Weekly Blog 11/19
Written on 19 November 2008 by rwardLast week we learned about similes, metaphors and personification. In this week’s assigned post, I would like you to use these types of “figurative language” to help you paint an image in the reader’s head. Your post can be on any topic, about anything. As you write, use similes, metaphors and personification to add detail/ vivid description for the reader.
Remember that similes compare two things using the words “as” or “like” and metaphors compare two things without using the words “as” or “like”. It is a “direct” comparison. Also, these two things you are comparing have to be different, things that we would normally never think could be similar. Personification is giving a non-human or non-living thing characteristics of a human or living thing.
6th Grade Experiences
Written on 18 November 2008 by rwardNow that we have made it through a nine week period and are approaching the end of the first semester of school, you have all had time to adjust to the swing of things in 6th grade. You have gotten to know all four teachers’ personalities and how we run things in our classrooms. I have shared some of my thoughts on how you all perform and the effort I have seen in class as well as what I would like to see in class. Now, I’d like to know what some of YOUR thoughts on 6th grade and the way we teach you guys. What do you think? Is there anything we can help you with to make you all become more successful learners?
My Fright From Tonight
Written on 17 November 2008 by rwardEarlier this evening I had a little fright. I was leaving Cielo Vista Mall and had to stop by a friend’s apartment. It was a relatively nice evening, so I had been driving with my window rolled down slightly. As I pulled into the parking lot of my friend’s apartment complex, I saw the usual gathering of stray cats that seem to lurk around constantly, probably because the dumpsters are treasure chests of food and treats for the furry felines. I parked ans ran up to my friend’s, dropped something off and chatted for maybe five minutes, and then ran back down to my car to leave. I got in my car, turned the key to start the ignition, and as I tapped gently on the gas and started inching back in reverse, I glanced up into the reader view mirror (as a good driver would) and I saw this shadowy outline of what looked almost like a white lion. It was more than a little freaky. I jerked around suddenly to see what was really behind me. I figured it was a pure coincidence. Just the shadow and moonlight dancing in the mirror to play tricks on my mind. But, when I turned I found sitting there on the top of the back seat in the rear windshield area, a huge white cat that closely resembled a white tiger, only it had the fluffy mane of a lion. I couldn’t help but let out a scream, “Oh God!”My hearted jumped a little then seemed to skip a beat or two, leaping high up into my throat. In a matter of a few seconds, my pulse weakened back to normal and my heart slid down my throat, back comfortably to where it belonged in my chest. I stopped the car, and opened my door, to let the scared kitty cat out. She just stared at the door though, not budging from the comfortable spot she had found when she climbed through the small space that was left by my window being open. So, not quite sure of what to do next and since I did not know if this cat was going to be friendly, I got out of the car and folded the front seat back. I slowly approached her, reaching my hand out in peace to try to gain her trust. Once I did that, she hopped down to the seat and meowed faintly, not mean or angry, but more timid and a little frightened. I’m sure she was scared when she realized she was suddenly in a moving vehicle with a total stranger at the wheel. She had clearly jumped into the car to find a warm shelter form the crisp wind that was biting outside. Once she hopped down to the seat she saw her path to freedom and bounced over the console to the front seat and leaped to her familiar surroundings of the apartment parking lot and sat on the cold asphalt. She bid me farewell, waiting until I had backed out and driven off before returning to her night prowling escapade for food.
Goliath
Written on 17 November 2008 by rwardGoliath is the new “class pet”. He’s quite unique and stands out in his very own way. Goliath is not a lizard like people think he is even though he does come from the lizard family of reptiles. Rather, he is a bearded dragon. They look kind of like horned toads that are common here in the desert area of El Paso, but bearded dragons grow to be much bigger than horned toads. They also originally came from Australia, which we ll know is very far away from the Chihuahua Desert, where we live. I have learned a lot from Goliath since I got him.
