Class Minutes: Thurs. June 3rd, Mon. June 7th and Wed. June 9th

Over the past three classes, Mrs. Wall has been doing portfolio interviews with students, while the other students were working on preparations for their portfolio interview or watching a movie.

Class Minutes: Tues. June 1st

10 Minutes Plays were collected before portfolio interviews began. Students not being interviewed either worked on their portfolios or watched Valentine's Day (intricate plot weaving)!

Class Minutes: Friday, May 28th

We read a handout in industry terminology. Then, we read the rules and examined samples of stageplay formatting. The rest of the class was work time. Check out the new Moodle topic- Contests. You may need to browse the links for query log entries.

Class Minutes: Wed., May 26th

Shoes on the Highway scripts were collected. We went over a handout on stage directions and started the "Lights, Camera, Action," Scriptfrenzy booklet. Others worked on their portfolios and query logs for the upcoming interviews.

Class Minutes: Thursday, May 20th

Mrs. Wall was away at the Fraser Valley track meet. So, the class worked on the Dialogue booklet by Scriptfrenzy. The rubrics for the 10 minute play and shoe script were handed out too. The shoe script is due on Wed. next week.

Class Minutes: Tues. May 18th

Today we warmed up with a juxtaposition dialogue pre-write/brainstorm. Then, we read some samples of dialogues inspired by spray painted rocks before writing our own "rock dialogue." Write the conversation that occurs as the rock is being painted. Finally, we read a sample of a "shoe script" before starting our own. The scripts are based on your choice of image of random shoes found along highways. Some part of the script must address how the shoe got there. Follow the rubric for criteria. The shoe script is due on Wed. May 26th.

Class Mintues: Friday, May 14th

Congratulations to Jessica for getting published in Youthink's May issue. To warm-up we responded to either the May or June feature contest prompt. June entries are due by June 9th. Then, "Outlining your script" booklets were handed out. Loglines were collected, marked, discussed, and handed back.

Class Minutes: Wednesday, May 12th

The Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku contest deadline is on May 31st. Please submit your poem to Mrs. Wall by May 28th. Read the samples from the handout for guidance. We spent some time in class working on our poem. Then, we read some notes on the history and suggested techniques of the 10 minute play. A sample O. Henry script was given out. We then worked on our loglines and plot lines- to be continued on Friday. We wrapped up the class by watching a couple of improv youtube clips from Scenes from a Hat.

Class Minutes: Monday, May 10th

We finished our Character Questionnaire booklets, so the next step in writing your 10minute play is Creating Conflict. Work through the handouts and complete a logline for Wednesday. We warmed up to conflict creation by trying a little improv theatre. Students were assigned random charcters, emotions, and settings and were asked to act out a scenario. For example, an angry sorority girl may meet a stubborn reporter in a mosh pit. The combinations were endless. Finally, the peanut pourquoi scripts were handed in today.

Class Minutes: Thurday, May 6th

Today we finished the puppet show performances. We took some notes on the three elements of dramatic action before starting the Sciptfrenzy character questionairre. Pourquoi scripts are due Monday, May 10th.

Class Minutes: Tuesday, May 4th

Puppet shows were presented today. Very entertaining! Pourquoi story scripts (starring our peanut character) are due on Monday, May 10th. Rubrics were handed out with criteria.

Class Minutes, Fri. April 30th

Today we read a short Pourquoi story: A Coyote Tale from the Pueblo Indians. In groups of three, we narrated and silently acted it out, each student taking a role. After, we acted it out with NO NARRATOR, only dialogue, followed by writing the short script. Jordan, Shane and Alfonso gave the class a special presentation with the creative aid of the Smart Board. The focus was narrative vs. dialogue. Then, we completed a character profile for our fictional character for our future Pourquoi scripts. This character is a peanut! On Tuesday, we'll present our Earth Day puppet shows.

Class Mintues: Wednesday, April 28th

We presented our monologues. Then, we selected a children's storybook to read and identify the 5 elements of a script and the 3 structural components (beginning, middle, end). Then, we wrote alternate endings for the story. Remaining time was used to work on Puppet theater scripts (due. Tues.), catch up on late work, or reply to the prompt on the Smartboard: "Write the dialogue between two liars OR pretend you met a talking animal-write the dialogue."

Class Minutes: Monday, April 26th

Monologues are due Wed. Today, we worked in partners on a puppet show script. In lieu of Earth Day last week, we went to the library to research environmental crisis effecting our animal/puppet. Due Tues. May 4th. Congrats to Jessica for getting published in Youthink. Remember to make your submissions for Carney Writer in Residence and/or Poet Laureate!

Class Minutes: Thursday, April 22nd

Congratulations to Tyler Williamson, Hayleigh Chafe, and Tomasz Sosnowski who competed in the Coquitlam Public Library Teen Poetry Slam last night. Tyler won first prize and Hayleigh placed second. Way to go!

