Welcome back to the start of Term 3!
21 July 2014 - Week 22
I can't quite believe it myself! Whilst there is so much to celebrate, I am also a little concerned that so many students (in 9 Accelerate in particular) failed to submit their assessments.
What to do? Rather than beginning new work this week, I think that it is important that we review Term 2 thoroughly, edit marked work - so that each of you have time to absorb my comments and corrections - and in the case of those students who have fallen behind, use this precious time to
What to do? Rather than beginning new work this week, I think that it is important that we review Term 2 thoroughly, edit marked work - so that each of you have time to absorb my comments and corrections - and in the case of those students who have fallen behind, use this precious time to
- catch up,
- submit work,
- gain those elusive credits &
- keep up to date with my work!
Monday 28 July 2014 - Week 23, Term 3
Morena Boys
Thank you to those of you who submitted overdue assessments from Term 2. I marked your Personal Responses and Book Covers over the weekend and was thrilled to see that you all received merit or excellence grades. Well done! However, to those of you who have yet to submit work, I will give you until the end of the week to produce the goods, or enter a not achieved grade in Markbook.
Last week we focused on Conjunctions, Prepositions and Apostrophe's. To get us underway today, I thought that we might take a look at 'Spelling trouble-shooting' pages 40-41 of English Basics.
Thank you to those of you who submitted overdue assessments from Term 2. I marked your Personal Responses and Book Covers over the weekend and was thrilled to see that you all received merit or excellence grades. Well done! However, to those of you who have yet to submit work, I will give you until the end of the week to produce the goods, or enter a not achieved grade in Markbook.
Last week we focused on Conjunctions, Prepositions and Apostrophe's. To get us underway today, I thought that we might take a look at 'Spelling trouble-shooting' pages 40-41 of English Basics.
Creative Writing
Wednesday 29 July 2014
Metaphors
Wow...it's Wednesday already!
In anticipation of our first assessment for the term one Creative Writing, we looked at Metaphors yesterday and completed the tasks out of the English Basics Book. The theory revealed that...
If we were to use a simile to paint the colour of the sun, we would say: The sun is like a gold coin.
If we were to use a metaphor, we would take out 'like' and say: The sun is a gold coin.
In order to get a really good grade for your essay, it will be important to enrich your writing with features such as metaphors.
Simile's are OK...but often predictable e.g. The tree was bent over like an old man.
How much richer to say something like: The tree reached out its gnarly hand, glistening talons snaking down the back of my shirt, as I ran in terror from its grasp!
In anticipation of our first assessment for the term one Creative Writing, we looked at Metaphors yesterday and completed the tasks out of the English Basics Book. The theory revealed that...
- A metaphor is where one thing is said to be another.
- The metaphor, like the simile, makes a comparison but it does not use the words 'like' or 'as'. Instead, a metaphor says that one thing is another. So....
If we were to use a simile to paint the colour of the sun, we would say: The sun is like a gold coin.
If we were to use a metaphor, we would take out 'like' and say: The sun is a gold coin.
In order to get a really good grade for your essay, it will be important to enrich your writing with features such as metaphors.
Simile's are OK...but often predictable e.g. The tree was bent over like an old man.
How much richer to say something like: The tree reached out its gnarly hand, glistening talons snaking down the back of my shirt, as I ran in terror from its grasp!
The Literacy Shed
Monday 4 August 2014
Morena Whānau
In anticipation of receiving our 'Creative Writing' assessment task instructions from Ms Hay this week, I thought that we could practice our creative writing, by using some of the wonderful resources that are available to us on 'The Literacy Shed' website. Please go to the website by using the Button below
In anticipation of receiving our 'Creative Writing' assessment task instructions from Ms Hay this week, I thought that we could practice our creative writing, by using some of the wonderful resources that are available to us on 'The Literacy Shed' website. Please go to the website by using the Button below
About The Literacy Shed
The Literacy Shed is home to a wealth of visual resources that have been collected by a primary school teacher over a 10 year period. The host of the site, trawls YouTube, vimeo and other sites looking for suitable resources to use in the sheds. The sheds are broadly thematic but sometimes a resource may work well in 2 or more sheds.
The aim is to provide high quality resources that can be used in stand alone literacy lessons, can form the basis for a whole Literacy unit or can support literacy units that you already have in place.
We will definitely have a go at writing a creative paragraph on the...
The Literacy Shed is home to a wealth of visual resources that have been collected by a primary school teacher over a 10 year period. The host of the site, trawls YouTube, vimeo and other sites looking for suitable resources to use in the sheds. The sheds are broadly thematic but sometimes a resource may work well in 2 or more sheds.
