1. Classroom Student Investigator
CSI
Classroom
Student
Investigator
Day 1:

2. Be an Investigator!
Forensic investigators pay very close attention to everything around them.
They see small details that most other people would miss.
They know that by putting these details together, they can make better conclusions.
These same skills are valuable to readers and writers!
Day 1:

3. Your Mission:
You will be using your best investigation skills to discover clues about me as your teacher.
You must use ONLY “physical evidence” from my classroom!
Find clues based on what you see around you in the classroom (desk, walls, door, book shelves, room arrangement, etc.).
You analyze your clues and decide what you can infer from what you have discovered.
Day 1:

4. Let the Investigation Begin…
Classroom Evidence Personality Traits/Interests
Motivational posters
Mrs. Pickus is a positive person
Day 1:

5. Let the Investigation Begin…
You have TWO minutes to look around my classroom. Feel free to move around and explore!
Make notes on any “physical evidence” you see that gives you clues about me.
My desk, bookshelves, walls, door, room set-up, other furniture, windows, etc.…
What can you infer from the clues that you have found?
Day 1:

6. Time Left … 1 19 20 18 16 21 17 23 27 28 26 25 15 24 22 13 04 05 03 02 00 01 06 07 11 12 10 09 08 14 29 50 51 49 48 46 47 52 53 58 59 57 56 54 55 30 45 35 36 34 33 31 32 44 37 42 43 38 41 40 39
Day 1:

7. Time Left … 00 19 20 18 16 21 17 23 27 28 26 25 15 24 22 13 04 05 03 02 00 01 06 07 11 12 10 09 08 14 29 50 51 49 48 46 47 52 53 58 59 57 56 54 55 30 45 35 36 34 33 31 32 44 37 42 43 38 41 40 39
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8. What did you discover?
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9. Good reading and writing requires you to look for DETAIL, just like a detective!
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10. Now, we will apply the same process to a piece of literature.
Day 1:

11. Take out a sheet of paper
Letter to the Teacher
Take out a sheet of paper

12. You should know that I absolutely love what I do
You should know that I absolutely love what I do. I am not here to merely collect a paycheck, but rather, to try my absolute best at getting you to see the value of English in your education and in your every day lives. I am enthusiastic about English, but more importantly I am enthusiastic about being your teacher. I am here for you, always.
Dear Students,
I am excited to embark on a new school year with each and every one of you. It is thrilling to know that we get a fresh start every year. This year should feel extra exciting for you because it is your first year of high school and the possibilities here are truly endless.

13. I am excited to get to know all of you and I hope that, despite any negative experiences you’ve had in school in the past, you will give my class a chance and try your hardest in all that we do here.. I want to see each and every one of you succeed. You may not see it now, but your education is important and will do nothing, but help you achieve your goals. You owe it to yourself to give it your best shot.
We’re going to have such a great year!
Yours Truly,
Mrs. Pickus
That being said, sometimes I might seem strict. This, if you can believe it or not, is for your own good. In order to get the most out of your education, the classroom must run in a smooth manner. In order to achieve a cohesive and peaceful learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed, our rules must be followed. I need you to follow the rules so I can be an effective teacher. If you become loud and disruptive your actions don’t just interrupt me, they interrupt the learning process of the students around you and that isn’t fair. All students should feel respected in class. Please make the conscious choice everyday to do what is right and we will have a great year.

14. Letter to the Teacher
Paragraph One: What should I know about you as a student and as a person?
Paragraph Two: What do you expect from me as your teacher?
Paragraph Three: What was your Language Arts class like last year and what do you hope this class will be like?
Sincerely, Your Name

15. Letter to the Teacher Your letter must… Be about one page long
Answer all questions completely
Include detail and examples
Be in letter format
Be signed by you at the end

16. Assignment Requirements
Letter to the Teacher
Paragraph One: What should I know about you as a student and as a person?
Paragraph Two: What do you expect from me as your teacher?
Paragraph Three: What was your Language Arts class like last year and what do you hope this class will be like?
Sincerely, Your Name
Your letter must…
-Be about one page long
-Answer all questions completely
-Include detail and examples
-Be in letter format
-Be signed by you at the end
When you are finished, put your assignment in the bin. Then, grab a book or magazine.
Assignment Requirements

18. SIX-WORD MEMOIRS Write your life in exactly six words
Find a way to tell your own story
Make it original so that it only fits you!

