Archive of ‘Student Blog Connection’ category

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

We have almost arrived at the end of the school year.  It’s a perfect time to look back on what you have accomplished and to look ahead at what you still can do.  Write a blog post in two paragraphs that celebrates what you have done and that plans for the future.

In the first paragraph, celebrate all you have accomplished this year.  How have you grown as a reader and/or writer?  How many books have you read?  What new topics, authors, genres, or series have you discovered that you love?  Where do you find good books to read?  What book would you recommend that everyone should read?  What have you written this year that you are proud of?

In the second paragraph, plan for the future?  What are five books that you would like to read?  Since I have to pack up my classroom for the summer, where will you find books to read?  How will you connect with other readers?  Check out sites like Goodreads or give reviews on Amazon.  Drop by my blog to let me know what you are reading this summer.  I’ll be posting reviews of the books I read.  If you read them, too, let me know what you think.

If you want to continue blogging on your own, you will need to set up your own blog.  You will need parent permission and an email address.  First, choose your blogging platform.  Edublogs allows students to create their own blogs.  You can also choose from Blogger (convenient if you have a gmail account).  Go to the website of your choice and sign up.  For an Edublogs blog, click the Sign Up button in the top right corner.  Fill in all the required information.  Remember that your username and domain name must be unique!  That means you cannot use your username from our class blog.

Writing About Reading

1st, 3rd, and 4th Periods:  Moonbird by Phillip Hoose

Each chapter begins with a quote that connects with the information in the book.  Include the quote in your post.  Here are the quotes from the first four chapters:

  1. “To watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years…is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.”  –Rachel Carson
  2. “Human ingenuity may make various inventions, but it will never devise any inventions more beautiful, nor more simple, nor more to the purpose than Nature does; because in her inventions nothing is wanting and nothing is superfluous.”  –Leonardo da Vinci
  3. “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”  –John Muir
  4. “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” –Shakespeare

Choose one of these quotes to write about.  What does the quote mean?  How does the message of the quote connect with what we are learning about B95 and the rufa red knots?  Give examples and facts from the book to support your ideas.

2nd and 6th Periods:  Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen

So far Dylan, the dog, has brought three notes to Finn.  Include the quote of the note in your post.  These are the first three  notes:

  1. You’re not as ugly as you think.”
  2. You’re wrong about you and girls.
  3. The truth always reveals itself, and usually in mysterious ways.”
  4. “Family is who you find.”

Choose one of these quotes to write about.  How does the quote connect to Finn’s life in the story?  What lesson can Finn learn from the message?  Give examples from the story to support your ideas.

7th Period:  Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

Sophie chooses to stay in the Congo in order to protect Otto, the baby bonobo she rescued.   Include the quote in your post.   There are several quotes from the book that explore her choice:

  • “I’d learn to shut all of it out , because you couldn’t travel more than a few miles in Kinshasa without seeing a person dying on the side of the road, and I figured dying humans were more important than dying animals.  But it had always been my mom’s philosophy that the way we treat animals goes hand in hand with the way we treat people, and so she’d dedicated her life to stopping men like this one, bushmeat traders hoping for a sale” (Schrefer 2).
  • My mom’s eyes flashed.  “He’s very bad, Sophie.  You made a big mistake by giving him money.  I can see you’re starting to understand the gravity of what I’m saying, so I won’t bring it up again.  But you have to be wise about these things.  You have to learn when to ignore suffering so that you’re strong enough to fight it when the time is right” (Schrefer 16).

Choose one of these quotes.  How does it relate to the events of the story?  How do Sophie’s choices and actions show the truth (or falsehood) of the quote?  Support your ideas with examples from the story.

No matter which book you write about, your post should be at least 150 words!

Which book?

I found this idea from Deb Day, who shares the assignment with her freshman students.  I think it is a good way to reflect on where you’ve been as a reader and where you would like to go.

It begins with a quote from Oscar Wilde, a writer and poet:  “Books, I fancy, may be divided into three classes:  1.  Books to read.  2.  Books to reread.  3.  Books not to read at all.

