Friends work together and play together.  Friends share with each other and treat each other with respect.  Friends are fun to be around.  Friends – how can you make them?  How can you keep them?  Friendship is fun, interesting and sometimes challenging. What do you think about being a friend? When is it easy?  When is it hard?

Since we know about four different elaboration strategies, show you know how to use them when you write.  Your blog posts will reach out for comments when you do.

• What is friendship really about?
• What are the responsibilities of friendship?
• When is it challenging to be a good friend? How do you handle those situations?
• What are some things you’ve learned from your friends?
• How can you show appreciation for your friends each and every day?
• Write a story about you and your friends going on an adventure.
• Other…

…be creative and blog on!

We are about to begin a study of maps and different places in the world. This week’s prompts are designed to help us think about where we’ve already traveled and places we’d like to learn more about.

This is also a chance to practice using elaboration strategies so the blog posts will dazzle and shine.

• What is the best vacation you’ve ever been on? Who were you with, where did you travel to, what were some of the sights you saw?  Write down all the details you can remember.
• What place in the world are you most curious about? What do you know about that place already?  What would you like to discover?
• What is you most memorable travel/vacation experience? Use lots of details and try to remember all the emotions you had at the time.
• Imagine a story of a time you are in a new country for the first time.You don’t speak the language very well, but you meet someone who is kindly willing to help you explore. Where do you go?  What do you see?  How do you feel?
• Other…

…be creative and blog on!

Check our posts to see what we chose.

Happy New Year!  This week’s prompts look back and then ahead.  Will you save a memory or look forward to something new?

Write about a memory you made last year that you hope you’ll never forget.

What is one of the best things you did in 2018? What made it special?

What is your New Year’s Resolution? How do you plan to achieve it?

Make a list of things you are looking forward to this year. Choose one and write about why you are excited for it.

…be creative and blog on!

Make your plan.  How will you illustrate your post?

Today your children went into the computer lab with these ideas in mind.  Most of them were able to complete a post – some may need a bit more time on Thursday to complete their’s.  See which prompt  your child found inspiring.  Please leave a comment after you do.

• Write about your role model or someone you admire.What makes them special?
• Create and A to Z of yourself or one of your interests. (For example you could create an A to Z about Soccer or an A to Z of Favorite Book Characters)
• Write about animals. You could tell about your favorite pet or wild animal.  Perhaps you could write about what animals mean to you or how we can better look after animal.
• If you have three wishes, what would they be?
• Choose one of the glass figure to write about – share information about it, feature it in a story, create a poem…

…be creative and blog on!

Several of the children have been asking if they can blog at home.  Yes, they can if they have access to a computer.  Thank you for all you do to support learning.

This week has been about reading, making books and writing, writing, writing.  The classroom has been full of creative energy.

I just sent the letters to the members of a new 3E.  That’s exciting, but I’m wishing for more time with you.  You, I am guessing, are looking forward to discovering whether you are part of 4D, 4H, or 4L – but also longing for the security of continuing on where we left off.  Starting and stopping can be challenging (I feel it too), but learning and wondering and discovering continues from year to year to year.  I’m still working on that! That’s exciting! We can always change and grow!  So here are some quick write suggestions that might help you think and dream of things you’d like to accomplish… someday…

Read through the prompts, think about them for a bit and when you’re ready, find ten quiet minutes to begin…  It’s okay if you finish one idea, begin another, just try to keep writing for the whole ten minutes.  It’s okay if you don’t finish when the time is up… you decide:  stop, or keep writing.   Post your Quick Write as a comment, or on your own blog. Have fun writing!

If you wake up tomorrow and everything has changed for the better, what will have changed?

If I had three wishes, I would…

The joy of today is…

What is your favorite song and why?

What is your favorite time of day?  Why?

Five things I’m good at are…

How could I encourage people around me to do more kind things for one another?

Or, write about whatever you choose. Write about what makes you happy.  Enjoy!  It would be fun if you shared your writing in a comment, or on your own blog.  Happy Writing!

I’m creating this post while sitting at Midway Airport in Chicago. I’m waiting for my flight to Denver where I’ll be camping in the mountains near the Colorado Trail.  Mr. Eaves is hiking the whole 500 mile trail this summer – he’s been walking for 3 weeks already, with 3 weeks more left to go.  This has me thinking about you and your summer trips.

Read through the prompts, think about them for a bit and when you’re ready, find ten quiet minutes to begin…  It’s okay if you finish one idea, begin another, just try to keep writing for the whole ten minutes.  It’s okay if you don’t finish when the time is up… you decide:  stop, or keep writing.   Post your Quick Write as a comment, or on your own blog. Have fun writing!

If you could go on a summer vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?  What would you hope to see and do there?

Summertime is great for being outdoors.  Go for a walk.  Write about where you walked and what you saw while walking.   It will be interesting to compare walks in different places.

What important things have you done this summer right at home?  Sometimes everyday things are actually pretty magical.  What things are you thankful for each day?

What’s your favorite thing to do when you play outdoors in the summer?

What’s your favorite thing to do when you play inside in the summertime?

Or, write about whatever you choose. Write about what makes you happy.  Enjoy!  It would be fun if you shared your writing in a comment, or on your own blog.  Happy Writing!

I bet you know why I chose this week’s topic!  Here’s the newest member of our family.  She was born yesterday.  That’s why Friday’s quick writes are found on Saturday.

Read through the prompts, think about them for a bit and when you’re ready, find ten quiet minutes to begin…  It’s okay if you finish one idea, begin another, just try to keep writing for the whole ten minutes.  It’s okay if you don’t finish when the time is up… you decide:  stop, or keep writing.   Post your Quick Write as a comment, or on your own blog. Have fun writing!

Who is the funniest person in your family?  Explain why.

Think about your favorite family vacation.  What made is special?  What things did different people in your family do that made this vacation stay in your memory?

Is there a movie that you and your family like to watch together?  What draws your family to that movie?  Why is it a movie everyone in your family can watch together?

Write about a time you and your family went for a walk.  Tell about where you were. Tell some about what you saw and did and said.  What makes this walk stand out?

What job has your family given you to do at home?  What do/did you do?

Or, write about whatever you choose. Write about what makes you happy.  Enjoy!  It would be fun if you shared your writing in a comment, or on your own blog.  Happy Writing!

Read through the prompts, think about them for a bit and when you’re ready, find ten quiet minutes to begin…  It’s okay if you finish one idea, begin another, just try to keep writing for the whole ten minutes.  It’s okay if you don’t finish when the time is up… you decide:  stop, or keep writing.   Post your Quick Write as a comment, or on your own blog. Have fun writing!

Tasty Holidays

There are lots of holidays that celebrate food.  January 3^rdis Chocolate Cherry Day, July 23 is National Hot Dog Day and April 2 is National Peanut Butter and Jelly day.  These holidays are just for fun, but are mentioned in newspapers, on calendars or even on our school lunch menu.

Which of all the foods you eat is worth celebrating?  Which food would you choose for a special holiday?  How would people celebrate your special food day?

Going Shopping

Make a partial grocery list of what you need to buy for the weekend.  Write about a food that gives you energy or that just plaint tastes good.

Write about your favorite food or meal.

Write about a food you hate.

Write about your favorite dessert.

Or, write about whatever you choose.  Write about what makes you happy. Enjoy!  It would be fun if you shared your writing in a comment, or on your own blog.  Happy Writing!