For one, if he is scared or mad, he makes his normally skinny body puff out really big and be becomes a flat pancake. Besides that, he will also blow up the skin underneath his mouth, like a blowfish. The first time her did it, I wondered why he was doing it. He looked so mean and intimidating with his face puffed out. Since his skin is covered in spikes, when his face was puffed out, he looked like he was ready to strike, like an angry cobra. After reading about the characteristics of bearded dragons, I found that they will do those things when they are upset or feel threatened. They do it to make themselves look bigger and more intimidating.
Goliath is quite funny in that way. He definitely has no problem letting me know how he feels. When I was gone for two days last week because I was sick, he let me know how upset he was when I returned on Wednesday. When I reached into the tank to pet his head like I always do, he immediately flared up and stared right at me as if saying, “Don’t even think about touching me! I am mad at you!” Goliath would not even let me pick him up at all that day. By Thursday, my punishment was over and he was back to his friendly self, letting me stroke his head until he fell asleep and holding him in my hand. That didn’t last long though. He got a little moody this weekend too. I didn’t feed him on Saturday and on Sunday when I brought his food, he flared up at me and charged the glass of the tank. He didn’t want to let me take out the old newspaper and put fresh newspaper either; at least not until I fed him. About an hour after feeding him, he was fine, letting me hold him again.
I know some of you think I am weird, and even said it to me, because I talk to Goliath, but you know just because they are animals or a different kind of animal doesn’t mean they don’t like being talked to. Goliath loves to be talked to. When I, or other people, talk to Goliath he actually listens. He’ll even turn his head at you to get a better view. If he is on the other side of the tank, many times he’ll waddle swiftly over to you. He’s just like any other pet, friendly, affectionate, and desires your love and attention.
Weekly Blog Assignment 11/11
Written on 11 November 2008 by rwardHaving good characteristics are important in order to be considered a good person. Think about the reasons why you choose the friends that you have. It isn’t because they are mean to you, right? What qualities do you YOU think are the most important in a person and why? Some examples of qualities are trustworthiness, honesty, kindness, caring, being able to stand up for what they believe in, etc. Your assignment is to think of ONE quality (the one you think is the most important and write a post in which you give your definition of the quality and explain WHY it is the most important one for someone to have. After writing this post, do you need to re-evaluate the friends that you have (think about it)?
Weekly Blogging Assignment 11/5
Written on 5 November 2008 by rwardAs we found out last night, the presidential election of 2008 resulted in Barrack Obama winning the spot of the 44th president of the United States. On Monday, our school also elected him to be president in our mock election that was put on by student council and 6th grade students. Your assignment this week is to write a post in which you reflect, or think about the out come of the election. When the debate was held and you got to see the power point presentations that each campaign group created, did it help you to form your opinion of which candidate should win? How do you feel about Obama being elected and what changes do you think our country will experience now that he will be taking office in January?
** PLEASE be sure to be detailed in your post. I am really interested in your thoughts on the election and how it ended.
History Has Been Made!
Written on 4 November 2008 by rwardThough you may not FULLY realize it, you all are fortunate enough to have been around to witness a major historical event; one that many people NEVER thought would happen; one that many people have been fighting for and even lost their lives for. This historical moment has been in the making for hundreds, thousands or years. About an hour ago, Barrack Obama was officially elected President of the United States. He won his place in hostory, not only as a president, but as the FIRST African American president. Love him, or hate him, you have to respect him and give him at least some credit. He was able to convince America to make him the first African American president. Hopefully he can prove to those who voted for him that he IS the change America needs. Hopefully he can also prove to those who did not vote for him that he CAN do what is best for our country, despite what they feel. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Hard Lesson to Learn
Written on 4 November 2008 by rwardRemember the saying parents lecture, ” You wouldn’t jump off a bridge just because your friends asked you to would you?” Parents usually say this in an attempt to show that it’s not always a good idea to do what your friends tell you to, or encourage you to. Well, I have a story to share where this statement is completely true. And, it was not too long ago when it happened. Though it is a humorous story, it also teaches a meaningful lesson about not always listening to your friends.