It reminds me of a similar quote from Sir Frances Bacon:  “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”  Sir Bacon didn’t add that some books should not be eaten at all, but I do think there are some better left for others.

Now it’s your turn.  Which books would you put in each category?  Make a list of the books you would include in each category.  Explain your choices.

Your blog post should meet these requirements:

  • Be at least 150 words
  • Include at least two books in each category.
  • Explain why each book should be in the category you chose.
  • Proofread for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation before publishing.
  • **OPTIONAL:  Include picture of the each book if you  like.

Snow Days….Make Up Days

Picture by Dave McLear http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmclear/4373175765/ Picture by Dave McLear
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmclear/4373175765/%5B/caption%5D

As you may have noticed, we’ve missed quite a few days of school due to snow and cold.  (We’re up to 13, if I haven’t lost count.)  Since we are required to be in school for 180 days, we have to make up the days we’ve missed.  We’ve made up one day (on Martin Luther King Day).  We’re scheduled to make up two more on President’s Day and the Monday after spring break.  Here are some of the options being considered to make up the remaining 10 days:

  • Attend school on Good Friday (make up 1 day).
  • Attend school one Saturday a month (up to 4 days).
  • Attend school on Memorial Day (make up 1 day).
  • Extend the school day by an hour to make up the additional time (1 hour/day for 6 days = 1 makeup day).
  • Offer online instruction on Saturdays.
  • Add any remaining days to make up on to the end of the school year.  (Scheduled last day was May 23.  Adding all 10 days to the end of the year would extend school until June 9.)

What are the pros and cons of each option?  What do you think we should do to make up the days?  It might have to be a combination of the above ideas.

Who Is Spreading Some Sunshine?

I hope this will make it easier to find the blogger who nominated you and to find the Sunshine Posts of everyone who has been nominated.  I’ll keep updating the list as you keep writing!  Links will take you straight to the Sunshine Posts.  I can’t wait to learn more about you.  Give these post

Mrs. McGriff started things off by nominating these bloggers:

Mrs. Baxter nominated these bloggers:

Aaron C nominated these bloggers:

Abbi T nominated these bloggers:

Abrianna J

Alexia M nominated these bloggers:

Alexxis S nominated these bloggers:

Anthony W nominated these bloggers:

Ashley B nominated these bloggers:

Ashley M 

Brock E nominated these bloggers:

Charles B

Cody W 

Emily H nominated these bloggers:

Emma C nominated these bloggers:

Gavin D nominated these bloggers:

  • Hunter C
  • Hunter C

Isaiah B nominated these blogger:

Jaiden G

Katlyian F

Kobe D nominated these bloggers:

Kyle T nominated these bloggers:

Lexy L nominated these bloggers:

Matt B nominated these bloggers:

  • Emily H
  • Skyler G
  • Keegan P
  • Olivia F

Olivia F nominated these bloggers:

Rachel M nominated these bloggers:

Ryan C nominated these bloggers:

Shon W nominated these bloggers:

  • Shelby L
  • Antonio H-N

Sonny B nominated these bloggers:

Taylor B nominated these bloggers:

Toby T nominated these bloggers:

Tori Z

Trent P

Tristan M

Triston S 

Xander G

 

 

How to Survive a Snow/Cold Day Yet Again

This may be a winter to remember even though the folks who know say it’s not nearly as bad as the blizzard of ’78.  (I wouldn’t know.  I was down south that winter.)  Since we’ve had a plethora (that means a lot) of snow days this winter, I suspect you are getting quite good at surviving a day off from school.  How do you entertain yourself on these cold, snowy days?  How do you keep from succumbing to cabin fever?

Write a post giving your best advice on how to spend a snow (or cold in case of today) day.  You might try writing a list poem of all the possibilities.  You could capture one moment of your day and describe it in detail.  You could write a parody of an instruction manual that gives directions on what to do with your day.  Have fun with it!  Remember your posts should approach 150 words.

If you want to share, follow the directions below.

