WRITING NOTEBOOKS Read, Write, Revise Every Day

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if its only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.” Jane Yolen

Discussion Think about the following two questions and be ready to respond!  Why is it important to be able to read and write effectively?  How does someone improve their own writing and reading skills?

Writing Notebook  A writing notebook is a space for you to practice your reading, writing, and revising skills.  You must keep your writing notebook with you at all times because you will be getting select times to write in it.  You must date all entries in the upper corner of your page.

Writing Notebook - Topics  You can write or sketch about anything you want !  For example you could write or sketch: -Poems -Stories -An article from a newspaper you read and respond to it -Letters to someone you treasure -Lists -Tell a story of specific photographs -Questions you want to ask someone -Responses to questions I write on the board -Songs or music you write

Writing Notebook – Revising  You need to revise all your writing. This means you re-read and make it better.  This might mean fixing spelling, punctuation, expanding on your own ideas, improving sentence structure, etc. ALL WRITING IS IMPROVED WITH REVISING.  You must revise in a different color (use a pen or pencil crayon).

Writing Notebook – Revising  Make sure the writing stays on topic.  Add relevant supporting details.  Delete unnecessary words and details.  Look for logical order of events.  Use descriptive words.  Rewrite sentences so they are easy for the reader to understand.  Make sure the writing is appropriate for the audience.

Writing Notebook – Starting Out  Back & Front Cover: Collage You need to cover the front and back cover of your notebook in a collage format. Your collage must have the following items: Title: Writing Notebook Name: Use your name Images: use as many images that are important to you. They could be photographs, stickers, computer generated images, or hand drawn images.

Writing Notebook – Starting Out  First Page: Reading List Put the title Reading List at the top of the first page and include any novels you have read this year. Make sure to number this page and to include titles / authors.  Last Page: What is Next Put the title What is Next at the top of the last page and include any novels that you wish to potentially read in the future. Make sure to number this page and to include titles / authors.

James Franco – My Ideal Bookshelf

Writing Notebook – Starting Out  Page Two: My Ideal Bookshelf Complete the handout called My Ideal Bookshelf, which requires you to come up with 10 books that you cannot live without.  Make sure to color this handout and glue it into your notebook on page two.

Writing Notebook – Starting Out  You will be starting your notebook with a notebook autobiography.  For homework tomorrow: you must find THREE PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHS that you can use to tell the story of each picture in your writing notebook.  Photographs may be the actual photo itself or printed from the computer. These pictures will be put into your writing notebook and will not be returned immediately.  Try to use photographs that are different from one another.

Notebook Autobiography  Use Page 3, 4, and 5 in your Notebook to start a Notebook Autobiography. Write the title at the top of each page.  Glue each picture onto one page (doesn’t matter where it is located).  Date each entry in the top corner with today’s date: Tuesday November 4th

Notebook Autobiography  Your job is to write the story of each photograph on each page.  You may chose to tell the story of the picture in paragraph format, poem, song, an interview, etc.  You may want to add other drawings or doodles to each page. Make them creative!  I recommend double spacing so it is easier to revise tomorrow.  Use your best writing and each entry should be about a page in length!

Writing Notebook – Assessment  Every two weeks I will be collecting all writing notebooks.  You will determine which two pieces of writing you want to share with me and you will flag them with a sticky note. I will read, assess, and possibly respond to those two selected pieces.  I will also be keeping my own writing notebook and will be sharing selections from time to time.