it's the end.........

of the school year. And, as usual, I feel a mix of emotions. Happy because I will get to spend more time with my family, and I love to see my garden grow and eat fresh vegetables. Sad because I will miss all of you!

Take a minute and think back on this school year. What is it you will remember the most? What do you think was the most important or most interesting thing you learned?

Let me know in the comments!

something new!

Ok, so I've been thinking about the summer, and about how we all (even me!) have to keep on learning, even though we won't be in school. Here's a little story:

I attended my first piano lesson today. I've always wanted to learn, but never had the opportunity. My neighbor is a piano teacher, and she said she would teach me. It was scary at first. Then I sat at the piano and my teacher taught me how to play not one, but FOUR scales in one day! I can now play the C, D, E, and F scales on the piano! I couldn't do that when I woke up this morning, but I can now.

Then my teacher had me open one of the books I had brought. It was one of my son's books from about two years ago.... yes, today I began my journey in piano using the same materials my children learned from! I was amazed to learn about so many things I'd seen before, but never really understood. It was like learning a new language! Or algebra!

Anyway, this summer I am going to try and practice piano for at least 1/2 an hour five days a week. I know it will take time and commitment, but I am willing to do it. I'd like you to spend some time thinking about these questions.....

* What do YOU want to learn and practice this summer?
* What are you willing to spend time and effort on?

Because the fact is: if you don't use it, you will lose it.

You are your own best teacher. Always remember that. Read. Write. Divide. Blog. Participate. Speak. Practice. But how? One way, of course, is to use the internet

To help you out, I have made for you a "Delicious" account! I know you probably don't understand how exciting that is yet, but wait until you try it! Basically, a Delicious account is a place to bookmark websites. It's like a giant address book of all your favorite websites, all in one place.

Ok, enough explanation. Check it out for yourselves. There are bookmarks about local organizations and news sources, there are bookmarks that will take you to websites about pronunciation, there are bookmarks for math videos and math practice. There are even bookmarks to help you find something fun and different for you to do this summer!

If YOU find a website that YOU like, you will also be able to add them! I'll teach you how before the year is out.

Ok, are you ready?

Here it is!

Happy Easter!

This Sunday is Easter. In honor of the holiday, I would like to share with you one of my favorite things about the season: The Washington Post Peep Diorama Contest!

You know what Peeps are, right? Those disgusting but yummy marshmallow treats shaped like chicks and bunnies that the Easter bunny sometimes brings?

Anyway, people all around the country vie for the title of TOP PEEP by building a diorama out of, you guessed it, Peeps!! This year, there were more than 1,100 entries.

Then the Washington Post chooses a winner and several runners up.

Even more peeps!

Which one is your favorite?

good morning!

I hope you have been enjoying this beautiful weather. Today is our last testing day, but enjoy your time in the computer lab first.

Here's a little assignment for you for today.....
in the comments section of this post, write an original sentence using a semi-colon or a colon.

how could colorado springs rock?

Do you like living in Colorado Springs?

If you're answer is no: Why not? What does our city need to make it better? What is it missing? Or what does it have that you wish it DIDN'T?

If your answer is yes: Why do you like it? What are the activities that you and your family enjoy here? And finally.... are there any things that would make a good city even better?

Many people around our city are thinking about these very same questions right now. And they are looking for YOUR input in answer to the question: "How could Colorado Springs rock?"

People from all over town have put down their ideas on post cards, and sent them in, and they are being posted on the web!
Take a look!

If you would like to hear an interview with one of the people who started the icoloradosprings project, and see more postcards, click HERE.

On the Radio!

Listen!

and leave a comment on the KRCC website, if you want.

everyone has a story to tell....

what's yours?

Check out this website about the Six-Word Memoir project. Make sure you watch the short video it's on the right side of the page.

There's even a book by teens.

Now: write as many six-word-memoirs as you can or want in your composition book.

Then choose your favorite, and post it in the comments.

(bonus points if you can find the run-on sentence in my post!)

Wow!

While searching the Internet, I found some amazing videos!

Try this one!

And this one!

There's even a music video!

Chapter 6 - Hard Way Home

In order to practice the art of FLUENCY while reading, I gave you all a section from Chapter 6 in Three Cups of Tea to practice, and then read aloud to the class. I was so absolutely impressed with your expression and pronunciation! I enjoyed listening to you, instead of you listening to me! :)

Let me know if you would like to do this activity again. This also looks interesting. Hmmm....what do you think?

In addition to FLUENCY, we also practiced VOCABULARY. Before reading Chapter 6, each group discovered the words they did not know in their text, and then had to figure out a way to teach them to the class. Here are some photos from that day!

Three Cups of Tea

We have been reading Three Cups of Tea in our class. Here is a picture of one of the schools that is being built, thanks to Greg Mortenson. Click on the photo to see it even bigger!

If you would like some more information about the book, you can go to Greg Mortenson's website and look around. There are also some great photos!

He even has a blog!

When browsing through a blog or a website, make sure you take time to really look and read.

I was wondering what your feelings were about the book so far, or about any thoughts you have from looking at the links above.

Leave your thoughts or feelings in the comments!

wow!

I am impressed with all the posting that happened in my absence last Thursday!

Here's a little assignment for you today, if you so choose to do it. We have learned a plethora of new words over the past two weeks. (What do you think "plethora" means? Can you figure it out from context?) :-)

I'm going to list some of them here. Choose one or two and write sentences using that word in the comments. I'll be happy to look them over for you before publishing if you would like.

crouched
indistinctly
strode on
untrodden
flung
glaring
quivering
suffused with
wailed
pattering
malice

Have fun!

Live Mocha

I've just discovered an interesting website for learning a second language! It's called LiveMocha, and it's like a cross between a language class and Facebook. You create an account (it's free!) and work through lessons for the language you want to learn, but you can also chat with native speakers, make friends, and get encouragement from other people. One of my friends is learning Spanish right now from it, and loves it! You can't get to the link here at school, but you can do it at home if you want. I haven't tried it, so I don't know exactly how it works, but I just wanted you to know about it. Good luck!

time to start blogging!

Hey everybody! If you have a story that has been revised and edited, then follow the directions, get logged in, and start typing! If you aren't ready yet, then you can go here or here and read other students' posts and leave them comments. You also might get some ideas about things to write about from them.

This is YOUR space-you can post your memories, your opinions, your thoughts, your experiences.

I hope you will find that blogging is a great way to share your talents and your lives with the world.