Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Personal Narratives
Today Room 205 shared their Published Personal Narratives with each other. Make sure to ask your student about how to write a stellar personal narrative! Check back soon for some of our favorites!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I glanced out my window and a polar bear was in my yard...
Blog worthy author #28 wrote a great story about the polar bear in his backyard. It goes like this:
I glanced out my window and a polar bear was in my yard. I called my sisters. I told them not to tell anyone. So every day we would watch it from my window. We fed him cereal out of my window.
One day I decided to go out and see if it was friendly. It seemed like it was at first, but then it came charging at me. I ran inside and slammed the door. It was over; I had to tell my mom, but then I thought how it didn't have a name. So I got my sisters. I told them it needs a name. We decided on the name Frank. Frank was a good name.
Then my sisters and I decided it was time to tell mom. So we told her that we had a polar bear living in our backyard. The animal home came and picked Frank up.
Extra Credit Questions:
1. What would you do if you had a polar bear in your backyard? Would you go see if it was friendly?
2. What would you name your polar bear?
3. What would you feed the polar bear?
4. How do you think your parents would react if there was a polar bear in your yard?
I glanced out my window and a polar bear was in my yard. I called my sisters. I told them not to tell anyone. So every day we would watch it from my window. We fed him cereal out of my window.
One day I decided to go out and see if it was friendly. It seemed like it was at first, but then it came charging at me. I ran inside and slammed the door. It was over; I had to tell my mom, but then I thought how it didn't have a name. So I got my sisters. I told them it needs a name. We decided on the name Frank. Frank was a good name.
Then my sisters and I decided it was time to tell mom. So we told her that we had a polar bear living in our backyard. The animal home came and picked Frank up.
Extra Credit Questions:
1. What would you do if you had a polar bear in your backyard? Would you go see if it was friendly?
2. What would you name your polar bear?
3. What would you feed the polar bear?
4. How do you think your parents would react if there was a polar bear in your yard?
I glanced out my window and a polar bear was in my yard...
Here is another blog worthy post from author #7. The students were supposed to finish the story about a polar bear in their yard. #7's story goes like this:
I was in my room upstairs, and I glanced out my window and saw a polar bear. At first I was scared to go out again, but once I realized it was friendly I wasn't scared anymore. I got to ride on his back and played fun, cool games.
If I started to get cold he would warm me up by giving me a warm hug. I would also take him on walks when he had a lot of energy. When my mom said, "Time to take him to the zoo", I was sad. I told him I would always come and visit him whenever I could.
Extra Credit Questions:
1. What level of the house was I in?
2. When I got cold what would the polar bear do?
3. How do you think I could tell it was a friendly bear?
4. When I took him to the zoo what do you think I would do to see him again?
I was in my room upstairs, and I glanced out my window and saw a polar bear. At first I was scared to go out again, but once I realized it was friendly I wasn't scared anymore. I got to ride on his back and played fun, cool games.
If I started to get cold he would warm me up by giving me a warm hug. I would also take him on walks when he had a lot of energy. When my mom said, "Time to take him to the zoo", I was sad. I told him I would always come and visit him whenever I could.
Extra Credit Questions:
1. What level of the house was I in?
2. When I got cold what would the polar bear do?
3. How do you think I could tell it was a friendly bear?
4. When I took him to the zoo what do you think I would do to see him again?
Monday, January 11, 2010
I am a tree! This is my life:
Blog worthy! Author #18 wrote about his life as a tree.
My life as a tree is good because I can take people with a swing on me. The rope moves on my arm. In the summer, people climb me and it tickles me when people touch my branches. The most horrible part is the thunder, lightening, and rain. It makes me feel like I have fallen down.
In the fall, October and November, my hair comes out. The worst part is in the winter. It starts snowing and sometimes my branches fall down like lightening. My wood parts start to get cold. Spring is my favorite season because the sun rises, there are birds on my branches, and I start growing again. The worst about spring are the april showers because it rains like crazy. So my life as a tree is good.
Extra Credit Questions:
1. Why are april showers my least favorite part of the spring season?
2. Why don't I like October and November?
3. Why do I like the spring?
4. Why do I like the summer?
My life as a tree is good because I can take people with a swing on me. The rope moves on my arm. In the summer, people climb me and it tickles me when people touch my branches. The most horrible part is the thunder, lightening, and rain. It makes me feel like I have fallen down.