The year I started teaching, I was 22. I had just been hired at Edgemere Elementary and also just finished my first two weeks of teaching on my own. We were out for Christmas break and I had not yet moved in with my soon to be roommates, but as always, I was spending time with my friends. It was about a week before Christmas and I was helping my friend (who is also my roommate now) Dre put together a fooseball table. We didn’t have an electric screw driver/drill so we had to do everything manually, the old fashioned way. After a while, several hours, and a whole lot of frustration, neither one of us ever wanted to see another screw driver again. We were delirious and couldn’t think clearly from the hours of annoyance that came from trying to put together this dumb game.
Well, we needed a laugh. Dre dared me to do something that I later realized I probably… no, DEFINITELY, should not have done. “I dare you to take the cardboard box the fooseball table was in and slide down the stairs.” “Okay!!” I didn’t even hesitate. It sounded fun! So, I took the large cardboard box and dragged it behind me, up the staircase to the top. I set it down and sat on top if it, inching myself forward towards the edge of the top stair. I probably should have put the box down on the opposite side. I had put it down on the slick side where the label was (this made me go way faster than I would have on the other side). As I leaned over the edge, my hair suddenly swooshed back and I literally flew through the air, down towards the bottom, to the entrance of the apartment. Unfortunatley, waiting for me at the bottom of the stairway was a small tiled area, with extremely hard ceramic tile. I had raced so rapidly down the stairs that when I reached the bottom, I actually shot up before I slammed down, right on my tail bone, which immediately cracked as it crashed to the floor. I screamed in excruciating pain. I had never felt a pain so sharp as the one shooting up and down my back and tail bone at that moment. I could not move. If I even tightened a single muscle in my body, the reminder of my foolishness stabbed me in my tail bone. My friends in the living room were of course laughing so hard, they could not even talk to ask if I was okay. Finally, after several minutes of gasping for air as I rolled in pain on the floor, Dre asked, “Are-are-are you okay? Ha ha ha ha,” she laughed as she tried to talk. I replied, “No! This hurts so bad!!” She then asked if I needed to go to the hospital and I told her no. I didn’t even have insurance yet. I was no longer covered by my parents and my insurance for the school district would not be active for another month.
I was in major pain for the entire Christmas break. When I went back to school, my grade level, these people I had really only known for about a week and a half, had questions about why I could not walk properly. I told them the story and of course, they laughed hyterically. Who wouldn’t have? It was funny that someone would be so foolish as to do what I had done. Ask me if I’d do it again and I’d say probably not. Ever since that sill incident, I have had problems with my tail bone. I can not sit for too long and I can not sit in the same position for too long. In fact, I need to get up now because it is starting to hurt, so until next time…. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!!
Halloween
Written on 3 November 2008 by rwardI know many of you were looking forward to Halloween night last week, whether you were going trick-or-treating, to a party, or whatever your plans were. I hope you all had a great Halloween full of more treats than tricks, no matter how you spent it. Of course, I also hope you stayed safe and smart. Write back to me and share your Halloween experience? Was it memorable? What did you do? How did you dress up?
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Day
Written on 29 October 2008 by rwardWell, from some of the comments I have received, it seems that many of you are happy about going to the computer lab on Wednesday’s now to work on blogs. I am glad that many of you have expressed your liking for this, and for various reasons. Some of you just like to blog, and that is GREAT! I know for some of you, you just like to be on the computer and type or communicate with your peers, but what many of you may not realize is that, every single time you get on the computer and write, no matter what you’re writing for, you are PRACTICING your writing skills. That is the BEST way to get better and become stronger, more skilled writers! (JUST PLEASE, DO NOT WRITE IN TEXT/IM STYLE- WRITE IN FULL WORDS, USE PUNCTUATION, AND CAPITALIZE WHEN NECESSARY- NO ALL CAPS!!) I encourage you to keep up the work and always, always put quality effort into that work. I will continue to do my best at providing opportunities for you all to use more fun ways to express yourself in written form, AS LONG AS YOU ALL CONTINUE TO DO YOUR PART by actively participating and engaging in the assigned tasks. =)