November 9-13th Assignments

Hey there my super excellent writers! Since we have a short week, I would like us to continue on our focus of sentence fluency. This week, I need you to re-write ONE post from earlier in the year. You are going to cut and paste into a "new post". Then you need to bring it to life. Revision is a part of the writing process. Remember that everyone, even famous writers have editors. Here is your chance to make a story, narrative, expository or persuasive writing piece better!

Here is what you will be graded on:
1. Use the previous spelling words and try to ADD this weeks words. (FIVE from Unit 10).
2. Creating a complex sentence. (using a conjunction to combine two smaller or like sentences together.)
3. A strong introduction (LEAD)
4. Variety of transition words
5. One or more Idioms
6. A strong conclusion

Happy Blogging everyone!
Ms. Lines

November 2-6 Assignments

OK my eager beaver students, here is this weeks assignments.

This week we will be focusing on Sentence Fluency. Just like learning a new language, using words, connecting them the correct way is important too.

Why?
~looks around~
Well, I am glad you asked!

Sometimes ya just gotta go with the flow...at least that's the situation most readers find themselves in.

When we write, sentences it is important to start the beginning with a capital letter. Then we wind our way over words and phrases until we’ve expressed a complete thought, and then finally, we mark the endpoint with a period, question mark, or exclamation mark.When we read out loud we practice the shape of each sentence.
The writer starts with a topic sentence and then from beginning to end, takes the reader to understand what the author/writer is expressing.

In order to move phrase to phrase, word, to word and sentence to sentence, we practice what is called "sentence fluency". This means that the writing flows smoothly. A picture should begin to form in your mind.

Some examples are from our fiction novels. We read out loud about a painting. The sentences then goes on to describe it. Some readers jump to favorite painting in art class while another is thinking of a Van Gogh exhibit at the fair.
This week, you are going to practice your grammar and sentence fluency. We have the following prompts. You pick TWO of the four. Be sure to leave me a message when you are ready for me to grade it!
1. Imagine that you are Principal for the day. Ms. Gaitens had an important meeting and needs you to fill in. What three(3) school rules do you think are important to enforce? Why? What consequences would there be for the students who broke those rules? (USE FIVE SPELLING WORDS)
2. Pretend that a producer for a famous TV show is coming to our school! The producer is looking for script ideas for the show. Sadly there is a buzz in Hollywood to end the popular show "The O.C." Create and write a drama/reality based dialogue (script) that could get picked for the replacement show. Remember you might be the next reality TV show. What would you want all of America to watch? (USE FIVE SPELLING WORDS)
3. Finish this story: "Run for your lives" said the store owner as he or she stood in the store aisle. (USE FIVE SPELLING WORDS)
4. Write a MEME about yourself and then "tag" some of your friends in the post. You should have 10-20 questions about you. These questions should help us to get to know you better. IF you are the person being named in the post. You need to cut and paste the questions, change the response to be about you, then tag others. REMEMBER this is part of your school project and should be school appropriate. (USE 5 SPELLING WORDS)

Let's have a great week blogging and having fun learning!
~waves hands~
Ms. Lines

October 26-30 Assignments

Word Choice. We are continuing to work on our very important "Word Choice". Some students have been very quick to point out, that this part of the six traits is very similar to "Voice". Yes! ~nods head and smiles~

Now, this week and next I would like you to look up idioms. For example: "A picture is worth a thousand words". This idiom in the literal meaning might look like the picture I chose above. However, idioms are the "secret ingredient" to making the blue ribbon winning essay.

Remember, voice adds the spices, and YOU the author make it the winning essay. It will be your assignment to look up a few that you like, and use them in your writing posts.

You need to write 2 posts from the following prompts:

1. People get along better when they follow rules and laws. Imagine a place without rules or laws. What could go wrong in such a place? (Use 5 spelling words).

2. Finish this story: "How terrifying!" Said the kangaroo, as he or she pushed the red button. (Use 5 Spelling Words)

3. Write a tongue-twister Poem) about a Greek God/Goddess that should express excitement. (Use 5 Spelling words)

4. Imagine that our school could have a pet. What pet would you choose? Why? Who would be responsible to care for it? (feed, keep it clean, pick up after it, walk it so forth.)**(Use 5 Spelling Words)

If you can not find any idioms to use, you may see me for a list of some of my favorites. Each post needs to have at least ONE idiom in it!

Happy Blogging

Ms. Lines

Assignment October 18-23

Welcome back students from our fall break! We are so blessed to live in such a wonderfully warm part of the United States. This week we have a choice of four prompts. It is your job to pick your favorite two and write about them. They are as follows:

1. Were you ever asked to keep a secret you DIDN'T want to keep? How did it make you feel? Did you tell someone? Try to use five (5) vocab words.
2. Do you think that states should have the death penalty? Why or why not? Would you consider that a form of murder? Why or why not? (5 vocab words)
3. "Oh no." said the clown as he or she saw the plane fly into a barn. Remember those five (5) vocab words.
4. Imagine you created a recipe to save the world. Write out what ingredients you need and the directions to make it. (Use 5 vocab words)

I am grading you on your lead, type of conclusion, transition words, spelling(USE the SPELLCHECKER!!), and this weeks focus WORD CHOICE. I will be passing out reminder handouts about "Word Choice". Read your post out loud to a friend or have them read it to you. I often find my "oopses" that way.

