Cup of Tea

Be the Best You

Read Just Because

 

Image from @WeAreTeachers

National School Walk Up

Image from Jodie Katsetos

An Unexpected Visitor

Kyle was sitting in his room doing his Read at Home assignment when he had an unexpected visitor show up to listen to him read.

Are You Lucky?

Improve Your Slide Show

Be Cool

Slide Show Team Project

As Reading Workshop students begin work on a Google Slide Show project explaining how to read nonfiction, how the team works together will go a long way towards determining their success. This message should serve as a guide.

Moving, Moving, Moving

Be Yourself!

Your Thoughts?

Help with Your Writing

Just copy your essay, go to Hemingway App, paste it into the webpage, and click on edit. This web page will give you tips on making your writing better.

Online Outline

The best way to write an organized essay that makes sense is to organize your writing before you start. Here is a handy tool to help with that. The Outliner of Giants Online Outliner

 

Writing an Argumentative Essay

An Argumentative Essay:

• Has a clear introduction 
• States a focus/position statement clearly, precisely, and thoughtfully 
• Uses specific evidence from the text(s) to support and develop the position, and explains that evidence logically 
• Takes into account what people who disagree with you might think and tries to respond to that 
• Concludes effectively

Keep in mind that an argumentative essay is based more on facts as opposed to emotion. When picking a topic you’re interested in, be sure to pick one that you can support with evidence and reasoning. You will need facts, statistics, and reports from sources you and your audience can trust.

I. Introduction
     1. Introduce the topic by giving background information that briefly explains the topic so that the reader will understand the topic to be argued. (3-4 sentences)

     2. Add the thesis statement that clearly and strongly states your opinion concerning the
topic. Writing a direct thesis by including the reasons in your thesis is optional.

II. Body Paragraphs

     1. The first two (or more) body paragraph gives a reason that supports the opinion stated in the thesis. This reason is supported with facts, data, or information.

     2. One paragraph discusses the opposite viewpoint. After you pose the counter argument, contest it. Say why the counter argument is faulty and why your argument is stronger.

III. Conclusion

     1. Use a transition signal for the conclusion such as: in conclusion, to conclude, etc.
     2. Restate the thesis in different words than you used in your introduction.
     3. Summarize your main points.
     4. End with a final comment on the topic.

Perhaps the biggest mistake people make in writing an argumentative essay is to state their opinions instead of facts. Remember that each claim you make must be supported by solid evidence if your argument is to hold up to the opposing views.

Here are some sample topics. To find the entire list, go to the RW Wiki Argumentative Topic List.

School and Kids

Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?

Is homework harmful or helpful?

Is Cheating Getting Worse?

Should Students Be Able to Grade Their Teachers?

Does Your School Hand Out Too Many A’s?

Technology

Are we too dependent on computers?

Are cell phones dangerous?

Do violent video games cause behavior problems?

Have people have become overly dependent on technology?

Does Technology Make Us More Alone?

Social Issues

Are Adults Hurting Young Children by Pushing Them to Achieve?

Should the Government Limit the Size of Sugary Drinks?

Which Is More Important: Talent or Hard Work?

Is Your Generation More Self-Centered Than Earlier Generations?

Sports

Does participation in sports keep teens out of trouble?

Is competition good?

Should Home-Schoolers Be Allowed to Play Public School Sports?

Does participating in team sports helps to develop good character?

If Football Is So Dangerous to Players, Should We Be Watching It?

The Way to Start the Year Right

 

Image from #teachergoals‏

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