Jessica Rouse!

February 9, 2014

Writers Notebook Unit

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Jessica Rouse! February 9, 2014

Writers Notebooks
A Creative Way to get Students Writing!

1. Unit Goals: Students will work on this project all year long to meet several different goals. These goals are creating writers, not just students who are writing but students who love to write. It will also be a place to write down higher level thinking vocabulary in their own student created dictionaries.

2. Specific ways to relate goal(s) to curriculum: LA.7.3.1.2: Making a plan for writing that addresses purpose, audience, main idea, and logical sequence. LA.7.4.1.2: Write a variety of expressive forms (ie: realistic fiction, one-act plays, suspense story, poetry) that according to the type of writing employed, incorporate figurative language, rhythm, dialogue, characterization, plot and appropriate format. LA.7.5.1.1: Use fluent and legible handwriting skills. LA. 7.4.1.1: Write narrative accounts with an engaging plot (including rising action, conflict, suspense, climax, falling action, and resolution), and that use a range of appropriate strategies and specific narrative action (e.g., dialogue, movement, gestures, expressions) and include effectively developed and complex characters, a clearly described setting, figurative language, and descriptive words or phrases to enhance style and tone 3. Characteristics of the students for whom this unit is intended: This is intended for students of all ages. However, it will be specifically used in Middle School grades 6-8. Students of all abilities are able to do this lesson.

4. Students Present Level of Performance and Knowledge: Students dont need any prior knowledge to complete this unit, except for how to physically write. Students are able to preform at different levels and be successful in this unit. No technology is used in everyday lessons, however, the use of a computer for displaying videos will be necessary. Students may do activities on iPads that will correlate with the writing assignments.

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Jessica Rouse! February 9, 2014

5. Classroom Layout and grouping of students: This is an individual assignment so students will be in individual seats, not in groups. Some activities may be group activities, but it is primarily individual.

6. Introductory procedures: Students will be shown my writers notebook to get them motived. Students will also watch 2 videos on writers notebooks to get them excited about the possibilities. Videos are located here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZE3_j6a59w

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYHPhGY-rpY

7. Materials and media: Materials: 1-2 notebooks per student. Composition notebooks work best, but other notebooks will suffice. Students will need other materials, but not on a daily basis. Materials may include: photos, coloring tools, pens, etc.

8. Visuals: This is a work in progress, but these are a few images.

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Jessica Rouse! February 9, 2014

9. Assessment and evaluation of learner understanding: For this individual meetings will take place. I will meet with students to discuss their work in their notebooks. I also will grade based on number of pages successfully completed, meaning full pages of writing or work. I also assigned weekly assignments to be completed so I will look for those as well. A certain number of points per page will be assigned. Also, students will be graded on Word Collecting Vocabulary and will be graded periodically throughout the year on a certain number of words. For example: First check is 20 words, second check is 40 words, etc.

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10.Relate assessment instruments to the outcomes stated in the goals: Assessments will show if the students met all standards as listed above.

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