Black and White Poems

Eighth grade students investigated black and white art galleries on line and chose a poem that grabbed their attention. Just like Jonas in the community of Sameness in The Giver by Lois Lowry, living in a world of black and white presents a different perspective. Every poem written by an eighth grade student ended to be solemn and serious. Why?

Elements of Fiction

 Students in grade 7 recently finished reading the novel Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett. This is such an exciting piece of historical fiction! Anna did really exist and she finished writing 11 volumes explaining the history of her father Alexius Commnenus, which are still in publication today. We disected the eight elements of fiction using this novel. Student work is so creative! Take a look at the bulletin board in room 311 to see examples of character, setting, plot, conflict, mood, theme, and resolution. We decided not to illustrate point of view because Anna is telling the story and she is also the main character. Using these eight elements of fiction, students planned and wrote short stories that are truly imaginative and interesting!

Haiku Poetry

5-7-5. When you mention those numbers in that sequence to a student in grade 7, they know that a haiku poem is being discussed. Every student wrote a haiku in the traditional Japanese manner focusing on nature and an action that is taking place. We also used water colors to paint the scenes we wrote about. Here are a few poems. Students, please show your parents your haiku poems unless they are still on the bulletin board outside room 311 that is. :)

The Wise Koa Trees

The Dry Rivers Cross The Road

The One Sound, Silence.
by CD gr.7

JOY is . . .

What does JOY look like, sound like, or feel like to you? Students in grades 7 and 8 are sharing their thoughts about JOY as they learn about imagery which is a literary device writer employ. Imagery is when a writer uses words to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. Imagery is wonderful because it uses the five senses and written words come alive. That is what makes a book truly enjoyable and how we get "hooked" on reading! Our bulletin board is full of giant post-it notes of imagery written by students. We are just getting started, but it won't be long before everyone has a chance to share a favorite image of what joy means.



Here are a few examples students and I have written. :)

Joy is popping a smooth morsel of silky, salty, sweet caramel in my mouth.
-E.S. gr. 7

       
Joy is the twinkling, shimmering lights on the minty green tree.  C.K. gr. 7 


      Joy is flopping onto my fuzzy, furry, thick, mushy, feathery mattress! A.S. gr.7

Joy is the frozen silence of a single, serene snowflake wafting to earth. Mrs. H 

Gender Roles

Here is a question for students (or parents) who have read The Giver by Lois Lowry:
Do you think roles and job opportunities were more fair for women in the book setting or in our society today? Tell what you think and why you think this to be true. Click on the comment button below. Express your opinion.

What are you reading right now?

Every class begins with 10 minutes of silent reading. Here are pictures of every student in the 7th grade and in the 8th grade that I teach this year. For a close up view, please come into room 311 and look at the various titles. We are eclectic readers! :) Post a comment and tell me what you are reading right now or recommend a good book!

I am. . .

I am learning more about everyone I teach in the 8th grade as I read their "I am" poems. This year our class guidelines for poems state that we are going to express our ideas honestly and uniquely creatively! Figurative language must be included, and in this particular poem we are metaphorically comparing ourselves to  board games, amusement park rides, household appliances, animals, foods, and almost anything else we can think of. Poems are going to be 12+ lines in length this year unless it is a certain format like a Haiku (three lines) or another type. Here are a few lines from the 8th graders. Profound feelings and thoughts abound.

 I am a shooting arcade
precise and on target
    by OP                                                  
                                                              I'm a toaster
                                                         that pops out of bed bursting with ideas
                                                                                          by CR

I am a golden retriever
loyal and kind
    by JB

                                      I am the ocean, sometimes sunny and playful, but
                                                          other times I am lonely
                                                                                          by DA


I am a lightening strike
sudden and unexpected
a grain of sand in a desert of people
All working together to make the world a better place
        by JM

                                                                          I am a bumper car,
                                                                     bumping my way through life
                                                                        Sometimes on purpose
                                                                           and sometimes not.
                                                                                     by JH

I am the white crayon, untouched, unused,
                                 alone
       by SG