Creative Writing: Explore/Term/Semester
This is the place to check for current assignment handouts, a summary of current class work, and daily updates for the Explore (Term/Semester) Creative Writing elective, which is offered third and fourth quarters this year. Here is the Explore Creative Writing Syllabus. The syllabus includes detailed classroom expectations, including updated information about technology use guidelines. And here is the link to the Google Classroom (to be added). For the Google Calendar, go the Calendar tab of this website For an explanation of proficiency-based grading, go to the Grading tab.
IntroductionWelcome to Explore Creative Writing. Students learn through reading, mini-lessons on the craft of writing, process writing through writers' workshop, writing groups, one-on-one conferencing with peers and adults, and submitting work for publication. Students engage in a broad range of literary arts though poetry, narrative, and creative nonfiction. Depending on time and student interests, we also work on other creative endeavors that involve writing and story building, such as making games, graphic novels, digital presentations, etc.
The third quarter term class will include an introductory poetry assignment (Random Autobiography or Letter to Place/Object) as well as Flash Fiction, a collaboration with the Visual Arts Department on the themes of seasons/weather/emotions, "I Love" pieces, Form Poetry, Odes and Forgiveness Poems, and students' choices of independent writing projects. The curriculum for fourth quarter is on hold as of March 30. It is not clear whether or not electives will shift to fourth quarter class lists or remain on third quarter during the distance learning that will occur during Covid-19 social distancing. Some students like to produce work for or enter their existing work into writing contests. The BookFox blog features links to 30+ writing contests for young writers. For other ideas about publication of student work, try this Cult of Pedagogy blog link suggested by Ms. Wasson. |
Daily UpdatesOngoing Distance Learning Plan
With in-person school cancelled for the rest of the year, please refer to Google Classroom for learning activities and opportunities. Monday, March 30 to Tuesday, April 28 No school due to COVID 19 concerns and prevention. Creative Writing activities will be posted in Google Classroom as part of the PPS Distance Learning Program beginning Monday, April 6. Monday, March 23-Friday March 27 Spring Break. Monday, March 16-Friday March 30 No school due to coronavirus concerns and prevention. Friday, March 13 Letter to Self graphic organizer. Binder and grade check. Work time. Homework: Bring a draft of your Letter upon return. Also, finish any late work. Thursday, March 12 Independent project encouragement. Finish time for blackout and visual poetry. Homework: See Tuesday. Wednesday, March 11 Grade check. Self-reflection. Work time. Homework: See Tuesday. Tuesday, March 10 Q&A and examples for Blackout/Found Poetry and Visual Poetry. Work time. Homework: Visual and Blackout Poetry due Friday. Monday, March 9 Introduction to week's assignments: Visual Poetry and Blackout/Found Poetry. Work time. Homework: All work through Ekphrasis Poetry should be done. Friday, March 6 Peer and self editing of arts-based (ekphrasis poetry). Homework: All work should be complete through Ekphrasis Poetry. Thursday, March 5 Introduction to Visual Poetry. Work time to explore Visual Poetry and finish arts-based pieces. Homework: See Tuesday. Wednesday, March 4 Editing discussion and No Excuses editing (seven rules). Sharing survey. Work time. Homework: See Tuesday. Monday, March 2 Mini-lesson on ways of approaching ekphrasis poetry. Work time. Homework: See Friday. Friday, February 28 Mini-lesson on Form Poetry per handout in Google Classroom. 12 types explained. Work time. Homework: See Wednesday. Thursday, February 27 Introduction to art/writing collaboration ("Ekphrasis Poetry"). Opportunity to view art and think about form poetry based on handouts. Homework: See Wednesday. Wednesday, February 26 Library lesson on the collaborative work on authors and illustrators. Homework: All work through I Love Pieces should be done. Tuesday, February 25 I Love Samples Work time. Homework: See yesterday. Monday, February 24 Introduction to short I Love Pieces (poetry or prose) with brainstorming, pre-writing, and drafting. Work time. Homework: See Friday. Midterm grades will be uploaded tomorrow. Friday, February 21 Grade check. Independent project check in. Work time. Homework: All work though Season Poetry should be complete.. Thursday, February 20 Tips for poetry editing (figurative language, sound devices, writers' craft). Continuing edit process for Season pieces.. Homework: Season Pieces should be done by tomorrow. Wednesday, February 19 Conversation about Independent Projects. Self editing of Season Poetry. Work time. Homework: See Friday. Tuesday, February 18 Season Poem #4 sample (list -with details- poem). Narrative poem ideas for Friday's piece. Work time. Homework: See Friday. Friday, February 14 Last read-around piece. Narrative Poetry (3rd Season Poem--See Google Classroom for details). Work time. Homework: All late work + first two Season Poems. Thursday, February 13 First two Seasons poems check in. Work time. Homework: See yesterday. Wednesday, February 12 Finishing read around of introductory pieces. Poem #2 for Seasons Collaboration (simile poem, spring theme--See Google Classroom for handout). Work time. Homework: Any work for this quarter prior to the Seasons Collaboration. Tuesday, February 11 Read round. Poem #1 for Seasons Collaboration (winter theme). Work time. Homework: See Friday. Monday, February 10 Seasons brainstorm for visual arts collaboration. Flash Fiction editing groups. Homework: See Friday. Friday, February 7 Read around. More work time for Flash. Homework: See Wednesday. Thursday, February 6 Read around. More work time for Flash. Homework: See Wednesday. Wednesday, February 5 Read around of introductory pieces.Short explanation of TwitterFiction and Traditional Flash. Homework: All Flash assignments (Micro, Twitter, Traditional) due for editing groups on Monday, February 10, or Tuesday, February 11. (Have done what you can.) Tuesday, February 4 Read around of introductory pieces. More work on Flash 50/55. Beginning work on TwitterFiction. Homework: See Monday. Monday, February 3 Introduction to Flash with 50-Word Stories and Flash 55. Use paint chips for inspiration and titles. Homework: If you are behind on the Introductory Piece (including getting it into Google Classroom), you should probably work at home at this point). Friday, January 31 Ongoing work time. (See Thursday.)Word games. Homework: None. Thursday, January 30 Ongoing work time. (The class roster has changed a bit everyday this week, so we're off to a slow start. Also, quite a few students were absent due to Dance 3/4 pullout.) Homework: None. Wednesday, January 29 Criteria for letter to object or letter to place. Mary Ann Larson's "Random Autobiography." Work time for introductory piece. Homework: None. Tuesday, January 28 Introduction to class. Model texts: Kobe Bryant's "Letter to Basketball" and Joy Harjo's "Dear Tulsa." Drafting of letter to object or letter to place. Homework: None. |
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