In the fall, October and November, my hair comes out. The worst part is in the winter. It starts snowing and sometimes my branches fall down like lightening. My wood parts start to get cold. Spring is my favorite season because the sun rises, there are birds on my branches, and I start growing again. The worst about spring are the april showers because it rains like crazy. So my life as a tree is good.
Extra Credit Questions:
1. Why are april showers my least favorite part of the spring season?
2. Why don't I like October and November?
3. Why do I like the spring?
4. Why do I like the summer?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mechanical vs. Standard Pencils
Here's another Blog Worthy journal entry from one of our students in Room 205. This time students were asked to pick a side in the debate "Which type of pencil is better? Mechanical or Standard?
Number 6 did a terrific job making her point in this debate:
Mechanical pencils! They are much better for the environment! Why? What are regular pencils made out of? Wood! Mechanical pencils come with extra lead. But why is it important? First, wood comes from trees so you have to cut down trees to make them. Second, mechanical pencils are made from plastic and can be recycled! And if mechanical pencils come with lead, you don't have to hear that annoying pencil sharpener sound. It'll distract people in school! And if you run out of lead in a mechanical pencil, you can just stick some more lead right in! It also doesn't make you waste money on pencil grips and stuff because mechanical pencils can already come in cool designs! So everyone, vote for mechanical pencils!
Extra Credit Questions:
1. Do you agree now that mechanical pencils are better?
2. Will you stop buying regular pencils and start using mechanical ones?
3. Do you think that if more people used mechanical pencils the environment would be better?
4. Do you think that you will still buy accessories for your pencil?
Number 6 did a terrific job making her point in this debate:
Mechanical pencils! They are much better for the environment! Why? What are regular pencils made out of? Wood! Mechanical pencils come with extra lead. But why is it important? First, wood comes from trees so you have to cut down trees to make them. Second, mechanical pencils are made from plastic and can be recycled! And if mechanical pencils come with lead, you don't have to hear that annoying pencil sharpener sound. It'll distract people in school! And if you run out of lead in a mechanical pencil, you can just stick some more lead right in! It also doesn't make you waste money on pencil grips and stuff because mechanical pencils can already come in cool designs! So everyone, vote for mechanical pencils!
Extra Credit Questions:
1. Do you agree now that mechanical pencils are better?
2. Will you stop buying regular pencils and start using mechanical ones?
3. Do you think that if more people used mechanical pencils the environment would be better?
4. Do you think that you will still buy accessories for your pencil?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
I am a Tree
A Blog Worthy Piece by Author # 14
I'm a vast tree towering in the sky.
When harsh winds blow, I sway all around.
In the intense winter I close all openings in my branches.
I am bare.
When time changes to Spring, I grow.
In the blazing summer, I shade people.
When there is a storm you hear "crack".
I have fallen.
My life is over.
Questions/Comments:
1. Who is the "I" in this poem?
2. Which descriptive words help you feel how the tree feels?
3. How do you feel at the beginning of the poem? Do you feel the same at the end?
4. What is your favorite part?
I'm a vast tree towering in the sky.
When harsh winds blow, I sway all around.
In the intense winter I close all openings in my branches.
I am bare.
When time changes to Spring, I grow.
In the blazing summer, I shade people.
When there is a storm you hear "crack".
I have fallen.
My life is over.
Questions/Comments:
1. Who is the "I" in this poem?
2. Which descriptive words help you feel how the tree feels?
3. How do you feel at the beginning of the poem? Do you feel the same at the end?
4. What is your favorite part?
Monday, November 30, 2009
...now you know why there are so many stars in the sky
Here's another Blog Worthy journal entry...enjoy!
Author: Number 2
In the beginning there was one tiny star that was as microscopic as an ant. He was very mournful because he was the only one in existence. When he got angry, he got bigger, and one day he got so ginormous he could not fit in his house any more. He got so enraged that he exploded into one-million little stars that were as shiny as a new quarter. Now he is joyful, and now you know why there are so many stars in the sky.
Questions:
1. What do you think a good name for the star would be? Why?
2. How many stars do you think there actually are in the sky?
3. Use clues from the story to find the meaning of ginormous, mournful, and enraged.
4. What do you think the main idea of this story is?
5. Contrast the way the star feels at the beginning to how it feels at the end.
Author: Number 2
In the beginning there was one tiny star that was as microscopic as an ant. He was very mournful because he was the only one in existence. When he got angry, he got bigger, and one day he got so ginormous he could not fit in his house any more. He got so enraged that he exploded into one-million little stars that were as shiny as a new quarter. Now he is joyful, and now you know why there are so many stars in the sky.
