Friday, August 30, 2013

Collecting Words


Max has two brothers. One collects coins; the other, stamps. Max wants to collect something, too, so he begins a collection of words.

Invite newer readers to join Max on his hunt for words. From magazines, newspapers, and catalogs, your student can cut "small words," "bigger words," "words that ma[k]e him feel good," "words of things he like[s] to eat," "his favorite colors...." After reading his words, he can arrange his collection in various orders until he finds an arrangement he loves, individual, unrelated sentences or strings that make a story. Instruct him to carefully paste the words onto a piece of cardstock, illustrate it, and share it with someone else who loves words or maybe someone who, like Max's brothers, doesn't share very well.

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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Who/Whom


Who/whom has trouble knowing when to use who/whom? Who/whom do you ask when you need to know whether to use who or whom? Who/whom cares? 

I do. : )

Read this excellent explanation to help you figure out how to use who/whom correctly.

P. S. Notice The Oatmeal's other grammar comics at the bottom of the post.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Learning Genres

Do you want books to help your students...
                        ...learn the elements of literary analysis?
                        ...study different genres?
                        ...improve their reading and writing skills?

I recommend Nancy Loewen's Writer's Toolbox series.  So far, there are nine:





These books accomplish a lot. First, many of them include a stand-alone story. In Once Upon a Time, for instance, Loewen retells "Little Red Riding Hood."  The story can be read and enjoyed all by itself. But then she adds blocks to most pages which explain the tools necessary for that particular genre. Again, in Once Upon a Time, Loewen shows that fairy tales need setting, characters, plot, dialogue, warnings, magic, greed, tricks, secret, repetition, mistakes, problem-solving, and a pleasing end. Phew! That sounds like an overwhelming list, but she keeps the descriptions brief, and she positions the story, so that it illustrates each tool she is explaining.

At the end of the books, she reviews the tools, gives "Getting Started Exercises," shares "Writing Tips," and directs readers to a Fact Hound site which lists related books and websites.

There's no lack of nourishment for your language arts menu here. Focus on one book a month or intersperse a few of them with the other language arts activities you are doing. Whatever you choose, I'm pretty sure you'll leave the table satisfied.

For an additional idea, see the assignment in Inspiration.

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Writing Fairy Tales

  

1. Read Nancy Loewen's Once Upon a Time: Writing Your Own Fairy Tale two times.  The first time, read the fairy tale. The second time, read the tools and notice how they relate to the tale.
2. Choose several of your favorite fairy tales, other than Little Red Riding Hood, to read and enjoy. You can read three completely different tales, or you can choose three retellings of the same tale to compare and contrast. If you choose the latter option, Little Red Riding Hood is fine.

3. Analyze each of the tales, noting on this sheet where you see each of the tools in action.

4. Write your own fairy tale. If helpful, use Loewen's "Getting Started Exercises" on page 29, or you may use the planning sheet here.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

On Revising

 
"Writing the first draft was a tedious ordeal for me (and still is), but revising was like solving a puzzle: move this sentence, cut this paragraph, change this word, summarize this, stretch that—the challenge of revision was what writing was all about."
                                                                                                 

  free clip art  

Revision Practice


Part 1
Let's pretend that ten-year-old Lily has given your students the first draft of her story, asking them how she can make it better. Ah, what a wonderful opportunity for them to read slowly, carefully, and analytically and to respond with comments that are kind, insightful, and helpful.

Copy Lily's first draft into a document and print it, allowing your students to write their questions and comments directly on it, or copy it to a Word or PDF document and let them use the review feature.

When I did a similar exercise with a class of high schoolers last year, they sat a little straighter and acted a little smarter as they took the role of mentor. They were able to notice problems in another person's work that they were blind to in their own. I guess that's typical, though, isn't it?!

***
The Poor Little Girl Who Became a Princess, draft 1
By Lily

Once upon a time there was a poor girl whose father was blind and very old.  Because he was blind and could not work, took her water pot from the shelf where she kept it and went to get water at a nearby well.

One day when she was taking her water pot down from the shelf, she found four beautiful jewels inside.  She did not know what they were because she had never seen jewels before.  Even though she did not know what they were, she thought they were very beautiful and wanted to keep them.  She hid them under her dust cloth and took the pot and went to get water as she usually did.  She did not expect the strange incident to happen again.

