Ms. Nancy Online

Class activities:

• Observe the “pirate lady” and discuss how writers use all their senses to make text come alive. Do a quick write of your observations.
• Poems–continue oral presentations
• Poems–read poetry written this week. (Students were reluctant to share and class was squished into a little room because of rain. We will be reading next week.)
• Explain acrostic poem and model examples.
• Brainstorm about yourself.  Write an acrostic about yourself, using either single words or complete thoughts.
• Sound concepts mentioned: alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia

Homework: keep working on any unfinished projects, write in journals as much as possible, and write acrostic and be ready to read it next week.

Class went as follows:

• Opening activity: quick write describing person that walked through class quickly
• Share progress on alphabet books
• Poetry–what is it? Share examples. Focus on enunciation, projection, eye contact and expression.
• Read Blake poetry–The Tyger, The Lamb, The Sick Rose and discuss. Poet is looking at something and asking how it got that way.
• Writing: write a poem in which you are talking to a beautiful and mysterious creature or creation and you can ask anything you want because you speak its language. The creature can answer you if you want it to. If you have lots of questions, you can ask a question in every line of different creatures. It does not have to rhyme.

Thirty-three spellers, parents, grandparents, aunts and friends packed into the library to watch the First Annual JCS Spelling Bee! I thought it was a great success and appreciated the wealth of support from all of Orange County–even the South County people we don’t see up here too often. While spelling ability isn’t the most important skill in the world, it certainly adds to a student’s facility with language and makes writing much easier.

In addition, the students were able to practice their speaking skills in front of a crowd. For some, this is no big deal, either because they have a natural inclination to be at ease in front of people, or more likely, because they have had practice in front of a group. Of course, my orientation is that speaking ability is one of the most important gifts we can give our kids. It is a vital life skill that is valuable in virtually all jobs.

Finally, the kids really practiced being gracious winners and losers. I was so proud of all of them and the fine job you are doing! Not one child had a breakdown when they missed a word. Character development was evident as each quietly dealt with defeat and didn’t fall apart. This, more than any other skill set, will get them through life. Somewhere they have learned that how they perform is not the measure of who they are. Thank you for the good job you are doing!

Grade level winners were:

• K  Sierra
• 1st Jordyn
• 2nd Haley
• 3rd Amittai
• 4th Emily
• 5th Brooklyn
• 6th Brooklynn J.

Class activities were as follows:

• opening activity–writers observe carefully; students reveal by silent walking across the stage whether they are a prince or a pauper
• follow-up on alphabet book–sharing of the product; finish books by the end of February and save for display at Project Fair in May
• reading/writing journal: date every entry. Record thoughts before they slip away! This is your idea book and your way to reflect about what you observe or think about.
• Reading: both groups should finish books by February 14. If you need more time, talk to me so I can renew books.
• Using the format of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, students will construct their own books, practicing cause and effect reasoning, sequencing, complications and obstacles, circular story
• For want of a nail, the shoe was lost, For want of a shoe, the horse was lost, For want of a horse, the rider was lost, For want of a rider, the message was lost, For want of a message, the battle was lost, For want of the battle, the war was lost, For want of the war, the kingdom was lost, And all for the want of a horse shoe nail.

Homework: Read, read, read! Write in journal as often as possible. Finish alphabet books. Write a circular story and illustrate it (optional). Write out your favorite poem and bring it to class next week. Be ready to read your poem.

The date for the bee is February 23rd at 10:00! It will be in the library and all students are welcome to try. We will start with the K students and work our way up through the grades. If you want to enter, sign up at the table outside the learning center or call Nancy.

I’m sorry this class report is late; it’s been a busy week. Here is what we did:

• speaking exercise–focus on inflection at the end of the sentence to indicate punctuation; your voice goes up if it is a question and drops if it is a statement
• sharing of alphabet books–students are in various states of completion; the hope is that they would be completed by the end of the month
• mini lesson on simile and metaphor; students should recognize the difference
• “Because of Winn-Dixie” group was read the first four chapters and given a writing assignment to create a list about someone in their family like the one in chapter 4. In addition, read the next two chapters at home.
• “Out of the Dust” was discussed with the students–a few students have already completed the book; make sure your student has an opportunity to see the mini video on the dust bowl (connect to last week’s log); writing assignment is to imagine that you are the main character writing a journal entry 10 years after the end of the book. What is happening?
• I will collect writings on Thursday.