Happy New Year

I hope you are all having a wonderful first week of middle school! I have thought of each of you this week, and each time I do, I smile. It felt SO WEIRD for school to start and not have my own class of kiddos. But there was no way I could have topped you all, so I has to leave on a high note! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer!! In the spirit of the blog I am going to leave you with a writing prompt!

I opened the doors to middle school in great anticipation and with my heart nearly beating out of my chest. As soon as I did, all the students in the halls disappeared and the lights went out. I was surrounded by darknes as I...

Happy blogging! Can't wait to hear your stories!

School's Out For Summer!! :)

Well, it's been less than 24 hours since we said goodbye and I already miss you all! As promised, I wanted to post a blog for you all to respond to just for fun or as a means of keeping in touch. So, use this post to tell me about what you are most excited about for summer! It could be from sleeping in and playing video games to a great family vacation. Or you can write about your best summer memories so far! Happy blogging and I hope your having a great Memorial Day weekend! Miss Scanlon

Story Starter-Round 2

I was so impressed by your creativity and imagination with the stories last week, I decided to do it again this week with no length requirements.  This blog will be up for the next three weeks (through MAP testing), so I encourage each of you to take your time completing it and give it your best work.

The story starter is:

Joining the parade sounded like fun, but first I had to think of something never seen before...

Get creative and show me the amazing writers you are! Have fun, and as always, happy blogging!

Story Starter

This week you are going to use a story starter to complete the weekly blog.  Remember, when you tell a story you include setting, developed characters, problem and solution.  We have also been working figurative language in the form of similes, metaphors, and personification.  You need to use at least one example of figurative language in the telling of your story. 

As always, it needs to be 6-7 sentences in length and use correct capitalization and punctuation.  The story starter is as follows:

"I know animals aren't supposed to talk, but I could tell right away that these were different..."

Happy  Blogging! :)

Hero

This week I want you to tell me about your hero.  Through this blog you should define what a hero is and why yours is so special to you.  Heroes exist in many forms.  When have you encountered one in your life?  What did they do to make them your hero?  What qualities do you have the also exhibit that of a hero?  Do you think you have been a hero to anyone else? 

Answer these questions is a 6-7 sentence paragraph.  Remember to use correct capitalization and punctuation!  Happy blogging!

Quote Interpretation #2

"Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence know, just make your absence felt." Anonymous


As we enter our unit on poetry we will be spending a lot of time understanding the message of words that are put together in an interesting way.  We have come to know this as figurative language. In order to do this effectively we will be required to use our inferring skills to draw conclusions with the poetry we read. 

The author of the above quote is not known.  Therefore, your task this week in your response is to 1) use your inferring skills to interpret in a sentence or two what this quote means to you, and 2) what conclusions can you draw about the person who said these wise words?  Remember, when we draw conclusions we must support it with evidence, so please state reasons for the conclusion you drew.  Again, your response should be a complete 6-7 sentence paragraph with correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

Happy blogging! (Oh, and by the way, your "Sugar Tax" blog blew me away!  You all rock my socks off!  Keep up the great work!) :)

Sugar Tax Debate

In our Social Studies lessons we have been learning about the many causes of the American Revolution.  One of the main reasons were taxes.  On March 22, 1765 the British passed the Sugar Act on the colonists that required them to pay taxes on items such as molasses, blue indigo dye, and pimentos.  This, amongst many other taxes, angered the colonists and started the revolt.  The tax was eventually dropped, but it may be making a return...

In a recent study, researchers have found that sugar has just as negative affects on the body as tobacco and alchohol.  It has, therefore, been suggested that sugary foods start becoming taxed at a higher rate, just as tobacco and alcohol are, in order to try to discourage people from eating those foods.  The link to the article is listed below.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/tax-sugar-alcohol-tobacco-order-combat-obesity-health-experts-a-good-idea-article-1.1016514?localLinksEnabled=false

Your blog requirement this week is to respond persuasively to the sugar tax that is being considered.  Just as with our persuasive essays you must have three reasons to support your position.  Do you think sugary foods should be taxed more to keep people from eating them?  If so, why?  Or do you think the government is overstepping their boundries by trying to control what people eat?  Determine your position and support it with at least three details in a one paragraph response.

Remember to sign your name and happy blogging!

Descriptive Writing

Write a descriptive paragraph about your favorite place, person, or object.  You may choose anything you want to write a description about, but remember that when you write descriptively you must appeal to the senses.  Ask yourself what will they see, touch, hear, smell, or taste?  Not all senses have to apply, but you should consider them all and include those that would be a part of the description.

Remember, sign your name and happy blogging!

Who Am I As A Learner?

This week's blog post will serve more as a reflection, however still fitting in with our recent discussions of talking about brick walls and the struggles we face in life that ultimately make us a stronger person.  This week we are going to narrow that focus to school only and answer the question, "Who am I as a learner?"  Where do you struggle?  What are your hardest subjects?  Why do you think that is?  Where do you excel?  What are your easiest subjects?  Why do you think that is?  What are your goals for school in 5th grade and beyond?  How do you think your education will play a role in your future?

Please answer these questions in a well-orgnized, one-paragraph response.  Make sure to check spelling and include correct capitalization and punctuation. 
DO NOT FORGET TO PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR POST!

Happy blogging! :)