November 23-27 Assignments

Dear Students,

We need the students to take a short quiz. This quiz is part of our Future. We would like our students to graduate with a better attitude toward life, themselves, and learning. We consider this creating hope. We need your opinions to move toward these goals and objectives. Please click on the link below to start your study:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1nmscQeZ3xH9sy28_2f_2fdj6w_3d_3d

It will take about 30-40 min. Completing this will count for one blog assignment.

This weeks assignments are:

1. " Has anyone seen my wedding ring" said the pirate as he/she took the turkey out of the oven.

(Use any 5 spelling words from units 1-11) Remember I will be grading on your use of the 6 traits of writing.

2. Imagine you have a time machine, and you have landed yourself at the very first Thanksgiving dinner. What foods are they serving? Why is everyone speaking a strange language? Write a dialogue of the conversations that you would have with all the Pilgrims. How would you explain your strange language. Be sure to use a play format or quotes. (Spelling words from Unit 1-11 and 2 Thanksgiving day related vocabulary words.)

I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Ms. Lines

P.S. I am thankful for each and everyone of you!

Assignmnets for November 16-20

Happy Monday Students!
This week we are focusing on Conventions. NO, it is not where you dress up in crazy costumes and meet at a convention center. We are talking about the ones on our six traits of writing. Conventions are the simple little things, such as spelling, punctuation, and spacing issues with words. Did you forget to title your work? If a stranger read my post, would he or she know what I am talking about?!?!?!

This week we will have two prompts. You may choose these two or pick one or two posts from earlier this year and correct the conventions. Either way you should have TWO (2) posts by Friday.

1. Write a letter to a friend, relative, or teacher about the following: "What are you thankful for and why?" Be sure to use the "friendly letter style" when writing your letter.
2. Finish the following story: "I can explain" said the student as he or she tripped on the box that stuck out of the closet.

Happy Blogging!
Ms. Lines

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.