDAY, MAY 14.

Friday, May 1, 2015

All Boys, All Blogged: May 1, 2015

Focus: How can we combine our ability to invent with our ability analyze history?

1.Warming up: Which projection into the future is stronger and why?

Projection #1: In the year 2021, Apple releases a new version of iPod that is smaller, comes in various colors and patterns, and can be worn as jewelry.

Projection #2: In the year 2021, Apple releases iChip 1, an iPod that measures one millimeter by one millimeter and can be implanted directly into the tympanic cavity of the ear. Although the iChip has to be surgically implanted, it is an outpatient procedure costing less than a typical professional teeth whitening session. Many recipients of the iChip 1, however, complain about the inability to turn the iChip off, finding themselves tormented by constant noise and unable to think or concentrate.

2. Offering you an overview of the timeline (click here for an example)

3. Finishing your annotated research and creating your timeline

HW:
1. Please finish your timeline before class on Monday. You will need a completed timeline before you can compose your script.

2. Assigned book club reading for Tuesday; make sure you bring your books to class on Tuesday.

3. Please make sure your book-film club website address is shared with me. Don't worry about the characterization activity yet.