The aim is to provide high quality resources that can be used in stand alone literacy lessons, can form the basis for a whole Literacy unit or can support literacy units that you already have in place.
We will definitely have a go at writing a creative paragraph on the...
Dream-giver
Personification
Friday 8 August 2014
To end the week, I thought that we would have a look at Personification, with the view to using this special kind of metaphor in your creative essay assessment!
Personification = When a non-living thing is given living characteristics or when a noon-human thing is given human characteristics
The comparison needs to be between non-living or non-human objects or features and living or human objects or features. For instance:
Personification = When a non-living thing is given living characteristics or when a noon-human thing is given human characteristics
The comparison needs to be between non-living or non-human objects or features and living or human objects or features. For instance:
- As I ran, the tree's gnarled fingers grabbed at my jacket
- The desert's skin was dry and wrinkled
A perfect example is that of the 'Ents' in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy -
The were ancient shepherds of the forest and allies of the free peoples of Middle-earth during the 'War of the Ring'
Essay Instructions
11 August 2014
Morena Whānau
As promised - please see a copy of the 'creative task sheet' from Ms Hay, uploaded below...as well as the 'due dates' for each element of the essay, captured from the white board in A2.
We will 'unpack' the instructions in class and determine to stick closely to the due dates, as I have booked the computer labs (our happy place) starting Thursday 21 August and Friday 22 August next week.
Good luck :)
As promised - please see a copy of the 'creative task sheet' from Ms Hay, uploaded below...as well as the 'due dates' for each element of the essay, captured from the white board in A2.
We will 'unpack' the instructions in class and determine to stick closely to the due dates, as I have booked the computer labs (our happy place) starting Thursday 21 August and Friday 22 August next week.
Good luck :)
9_4_creative_writing_task_sheet.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
What Is a Figure of Speech?
Wed 13 August 2014
When starting your essay, you may like to 'hook' the reader, by using what's known as a 'figure of speech' -
an expression in which the words are not used in their literal sense.
A figure of speech is designed to portray an idea more clearly or more interestingly. The most common types of figures of speech are metaphors, similes, idioms, personification, hyperbole, and euphemisms
Note: Some sources do not differentiate between a figure of speech and figurative language. As the term figurative language includes techniques that might employ the literal meanings of words (e.g., alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia), an alternative definition for figure of speech is the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner.
Examples of Figures of Speech
Here are some examples of figures of speech in the categories which most commonly employ words in their non-literal
meaning:
Metaphor A metaphor asserts that one thing is something that it literally is not. For example:
Simile A simile likens one thing to another (usually achieved by the use of the word like or as). For example:
Personification Personification is when non-human objects are given human traits. For example:
Hyperbole Hyperbole is an exaggeration or extravagant statement used for effect. For example:
Idiom An idiom is commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. For example:
Euphemism A euphemism is the use of agreeable or inoffensive words to replace rude or offensive ones. For example:
an expression in which the words are not used in their literal sense.
A figure of speech is designed to portray an idea more clearly or more interestingly. The most common types of figures of speech are metaphors, similes, idioms, personification, hyperbole, and euphemisms
Note: Some sources do not differentiate between a figure of speech and figurative language. As the term figurative language includes techniques that might employ the literal meanings of words (e.g., alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia), an alternative definition for figure of speech is the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner.
Examples of Figures of Speech
Here are some examples of figures of speech in the categories which most commonly employ words in their non-literal
meaning:
Metaphor A metaphor asserts that one thing is something that it literally is not. For example:
- This bedroom is a prison.
- He's a real gannet.
- He listened with a stone face.
- We don't need dinosaurs in this company.
Simile A simile likens one thing to another (usually achieved by the use of the word like or as). For example:
- He eats like a gannet.
- This sandwich tastes like sawdust between two doormats.
- She sings like an angel.
- It's like water off a duck's back.
Personification Personification is when non-human objects are given human traits. For example:
- The tide waits for no man.
- My car tends to give up on long hills.
- Summer's healing rays
Hyperbole Hyperbole is an exaggeration or extravagant statement used for effect. For example:
- I have a million problems.
- We won a tonne of cash.
- I'll die if I don't finish this crossword.
Idiom An idiom is commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. For example:
- Be careful not to miss the boat.
- This is the last straw.
- You can't pull the wool over my eyes.
- Don't sit on the fence. Say what you mean.
