Student Writing of the Week 3/26/12

Well, I apologize everyone for the late post.  With all of the STAAR testing we've been so busy!  This week is a very sad post.  One of my student writers wrote a heart-felt journal entry on the loss of her great grandmother.  Just like life, writing has highs and lows.  However, writing about your feelings can often help you to heal.  My heart goes out to Destiny and her family as they go through this tough time.

Based on a true story
By Destiny

My great grandma was in the hospital for a week and died there 3 times but this machine brought her to life so she came home well about 3 days later she was really sick so the people didnt think she was going  to make it in 3 weeks so she stopped dialieses and went on hosspist.  The estiment was 2 weeks till she would die so my uncle was coming from Oaklahona would come.  On friday the past week she spoke very little I told her "I loved her" she said "I love you to."  Saterday she didnt speak Sunday we were going to her house then my aunt called she said "shes gone"  my grandma burst into tears We dorve there fast when I saw her dead and I started to cry I love you were the last words I told her at 12:45 Sunday she was in Heven with Jesus

Student Writing of the Week 3-19-12

Everyone knows that I can't handle scary stories or scary books.  I barely made it through typing this one!  However, I knew you all would like to hear Josue's scary tale.

By Josue

I felt so scared being in that place, I heard wired noises, well I'm getting carried away, let me start from the beggining.  I was going to visit my grandma over in Mexico, she lives in a realy creepy house, my cousin Jacob was with me, my grandma asked me to go to the attic to get her umbrella, I had to go with Jacob again, I went up there with Jacob, it was creepy, I  told Jacob that I saw something move, and there was no respond, then I saw someone else in the room, whos there?

To be continude...

Turn in any corrections for extra credit.

Indian in the Cupboard Project

In class, we have finished reading "The Indian in the Cupboard" by Lynne Reid Banks.  The book was published in 1980 for children at the fourth or fifth grade reading level. It tells the story of a young boy named Omri who receives a plastic Indian on his birthday. When he places the Indian in a cupboard and locks it with a magical key, the cupboard transforms the plastic toy into a real Indian named Little Bear.

Project: What's in Your Cupboard?

Using cardboard or another type of box/container, create your own magical cupboard.  You probably have a cereal box that you could use already!  Using paper, glue, markers, stickers, and/or paint, decorate your cupboard. (5 points)

Select a special toy or figurine that you would like to put in the cupboard. . It does not have to be plastic, as it was in the book, but it must fit in the cupboard. Examples might be: toy dinosaur, stuffed animal, doll, toy car, toy robot, etc.)  Since Omri had to keep Little Bear a secret, try to keep the identity of your toy a secret until it is presented in class! (2 points)

Next, write a short story describing what happens when the toy comes to life.  Little Bear was bossy and demanding.  What is your toy like when it comes to life?  What adventures do the two of you have?  This story should be 100 words long.  (5 points)

When projects are complete, students will do presentations to the entire class and open their cupboard to show the item inside.  They will tell the class what adventures they had with their toy. (3 points)

This project is worth 20 points and will be due on Wednesday, March  21^st after Spring break.  Students are encouraged to be creative and have fun!

Student Writing of the Week 3-5-12

I was pleased to see that this week's student writer was inspired by our class novel, "The Indian in the Cupboard."  In our class novel, one of the character speaks with an accent and Lynne Reid Banks, the author, writes it into the dialogue.  Michael also does a great job of showing how an individual might say a word differently!  Don't turn in any spelling corrections for the words that are said in an accent.  They are written that way on purpose.  Here's Chapter 3 of Michael's story!

A Virus' Life

Chapter 3

by Michael

“He doesen’t know, he doesen’t know I can mess up two computers at once.  I bet he’s just jealous that I’m better.”  Little Terror tells himself.  Right now he is sitting on a tall chip, watching the others.  They must be planning something.  He thought.  Something to get me back.  He stopped, he noticed one of them was gone. 

“Howdy,” 

Little Terror jumped.  He turned around.  “Oh, hello.”  Little Terror did not know this virus. 

“A didin’t know ya’ll were in thees here contraption.” 

Little Terror can easily tell he has a STRONG Texan accent, though he finds it hard to understand.  “I see you have an accent.” He says.  “But I don’t see where you’ve rolled in from, so, where from?” He asks. 

“A come from anothe contraption an was moved from mhome just bout an hour ago.” He replies with his accent.  “So whare those fellows?”  He asks

“Those are the viruses who made fun of me, they want to get back at me somehow.” He replies

“Oh, so ya’ll sittin ere waitin fa the guys to do somethin suspicious?” He says.  “Hold on, now two of them are gone!”

Little Terror gasps.  He wonders where they went and why, maybe to catch him?  Then suddenly he can’t see anything, it goes black.  Then he goes unconscious… To Be Continued