HW from 9/17/13

Due on Thursday, 9/19/13

1.  Copywork #2.

2.  Be sure you understand, know, and can list and explain those ways we talked about enhancing description in your writing.  So far, we've discussed the first six listed in the Topics of Study in the left sidebar of the Creative Writing homepage (Quarter 1).

3.  Learn and memorize (as we go along) the different types of figurative language we're studying.

3.  Memorize the five senses using the following exact words in this exact order:
look
smell
taste
sound
feel

Also (daily):

* Read your (approved) book for pleasure 30 minutes daily.  Mark it on your reading log as you go along.  The current reading log is due, signed by a parent, on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

------- OPENING (Bible verse and prayer):

For Tu, 9/24: Mrs. S.
For Th, 9/26: Mrs. S.

For Tu, 10/1: TBD
For Th, 10/3: TBD

HW from 9/12/13

Due on Tuesday, 9/17/13

1.  Write three good, descriptive sentences that are better than the basic sentence, "The child cried." (This will be like what we did in class today with, "The man walked.")

NOTE: Make sure you use each of the six ways we talked about to enhance descriptive writing somewhere in the assignment--but not all six in each of the sentences! 

---> If you didn't take good notes in class, learn to take notes during a writing lesson (WL) or a grammar lesson (GL) when discussed in class!  But you may also always check the class website to see if you can find the information listed there.  There is a link to the Creative Writing homepage from this homework blog--see the left sidebar.

2.  Be sure you understand, know, and can list and explain those ways we talked about enhancing description in your writing. So far, we've only discussed the first six listed in the Topics of Study in the left sidebar of the Creative Writing homepage.

3.  Memorize the five senses using the following exact words in this exact order:
look
smell
taste
sound
feel

Also (daily):

* Read your (approved) book for pleasure 30 minutes daily.  Mark it on your reading log as you go along.  The current reading log is due, signed by a parent, on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

------- OPENING (Bible verse and prayer):

For Tu, 9/24: Mrs. S.
For Th, 9/26: Mrs. S.

For Tu, 10/1: TBD
For Th, 10/3: TBD

HW from 9/10/13

Due on Thursday, 9/12/13

1.  If you haven't, be sure you turn in all items that were due Tuesday: signed parent/student signature form, completed student information sheet, payment for fees as indicated on handouts, and your introductory paper.

2.  If you haven't, be sure you decide on your book for your reading log and get approval for it from both your parents and from me.  Be sure you have added that book title to the chart on the reading log calendar.

3.  Get your class notebook in order by setting up and labeling the tabbed dividers as follows (in this order) and filing all handouts and papers in the appropriate sections before class on Thursday. 

(1) Course Information
(2) Reading Logs
(3) Spelling/Vocabulary
(4) Class Notes (WL/GL)
(5) Homework
(6) Copywork
(7) Classwork
(8) Returned Quizzes/Tests

4.  Read and sign the handout I gave you about homework guidelines. Have your parent sign it, too. This will be the first page of the Homework section of your notebook. 

5.  Complete copywork #1 according to the directions. Don't forget to time how long it takes you and to write that time, in minutes, at the top of your paper.  

Also (daily):

 * Read your (approved) book for pleasure 30 minutes daily.  Mark it on your reading log as you go along.  The current reading log is due, signed by a parent, on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

HW from 9/5/13

Due on 9/10/13:

1) If you didn't complete the previous homework assignment, which was due before today, please do so as soon as possible. In the email, please explain to me why you didn't complete the assignment on time.

2) Sign--and have your parent sign--the signature form indicating that you've read and understand the course expectations. Bring it and your check on Tuesday.

3) Complete the Student Information Sheet and bring it to class on Tuesday.

4) Be sure you have acquired all supplies from the class supply list.  Bring your notebook and your Writer's Inc book to class each day.

5) Choose the book you want to read for your reading log and get approval for it from your parents and me. (You may email or call me with the title you have selected.)  Read 30 minutes each day whenever possible and note the minutes read on the reading log.

6) Complete the first introductory paper, in which you discuss several fun or memorable experiences you had over the summer. This introductory paper is to give me an idea of where you are in your current writing ability and style. It should be around 200 words (about a page and a half, handwritten).  Please put your full name, the date, and the title of the paper--call it "introductory paper"--in the upper right hand corner of your page.

HW from 8/22/13

Due before 9/5/13:

Hello, and welcome to Creative Writing class at KEYS!

This is your first homework assignment, and it is designed to help you navigate your way to this homework blog so that you're sure to know how to use it once class starts on Thursday, 9/5.

Each year, throughout the school year, I pray for each of my students by name.  I pray for you whenever the Lord brings you to mind, but I also pray for you systematically, on a particular day of each month throughout the year.  I make a list of things you have asked me to pray for you, and I do so regularly.

