A Dinopunasaurus

Treat Others . . .

Living Large Loving Language Arts

Sometimes You Just Need to Rhyme

So what do you do when you need to rhyme?  How about going to Rhymezone?  When you are writing a poem and you need a word bank to help you, Rhymezone is a great resource.  All you do is type in the word and it gives you a bunch of choices.  Don't forget though, a poem still has to make sense and be meaningful.

The Road to Success

Image from @CRCarter313

Make Your Monday

Ms. Ewing RAWYC

Grace Ewing is in Chicago reading the Chicago Tribune and she jumped in with RAWYC!

Revising Poetry

So you get a first draft of a poem and it seems pretty good.  Now what?  Is it ready to publish?  Everything is spelled right.  It makes sense.  So how do you revise?  How do you make it better?  What can you do with a basic poem like this, that has a good topic choice with a nice twist at the end and make it into an A+ poem that grabs the reader?

Thank you to Maddie for allowing us to experiment with her writing.

That one kid makes me sad,                              

That one kid makes me mad.

When I see him I just go Eww!!!!

I don’t like him,

He doesn’t like me.

We fight all the time.

She started it!

No he started it!!

He makes me go crazy,

I make him flip out.

But the truth is………

He’s my brother.

One area that could be improved is word choice. The Reading Workshop Poetry Rubric says, Word choice is exact, colorful, and interesting. What words could be changed to improve this poem?  Is there a synonym for sad that would be more interesting? Or mad? Or doesn't like?

We could also look at improving and adding sensory details like the rubric describes as, Uses sensory details to help the reader see, hear, feel, and/or think. What could be changed to help what the reader visualizes?  Could the "one kid" be described in some way?   What changes would help the reader see the fight?

When you have completed your revised version, paste it into the form below.

You can see revisions HERE.

Oh, the Irony

 

Image from @TheFunnyWorld

Tell About a Book of Poems

Generate Some Words

If you want to write poetry but need a little help getting started, use the online site at Word Clouds. Just go to the wizard and put in words. When you are finished you can share this on your blog. 

Just go to the toolbar to File-->Save as PNG-->Open in Image Viewer -->Copy -->Paste into your blog. 

You can also File-->Save-->Open New Post in Edublogs-->Add Media-->Uploade Files

Image from dominicavibes.dm

Less Words for More Meaning

Cut out all those words.  This is poetry so you don't need them.  In fact, if the word doesn't do something to clarify meaning, or help make your point, just delete it.

Get rid of all those annoying little words and leave only the ones that matter. You really don't need all those it's and is's.  Nor do you need those are's and were's. Trim the fat and excess words.  Make your poem meaningful and exciting.

The best thing about poetry is that the author makes the rules.  You can choose whether or not to use capital letters, sentences, and punctuation.  The only rule is write in the best way to make your poem meaningful and understandable.  Just write so your reader relates to your message.

Author's note:  There are divided thoughts about using apostrophes in certain circumstances to show plural.  The general thinking is that it is allowable in a few instances if it helps considerably with making text more easily understood and more readable.

Image from kerileebeasley.com

Poetry Padlet

Check Your Grammar

Are you a grammar expert? Take a test and prove it!

Grammer Monster Tests

You Aren't Going to Collage

Reading Workshop students, I hope you have the opportunity to go to college. If you want an education, it won't happen in a collage.

RAWYC

Students are jumping on to the RAWYC project. They are sharing all types of reading.

Kyle Reads While Eating

Kinsie Reading in the Bathtub

Addison Reading a Chapter Book

Brody Reading a Picture Book

Quincy Reading to Her Mom

Alden Reading to His Cat

Colton Reading to His Dog

Lynsay Reading to Her Grandfather

Kyle Reading in the Dark with a Flashlight

Alex Reading Her Book

Lily Reading a Chapter Book

Cameron Reading to His Pets

Brody Reading to His Mom

Hayleigh Reading her Book

Brooklyn Reading to Her Dog

Abby Reading to Her Lap Dog

Aubrey Reads to Bob

Sammi Rereading a Favorite Book

                 

Being a Writer

Image from referenceforwriters.tumblr.com

What Should I Write?

