In this unit, we work on creating true narrative stories.  Per the UoS, our biggest goal is that "writing workshop. . . encourages independence and dramatic growth--a writing workshop that places high priority on setting and working toward clear goals."  We use mentor texts to set goals and observe what published writers do.  Strategies such as working on leads, finding ideas, setting goals,  pushing yourself to write as much as possible, and revising are interwoven into the writing workshop.  The students are even pushed to see how much they can write in a 45 minute time period.  By the end of the unit, the students are able to show you a variety of different bits of writing throughout their writing process on their Google site portfolio.

Students complete 2 published pieces and 2 flashdrafts (written in 45 minutes).  They also complete a pre and post-assessment (also written in 45 minutes).

Bend 1 Homework and In-Class Assignments are posted on Google Classroom, but you can view the student writer's notebook with the assignments beside this blurb. 

• In-class Assignment is given daily and typically have to do with the minilesson for the day.  Students should complete all in-class work regardless of if they are in class as that pertains to our strategy or minilesson work.  They complete this in their digital writing notebook.

• Nightly homework mainly consists of trying out new personal narratives to prepare for Bend 2, when we will adopt one seed idea and put it through the writing process. Students will use their digital writers notebook for this work. Our goal is to work on writing stamina by trying to write 2 slides worth of a personal narrative, working our way up to nearly 3 slides of writing.

• Grading: On TeacherEase, students will be given a "Complete" or "Incomplete" depending on if they meet the goal of the day.  If the students do not meet the goal for the day, they will receive a mark.  They can then show the full completed work the next day, and the grade book will be changed to a "Complete" with a late checkmark to let us know that it was not completed on time but is now completed as assigned. (see the ELA standards below for the standards your student is aiming for.

Bend 2

• In-class assignments are given and mostly pertain to the goals that the writer has set for him/herself. We may have these in our Bend 2 and 3 Writers Notebook.

• Nightly homework consists of working on our writing stamina and building upon a writing piece that will be a total of 6 pages and demonstrate an understanding of how to formulate a personal narrative with a lead, middle that shows tensions or building excitement, and a resolution that shows an understanding or a lesson learned.

• Grading: On TeacherEase, students will be given a "Complete" or "Incomplete" depending on if they meet the goal of the day.  If the students do not meet the goal for the day, they will receive a mark.  They can then show the full completed work the next day, and the grade book will be changed to a "Complete" with a late checkmark to let us know that it was not completed on time but is now completed as assigned. (see the ELA standards below for the standards your student is aiming for.

Bend 3

• In-class assignments are given and mostly pertain to the goals that the writer has set for him/herself.

• Nightly homework consists of working on our writing stamina and building upon a writing piece that will be a total of 6 pages and demonstrate an understanding of how to formulate a personal narrative with a lead, middle that shows tensions or building excitement, and a resolution that shows an understanding or a lesson learned.

• Grading: On TeacherEase, students will be given a "Complete" or "Incomplete" depending on if they meet the goal of the day.  If the students do not meet the goal for the day, they will receive a mark.  They can then show the full completed work the next day, and the grade book will be changed to a "Complete" with a late checkmark to let us know that it was not completed on time but is now completed as assigned. (see the ELA standards below for the standards your student is aiming for.

Gives a general idea where the standards are assessed in the bends