Euphemism A euphemism is the use of agreeable or inoffensive words to replace rude or offensive ones. For example:
- kicked the bucket = has died
- knocked up = is pregnant
- letting you go = you're fired
- lost his marbles = is mad
Publishing our Creative Essays
Monday 18 August 2014
Morena Whānau
This week you must submit a 'good copy' draft and endeavor to publish your final copy in the library computer suites by close of Friday 29 August next week. We won't tackle any new work, until we've completed our creative essays.
So good luck and work hard boys. May the force be with you :)
This week you must submit a 'good copy' draft and endeavor to publish your final copy in the library computer suites by close of Friday 29 August next week. We won't tackle any new work, until we've completed our creative essays.
So good luck and work hard boys. May the force be with you :)
Monday 25 August 2014
Teacher Only Day
Publishing our Creative Essays
& Watching Whale Rider
Tuesday 26 August 2014
Morena Whānau
Back into our mahi this week...publishing our creative essays and watching the movie Whale Rider, in anticipation of starting our second assessment for Term 3.
Back into our mahi this week...publishing our creative essays and watching the movie Whale Rider, in anticipation of starting our second assessment for Term 3.
Whale Rider
Whale Rider is a 2002 drama film directed by Niki Caro, based on the novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera. The film starsKeisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Maori girl who wants to become the chief of the tribe. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only.
The film was a coproduction between New Zealand and Germany. It was shot on location in Whangara, the setting of the novel.
The world premiere was on September 9, 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
The film was a coproduction between New Zealand and Germany. It was shot on location in Whangara, the setting of the novel.
The world premiere was on September 9, 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim upon its release. Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Whale Rider
Plot
The film's plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana ("Pai") [In the book, her name is Kahu, short for Kahutia Te Rangi].The leader should be the first-born grandson – a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea, aka Kahutia Te Rangi in the book, the Whale Rider – he who rode on top of a whale from Hawaiki. However, Pai is female and technically cannot inherit the leadership.
While he does later form an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also condemns her and blames her for conflicts happening within the tribe. At one point Paikea decides to leave with her father because her grandfather is mistreating her. However she finds that she cannot bear to leave the sea as the whale seems to be calling her back, she tells her father to turn the car back and returns home. Pai's father refuses to assume traditional leadership; instead he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. Pai herself is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, but is given little encouragement by her grandfather. Pai feels that she can become the leader, although there's no precedent for a woman to do so, and is determined to succeed.
Koro leads a cultural school for the village boys, hoping to find a new leader. He teaches the boys to use a taiaha (fighting stick). This is traditionally reserved for males. However, Nanny tells Pai that her second son, Pai's uncle, had won a taiaha tournament in his youth while he was still slim, so Pai secretly learns from him. She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. One of the students, Hemi, is also sympathetic towards her, but Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins her taiaha fight against Hemi. Koro's relationship with Pai erodes further when none of the boys succeed at the traditional task of recovering the rei puta (whale tooth) that he threw into the ocean – this mission would prove one of them worthy of becoming leader. With the loss of the rei puta, Koro in despair calls out the Ancient ones, the whales. In an attempt to help, Pai from the beach also calls out to them and they hear her call.
Pai, in an attempt to bridge the rift that has formed, invites Koro to be her guest of honour at a concert of Māori chants that her school is putting on. Unknown to all, she had won an inter-school speech contest with a touching dedication to Koro and the traditions of the village. However, Koro was late, and as he was walking to the school, he notices that numerous right whales are beached near Pai's home. The entire village attempts to coax and drag them back into the water, but all efforts prove unsuccessful; even a tractor does not help. Koro sees it as a sign of his failure and despairs further. He admonishes Pai against touching the largest whale because "she has done enough damage" with her presumption. Also, the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. When Pai's grandfather, Koro, walks away from the scene, she climbs onto the back of the largest whale at the location and coaxes it to re-enter the ocean. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Pai submerges completely underwater, and the spectators had wondered if she'd drowned, but were relieved when she came back above sea level. When she goes out to sea, Nanny Flowers shows Koro the whale tooth which Pai had previously recovered. When Pai is found and brought to the hospital, Koro declares her the leader and asks her forgiveness. The film ends with Pai's father, grandparents, and uncle coming together to celebrate her status as the new leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage.
