Let the Journey Begin: Getting Organized

First of all, thanks for the beautiful letters. I am enjoying reading through them and getting to know you. So many of you expressed a love of poetry (at least the coffee house, anyway), creative writing, drama, and reading of all kinds. Many of you voiced your concerns about getting up in front of class as well as a fear of sharing your writing with others...so don't feel alone. So far all of you have written about wanting to be stronger readers and writers, and for that I commend you. To begin, I hope you've done your shopping so that you can mark your divider pages. Don't throw anything away in this class! There are several three hole punches in this class, and you can keep everything in your binders.

Section 1: hand outs and other general info (put the syllabus, MLA handout in here.)
Section 2: mini lessons (we will study 6+1 traits, grammar, various genres, study skills and writing notes...
I don't think you have anything for this section yet.
Section 3: Writer's notebook (this will have free writings chronicled by date - and usually we begin class with free writing. The writing survey you took Friday goes in this section. We will add writing territories after I come back - and other writing notes and ideas.)
Section 4: Finished writing pieces (there will be three pieces consisting of first draft scribbles, conferencing notes, second draft and conferencing notes and revisions, and beautiful third draft with a letter of reflection, all of which I will teach when I return.) You don't have anything to put in this yet.
Section 5: In-class literature: Any notes regarding classroom literature units...Edith Hamilton's mythology, The Odyssey, study guides, quizzes (the ones you are allowed to keep), notes you take over lecture or your reading. Later we'll add Mockingbird and Romeo and Juliet.
Section 6: Independent reading (reader's notebook) You will keep track of the books you read on your own in a reading log -which we haven't handed out yet. You can keep your reading survey in this section.
*We may add a couple of sections when I get back, but for now these six will do.

Today you will get your textbooks. Put your names in the front in ink! The books may be old, but they are expensive. As you read, you may take notice of the values of this ancient culture. A question worth exploring as we read is: What is courage? What does this society value? In fact, this question can guide us as we examine the major works we'll read together this semester.

Meanwhile, I'm going to get back to reading your letters and some wonderfully creative accounts of how I landed myself in my current state with two casts! Thanks for your hard work.