#15: School House Rock!!

You asked for it... and here it is...

Working on our grammar skills the "Old School" way:

Conjunctions: In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together.

Adjectives: The part of speech that modifies a noun or other substantive by limiting, qualifying, or specifying and distinguished in English morphologically by one of several suffixes, such as -able, -ous, -er, and -est, or syntactically by position directly preceding a noun or nominal phrase.

Your REQUIRED POST:

• Topic: YOUR CHOICE! 
• 2 or more structured paragraphs!
• ALL adjectives need to be in BOLD type! 
• choose 3 or more conjunctions in your post and put them in italics, meaning they need to be slanted and therefore, easily recognized in your post
• COMMENT on at least 3 other blogs! 

#14: POTUS!

What a week!! We have reelected Barack Obama as the 44th POTUS (President of the United States)!

If you were asked step in front of the United States as the leader - how would you act? What would you say? How would you make our country feel safe and secure that you KNOW what you're doing?

Today's Required Post: 

• You may choose a topic of your own, OR you may respond to the question above (I'd love to know your thoughts!). 
• You MUST include 2 structured paragraphs
• topic sentence
• 3-4 detailed sentences
• closing sentence
• You MUST include 2 semicolons! Go back to the last post if you need help!
• You MUST comment on 3 other students' blogs

As you are writing today - I will be showing our newest (and current) POTUS' acceptance speech. Enjoy.

#13: The FEARED semicolon!

What is the POINT of a semicolon?

Well... there are so many reasons to know how to properly use a semicolon. Explore the video and websites to help understand how to use a semicolon.

My favorite grammar site is The Oatmeal.

Here are two videos... not the best, but you'll get the point :)

Grammar Vids for Kids:

 Here are some semicolon sentence examples:

• I watched the Grammy Awards last night; I was pleased that Amy Winehouse won and thought it was a great show this year.
• I love music; however, I haven’t played my own guitar in several years.
• I have lived in several different cities: San Francisco, California; Haiku, Hawaii; and Santa Barbara, California.
• When I was in fourth grade, I won the spelling bee for my entire school and went to the district championships. I practiced every night, memorized all the words on the list, and felt confident that I had a shot at winning; I got nervous on stage and misspelled one of the words even though I knew the proper spelling.
• I’m fascinated by names and their meanings; Melissa means honey bee.
• There’s nothing like the gentle drum of water hitting against the window pane; I love the rain.

Your required post:

• The topic is your choice! However... you have guidelines!
• You will be incorporating the last two lessons today. 
• AT LEAST two structured paragraphs! Don't forget to include a topic sentence, detail sentences, and a closing sentence!
• AT LEAST THREE semicolons throughout your post! 
• YOU MUST comment on AT LEAST 3 other blogs - TWO of which you have NOT commented on before! If you've commented on everyone's blogs, please choose to comment on someone's blog who you have not read recently. 

Post #12: Paragraphs and YOUR Blog

Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

Today you are required to write 3 structured paragraphs... the topic is your choice! You may describe your Halloween, write about your blog topic, or choose something else. I suggest adding photos or videos to enhance the interest level (and you can describe the photos if you are struggling with how to write 3 paragraphs! 

Don't forget to add labels and to comment on your classmates' blogs! 

Post #11: Intensives & organization

Welcome back from your fall break! We are going to focus on paragraphs and organization this week.

Sadly School House Rock does NOT have a segment to teach us how to write a paragraph. Instead, I found this horrible video clip to help you stay focused in your paragraph... It's terrible, but hopefully you'll catch my humor is knowing that you may actually learn something from this!

What I want you to do today is to write THREE paragraphs:

1. Describe your Intensive - what did you do and learn? what were your highlights and lowlights?

2. If you could design your very own three day Intensive, describe it!

3. What are your goals for 2nd block? Write these in paragraph form (they can be specific to Blogger or for all your classes - it is up to you)

Add LABELS to your blog today to help gather followers... I'll explain!
Don't forget to comment on other students' blogs!

Post #10: Block 1 Eval & 2nd Grade Play!

Today you will do TWO things...

1. You will get a hard copy of the Block 1 Guidelines from Norma. Please complete this by the end of class. However, DO NOT FORGET to print off one of your best posts to staple/attach to your eval.
2. At 2pm, Jana's Reading group will be performing a play for you in her classroom. Please clean up your area, return your computer, and be ready to walk with Norma to Jana's room by 2pm.

*If for some reason you cannot complete your eval by 2pm, please turn it into Megan's mailbox by Monday!! 

Post #9: Guided "Open" Post

Yep - you've got it... you're now into the swing of the blogosphere. I will be using today's post to assess your understanding of this course and your responsibilities as a Blogger.

Today's post has a handful of requirements:

1. Your title must incorporate your "main idea" for today's post AND your blog's theme
2. You must somehow connect to one of the 5 Goals of the Open School (and mention it by name so I don't have to "guess")
3. You need to include at least one website link as a reference or to further your reader's knowledge on the subject
4. You need to add a video and/or a photo that connects to your theme/topic of the day
5. You need to share your opinions AND be sure to explain yourselves (examples and stories are the best way to do this)
6. BE CREATIVE! 

Please complete your Mid-term Eval (hard copy) and return to Megan by Thursday's class October 18.