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL or address for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the page.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar at the top of the screen.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.  Click the POST COMMENT button when you are done.  Your comment then goes to the top.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

What’s in a name–your turn

In the second day of No Name Calling Week, what power does a name have?  Think about all the names you are called.  What do they say about you?  You might answer one of the questions below:

  • How did your parents choose your name?  What do you like–or not–about your names?
  • Do you have a nickname?  How did you get it?  Who calls you by that name?  What do you like–or not–about it?
  • You may have heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  I don’t think that statement’s true.  Words–especially insulting names–do hurt.  How can you stop the hurt caused by name-calling?  What can we as a school do?  Have you ever been hurt by name calling?

Remember, your need to write about 150 words.  Elaborate on your idea by giving examples, explaining your thinking, adding sensory detail, making comparisons with figurative language.

You don’t have to write on this topic.  You can write about anything you want (at least 150 words) and leave a link to share your writing.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL or address for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the page.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar at the top of the screen.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.  Click the POST COMMENT button when you are done.  Your comment then goes to the top.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

A Day with Dain

Would you like for an Olympic athlete to come to our school?  You can enter our school in a contest by writing an essay (or a blog post) explaining how our school would benefit from a day with Dain.  Getting the the Gold is sponsoring a Facebook essay contest to win a day with Dain Blanton.  All you have to do is to write an essay explaining “How would my school benefit from ‘A Day with Dain?'”

Here’s what you need to know, including links:

  • Essays must be written by students in grades 6-12 (check).
  • Essays must be 2-3 paragraphs, up to 500 words, written legibly or typed. (If you type it as a blog post, I will copy it to the correct format to send).
  • Each school (who has not worked with Dain before) can submit two essays. (I’ll check with other Language Arts teachers who might be interested, and we will select the two essays to send from our school.)
  • Submissions have to be sent by January 30.  That means you have to submit it to me (on paper or on your blog) by January 24–that’s Friday.
  • Click here for complete contest rules.
  • Click here to learn more about Dain, and here to learn more about Dain’s program:  A Day with Dain.
  • Once Getting to Gold selects the Top 10 Essays, vote for your favorite on the Dain Blanton for Students Facebook page.  (You have to vote from home, if your parents allow you on Facebook.)

If you write this essay, it does count as one of your writings for this week.  Please leave a link to the blog post with your essay in the comments.

You don’t have to write on this topic.  You can write about anything you want (at least 150 words) and leave a link to share your writing.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the pate.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

Spread a Little Sunshine

January 20 – 24 is No Name Calling Week.  I’ll have a series of posts this week reflecting on the effects of name calling (probably the most common form of bullying I see) and suggesting ways you can stand up to make a difference.

It is much easier to make fun of someone you don’t know, someone who seems different from you.  How well do you know your classmates?  Do you know which things you have in common?  Do you know what unique interests and knowledge and experiences set you apart?  I know I’ve learned a lot about you from reading your blogs.  Now it’s your turn.

Across the blogosphere, bloggers have been nominating other bloggers for a Sunshine Award.  Since I commented on Elsie’s blog Elsie Tries Writing, I’m nominated, too.  I’m taking that idea (and changing it to fit us) and nominating some excellent student bloggers.  If you’re nominated, you get to introduce yourself and nominate more of your classmates.  Here’s what you need to do if nominated.

  1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
  3. Answer 7 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
  4. Write 7 questions to be answered by the bloggers you nominate.
  5. Nominate 7 student bloggers (look for those who haven’t been nominated yet if you can.). You’ll have to tell the person you nominated them.  Check the categories on each blog for a list of students in a each class.
  6. Copy these directions in your post.

I’ll start off with 7 random facts about me.

  1. I was born and grew up in eastern North Carolina.
  2. My first real job was barning tobacco for two summers.  After that I will never put that stuff in my mouth.  It’s disgusting!
  3. I met my husband at the East Kentucky Regional Airport in Hazard, KY.
  4. My second job in high school was shelving books in the local library and helping with the summer reading program.  It was the perfect job for me.
  5. I have my private pilot’s license.  Even though I don’t fly anymore, I am glad I have “slipped the bonds of earth” at least a few times.
  6. I started doing sprint triathlons several years ago.  I’m old and slow, but I take pride in the fact I can finish a .2 mile swim, 9.5 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run.
  7. I grew up being told, “You’re just like your grandma.”  Sometimes that was a good thing, and sometimes it was said in frustration as I burned dinner because I was reading.

