Thursday, November 29, 2007

Hear Your Writing



One of the best ways to improve writing is to read aloud your essay. ATandT Research Labs has a program that will read aloud for you. The program, called Text to Speech, reads what is written. This is a great tool to use when revising and editing in Writing Workshop.

According to ATandT:
Text-To-Speech, or TTS for short, is computer software that converts text into audible speech. You can try it yourself on our demo page. See our Home page for more information.

All you have to do is type or paste your writing into the text box (step 2) and click on the Speak button. To try it, just go to here.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Top 10 Thanks for Break

We did a Letterman style Top 10 of the reasons students are most thankful for Thanksgiving Break. Here is a compilation of the Top 10 Reasons to be Thankful for Break.

10. Get to go shopping

9. More video game time

8. More TV time

7. 24/7 recess

6. We can eat until we're fat

5. No tests

4. No homework

3. The girls don't have to deal with stupid boys

2. No more writing the Top 10

1. Don't have to fake laugh at Mr. McGuire's bad jokes

Great job to all of the students for all of their lists, except for the #1 reason!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Thanks at Thanksgiving

One of our latest projects in Writing Workshop is to write a thank you letter to someone in your life that has made your life better. Students chose parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and family friends. Most of the letters were exceptional in sincerity and meaning. The following letter below, by Trey is one examples.

November 8, 2007

Dear Grandpa,

I would like to tell you how much I appreciate everything you have done for me. So get ready to be very amazed at my writing about my dedication to you.

I am very grateful when you take me to the camper every weekend. When we go there it's like we are in heaven. The reason why I think it's heaven is because it is just so peaceful there. The birds are always chirping and the deer are always grazing. When we go there we ride around on golf carts. Sometimes we work for the manager or sometimes we fish. I am very grateful because if you did not take me to the camper, I would be watching Addy, or siting in my room really bored. I would probably be planning a prank on Ashlee (Should I use water balloons filled with hot water or the old whipped cream in the hand prank?).

I am grateful that you were always there for me when Dad was not. If you would not have been there for me I would not have had any other boys to have fun with. Like that time in Tar Hollow when this kid laughed at me because I had no Dad around like most kids but I told him that I did have a Dad, my Grandpa. Since then you have been my substitute Dad.

Grandpa I can't tell you how grateful I am. Especially not in this little peace of writing but I am really grateful that you have done all those things for me. Thank you Grandpa.

Your Grandson,


Trey

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Thank You Letter from 4th

We received the nicest thank you letter from a fourth grade student after we co-wrote the answer to a question using a book that Mrs. Wolfe read aloud Mountain Magic. See the post on October 29 for details.

This act of kindness made working together totally worth it.



Friday, November 9, 2007

3rd Grade Study Island Help

Mrs. Roe's third grade class is starting to use Study Island. For their first experience, they came up to sixth grade for some help. The sixth graders did an awesome job helping them learn how to log on to the program, navigate through it, and answer questions.

I was especially proud of how the sixth grade "teachers" showed their younger students how to find the correct response when they struggled. The sixth graders did an awesome job helping make the first experience on Study Island a positive learning experience.

Great Helpers!

Calendar of Events

FYI

November 20 Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:30

November 21-26 No School--Thanksgiving Break

November 28-29 Author Sandra J. Phillipson Visits

November 29 Picture Retakes

December 7 Interim Reports

December 13 PTO Meeting @ 3:30

December 14 Holiday Craft Day

December 20 Christmas Break Begins

January 2 School Resumes

January 18 End of 2nd Nine Weeks

Monday, November 5, 2007

Awards Assembly

Honor Roll Stars!

Today we had the Awards Assembly for the 1st nine weeks. Congratulations to all of the students that received awards. This is one of my favorite days of the school year because students get recognition for all of the hard work and effort they have put into school.

Great Job!




Some More Stars!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Halloween Parade

One of the greatest traditions at Laurelville Elementary is the Halloween Parade. The Logan Elm High School and Jr. High bands come and lead all 450 students in their Halloween costumes as we parade through town. This year we had a beautiful sunny day as students marched around town showing off their new look.
Two Scary Classes!

Here are just a few of the weirdos running around town.