Tee-Hee

from Reader's Digest

December 16, 2010

A1  no class -- Charity Basketball Games
Have a very Merry Christmas!

Don't forget to place  your gift poem on the wiki on your poem page. 

Remind me when we get back from Christmas holiday to show you the slide show of our trip to give the books to our first graders at Legacy.

Here's a link to a fun, online, interactive (meaning you can shake it) snow globe -- that you can't get to at school, but you may be able to from home.  http://www.crazy-jokes.com/arcade-games/snow.shtml
Watch what's happening in the globe, too.  It's funny, though rather violent at times. 


Have a very Merry Christmas!

December 14, 2010

Deliver books for first graders

December 10, 2010

Finishing books for first graders

December 8, 2010

Computer Lab to finish Child's Book.

December 6, 2010

December 6, 2010
1. Bell-ringer: Write in response to a painting prompt -- tree with doors.

Picture Prompt -- Magritte La Voix. . .

2. More Poetry from The Hormone Jungle
3. Writing an "I Am" Poem

Example of an I Am From Poem:

I am from
Hamburger pie and whole wheat bread
Grandma's ladybug tree
Pumpkin carving contests and
The high school turkey toss.

I am from
Spiders and "The Hook" in the cellar
Dark Valley and Pleasant Creek
Gophers we trap for two bits each and
My cousin Gary who burps in my ear.

I am
Apple juice from the gas station at Schofield
Elk jerky from Springfield Meats
Buttery popcorn on rainy Saturdays and
Long dirt roads that take me home.

by Bubba Boyd

Pattern:

I am from
[four lines]

I am from
[four lines]

I am
[four lines] 


4. Confer about children's books.

Reminders:  If you haven't handed in your Tritina, or your "Inspired By" Nursery Rhymes, hand them in ASAP.
Also check your composition book to make sure you have written your acrostic poem, and other "inspired by" Love That Dog poems.

December 2, 2010

Bell-Ringer: Write a "Thirteen Ways Poem."  You need only six or more ways.

Thirteen Ways Poem

Computer Lab to work on our Children's books

Parent-Teacher Conference tonight 4:00 to 7:30 pm

November 30, 2010

Today students wrote Tritinas. These are free verse poems, each with a particular format.
Tritina comes from the Latin word for three. The poet selects three words that can hold much meaning. Those most important words are placed at the ends of lines in a specified pattern.
There are three stanzas and an envoy.
Find instructions for writing a tritina at http://www.baymoon.com/~ariadne/form/tritina.htm

Example:   from http://awrungsponge.blogspot.com/2007/06/beach-tritina.html

Beach Tritina

Rain, Sea, Sand

Mist rises up the beach at the edge of rain.
Surf fingers draw long scrolls of foam from the sea.
Three friends come from the city to walk across the sand.

It’s no mystery why they want to bury their toes in the sand,
Why they will drive for hours in the rain,
Why they are drawn to the sea.

Eyes fixed on the curling edge of a bottle green sea,
These three walk toward the surf over the shell-strewn sand,
Believing the sky will lighten, believing the end of rain.

They stand on the sand in the rain, staring longingly at the sea.

-Andromeda Jazmon
June 2007
 _______________________________________________

A Tritina  for Mom
You've always made time to check on me at bedtime
and to be there whenever I worry.
And I knew I could definitely count on a great dinner.

All right, so maybe I didn't always love the dinner.
And it's possible that you weren't there for every bedtime,
and there were plenty of times I made you worry.

But then, isn't it part of a mother's job to worry?
To alwayscome through, breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
And then, at the end of a long day, to be rewarded with a hug at bedtime?

I'm sorry I made you worry and haunted your dreams at bedtime, but I love you (and dinner, too).
-- by Marica Conley Carter -- from Nancy Atwell  -- Lessons That Change Writers



Another site for tritinas.

November 30, 2010

We read/listened to more poetry and students had time to discuss their children's books.

November 23, 2010

We wrote odes, read/listened to more poetry, and discussed the children's books.
Write an ode to a common thing.
http://tipdeck.com/how-to-write-an-ode

Ode to Fried Potatoes

by Pablo Neruda

Translated from the Spanish by Maria Jacketti

The world's joy
is spluttering,
sizzling in olive oil.
Potatoes
to be fried
enter the skillet,
snowy wings
of a morning swan –
and they leave
half-braised in gold,
gift of the crackling amber
of olives.
Garlic
embellishes the potato
with its earthy perfume,
and the pepper
is pollen that has traveled
beyond the reefs,
and so,
freshly
dressed
in a marbled suit,
plates are filled
with the echoes of potatoey abundance:
delicious simplicity of the earth.


