When Christmas break started I asked Sister Morgan for a list of books I should read. She said 1) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (which I'd already read a few months ago) and 2) All the Newberry Medal books. And so I began. So far, I've read the following (including a few Newberry Honor books too):
-Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
-Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
-The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
-Holes by javascript:void(0)Louis Sachar
-Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
-The Giver by Lois Lowry
-Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz
-The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
-Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
-A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
-A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
-The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
-The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
-Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
-Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
-Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field (just started this today)
It's been wonderful to just sit down and read for a few minutes or an hour in the evenings. And having the goal to read all those Newberry books makes me rush across the street to the library as soon as I finish the last one in the pile to get another stack. Luckily they're all marked in the library with a sticker on the spine. They are all very well-written. A few of them remind me of novel-length personal essays. Jean Fritz's Homesick was like that. She even wrote at the front of her story that she'd taken all of her experiences as a girl in China and used them to recreate the flow of her childhood. She said she made up the dialogue and reordered events, but she didn't apologize for it. That's creative non-fiction--a genre of its own rising in popularity, according to Sister Morgan. She liked my essay about Nana and Tata's house. That was easy to write. I'll write some more about that. I'll post the essay on here so you can read it.
Maybe if I spent half as much time writing as I have been reading, my writing would improve enough to create my own book someday. The problem with that is I don't know where to begin, so I don't. Third graders don't usually have that problem. Their imagination sweeps them across the page and creates stories I'd never dream up. Who would have ever put elbow pads and a skateboard on a newly hatched dragon, anyway? That image sure stayed in my mind. I just don't write. It's easier that way. I sure miss the Writing Center. On slow days I could sit at the computer and write for hours and not feel like it was a waste of time.
Anyway, I'm back to reading as much as I did when I was a kid. What's extra nice is that my husband sits right next to me with his nose in Louis L'amour books.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Third Grade Writing Center
I'm student teaching in a third grade class this semester, and while most of my lessons are scripted and quite boring, I do get to teach writing every once in awhile! Apparently most teachers don't like doing it, so they don't. That drives me crazy. Well, these kids got a three day writing workshop "Writing Center Style" last week, and they loved it.
The first day we brainstormed details they could potentially use for their dragon stories (their reading theme this week). One boy said his dragon ate meat. I asked what KIND of meat? All the students added onto that description right down the abstraction ladder: meat to water animals to frogs to fire-bellied toads! It was so much fun. I felt right at home, and they couldn't wait to share their ideas. After that I let them loose to finish their brainstorming and plan the beginning, middle, and end of their own stories. They finished quickly and began writing. They wrote with zero disruptions for 30 minutes! I was so excited to get their two and three and four page drafts. We have a boy with Asberger's, and he HATES writing (in general). Every time he has an assignment that requires writing very much, he asks for help and often throws fits because he can't write fast and doesn't like to do it. While we were writing their dragon stories, however, my cooperating teacher and I didn't even know he was there. He didn't say a word the whole three days and turned in a great story. I conferenced with most students as they wrote, then I read everyone's drafts and made comments on them WC style. I asked everyone at least one question that involved adding more detail for the reader. I didn't comment on anything grammatical. Their spelling was extremely creative. Reading it was like playing Mad Gab, the game where you have to say a string of words in various ways to try and figure out what phrase it sounds like. I remember someone spelled "excellent" "eggscalent." All of their dragons were quite original. There were beat-boxing dragons, ballerina dragons, and even Japanese Samurai dragons.
The second day we discussed revision. I taught them how it means to "re-see" what you write and that our motto is Revise, Revise, Revise. We'll get it in them early. :) A volunteer student helped me model our partner revisions in front of the class. He read his paper aloud, and I asked a couple of questions and told him what image I remembered the most from it (One of the questions on their revision questionnaire was what picture comes back into their mind when they think about their partner's story.) Everyone clapped for him afterward. He was very proud of his story. Everyone divided into partners and read each other their stories, then they returned to their seats and made revisions. They did a better job than the fifth graders did last semester. That could be because we modeled exactly what to do, but I was pleased with them. The only thing that did NOT work was editing. I had no idea what to do for that, or if it was even important at this level. I didn't want to write all over their paper. This is their first experience with writing, and I want them to feel successful at it. I finally decided to have them circle three or four words they thought they'd misspelled. We teachers ran around to all of the students and wrote the correct spelling above their circled words, and then they got to start their final drafts on Day 3. They couldn't wait to "publish" their stories, so I made lined paper in the shape of a "dragon egg" and printed it on colored paper. They wrote in their best handwriting. They look great!