Questions:
1. What do you think a good name for the star would be? Why?
2. How many stars do you think there actually are in the sky?
3. Use clues from the story to find the meaning of ginormous, mournful, and enraged.
4. What do you think the main idea of this story is?
5. Contrast the way the star feels at the beginning to how it feels at the end.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
...Now you know why there are so many stars in the sky.
Author # 4 wrote a Blog Worthy response to the following prompt: Write a story that ends with the line... Now you know why there are so many stars in the sky. We hope you enjoy her take on it!
It all started when a shining amulet cristal was found in the earth by a group of hard working builders. They gave it to the scientific scholars, Dr. Lecond and Dr. Shorts. The doctors were mixing the cristals with random, flammable potions, and a beaming light was shining. They rushed outside, and it started to float. It went higher and higher and higher up to the sky.
Dr. Shorts went to go get his camera and took a picture. Two days later, it was on the front cover of the newspaper, and people talked about it for months!
Dr. Shorts and Dr. Lecond decided to make more potions because they wanted to make the nighttime sky even more beautiful. It took them about a year to make the four-billions stars that glow up in the sky, and now you know why there are so many stars in the sky.
Why did Dr. Shorts take a picture?
Why did they want to fill the sky with stars?
What descriptive words did you like in the story?
What was your favorite part of the story?
It all started when a shining amulet cristal was found in the earth by a group of hard working builders. They gave it to the scientific scholars, Dr. Lecond and Dr. Shorts. The doctors were mixing the cristals with random, flammable potions, and a beaming light was shining. They rushed outside, and it started to float. It went higher and higher and higher up to the sky.
Dr. Shorts went to go get his camera and took a picture. Two days later, it was on the front cover of the newspaper, and people talked about it for months!
Dr. Shorts and Dr. Lecond decided to make more potions because they wanted to make the nighttime sky even more beautiful. It took them about a year to make the four-billions stars that glow up in the sky, and now you know why there are so many stars in the sky.
Why did Dr. Shorts take a picture?
Why did they want to fill the sky with stars?
What descriptive words did you like in the story?
What was your favorite part of the story?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Number 18 and the Giant Peach...
After attending South Elgin High School's performance of James and the Giant Peach, students in Room 205 had an opportunity to write their own fantasy! Here's Number 18's take on it!
A young boy named Number 18 was lonely because he had no friends, and people made fun of him. They picked on him because they thought he was a nerd. A kid named Zack made fun of him too.
Number 18 was growing peaches for a peach pie. One grew into a one-hundred pound peach! Number 18 said, "I want some bigger crust to make a pie!"
One day Zack smelled something good so he tried to find the mystery smell. He found Number 18's peach pie, and he said, "Can I have a piece of pie?" Number 18 said, "No!" because of the mean things Zack said.
Questions:
What was your favorite part of the story?
What was the saddest part of the story?
How big was the peach Number 18 used to make his pie?
If you were Number 18, would you let Zack have pie? Why or why not?
A young boy named Number 18 was lonely because he had no friends, and people made fun of him. They picked on him because they thought he was a nerd. A kid named Zack made fun of him too.
Number 18 was growing peaches for a peach pie. One grew into a one-hundred pound peach! Number 18 said, "I want some bigger crust to make a pie!"
One day Zack smelled something good so he tried to find the mystery smell. He found Number 18's peach pie, and he said, "Can I have a piece of pie?" Number 18 said, "No!" because of the mean things Zack said.
Questions:
What was your favorite part of the story?
What was the saddest part of the story?
How big was the peach Number 18 used to make his pie?
If you were Number 18, would you let Zack have pie? Why or why not?
Friday, November 13, 2009
...from now on, I'll keep the door locked!
Students were recently given the journal prompt "write a story that ends with...from now on I'll keep the door locked". Here's Number 16's frightening rendition...
My basement door was never open, and I always wondered why. My sister told me there's a story that says our basement is cursed. I never believed her until I looked inside.
It was a regular Saturday afternoon. I was playing with my best friend Ashley. I came in earlier than I normally did because I wanted to know what was behind that door.