Read more at Suite101: Pablo Neruda's Ode to Fried Potatoes http://www.suite101.com/content/pablo-nerudas-ode-to-fried-potatoes-a247885#ixzz16oJLXANp

Thirteen Ways Poem

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

Wallace Stevens

---

I
Among twenty snowy mountains,
The only moving thing
Was the eye of the blackbird.
II
I was of three minds,
Like a tree
In which there are three blackbirds.
III
The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds.
It was a small part of the pantomime.
IV
A man and a woman
Are one.
A man and a woman and a blackbird
Are one.
V
I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after.
VI
Icicles filled the long window
With barbaric glass.
The shadow of the blackbird
Crossed it, to and fro.
The mood
Traced in the shadow
An indecipherable cause.
VII
O thin men of Haddam,
Why do you imagine golden birds?
Do you not see how the blackbird
Walks around the feet
Of the women about you?
VIII
I know noble accents
And lucid, inescapable rhythms;
But I know, too,
That the blackbird is involved
In what I know.
IX
When the blackbird flew out of sight,
It marked the edge
Of one of many circles.
X
At the sight of blackbirds
Flying in a green light,
Even the bawds of euphony
Would cry out sharply.
XI
He rode over Connecticut
In a glass coach.
Once, a fear pierced him,
In that he mistook
The shadow of his equipage
For blackbirds.
XII
The river is moving.
The blackbird must be flying.
XIII
It was evening all afternoon.
It was snowing
And it was going to snow.
The blackbird sat
In the cedar-limbs.

Document URL: http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/stevens-13ways.html

November 19, 2010

Found at http://johnjudyc.blogspot.com/2010/09/fractured-nursery-rhymes.html

Bell Ringer:  "Inspired By" Nursery Rhymes 

Today we are in Computer Lab 223.  This is your chance to finish typing your story for the child from Legacy. 
Also, I have added the photos I took that day to our wiki as images.  See the front page of our wiki for how to access them.

November 17, 2010

I just found a very cool site -- an online rhyming dictionary -- free!
http://www.rhymer.com/

Walter Dean Myers: http://www.adlit.org/second_chances#podcasts 

1. Bell-Ringer: Write an acrostic poem (or more) on your choice of subjects.  Each line begins with one letter of the word.

professional example:

EDITING THE CHRYSALIS
"At last, cried Butterfly,


Poised 
Over its
Empty chrysalis,
"My final draft!"
        by Avis Harley


2. Finish Love That Dog and write "inspired by" poems.


Children's books due December 2.

November 15, 2010

Bell-Ringer:


Computer Lab to work on  child's book

_______________________

extra credit:  Be the first to tell me what a "devil's strip" is -- after reading this:

The grassy area between the street and the sidewalk. This term is unique to the Akron, Ohio area.

The city can plant trees, or come and dig up the devil's strip without the permission of the resident that pays tax on this land. The "devil" in this case is a vague reference to the Tax collector/government in general.  

 

from -- http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Devil%27s%20Strip

 

It is also called these names: 
verge, sidewalk buffer, verge, nature strip, tree belt, utility strip, planting strip, devil's strip, city grass, parkway, terrace --  depending on where you live

November 11, 2010

Bell-Ringer: Painting --  Write about this illustration.  You could create a description, poem, brief story, etc.  Do something creative.  Picture Prompt A 

Information about a Utah Poetry Contest! -- Don't let me forget!


Miss Alaenius  (spelling?) and/or Love That Dog.

Reminder of  Story Grammar and writing process.

Most short stories follow this pattern: Plot Map, Plot Diagram, Story Map, Story Grammar, etc.
1. Exposition -- introduces the main characters and setting and gives any necessary background information.
2. Rising Action -- introduces the problem or problems, then builds tension.
3. Climax -- the problem is solved or things somehow change.
4. Falling action -- What do the characters do after the problem is solved or after there is a major change?
5. Resolution -- What was the end result?

We will be in the computer lab.
You will be able to work on your stories for your children's books.

2010 Student Limericks

There once was a young boy named Wyatt
who was always exceedingly quiet.
"Has a cat got your tongue?" asked Ms. Sue,
"that must be why you're so blue."
So he opened his mouth and extended his tongue,
and spectators saw it was true!
 -- Skye K.


There once was a man named Hub,
who rather liked his bathtub.
He took a bath every day,
and in the bath he would stay
'til his pruned-up toes needed a rub.
--Libby W.


There once was a monkey named Bob.
He loved to eat corn on the cob.
He ate and he ate.
'Til he came to his fate,
And that's why he started to sob.
-- Robyn M.




Student Limericks

My new shoes are green, blue and white,

And they glow when you turn off the light.

At night on the street

People see "phantom feet."

It's fun to give people a fright!

             -- Kalie W  Spring  2006

 

Limericks

There once was a lady named Sue.

She had a great dog named Lou.

They would skip near the lake,

And stay up real late,

Her husband would come along too!

