Welcome to Cre8tive Havoc

The Motherblog for the students in room 2B1 at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate.

Free Reading Fridays

“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” -Lemony Snicket

A BYOD Classroom

All devices welcomed!

Newspaper Blackout Poetry

"Creativity through subtraction" -Austin Kleon.

Friday 13 June 2014

Presentations- Day 4

John-

http://johnshavoc.blogspot.ca

Roan/Ali-

http://roanve.blogspot.ca

Tom- ?

Ryan- ?

Xavier- ?

Anyone else- ?


Thursday 12 June 2014

Day Three- Buried Life Presentations

Our Reading Buddies-

http://kidblog.org/MsBettess/category/bucket-list/

Megan S.-

http://meaganovildasawyercw.blogspot.ca/2014/06/the-buried-life.html

Ben-

http://bencanwrite.blogspot.ca

Veronica-

http://veronicakibalnik.blogspot.ca

Maslen-

http://individualmaslen.blogspot.ca

Jenni/Karli-

http://jennisblog16.blogspot.ca

Roan/Ali-

http://roanve.blogspot.ca

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Virtual Book Chat

Use this link to share the questions, comments, predictions and text connections you have while reading "The Buried Life".

https://todaysmeet.com/cre8tive

Monday 26 May 2014

Social Fiction "Hand In"

At long last it is here-  today is the day your Social Fiction Project is due!  You will be publishing your SF project in two places- on your blog, and here in the comments section. Use the comments section below to post the link to your blog where you've posted your Social Fiction. See my comment below for an example of how to post your links.

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Creating Dialogue

#engchat

Remember those visual writing prompts I had you find last week? Today we are going to be using them to create a dialogue.  Your purpose for this dialogue is to highlight character/personality of the people in the visual.

Things to note:

· There must be at least two people participating in this dialogue.

·  Each person must speak at least five times.

·  Descriptive tags should be utilized to describe how people spoke.

· Focus on what the characters say AND how they say it.

· Correct dialogue formatting must be used.

Need a visual to help you write? Try these gentlemen:

http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/image/50904567455

Or these young ladies:
http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/image/61377693601

Formatting Dialogue


Formatting Dialogue- Using Quotation Marks


  • Punctuation is always inside the quotation marks

                                  ,”

                                  .”


  • Never use two periods in one sentence.


“I went to the store.”

Or

“I went to the store,” he said.



  • Interrupted Quotes:


“I think,” he said, “that it will be fun.”

Or

“I think it will be fun,” he said.  “More fun that last time.”



  • New Speaker=New Paragraph

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Field Trip!

The best way to learn about how to write dialogue effectively, is to go out and observe dialogue in it's natural habitat! Your mission is to go out into the school and eavesdrop in on a conversation. Listen to the conversation for about 10 minutes, record the content and your observations.  Make your notes as specific as possible as we will be debriefing as a class upon your return.

Happy Creeping!


Discuss the dialogue that you overhead:

1. Talk about the process of eavesdropping:

i. Where did you go?
ii. How long did you listen to conversation?
iii. Who was it between?
iv. How did it feel to be recording the conversation?

2. What insights did you gain about the way people speak?

3. How can you apply this to your writing?

4. How is personality and character revealed through conversation/dialogue?

5. What happens when more than two people participate in a conversation?

6. What was the most surprising thing you’ve learned about the way people converse?

7. What are the differences and similarities between written and spoken conversations?

Finished assignment = 350 words. Post it here in the comments, and on your blog.

Tuesday 13 May 2014

May 13- Solitary Confinement

(1) What did you do/write/create today?
(2) What did you learn (About yourself, your story, your writing, etc.)

Monday 12 May 2014

May 12- Solitary Confinement


(1) What did you do/write/create today?
(2) What did you learn (About yourself, your story, your writing, etc.)

Thursday 8 May 2014

Solitary Confinement

 
For today's class you will be working on your writing project.  If you have selected to do Newspaper Blackout Poetry, you should be "shopping for images" to help you create your trio of poems.  If you have selected to do Social Fiction, then you should be looking for a story seed (consider your story molecules, or the IO9 visual prompts we explored in class yesterday).  at the end of class you will be coming back to the room to post a comment here that addresses the following two questions:

(1) What did you do/write/create today?
(2) What did you learn (About yourself, your story, your writing, etc.)