While he does later form an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also condemns her and blames her for conflicts happening within the tribe. At one point Paikea decides to leave with her father because her grandfather is mistreating her. However she finds that she cannot bear to leave the sea as the whale seems to be calling her back, she tells her father to turn the car back and returns home. Pai's father refuses to assume traditional leadership; instead he moves to Germany to pursue a career as an artist. Pai herself is interested in the leadership, learning traditional songs and dances, but is given little encouragement by her grandfather. Pai feels that she can become the leader, although there's no precedent for a woman to do so, and is determined to succeed.
Koro leads a cultural school for the village boys, hoping to find a new leader. He teaches the boys to use a taiaha (fighting stick). This is traditionally reserved for males. However, Nanny tells Pai that her second son, Pai's uncle, had won a taiaha tournament in his youth while he was still slim, so Pai secretly learns from him. She also secretly follows Koro's lessons. One of the students, Hemi, is also sympathetic towards her, but Koro is enraged when he finds out, particularly when she wins her taiaha fight against Hemi. Koro's relationship with Pai erodes further when none of the boys succeed at the traditional task of recovering the rei puta (whale tooth) that he threw into the ocean – this mission would prove one of them worthy of becoming leader. With the loss of the rei puta, Koro in despair calls out the Ancient ones, the whales. In an attempt to help, Pai from the beach also calls out to them and they hear her call.
Pai, in an attempt to bridge the rift that has formed, invites Koro to be her guest of honour at a concert of Māori chants that her school is putting on. Unknown to all, she had won an inter-school speech contest with a touching dedication to Koro and the traditions of the village. However, Koro was late, and as he was walking to the school, he notices that numerous right whales are beached near Pai's home. The entire village attempts to coax and drag them back into the water, but all efforts prove unsuccessful; even a tractor does not help. Koro sees it as a sign of his failure and despairs further. He admonishes Pai against touching the largest whale because "she has done enough damage" with her presumption. Also, the largest whale traditionally belongs to the legendary Paikea. When Pai's grandfather, Koro, walks away from the scene, she climbs onto the back of the largest whale at the location and coaxes it to re-enter the ocean. The whale leads the entire pod back into the sea; Pai submerges completely underwater, and the spectators had wondered if she'd drowned, but were relieved when she came back above sea level. When she goes out to sea, Nanny Flowers shows Koro the whale tooth which Pai had previously recovered. When Pai is found and brought to the hospital, Koro declares her the leader and asks her forgiveness. The film ends with Pai's father, grandparents, and uncle coming together to celebrate her status as the new leader, as the finished waka is hauled into the sea for its maiden voyage.
Wikipedia - Link
Whale Rider
A Teacher Resource for Class Cinema Viewing
Movie Screen Shots
Assessment Instructions for your Story Board
27082014135405-0001.pdf | |
File Size: | 33 kb |
File Type: |
Screen Shots - Technical Description
Monday 1 September 2014
Kia ora Whānau
I can hear you thinking...'So what will the end product of the 'Study of Visual Text' assessment look like?!
In anticipation of this question...I've scanned Izaiah Herewini Martin's assessment - which will likely be awarded an excellence grade. I hope this help you visualize how you will present your 'end product' Good luck!
I can hear you thinking...'So what will the end product of the 'Study of Visual Text' assessment look like?!
In anticipation of this question...I've scanned Izaiah Herewini Martin's assessment - which will likely be awarded an excellence grade. I hope this help you visualize how you will present your 'end product' Good luck!
Study of Visual Text 9.2
9 ACE Student Work
3 Sept 2014
James Scott has generously allowed me to upload a copy of his assessment. Whilst he has used a couple of frames that weren't selected by Ms Hay, have a read to see how James has answered the assessment question e.g. Screen shot, what the director wants us to understand from the frame etc.
james_scott_whale_rider.docx | |
File Size: | 334 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Publishing our Visual Text Study
Monday 8 September 2014
Morena Whānau
This week you must submit a 'good copy' and/or endeavor to publish a digitally crafted copy in the library computer suites by close of Friday 12 September this week. We won't tackle any new work, until we've completed our Visual Text Study.
So good luck and work hard boys. May the force be with you :)
This week you must submit a 'good copy' and/or endeavor to publish a digitally crafted copy in the library computer suites by close of Friday 12 September this week. We won't tackle any new work, until we've completed our Visual Text Study.
So good luck and work hard boys. May the force be with you :)
The Literacy Shed
Friday 12 September 2014
About The Literacy Shed
The Literacy Shed is home to a wealth of visual resources that have been collected by a primary school teacher over a 10 year period. The host of the site, trawls YouTube, vimeo and other sites looking for suitable resources to use in the sheds. The sheds are broadly thematic but sometimes a resource may work well in 2 or more sheds.