In class, we started our scriptwriting unit with a monologue assignment. Select an object for which you have some attachment. Introduce a conflict and end with a solution (it doesn't have to be happy). Use the monologue template during your writing process. They will be presented next Wednesday.

Grade 11s: See Moodle for notes and assignments since you were away on retreat.

Memories, Michelle Liao

Knowing Me, Hayleigh Chafe

Pheonix, Arlyn Jordan

Class Minutes: Tuesday, April 20th

Today in class we examined poetry about loss. The transition between line breaks (which we discussed on Friday last week)as a focus and loss was the poem, "We Real Cool," by Gwendylyn Brooks. I showed a video about a 20 year old guy who selected the poem as his favourite as it helped him get through the suicides and overdoses of a number of his friends. We read a column on loss that suggested 4 strategies to avoid sentimentality:
1. Use the 3rd person
2. Create a persona
3. Follow a form
4. Don't use vocabulary commonly associated with loss

Then, students wrote a poem on loss. It could have been the loss of: a loved one, a relationship, innocence, keys, your mind, a shoe, etc.

Don't forget to come to the Slam on Wednesday night at the Poirer Branch of the Coquitlam Library from 7-9pm to support Hayleigh, Jordan, Tyler and Tomasz! Good luck you guys.

Spoken Word, Kristen Yang

Sticks and Stones, Cecilia Sun

Value Meal, Alfonso Lopez

Dork, Anita Feigelstock

Everyday, Mattea Gnocato

Why, Noal Ruddy

Writing Poetry, Rukshila Dufoe

Sunshine, Stephanie Sun

Stop Signs Have No Punctuation, Carrie Francis

Alcohol, Tomasz Sosnowski

We are all the same, Jessica Gutierrez

Within Your Imagination, Kelbey Beliveau

Class Minutes: Wednesday, April 14th

Students took their ghazal drafts home to revise against a criteria checklist; they are due next class. Then, names were randomly drawn from a box to determine the order of poetry slam presentations. Presentations were excellent and hopefully some of you will enter the Teen Poetry Slam at the Coquitlam Public Library next week- Wed. the 21st from 7-9pm. If you don't want to be in the contest, but want to try open mic you can do that too. Check out the website for info: http://www.library.coquitlam.bc.ca/Programs+and+Services/Teens/Teen+Poetry+Slam.htm
We'll continue our slam on Friday.

Class Mintues: Monday, April 12th

Last class Mrs. Wall was away. Students worked on their poetry slam performance poem. We read some notes on the performance poetry genre first.

Today, we warmed up with poetry inspired by children's poems. Then, we learned about a poetic form called the ghazal. It is Arabic in origin with a very strict structure. The couplets, which comprise the poem, jump from one image to the next. Students borrowed random items off the front table as a source of inspiration for their images. The ghazals are due on Wednesday along with a ready to recite slam poem.

Class Minutes: Tuesday, April 6th

Portfolio interviews continued. Warm-up write was a persuasion poem. Journal subject for next week's check is "analyze." Teen poetry slam at Coquitlam Public Library (April 21st) is accepting applications for the contest.

Class Minutes: Wednesday, March 31st

Portfolio interviews continuted after our fortune cookie warm-up. Everyone was given a fortune cookie to enjoyl, but the fortune had to included in a narrative or poem. Happy Easter

Class Minutes: Monday, March 29th

We warmed up with the Old Key poetry prompt, which examines the difference between romantic and realistic diction. Then, we continued to watch Stranger Than Fiction while Mrs. Wall conducted portfolio interviews.

Class Minutes: Tuesday, March 25th

Mrs. Wall did a journal check at the start of class. Then, we wrote a personal metaphor poetry warm-up. For the remainder of the period, students worked on either:
a. organizing four-pocket portfolio for interview
b. finishing poetry paper bag book (due. Thursday)
c. writing in response to the new journal prompt

Class Minutes, Friday, March 19th

We created our four-pocket writing portfolio and signed up on the posted calendar for our third portfolio interview. We continued to work on our poetry books, but no due date has been set. Inquire and explore journal entries are due on Tuesday.

Wednesday, March 17th- Happy St. Patrick's Day

We worked on our imagist poetry paper bag books.

Class Minutes: Monday, March 15th

Today we organized our portfolios with new work that was handed back. Then we read Helen Keller's essay, Three Days To See, and an article about the relationship Dicken's experienced between writing and walking. To conlude, we went on a sensory walk on the school grounds, completing a question sheet. The focus was imagery and the sensory experience.

Class Minutes: March 9, 2010

Because Mrs. Wall is in Mexico, we have a subsitute, Ms. T. Our sub introduced imagism, a poetry movement that took place in the early 1900's in the United States and England. This type of poetry draws traditions from Japanese Haiku, focusing on precise words and concrete details to describe the poem's subject. They allow the words to speak for themselves; to speak for the images presented. These poems are straightforward and precise with a deeper meaning. We read "The Red Wheelbarrow," by William Carlos Williams, as well as "In a Station of the Metro," by the same poet, and "The Lonely Land," by A.J.M. Smith as examples. We were also asked to choose crayons from a box and write imagist poems based on the colour of our crayons. Then, we wrote the poems on a large poster in the same crayon, and Ms. T stapled it to the wall.