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Visual Writing Prompts

Personal Addition of the Day


Choose Your Own Project Adventure: Option B- Social Fiction



Social Fiction is a form of writing that combines a traditional short story with the modern narrative of Social Media.  You will be creating a Social Fiction story. You may work alone, or with a partner. 
Fiction

- Short story based on a visual prompt
- 500-1000 words in length (feel free to exceed this word count)
- Includes examples of: imagery, dialogue, and non-verbal body language, “so what” and any other writing techniques discussed in class.

Social
- You will create an actual social media profile for plot- or character(s) - of your short story.

- Choose the social media platform of your choice: Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Blog, Facebook.

- Must have at least 20 posts/tweets/pins etc.

- Visuals must be created by YOU!! No stealing from the internet!!!

The social media portion of your project must integrate clearly with the story of your plotline. The social media is not just a visual supplement, it is the story too.


Looking for examples? Here's the Social Fiction created by last semester's students:

http://cre8tivehavoc.blogspot.ca/2014/01/social-fiction-hand-in.html

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Choose Your Own Project Adventure: Option A- Newspaper Blackout Poetry

#newspaperblackoutpoetry #austinkleon #engchat #mbedu

Our next writing project involves "Creativity through Subtraction"

Here's two videos to give some background:



A sample of Austin Kleon's Blackout Poetry:
Creative Writing 101- By Austin Kleon

Some links to explore:



So here we go!
  • You are going to create a trio of Newspaper Blackout Poetry.
  • All poems in the trio must relate to one another through a common theme.
  • Each poem must have a title.
Ready, set, blackout!

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Quickwrite #2

Describe the smell and taste of the best/worst meal ever.

Quickwrite #3

http://designthroughstorytelling.net/periodic/

Use this "periodic table" of storytelling to brainstorm three short story ideas. Post your ideas on your blog. Add a link to your completed post in the comments section below.

Quickwrite #1

Once you are done your Quickwrite, post the link in the comments section below.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Procedural Writing- Share it Here!

Please share your link to your procedural writing in the comments section below. Format your post as follows-

Student A and Student B Present . . . "How to ________________"

http://studentablog.blogspot.ca/howto
http://studentbblog.blogspot.ca/howto

Also on today's agenda, take another visit to http://kidblog.org/MsBettess/ and check out what's going on in Thompson.

Monday 14 April 2014

Mid Semester Reflection

Believe it or not, we are at the half way point for the semester!  This means that it is time for you to reflect back on your progress so far.

Please reflect on each of the following topics, in a paragraph length response (100 words).  For each topic, also give yourself an "overall" grade of A, B, C, or INComplete. Post your reflection and "grade" on your blog:

Topics

(1) Six Word Memoirs
- What went well?
- What needed "work"?
- What did you learn about yourself as a reading, writer, thinker, creator?

(2) IGNITE presentations
- What went well?
- What needed "work"?
- What did you learn about yourself as a reading, writer, thinker, creator?

(3) Blogging
- Posting assignments to your blog in a timely manner
- posting personal additions on your blog on a regular basis
- visiting classmates blogs and commenting

(4) Connecting & Engaging
- participating in class and online discussions (commenting. etc.)
- attending on a regular basis

(5) Set three course related goals to complete by the end of the semester.

Thursday 27 March 2014

Ignite Presentations- Finding Images

#ignite #mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat

All images utilized in your Ignite presentation must be either:

(1) Orginals- Created/captured by yourself, a member of your family or a friend.

or

(2) Found in the Creative Commons-http://search.creativecommons.org


So this means that NO- YOU CAN'T JUST CUT AND PASTE FROM A GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH!! 

Also, all images in your Ignite presentation (both original and those found in CC) must have photo credits, just like they did for our "Six Word Memoirs".  See below for an example of a Creative Commons photo credit:



Tuesday 25 March 2014

Ignite Presentations!!

#ignite #mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat 


Ignite Examples:






 


Ignite How To:



Browse:



Answer the following questions:


(1) Leave a link for an Ignite video that you found to be entertaining/inspiring/insightful.  Discuss why you decided to share this video

(2) What topic/theme are you going to use for your video? Why is this a good topic?

Wednesday 19 March 2014

An E-Mail from Ms. Bettess










Hello,

This email is for the amazing students in Ms. McLauchlan's Creative Writing class. 