--Janessa F

There once was a prince in a boat

Floating around in his moat.

He hardly could speak

When he saw a leak,

And drowned from the weight of his coat.

-- Kayti T

There once was a man named Lode

Whose clothing I always sewed.

One day he ran

In front of a van,

And now he’s dead on the road.

-- David Y

There once was a man named Bud,

Who liked to play in the mud.

He played there all day,

And now he can say

That now he is lost in the mud.

-- Daniel L

Geezer

There was an old geezer named Hank.

He was bigger by far than a tank.

He got new false teeth,

And gave them to Keith.

Keith went for a swim and he sank.

--Taylor J

I once saw a frog named Sam,

Who jumped, and played, and swam.

He ate a nice snack

That was purple and black,

And covered with strawberry jam.

-- Christie B

I’m joking around with the boy.

I’ll treat him like he is a toy.

I’ll play with him once,

I’ll play with him twice.

I’ll give him to you, so enjoy!

-- Crystal C

There once was a frog named Lu.

He lived in a little old shoe.

It stunk like a tire,

And burned in a fire,

But instead of yelling, he shouted, “Woo-Hoo!”

-- Chanice M

There once was a guy named Smoo,

Who dreamed he was eating his shoe.

But when he awakened,

His mouth was a achin’.

He found that his dream had come true!

-- Matthew W

There once lived a princess named Lil

Who was married against her own will.

She took up her knife

And took her man’s life,

And found that she quite liked to kill.

-- Kelton D

There was a young girl with a hat

Who had a very fat cat!

Then one day

As she went out to play,

She found her cat on his back!

-- Emily B

 

_________________________________

Ms. Dorsey's Limericks 

This was from when we sent limericks to a contest. 

This limerick explains this packet:

A teacher of writing creative,

Who was of Utah a native --

Had her students write poems

About Utah, their home.

When you see them, please be approbative. 

This limerick is my own entry:

She studied at dear BYU

Then went to the U of U, too.

So when game time came

She wasn't to blame

When found wearing the red AND the blue.

I wrote these in a prior year -- for the KUER limerick contest, but never sent them in:

School funding in Utah is lower

'Cause of students we simply have mo-er.

We were doing fine.

'Til fed government whined.

No Child Left Behind left us poorer.

There once was a man from Salt Lake

Who heard there might be an earthquake.

But he wasn't scared;

He was always prepared.

In case Earth decided to shake.

These are words and lines I considered for the above limerick.

-- With a year's worth of food for God's sake. 

--With a 72-hour kit he could take.

. . . wake


and here are more notes I took as I prepared those limericks:

A teacher from American Fork

Had students who just wouldn't work.  (rhymes with fork)

She called all their mothers . . .

A trip to Timp Cave

She took them to Parkers.

And

Utah Valley

BYU   U of U  

true blue

She studied at dear BYU

Then went to the U of U, too.

So when game time came

She wasn't to blame

When found wearing both red and blue. 

float in Salt Lake

highways  construction

# children

___________________________________

 

Utah Authors' Limericks -- from an email group a few years back

Rick Walton

 A limerick’s very strict form

Never will stray from the norm.

Break rules, you can not,

Or else you’ll be shot,

For it’s a sin and a crime to diverge from the mandated rhyme and meter.

A DOGGIE LIMERICK

Bow wow bow wow wow bow wow wow,

Bow wow bow wow wow bow wow wow,

Bow wow bow wow wow,

Bow wow bow wow wow,

Bow wow bow wow wow bow wow wow.

(It’s very profound, meaningful and funny, if you speak dog.)

Erica

Oh! Wicked World! Don’t entreat me

For goodness and truth shall defeat thee!

Wither thou cold;

Grow weary and old

I never shall stoop, World, to meet thee.

(Plagiarism? Yup!)

And this, in honor of the upcoming holiday:

There once was a bright Irish lass

Who loved lolling around in the grass

One day as she lolled

A leprechaun called

And stole all her silver and brass

(Or gold!)

And, finally, our magnum opus:

There once was a woman named Sharlee

Who secretly longed for a Harley

In her free time she dreamt

She was cool and unkempt

And spouting new words like “gnarly!”

Justine:

I can’t think of anything clever

to say to this happy endeavor

I’ll leave it to you

Deep thoughts to review

I’m stuck in the shallow forever!


More limericks online: http://www.poetry-online.org/limericks.htm 
Student worksheet for your assignment: Limericks.doc

______________________
11-05-10
A caveman who played basketball
Was short when he should have been tall.
But that boy was quick
So he was the pick
To become Darin Williams 's sidekick.


A girl who enjoyed creative writing
Thought wikis were really exciting
She spent time online
And that was quite fine
But she just couldn't stop over-nighting.

