The next day she woke up and, after fixing breakfast, went to get her water pot.

She found that inside were a handful of jewels, even more beautiful than before.  She did the same as she had done with the jewels she had found the day before.  That night she thought that this was very strange and wondered who had been putting jewels in her water pot. 

The next day she went and looked in her pot and found that there were two handfuls of jewels, even more beautiful than before.  She put them under the dust cloth and went to fetch water, just as she usually did.  That night she thought about the person who had put the jewels in her water pot.  She wanted to find out who the person was. 

The next day, she ran to her water pot and found three handfuls inside.  This time she decided to go and show them to her father.  While she was bringing them to his room, she remembered that he was blind and would not be able to see them.  But, she thought, he might know what they are and he would be able to feel them.  So, she put the jewels in her father’s hands, and described them.  He knew at once what they were and told her that they were worth a lot of money.  So she went and sold some of them, but kept the first four, because she thought, “I might use them for something someday.”  By the end of the day, she and her father had a big house, plenty of food, and good clothes to wear.

The next day, she decided to go and sell her old clothes which weren’t very ragged yet.  She sold them to a poor man, who thanked her and told her that his wife would need them.  She went to bed that night and decided that it had been very good that she sold them and thought about how blessed the man and his wife would feel.

The next day it was very early in the morning when she heard a knock at the door. She answered it and when she opened the door, she saw that there was a man dressed in rich clothes.  He asked her if this was the Smith household and she said it was.  He handed her an invitation to a ball at the palace.  She thanked him and he went away and she shut the door.  She hurried to her room to get her best clothes ready. 

That night at the ball she got to dance with the prince and they fell in love.  And soon after, they were married.  And they lived happily ever after.
Part 2
Lily actually sent me her story for my mentoring help. She revised it a couple of times and sent me her "new and improved" version.

Ask your students to read both drafts carefully, writing down their observations of what Lily did to make her story better.

***
The Poor Little Girl Who Became a Princess, Revised
By Lily

Once upon a time there was a poor girl whose father was blind and very old. Because he was blind and could not work, she had to do all the housework by herself.  Every day she took her water pot from the shelf and went to get water at a nearby well. 

One day while cleaning the house, she removed her water pot so that she could dust the shelf.  As she was finishing the task, she peeked inside and found four beautiful jewels.  Each one was a different, rich color.  She reached inside and picked one up.  It was smooth and slippery.  “What is it?” she wondered. She thought they were interesting, so she wanted to keep them.  Then she hid them under her dust cloth and took the pot to get water as she usually did.  She did not expect the strange incident to happen again.

The following morning she woke up and, after fixing breakfast, hurried to get her water pot. Again she found a handful of jewels. She put those under her dust cloth, too. That night she thought that this was very strange. “Who is putting those beautiful things in my water pot?” she thought. 

When she woke up the next day, she quickly ran and looked in her pot and discovered that there were two handfuls of jewels.  She put them under the dust cloth and walked to the well, just as she usually did.  That night she wondered greatly about who had been doing this strangely wonderful deed.  She wanted to find out who the person could be.

As soon as she awoke, she ran to her water pot and found three handfuls inside. This time she decided to go and show them to her father.  “He might know what they are,” she thought.  So, she put the jewels in her father’s hands, and described them. 

“These are jewels Mary! They are worth a lot of money!” he said excitedly.            

So she hurried to sell some of them, but kept the first four, because she thought, “I might use them for something someday.” She earned 16,000 gold coins.

Later that day she decided to give away her old clothes which weren’t very ragged.  She gave them to a poor man, who thanked her and told her that his wife needed them.  She went to bed that night and thought about how blessed the man and his wife felt.

Very early the next morning, she heard a knock at the door.  When she opened the door, she saw a footman from the palace dressed in rich clothes. “Good morning. Here is an invitation to the royal ball,” he announced.   

“THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!” she yelled and then slammed the door.  She dashed to her room to get her best gown ready.

That night at the ball she danced with the prince and they fell in love. Later that night, they sat together and talked. “So, tell me how you grew up,” the prince said.

“Well, me and my father were very poor until one day someone started putting jewels in my water pot,” she replied. Then, she had an idea. “Do you know who put jewels in my water pot?” she asked. The prince was about to answer when they both heard a deep voice.  

