April 25, 2008 at 5:10 pm (Uncategorized)
Here is a little something to think about…
If you were told you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go, what would you do there and what would you bring in your suitcase?
This is what Greddy said…
He also LOVES Harry Potter. He expressed how he would “do anything” to have a copy of Harry Potter. His teacher is making a copy of each chapter, one at a time. When he returns one chapter, he gets the next…we take so much for granted in this country. 
April 9, 2008 at 11:49 pm (Multigenre)
Well we are sitting in class and we are all blogging about our Multigenre experience. I can honestly say, this class poured out their hearts and souls tonight. EVERY person in our class prepared a project that was heart-felt and left us curious and longing to know more about the topic presented. I am grateful to each of my students for their work ethic, their intensive research, and the transformation of such fascinating information. In a later post, I will list the projects just so you have an idea of how unbelievable these projects are! Elvis is about to leave the building…
Christy…I hope Elvis returned home safely! 
What an amazing evening!
March 30, 2008 at 4:48 pm (Wordless Picture Books)
Tags: wordless
Please visit a few of these websites.
March 18, 2008 at 12:37 am (Memoir)
This Wednesday we will BEGIN our study of memoir. After you have read the three memoirs, My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother, Shortcut , and Family Pictures, please think about how you conceptualize memoir. Feel free to bring in any memoirs available to you. You will find a list of titles on your Memoir handout.
Please check out the children’s literature queen of memoir, Patricia Polacco. I think you will enjoy your visit to her website.
March 17, 2008 at 11:58 pm (Writing and Assessment)
A few ideas to ponder from Ch. 13 Best Practices; how do these statements connect with your experiences; with our class readings?
Please review the NCTE and IRA Standards for the English Language Arts
Do you notice any parallels to multigenre writing?
Please feel free to check out Rubistar and Writing Fix. What do you think?
March 5, 2008 at 6:03 pm (Uncategorized)
Please click on multigenre-projectnotes3.doc FOR TODAY’S CLASS.
As many have said, seeing is believing! In today’s workshop, you will have an opportunity to explore books/ologies published as multigenre works. Working from Youngs’ and Barone’s model, explore and interact with the various books; use your handout Multigenre Projects: Getting Started in the Classroom and your textbook Writing Without Boundaries to guide your inquiry today.
2. Make a list of the plethora of genres represented in your book. Please refer to your handouts (possible genres) and the book for assistance. 3. Choose a few genres (split this up) and use the genre discussion guide (pp. 55-63) as you explore, in-depth, this genre. 4. Discuss possible ideas for your individual projects. What questions remain…
February 27, 2008 at 4:55 pm (Multigenre)
Please view these PowerPoint Presentations of previous MG Projects!
Multigenre Project 1 MG
If this doesn’t work…check our class web site for the PowerPoint. Look under tonight’s class.
February 26, 2008 at 10:42 pm (Multigenre)
Please check out http://www.ologyworld.com/
You will be amazed! This is a multigenre publication at its best!
After reading the Moulton article and Chapters 1-5 of Writing Without Boundaries, you should begin formulating ideas and opinions of multigenre writing and projects. On your blogs, respond and think about the following:
What is a multigenre project? What are the ingredients? What is your recipe for HOW you might create a MG project? WHAT TOPICS ARE YOU CONSIDERING FOR YOUR MG PROJECT? How might you begin in your classroom? Here are a few sites you may find helpful for engaging in research with your students as well as your own research:
http://www.ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html
(The best link to child-friendly search engines and research information; please check this out! You will be impressed)
http://www.thinkquest.org/library/ (Children create these projects!)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html (Amazing history connections!)
Review the lists of genres in the Moulton article (p. 531) and Writing Without Boundaries (pp. 4-5) and the links to a list of genres and possible genres.pdf . What would you add to the list? Which genres have you already taught? Which might you choose to focus on in your classroom? Think about one genre in particular that you may introduce to your students. Can you find examples of the genre to bring in to our next class (brochures, letters, etc.)?
Other sites you may find interesting:
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1013
(Zines for Kids)
http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp
(Interactive student materials)
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=774
(Multigenre Snowflake Bentley)
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=892
(Grapes of Wrath)
February 18, 2008 at 1:57 pm (Uncategorized)
February 13, 2008 at 5:48 pm (Poetry)
So many breezes
wander through my summer room:
but never enough
Issa
hibiscus flowers
munched up in the horse’s mouth
eaten one by one
Basso
Boneless, translucent,
We undulate, undulate,
Gelatinously.
Jack Prelutsky
What do you notice about Haiku? I notice how the poet expresses his feelings about something in nature; how he creates a visual image from a natural scene, usually through personification; I notice the precision of word choice and the succinct language–the Japanese refer to this as “wa” or harmony; I believe that the Japanese poets of long ago frowned on verbosity or wordiness; I see who or what, I see what they are doing, where it is happening, and how or why it is happening.