I just wanted to let you know how much I loved reading your reflections on your Skype lesson last week. Last night, I commented on all that been posted. I knew going into this connection with you and your teacher that my students would love it but, I didn't know how much you would enjoy it. It made my day to see how much you love interacting with my grade 3 class. 

I shared your suggestions with my students and they'd love for you to come to Thompson. Unfortunately, it is too far away. I knew you had made an impact when two of them said they were going to Winnipeg for Spring Break and they could see you then. Too cute! 

I am very impressed with your teaching skills and your enthusiasm. Keep it up!

I am looking forward to further connections with you. We can't wait to teach you about procedural writing next week. Thank you for everything you have taught my students. 

Sincerely,

Ms. Bettess

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Quick writes - Doodle Style


#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat


Today we are going to be completing a series of quick writes. However, instead on composing the Quickwrite in sentences and paragraphs- we're going to switch things up and "doodle" our answers. Once each Quickwrite is complete, you will take a photo of it, and post it on your blog. Each Quickwrite will be posted separately, with a corresponding title. Good Luck, and happy doodling!

Quickwrite- Teenager's Brain


Quickwrite- Perfect Playground




Quickwrite- Gender Swap



Quickwrite- Choice


Or

Or






Monday 17 March 2014

Skype Reflection




Last week, we once again Skyped with our grade three reading buddies.  Each of you worked in a group to compose a Six Word Stories "mini lesson". For today's class I would like to you reflect on that process. Answer the following questions, in complete paragraphs and post your answer both here in the comments section, and on your blog.

(1) What topics did you present?  How did you go about making in "stick" with your audience?
(2) How do you feel your mini lesson went? Strengths? Weaknesses?
(3) What did you learn about the process of teaching and learning?
(4) What should we do next?

Once you've answered the above questions, you have remaining class time to post AT LEAST 2 personal additions on your blog.








Wednesday 5 March 2014

Six Word Memoirs: Photo Editing

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat



Select your best SIX  "6 Word Memoirs" and create visuals (photos, drawings/doodles, collages) to accompany them. It is very likely that some of your visuals will be the ones that you captured on your Photo Scavenger Hunt.

All visuals accompanying your Six Word Memoirs must by originals, created by you (can include friends and family). NO YOU CANNOT JUST GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH!!! In addition, each photo must have a photo credit tag on it.  The photo credit serves to acknowledge the person who took the photo.  In most cases that will be you.  Feel free to use first initial and last name (T. McLauchlan) or an online identify such as a Twitter/Instagram handle (@msmclauchlan) or blog address (cre8tivehavoc.blogspot.ca).

To combine you visuals with your six words (and photo credits), try using the following apps:

- Quipio
- Studio
- Phonto

or the following websites:

http://www.picmonkey.com (not iOS friendly)
http://www.pinwords.com (Yes! iOS friendly)

Publishing Your Six Word Memoirs!

#engchat #sixwordmemoirs #mbedu-

It seems we are coming to the end of our work with "6 Word Memoirs", and that means that we need to finish polishing and editing, and publish them for the world to see! Exciting right? Ok, here's what you need to know:

(1) You must have 6 of your "Six Word Memoirs" for publishing.

(2) E-mail each of your finished 8 "Six Word Memoirs" to the class Flickr account:
not48effect@photos.flickr.com

(3) Each of these 6 "Six Word Memoirs" must be posted on your blog, each as a separate entry with an author's note,  blog by the end of class on Tuesday, March 11th.

(4) A "published" photo MUST HAVE a photography credit either on the picture or as a caption underneath the photo. You've take the photo yourself, you must have a photo credit.

(5) Each photo "Six Word Memoir" must have a Writer's Note attached to it. The Writer's Note is your opportunity to explain your process for writing the six words, as wells as how you selected the photo and how it connects to the six words. Each writer's note must be 100 words in length.

Things to write about in your Writer's Note:

(1) How does the image and the words fit together?
(2) What editing techniques did you performed on the photo? Why?
(3) How did you use punctuation to clarify your message?
(4) Discuss your font: color, style, placement. How was it appropriate for the text and image?

See postings below for examples and inspiration:
http://ateenreadersresource.blogspot.ca/2012/03/i-have-run-out-of-ideas-for-creative.html
http://captainxcabbage.blogspot.ca/2012/03/sixwordmemoir3.html
http://crizelyneve.blogspot.ca/2012/02/six-word-memoir-1.html#!/2012/02/six-word-memoir-1.html

Monday 3 March 2014

Reading Assignment #4

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat 

Create 15 Tweets from the perspective of a main character in the novel you are reading.  Be sure to use the voice, language, and tone of the character you have selected.  Remember that you are not simply re-telling plot- but rather showing the characters thoughts/emotions/opinions, and as they relate to the plot and the world of the novel.

