If you only read thre books everyone else is reading, you can think only what everyone else is thinking. - Haruki Murakami

Hmmm, what does this quote mean to you?

6 Word Memoirs

What is your 6 word memoir?
Here are a few of mine...

We tried to laugh every day.
We were awesome at fire drills.
We could argue, yet remain friends.

I will miss all of you!

Getting Close to the end of the year...

Goodness kids,

We're getting close to the end of the year and I have so many mixed emotions!  I am so proud of each and every one of you!  You have made this year such a pleasure and I have enjoyed our time together.  I am sad, that the year is closing because I will miss you terribly, but I know you are ready for middle school and will enjoy being 7th graders.  So... what are your thoughts as we say goodbye to our LA block and to Creekview?

Last Book in the Universe

We have been reading The Last Book in the Universe by Redman Philbrick.  We've followed Spaz, Ryter, Little Face, and Lanaya on a journey to Eden to save Bean.  We've met latchbosses, proove's, normals, and wildly different "protectors" throughout the book.  Take a perspective of one of the main characters and write from that perspective.  You can respond in poetry, journal entry, dialogue, or recreate a scene...see what you come up with!

Current Events Reflections

Students, as you complete your current events summaries, keep the following in mind:

• Name the article title and publication in your summary.  Example:  "Travel Team", and article in the Marysville Gazzette, tells about the Marysville Lacrosse team and their recent wins on the road.
• Be sure to write in third person throughout the summary.
• Be prepared to share you article with the class.

Military Mascots

Many of you were wanting to learn more about military mascots, so here are a few sites you might want to check out...

Coast Guard Mascots

Army Mascots

OAA Practice

It's that time of year to start thinking about testing and how we approach it as a genre.  There are strategies that  can help you be more successful.  The link below will help give you some extra practice and let you know what the OAA will look like and what kinds of questions you might see on the test.  Let me know what you think!

http://ohio3-8.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/

Slip or Trip?

Does the evidence support Queenie's story?
Here is our summary from class this week:

We arrived at the home around 1:30 A.M. We found Arthur laying dead at the bottom of the staircase.  His head was on the floor, and his feet were on the stairs.  He was face-up and holding a glass.  He was dressed in a suit with a robe over it.  The stove was on and food was cooking.  Nothing in the home seemed to be out of place.  Queenie, Arthur's wife filled us in on what she observed.

Queenie said she had an argument with Arthur earlier.  She then went to a party at the club.  She invited her friends over.  She arrived at the house at 1:00 A. M. and her friends arrived 10 minutes later.  She said Arthur was coming down the stairs to get a drink, fell down the stairs and died.

The autopsy indicated Arthur died from a head wound.  It also confirmed he had been drinking.

The evidence shows that Arthur had a glass in his hand, but as a rule, people who fall down the stairs carrying things typically drop them. So it is unlikely Arthur fell down the stairs with the glass in his hand.

Your job...add at least another piece of evidence (evidence, rule, and conclusion) and indicate why you think Queenie is or is not telling the truth...good luck!

Would You Rather...

Would you rather...be a sports superstar for 3 seasons and never play again OR be a bench player with a 20 year career?

You will need to justify your opinion with supporting sentences!  I am looking for well formed statements of opinion and supporting sentences that further illustrate your opinion (reasons, details, facts, examples, etc.).

Many of you are working on 6 room poems this week.  Post your drafts and/or final copies here; I'm looking forward to reading your writing!  I posted my rough draft below.  I'd like your feedback.  What are your stars and wishes for this piece?

State Your Opinion!

Are song writers poets?  Justify your answer with solid and clear reasons. Give examples to support your thinking.  Think about poetic structures such as meter, alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhyme, simile, metaphor, sensory language, imagery, etc.

Non-Fiction Text

As we begin to explore non-fiction text next week, share what kind of topics are you interested in exploring.  This will make it easier for me to find pieces that meaningful to you.  Think about what you enjoy as well as what you want to learn more about.  We are about to begin some adventures!

Wow...we've been working on poems about our life's journey...here is where you can submit your poems.  I can't wait to see what you've been working on.  Feel free to reply and give stars and wishes to your classmates' poems.

List Poem

After reading Lonnie's list poem in Locomotion, what is your list poem?

Today we read and listened to The Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald by Gordon Lightfoot.  Share your thinking, ask questions, respond to each other...Check out the links on the blog if you are interested in more information!

en.wikipedia.org

Another Article Poem

Here you go...give this author some stars and wishes!

Example of an Article Poem

Here's and example of one of our Article Poems...let the author know what you think! (Stars and Wishes)

What (and how) we feel about testing...

Here are some things you were thinking about testing this week. Let's help each other think about how to help one another to do our best and "show what we know!"  Remember, you will be taking a READING test, not a "what you already know or think" test! :)  You did very well this past week, and I am very proud of you!

Cyber Reading Log - Block 3

We seem to be reading quite a few good books lately, so I thought it would be fun to share our reading and thinking through our blog.  Here's what to do...

1. Do some reading - savor your book and do some deep thinking
2. On the blog, tell the title and author of your book
3. Write a brief summary of your reading
4. Add your thinking, questions, wonderings, noticings, inferences, visions, connections, etc.

Feel free to comment on each other's entries...ask questions, give comments, agree or disagree.

Be sure to use your initials, student number, and block number.  I look forward to reading your entries!

Cyber Reading Log - Block 2

We seem to be reading quite a few good books lately, so I thought it would be fun to share our reading and thinking through our blog.  Here's what to do...

1. Do some reading - savor your book and do some deep thinking
2. On the blog, tell the title and author of your book
3. Write a brief summary of your reading
4. Add your thinking, questions, wonderings, noticings, inferences, visions, connections, etc.

Feel free to comment on each other's entries...ask questions, give comments, agree or disagree.

Be sure to use your initials, student number, and block number.  I look forward to reading your entries!

Cyber Reading Log - Block One

We seem to be reading quite a few good books lately, so I thought it would be fun to share our reading and thinking through our blog.  Here's what to do...

1. Do some reading - savor your book and do some deep thinking
2. On the blog, tell the title and author of your book
3. Write a brief summary of your reading
4. Add your thinking, questions, wonderings, noticings, inferences, visions, connections, etc.

Feel free to comment on each other's entries...ask questions, give comments, agree or disagree.

Be sure to use your initials, student number, and block number.  I look forward to reading your entries!

Bigfoot

So...after reading about Bigfoot today, do you think Bigfoot exists?  Be sure to back up your opinion with evidence. 

Poetry Frenzy

Here are the results of the "poetry frenzy" we did on Thursday...
Do you have any more thoughts about poetry?  Did you read some good poems?  What do you like or not like about poetry?  Leave a comment to share your thoughts!

Can you read this? If so, please respond! (you will need a code scanner)