 

November 9, 2010

Fieldtrip to Legacy to Interview Children

November 5, 2010

Bell-Ringer:  Write limericks.

Stories for each other?  Create a storyboard for a book about the classmate you interviewed. 

More Love That Dog -- poetry and poetic devices

Prepare for fieldtrip to Legacy next Tuesday, November 9. 

_______________________________________
Extra Credit: What does semordnilap  mean?  See the nswer below.  Be the first to tell me for 5 points extra credit.

Brian P. Cleary

Semordnilap is a word or phrase that spells a different word or phrase backwards, as in this pair: Dennis ; sinned. "Semordnilap" is a 20th Century coined word which is "palindromes" spelled backwards. Among the longest single-word English examples: stressed –; desserts.

November 3, 2010

1. Bell-ringer:  Make a list of as many children's books (books for preschool and elementary age you have known and perhaps loved) as you can.
We shared lists.

2. Examples of Children's book and possible types of books

3. About our fieldtrip to Legacy on next Tuesday, November 9. 

4. We practiced interviewing.
 
5. We began reading Love That Dog to learn more about poetry.   We got through Frost's "Stopping By Woods. . . "
   Students have written two imitation poems in their composition books -- one for "The Red Wheelbarrow" and the other for "Stopping By Woods. . . "

Misuse of Quotation Marks

See these very strange signs at  http://www.rd.com/clean-jokes-and-laughs/7-silly-signs-using-quotes/article186756-1.html#slide

On each sign the use of quotation marks is "out-of-the-blue."  In situations like these, quotation marks would mean that the thing enclosed by them isn't really what it says.  I don't think that the people who are selling "eggs" are trying to say that their products aren't really eggs, but just some sort of imitation.  

November 1, 2010

Happy New Term!
New Seating!

1. Bell-ringer:  Finish up Mad-Libs.  Play Mad-Libs.
2. About Poetic Devices.  viewed PowerPoint.  Wrote some examples.
3. If time -- Scholastic Literacy presentation with Taylor Swift  to 3:20

Friday: Field trip to Legacy Elementary to interview children.

Taylor Swift on Reading and Writing

http://vxlive.feedroom.com/feedroom/http/4000/5172/5174/7045/Lobby/default.htm

October 28, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer:  Students wrote about a painting they were shown -- Charles Burchfield's The Sphinx and the Milky-Way.

2.  We read the rest of the stories in the computer writing lab.

3.  If extra time, -- Dogzilla! and/or student-made Mad-Libs.

 image found at ddreesart.wordpress.com

October 26, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer: Students wrote about a picture that could be seen two different ways.

2.  We went to the computer lab to work on our own, and then read each others' short stories.

October 22, 2010

Bell-Ringer:  Mad-Lib

Create a Mad-Lib

Walk-and-Write?

If you haven't had your composition book graded, take care of that today. 

October 20, 2010

Bell-Ringer: Pure Silliness:  sillworplasto

Sometimes indigent lethargic ladies work on royal pastries, lying against silver tapestries.  On Saturdays, in Liverpool loud whiners order pie listlessly after silencing tawdry operas. 

Model Story -- Detail, description, word choice, etc.

Computer Lab 223:

October 20, 2010 is the National Day of Writing and Last Day to Hand in Reflections Entries

See our school home page for more on the PTSA Reflections Contest.

Here is another writing contest.  I was recently reminded to encourage you to enter this contest for young people sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Look for details at  http://www.vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen/

American Fork City Library 
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY 2010 SCARY STORY CONTEST
Calling for entries in four age categories:
      Children 6-8
      Junior 9-11
      Youth  12-18
       Adult 19+
 We encourage clever stories that build suspense and mystery.   While scary, chilling puzzles are desirable, grpahic depictions of violence are discouraged.  Humorous tales are always welcome.  The entry fee is $3.00 per entry.  Entries must be received no later than Monday, October 18.  Submission guidelines and entry forms are available at the circulation desk in the library.  Awards will be announced in the Children's Library on Thursday, October 28 at 6:00p.m.

October 18, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer:  Pick up Composition Book.
a.  Finish composition book check.  If you haven't have another student finish checking your book.
Leave the grading sheet in your composition book.
b.  Label, with today's date, and write about the photo on the overhead: "The Path"-- a poem, a brief story, description, etc.

2. Add sensory description.    List below what you just wrote.
    Share pieces about the photo.

3.  Editing:

4.  Computer Lab 223 to work more on the pieces you've already started, or to type or begin a new one.
   

Ever Wondered What Your Name Means?

English Names: http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/eng.php

Link to Newspaper Article About A.F. Junior

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_8a796920-556f-5ea1-9300-dfdaf91db625.html

Composition Book Check

Composition Book Check on October 12, 2010 

1. August 26, 2010    Students wrote about how they feel about the alphabet, while munching on Alpha-Bits cereal.
If the student has a composition book, this should go on the third page.

