Food Frenzy!

Dear students,

Food is a big part of Thanksgiving. While traditional Thanksgiving feasts include turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, the holiday could use some new and exciting additions to the menu. Snoopy tries some creative options for his Thanksgiving dinner. Now it's your turn.

Create a new dish that you think would commemorate the holiday. Describe what it is made of and why you think Thanksgiving would be better with your dish on the table.

Be sure to include:

• a topic sentence

• supporting details

• complete sentences

• correct spelling, capitalization (M.I.N.T.S.), and end punctuation.

• a closing sentence

Happy blogging,

Mrs. Eads

All You Can Eat!

Dear students,

Please write at least a 5 sentence paragraph about the following:

Imagine you opened your own restaurant. What would the name of your restaurant be? What kind of food would you serve? What does your restaurant look like? Where is your restaurant located? Have fun and be creative.

Remember, students, to watch out for run-ons, and to write in complete sentences. I look forward to reading your comments!

Your paragraph must…

• be at least 5 sentences long

• written in complete sentences

• use M.I.N.T.S.

• have a topic sentence and supporting details

• have a closing sentence

Here is an example of an advanced/proficient comment:

If I could open up a restaurant, its name would be Rene's. This restaurant would have all the Italian food you could ever imagine! Every person would get an appetizer, entree, and a very good desert. The walls in this restaurant would have pictures of Italy all over it. You would sit in booths, a table, or upstairs in a high top. We would serve lasagna, pizza, any type of pasta, and much more Italian food. If I could open up this restaurant, I would do it because of my dad's side of the family is Italian! All of my employees would come straight from the best restaurants in Italy! We would have Italian people come to our restaurant just because our food is so good. My restaurant would always be playing Italian music or have a famous Italian singer there. If I had this restaurant, it would mean so much to my guests, employees, my family and friends. 

Happy blogging,

Mrs. Eads

Monkey Business

Dear students,

Imagine that for one day only you could have a pet monkey! What would you do with your pet? What would you name him/her? What adventures would you two have? Please describe your day with your new friend.

Remember, students, to watch out for run-ons, and to write in complete sentences. I look forward to reading your comments!

Your paragraph must…

• be at least 5 sentences long
• written in complete sentences
• use M.I.N.T.S.
• have a topic sentence and supporting details
• have a closing sentence

Here is an example of an advanced/proficient comment:
If I had a pet monkey, I would name it Bailey. If I could do anything with Bailey, I would go to the park to let her play. Of course, I would have to play too. We would mostly play at the monkey bars. Our hearts would start to pump in excitement. After that, we would go to California Pizza Kitchen. Bailey would get a big pepperoni pizza, and I would get mac and cheese. We would mainly just stay there and talk with each other. After that, we would go to the candy store and get lots of candy. Bailey would get all banana flavored candy. Finally, we would go home and snuggle up on the couch. I would read Curious George to her, and she would fall asleep in my arms.  That would be my day with Bailey.

Happy blogging,
Mrs. Eads

Teacher for a Day!

Dear students,

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be the teacher for one day? Well, now is your chance! In your comment below, please write a paragraph describing what you would do as the teacher for one day. For example, what would you teach? What kind of activities would you plan? What would your students call you? Think about what would happen in class if you were in charge for a day and leave your comment below.
Your paragraph must…

• be at least 5 sentences long
• written in complete sentences
• use M.I.N.T.S.
• have a topic sentence and supporting details
• have a closing sentence

Here are two examples of advanced/proficient comments:
If I was teacher for a day, I would be called Mr. W. by my students, and I would make everyday a duds day. When I would first get to school, I would cancel all the boring classes, and bring everyone on a field trip to a science lab. We would make our own favorite candy with the resources that we have. When we got back to school,  we would grab our favorite books and read in our pajamas while drinking hot cocoa. After reading, we would go on a field trip to a movie theatre and see The Peanuts Movie. For lunch, I would throw a pizza party in my classroom, and for recess, we would go to a Vols football game. I would love being teacher for a day!

If I were a teacher for a day, I would make sure I got everything perfect from the start. First, I would wake up in my own house in a warm bed. I would go downstairs and eat a warm bagel from Bruggers Bagels, specifically the cinnamon flavoring (YUM)! I would get dressed in a long skirt with a long-sleeved shirt red t-shirt. I would head to school with two batches of cookies, one for each class. I would start off the day with a warm greeting and a smile on my face. When we sat down at the carpet, I would make sure we would play the best game, along with a funny greeting. I would make sure everyone used proper grammar and everyone was included. I would also teach chemistry and do a bunch of experiments. During lunch, I would get into a conversation with my students and learn more about them. For recess, I would give them two hours instead of twenty minutes. Finally, I would end the day with another fun greeting and some cookies. I think it would be very fun to have my own classroom and be teacher for a day.

Happy blogging,
Mrs. Eads

We are Family

Dear students,
Our blog is a place to write about different topics and share our ideas. Today you will have the opportunity to write about a special family member.

