Poetry Parties

Congratulations on your wonderful presentations in each of the poetry parties this morning.


Feel free to give 'kudos' to your fellow classmates through 'comments' complimenting them on some of the poems you enjoyed the most.  Enjoy the animoto videos below.

Buxton Class


 
Graham  Class
(The camera we used for this animoto did not take good video shots, so the quality and sound will not  be as good.)

Inside - Outside Help!

H/W
Grammar Package (Due: Fri)
Spelling Test will be next Tuesday

Inside/Ouside poem about yourself. (Due: Fri) - further advice below

Don't make your poem more complicated than it needs to be...Think about the assignment for a second... all i'm asking you to do is write a poem about yourself. Now...going a bit further...i'm suggesting ways you can go about doing this by using categories...for example.. write about your personality, your dreams, your fears, your weaknesses etc etc... by thinking about categories gives you a way to organize your thoughts... so the next step is ... how do you do that...???


well why not begin by just writing about yourself in a literal way...
What do other think of you?
They think... all i enjoy writng and i a super students...
your poetry might soon like...  outside
A test taking machine some may suggest
Fear of failure is why I strive my best
inside
I think... ..i like doing art....
 how can i do that in a poetic and/or figurative way..?
Drawing and mixing paints brightens my days
Being artistic and creative in countless ways

You need to do just 12 lines like this... and maybe find a special way to end...
no...the title doesn't count....(but give a realistic title)

Also..VERY IMPORTANT...there is a rhyming dictionary on the left side of the blog...use it to find words and phrases that rhyme if you want...

Remember my old phrase... NIKE!!!!

Visuword

Click the link below for an excellent resource for finding synonyms and related words and ideas for your poems. This site can be used  for any form of writing, but it is very useful for your poems. I will put a permanent link on the right side of the blog for future use. Just type in any word you are looking for alternatives or synonyms or related ideas and see what appears!

http://www.visuwords.com/

Don't forget to be thinking of your classic poem for next week's recitations. If you are unsure what is meant be 'classical' poetry, you should ask me first before memorizing your poem. An inappropriate choice will negatively affect your grade.

Enjoy's Bekah's and Will H's zoobursts. Notice how she used her own photos in her creation, and he used his own voice and sound effects. +2.  Well done!

Carpe Diem - Make your lives extraordinary

Free free to comment  about today's lesson introducing poetry.  Feel free to add any of your drafts of your personal poems for others to comment.

Below is a chance to see the video clip from today's session again.

Invictus - Reflection

Listen below to  an interview with the captain of the South African rugby team (Matt Damon's character) as he speaks about Nelson Mandela.



How will you use the last lines of  Invictus in your life going forward?

I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of  my soul

Watch the real live ending of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final below.



H/W
Character Sketch due in tomorrow - Make sure you are making 'clear'  judgments throughout.

Bring in your comfort zone rectangles (if you still have it) for discussion in tomorrow's class (Fri). How have you stepped out of your comfort zone recently?

Next Week - Descriptive Writing

There is no H/W sheet to download since we have just two days next week.

Monday Night's H/W -
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING DUE DATE POSTPONED UNTIL TUESDAY  NOVEMBER 2nd

• Make sure you use the proof reading guide (given in class Monday) to improve your sentence construction. Have you truly 'painted a picture' with the words you chose?
• Do your best to integrate ideas/words from the 'word bank' booklet.
• Class Halloween party is Tuesday afternoon 2:20pm (both classes)

Mentor Text - Descriptive Writing

Home

The wind whistled in my ear as an angry chill crawled up my spine. Rain and sleet blocked my way. Each nervous step forward brought me closer to my destination. I could almost taste my fear. Our old, oak tree guarded the concrete path obediently. Its twisted branches and wet drooping leaves seemed to create a welcoming archway. A lone branch stroked my cheek as I darted underneath; reassurance perhaps? I pondered. Suddenly, even more familiar sights, comforting sounds, and calming smells bombarded my senses. I had made it. Just a few more precious steps I calculated. With two impressive strides and an enthusiastic leap I found some cover from the tormenting downpour. A long, green drape was pulled to one side, and two, tiny, warm smiles beckoned me forward. My heart pounded with joy. They were home, and they were safe.