Also, one student told me the first day that he couldn’t think of what to write and didn’t like writing. He likes math a lot better. We talked about some ideas that went along with what he had so far and came up with a cute scenario of him and his dragon eating at McDonald's. They had a contest for who could eat the most, and his dragon ate 200 Big Macs and definitely won. That got him excited. Since that couldn’t be the beginning of his story very easily, I suggested his start in the middle and then fill in the beginning and end later. He did it! He got the middle written—like six lines or so right in the middle of his paper. I talked to him before we ended writing time, and he was back to feeling down about it. He’s such a sweetheart. I told him that he would need to work on it at home so it would be finished by the next day. He said he wouldn’t have time that night, but I convinced him he’d find time at daycare. He started coming up with other times he could do it too. The next day he came with a very full page of his completed story! I was impressed that somehow his beginning and end fit right above and below his middle and flowed seamlessly into each other. I told him how much I enjoyed reading it and why I liked it, and he said he spent two hours the night before trying to come up with what to write. At the end of the day after we peer revised I mentioned again that I was pleased with his work, and he said shyly, “You know, this writing thing might not be so bad after all. I guess I kinda like it.” That made my day!
So this is my dream job: teaching children writing. If anyone has heard of such a thing, let me know.
The first day we brainstormed details they could potentially use for their dragon stories (their reading theme this week). One boy said his dragon ate meat. I asked what KIND of meat? All the students added onto that description right down the abstraction ladder: meat to water animals to frogs to fire-bellied toads! It was so much fun. I felt right at home, and they couldn't wait to share their ideas. After that I let them loose to finish their brainstorming and plan the beginning, middle, and end of their own stories. They finished quickly and began writing. They wrote with zero disruptions for 30 minutes! I was so excited to get their two and three and four page drafts. We have a boy with Asberger's, and he HATES writing (in general). Every time he has an assignment that requires writing very much, he asks for help and often throws fits because he can't write fast and doesn't like to do it. While we were writing their dragon stories, however, my cooperating teacher and I didn't even know he was there. He didn't say a word the whole three days and turned in a great story. I conferenced with most students as they wrote, then I read everyone's drafts and made comments on them WC style. I asked everyone at least one question that involved adding more detail for the reader. I didn't comment on anything grammatical. Their spelling was extremely creative. Reading it was like playing Mad Gab, the game where you have to say a string of words in various ways to try and figure out what phrase it sounds like. I remember someone spelled "excellent" "eggscalent." All of their dragons were quite original. There were beat-boxing dragons, ballerina dragons, and even Japanese Samurai dragons.
The second day we discussed revision. I taught them how it means to "re-see" what you write and that our motto is Revise, Revise, Revise. We'll get it in them early. :) A volunteer student helped me model our partner revisions in front of the class. He read his paper aloud, and I asked a couple of questions and told him what image I remembered the most from it (One of the questions on their revision questionnaire was what picture comes back into their mind when they think about their partner's story.) Everyone clapped for him afterward. He was very proud of his story. Everyone divided into partners and read each other their stories, then they returned to their seats and made revisions. They did a better job than the fifth graders did last semester. That could be because we modeled exactly what to do, but I was pleased with them. The only thing that did NOT work was editing. I had no idea what to do for that, or if it was even important at this level. I didn't want to write all over their paper. This is their first experience with writing, and I want them to feel successful at it. I finally decided to have them circle three or four words they thought they'd misspelled. We teachers ran around to all of the students and wrote the correct spelling above their circled words, and then they got to start their final drafts on Day 3. They couldn't wait to "publish" their stories, so I made lined paper in the shape of a "dragon egg" and printed it on colored paper. They wrote in their best handwriting. They look great!
Also, one student told me the first day that he couldn’t think of what to write and didn’t like writing. He likes math a lot better. We talked about some ideas that went along with what he had so far and came up with a cute scenario of him and his dragon eating at McDonald's. They had a contest for who could eat the most, and his dragon ate 200 Big Macs and definitely won. That got him excited. Since that couldn’t be the beginning of his story very easily, I suggested his start in the middle and then fill in the beginning and end later. He did it! He got the middle written—like six lines or so right in the middle of his paper. I talked to him before we ended writing time, and he was back to feeling down about it. He’s such a sweetheart. I told him that he would need to work on it at home so it would be finished by the next day. He said he wouldn’t have time that night, but I convinced him he’d find time at daycare. He started coming up with other times he could do it too. The next day he came with a very full page of his completed story! I was impressed that somehow his beginning and end fit right above and below his middle and flowed seamlessly into each other. I told him how much I enjoyed reading it and why I liked it, and he said he spent two hours the night before trying to come up with what to write. At the end of the day after we peer revised I mentioned again that I was pleased with his work, and he said shyly, “You know, this writing thing might not be so bad after all. I guess I kinda like it.” That made my day!
