Summaries and Sketchnotes and Improvs Oh My

Reading

In reading, we are continuing to work on our independent novel studies and some have even begun to
work on their TicTacToe novel responses. We worked on mastering the art of writing a short summary
of literary texts using a plot graph as a tool for pre-writing this week. This will help them as they start to
write their summaries for their independent novel responses. 

Tech Tool Tip

We went over how to use the iCal app as a great organizational tool so that they can keep track of their
individual due dates. When they come to have a conference with me I always make sure that they have
entered their chosen dates and set alerts to help them stay on track. I highly recommend that they use
the iCal as their digital planner for all their subjects this year.

Writing 

We have continued to work on idea generation in writing as the students draft pieces about themselves
during our quickwrite sessions. They have also been working on the revision stage of the writing process
by looking at their work and seeing if there are words they could make better, sentences they can move
around, or details that they could add to their writing. 

Media Literacy

This week both classes learned how to use the app Paper as a tool for sketchnoting. The strategy of

visual notetaking will be helpful for them in all of their subjects for the rest of their school careers.
Sketchnoting allows students to synthesize information they have read, listened to or watched creatively
and is a fantastic way to allow them to make their thinking visible. It made my heart happy when so many
students asked to borrow my styluses so that they could continue to experiment at home over the
weekend!

Drama

We had our first drama classes this week. We worked on a variety of improvisational and team-building
games. The connection between improvisation in drama and generating ideas in writing is great. We also
wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and move our classroom outside. We will continue to
learn new theatre sports that improve our improvisation skills and build our way up to the creation of
dramatic presentations.