Tuesday's Class - In Class Essay Writing

You will be required to write an in class essay on the topic 'conservation'. You will be able to use any notes we covered in class on the three Rs related to Recycle City. In addition, you will be able to ue any other notes/power plans you create.(e.g. Remember the H/Wnotes you took on how organizations can better conseve their resources?) The in class writing question will be very specific. It is VITAL that you adapt any information/notes you bring in and relate them specifically to the question you are given on Tuesday. i.e. You cannot just write down everything you know about conservation; instead, you have to make the question given is being answered.

No H/W Tuesday night

Enjoy your break and be safe when trick or treating next weekend

Feel free to add an comments about how you feel about this 1st trimester that ended Friday.  (+1 for thoughtful contributions)

Descriptive Sentences - Brag Sheet

Enjoy these impressive descriptive writing pieces rom your classmates. Notice how there is limited action taking place in the writing. It is as if 'time froze' and just a 'moment in time'  is being  described.

Fishing with Dad
Miles W.

As I listened to the hypnotic sound of the beach volleyball being bounced back and forth on the sandy court, all was peaceful. The half-bare trees had their own special way of beauty by shaking slowly (as if in a dream) their artistically designed red/yellow leaves. Faint footsteps in the distance awoke my senses, and I started to think in a clearer state of mind. Being able to think more clearly, I realized that there was an assortment of knobby twigs that must have fallen from the tree branch hovering above me. Red/yellow leaves in the grass and cold, crispy air also surrounded me. Suddenly something on my lap moved! A fishing rod! I then remembered that I was fishing with my dad, and he had gone to the car to get more bait.

Descriptive Paragraph: A Moment In Time

By: Kate Mace
The shiny galas and crisp mackintosh were just begging me to pluck them off

the branches. Somewhere else out in the orchard, a small child shouted out in frustration. Clover and trees in the area created an earthy, inciting aroma that made me want to stand there under that tree and breathe it in all day. Suddenly, a loud rumble that came from under my shoulders interrupted my peaceful daydream in paradise. I could understand the grumbling from my stomach. It was saying, “Feed me Kate, I’m famished. I could hear the apple treats being set out on the table for just my family and I to enjoy. As I sat down on the table, the mouth watering smells wafted up into my nostrils from the outdoor kitchen. The apple pie and apple cider were for dessert of course, but I thought we should eat them now. For they would be cold if we waited any longer, and nobody wants cold apple pie or warm cider. Apple juice is what we would drink instead of cider. Apple tarts and apple donuts were just now being set out on the table. I put away a second or two to soak it all in and take a mental note of it. Sprinkled with powder sugar, the petite donuts seemed extremely delicious. They were arranged on a platter decoratively, and they made you want to grab the giant platter and start wolfing them down. As for the apple tarts, lets just say that they tasted better when they were in your mouth, not on yourshirt. When I could get them in my mouth, they were the best donuts I had ever tasted. Even though we had to go home right after lunch, I had a great time at the orchard on the mountain.

A Perfect Day of Winter
by Maddie

Branches and leaves of all colors crinkle as I step on the ground in the wooded area. Pine needles on the evergreens brushed against my coat and boots. Although the snow and air was cold, it had a welcoming feeling. The frosted leaves and weak branches fell as the wind howled throughout the trees. My fingers and toes were numb, and my breath made white clouds in the air. Small and large, icicles hung upon the dormant trees sparkling like crystals because of the afternoon sun above. Snowflakes fell from the sky dancing in the wind, each twirling like how dancers skip across the floor. There were no flowers anymore, and all the plants were drooping as if they knew there had been a winter’s frost. The trees shook as the wind attacked them, and the branches rattled as if they were mad. Animal prints decorated the snow in patterns in the same way a stamp would decorate a piece of paper. Winter is beautiful, but I always miss the animals that are hibernating for the season. Snow falling from branches way high in the trees fell and made me think my friends and I were in a snow fight. Sitting in a branch high in my favorite tree made me feel so small to the big woods around me. The wind up my spine made me shiver all over and reminded me what it would be like to be on the streets without a coat. Snow drifts were all over like little hills of snow to make snow forts out of them. The beautiful white snow reminded me of how perfect the world really was. All my worries drifted out of my head as I thought of how good I had it. The nature of the woods reminded me that life was more than the newest ipod or the biggest house. The woods was a place were life thrived, and it felt as if you were on top of the world. Dad’s voice echoed through the trees “ Time for hot chocolate!” for that was our favorite drink after a day in the snow. Tripping over stumps and roots, I darted toward the cozy house.