Year Six Year Six are sitting their 11+ examinations in January. To prepare, they are revising key writing and comprehension techniques over the Christmas break. Click here for the online homework, including Bald Worm worksheets, videos and podcasts, such as 'Bald Worm on Suspense'. Play it now, or click on the image to download the file to iTunes. You could then put it on your iPod so you can revise on the move!
We have been writing a blitz story. This is our chance to show what we've learnt this term about using suspense and action techniques in a short story.
Task: Please write a story based on the 'Blitz' plan. Write 1 1/2 sides of A4. Please complete the 'self-assessment for self-improvement' sheet.
We had a visit from Soren Bennick Productions last week. We learnt about the Power of One. Do you remember the pledge? (Image copywrite Soren Bennick productions)
Homework Please write a dialogue between a hard-boiled detective and a 'dame' in a speakeasy. They are discussing a crime the dame would like the detective to commit. Try to include both 'its' and 'its' as part of your dialogue!
Both Year Five and Six are thinking about questions about figurative language in 11+ comprehension examinations. Why not listen to the latest Bald Worm in Just a Minute revision podcast?
Please learn 'by heart' as much of the information on the 'Story Structure' sheet as you can. Walk around the house, mutter to yourself, cover up the sheet and try to copy it out by hand...do whatever you need to do to help you remember all the different techniques you can include in a short story.
I'll give your first 'test' on this tomorrow - but don't worry if you haven't quite learnt it all by Friday. Just make a start tonight!
In class, you used our Apple Macs to research our action techniques!
Homework Task: Please create an A4 poster that includes all of the Bald Worm techniques. The challenge?
1. You must create it out of recycled 'writing', e.g. clippings from newspapers, magazines or the side of a corn flakes box...Be creative - and share our action techniques with the world.
2. Try to include appropriate images, e.g. a photograph of someone in pain for 'show how much it hurts'
Year Five are taking part in the very first Elementary School Flat Classroom™ Project. Wow!
We have been taking part in the Edmodo handshake! You'll only be able to view if you're part of this project, but trust us - Edmodo is really cool!
Spelling Homework Please complete the 'bi-' look-cover-check and write your example sentences. Look the words up in a dictionary if you don't know them, and don't forget you can learn through playing the the games at Spelling City.
As I type, the finishing touches are being made to a VERY exciting project that you'll be taking part in after half-term. Keep watching the blog... (Image by Julie Lindsay)
One of my frustrations with the 11+ examinations is that many schools are now setting writing tasks that require you to write the 'next part/next chapter/next page of the story' you've just read for the comprehension. Examiners love setting titles like this because: * Every girl is writing about the same characters; * Every girl is writing about the same setting; * Every girl is writing about the same 'problem'; *...making it easy to compare the different candidates, and decide who is best.
The problem I have with 'continue the passage' questions is that they penalise those of you who are 'imaginative' rather than 'neat and tidy'; I much prefer 'open' title examinations - questions like 'Write a story set in ancient Rome' or 'Write a story entitled 'A Bad Day at School'. If you are given one of these 'open' titles, you'll have the chance to try to be distinctive. This is one of the 'fab four golden rules' for writing a short story in an 11+ examination.
But - I hear you cry - how can you be distinctive if you're given a title like 'A Bad Day at School'? Surely everyone will write much the same story?
You're right. Most girls probably will write about a bully, or a mean teacher, or a pupil falling out with their friends - but you can be distinctive if you 'mash up' genres. To be relevant, you'll need to write about a 'bad day' at a 'school', but there is nothing to stop you making this a school where the teachers and pupils are all animals! A 'mash up' takes two story genres and combines them in a single story. For example, this story combines a Sherlock Holmes-style detective story with an animal story (Want to sound clever? This type of 'mash up' is known as 'steampunk'): Learning to 'Mash Up' genres. There is a simple game you can play that will help you to 'mash up' different genres: Top tip: watch Dr Who! Every week, the show 'mashes up' different genres. In this picture, science-fiction is being combined with a World War II story: In this example, a zombie horror story has been 'mashed up' with the 1960s: Or why not combine science-fiction with the medieval period: This book combines a romance with sea monsters! Why not try to 'mash up' genres next time you're asked to write a story under examination conditions?
Download a copy of my 'Bald Worm on Writing Distinctive Stories' teacher podcast and revise by listening to it on your iPod:
Inspired by the enthusiasm of the young critics who last week helped critique and judge the Guardian children's fiction prize, we are in the early stages of creating a dedicated book site where younger readers can review and discuss the books and authors they enjoy reading.
We plan to have reviews from our young readers of the latest YA and children's books, author interviews, games and competitions. But as this is a brand new venture, we are looking for people interested in helping us to design our new Young Guardian Books website. If you, or someone you know, would like to be involved, just send us an email telling us about the books and authors you like, and what you'd like to see on the site (please include your name and age). From the entries, we'll pick a panel of editors who will be responsible for deciding which books to review and discuss.
Click here to learn more! We'd love to see some Falcons girls enter!
Falcons Girls have long known about W.A.L.T. (We Are Learning Today...) and W.I.L.F. (What I'm Looking For...). This week, they learnt to W.I.N.K - to share with the class 'What I Now Know' at the end of the lesson.
Please complete your redraft of the 'Locked Room' story, making sure you (i) think about your 'Improving Your Writing' target and (ii) think about reaching level 5 on the Punctuation Pyramid:
Year Six have been learning about using a variety of 'sentence openers' to add variety and interest to their writing. We've been writing 'locked room' stories featuring the 'consulting detective' Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr. Watson.
