Friday 01/12 NaNoWriMo - Cleaning It Up!

Purpose: I can explore strong opening sentences to revise my opening sentence sentences to "hook" the reader and make them want to keep reading.

1. Whole Group Lesson:  Read and Discuss Opening Sentences
2. Application: How might you revise your opening sentence to "hook" the reader and make him or her want to keep reading?

Purpose:  I can proofread my novel for sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

1. Whole Group Lesson: Cleaning it Up!
2. Application: Use the Inner Editor Proofreading Checklist to improve your own novel.
3. Continue editing and revising your novel to make it clearer and more fun to read!

Friday 01/05 Writing - NaNoWriMo Book Cover Design

Purpose: I can write self-praise to include in my NaNoWriMo book cover design.

1. Minilesson: Book Cover Examples
2. Quick Write: Self Praise
• Write pretend praise for your own novel that references characters and elements of your plot.
• Praise statements should be as specific as possible, referencing book details whenever you can to give readers a taste of what’s in store between the covers!
3. Application: Book Cover Design Outline
• Using either blank paper or GoogleDrawings to design both the front and back cover.
• Include the elements listed on the outline.
4. Be ready to share!

Friday 12/08 Writing - NaNoWriMo Workshop

Purpose:  I can use a workshop to respond critically to a piece of writing.

1. Make a copy of the Reader Review Worksheet.
2. Paste the first 500 or so words of your NaNoWriMo draft on the document.
3. Share your document with...
4. Work silently as you read, comment on the document, as well as fill-out the questions on the worksheet--BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE AGREED-UPON WORKSHOP EXPECTATIONS.
5. Meet with your partner to quietly discuss comments and questions.
6. Use your feedback to improve your novel.

Friday 12/01 Writing - NaNoWriMo Advertisements

Purpose:  I can write a brief advertisement, including details about important events and characters, for my novel.

1. NaNoWriMo Novel Advertisement:
• Include a picture that represents your story.
• Be sure to follow our Four-Point Sentence writing expectations of correct capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and complete sentences with subjects-predicates.
2. Publish your advertisement so your classmates and parents can view them:
1. "File" then "Publish to the web"
2. "Publish" then "OK"
3. Copy the link then paste it to our Community Document.
3. Read your classmates' advertisements, be ready to choose ONE you'd like to read.

Thursday 11/30 Writing - Finish Your Novel

Purpose: I can finish writing my NaNoWriMo novel by including all of my planned events, details, and elements of plot.

1. Review: Novel Preparation
2. Write!
3. Use Lists on pages 106 - 109 to add more to your novel.
4. Proofread, edit and revise your NaNoWriMo draft.

Wednesday 11/29 Literacy - Discuss Endings

Purpose: I can discuss endings with my book club to better understand what I am reading in a text.

1. Have your "Ending" Response ready to share in a Book Club Meeting
2. Review figurative language by completing the "Simile" pages in the Figurative Language Practice Packet (at the front table).
3. Free Reading/NaNoWriMo Time

Tuesdat 11/28 Writing - NaNoWriMo

Purpose: I can reach my ending by writing events as part of the falling action of my story.

1. Review: Climax to Falling Action to Ending
2. Word War: Friday 11/10
3. Planning: Our progress towards our goals ends at 11:59 on Thursday, November 30th.  What action steps can you take to reach your goal?

Monday 11/27 Writing - Ending With a Bang

Purpose: I can write the ending of my story to know how to conclude the plot of my novel.

1. Connection:  The End
2. Teaching: Examples of Endings for Novels
• Reflecting
• Repetition
• Moral/Lesson
• Advice
• Big Feelings
• Wish/Hope/Dream
• Cliffhanger
• Question
3. Application: Write ending of YOUR story to know how to conclude the plot of your novel.
4. Planning: How many words to you want (or need) to write BEFORE FRIDAY?

Tuesday 11/21 Writing - NaNoWriMo Climax

Purpose:  I can write a "thrilling scene" as part of the climax of my NaNoWriMo novel.

1. Connection:  Climax Examples
2. Teaching: The Secret of the Thrilling Scene
3. Application: Write!
4. Planning: How many words to you want (or need) to write over Thanksgiving Break?

Monday 11/20 Writing - Using Figurative Language

Purpose:  I can using figurative language in my writing to make my story more interesting.