Use some of the hashtags listed below to help inspire your Tweets:

#lessonlearned
#iwish
#sorrynotsorry
#oops
#fail
#TBT
#frenemies

All 15 tweets must be posted on your blog!

Thursday 27 February 2014

I'm Away!


Hey Everyone,

I am unexpectedly away this afternoon.  Please use today's class to edit and compile your photos from yesterday's scavenger hunt.  Use an app such as Pic Stitch to combine your visuals- and then post them on your blog.  Remember that underneath each of your visuals should be a key that discusses which themes are being photographed.  If you get that done and you have time to spare, scroll down to the next post, read it, and get a head start writing your "Six Word Memoirs".  

I am also away tomorrow- don't forget to bring your book, and keep track of your questions, comments, predictions and text connections. See you Monday!

First Writing Project: Six Word Memoirs

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat #sixwordmemoirs

The first writing style we will be focussing on is a microform called six word memoirs. For those of you who haven't heard of this writing phenomenon, here's a short video to explain:




Your writing assignment:

-Write 8 different six word memoirs. One for each of the eight categories: love, hate, growing up, my past, my future, me, family, and confession.
- Select your best SIX and create visuals (photos, drawings/doodles, collages) to accompany them. It is very likely that some of your visuals will be the ones that you captured on your Photo Scavenger Hunt.
- All visuals accompanying your Six Word Memoirs must by originals, created by you.

Due Date: TBA

Wednesday 26 February 2014

Photo Scavenger Hunt

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat 


Use your device to capture photos that creatively and insightful represent the following topics or themes. Once you have taken all of the photos, use the app Pic Stitch (or another similar app) to combine and frame the photos. Upload the finished product to your blog, and add detailed descriptions that explain the themes present in the various photos/frames. 

Love
Hate
Friendship
Symbolism
Black and White
Passion
Talent
Family
Confession
Metaphoto
Metaphoto
Metaphoto
Close-up
Outline- Silhouette
Words/Letters
Refelction
Alone
When I Was Little . . .
Past
Future

Monday 24 February 2014

Reading Assignment #3


This week, I would like you to share the text connections you found while reading during Friday's class.  Share any two text connections that you found.  This week we are not using "Twitter" format, and as such you should be explaining your connections in a paragraph length response. Post your text connections in the comments section below- and be sure to take a moment to respond to another student's connection.

Here are some example text connections, from last semester's students:




Carly Bretecher said...

Specials (350)

In this book, Tally and Shay come upon a city called Diego. In Diego, they have a New System, which allows the citizens to choose whether they want the operation or not, and if they do, it doesn’t come with the brain lesions. Most people choose the operation, but only because they get to choose exactly how they want to look. They can have extremely fair skin with bright orange hair, or very dark skin with overly dramatic muscles. Everyone looks the way they want to. They can even put snake skins on their pinkies. They all have a different, crazy look about them, which reminded me of the Capitol in the Hungers Games. In the Hunger Games, people in the Capitol dress crazily and even get strange surgeries to give themselves third eyes or make themselves 10 feet tall. They can make their look exactly how they want it, and even though it may be bizarre, it’s what they want. This whole series has reminded me of the Hunger Games

Casey Clair said...
The Fault in Our Stars (239)
The text to self-connection that I make with this book is the emotions I feel along with Hazel. It’s not like I have dealt with something as huge and life threatening as cancer, but I do feel empathy for her and the random strenuous situations she is put in when either her or one of her friends has some tragedy strike. I also feel strongly about certain books like Hazel does after reading An Imperial Affliction for the billionth time. I always start thinking about what life would be like for the characters in novels. No matter how much I read a book and no matter how much my mind is soothed by the ending, I always wonder about any and all big and little things in them. I can’t exactly imagine the pent up frustration of a book that stops mid-sentence as for Hazel, but my mind still wonders even after closures are met. I admire Hazel’s determination to get the answers she wants out of the author, Peter Van Houten despite not getting them in the end.

