Writer's Workshop at Parents' Place

12/06/2014

Dictionaries ... Compelling.

11/06/2014

Today was Dictionary Day. We continued to work on using a dictionary.
Homework: Kids have a sheet they took home. They need to look up four new words from Flora and Ulysses and do the dictionary activity as outlined.

Summer homework: Finish the phonics book and Flora and Ulysses. I will give the kids a fancy book review poster sheet to fill out for the book.

11/06/2014

My records show that including the free make-up next week, we will finish on June 18th. Does everyone want to finish then? Or do you want to add another class on the 25th? Payment would be one-off NT900 for that Wednesday.

14/05/2014

May 14: Today was a bit "transitional". We are still finishing up videos, and also starting our new book. I only gave half the homework today... PLEASE ask your children to do the following:

Read up to page 39.

Answer the following questions.

a. How would describe Flora? What are the good and bad points about Flora you can see so far?

b. What is the most important thing in a squirrel's life?

c. Would you be willing to do CPR on a squirrel? Explain your answer.

d. Which part of the story so far do you like the best?

14/05/2014

Some serious movie-making went down today. Can't wait to watch the clips.

06/05/2014

Today, we will be reviewing our success with the movie-making process so far, and looking at how to improve for the last two. Unfortunately, I didn't get the camera out of Richard's bag this morning, so we may have to prepare all the props and then record next week.

I've also chosen our book to study for the rest of the semester. It's a goodie. I won't share yet, as I want to do a prediction activity with the kids today.

05/05/2014

We have made two movies so far. We have two more to make. We will just use the camera for it. It's simpler and has larger memory, so we can get the two movies on it. I hope it doesn't rain Wednesday! Angie, can you please bring the NERF gun and mask for Conrad's movie? Baylene, Ashkin needs "a very cool MJ hat", can we borrow yours?

We will also review the two we made last week. Angie, please figure out how to get me the first half of the girls' move, thanks!!

28/04/2014

I've been reading up on and asking about movie making methods. The easiest way is going to be, give the children CAMERAS with video functions. That will make saving the videos on the computer easier so I can work on the editing with simpler software.

Does anyone still have that kind of camera? We have one. I guess we only need two because we can't do more than two movies at a time.

Angie, can Rose stay for the entire class this Wednesday?

Please check with kids to see what they need to bring for their movies. A couple of kids need masks made. Alanna has asked all the girls to wear fancy boots but Hannah doesn't have any. Does Alanna have a pair she can lend Hannah?

23/04/2014

Today, we read an Earth Day poem, and then used its first two lines to inspire our own creations. Second hour was dedicated to our scripts. Everyone is excited by the idea of filming. This will start next week. I will post more info later. I want to share some work from today.

20/03/2014

We started our scriptwriting process yesterday. We are using material similar to NaNoWriMo, so most children will be familiar with the format. There is a writing assignment for homework. Please ask your children to show you the sheet they took home. We started it in class.

14/03/2014

Well worth getting your kids to watch.

What makes a good writer? How do you become a good writer? Lucy Calkins - author of the Units of Study for Reading and Writing series - offers words of wisdo...