When you complete your assignment leave me a message so I know you are ready to have me grade your work. Happy blogging!
~waves hands~
Ms. Lines

October 5-9 Assignment

Yeah! We made it nine weeks and here we are at our very first Quarter together. *sigh* OK, so this week, it is your job to get caught up on getting your blog complete. You can write about anything you want. You get to pick your own prompt. You may see me for idea's. You may choose not to post anything. Keep in mind that, if you are missing any work...I am offering some "make-up" work here!



Now, I will share with you one of the prompts that I asked you to write about: A time when I was really sad.



Title: Two Hours and twenty minuets.



The flight was two hours and twenty minuets. TWO hours and TWENTY minuets. *sigh* It might as well have been two days, as far as my sister and I were concerned. Didn't they know? Why couldn't this plane travel faster? Hurry, I pressed in my mind. Hurry! i squeezed my sisters hand, as the plane began its ascent into the sky.


I kept trying to tell myself that, this was the time that we all had been preparing for. I couldn't cry anymore. I had to be strong. The tears continued to pour out of my eyes, like a water fountain. There is no magic wand in this fairy-tail. I had to prepare for the worst. Sadly, I don't think any amount of preparation is ever enough. Death knows no boundary.


Two hours and twenty minuets. The*tick*tick*tick* sound echoed in my mind. I looked at my watch again.

The seconds were ticking away, like a stop watch at a track meet. * tick* *tick* tick*

Finally, as if we were transported by a time traveler, we sat, one on each side of her. It was so surreal. My sister held her hand on one side. I held the other. I could only, look on, as if it was some made for TV moment. I really just wanted to run away, cry, leave this space, with all these people gathered around her. How could I be so selfish.
*gasps*
*gasps*
*gasps*
Is this her last breath?
How will I know?
Why is THIS her time?
My heart felt as if it would explode.
My breathing matched my sobbing. OH god, this is really it.
*gasps*
*gasps*
*gasps*
I can't ever get that image out of my mind. Death wasn't a thief in the night. The grim reaper just stepped right up and took her. "HOW RUDE", I thought. Death has no right. Why this young and wonderful Mother and Grandmother? Why am I being so selfish? Maybe Death will bargain? Maybe I could offer Death something else instead, perhaps my soul?

*Gasps*

With that last gasp, her soul was free and her weak, frail body finally stopped fighting. Death, was the only victor today. Death, you cruel and horrible thing. I am left to grieve. I am left to mourn the loss of my dear Mother, so young. I am left sad, because I will have had two hours and twenty minuets less.

Assignments for Sept. 28-Oct..2

In honor of moving to our new site I would like you to pick TWO of your favorite writing pieces and RE-WRITE them.

Try using the skills you have learned so far with organization and voice. What would have made your story, or entry better? Look at the beginning, did it start off strong? Would the story take on a different flavor if you used a different lead?

Revising and rewriting is something that even professionals do. This is why newspaper and book editors have jobs. Take it in stride and know that your next attempt will be better, and you might even like it more than your first draft.

Use spelling words from the last 5 weeks, and don't forget about those challenge words. I think, they should get a bonus. In fact, I will be giving one point per challenge word used in each rewrite.

Have fun class and happy blogging!

~waves hands~

Ms. Lines

September 21-25 Assignments

This week I would like us to focus on "finding our voice". This is our 3rd stop on the 6 traits of writing train, and it is just as important, as any of the traits that we will focus on. Let me paint the picture for you. Imagine you are watching a movie in black and white. Then along comes, Technicolor and POW! Wham! The picture comes to life, and you can see the beautiful red ruby slippers in the "Wizard of Oz". You could also think of "voice" as the spices that make the food taste better. Imagine toast without the butter and jam. How much better was the movie in color? We call these "spices" (literary terms) idioms, hyperbole, and colorful adjectives.

This week You will be graded on the quality of the lead that you use, the ability to use your "voice" and a great conclusion. Don't forget to use those transition words! Remember you are working with homophones, you will be challenged to bring the color to the stories. Because, I want you to have some fun, you may use the spelling word from the last 4 weeks too!

Below are the prompts to choose from. You must complete TWO of the four options:

1. Image that you have been selected to paint the walls at our new school. What theme would you choose? Describe what you would want to be put on the wall.

2. Your hairstyle won "most unusual" in a local paper. Describe why your hair won. What color or colors did you hair have in it? Was it long or short?

3. What would food say if it could talk? What would it say? Write a conversation you might have at dinnertime.

4. Describe how you will someday become famous.

ALL assignments need to have at least (5) FIVE spelling words. When you complete the assignment, leave me a message, so that I know you are ready to get your grade!

Happy Blogging Students!

Ms. Lines