The aim is to provide high quality resources that can be used in stand alone literacy lessons, can form the basis for a whole Literacy unit or can support literacy units that you already have in place.
We will definitely have a go at writing a creative paragraph on...
The Literacy Shed is home to a wealth of visual resources that have been collected by a primary school teacher over a 10 year period. The host of the site, trawls YouTube, vimeo and other sites looking for suitable resources to use in the sheds. The sheds are broadly thematic but sometimes a resource may work well in 2 or more sheds.
The aim is to provide high quality resources that can be used in stand alone literacy lessons, can form the basis for a whole Literacy unit or can support literacy units that you already have in place.
We will definitely have a go at writing a creative paragraph on...
Francis
I WON’T BE GOING BACK TO QUETICO PARK ANYTIME SOON. NOT AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO A GIRL NAMED FRANCIS BRANDYWINE.
Written by novelist & screenwriter Dave Eggars, for the ever-popular radio show This American Life, animated film Francis is the tense tale of the unexplained happenings on a lake in the middle of an Ontario nature reserve.
HER MOUTH WENT DRY. SHE HELD ONTO EACH SIDE OF THE BOAT, AND NOW SHE COULD ONLY WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
One night on a family camping trip to Quetico park, the reckless raven-haired Francis waits until her family have fallen asleep and takes a rowing boat out to the middle of the lake. Hoping to find a quiet spot where the teenager can lay on her back, stare at the sky and write in her journal, her expectations of a peaceful night at one with nature are soon shattered when an unexpected noise comes from the water below.
With a voice-over so rich and detailed that you could close your eyes and let your imagination run wild, it’s impressive that Hickey’s short feels so perfectly realised.
Written by novelist & screenwriter Dave Eggars, for the ever-popular radio show This American Life, animated film Francis is the tense tale of the unexplained happenings on a lake in the middle of an Ontario nature reserve.
HER MOUTH WENT DRY. SHE HELD ONTO EACH SIDE OF THE BOAT, AND NOW SHE COULD ONLY WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
One night on a family camping trip to Quetico park, the reckless raven-haired Francis waits until her family have fallen asleep and takes a rowing boat out to the middle of the lake. Hoping to find a quiet spot where the teenager can lay on her back, stare at the sky and write in her journal, her expectations of a peaceful night at one with nature are soon shattered when an unexpected noise comes from the water below.
With a voice-over so rich and detailed that you could close your eyes and let your imagination run wild, it’s impressive that Hickey’s short feels so perfectly realised.
Welcome to Quetico Park
Creative Essay Instructions
Use the line 'I did knock first' and either...
- Write a prequel - when American Indians inhabited Quetico Park.
- Create a sequel - what happened to Francis Bradywine?
- Your essay should be no longer than one page and
- Can include an illustration off Google Images or Google Earth.
Prequel
Sequel
Monday 15 September 2014
Personal Response - Falling Sparrows - 9A
Short Film
A bunch of boys playing in a backyard blitzkreig - war's a game and nobody dies. They're playing it like they've seen it in the movies. But they have no idea how real it's going to get. An Anzac Day favourite.
NZ Film Commission - Press Kit for Falling Sparrows
You Tube Clip of Falling Sparrows
Assessment - Falling Sparrows Personal Response
Due - Friday 19 September 2014
personal_response_falling_sparrows.pdf | |
File Size: | 180 kb |
File Type: |
Personal Response - Two Cars, One Night - 9D
You Tube Link to Short Film
Assessment - Two Cars, One Night Personal Response
Due - Monday 22 September 2014
personal_response_two_cars_one_night.pdf | |
File Size: | 181 kb |
File Type: |
Last Week of Term 3
22 Sept - 26 Sept 2014
Morena Whānau
This week we will be attending to 'housekeeping' - ensuring that all of our assessments for Whale Rider and the Short Films - Falling Sparrows or Two Cars One Night are handed in. Further to that, we will also complete a 'Common Assessment' for Close Reading. Almost there boys...kia kaha...and then 'woohoo' holiday time! Keep safe and see you in two weeks, refreshed and ready to go :)
This week we will be attending to 'housekeeping' - ensuring that all of our assessments for Whale Rider and the Short Films - Falling Sparrows or Two Cars One Night are handed in. Further to that, we will also complete a 'Common Assessment' for Close Reading. Almost there boys...kia kaha...and then 'woohoo' holiday time! Keep safe and see you in two weeks, refreshed and ready to go :)