Need an idea for a blog topic? Here are a few.

1.  You Should Read . . .
2.  My Favorite Book
3.  Best Character in a Book
4.  Interview a Family Member/Role Model
5.  “How to” Post
   
6.  Memoir--Share a Memory
7.  Write about an Event From Your Life
8.  Hobby Post
9.  Write a Story
10.  What I Saw at ________ Today
11.  Respond to Another Post
12.  Write a Poem
13.  How to Write A Blog Post
14.  Opinion Post
15.  FAQ post
16.  News Story
17.  Write A Letter
18.  Inspirational Post
19.  Inspirational People Post
20.  My Biggest Fear
21.  "My Future" Post
22.  Write From Someone Else's Point of View
23.  Compare/Contrast Post
24.  How I Stay Inspired
25.  How to Succeed 
26.  Favorite TV/Movie Star
27.  Make a List
28.  A Day In the Life Of…
29.  School Survival Post
30.  How to Be a Friend Post
31.  Getting Good Grades 
32.  Bucket List
33.  Holiday Post
34.  Slideshow
35.  Advice Post
36.  Turn a Post into a Poem
37.  Sports Story
38.  Top 10
39.  If You Had to Live with a Handicap
40.  Places--Where Would You Like to Go?
41.  Facts Post
42.  What I Want to Be . . .
43.  My Goals for The Future
44.  Write About Your Favorite Artist (Musician)
45.  Write a Response to a Topic in the News
46.  Tell About a Lesson Learned
47.  Write a Play
48. 
    

Image from clairsimpson.wordpress.com

Values?

At the Your World Within website, they say, Life is not predetermined; it’s crafted daily.  In the video they say, go all in on the things that bring value to your life while eliminating the things that don't. 

Your assignment, Reading Workshop students is to write what about values in your life.

Pictures While Reading

Zoom Reads to Kinsey

Students in Reading Workshop were challenged to post pictures from their life as they Read Any Way You Choose. Some of the pictures so far have been awesome with students reading to pets, reading to siblings, reading a TV scrollbar, reading while dribbling a basketball, and reading in the bathtub.

Here are a couple of pictures from my weekend with my grandson, Carter aka Zoom and my granddaughter, Kinsey.

Zoom and I Reading on Our IPads

What Does the Pledge Mean?

I pledge allegiance 
to the flag 
of the United States of  America
and to the Republic 
for which it stands,
one nation 
under God, 
indivisible, with liberty 
and justice for all

For today's assignment, students had to look up meaning to words in the Pledge of Allegiance and rewrite it in their own words. Not only did they learn the meaning of some important words, but hopefully the next time they say the Pledge it will mean a  little more and they will know why it is so important to our country!

Vocabulary Words

allegiance
united
nation
all
indivisible
liberty
pledge
justice
republic

Shine On!

Image from @Nandini_actor

Reading Any Way You Choose

Pick one of the ways of reading listed below and RAWYC! Have someone take a picture or take a selfie, post it on your blog and you get 20 minutes of Read at Home credit plus you can log the minutes you read. You can do 5 of these a week, make your blog great, and get an A on your Read at Home all at the same time.

You can blog from a browser on your phone or tablet using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. You can also post using the Edublog app with Android or Wordpress.org app using an IPhone or IPad.