2. August 30, 2010  Responding to a poem about summer

3. September 1, 2010   a. Students read a poem called "A Slice of Life" and responded to it in their composition books.
                        b. We discussed the Writing Process, and students wrote about their own writing process.

4. September 3, 2010
 a. Write creatively about the photograph shown.  You can see it here (the top picture) at More Creativity
  b. Prewriting -- What do you do before you write?
 Notes and prewriting exercises should be recorded in your composition book. Label the page "Prewriting" and include today's date.

5.  September 8, 2010
a.   Tape into your composition book, read and respond to "Rambling Autobiography."  Follow the directions on that sheet. b. check notes on Me-Bags

  my favorite item, a striking item from someone else's bag
 c. More prewriting. brainstorming--  school   trees and spider webs  -- holidays
d.  Collecting ideas for writing memoir. (receive handout to tape in your composition book)
e. What makes a bad memoir?  a good one? 

6.  September 10, 2010
Select any of the prompts from your taped in list to write about in your composition book.
Examples and non-examples of memoir.

7.  September 16, 2010
Select a prompt from the long-list of prompts in your composition book and write 1/2 page about it.

8.  September 20, 2010
a. Select a prompt from the long-list of prompts in your composition book and write 1/2 page about it.
b. In your composition book:  Qualities/Traits of an Effective Memoir

• enough detail
• sensory detail
• descriptive words
• similes and metaphors
• (emotions)
• length is not too long and not too short
• effective titles
• what else? 

c. ARMS
Add
Remove
Move
Substitute

using your eyes and ears to revise

9. September 22, 2010  Sentence Variety Chart.doc

10. September 24, 2010 
a. QuickWrite:  Picture Prompt C
b. Circles on the ground (outside)
c. Human Cameras (Three pictures each.)  -- pairs -- stop each time to record the shot.

11. September 28, 2010
a. Responding to a painting
b. Begin listing all the books (novels/chapter books) you've read -- in your composition book.  Label it with today's date. 
c. Problems in Fiction/Conflict -- What are problems we have seen in fiction?

12.  September 30, 2010
Write a response to the painting on the overhead -- a poem? short story?  description? commentary? ?

13. October 4, 2010

In the photo, to whom does the bicycle belong?  Why is he or she here?  Create a story, description, poem, commentary, etc. as a response. Consider whether it should be written in first person or third person (or perhaps even second person).


14. October 6, 2010  Write a short scene inspired by great words from the Word Bank -- one from each category except Dead Words  -- Make sure you don't use any dead words.

15.  October 8, 2010  Work more on the brief story you are writing based on words from the word bank.
Use wonderful words and eliminate dead words!

October 12, 2010

Reminder (as if you needed it!):  No school this Thursday and Friday.  Do something fun and come back safe and sound!

1. Bell-Ringer: Finish Wonderful Words -- They are on a poster in the classroom.

2. Check Composition Books -- Also available next class time.

3.  Mini-lesson on titles:  Memorable, Distinct, Intriguing, Deliberate  -- in your composition book.
4. Ms. Dorsey shared a scary story about the students in this class.  Parents, I'm sorry if they have nightmares! : ) 

5. Computer Lab:  Especially focus on scary stories -- Due October 22.  Next computer labs: October 18, 20.
We also looked at the editing and revising pages, and typed in these three problems to check for:
1. Obvious stuff
2. For every word that you're not absolutely certain how the spell it, look it up.
3.  Capitalize titles:  first word, last word, all important words.

And a Beautiful Picture

Red Poppies Growing in a Grassy Field
Photographic Print by Paul Schutzer
Item #: 14015683A
http://www.art.com/products/p14015683-sa-i2769117/paul-schutzer-red-poppies-growing-in-a-grassy-field.htm?rfid=220421

More Zombies

This is my daughter and a group of her friends at Zombie Laser Tag.  She's in the front row, kneeling, at your right. You never quite know what to expect from BYU grad students!

Sub and Stuff

January 28, 2008   If I Were in Charge and Rules lesson 

 

Example of an "If I Were in Charge Poem":
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD

If I were in charge of the world
I’d cancel oatmeal,
Monday mornings,
Allergy shots, and also
Sara Steinberg.

If I were in charge of the world
There’d be brighter night lights,
Healthier hamsters, and
Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower.

If I were in charge of the world
You wouldn’t have lonely.
You wouldn’t have clean.
You wouldn’t have bedtimes.
Or “Don’t punch your sister.”
You wouldn’t even have sisters.

If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts
would be a vegetable.
All 007 movies would be G.
And a person who sometimes forget to brush,
And sometimes forget to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.