“I did.”           

The prince jumped. “Father?” he said. They both turned around. There standing in front of them was the king himself!

The girl quickly curtsied and said, “Your Majesty.”             

“No need,” he continued. “I did, because when you went to fetch water every morning I noticed how kind and gentle you are. I wanted my son to marry you and I knew that the only way he could see you was at a ball, and the only way you could be invited was if you were wealthy. So, I did.” He smiled. “I can see that my plans went just as I pleased,” he said.  The prince and the girl were speechless.  Suddenly the girl broke the silence.

“I must tell my father! He will be so grateful to you.”          

The king replied, “Certainly you will tell your father. You may go home to tell him right now.”

When the girl returned, she brought her father with her. “My lord,” he murmured. 

“My good man, it pleases me to know that you raised such a kind and beautiful daughter,” the king told him. The girl’s father smiled with pride. “Will you give your permission for my son to marry your daughter?” the king asked.

“Yes, of course,” the girl’s father replied.     

The wedding was splendid. And so, with lots of love (and great riches) they all lived happily ever after.

THE END

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Portfolder Checklist

When you're ready to make a portfolder, it will be helpful to have the following items on hand.

Dinah Zike's Big Book of Books and Activities
You'll find enough folds in Zike's book to keep you busy for a while.



Paper Cutter
You can use scissors, but you will wish you had used a paper cutter. It will save you time and many headaches.

Picture

Glue Sticks
It's important to use glue sticks, not liquid glue, to paste the mini-books to the poster board.

Picture

Craft Glue
Glue sticks won't work when you want to paste poster board to poster board. Use craft glue instead.

Picture

Cardstock--White and Colored
Avoid neon colors. They don't last over time. (Yep, I learned that one from experience!)

Picture

Copy Paper--White and Colored
Avoid neon colors. They don't last over time.

Picture


Poster Board--White or Colored
This will be the shell of the portfolder.

Picture

Gallon-size Zippered Bags
As students finish their mini-books, they can safely store them in a labeled bag until it's time to put together the portfolder.


Picture

Photo Corners
Use photo corners to affix photographs of field trips and hands-on activities to the poster board.



Picture

Yard Stick
You'll need a yard stick to measure and crease the poster board. For instructions on how to make a portfolder shell, go here.
Picture
Scissors
You can't use a little paper cutter to cut the poster board. You'll need scissors instead.

Picture
Paper Clips
When students are planning the layout of the portfolder, paper clips temporarily anchor the mini-books in place.


Picture
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Sunday, August 18, 2013

My Week


 
Monday: I took my girls to our church's youth camp, dreaming about the next three days of doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. No one to taxi. No meals to cook. For the one meal my husband would be home, I planned to use a gift card.

Tuesday: A friend from the camp called and said Rebekah hurt her knee. At our visit to the emergency room, hurt was further defined: fractured tibial plateau.

Wednesday: My husband and I took Rebekah to an orthopaedic specialist. He looked at her x-ray and said, "This is serious." After consulting with another doctor, he informed us we would need to go to a children's hospital for further evaluation. Because her break is on the growth plate near the joint, they didn't feel qualified to help her.

Thursday: I picked up my other two girls at youth camp and tackled the huge laundry pile. In the evening, I noticed Rebekah's leg was considerably more swollen than it had been. And it was hot. I checked her temperature. Fever. Back to the emergency room for observation and eventually a shot to treat a potential blood clot, not to return home until 2:00 a.m.

Friday: Off to a children's hospital in another state, where Rebekah had an ultrasound and a CT scan. The doctor told us that she needs inpatient surgery.

Saturday: A day to catch up on everything that wasn't done all week, including cleaning and helping my oldest daughter with one last shopping trip before she leaves for college.

Sunday: Rest!

Tomorrow: We move our oldest to college. We find out when surgery will be scheduled.

Now do you understand why there are no new posts on this site?!

Monday, August 12, 2013

Tips for Squashing Your Writer

 
A friend sent me this link with excellent advice for teachers of young writers. (Thanks, Cynthia!) Be encouraged as you set your goals for the new year!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Boy Who Loved Words

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

A Publishing Idea


We've made photobooks to document a vacation or a school year, but I never thought of using them for writing and illustrating a book. Look at one blogger's idea here.
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