So this is my dream job: teaching children writing. If anyone has heard of such a thing, let me know.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Christmas Tree Hunt
Yesterday Jason introduced me to his family's annual tradition: Christmas tree hunting in the mountains. We drove with his family, cousins, aunts, and unlcles to the Caribou forest with our $10 per tree permits (twice what they've been in the past, I guess, but still a good deal) and set out in couples to find the perfect Alpine. Jason and I tromped through the mountain for hours looking for one that matched all his requirements: no "doubles" (two trees growing in one), no "bald spots," no dead spots, not too tall, not too short, not too fat or thick or bushy or skinny....Those poor trees had no idea of the strict criteria that needed to meet by this fall.
While we looked, I collected a beautiful fall boquet of a velvety red star leaf, cream seed pods, etc. The mountains are so beautiful! It was the most perfect day to go out. Pine saturated the air, reminding me of camping on Mt. Lemon as a little girl. Birch trees covered every space in the forest, though. Jason told me they all share one (or a couple) root systems. That's amazing. It felt good to be up there with my husband.
When we didn't have any luck finding a tree within a mile or two of our cars, I took my first ride on a four-wheeler to look for other clearings. It was fun! We just stayed on the trail and then walked to any trees we thought might work. They always look so perfect from far away. I can't wait until we have a 20-ft. ceiling in a billion years and can put up one of those gorgeous tall ones...
Well, we eventually found our tree. Jason expertly cut it down with a big chain saw. Now it's resting in Eric's yard completely oblivious to the fact it's no longer standing in the forest. Jason says it will wake up from its dormant state when it gets into our warm (yeah, right) living room. Then, it thinks it's spring, and a lot of times it even puts on new growth. That's cool! I'm enjoying my introduction to live Christmas trees.
Jason's aunt and uncle left a chainsaw by a tree they'd cut down somewhere in the middle of the forest a few miles out, and then they headed toward another tree that looked just perfect. Awhile later, they realized they were completely lost and had no idea where they were, let alone the chainsaw. A couple of hours later they finally found civilization, but all the guys formed a search party for the tree and chainsaw. After an hour they came back with both, and then as we were starting the Yukon to leave, it wouldn't start! The trunk had been open all afternoon because people had been getting food out of it, and the battery had died. Luckily, ONE out of five vehicles had a jump cable. Sad, isn't it? I'm just glad one of them had one! We were half an hour late for stake conference, but at least we made it! It was a great day.
While we looked, I collected a beautiful fall boquet of a velvety red star leaf, cream seed pods, etc. The mountains are so beautiful! It was the most perfect day to go out. Pine saturated the air, reminding me of camping on Mt. Lemon as a little girl. Birch trees covered every space in the forest, though. Jason told me they all share one (or a couple) root systems. That's amazing. It felt good to be up there with my husband.
When we didn't have any luck finding a tree within a mile or two of our cars, I took my first ride on a four-wheeler to look for other clearings. It was fun! We just stayed on the trail and then walked to any trees we thought might work. They always look so perfect from far away. I can't wait until we have a 20-ft. ceiling in a billion years and can put up one of those gorgeous tall ones...
Well, we eventually found our tree. Jason expertly cut it down with a big chain saw. Now it's resting in Eric's yard completely oblivious to the fact it's no longer standing in the forest. Jason says it will wake up from its dormant state when it gets into our warm (yeah, right) living room. Then, it thinks it's spring, and a lot of times it even puts on new growth. That's cool! I'm enjoying my introduction to live Christmas trees.
