|  | | Home > Elementary Classrooms > 6th Grade > Mr. Ford > This week in writing |  | | | Week beginning May 5 | |
WARNING! When the body of work is completely proofread it will probably have to be set in a font bigger than what it is now; in other words, students will have to make a final copy before the book is printed onto fancy paper. I'll tell them how big the font must be before they print the copy that becomes the final manuscript. I know this is a lot of printing, but that's the way this process works. :)
Apr 18 update: Please continue to help your student with proofreading of Open Topic. In addition to the Set of Instructions assignment, we will begin working next week on a new unit--Respect--which involves written work (illustrations optional) and a soft-cover booklet as a final product.
April 21 update: We started talking about a project today that will involve a new unit--Respect. It will explore the negative effects of bullying, teasing, ostracizing, gossip, physical threats, etc., all of which and more have been especially troubling this spring. Don't worry; this is a writing project--a soft-cover book will result--but hopefully it will benefit students in terms of behavior modification as well, those who are on the sending side and the receiving side.
Apr 23 update: I think the instruction sheet for the Respect Book project is now posted on this website. I hope!
Apr 24 update: Students who are making Respect Books will be expected to complete a page per day (rough draft). The book will consist of 16 pages and will take about three to four weeks to complete. Students must create two scenarios for each of eight categories of behaviors.
Apr 25 update: Students making a hardcover book will write a Day-in-the-Life vignette (about two typed pages) for their Respect Unit obligation. They will write from the first or third person point of view about a character they create, a person who goes about his/her typical day and observes respectful and disrespectful behavior and analyzes the events, who is affected by the behaviors, how they are affected, and what exactly is being respected or disrespected (personal space, physical safety, self-esteem, right to learn, etc.).
Day-in-the-life assignments and Respect Book content pages are due (final draft) on May 21. Respect Books will be assembled after that date. Hard cover books will be assembled as they are ready, beginning, hopefully, next week!
April 28 update: Please read the above three paragraphs, as they have been amended somewhat. I could use some help with proofreading and bookmaking. If you're willing, email or call. Thanks. <steve.ford@spps.org> phone 651-325-2545
Apr 29 update: none (see above)
May 1 update: sorry, the "system" was down all day yesterday. Students making Respect Books are hitting the groove, making progress. Some students still think they are going to make a hardcover book, even though the deadline was today for completed, final-draft manuscripts. Some of these students have not presented work to me or to the students at the editors ' table. It probably won't happen for them; we're coming to the end of a process that was laid out clearly in September and had a well-publicized time line.
May 2 update: Please see to it that your student, if making a Respect Book, starts to edit, proofread, and type the scenarios; not wait 'til the last minute. (As of today they should have created 7 pages. We're still finding errors in the hardcover book manuscripts. You could be of help there, too. Thanks.
May 5 update: Please remind your students that they should have started revising, editing, and typing their scenarios (for Respect Books) by now. They will end up with too much work if they don't keep up with writing the rough drafts and typing them at home.
The (hardcover) book board arrives tomorrow. Students may begin as soon as their manuscripts are free of errors!
May 8 update: Thanks to the parent proofreaders! With their (and your help) we will make it. The first eight pages of the Respect Books are due tomorrow.
May 9 update: As of Monday Respect Book pages must be finished through page 11 (final drafts, typed)
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