Format for an "If I Were In Charge of the World" poem:

IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD

If I were in charge of the world
I’d cancel ____________________________________,
_____________________________________________,
_____________________________________________, and also
_____________________________________________.

If I were in charge of the world
There’d be _______________________________________,
_____________________________________________, and
________________________________________________.

If I were in charge of the world
You wouldn’t have ___________________________________.
You wouldn’t have ___________________________________.
You wouldn’t have ___________________________________.
Or ________________________________________________.
You wouldn’t even have ________________________________.

If I were in charge of the world
__________________________________________________________
would be _____________________________________________.
All ___________________________ would be __________________________.
And a person who _________________________________________________,
And _____________________________________________________________,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.

October 8, 2010

Bell-Ringer:  Work more on the brief story you are writing based on words from the word bank.
Use wonderful words and eliminate dead words!

Another scary story model.

The Boogeyman?

Sensory details using wonderful words.

Other words for orange:

apricot, bittersweet, cantaloupe, carrot, coral, peach, red-yellow, salmon, tangerine, titian Something You May Not Have Known About Ms. Dorsey   Try this out if you get a chance, and let me know if you like it.  Acrostic Poems

October 6, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer: Create a Halloween poem using five words or phrases you draw from the envelope.  You may add words, and use the words in any order.
2. Receive Word Bank Packets -- add color words if appropriate
3. Share poems (Return word slips.)
4. Read (in small groups) short stories from The Haunted House: A Collection of Short Stories edited by Jane Yolen and Martin H. Greenberg
5. Turn in poems.
6. Discuss Word Choice:   Dead Words and Wonderful Words
7. Collecting wonderful words
8. Write a short scene inspired by great words -- one from each category except Dead Words  -- Make sure you don't use any dead words.

Scary Short Story due October 22.  We will be able to use the computer lab October 12 and 20 to get these done.

Discuss books for children.

Scary Stories

Your scary stories -- finished, revised, edited-- ready to share -- are due by October 22.  We will be able to use the computer lab October 12 and 20 to get these done. 

Zombie Haiku by the Creative Writing Class of Fall 2010

writing zombie 'ku
count syllables carefully
grades and brains at stake
 --- Ms. D.

the night has fallen
and the zombies are coming
dancing to "Thriller"
 -- Heidi A.

Halloween is here!
you better run for your life
it's zombie time
  -- Miranda R.

[their] arms coming off
and thirsty for blood and guts
they are zombies
 -- Courtney C.

they go down the street
looking for something to eat
it's you they're after.
  --- Madi V.

creeping through the night
rising from the cemetaries
walking endlessly
 -- Robyn M.

colds can be fatal
in a zombie attack. Sneeze!
and there go your brains
-- Liam B.


beware the zombies
they are here to take over
life as we know it
-- Hannah L.

my brains are so nice
zombie will love to eat them --
zombie cannot have'em
-- Brogan K.

you're grabbed from behind
intense pain is to follow
pulled into darkness
-- Skye K.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Are you feeling as if work for school just won't LEAVE you alone?  Is it piling up around you?  Then you have noticed that it's much easier to keep up than it is to catch up.  
Don't FALL for the idea that you can mess around for much of the term, without 
FALLing behind.   


The last day to hand in late and revised work for this term for this class is October 22, so catch up or stay caught up, and don't leaf it until the last minute.



I found this image at http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2008/02/27/the_big_picture_feature.shtml  It was taken by a fellow named Alex Burgess,

Haiku

Example from Ms. Dorsey of a non-scary haiku:

the  leaves are changing

colors bursting from the hills

shouting out, “Autumn!” 

                  -- C. Dorsey 10-02-10

image found at spencerjourney.blogspot.com

Red Ribbon Week

We will be doing a door decoration contest with your B-2 class.  They can start decorating this week and the judging will be done on Oct 12th.  The 3 top doors will win a prize for the class.  They can decorate before school, CAVETIME, or after school.  We do have the late bus on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4:00pm. that your students can use if they stay after to decorate.

 

We will also have Drug Free Commercial contest where the students can make  a 90 second commercial.  They can pick up entry forms in the front office starting Monday, October 4th.  No more than eight people per commercial.  Everyone that participates will recieve a prize and the top three commercials winners will recieve bigger prizes.  The commercial will be shown on the TV's in the commons the week of Oct 18-22.  The students will vote on October 25th to decide the winners.

 

Monday  October 11, 2010

Sock it to DRUGS!  (Wear crazy socks to school)

Basketball Drug Free Throws in commons during lunch with the impaired goggles.

Candy jars guessing game during lunches.

 

Tuesday October 12, 2010

"Tie" one on against drugs. (wear a crazy tie to school)

Basketball Drug Free Throws in commons during lunch with the impaired goggles.

