Writer's Voice

When writing, there must be a consistent voice. The Point of View should not change throughout the essay. Most blog posts are written from a personal standpoint and should be in first person. This means using pronouns like I, me, she, we, and our.

Could This Be You?

If this looks like how you feel this morning, look at the bright side. There is a three day weekend coming up and you have already survived nine days of school this year. Keep working! Good things will come!

Is This Freedom of Speech?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kapernick sat during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before a football game. Is this freedom of speech?

Here are the opinions of a few people from Twitter:

Dale Wilsey Jr. ‏@drwilseyjr

Veterans fought to protect the rights guaranteed in the Constitution, not the flag. #ColinKapernick

Kelly Reed ‏@thatsokellyreed

So no one read #ColinKapernick say it was "bigger than football" watch the news! Police brutality will not be swept under the rug anymore.

Bruce A. Brunger ‏@BrungerB

Shame on #ColinKapernick... Many Patriotic Americans & Vets are Not Pleased w/your refusal to stand for the Anthem 

 Shep Michaels ‏@ShepMichaels

Demanding #ColinKapernick stand during a song is against the very foundation of freedom those making the demand pretend to believe in.

marcINArcadia ‏@MarcRader68

@Espngreeny seems like it's ok to protest,as long as you do it the way other people want you too. #ColinKapernick

Ron Scroggins ‏@RonScrogginsJr

@Kaepernick7 you can protest anyway you want, as long as it is non violent and peaceful #ColinKapernick

WineCowboy (Eric) ‏@WINECOWBOY

@Kaepernick7 @foxandfriends "If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, & your country you had better seek another flag". #ColinKapernick

 

James Hogan ‏@galaxyalpha

Is the @NFL proud of #ColinKapernick? Proud of him disrespecting our flag, our Constitution, and our military, who protect his/our freedom?

Ernst Sports ‏@ErnstSports

Don't worry #ColinKaepernick, this hero will stand on your behalf during the national anthem.

What do you believe, Reading Workshop students?

Making the Best

Writing an Essay

Reading Workshop students are beginning the first writing project. All writing should use a format of introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is Mr. Heath's videos that explains the process.

I'm Sure This Never Happens Here

Maya DiRado, Gold Medals, and You

Your assignment, Reading Workshop students is to write a blog post describing your "gold medal" year? What will it look like? What steps will you take to make it happen? What goals do you have? What problems will you have to overcome to be successful? How will you persevere when it gets tough? In the end, how will you know that you have achieved at the highest level?

Maya DiRado, Gold Medalist Swimmer

What motivates you as you train and compete?

I’m motivated by seeing how good I can be. That applies not just at race time but during every practice: I prepare as well as I possibly can, even when we’re nine months out from the big meet. I set high goals for myself and then enjoy the process of working toward them. Maya DiRado, August 2016

Award Ceremony

DiRado Gold Medal Ceremony

And some more of the gold medal winners

USA Gold Medal Winners

Image from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/sports/olympics/maya-dirado-katinka-hosszu.html?_r=0

Take Control

Hey sixth grade Reading Workshop students, take control of your life. Make yourself great!

Don't Be Average

Give it all to be your best!

Have a Happy Day

Weekly Reading Assignment

Each week students have an assignment to read at home. Students choose a book that they want to read from home, the library, or the book room. The only requirement is that they log the date, title, time read, and pages. Students are responsible for filling out this bookmark/chart each week as they read. All minutes read outside of language arts class count towards their grade. Occasionally, students will have longer than a week when the school schedule is affected by holidays.

Students can choose to earn the grade they want. The more they read, the higher the score. A large part of their language arts grade is based on this weekly assignment.

This is the grade scale:

A = 180 + Minutes
B = 120 - 179 Minutes
C = 60 - 119 Minutes
F = 0-59 Minutes

Although students have no direct assignments associated with the Read at Home assignment and the Reading Log, many of the activities and projects in class are based on the book they are reading.

The best part of this system for monitoring reading, and increasing reading time is how students can control their grades. If they are willing to work hard, their grades will show it.

A Little Bit of a Stomach Ache

Do you have a little bit of a stomach ache this morning? I do. 

You see, my grandson, Carter aka Zoom starts kindergarten today. Now I really think he will be OK, but I'm just a little worried. Thoughts are running through my head: Will he like school? Will he work hard? Will he keep out of trouble? Will the teacher like him? Will the other kids like him? Does he know enough? Will he be successful?

Reading Workshop students, you might be wondering by now, what does that have to do with me? Well really, it has everything to do with you. There is someone feeling the same way about you. It might be your mom or dad. I might be a grandparent, aunt, or uncle. Hopefully for all of you there is someone whose stomach has a little knot hoping for the best for you.

To tell you the truth, I am a little nervous with a knot in my stomach, worrying about you on this first day of school. I want you to have an amazing year. I want you to love school. I want you to work harder than you have ever worked and learn more than you knew was possible. I want to be proud of you and I want you to be proud of yourself.

It's a lot harder for you than it is for Zoom though. School is new to him. You have a history. You know a lot about school. There are things you like and things you don't. You are better at some things than others. You have had some successes, but maybe a few failures along the way.

The thing is, only you can control your success. Others may worry, but you are the one in charge. You make decisions that determine if this is the best year of your life. So choose success this year. Make it an outstanding year. I believe in you. Let's work together to make this an amazing year and when it's over, we'll know there never was any reason to have a little stomach ache today!

Welcome to the 2016/2017 School Year!

School is starting soon and I am excited!

It's All in How You Treat People

Helping Anyone?

Blueprints?

Blueprints?

By Sara Holbrook
 

Will my ears grow long as Grandpa's?

What makes us look like kin?

Tell me where'd I get long eyelashes

and where'd I get my chin?

Where'd I get my ice cream sweet tooth

and this nose that wiggles when I talk?

Where's I get my dizzy daydreams

and my foot-rolling, side-step walk?

Did I inherit my sense of humor

and these crooked, ugly toes?

What if I balloon like Uncle Harry

and have to shave my nose?

How long after I start growing

until I start to shrink?

Am I going to lose my teeth,

some day?

My hair?

My mind?

Do you think

I'll be tall or short or thin

or bursting at the seams?

Am I naturally this crazy?

Is it something in my genes?

I'm more than

who I am,

I'm also

who I'm from.

It's a scary speculation--                    

Who will I become?

This poem is from the book, Am I Naturally This Crazy. You can buy it HERE.

Happy Monday!

Image from @VAeducatorRJW

Happy Friday the 13th!

Welcome Back From Camp

Today is the first day back in school after the trip to Camp Oty Okwa for three days of outdoor education. This video explains a little about the experience.

Three Rules

Do you have rules for life?