I’m answering the questions posed by Elsie, who nominated anyone who commented on her post a few weeks ago.

  1.  Where were you born?  I was born in Fayetteville, NC.
  2. What’s one thing at the top of your bucket list?  Taking a vacation where I can travel across the prairie (for a short journey) in a covered wagon.
  3. What makes you smile?  Lots of things–my dog, blue skies and sunshine, my family, seeing my students light up when they get it.
  4. What is your favorite time of day?  I love morning, especially when I am the first one up and the house is quiet.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would be your first big purchase?  First, I would pay off the mortgages on our house and farm.  Then I would purchase a plane ticket to somewhere exotic.
  6. Do you know anyone famous?  Who?  I still get a thrill when real, live authors interact with me on Twitter!  When I was in high school, I got to interview Herve Villachez from Fantasy Island.
  7. What is something you’d like to do this year that you’ve not done before?  I want to do a Color Run!

Now here are 7 questions for you to answer.

  1.  What would be your dream job?
  2. Where would you like to visit?
  3. What do you like to do on the weekends?
  4. What did you do on our last snow day?
  5. What is your favorite picture book from your childhood?
  6. What are you good at doing?
  7. Who would you like to meet?

Drumroll, please!  Here are the 7 student bloggers I nominate to get us started!

  1.  Mrs. Baxter 
  2. Alexia M (1st period)
  3. Anthony W (2nd period)
  4. Abbigail T (3rd period)
  5. Alexxis S (4th period)
  6. Aaron C (6th period)
  7. Abrianna J (7th period)

If you are nominated, leave a comment with a link to your post and tell us who you nominated.

A New Year: A Reading Roadmap or One Little Word

Welcome back!  As the calendar flips to a new year and we start a new semester,  many people take time to reflect on what the past year brought and what they hope the new year will bring.  Here are two choices–one focused on the past and one focused on the future–for you to reflect on.  Write a post of at least 150 words on one of these topics.  Then follow the steps below to  share your writing and connect with other writers.

  • Reading Road Map:  Look at what you have read during 2013.  What trends do you notice about yourself as a reader?  What genres have you read more of?  What has changed–or remained the same–about when and where and how much you read?  What are you most proud of accomplishing as a reader?  How many books did you read last year (or last semester)?  What are your goals for yourself as a reader for the coming year?  Check out my post on Reading Reflections and Resolutions for an idea.
  • One Little Word (OLW):  You may have heard people talking about this twist on New Year’s Resolutions.  Instead of making a list of things you “should” do (and probably breaking them by February), you choose a word to focus on throughout the year.  Many of my blogging friends who take part in the Slice of Life sponsored by Two Writing Teachers take part in OLW.  This year I decided to try it, too.  Is there a word you would like to focus on throughout the year?  A good word is not too specific and not too broad.  It needs to be just right–a word that will guide and inspire you through the year.  What word will you choose?  How will you look for or use this word in the coming year?  What do you hope to learn by focusing on this word?  How did you decide on this word?  Read my post Looking Forward to Joy to learn about my word and what I hope to learn from it this year.

Here are the three easy steps to follow:

  1. Write a blog post:  You can write about the suggested writing for the week, or write about any topic of your choice.
  2. Share your blog post by leaving a link in the comments for this post.  To find the URL for your post, click on the post title you want to share.  If you are in the right spot, you should see only your post (and a place to leave comments) on the pate.  Then COPY the URL from the address bar.  Come back to this post and PASTE the URL in the comments.  You may want to briefly tell what your post is about as an invitation.  If you’ve copied the URL correctly, you should see your blog post title at the end.
  3. Read the blog posts of at least three others who leave a link in the comments.  Leave a thoughtful comment that asks a question, shares more information, or points out something specific the writer did well.

1 2