Ashely was with me when I heard a little noise coming from the basement. It was heavy breathing. At first, I thought that it was my dog. That was when I remembered no one has gone there since we moved in here.
We timidly walked to the door. When we opened it...nothing. So we went deeper.
Then we saw a giant purple monster. Ashley and I screamed and ran up the stairs. It chased us, but luckily I got the lock for the door so the monster could not get upstairs. From now on, I will keep the door locked.
My basement door was never open, and I always wondered why. My sister told me there's a story that says our basement is cursed. I never believed her until I looked inside.
It was a regular Saturday afternoon. I was playing with my best friend Ashley. I came in earlier than I normally did because I wanted to know what was behind that door.
Ashely was with me when I heard a little noise coming from the basement. It was heavy breathing. At first, I thought that it was my dog. That was when I remembered no one has gone there since we moved in here.
We timidly walked to the door. When we opened it...nothing. So we went deeper.
Then we saw a giant purple monster. Ashley and I screamed and ran up the stairs. It chased us, but luckily I got the lock for the door so the monster could not get upstairs. From now on, I will keep the door locked.
Introducing Blog Worthy...
Everyday students in Room 205 write in their Fifth Grade Journal. Reading their work is such a pleasure for me that I want to share it with you. The students are filled with creativity, thoughtfulness, and hilarity, and it needs to be shared! Therefore, I have coined the phrase "Blog Worthy". Any time a student writes a piece that needs to be shared with the world, we will post it on our blog. Check back often to hear thoughts from your favorite authors in Room 205!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Autumn is Here!
Recently the students in Room 205 journaled about Autumn. Here is a lovely entry about the season!
Author: Number 10
Autumn is a season of wind and orange, red, and yellow leaves. It is a season of warm foods and friends. It's like a winter in summer. In almost every house there is laughter and cheer. Autumn is a sign that Thanksgiving is near. In Autumn, the kindness you can hear!
More "I am.." Pieces by Room 205 Authors
Author: Number 27
I erupt! When I do, people run in fear. Many people think I am a mountain until they feel heat. I am a volcano.
I start out small. I get bigger. Alarms go off when I come. People make plans to get out of their house when I appear. I am fire.
I only get two inches of rain a year. I am hot. Animals can't even survive in me. I am Death Valley.
Author: Number 16
I see people tall, short, skinny, fat. I see all of the buildings. Sometimes they are so tall they hit me in the guts. I am the one who makes the sky radiant. I am the sky.
I keep the planet radiant. I will never go away. I love to be out and shining. The sad part is no one likes me. Everyone yells at me to go behind a cloud. I am the sun.
I fall from above to make sure the grass flourishes. I keep the plants growing. Without me, all of the grass and flowers would die. I do not come everyday. I am rain.
I am on the ground. We always get stepped on. My friend is so scared he never sprouts. Even when it rains, he hides. He only comes out when a worm is in him. We are the grass.
Author: Number 21
I am the sun. I am orange and yellow. I am a helpful resource. I give light and joy. And when I'm gone, we all see twinkling stars and a big peaceful moon. I am the sun.
Do you have any feedback for these Authors? We'd love to hear your thoughts! What did you like best about our writing. What were your favorite parts? Is there anything you think we could add?
I erupt! When I do, people run in fear. Many people think I am a mountain until they feel heat. I am a volcano.
I start out small. I get bigger. Alarms go off when I come. People make plans to get out of their house when I appear. I am fire.
I only get two inches of rain a year. I am hot. Animals can't even survive in me. I am Death Valley.
Author: Number 16
I see people tall, short, skinny, fat. I see all of the buildings. Sometimes they are so tall they hit me in the guts. I am the one who makes the sky radiant. I am the sky.
I keep the planet radiant. I will never go away. I love to be out and shining. The sad part is no one likes me. Everyone yells at me to go behind a cloud. I am the sun.
I fall from above to make sure the grass flourishes. I keep the plants growing. Without me, all of the grass and flowers would die. I do not come everyday. I am rain.
I am on the ground. We always get stepped on. My friend is so scared he never sprouts. Even when it rains, he hides. He only comes out when a worm is in him. We are the grass.
Author: Number 21
I am the sun. I am orange and yellow. I am a helpful resource. I give light and joy. And when I'm gone, we all see twinkling stars and a big peaceful moon. I am the sun.