If you could spend an afternoon with one member of your extended family, who would it be? Please explain why you chose this person and tell what you would do together.
Your paragraph must…

• be at least 5 sentences long
• written in complete sentences
• use M.I.N.T.S.
• have a topic sentence and supporting details

Here is an example of an advanced/proficient  comment from a former student:
If I could spend a whole day with one family member, it would be my grandfather. Even though he is not alive, he is close to my heart. In the morning, we would eat ice cream and cake for breakfast. We would laugh and talk until Disneyland opened for the day. We would rush over and ride all of the rides non stop. I would wear a shirt that said, " Laugh more, Cry less!", and everyone would stop to compliment me. My grandfather, also known as Grandpapa, would be wearing a clown hat with shiny black wingtip shoes and a bright orange shirt. He would go around making people laugh, and he would be laughing himself. Then, we would go to the zoo and pet every single animal we could. When the guards weren't looking, we would feed the animals our cotton candy and chips. Finally, for dinner we would have bacon and bananas with Nutella. We would sit on a hill and watch the sun set. Then, we would rent a hotel room for the night, and spend as much money as possible! That would be my day with Grandpapa if I could spend one last day with him.

Happy blogging,
Mrs. Eads

Our Reading Community

Dear Readers,

As an avid reader, I often find myself finishing a great book or an interesting article, and desperately wanting to share my thoughts with someone. When I lived in Indiana, I was lucky enough to have a group of friends who shared a passion for reading, so we formed a book club. While I am not in the same city as my book club anymore, I still reach out to my friends and family in Nashville, to discuss my questions and opinions about literature.

As a classroom of learners, we have created a community geared toward having a teachable spirit, so we may grow to become people of knowledge, wisdom, and ultimately character. One way we do this is by reading and forming ideas and connections that begin to shape us. In order to support this work, this blog will serve as a way to discuss various things when we are not in the class. Essentially, the blog will become a virtual classroom.

For example, I might post about a response about Thank You, Mr. Falker by explaining my connection to the character, Trish. I might say how much I relate to her overcoming an obstacle with the help of a teacher and how motivated I was to find out the author was the one who overcame her learning hurdle and became a published author. You will have the same chance to post your reactions, but also, to respond to what someone else might say. In this way, our posts become a conversation when we are away from the classroom.

As we begin this online blogging adventure, I challenge you to bring your working minds to the keyboard and let me know your thoughts and feelings about literature. We have so much to discover ...

So, join the community! Come on in, pull up to a computer, let me know your thoughts about literature and our blogging opportunity. I believe the blog will be a wonderful opportunity for our class to communicate in a unique way.

Literature is an important part of my life because I enjoy getting lost in a story and having friends recommend books to me. Also, I love talking about the books I have read. I am interested in learning more about the part literature plays in your life and who is a character you have made a strong connection to and why.

Write about the following in your comment below:

How is literature a part of your life?

Who is a character that you have made a strong connection with and why?

Love,

Mrs. Eads

One Little Word

Dear students,

Each new year, two of my cyber-mentors challenge teachers to find their One Little Word (OLW). The OLW is one word that will represent, or symbolize, the year ahead. The word should be personal and thoughtful. My mentors spend weeks thinking about their OLW, making sure they select a word that will really guide them.

I have thought a great deal about my OLW. For 2016, I selected "trust" as my One Little Word. I selected "trust" because I don't always trust God's plan and try to make my own way. I need this word to remind me to trust not only His plan for me, but also to trust in the strengths and talents He has blessed me with, rather than worry about the future. Trust can apply to my life in so many ways - through friends, work, my students, my family, myself, and ultimately, God's plan for me. I will use this word to guide me through the days of 2016.

In your comment, answer the following questions in complete sentences:

What is your One Little Word? How does this word apply to your life? How can you use your OLW to guide your year? Comment to this post with your OLW, and examples of how you can use your OLW this year.

Be sure to include:

• a topic sentence

• supporting details

• complete sentences

• correct spelling, capitalization (M.I.N.T.S.), and end punctuation.

• a closing sentence

I cannot wait to read your posts,

Mrs. Eads

What Exactly is a Blog?

Dear students,

What exactly is a blog, and why are we using it in 4th grade? We will use the blog to communicate about different things we discuss in class. Our online posts will extend our conversations from class, and allow us to see what other classmates are thinking as well.

We will use the blog for many different things. Often I will write a post, and you will be asked to respond to it for homework. For example, we might post about different reading strategies, or use it to respond to poetry in the spring. However, this year I would also love to have students write a blog post, and classmates can respond to their post.

Today, I am interested in your thoughts about the blog. Please answer the following questions:

1. What excites you about the blog?

2. What questions do you have about the blog?

3. What ideas do you have for future blog posts or using the blog?

I look forward to reading your first blog response!

Your teacher,

Mrs. Eads

Would You Rather - part 2

Dear students,

For your final blog posts, you will write a persuasive paragraph in a series called "Would You Rather." In each post, I will give you a scenario, and you will have to defend your answer using the following criteria:

• A topic sentence stating your opinion

• At least 3 supporting sentences defending your opinion

• One counter argument

• A concluding sentence summarizing your writing

Here is your "Would You Rather" for today:

Would you rather have the ability to see 10 years into your own future or one year into the future of the world?

