Monday, February 28, 2011

Friday, March 4, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  Respond in your composition book to the Bingo Prompt   B3 ___E4__   B4 __A3_

Children's books -- We will take our  Trip to Legacy March 8. 
Today we will do a practice interview.

More Poetry from The Hormone Jungle.


Children's story interview questions.doc


Grading for Children's book 2.doc

_________________________________________________
A few books we remembered enjoying when we were younger:


Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Amelia Bedelia
Arthur
Berenstein Bears
 Books based on Scooby Doo
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Click, Clack, Moo
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Cordoroy
Diary of a Worm
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Dr. Suess
Fairy Tales – The Pink
Falling for Rapunzel
Fish Out of Water
Franklin
Go, Dog, Go
Goldilocks
Goodnight, Moon
Green Eggs and Ham
Hop on Pop
Horton Hears a Who
Hooway for Wodney Wat
Humpty Dumpty
Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More
I Spy
If You Give A Moose a Muffin
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If you give a Pig a Pancake
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Jungle Book
Junie B. Jones
Knuffle Bunny
Little Bear
Little Red Hen
Little Red Riding Hood
Lots of Little Golden Books
Magic School Bus
Micky Mouse Club House
Moosetache
Mr. Brown Can Moo.  Can You?Olivia
One Fish, Two Fish
Pal the Pony
Parts
Princess Pruney Toes
Rumplestiltskin
Skippy John Jones
Sneeches
Stand Back Said the Elephant
Stone Soup
Stripes
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
The Goose Girl
The Grouchy Lady Bug
The Happy Dump Truck
The Monster at the End of This Book
The Monster at the End of This Book
The Princess and the Pea
The Princess and the Potty
The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
The Ugly Duckling
Three Little Pigs
Thumblelina
Tortoise and the Hare
Uncle Wiggley
Very Hungry Caterpillar
Where the Wild Things Are

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-BN-_-product_page-_-october_online_storytime






Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  In your composition book, respond to Handout -- voice
Voice Overhead.doc

2.  More about voice and Point-of-View
      Examples of monologues
      Write a monologue from the point of view of the villain in a story.
Handout for this assignment:  Monologue -- Another Point of View.doc

3.  Voice in Poetry -- from The Hormone Jungle:  Coming of Age in Middle School

Monday, February 28, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  In your composition book respond to the painting.  Write a brief story or poem.

Tiger in a Tropical Storm by Henri Rousseau


More Love That Dog and writing "inspired by" poetry.
You should have in your composition book:
a poem imitating (inspired by)
  1. The Red Wheelbarrow
  2. Stopping By Woods (1 Stanza)
  3. The Tiger (2 or more lines) 
  4. Read both The Tiger and The Lamb
  5. Love That Boy  -- See below.
  6. and at least the sounds for a poem like Street Music.
Love That Boy by Walter Dean Meyers

Love that boy,
like a rabbit loves to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
"Hey there, son!"

He walk like his Grandpa,
Grins like his Uncle Ben.
I said he walk like his Grandpa,
And grins like his Uncle Ben.
Grins when he’s happy,
When he sad, he grins again.

His mama like to hold him,
Like to feed him cherry pie.
I said his mama like to hold him.
Like to feed him that cherry pie.
She can have him now,
I’ll get him by and by

He got long roads to walk down
Before the setting sun.
I said he got a long, long road to walk down
Before the setting sun.
He’ll be a long stride walker,
And a good man before he done.
 ___________________________
http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/lovethat.htm


We noticed poetry patterns -- rhyme schemes, stanzas.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Parent-Teacher Conference

Welcome, Parents! 
If you haven't used this blog before, take a few minutes to get acquainted with it.  The tab above about Navigating might be helpful. 
Ask me any questions you still have.

You may also look at some of your child's work on our class wiki.  

If your child is in B3, go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com


 

If your child is in B4, go to our class wiki at 
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Monday, February 21, 2011

Writing Contest about Farming

Do you have the background to write about farming?  This contest may be for you? 

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_e45ef758-9975-590a-8121-cb3d9a28b032.html

Thursday, February 24, 2011

No Cave Time on Friday.