Class Minutes, Wednesday, March 3rd

We discussed the characteristics of sentimental vs. authentic writing. We read sample poems and discussed their strenghs and weaknesses, classifying them as either sentimental or authentic. Then, students selected a sentimental greeting card caption and recreated it by writing an authentic poem. The poems where then exchanged and your partner read your poem and completed the peer response form.

Class Minutes, Monday March 1st

Today we started a poetry unit with a look at some humorous analogies. Then we wrote 5-10 sniglets, sharing our favourites with the class. We ended by writing a response to a synectic in the form of a free verse poem, which was handed in at the end of the period.

Class Minutes, Thurs. Feb. 11th

Today the Children's picture books and alternate drafts were collected. Arlyn and Tomasz volunteered to read their stories to the class. Thank you. Then, we watched "Horton Hears a Who," listing the elements that make the film appealing to a young audience.

Class Minutes, Tues. Feb. 9th

Today the class drafted their last picture book ideas: Home Strange Home or I Can Smell A Criminal Thousands of Miles Away. 3 drafts and finished product due Thurs.

Class Minutes, Fri. Feb. 5th

In class we worked on our second idea for a children's picture book- a cause and effect story based on "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash." Instead of a storyboard, students completed and flow chart.

Class Minutes, Wed. Feb. 3rd

Today we handed in our feature organizer and started our picture book mini-unit. We were given a criteria checklist for our story. In the next four classes we will be drafting storyboards in response to different picture book prompts/ideas. One of these storyboards will be developed, published, and submitted for assessment based on the checklist on Thurs. Feb. 11th. Today, our prompt was to parody the picture book Mrs. Wall read to us, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".

Class Minutes, Mon. Feb. 1st

Today was the first day back after the dreaded exam week. Mrs. Wall collected the work on respins and the clip files. The class discussed columns vs. editorials vs. features. Students completed a feature organizer due next class. The "hero" journal was assigned for next Tues. (Feb. 9th). Students were introduced to the Spoken Word Poetry Slam and headlining act, Shane Koyczan. Check him out on youtube. He's amazing! The poetry slam is at Performance Works, Granville Island on Feb. 18th at 7:30pm. Next class we start a mini unit on children's picture books. Get ready to get silly!

Class Minutes, Tues. Jan. 19th

Three things were due today: 1. journal check on "progress" 2. query log and letter 3. lead search. After these items were checked and collected, Mrs. Wall distributed handouts:
1. Titles and Closings-read
2. Ways to Respin-read
3. Angles charts-fill out
4. Sample slants on mint-answer accompanying questions
While students worked on their angles, Mrs. Wall finished the portfolio interviews.

Class Minutes, Fri. Jan. 15th

Mrs. Wall distributed three handouts on leads, including the "Zimmerman." Then, while she was continuing the portfolio interview, the class did a magazine lead search, looking for examples of the various types of leads including: narrative, shock, quote, direct addresss, statistic, etc. Journals and query log/letter are due on Tues. Jan. 19th. It was also a coffee and cookie day!

Class Minutes, Wed. Jan. 13th

Mrs. Wall continued conducting portfolio interviews, while the class used the period to do query log and query letter research on the library's computers.

Class Minutes, Monday Jan. 11th

I keep forgetting to assign students the minutes. Sorry. Today we had a bit of housekeeping to do. I started the second round of portfolio interviews, checked the "broken promises" journal, assigned the "work in progress" journal, collected the "This I Believe" essays. Finally, I handed out some notes called, Writing for Magazines. Then, we discussed query letters: their purpose and form. Students started writing a query while I conducted the 1:1 interviews.

Class notes

I'm sorry everyone- I was supposed to do this a really long time ago. But, here are the class notes from, I believe, Tuesday Dec 1st.

-talked about Dogwood Scholarship (scholarships for grade twelves, in all areas of the arts)
-Recieved December YouThink Issue (w/Taylor Swift on the front)
-Mrs Wall checked our celebratory times journal & collected hair essays
-Played the agree/disagree and why, stand-in-corner game
-read a booklet: "Cool quotes for Teens" and looked at an essay called "School Spirit" to inspire our future "This I Believe" essays

no homework- had to finish list of 5 things you've learned in life thusfar (ticket out of class)

Class Minutes, Tues. Jan 5th

The "This I Believe Personal Essay" typed and double-spaced, as well as the first personal reflections journal prompt (subject of broken promises) are due on Mon. Dec. 11th. In class we started the creative non-fiction unit. We read on overhead called, "Advice for Publication" and a handout on the submissions guidelines for Chataleine magazine. Then, we read a list of magazine "hot topics." Each student selected a magazine and did a masthead examination for a magazine research handout, which is due next class. Please bring a newspaper to class on Thursday for our clip file activity.