√	Reading…	√	and	√	More Reading
	Read a picture book		Listen to a parent or guardian read		Read closed-captioning on the TV
	Read a chapter book		Read to a parent or guardian		Read with a pointer or finger puppet
	Read and solve math word problems		Read in bed, past your bedtime
			Read a story or book you wrote		Read a recipe aloud, step-by-step, while you help someone cook
	Read a book about something you know nothing about		Read with a book club you created or joined
					Read while eating
	Read a book you love AGAIN		Read with your friends or neighbors		Listen to audio books
	Read a book that became a movie				Collect words in a jar, diary, or app
	Read a biography about a person you admire or don’t know		Read to the family pet or stuffed animal		Take turns reading a page at a time
					Read at the local library, bookstore, restaurant, or coffee shop
	Read a book that will teach you a new skill, trade, or technology		Read with a grandparent
	Read about a state or country		Read with a brother or sister		Read in the bathtub (no water)
	Read a book from your favorite author		Read to babies and toddlers		Read and sing song lyrics with the artist or choir
			Read to family or friends with Skype or Facetime
	Read a comic book or joke book				Organize your  bookshelves
	Follow a recipe from a cook book		Volunteer to read at a retirement home, nursing home, or hospital		Create a puppet show
	Read a craft book				Read at the park or playground
	Read about caring for animals		Compile and share the shopping list		Read while riding on the bus or when riding in a plane, train, or automobile
	Read about a place you’d like to visit		Read a blog and respond with a positive comment
	Read about fitness and exercise		Make or update a memories scrapbook with captions and/or titles		Read at the beach or poolside
	Read a book that takes place in the past or future				Read at the laundromat or do the laundry while a parent reads to you
	Read about your favorite sport or team		Keep a shared journal with someone Take turns writing back and forth		Read out loud with animated voices that go along with each character
	Read a magazine or newspaper				Play reading games like Scrabble, Boggle, crossword puzzles
	Read a folktale, fairy tale, or myth		Donate books to charity or check out books from the local library
	Read a play, musical, or poetry				Read with a flashlight
	Read a spooky book or mystery		Create a video of you reading and share it on your blog		Rewrite the ending of a book you found boring or confusing
	Read a book that received an award or honor
			Design, record, and share commercials about books		Read while you wait at a restaurant, dentist, doctor’s office, or airport
	Read about holidays, traditions, or cultures from around the world
			Do a book talk or book trailer that tells all about your favorite book		Read cereal boxes, catalogs, flyers, billboard signs, or street signs
	Read on an eBook or iBook

Reading Strategies

Links to articles:

Harry Potter

Wonder


Please complete the questions and submit the form.

Your Editing Shows if You're A Good Writer

Image from @Grammarly

Happy Halloween!

Traveling Along on a Friday

It looks like Dora is on a rode trip.

And yes I can spell road.  :)


Image from @TheFunnyWorld

To You and By You!

 

Image from @teachergoals

Make Your Weather Great!

It's Monday morning after a five day break. How's your weather? Take control and make it a great start to a great week!

Image from https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img

Yes, Spelling Matters

Readers Need Strategies

Reading Workshop student, Lynsay VanHoose created this Google slideshow to point out what makes reading strategies so important.

Cheesy Joke for a Grate Day!

Reading Strategies

The strategies in the picture below all help with understanding what you read. Reading Workshop students, your assignment is to pick one strategy, research it, create a Google slide show, and present it to the class.

The slide show needs to explain about the strategy, tell how it helps with comprehension, and how to use it. Demonstrating the strategy should be part of the presentation.

Slide Show Organization

1.    Title Page

2.    Definition

3.    Casual meaning (your definition)

4.    The way the strategy helps reading . . .

5-8. Sample passages

9.    Sources

10.  Image sources

Image from http://www.theclassroomkey.com/tag/reading-strategies

C'mon, Dream Big!

Comparing Yourself

What are Your Character Traits?

For this project you will be writing a Dear Mr. McGuire letter. The topic of the letter is "How would the book be different if I was the main character?" The letter should have an opening paragraph that states basic information like the title and the main character's name. It also should connect with the reader.

For the second paragraph, start with the main character and build from there. Tell about the main character in the book you are reading. Describe him/her. What makes him like he is? How does he act? Think? Respond? Feel?

The next paragraph should be a compare/contrast between you and the main character. You might tell how you are alike or how you are different. You need at least one example to make your point clear.

One of the main keys to doing well on this project comes next. This paragraph needs to describe in detail how the book would be different if you were the main character. Specific details of differences will strengthen your letter.

Please use details to support your writing. For example, if you state that the main character is brave, you should have a detailed scene from the book that proves your claim.

Whatever you do, DO NOT RETELL THE STORY! This assignment is to write a letter to me about how the main character compares to you and how the book would be different if you were the main character. If you summarize or retell the book, you are not following the directions! The best essays will be written by a writer than gets inside the book and the character.