Dialogue

Writers...
We have been talking about the importance of dialogue in narrative pieces.  We are practicing adding meaningful dialogue in our own narratives.  Here is a place where you can practice writing dialogue and get feedback from your friends...

Some advice:
Use dialogue to
- move a story
- show character
- provide information
- show conflict

Make your dialogue
- realistic
- properly punctuated
 - concise
- purposeful

Give it a whirl...I can't wait to see what you create!

Vocabulary - Week 12

erroneous - adjective - Means containing an error  (synonym - correct)

mesmerize - verb - Means to fascinate  (synonym - entrance)

familiar - adjective - 1. well-known; easily recognized   2. knowing somethjing or someone well

jubilant - adjective - Means feeling or showing great joy  (synonym - ecstatic)

Let's see what sentences you can craft using these words!

Wrting Invitation

We talked about "showing" our reader instead of simply "telling" our reader about characters, settings, and events.  Here are two prompts you are invited to respond to as you practice descriptive writing.

Remember to use powerful verbs, specific nouns, similies, "just right" adjectives, and most of all be creative, unique, and have fun!

1.  The kids were disrespectful to the teacher...

2.  The iguana got away...

Show...Don't Simply Tell

Showing your reader instead of simply telling your reader can make all the difference in a written piece.  When authors "show", they paint a picture in the reader's mind that is so vivid the reader can imagine themselves in the story.  The traits of idea development, word choice, and voice are carefully woven together to create this image.  As you read over the next few weeks, try to find good examples of showing (either a published author you're reading, or from your own writing).  Add these to this blog post.  Be sure to include the author and text title.  In the meantime, here is a short video that illustrates how important word choice is...enjoy!

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Crafting Leads - Block 3

We learned about several ways authors craft inviting leads to narrative pieces and we have been trying different leads for our own pieces. Feel free to share your leads on this post to get feedback from your classmates. If your are writing at home, here are some of the strategies we discussed in class:

Begin by describing a setting or character (snapshot)
Begin by sharing thoughts or feelings (thoughtshot)
Start with sound effects (onomatopoeia)
Start with dialogue
Begin with a question
Start by showing action

I'm looking forward to reading your leads!

Crafting Leads - Block 2

We learned about several ways authors craft inviting leads to narrative pieces and we have been trying different leads for our own pieces. Feel free to share your leads on this post to get feedback from your classmates. If your are writing at home, here are some of the strategies we discussed in class:

Begin by describing a setting or character (snapshot)
Begin by sharing thoughts or feelings (thoughtshot)
Start with sound effects (onomatopoeia)
Start with dialogue
Begin with a question
Start by showing action

I'm looking forward to reading your leads!

Crafting Leads - Block 1

We learned about several ways authors craft inviting leads to narrative pieces and we have been trying different leads for our own pieces.  Feel free to share your leads on this post to get feedback from your classmates.  If your are writing at home, here are some of the strategies we discussed in class:

Begin by describing a setting or character (snapshot)
Begin by sharing thoughts or feelings (thoughtshot)
Start with sound effects (onomatopoeia)
Start with dialogue
Begin with a question 
Start by showing action

I'm looking forward to reading your leads!

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day, a day we honor men and women who have served in the armed forces.  We give thanks for the sacrifices they have made to keep our country safe and protect our freedom. 

What message do you have for our men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard?

Vocabulary Words, November 7 - 11th

Vocabulary words for the week of November 7th:  Try using these words in well-written sentences.
Don't forget to proof your work before sending...have fun and be creative!  Can you in clude some complex sentences?

reluctant: adjective
1.unwilling

confront: verb
1. to meet or face boldly
array: noun
1. a large or impressive group or display
2.  beautiful or splendid clothing
promotion: noun
1. a move upward in position or grade

Writers Helping Writers

Many of you have asked for a place to share your writing and get feedback from your classmates.  I added a page for each block to our blog.  feel free to post your writing.  Know that our posted writing will include drafts - which are works-in-progress - not finished pieces.  Offer stars and wishes so we can help each other grow as writers.  I look forward to reading your work and seeing how you are encouraging each other. 

Mrs. H

Writing Challenge:

You are a pop can.  You have been popped, drained, smashed, bashed, and trashed.   Tell your story to the local newspaper.  Use vivid verbs to tell the tail of your miserable life.  Have fun, be creative, and for goodness sake, proof your writing for mistakes before sending!  I can't wait to hear your tales and enjoy your verbs!
Adapted from Hot Fudge Monday

Vocabulary - Week of October 31

Vocabulary words for the week of October 31st:  Try using these words in well-written sentences.
Don't forget to proof your work before sending...have fun and be creative!

avert: verb
1.to turn away from
2. to prevent

majority: noun
1. more than half or most of something

fastidious: adjective
1. not easy to please

lunge: verb
1. to move forward suddenly

Keyboarding

Knowing how to use a keyboard efficiently and accurately is an important skill! I added  two new links to online keyboarding sites that you can use to learn proper keyboarding skills.  Just like anything new, it takes practice. Give both sites a try and let me know what you think.  Pretty soon you'll be typing like a pro!

Hmmm...How Do Our Questions Help Us Understand?