Bell-Ringer:  Respond in your composition book to the bingo prompt:   B3 ___D2_  B4 ____

Back to Poetry:
Love That Dog -- writing "Inspired By" Poetry
and Hormone Jungle --

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

No Cave Time on Friday.

Bell-Ringer:  Respond to one of three scenes (photographs from old movies) shown on the board. Write as much detail as you can.  

Mini-Lesson on Detail and Description
 Senses -- sight, sound, smell, (taste), feel
Describe/draw my dog.  

These descriptions are from Gary Soto’s A Summer Life, from the story “The Taps.” Soto’s writing provides examples of using description and imagery in a short story.
“A passenger train the color of spoons rushed by.”
“The asphalt was a soft, blackish river on which cars traveled, windows down, the passengers soaked in sweat.”
“A man the color of a sparrow walked near the tracks.”


Computer lab 223 -- Add appropriate detail/description to one of your pieces -- short story, memoir, or another piece you are working on using the class wiki.

Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  Respond in your composition book to the bingo prompt:   B3 A2   B4 _____

Story starters:  Students wrote to three story starters for about five minutes or more each.
They then went to the computer lab and typed up one of the stories, continuing it from where they'd left off in the classroom.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Poetry and Chocolate Day!

Bell-Ringer:  Poem prompt: To-Do List

Bring your poem!

Sharing poems and drinking hot chocolate
and writing poems!

Happy Valentines' Day!

from NPR at http://www.npr.org/2011/02/13/133693403/double-take-toons-valentines-day-2011?sc=fb&cc=fp

Friday, February 11, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

Next time:  February 15 -- Poetry and Chocolate --  Bring a poem to share, and if you wish bring chocolate or another treat to share. 







Bell-Ringer:  Respond in your composition book to the picture prompt.  If you are absent, here is the optical illusion.  You need to look at it right side up and upside down.
http://thedabbler.co.uk/2010/12/gustave-verbeek-%E2%80%93-the-upside-down-cartoonist/

See the above website for a whole comic strip of topsy-turvy pictures that tell a story.

More Poetry -- meter and rhyme -- Limericks
Student worksheet for your assignment: Limericks.doc



Some Computer time as needed.

Computer Lab -- Finding poems and. . . . .

  • Make sure you have at least three poems on your Finding Poetry page -- with the poet  and source of each.  

  • Prepare your poem to share on the 15th.

  • Make specific comments on at least eight  students' Finding Poetry pages. 

  • Type two or three limericks on your own Poetry Page -- with the I Am Poem -- (not on Finding Poetry). 

    Looking for Poetry on the Internet 

Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com
 

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Let's try some Dear Blank, Please Blank. . letters

Examples:
Dear clothing stores,
Wouldn't it make sense to put the short jeans on a lower shelf?
Sincerely, a very short customer.

Dear car,
Please heat the interior BEFORE I reach my destination.
Sincerely, frozen driver.



Dear sleeping pill commercial,
Please explain why one of your side affects is drowsiness.
Sincerely, isn't that the point of a sleeping pill?

Dear guy who constantly texts me,
You should probably take a hint.
Sincerely, girl who never texts back.

Dear bus driver,
What ever happened to "no child left behind"?
Sincerely, the kid you left behind.

Dear chapstick,
Please stop running away before I can finish you.
Sincerely, where are you hiding this time?!

Dear rug,
I love the way you lie.
Sincerely, floor.

Dear Willy Wonka,
How do you stay so skinny?
Sincerely, Augustus Gloop.

Dear Barney,
You're really messing with our image.
Sincerely, dinosaurs.

Dear Slushie,
It hurts so good!
Sincerely, brain frozen consumer.

Dear mom,
I magically lose my hunger when you tell me to get it myself.
Sincerely, I don't want to get up.

Dear little girls,
We would appreciate it if you left our hair the way it came.
Sincerely, Barbies of the world.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  Bingo Prompt     B3 used square  D4.    B4 used square C1.