Thursday 20 February 2014

Blogging Fieldtrip

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat


Well ladies and gentlemen, you've all been working hard to establish your own little piece of the blogosphere. In today's class we will be taking a cyber field trip. First stop, http://kidblog.org/MsBettess/ where we will be meeting with our new friends in Thompson! We'll be spending time with these lovely fellows bloggers at several points throughout the semester- starting next week when we appear as "Guest Readers" via Skype, for I Love to Read Month.

Second stop, take some time today to explore the blogs of your classmates, investigate what they've been doing, and contribute to their blogging learning, by posting comments. While everyone needs a cheerleader, please ensure that your comments are more than "great job". Instead, try ask questions, and start conversations.

?? Ms. McLauchlan- How many comments should I post? Well, you have all class! But the blogging rule of thumb is for every item you have posted on your own blog, you comment on at least two other people's blogs.

http://instagram.com/3bbees

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Digital Quickwrite- Which Door?

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat


http://writingprompts.tumblr.com

This Week's Reading Strategy- Text Connections

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat #readingstrategies


Research shows that effective readers all possess similar characteristics of “reading greatness”. Two such characteristics are:

They activate their background--they reflect on what they know before reading and  . . .

They connect that knowledge to the during and after stages of their reading experience. Below are three different types of connections:

Text to Self                              (t-s)
Connect your own experiences to something that has happened in the text.
“This reminds me of when I . . .”

Text to Text Connection                     (t-t)
Connect this text to other texts such as other novels, poems, short stories, and magazine articles.
“This is different/the same as another book I read. . .”

Text to World Connection                  (t-w)
Connect events or issues that have taken place in the world to what you are reading.

While reading, use post it notes to record the various types of text connections you experience.

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Reading Assignment #2- Reading Tweets

#engchat #mbedu #readingtweet

This week's Reading Tweet is slightly different from last week.  Once again you will be composing 5 tweets about your reading on Friday, but this week you must include at least three of the following hashtags in your tweets, in a meaningful way:

#dystopian
#bigidea
#favquote
#johngreen
#writingstyle
#conflict
#foreshadowing
#timetravel
#scifi
#romance
#title
#lifelesson
#bookormovie


Your first tweet should once again introduce your book and current page of reading:

Where'd U Go Bernadette (123) My #favquote so far "Hello, can I help you with something?  If not please step aside because I'm going to kick the **** out of life" (100)

And your subsequent quotes will include questions, comments, and/or predictions, as well as content related to the above mentioned hashtags:

!- Love how the above quote shows the chutzpah Bernadette used to have. Clearly something has changed. But what? #prediction

"If you don't create, Bernadette, you will become a menace to society" She already is! I think this is one reason for her lost chutzpah. #comment #bigidea

This book is written like a puzzle, Bee is collecting the e-mails, paperwork and personal accounts that document her mother's breakdown #writingstyle

Bernadette has outsourced a PA from India.  I think the PA becomes and important part of the plot, b/c she has access to lots of B's personal info #foreshadowing

Don't forget to post your tweets in the comment section of this post! All tweets should be posted by tomorrow.  You will also need to check back by mid week to add your replies to your classmates posts.

Thursday 13 February 2014

Photos








Personal Additions

#mbedchatblog #mbedu #engchat 

Your blog should be an extension of you and reflect your personality in a professional manner. The best way to accomplish is through personal additions!

Personal additions are your chance to include items you find inspiring, interesting, and/or worth commenting on into your blog and WRN. Items that could be considered personal additions include (but are not limited to):
·Poems/Song Lyrics
·A list of confession
·A list of inspirational quotes
·“I know for sure that . . .”
·A sketch of a character/scene from your novel
·Consider “big questions”
·To you, what is love?
·What would be your priority if you wanted to repair the world.
·What would you like to never end?
·Write a letter to your future self.
·Rant
·Comment on an interesting article in the newspaper, or a magazine.
·React to a piece of art/music. ..
·Post- movie reflection

TWO NOTES OF CAUTION!
(1) Give credit where credit is due! Always credit the creator and/or original source of the item. If it is an item you found on the Internet, always add the URL of the original source, and give the name of the person who created/wrote the item. If you wrote/created it, then give yourself props! Remember, claiming someone else's work as your own is considered plagiarism!
URL Shortener:

(2)Cut, paste and think.Don’t leave your addition on its own; add your own commentary to the item. If you just cut and paste, the item seems random and unconnected to your blog as a whole.


http://mrg.bz/nQ9FXP