Jason's aunt and uncle left a chainsaw by a tree they'd cut down somewhere in the middle of the forest a few miles out, and then they headed toward another tree that looked just perfect. Awhile later, they realized they were completely lost and had no idea where they were, let alone the chainsaw. A couple of hours later they finally found civilization, but all the guys formed a search party for the tree and chainsaw. After an hour they came back with both, and then as we were starting the Yukon to leave, it wouldn't start! The trunk had been open all afternoon because people had been getting food out of it, and the battery had died. Luckily, ONE out of five vehicles had a jump cable. Sad, isn't it? I'm just glad one of them had one! We were half an hour late for stake conference, but at least we made it! It was a great day.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
My birthday
As you've noticed, I've decided to start this website. We don't call it a blog. Jason hates that name even more than I do. So this is my new Sunday project. Just hold me to it. :)
Today it's my birthday! This morning I woke up early to get ready to spend another day with my fifth graders. Jason had a late night studying the past couple of nights, and he still got to sleep for another hour. When I went into the bathroom, I was a little disappointed that the mirror wasn't decorated in dry erase marker and that their weren't any flowers or anything. That's what Mom always did, and I loved that tradition! I couldn't expect Jason to do that though, since I never told him about it. (I'll have to change that!) Anyways, when I went back into our room though awhile later, there was a great big gift bag and a little one and a card on my side of the bed. Jason was "asleep" on his side still. I was very happily surprised! That was thoughtful of him! The card was really sweet. It's always disappointing to get a great looking card and to open it up and have it say "love, Bob," or whoever, and that's it. :) Dad's always make me cry, of course, but I like it. I'm glad Jason is a good card maker. Maybe by the time he's forty something, he'll write as long of notes as Dad does.
Last night Jason mentioned that we should eat right after he gets home from class tonight (I think he's planning something for tonight). I was a little sad that I'd have to grow up and make my own birthday dinner. He did bring up that we'd already had my birthday dinner Saturday night at Johnny Carino's though. So whatever. But then I got home today from school and on the dry erase board in the kitchen said "I fibbed. Don't touch anything in this kitchen! Love, Jason. :)" That made my day even better! I can't wait to see what else he does!!
Oh, my fifth graders were so great today. I made them cupcakes to celebrate my birthday, which they loved. All of them told me happy birthday at least a half a dozen times, it seemed. During lunch, the office lady came in saying they had flowers delivered for Mrs. Scoresby. I was surprised and thought, "oh, so this is what Jason has up his sleeve?" but it wasn't from him! It was from Melissa, one of my students. I guess her mom owns a flower shop, and she wanted to give me some. I got a beautiful peach rose with glitter sprayed on it (my favorite) with little bluish-purple flowers around it. It's beautiful! That was so thoughtful of her.
Can't wait to find out what Jason has planned for tonight! He always thinks up the sweetest things.
Today it's my birthday! This morning I woke up early to get ready to spend another day with my fifth graders. Jason had a late night studying the past couple of nights, and he still got to sleep for another hour. When I went into the bathroom, I was a little disappointed that the mirror wasn't decorated in dry erase marker and that their weren't any flowers or anything. That's what Mom always did, and I loved that tradition! I couldn't expect Jason to do that though, since I never told him about it. (I'll have to change that!) Anyways, when I went back into our room though awhile later, there was a great big gift bag and a little one and a card on my side of the bed. Jason was "asleep" on his side still. I was very happily surprised! That was thoughtful of him! The card was really sweet. It's always disappointing to get a great looking card and to open it up and have it say "love, Bob," or whoever, and that's it. :) Dad's always make me cry, of course, but I like it. I'm glad Jason is a good card maker. Maybe by the time he's forty something, he'll write as long of notes as Dad does.
Last night Jason mentioned that we should eat right after he gets home from class tonight (I think he's planning something for tonight). I was a little sad that I'd have to grow up and make my own birthday dinner. He did bring up that we'd already had my birthday dinner Saturday night at Johnny Carino's though. So whatever. But then I got home today from school and on the dry erase board in the kitchen said "I fibbed. Don't touch anything in this kitchen! Love, Jason. :)" That made my day even better! I can't wait to see what else he does!!
Oh, my fifth graders were so great today. I made them cupcakes to celebrate my birthday, which they loved. All of them told me happy birthday at least a half a dozen times, it seemed. During lunch, the office lady came in saying they had flowers delivered for Mrs. Scoresby. I was surprised and thought, "oh, so this is what Jason has up his sleeve?" but it wasn't from him! It was from Melissa, one of my students. I guess her mom owns a flower shop, and she wanted to give me some. I got a beautiful peach rose with glitter sprayed on it (my favorite) with little bluish-purple flowers around it. It's beautiful! That was so thoughtful of her.
Can't wait to find out what Jason has planned for tonight! He always thinks up the sweetest things.
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