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!

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 29, 2015

Focus: How do we start discussing our books?

1. Warming up: What are the three rules that your book club abides by?

2. Creating websites for your book clubs:

Two possible web applications for your website: www.wikispaces.com and Google sites

Criteria for your website:
Remember that this website will be how you share all of your book club work with me. Your website grade will be your culminating grade for this unit.

First names of group members (no last names, please).
Title and author of book club book

You will need separate links/pages within your website for the following items:

1. Welcome page with statement of purpose: Who are you, and why are you creating this site?
2. Your three group rules
3. Characterization activity (description of assignment and link to it and the product you created, whether it was a series of brains or a discussion)
4. Setting activity
5. Motif activity
6. Theme activity
7. Book-film comparison

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE WEBSITE ON THE BLIND SIDE.
CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE WEBSITE ON SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

Please e-mail your website link before the end of class.

3. Discussing CHARACTERS!

a. Click HERE for Option #1

b. Click HERE for Option #2

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

HW:

1. Finish any work not finished in class today (website, characterization, expectations/rules).

2. Annotated mockumentary research due by the end of class tomorrow.

3. Assigned book-film club reading for Tuesday, May 5.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 28, 2015

Focus: How we can we establish a strong, academic background for our mockumentaries?

ACT: Very shortened class

1. Warming up: Introducing the timeline

2. Finishing your five annotated articles; please show me your research as soon as you finish.

• Remember that you need to annotate each article with your brainstorming and questions.
• Keep track of your sources and start a Works Cited page.

3. Starting the timeline and creating your projections into the future

HW:
1. If you have not yet finished your five annotated articles, please finish BEFORE class tomorrow.

2. Assigned book club reading for tomorrow. Make sure you bring your books with you on book-film club days.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 27, 2015

Focus: How do we read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently? (Common Core Reading Standard 10)

1. Warming up with a quick overview of tomorrow (annotated research)

2. MAP testing  / Ms. Leclaire's reading assessment

HW:
1. If you didn't finish your how/why chart, please finish for tomorrow.

2. Assigned book club reading for Wednesday (if you were absent last Friday, touch base with your group so you know what you're supposed to read).

All Boys, All Blogged: April 24, 2015

Focus: What groundwork do we need to establish to make our book clubs successful?

Spring Assembly: Shortened Class

1. Warming up with our final round of banned book speeches!

Diego

Blake

Zach

Harrison

2. Taking 10-15 minutes to sample your book-film club books

3. Meeting with your book-film clubs to establish the following:

a. Your reading schedule (make sure you record precise assignments in your student calendars)

Wednesday, April 29

Tuesday, May 5

Thursday, May 7

Finish book and watch film by Tuesday, May 12

b. Your club rules (please Google share them with me)

HW:
1. Assigned book club reading.

2. Essays due in "Final Draft" folder by 3:00 pm today.

3. If you did not finish your How/Why Chart in class yesterday, finish over the weekend.

4. We will have MAP testing on Monday. If your parents wish to opt you out, you will need a written note or an e-mail. 

All Boys, All Blogged: April 23, 2015

Focus: How do we start creating our mockumentaries?

1. Warming up. Testing your topic by brainstorming: The How/Why Chart

Pencils vs. cell phones

2. Working on your How/Why Chart; aim to finish in class, and show me so that I can give you credit on your rubric and get you started on your annotated research.

3. Starting on your annotated research if time allows (keep the C.R.A.P. test in mind)

HW:
1. If you parent approved your book film club novel, then you may go ahead and purchase that novel.  You must have a hard copy of your book in your hands this Friday, April 24.

2. Prepare for your banned book speech this Friday if you haven't given yours yet.

3. Final draft of your synthesis essay due this Friday; please submit it to www.turnitin.com. There is a "rough draft folder" if you'd like to check your essay before you turn it in for real, which I highly recommend. There is a "final draft folder" for your final draft.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 22, 2015

Focus: What is our final project in English 10?

Please turn in your signed book film club proposals if you have not done so.  They were due yesterday.  If I do not receive your signed proposal by Friday, you will be reading A Separate Peace.

1. Warming up: Viewing a few sample mockumentaries

Austin and Graham
Boring History Lesson on Music
iPods

2. Figuring out the purpose and process of creating a mockumentary

3. Brainstorming possible topics

HW:
1. If you parent approved your book film club novel, then you may go ahead and purchase that novel.  You must have a hard copy of your book in your hands this Friday, April 24.

2. Prepare for your banned book speech this Friday if you haven't given yours yet.

3. Final draft of your synthesis essay due this Friday; please submit it to www.turnitin.com. There is a "rough draft folder" if you'd like to check your essay before you turn it in for real, which I highly recommend. There is a "final draft folder" for your final draft.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 21, 2015

Focus: How can make our essays stylistically strong?

1.  Enjoying a brief mini lesson on verbs with Ms. Leclaire:

Look through your essay for this verb construction: is/are/were/was ___________-ing

Examples:

Truman is trying...
Montag is thinking...
Christof and his crew were deceiving...

Try to eliminate the "to be" verb and the "ing."

Fixed Examples:

Truman tries
Montag thinks
Christof deceived

Try fixing this one: 
She is trying to change Truman's mind, reassuring him that everything is fine. But she is also frustrating Truman, who wants only to escape.


Look through your essay and make sure all verbs are in the present tense.

Example:
Montag started his heroic journey when he killed Beatty.

Fixed Example:
Montag starts his heroic journey when he kills Beatty.

Example:
Truman had disregarded the fallen light in the opening scene, but he later saw its significance.

Fixed Example:
Truman has disregarded the fallen light in the opening scene, but he later sees its significance.

2. Giving your essays a final, thorough edit with the slides linked here 

3. Peer editing with the official rubric

HW:
1. Please revise your essays based on today's editing lessons.

2. If you do not turn in your parents' signatures for the book-film clubs proposals by Friday, you will be reading a district-approved book selected by Ms. Leclaire.

3. You need a physical copy of your book by this Friday.

4. Final, final drafts of your essays due this Friday. Feel free to e-mail me or stop in for a conference if you need some advice.

5. If you have not yet presented your banned book speech, you will do so this Friday.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 20, 2015

Focus: How can we develop and strengthen our writing by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach? (Common Core Writing Standard 4)

1. Warming up with happy Monday thoughts

2. My apologies to today's presenters...I left you off the schedule. If you'd like to present today, you're welcome to. Otherwise, you may present this Friday.

3. Editing your body paragraphs for content

Today, I'm going to become a better writer by...

Click HERE for today's editing slides.

HW:
1. Please revise your essays based on today's editing lessons; tomorrow, we will have our final day of editing in which we will focus on style.

2. If you have not yet gotten your parents' signatures for the book-film clubs proposals, please do so by tomorrow.

3. You need a physical copy of your book by this Friday.

4. Final, final drafts of your essays due this Friday. Feel free to e-mail me or stop in for a conference if you need some advice.