Candy jars guessing game during lunches

BALLON LAUNCH during CAVETIME

 

Wednesday October 13, 2010

Spirt Day (Wear school colors)

Basketball Drug Free Throws in commons during lunch with the impaired goggles.

Candy jars guessing game during lunches.

Former Miss Utah Heather Anderson will be a CAVETIME ACTIVITY replacing the movie.  She will tell the story of her brother who died from the use of drugs.  We will have CAVETIME on Wednesday, Heather is just replacing the movie for the day.

 

October 4, 2010

Happy October!      Frightening Writing!

Bell-Ringer:
In the photo, to whom does the bicycle belong?  Why is he or she here?  Create a story, description, poem, commentary, etc. as a response. Consider whether it should be written in first person or third person (or perhaps even second person).

An example of story from A Wolf at the Door. 
Creating a plot line for your story.


The Zombie Challenge for October!
Today we will write Zombie Haiku.   The  Haiku form we are using today is a three line poem using a specific number of syllables See the handout on our wiki: http://cavemanenglish.pbworks.com/October-2009-Handouts

Example of Zombie Haiku from Chris Crowe, BYU professor, author, and 'ku Master for the Central Utah Writing Project:

z’ bumper sticker:            "z'" is an abbreviation for zombie.  "'ku" is an abbreviation for haiku.
“a brain is a terrible
thing to waste.” eat up.

Writing Zombie Haiku  
Each student is writing three (3) haiku -- about zombies or something else scary.

Three lines:                                            
1st Line – 5 syllables        one: five syllables            (count them)                 
2nd Line – 7 syllables       two is seven syllables     (count them)                       
3rd Line – 5 syllables        three is back to five        (count them)                  
Have fun!

zombie haiku are                 
highly addictive ‘cuz they       
get into your blood                

beware, seventh grade!          
Dorsey and other teachers    
get into your brains              
                              -- Ms. D.


The Scary Story Challenge for October

We will write scary stories.  Be prepared for more examples. 

Writing Contests

Writing Contest: The Utah League of Cities and Towns is sponsoring the "Why I Like My Community" essay contest.  It is open to students in fourth and seventh grades.  There are cash prizes.  If you think you may be interested, ask me for more information and an entry form. Or try downloading this PDF: www.uen.org/utah/downloads/essay_contest.pdf

Check the poster just inside the classroom door for another writing contest. 



The 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are now accepting submissions! Go to this site to register. 
www.artandwriting.org 

September 30, 2010

Bell-Ringer: Pick up your composition book.
Write a response to the painting on the overhead -- a poem? short story?  description? commentary? ?

About writing short stories:  What makes a good or bad story?

Computer lab 223: Type a short story.

September 28, 2010

Writing Fiction
1.  Bell-Ringer:
a. Responding to a painting
b. Begin listing all the books (novels/chapter books) you've read -- in your composition book.  Label it with today's date. 

Problems in Fiction/Conflict
What are problems we have seen in fiction?

"The successful writer of fiction creates a world, one so complete, plausible, and seamless that readers slip into its rhythms and feel as if they live in the text."   

". . . most published novels and short stories are about two things: a particular person or group of people, and the particular problems that one or more of them are facing."  -- Nancy Atwell p. 21 in Lessons That Change Writers

problem, difficulty, challenge, conflict

2.  In your composition book create a list of "Problems in Published Fiction"

"What about a chocolate factory that makes fantastic and marvelous things -- with a crazy man running it?"
   -- note Roald Dahl wrote to himself about a "what if" idea for a story.

3. Read part of a short story, looking for conflict
4. Time to work on writing a short story.
Next time we will spend some time in the computer lab, typing short stories. 


Conflict in Published Literature:

Eragon – hiding the dragon

Fablehaven I and II  --  some of the magical creatures are trying to take over

39 Clues – family conflict – trying to find the treasure

Maximum Ride –  the kids are trying to stay free from the scientists

Lightning Thief – Zeus vs bolt thief

Percy Jackson – free someone from an ogre

Inkheart – where you want to be – story people caught in reality and real people caught in a book

Among the Hidden – family trying to protect their child from population  police

The Host – aliens vs. humans

Princess of the Midnight Ball – curse –

Sun and Moon and Ice and Snow – wanting to stay home, but being taken away

Gathering Blue – village – girl alone – they won’t let her live in the village

Twilight – Bella vs. James

Fever – fever killing people

The Tale of Desparo – saving the Princess

Tail of Emily Windsnap – getting her dad back

Goose Girl – she is betrayed, has to get crown back

The Golden Compass – cutting away the children's "souls"

Fearless Fourteen – guy stole 9 million dollars – police trying to get money back

Uglies – whether or not to be turned into pretty – whether or not to betray

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – problems with brother, with school, embarrassing

Just Ella – she doesn’t like the prince!