Me-Bags
______________________________________   
Prizes for posters -- hang posters
B3 -
Third Place: Breanna, Melia, Maddy
Second Place: Roni, Payton, McKayla
First Place: Aspen, Isaac, Sydney

B4 -
Third Place: Sydney, Sydney, Shire, Kylee
Second Place: Alexa, Alexa, Brayden, Dylan
First Place: Alice, Katie, Lily, Jacob
_____________________________________

Write advice for Aliea -- a first grader who has a first grade boy admirer.  He sends her love notes.  What should she do?

Computer Lab -- Finding poems

Looking for Poetry on the Internet  Find at least three poems to paste (with their URL) onto your Finding Poetry page on our class wiki. 

Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com
 

Poetry Contest for Silly Poems-- This Week Only

www.BookshopTalk.com

Go here to enter the contest, or just to read the great examples of funny poems.  

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Even Adults (Writers!) are Reminded to Show, Not Tell

This is a grown up writer who tells about getting a rejection letter -- something most writers get very used to -- that, among other things, reminded here to SHOW, NOT TELL:
http://rebeccabirkin.blogspot.com/2011/02/rejection-letters-and-herding-stampede.html

Monday, February 7, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  In your composition book, respond to the picture.  Love?  Valentines Day?  What are they saying?  You can make it serious or funny.

Any Me-Bags left?

Finish poetry posters.
Judge Poetry Posters

Poetry terms and forms. 
Poetry from the Hormone Jungle


Minimal Day Bell Schedule
Time
Period
Minutes
8:15 – 9:15
1st Period
60 minutes
9:20 – 10:20
2nd Period/Announcements
60 minutes
10:20 – 10:45
First Lunch
25 minutes
10:50 – 11:50
3rd Period
60 minutes
10:25 – 11:25
3rd Period
60 minutes
11:25 – 11:50
Second Lunch
25 minutes
11:55 – 12:55
4th Period
60 minutes





Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Looking for Poetry on the Internet

Some places to look for poetry:
Poetry Links
1. http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/poemiddle.htm
2. http://www.poetry4kids.com/links
3. http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html
4. http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html
5. http://www.kristinegeorge.com/swimming_upstream.html  Look at the Fold Me A Poem Poems
6.  http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/58
      Check out Gary Soto 
        If you have a dog, you might like Nelson, My Dog.
7. http://middleschoolpoetry180.wordpress.com/  Look at the categories in the right margin.
8. A rap about poetry  http://www.educationalrap.com/song/poetry-for-life.html

9. http://www.poetry-archive.com/collections/ 

10.  http://poetry.eserver.org/


11. http://www.webenglishteacher.com/poetrycollections.html

12. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/pmsites1.html


13.  http://www.bartleby.com/verse/


14. Baseball poetry   http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poems.shtml

15  http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com



Here's a poetry word you may not know: (extra credit if you can tell me about doggerel)
doggerel
a low, or trivial, form of verse, loosely constructed and often irregular, but effective because of its simple mnemonic rhyme and loping metre. It appears in most literatures and societies as a useful form for comedy and satire. It is characteristic of children's game rhymes from ancient times to the present and of most nursery rhymes.  from dictionary.com   

Select at least three poems to paste (with each URL)  on your Finding Poetry page on our class wiki.
Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com



Thursday, February 3, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  Bingo Prompt   B3 did Bingo A3, B4 did Bingo B2.

What is Poetry?
Today students read about, read, listened to, and viewed poetry, and created group posters to teach others about poetry.  If you are absent, create a mini-poster (8 1/2 x 11")  that is neat and legible that defines what poetry is and is not.  It could use brief examples.   

Start looking for a poem for our Poetry and Chocolate Day on February 15.  Select a poem that you REALLY like.  Song lyrics work if they are in poetic form.  (Most are!)  You will be able to look for poems on the Internet (at selected sites) for part of the time on the 9th and 11th.

Fascinating Words Extra Credit

For extra credit:  Can you tell me what a group of ravens is called?  See this site and look through the charts for the answer:  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

for Your Information - Teen Writers' Conference

Go to http://www.writerscubed.com/events_TeenBootCamp.asp to find out about a very fun sounding conference for teen writers that will be held in April at UVU.

More contests:
http://rebeccabirkin.blogspot.com/