Task: Please complete the first draft of your 'The Locked Room' story. Remember to use a full range of sentence openers!
Due: Tomorrow (Friday)
P.S.
(image by Simon Hua; used under Creative Commons agreement)
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have spotted the new podcast player on the side of the blog.
I've recorded a series of one-minute teacher podcasts to help you revise key skills that you'll need in the 11+ examinations - or to write a brilliant short story in your own time.
Just click on player and listen. Oh, and you can download a copy to your computer and listen on your iPod, too! It is like having a teacher in your pocket!
This is another example of our school using new technology to help your revise English!
If you're a teacher, why not sign up to Podbean and create your own teacher podcasts? Why should pupils have only ten minutes to learn a new skill - let them revise at home, again and again, whenever they need to revisit a topic!
Due to Harvest, we've had our spelling lesson on a Thursday for once - but your test will still be on Tuesday.
Year Five Your new spelling list is 'words beginning with auto'. Make sure you look them up with a dictionary, girls! I can't wait to see your definitions.
Year Six Your spelling list of consists of part one of the 11+ Common Error Spelling Lists: a collection of words that are often misspelt in these words.
Test next Tuesday; don't forget to write your example sentences beforehand!
Year Six are writing stories about Sherlock Holmes solving a devilish crime: a corpse in the school room!
Task: Write the first 15 lines of your story (just the first 1/2 page). Don't forget to open with an exciting opening line, 'set the scene' and describe one of the characters.
Don't forget you can revise key elements of story writing by listening to my 'quick revision' podcasts!
We're beginning our Sherlock Holmes and Detective story unit, where we'll continue to revise the structure of the first 15 lines of a short story, including the use of description to 'set the scene'.
Task: (i) Before you start writing, revise descriptive techniques by listening to this 'quick revision' podcast:
I've used Glogster to design a new front page for our pupil wiki, which includes a video of 'The Comma Song'. Go and take a look!
Over the next few weeks, I'll be uploading some more 'quick revision' podcasts - where I try to explain an idea in just a minute - to the 11+ Revision page of the pupil wiki. This one is particularly important:
Odd, isn't it? Your teacher explains something once - for ten minutes - and then you're supposed to remember what you were taught forever!
At Falcons Girls, we are using new technology to help you revise at home. Listen to this Bald Worm quick revision guide on suspense. It is just like you're back in the classroom!
What do you think of our cool Animoto video? This combines photographs of all of our secret spy bases. We'll be writing stories about these bases - using our suspense techniques - over the course of the next couple of weeks!
Imagine you are waiting in the rain for a fellow spy to come and hand you a secret briefcase...when suddenly you feel like you are being watched...
Focus on: * Using impact sentences * Short paragraphs
Feeling clever? I want to see 'commas before connectives', please!
Don't forget that you can learn more about writing a brilliant suspense scene at http://www.baldworm.co.uk.
Download the lyrics to 'Fight for this Mark (The Answering Comprehension Questions Song) from my area at box.net. This is an example of musical learning: using songs to help us remember key facts and skills.
Task: Please complete the H.I.V.E. comprehension. Don't forget to P-E-E all over the page!
Due: Don't forget that comprehension is due on a Wednesday, so you don't need to rush it after Netball training.
Please redraft your describing a character timed writing task. Write 1 1/2 sides of A4. Make sure you look at my comments on your last story before you start!
Year Six Please complete writing up your Montague story for display. Use your best handwriting - and make sure that you check any spellings that you are unsure about with a dictionary.
You may choose to decorate the border in the style of the Montague illustrations. Lead pencil only, please.
Due: Thursday.
Year Five Please read through the Bald Worm on Suspense pack you were given in class. Try to summarise it in your own words.
Watch the Bald Worm video mini-guide for more help:
Year Five Spelling: Please learn the 'words ending in 'o' spellings for our test next Tuesday. Don't forget to write your example sentences!
Task: Having learnt the 'Comma Song' words, try putting them to a memorable piece of music, like the videos we watched in class. Write a tune yourself or set it to a song we all know. Create an earworm!
Please redraft (write a second draft) of your Tales from the Black Ship Timed Writing task. Don't forget to pay close attention to the targets I set you in your last lesson!
We are going to write suspense scenes set in your secret spy base. Learn more about suspense here.
Novelists often use models to help them 'picture' a location in their imagination (a bit like playing in a doll house!); I would like you to design and build a secret hq for a bad guy.
Build a model of a secret hq. Here are some of the things you could include:
* Banks of computer screens * A giant map of the world * Secret doors or compartments * Torture chamber (yuck!) * Sharks! * Henchmen/goons * Evil pets * Rockets * Dwarf servant * Desk * Armchair with buttons
How you build the model is up to you! Here are some of the materials you might choose to use: * Cardboard boxes painted over * Sticky-back plastic * Wood * Paper mashed and glued * Washing up bottles * Model Paint
This video will give you some ideas (don't make Tracy Island, though! Just use the same techniques!)
Hint: Design the hq on paper before you start to construct it!
Be as imaginative as you can! Bring your model into class next Thursday! We are going to base a series of stories in this location, so do a great job! There will be a small prize for the best model!
We'll photograph the models and stick them on the pupil wiki for the world to enjoy, and then write scenes and stories set in this location!
Due: Try to bring in next Wednesday, but if you need until a week on Monday that will be fine.
