Would You Rather? Part 3 ...

Dear students,

As I read your posts from yesterday, I noticed a lack of editing. Be sure to do your best writing.

As a reminder, for your final blog posts, you will write a persuasive paragraph in a series called "Would You Rather." In each post, I will give you a scenario, and you will have to defend your answer using the following criteria:

• A topic sentence stating your opinion
• At least 3 supporting sentences defending your opinion
• A concluding sentence summarizing your writing

Here is your "Would You Rather" for today:

Would you rather be a giant hamster or a tiny rhino?

Please remember to check for mistakes by reading aloud your post to yourself before you publish it. I cannot wait to see what you write!

Your teacher,

Ms. S :)

Would You Rather? Part 2 ...

Dear students,

For your final blog posts, you will write a persuasive paragraph in a series called "Would You Rather." In each post, I will give you a scenario, and you will have to defend your answer using the following criteria:

• A topic sentence stating your opinion
• At least 3 supporting sentences defending your opinion
• A concluding sentence summarizing your writing

Here is your "Would You Rather" for today:

Would you rather win five million dollars or become a famous superstar?

Please remember to check for mistakes by reading aloud your post to yourself before you publish it. I cannot wait to see what you write!

Your teacher,

Ms. S

Would You Rather ...

Dear students,

For your final blog posts, you will write a persuasive paragraph in a series called "Would You Rather." In each post, I will give you a scenario, and you will have to defend your answer using the following criteria:

• A topic sentence stating your opinion
• At least 3 supporting sentences defending your opinion
• A concluding sentence summarizing your writing

Here is your "Would You Rather" for today:

Would you rather have a 3-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation?

I cannot wait to see what you will write!

Your teacher,

Ms. S

P.S.-Here is my example:

        If I had the choice to have a 3-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation, I would rather have a 3-day weekend every week. If I had a 3-day weekend instead of 2 days, I would get a lot more done! In addition, I would not have to work as much, and I could spend more time working out, shopping, reading, relaxing, and hanging out with my friends. Plus, I would not feel so rushed on my weekends. I could even go out of town for long weekends and visit family and friends! I prefer having a 3-day weekend  rather than having another month of summer vacation.

Poetry Madness: Championship Game

Welcome to the championship game!!! Reread "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" and "The Falling Star."

Your post MUST include:
*why you connect to the poem
*what you like about the poet's craft

If your response is not detailed and does not answer both parts, it will be disqualified. In addition, if there are multiple grammatical and spelling mistakes, your response will be disqualified.

It takes attention to detail and hard work to be a champion, so your blog post needs to reflect your best writing and thinking. May the best poem win!

Hold Your Horses!

You do not need to post tonight. For the first time ever in Poetry Madness history, we have a tie in Game 1 of the Final Four. "Mother to Son" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is tied. We will determine the winner tomorrow!

Poetry Madness: Final Four, Game 2

Who is going to make it to the championship game?

Read "The Falling Star" and "The New Suit."

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Final Four, Game 1

Welcome to the Final Four!

Read "Mother to Son" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me."

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 4

Read "Do You Carrot for Me at All?" and "The New Suit."

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 3

Read "Choosing Shoes" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me."

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 2

Read "The Falling Star" and "If."

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 1

Read "Mother to Son" and "Casey at the Bat."

In Round 2, you need to choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Game 8

We are at the end of Round 1. I've enjoyed reading your responses, but can't wait to see what happens as the competition heightens!

Read Game 8 poems. Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***I still notice some of us need to correctly capitalize the title of the poems. However, many of us responded with detail on Part 3. Keep up the good work!

Poetry Madness: Game 7

Read Game 7 poems. Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***I still notice some of us need to correctly capitalize the title of the poems. However, many of us responded with detail on Part 3. Keep up the good work!

Poetry Madness: Game 6

Read Game 6 poems. Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***I still notice some of us need to correctly capitalize the title of the poems. Also, be sure you give a detailed answer in Part 3.

Poetry Madness: Game 5

Read Game 5 poems. Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Be sure you give a detailed answer in Part 3.

Poetry Madness: Game 4

Read Game 4 poems. Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.


Don't forget to capitalize the title of the poem and put it in quotation marks. 

Poetry Madness: Game 3

Read Game 3 poems, "The Eagle" and "Casey at the Bat." Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.


In your response, remember to:
*Capitalize the title of the poem and put quotation marks around the title.
*not put a comma around "because."

Poetry Madness: Game 2

Read Game 2 poems, "Roger the Dog" and "The Falling Star." Then answer each question. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition)and your personal connection to the meaning.

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.


In your response, remember to:
*Capitalize the title of the poem and put quotation marks around the title.
*not put a comma around "because."

Poetry Madness: Let the Games Begin!

During March, the best college basketball teams compete for the National Title. In order to be the best, each team must state their case by playing the best, scoring the most, and ultimately advancing to the next round.


To create a sense of poetry madness in our room and celebrate poetry, we will read a 2 poems each evening and advance a class winner the following day. However, like the basketball tournament, we must use specific criteria to judge a poem: meaning, poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition), ability to visualize, and your personal connection.


 Each night you will answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.


1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.


 Tonight please read Game 1 and choose your favorite.

If You Could ...

Dear students,

If you could do anything you wanted when you grow up, what would do? 

Be sure to include:

• a topic sentence
• supporting details
• complete sentences
• correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation

I cannot wait to read your response!

What are you reading?

Dear Readers,

I am interested to hear about your independent reading books. Right now, I am reading a book Ms. B recommended to me. I can't wait to tell her about my favorite parts and discuss the questions I have so far.

What are you reading?
What's your favorite part?
What questions do you have about the book?

Please answer the questions above. Be sure to write the title of your book in the topic sentence.

Point of View

Dear Readers,

We have discussed point of view in class. We learned about first person, third person limited, and third person omniscient. Then we analyzed some of Patricia Polacco's books and from who's point of view the story is told.

For example, Pink and Say was written in third person limited. The story is told from Say's perspective, but a narrator is telling it because it uses the pronoun "he." As a reader, we do not know everything, but only the thoughts and feelings of Say.

In our historical fiction book clubs, we have analyzed our book's point of view. What point of view is your book told? How does the point of view influence how the story is told, and what you know or do not know?

I look forward to reading about your book's point of view and why it matters.

Be sure to answer both questions in complete sentences, and edit your work before you submit it.

One Little Word (OLW) for 2013

Each new year, two of my cyber-mentors challenge teachers to find their One Little Word (OLW). The OLW is one word that will represent, or symbolize, the year ahead. The word should be personal and thoughtful. My mentors spend weeks thinking about their OLW, making sure they select a word that will really guide them.

I have thought a great deal about my OLW. For 2013, I selected "trust" as my One Little Word. I selected "trust" because I don't always trust God's plan and try to make my own way. I need this word to remind me to trust not only His plan for me, but also to trust in the strengths and talents He has blessed me with, rather than worry about the future. Trust can apply to my life in so many ways - through friends, work, my students, my family, myself, and ultimately, God's plan for me. I will use this word to guide me through the days of 2013.

What is your One Little Word? How does this word apply to your life? How can you use your OLW to guide your year? Comment to this post with your OLW, and examples of how you can use your OLW this year. Here is a list of possible words to help you. Copy and paste this link if you need suggestions for a word.

http://aliedwards.com/2012/01/one-little-word-2012-the-words.html