I'm talking with some teachers right now about how to use technology in the classroom and don't think there's anyone in the world with better ideas about that than y'all.  I'd like to beef up Creative Writing with technology.  Here're my goals:

- Share what we're doing with the cyber community.  Seems like workshop is pretty useful but we're kind of selfish about it.  How can we share with teachers, students, parents, principals, professors...

- Document what's happening. Surely this hasn't happened to anyone reading this but at some point, some student has actually misplaced his or her readers responses and had some difficulty with the end-of-quarter reflection.  I know that suprises you, but it's happened:)  This'd help y'all see how you grow as readers and as writers.

- Provide more opportunity to write and get feedback about your writing.  One of the biggest complaints about this class is that y'all don't get to do more than one workshop.  Some of you remember when I tried to move the workshop into the moodle - it was a bit of a disaster.  Do you think there is an online format that would allow you to do a traditional readers response?  

So - if you're paying attention, please give me some feedback.  What ideas do you have that can help me meet these goals?

Oh, and check out this poetry blog.  It's authored by Loveland's alternative poets.

By the end of the quarter I'd like you to post - and by post I mean public for OCHS users otherwise I can't see it - the 3 best pieces that you've turned in for a grade.  This will be hard only if you decide to use the form poem.  Not impossible though - play around in Word for a while and you might just figure it out.  Or - you could scan it in.  It will also be difficult if you're afraid of how others might judge your work.  This problem is not so easily solved.  In fact, I can think of nothing consoling to say except that it's my hope that you feel differently after we've spent time together.  So, your 3 best graded pieces.  But I also want to see new work.  Think of all the writing we do that I don't collect - I want your 3 best ungraded pieces as well.  These need to be recently written - within the quarter.  They don't have to be based on a prompt you get in this class - they could come from your advisory writer's notebook, from an idea you have at 3:00 in the morning at home or with friends.  You have the authority to decide.

I'll also ask you to do some reflecting on your writing.  You'll get specifics for what I'm looking for as we near the end of the quarter.  I'm canceling this - aren't you lucky!

When you post your poems you need to tag them.  Please tag each uploaded piece with the words creative writing

The review you wrote yesterday is due Tuesday, when we return.  I also want you to turn in a review of a journal.  I thought I'd require you to review the journal you chose for your initial response but I've decided that if you'd like to review something else that'd be OK. For this response I want you to evaluate the journal as a whole. 

Here are some questions that might help you write this response:  Tell what things a person might find if they look through this journal - will there be poetry?  Fiction?  Art?  Who contributes/is featured in it?  Who edits?  What age group might be interested?  Why/how do you know?  What drew you into the journal?  How'd you find it?  How might a person get published in your jounal if they wanted to?  Is there a theme in this journal?  

This review, along with the review you wrote about a specific piece are both due when we return from break.  They are worth 15 points each, together amounting to the same point value as a weekly poem - this takes the place of this week's poem.   

Watch the smart board if you're interested in viewing some more e-zine's. 

 

Journal Review

For this week, rather than turn in one of your own creative pieces I’d like you to review someone else’s creative work.  I’d like you to choose one of our journals or an online “ezine” to review.  You can conduct a search for ezines or browse through Your Mothers, there are a couple reviews of ezines in there if you want to explore that option.  You’ll start by reviewing a specific piece from the journal – that is, one poem, one short story, one review, etc.  Make sure you include the author’s name as well as the name of the journal in your review.  If you’re looking at an e-zine please include the http address. 

In your review you’ll discuss your opinion of the piece as well as the literary element that sticks out to you.  These are the things you’ve been adding to your study guide.  But you’re not limited to what we’ve discussed in class.  If you know something we haven’t talked about and that’s what you notice about the piece you review feel free to discuss it.  As you read, pay attention to how the author crafts their writing.  Do they use line breaks to emphasize certain meaning?  Does a tight rhyme scheme add or take away from the writing?  Make sure you talk about why and how the technique enhances or takes away from the overall impression or meaning of the piece.  

Here’s one way you might organize your thinking. 

Paragraph 1 – say what you’ll say
∑ Today I read … by …  This piece is about …   It uses … literary technique.  I like/dislike it because…

Paragraph 2 – say what the poem/story is about
∑ The piece  is about …
o (give 3 sentences that tell what the piece is about).

Paragraph 3 – say what the literary technique is
∑ The literary technique the author used was…
o (give 3 sentences that talk about the literary technique).

Paragraph 4 – discuss what that technique did or didn’t do for the overall impression or meaning of the piece
∑ I like/dislike the piece because (give 3 sentences that explain why you liked or didn’t like the technique used).

Paragraph 5 – say what you said in different words
∑ I read… It was about… It used the literary technique… I liked/dislike it because…

The review assignment will be due when we return from break.  It is worth 30 points – at least one letter grade.  Do yourself a favor – get it done this week:)
See you tomorrow – happy research and happy thinking:)

So, you made it to oldeschoospace.  You even found my blog on the site.  If you didn't already know it, you have a blog too.  You can add a post and create your own unique corner on the OCHS space.  You can personalize it all you want.  You even have the ability to make your stuff as public as you like.  You can make it public for yourself only, for other OCHS users. Or, if you're really brave, you can make it open for all Internet browsers to see.  I'll let you decide.  What you must know is that stuff on this site needs to be school appropriate.  If you have questions about what that means, ask me - I'll tell you.  So, it's kind of like making your bedroom cool in the midst of all your family's lame stuff;)  Do that if you like today for a while.

Why are you here?  Well, not only do I want you to carve out some space for yourself in cyberOCHS, I want to see your best work.  I want a portfolio.  By the end of the quarter I'd like you to post - and by post I mean public for OCHS users otherwise I can't see it - the 3 best pieces that you've turned in for a grade.  This will be hard only if you decide to use the form poem.  Not impossible though - play around in Word for a while and you might just figure it out.  Or - you could scan it in.  It will also be difficult if you're afraid of how others might judge your work.  This problem is not so easily solved.  In fact, I can think of nothing consoling to say except that it's my hope that you feel differently after we've spent time together.  So, your 3 best graded pieces.  But I also want to see new work.  Think of all the writing we do that I don't collect - I want your 3 best ungraded pieces as well.  These need to be recently written - within the quarter.  They don't have to be based on a prompt you get in this class - they could come from your advisory writer's notebook, from an idea you have at 3:00 in the morning at home or with friends.  You have the authority to decide.

I'll also ask you to do some reflecting on your writing.  You'll get specifics for what I'm looking for as we near the end of the quarter. 

When you post your poems you need to tag them.  Please tag each uploaded piece with the words creative writing