1. Be ready to answer the following question about your novel:  Where are you on the "Plot Rollercoaster"? What do you plan to write about next?
2. Write!
3. Be ready to share your examples of figurative language:
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification
• Hyperbole
• Understatement
• Onomatopoeia
• Idiom
• Pun
• Proverb
• Oxymoron

Friday 11/17 Writing - NaNoWriMo-ing With All Your Senses

Purpose: I can use my five senses to incorporate more sensory words and phrases into my novel.

1. Connection: Writing With All Your Senses
2. Writing Focus:  Use all fives senses to incorporate more sensory words and phrases into your novel.

Thursday 11/16 Writing - NaNoWriMo-ing With All Your Senses

Purpose: I can use my five senses to incorporate more sensory words and phrases into my novel.

1. Connection: Thanksgiving
2. Teaching/Engagement:  Writing With All Your Senses
3. Writing Focus:  Use all fives senses to incorporate more sensory words and phrases into your novel.

Tuesday 11/14 Writing - NaNoWriMo Cause & Effect

Purpose: I can use Cause & Effect to move my story forward during the rising action of my story's plot.

1. Review: The Rising Action
2. Writing Focus: Cause and Effect - Actions have consequences. How can the next few events result because of something your hero does?

Monday 11/13 Writing - NaNoWriMo Character Interviews on NaNo-TV

Purpose:  I can develop characters by "stepping into my characters' shoes."

1. Read through the "Main Character" interview on the Character Interviews on NaNo-TV document
• Answer the questions as if you ARE THE CHARACTER.
• Include as much descriptive language as possible to give the TV viewers a good idea of who your character is.
• Repeat the process with your supporting character and villain.
2. Use your interview answers to add to your development of your novel's characters.

Friday 11/10 Writing - NaNoWriMo Rising Action

Purpose: I can write about my setting to help my readers understand when, where, and the environment of my story.

1. Review: The Rising Action
2. Word War: Friday 11/10

Wednesday 11/08 Writing - Develop Characters

Purpose: I can develop my NaNoWriMo novel by writing about my characters and their exciting event.

1. Advice from Eliana, a past NaNoWriMo-er: "Write with your heart, not your head. It doesn't matter how many words you get, it just matters if you like your book. So sit back and let your hands fly and see what happens to your characters and be with them every step of the way."
2. Teaching/Engagement:  Eliana's NaNoWriMo Novel
3. Writing Focus: What is your exciting event that is going to launch your main character onto their adventure?  Does your supporting character help them get going?  Or does something else happen to your main character to get them out of a rut and into action?

Tuesday 11/07 Writing - NaNoWriMo Inspiration

Purpose: I can develop my NaNoWriMo novel by writing a great exciting event.

1. Review: The Exciting Event
• Something exciting that happens to your main character which launches him or her into the adventure whether they like it or not.
• It can be a scary moment for your main character, but he or she must get on that (plot) rollercoaster no matter how frightening it might look.
• Once they're on, there's no turning back!
2. Teaching/Engagement:  Eliana's NaNoWriMo Novel
3. Writing Focus: What is your exciting event that is going to launch your main character onto their adventure?  Does your supporting character help them get going?  Or does something else happen to your main character to get them out of a rut and into action?

Monday 11/06 Writing - NaNoWriMo Main Character Development

Purpose: I can develop my main character as I write the beginning of my novel.

1. Review: Final Goal Plan
2. Writing Focus: If your character could change one detail about himself/herself, what would it be?

Friday 11/03 Writing - NaNoWriMo Beginning & Exciting Event

Purpose: I can write about my setting to help my readers understand when, where, and the environment of my story.

1. Review:  Good settings help readers to understand (and visualize!) the story.
2. Word War: Friday 11/03
3. Homework:  What is your final goal going to be for your NaNoWriMo novel?

Thursday 11/02 Writing - NaNoWriMo Novel Beginning

Purpose: I can write the beginning of my novel that includes details or descriptions related to the plot that make it fun to read.

1. Review:  Good first sentences should introduce the plot or part of the plot, even in a tiny way.  They should also include exciting details or descriptions that make people want to keep reading.
2. Word War: Thursday 11/02
3. Application: Write your novel!  Use your planning and preparation you've already thought of.
• Character Worksheets
• Story Outline
• Beginning, Exciting Event, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Ending (Plot) Worksheets
• Setting Maps
• Dialogue Practice