Do you have any feedback for these Authors? We'd love to hear your thoughts! What did you like best about our writing. What were your favorite parts? Is there anything you think we could add?
I am...
During writing last week we read Water Dance by Thomas Locker.
Locker takes the reader through the water cycle by having water tell its story. The 'I' in the story is water. Here is an example from the text...
After discussing Thomas' work, students wrote their own "I am..." stories.
Students shared their writing with partners in the class.
Several partners thought their partner's writing was blog worthy. Here are some of the "I am..." selections by authors in Room 205...
Author: Number 22
I am a tree. My branches stretch to the sky. My leaves are bright green. I am the mighty maple tree. I am the tree of Spring.
Author: Number 26
The sun rises, and I'm tall. I see everyone. People come to remodel me on the outside, and I look down. I see everyone looking up and saying, "Wow! That's a tall building!" I am the Sears Tower.
Author: Number 14
I am a small jewel of the eye. I'm small and hard. I am a seedling.
When water drops splash me, I awake. The bright sun shines in my eyes. I am a small sprouting stem.
I am asleep. I don't awake because I am closed. The sun does not reach me. I am not ready. I am the flower bulb.
I feel ready to burst. But I don't feel ready. But I must open to see the world before me. Suddenly I see sun. I feel the carbon dioxide flowing within me. I see the evergreen land right before me. I suddenly hear strange things. I am frightened. I feel something poking my roots. It's a small metal thing. I am being lifted high in the sky. And I see I am leaving. When I awake the evergreen land is nowhere to be found. The dirt is strange, not feeling so fertile. It feels like hard clay. I feel a bee carrying part of me somewhere else. These things do not feed me. There is only sun.
Author: Number 7
I am a little brown jewel, and sometimes I am bigger. I am a seed.
I am a little green sprout, and when water hits me, I grow taller. I am a stem.
I am a tall stem with a bulb on the top. When I open up I will flourish nicely. I am in the middle of a flower.
I am starting to open up, and my colors are very nice and bright. I am a flower.
I am a little bee that brings some juice to other flowers that help them grow. I am pollen.
Thank you Room 205 Authors for doing such a lovely job! If you would like to comment about our writing, please feel free to do so! We appreciate any positive comments or constructive criticism!
Locker takes the reader through the water cycle by having water tell its story. The 'I' in the story is water. Here is an example from the text...
"In the shadows of the mountain,
I am still and deep.
I fill
and overflow.
I am the lake."
After discussing Thomas' work, students wrote their own "I am..." stories.
Students shared their writing with partners in the class.
Several partners thought their partner's writing was blog worthy. Here are some of the "I am..." selections by authors in Room 205...
Author: Number 22
I am a tree. My branches stretch to the sky. My leaves are bright green. I am the mighty maple tree. I am the tree of Spring.
Author: Number 26
The sun rises, and I'm tall. I see everyone. People come to remodel me on the outside, and I look down. I see everyone looking up and saying, "Wow! That's a tall building!" I am the Sears Tower.
Author: Number 14
I am a small jewel of the eye. I'm small and hard. I am a seedling.
When water drops splash me, I awake. The bright sun shines in my eyes. I am a small sprouting stem.
I am asleep. I don't awake because I am closed. The sun does not reach me. I am not ready. I am the flower bulb.
I feel ready to burst. But I don't feel ready. But I must open to see the world before me. Suddenly I see sun. I feel the carbon dioxide flowing within me. I see the evergreen land right before me. I suddenly hear strange things. I am frightened. I feel something poking my roots. It's a small metal thing. I am being lifted high in the sky. And I see I am leaving. When I awake the evergreen land is nowhere to be found. The dirt is strange, not feeling so fertile. It feels like hard clay. I feel a bee carrying part of me somewhere else. These things do not feed me. There is only sun.
Author: Number 7
I am a little brown jewel, and sometimes I am bigger. I am a seed.
I am a little green sprout, and when water hits me, I grow taller. I am a stem.
I am a tall stem with a bulb on the top. When I open up I will flourish nicely. I am in the middle of a flower.
I am starting to open up, and my colors are very nice and bright. I am a flower.
I am a little bee that brings some juice to other flowers that help them grow. I am pollen.
Thank you Room 205 Authors for doing such a lovely job! If you would like to comment about our writing, please feel free to do so! We appreciate any positive comments or constructive criticism!
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