We have listened to H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" and read a text about Robert Falcon Scott's quest to claim Antarctica for Great Britain.  As we read, we asked questions to help us understand and connect with the text.  What questions did you have that might be worth discussing, or that might help bring us to better understanding?  You may also respond by telling us how questioning helped you better understand the text or radio program.  I'm looking forward to hearing what you think!

I Want Your Ideas!

Hello Students,

I want your ideas on how we should develop our blog!  What are some things you would like to see?  How do you think we should use our blog?  Let me know what you think...

Heartland Camp

We spent 2 1/2 days at Heartland Camp this past week.  You participated in archery, team building activities, nature walks, learned about reptiles and amphibians, experienced pioneer life, went to a bonfire and a night hike, sang songs, square danced, ate great food, and participated in several other activities.  What did you learn?  What did you enjoy?  What would you recommend for next year's sixth graders?  Let us know what you're thinking! 

A Message to My Writers...

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Journal Prompt for September 30th

Imagine you had a hundred dollars, but you couldn't keep it. You had to give it away to a person or charity. Who would you give it to? What would you want them to do with it? Explain your thinking.

Finding that Just Right Book

For those of you looking for new books to read, consider checking out this site.  You can find books that match your interests, favorite authors, genres, etc.  I'll also put this link on our web site and list of links on our blog. 

http://nancykeane.com/rl/index.htm

Mrs. H

A Note From Mrs. H

Hello Everyone!

I've enjoyed reading your posts this week.  I hope you are noticing that you are becoming more thoughtful in your posts and deeper thinkers as you read. 

As you read each other's comments, what do you think we need to work on as a class (all three blocks)?  How can we work towards our academic goals in reading and writing?

Let me know what you think!

Mrs. H

Verbs, Verbs, Verbs!

Write a complete sentence that screams 500 horsepower verbs.

Remember to proof your sentence before submitting. Use your initials, block number, and student number.  I anxiously await your fabulous sentences!

What a Character!

We spent some time reading a book called Sootface  by Robert San Souci this week as we continued our unit on character development.   How would you describe Sooface at the beginning of the book and then at the end of the story? In what ways did the author help us understand the character of Sootface?  

Before you submit your comment, be sure to reread it to check for errors.  Use your initials, your block number, and your student number.  Feel free to respectfully respond to your classmates comments as well as state your own thinking.  I look forward to reading your posts...

Mrs. Heim

Character Analysis - Block 3

Authors tell us about characters in many ways...here are a few:

The way they look
What they say
What they do
What they think
Their past experiences
How others think about them
How others treat them
What others say about them, including a narrator

You were given a list of characters that could be potential roomates at a camp. Based on their character descriptions, who would you most like to room with? Who would you least like to room with? Explain your thinking. Be as specific as possible.

Be sure to use your initials and the number I give you in class. I am looking forward to reading your opinions!

Character Analysis - Block 2

Authors tell us about characters in many ways...here are a few:

The way they look
What they say
What they do
What they think
Their past experiences
How others think about them
How others treat them
What others say about them, including a narrator

You were given a list of characters that could be potential roomates at a camp. Based on their character descriptions, who would you most like to room with? Who would you least like to room with? Explain your thinking. Be as specific as possible.

Be sure to use your initials and the number I give you in class. I am looking forward to reading your opinions!

Character Analysis - Block 1

Authors tell us about characters in many ways...here are a few:

The way they look
What they say
What they do
What they think
Their past experiences
How others think about them
How others treat them
What others say about them, including a narrator

You were given a list of characters that could be potential roomates at a camp. Based on their character descriptions, who would you most like to room with? Who would you least like to room with? Explain your thinking. Be as specific as possible.

Be sure to use your initials and the number I give you in class. I am looking forward to reading your opinions!

Baseball Saved Us

We read the book Baseball Saved Us, by Ken Mochizuki this week.  It was about a boy's experience growing up on a Japanese Internment camp during World War II.  He learns a lot about acceptance and confidence as he proves himself on the baseball field.  What do you think about the book and the author?

Thinking While Reading

We have spent a lot of time this week paying attention to our thinking while we read.  We are working to become metacognitive learners - we want to be aware of our thinking as we learn.  When we are aware of our thinking, we tend to understand and remember more about what we are reading or learning. 

What strategies have you been using as you read?  How has using strategies helped you understand at a high level?  Some of the strategies we discussed this week are: rereading, reading on, visualizing, stopping to think, using word attack skills such as using context clues and sounding out, activating our schema (background knowledge), asking questions, and noticing text features (especially in non-fiction). 

Two Questions

Think about these two questions:
What is your sentence?
Was I better today than I was yesterday?

Feel free to watch this short video to get some ideas and motivation:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/8480171?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0"

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year!

I hope your first day of school for you was a good one! The first few days of school can be quite overwhelming and tiring and I'm sure you are really looking forward to the weekend. We are already very busy getting to know each other and we've begun beginning of the year assessments. We have also taken some time to get organized which will help you be successful this year. We have a busy year ahead of us as we learn and grow together. I am very excited about this year and hope that you are, too! Please feel free to comment to this post and let me know how you are feeling about the beginning of this year. I look forward to communicating with you on this blog site! Let's have a great year together!