Spiderwick – goblins  vs. humans

Heartbeat -

September 24, 2010

QuickWrite:  Picture Prompt C


Weather permitting we'll go outside.
Activities:
1. Circles -- small groups --
2. Human Cameras (Three pictures each.)  -- pairs -- stop each time to record the shot.

3.Computer lab -- Wiki -- Write on your page in the Outside folder.
Log In.
Find the folder labeled "Outside" and open it.
Find your name and open that page.
Click on edit and type your best piece from our outdoors experience.
Don't forget to save and log out.

Reflections Contest

2010- 2011 PTA Reflections Contest

Entries Due October 20th by 4:00 p.m.

“Together We Can . . .”

Click Here for Entry Forms and More Information

Our Class Wiki

Go to http://cavewriting2010b1.pbworks.com

1. Log in using the user name and password you have been given.  Do not lose them, and do not share them with any other students. I suggest taping the paper strip into you planner or copying the user name and password, then destroying the paper strip. 
2. In the "Navigator" box at the right, click on the file folder for "Memoir."
3. Find your name, alphabetically by first name.  
4. Click on your name to open your page.
5. Find the tab at the upper left marked "Edit" and click on it. 
6. You may now edit your page.  For September 22, 1010, you will copy your finished memoir and paste it on the page. 
7. Fix any formatting problems (font size, etc.).
8. Don't forget to click on "Save" at the bottom left. (Otherwise you will lose your work.)
9. To get back to the main page, click on the "Wiki" tab at the top.
10. Log out by clicking on "log out" at the upper right.

 Important!

• Please do not edit anyone else's page.  Make sure you are in edit mode only when you are on your own page. You will see your own name at the top when you are on your own page.
• You may make comments in the comment box for another student's page.  Keep the comments polite, helpful, and friendly.  

Remember these rules for wiki use:

-- Use ONLY first name or first name/last initial.

--Please post only APPROPRIATE comments.

--NEVER give out personal information on the web.

-- Don't giver your username and password to anyone else.  Don't lose them!

--DON'T delete someone else's info.

                    --- Thanks to Mrs. K's School Is Cool Wiki

September 22, 2010

September 22, 2010
Revision:
Sentence Fluency -- Do you have a variety of sentence lengths and sentence beginnings?
Sentence Variety Chart.doc

Type "final"/quality draft of your memoir in the computer lab.
A quality copy of your memoir is due today -- posted on the wiki. 

September 20, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer:  Select a prompt from the long-list of prompts in your composition book and write 1/2 page about it.
2. More memoir examples.
3. In your composition book:  Qualities/Traits of an Effective Memoir

• enough detail
• sensory detail
• descriptive words
• similes and metaphors
• (emotions)
• length is not too long and not too short
• effective titles
• what else? 

4.  About ARMS

Add
Remove
Move
Substitute

using your eyes and ears to revise 

Next time we'll finish typing the memoir.


Schedule for memoir:
September 10 -- Type and print a draft.
September 14 peer review -- revision
September 16 -- Revise in computer lab.
September 22 -- Final revisions and editing in computer lab -- ready  to hand in.

Video about Creating Characters

http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/videos/category/about-writing/

September 16, 2010

September 16, 2010

1. Bell-Ringer:  Select a prompt from the long-list of prompts in your composition book and write 1/2 page about it.
2. More memoir examples.
3. Students worked more today on their memoir essays.  

Using quotation marks mini-lesson. 

Rules: Quotation Marks and Punctuation

• Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of a direct quotation. Do not use them, however, to set off an indirect quotation.
  
  
  • Bob said, "I doubled my money in the stock market last month!"
  • Bob lied about doubling his money in the stock market last month.
• Punctuate a speaker's words with a comma, question mark, or exclamation point inside the quotation.
  
  
  • Bob cried, "I'm ruined!"
  • Bob wondered, "Am I ruined?"
  • "I'm happier than Lenny at a petting zoo," Bob's enemy said.
• Place a comma after explanatory words (he said, for example)
• In dialogue, begin a new paragraph each time the speaker changes and use a separate set of quotation marks.
• Use single quotation marks when using quotation marks inside of quotation marks.
  
  
  • He said, "I know she said, 'Let's go to the Dominican Republic, this summer,' but I'd rather go to Hawaii."
• Put a colon or semicolon outside the closing quotation mark
  
  
  • Here are things "not to do": thing 1, thing 2, thing 3.
• If a sentence that includes a quotation is a question or exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks.
  
  
  • Are you familiar with "The Road Not Taken"?

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/19162.aspx#ixzz0zTmzP5wa

Thanks to Trent.

Schedule for memoir:
September 10 -- Type and print a draft.
September 14 peer review -- revision
September 16 -- Revise in computer lab.
September 22 -- Final revisions and editing in computer lab -- ready  to hand in.