Your first assignment is as follows:
As soon as is practical, please email me with a list of things you'd like me to pray for you over the course of this year.  This list can include specific requests, but I would also like you to spend some time thinking of general things you'd like the Lord to do for you this year that I can be praying for you each month.

An example of what you might send me appears below. 

* Pray that I would love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
* Pray that I would stand firm in righteousness.  I especially need strength to be honest all the time.
* Pray that I wouldn't be too concerned about my appearance.
* Pray that I would stop yelling at my siblings when I get angry at them.
* Pray that I would be diligent in my school work and keep a good schedule.
* Pray that I would sleep better at night.
* Pray that my dad would get the new job he applied for.
* Pray for my grandma (Joan) who has thyroid cancer and doesn't know the Lord, that she would get saved and be healed.

Please don't copy this list.  This is just an example to get you thinking.  Think of particular things that you would like prayer for and send me those.  I will cut-and-paste the list you give me into a prayer partner app I use on my iPad, and I will pray faithfully each month for the things you've asked me to pray for you.  The app is private and protected, so no one else will see your requests except me.  Of course, you may email me at any time to ask me to pray for other things as the school year goes along.

I look forward to sharing this school year with you!

HW from 5/21/13

Due on 5/23/13:

* Pray for Gloria and her family as they walk through the pain of Ian's death. 
"No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor mind can conceive, what God has planned for those who love Him!" - 1 Corinthians 2:9

* If you are so inclined, you may prepare some sort of treat to share in class tomorrow.

* We will be playing a game together as a class tomorrow.  We will also watch a few funny YouTube video clips.  If you have a fun video clip you think the class would enjoy viewing, please email me a link to it so that I can preview it before showing it to the class.  

* Establish and continue in the daily habit of Scripture memory and review.  Choose the best method that will work for you to review one verse each day so that they stay fresh in your mind over your lifetime.
(The verses we learned together as a class this year are Psalm 141:3, Titus 2:11-14, and Ephesians 4:29-32.)  Choose the next verse you are working on memorizing and make a Scripture memory card for it.  Bring it to class tomorrow.

* You have established a habit of daily reading for pleasure for 30 minutes.  If you continue to use the summer reading logs I gave you, you will more successfully maintain this wonderful habit.  Remember that the reading of high-quality literature is the single easiest method of increasing vocabulary, enhancing writing ability, and growing in understanding of English grammar, syntax, and sentence structure.  Reading good literature regularly will make you a better writer!

* Your classmates' stories are posted on the website.  As your school workload is easing up, take some time to read your classmates' wonderful stories!

------- OPENING (Bible verse and prayer):

For Th, 5/23: Micah M.

HW from 5/16/13

Due on 5/21/13:

* Pray for Gloria and her family as they walk through the pain of Ian's death. 
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12

* Poetry quiz on Tuesday.  See the class website to review!  (Use the link for "Topics of Study Q4" on the left sidebar of the class website, or click it above.)

* Finish your theme story, completing tasks in the following order:

1) Complete your D1 ASAP if you haven't done so yet!!  You're out of time!  Print it out and have three people proofread it for errors and sign it.  

2) Edit and correct your paper based on their feedback, then email your revised draft to me at LauraSitterding@MarkupSync.com ASAP if you haven't done so yet!!  You're running out of time!

3) Receive back the "marked up" copy from me via email.  Make suggested changes and corrections.

4) Print a beautiful "perfect" copy of your revised paper (D2) to turn.  You will need to turn in your signed D1 and your corrected D2 (and your Markup copy if you printed it) on Tuesday.

5) After you print it to turn it in, email me a copy of your D2 theme story at my regular email with the subject line "____'s theme story for the website" so I can post your story online.

* Some of the theme stories (and all of the mystery stories!) are posted on the website.  If you have time, have fun reading your classmates' endings!

* Be prepared to recite any of your three memory verses at any time (Psalm 141:3, Titus 2:11-14, and Ephesians 4:29-32).  You might choose to review one verse each day so that they stay fresh in your mind. 

ALSO:

* Reading for Reading Log: 30 minutes daily. 

NOTE: Our standard paper parameters are as follows: 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font, 1-inch margins, double-spaced, with 5-space paragraph indentation and no extra lines between paragraphs.  Your final paper must be at least 5 full typewritten pages, but no more than 25 typewritten pages, when you turn it in.  You will add pages at a rate of two pages per homework day until your paper is finished.  Please turn in your D1 (see instructions above) as soon as it is complete if it is complete before the due date.

------- OPENING (Bible verse and prayer):

For Tu, 5/21: Claire M.
For Th, 5/23: Micah M.