19. The Original “Six-Word Memoir”:
Baby shoes for sale, never worn.

20. Asked to quiet down; Spoke louder.

21. Never finished anything except chocolate cake.

22. Well, I thought it was funny.

23. Watching life from the door frame.

24. REMEMBER… Your memoir should say something specific about YOU!
It should tell a story.
If you have seen it on a tee-shirt or bumper sticker, DON’T use it.

25. SIX-WORD MEMOIRS Try to capture your personality
Consider your best and worst moments
Think about patterns in your life or behavior
Pick a specific area of your life to focus on
Be creative and original
Can be serious or funny
Make every word count!

26. BRAINSTORM Words that describe you Important moments in your life
Favorite activities
Strengths and weaknesses
Things that make you happy
Your fears

27. Loud
Happy
Bookworm
Caring
Energetic
Graduating from college
Getting engaged in Key West
Starting my teaching career
Death of my childhood dog
Going to the beach
Playing with my dog
Traveling
Taking naps
Reading
Worrying about everything, even things I can’t control
Messy/ sloppy.
Good at DIY crafts
Strong ability to empathize with other people’s struggles
Extremely hard worker
Seeing how happy my dog is when I come home
Reading a great book under a blanket on my couch
Having enough time to catch up on my favorite TV shows
Coffee
Having an unexpected laugh with my best friend
Failing, at pretty much anything and everything.
Something bad happening to my family members.
Waking up late for work
Getting stuck in a place that I can’t get out of

28. Grab a student schedule half sheet from the front table
Fill in your class schedule

30. Loud
Happy
Bookworm
Caring
Energetic
Graduating from college
Getting engaged in Key West
Starting my teaching career
Death of my childhood dog
Going to the beach
Playing with my dog
Traveling
Taking naps
Reading
Worrying about everything, even things I can’t control
Messy/ sloppy.
Good at DIY crafts
Strong ability to empathize with other people’s struggles
Extremely hard worker
Seeing how happy my dog is when I come home
Reading a great book under a blanket on my couch
Having enough time to catch up on my favorite TV shows
Coffee
Having an unexpected laugh with my best friend
Failing, at pretty much anything and everything.
Something bad happening to my family members.
Waking up late for work
Getting stuck in a place that I can’t get out of

31. Teacher by day, mermaid by night.
Happiness can be found in caffeine
Show them this process on the board… write out longer sentence and show them how to cut it down.
Happiness can be found in caffeine

32. Happiness can be found in caffeine
My SIX-WORD MEMOIR
Happiness can be found in caffeine

33. My SIX-WORD MEMOIR
Once you have all 3 six word memoirs planned, get your favorite one checked by me!

34. After you have had your memoir approved by me, sketch out a rough draft.
Draw your 6 word memoir in a creative way.
Include objects, shapes, and symbols that fit your memoir

39. We will finish our memoirs on Monday!
Practice writing three 6 word memoirs
Pick your favorite and get it approved by me.
Sketch out a rough draft of how you will creatively represent your memoir.
Decorate your square with designs, images and words that complement your memoir.
We will finish our memoirs on Monday!
When you’re ready grab an index card to start final draft. Final mosaic squares should be creative, original, detailed and neat

40. Belittle (verb): To make someone or something seem unimportant.
Vocabulary Bell- Ringer 8/22/15
Directions:
Write down the sentence below.
Using context clues, guess what you think the underlined word means.
Write your guess down
“There is no need to belittle someone just because you do not share the same views.”
Belittle (verb): To make someone or something seem unimportant.

42. MEMOIR Mosaic FINAL DRAFT:
Pick your favorite six-word memoir
Write your chosen memoir on your mosaic square (large, neat and clear)
Decorate your square with designs, images and words that complement your memoir.
Fill your entire space!
Final mosaic squares should be creative, original, detailed and neat!