Please remember to check for mistakes by reading aloud your post to yourself before you publish it. I cannot wait to see what you write!

Your teacher,

Mrs. Eads

P.S.-Here is my example:

        If I had the choice to have a 3-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation, I would rather have a 3-day weekend every week. If I had a 3-day weekend instead of 2 days, I would get a lot more done! In addition, I would not have to work as much, and I could spend more time working out, shopping, reading, relaxing, and hanging out with my friends. Plus, I would not feel so rushed on my weekends. I could even go out of town for long weekends and visit family and friends! However, some may prefer an extra month of summer vacation because they could take longer trips. I think the benefits of longer weekends out weigh the benefits of an extra month of summer. I prefer having a 3-day weekend  rather than having another month of summer vacation.

Would You Rather

Dear students,

For your final blog posts, you will write a persuasive paragraph in a series called "Would You Rather." In each post, I will give you a scenario, and you will have to defend your answer using the following criteria:

• A topic sentence stating your opinion

• At least 3 supporting sentences defending your opinion

• One counter argument

• A concluding sentence summarizing your writing

Here is your "Would You Rather" for today:

Would you rather have a three-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation?

I cannot wait to see what you will write!

Your teacher,
Mrs. Eads

P.S.-Here is my example:
        If I had the choice to have a three-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation, I would rather have a three-day weekend every week. If I had a three-day weekend instead of two days, I would get a lot more done! In addition, I would not have to work as much, and I could spend more time working out, shopping, reading, relaxing, and hanging out with my friends. Plus, I would not feel so rushed on my weekends. I could even go out of town for long weekends and visit family and friends! However, some may prefer an extra month of summer vacation because they could take longer trips. I think the benefits of longer weekends out weigh the benefits of an extra month of summer. I prefer having a three-day weekend  rather than having another month of summer vacation.

Poetry Madness: Championship Game!

Welcome to the championship game!!!


Your response must be at least 3 sentences long and include the following:
*Who should win the championship.
*Why you connect to the poem.
*What you like about the poet's craft.

If your response is not detailed and does not answer both parts, it will be disqualified. In addition, if there are multiple grammatical and spelling mistakes, your response will be disqualified.

It takes attention to detail and hard work to be a champion, so your blog post needs to reflect your best writing and thinking. May the best poem win!

Final Four: Game 2

Welcome to the last game of the Final Four! 

You will need to read Roger the Dog  and Do you carrot all for me? or The Falling Star and The New Suit.

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Poetry Madness: Final Four: Game 1

Welcome to the Final Four! 

You will need to read Casey at the Bat and Choosing Shoes.

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Elite 8: Game 4

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read the winners of Game 6 and Game 8.

Choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Be sure to give examples.
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, etc

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of proficient writing:

I chose Choosing Shoes because it is a fun poem. For example,I liked how they were choosing from all different kinds shoes. 

I also liked this poem because I can make a connection.It is hard for me to chose what shoes I like best.

Finally I really liked this poem because it has poet's craft. For example, it had four quatrains and the rhyme scheme for each is AAAB. In each quatrain, the author talks about a different kinds of shoes. This is why I liked Choosing Shoes as the winner.

Elite Game 8: Game 3

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read the winners of Game 5 and Game 7.

Choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Be sure to give examples.
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, quatrain, etc

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of a  proficient comment:

I chose The Falling Star as my favorite poem because I thought it had a deeper meaning. For example, I liked how it was about a special moment and you should not waste it.

I also liked this poem because I can make a connection. I really enjoy watching beautiful stars too.

Finally, I really liked this poem because it had poet's craft. For example, it had a rhyme scheme AABBCC. Also, the author used couplets in the poem. For example, "I saw a star slide down the sky. Blinding the north as it went by." 

This is why I chose The Falling Star as my favorite poem.

Elite 8: Game 2

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read the winners of Game 2 and Game 4.

Choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Be sure to give examples.
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, etc

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of proficient writing:

Mother to Son is a more important poem because it has a deeper meaning. A mother is telling her son to never give up in life even when it gets hard. 

I can make a connection to Mother to Son because sometimes I want to give up, and my mom always comforts me.

I enjoy the repetition of the metaphor, “Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.”

I choose Mother to Son as the winner.

Elite 8: Game 1

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read "Mother to Son" and "Casey at the Bat."

In Round 2, you need to choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? 
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of advanced/proficient writing:

Mother to Son has a more important meaning to me because it is talking about a 

woman who was probably a slave telling her boy that life isn't going to be easy and 

I really think that goes close to my heart. And I feel bad for them.

My connection is with the poem, Casey at the Bat. I have been on a softball team before and struck out when my team really needed a hit.  I can imagine how the fans and the player feel when the game is over and they do not win.  

I like Mother to Son's poem craft more because it rhymes better and the way it is 

written sounds like the mother is from the South.