OWP06

Response to OWP 2006

RESPONSE TO

OREGON

WRITING PROJECT 2006

  Wow! What a great class this has been. I was thrilled when I found out that I had been accepted for this project. This met all of my expectations with many new methods to try with my students.   This class impacted my personal experience with writing, professional strategies, and instructional methods.

 

Nonfiction Writing: Procedures and Reports

Book Review Four:  Nonfiction Writing: Procedures and Reports by Lucy Calkins and Laurie Pessah

Reviser's Toolbox

    Book Review:  Reviser's Toolbox written and edited by Barry Lane

Going Back to School

This is a narration of my experiences while going to college to become a teacher.  I worked as an educational assistant, custodian, and bus driver.  Marilyn King

Book Review #2

Book Review:

Reading

and Writing Informational Text in the Primary Grades

Researched-Based Practices

By Nell K. Duke, ED.D. and V. Susan Bennett-Armistead

 

What is the difference between information text and nonfiction? This is a good question. I attended a seminar that was presented by Scholastic on the subject of information and knowledge. They reported to a group of teachers that knowledge increases by the minute. The measurement was that it doubles every minute. Their focus was to direct teachers to use more informational text versus the nonfiction genre. They gave us books that were on the table and then gave each teacher a coupon worth $50.00 towards their informational books.

 

This research spelled out the reasons behind this new concept. 

Informational text is:

· Text whose primary purpose is to convey information about the natural and  social world.

· Text that typically has characteristic features such as addressing whole classes of things in a timeless way.

· Text that comes in many different formats, including books, magazines, handouts, brochures, CD-ROMs, and the Internet.

Nonfiction text is:

· Text whose primary purpose is something other than to convey information  about the natural and social world, such as telling about an individual’s life, an event or series of events, or how to do something.

· Text that always has particular features; instead, features vary by text.

· Only books

I reported these definitions from the book titled Reading & Writing Informational Text in the Primary Grades by Nell K. Duke and V Susan-Bennett-Armistead page 17.

 

This clearly spelled out to me the difference between the two subjects. I believe that students can in deed be more interested in the world around them. I had a first grader who wanted to read everything on dinosaurs. I have also encountered students who were more interested in information about farm animals and other topics. When our third grade students do reports on animals they get to choose their animal that they want to learn about. 

 

This book reported about a first grade class that wrote sentences that were clearly informational text on food. One student wrote about milk. He reported that it was white and that it was good for you. So even though the section on writing in this book is limited, it clearly guides us into having children start earlier with informational writing. Perhaps if we instructed our students to read and write more about information, then we could give them a head start on writing reports for the third and fifth grade. At Centennial third grade students write a report about animals and the fifth grade write a report about a state. This book was packed with researched based ideas and it is worth reading.

Strong Rhythms and Rhymes

Book Review by Marilyn King

 

Strong Rhythms and Rhymes Language and Literacy Development Through Sentence Combining By Carol Strong and William Strong

 

 In this creative resource for writing, the authors take advantage of the natural inclination of children to be drawn to and motivated by rhythm and rhyme activities. These authors have targeted primary grade students using phonological awareness and syntax skills to increase their success with reading and writing. This book provides the reader with an overview, rationale for using chanting and sentence combining, four-step teaching approach, information about phonological awareness, and discussion of syntax development. There are 100 alphabetically organized chant exercises that provide a page including chant model, syntax goals, the rhyme families, and teaching ideas. Also the book has examples of goals and objectives, reproducible famous stories, and recording forms for syntactic structures.

 I find this book interesting and useful. I know that there are many articles about children learning using songs and chants. This is a fun way to introduce, reinforce, and practice phonological awareness. I have had some tough students who are unable to learn how to read. If one can’t read, how can I expect them to write? I plan on purchasing this book for my resource room students.

Dog Heaven on Earth

 

Dog Heaven on Earth

 

I greeted all my friends with a wagging tail, a jump or two, and lots of tender nibbling on ears. Hello my name is Missy. I had a rough beginning with no real place to call my own. It was no surprise while roaming free that I would be picked up by the animal control. Once they caught me, I was placed into the shelter for lost and unwanted dogs. But all of this changed when Marilyn entered my life. She was the solution to all of my misfortune.  

Food was my passion in life. I liked human food and refused to eat dog food. I tore into bags of candy and especially liked meat of any kind. Every Wednesday Marilyn would go to Dairy Queen and get a double burger, one hamburger patty for me and one for her. They offered small animals a child ice-cream cone. After eating the cone I would shake and shiver. My all-time favorite was roast beef with gravy and potatoes. 

One evening, Marilyn went to Wal-mart to get me a jumbo bone. When she returned I grabbed the bone that was bigger than me and started to gnaw on it. When it was time to go to bed, Marilyn wanted to pick me up and place the bone in a safe place. I wouldn’t let her get between me and my bone. I growled ferociously at her and wouldn’t let her move me. I eventually gave in and allowed her to pick up the bone and put it into a safe place. But the next day I walked around and whined for the bone. 

One Christmas I jumped on the large table and helped myself to cookies, candy, and cake. I stashed some of the morsels under rugs and in chairs. Of course, when Marilyn came home, all of these were whisked away into the garbage.

 I was the best detector of foreign objects in my food. I would spit out the pills even when they were wrapped in tasty morsels of meat. Food was my addiction. I expected boiled chicken mixed with a very small amount of dog food for breakfast and dinner. I wanted a sample of everything that Marilyn was eating. I acquired a sweet tooth and liked to munch on cookies, while savoring the flavor with every chew. 

My place was to be with Marilyn always. She was good to hold me all of the time. When traveling down the road, I would drape over her shoulder like a white stole. People driving by would notice me and get the attention of others to see this unusual site. When big trucks would pass us I would growl and bite at the window to let the trucks know that they were too close to our vehicle.

When Marilyn and Grandma were gone for long periods of time I would take grandma’s clothes off of her bed and form a nest on the floor. Then I would lay in the middle of the circle so that I would feel safe and close to my loved ones. Another comforting spot for me was under a table in Marilyn’s room. It was fun to snuggle down with her many white stuffed animals. Whenever we would take road trips I would expect her to hold me in her arms or place me around her neck. When Marilyn would stay up late at night I would tug on her sleeves to get her to go to bed. When she wouldn’t comply I would curl up beside her and sleep on a piece of her clothing.

Going for walks was a wonderful event. I especially enjoyed the time that we would go to the coast. There were always so many awesome smelling paths and trails to traverse on. Of course we had to go for walks morning, noon, and night. Often I would get on Marilyn’s chest and look her straight in the face and prance on her chest to get her attention. Then when she would make a motion to pick me up I would withdraw to let her know I wanted to go for a walk. Eventually, she would get the hint and take me for a walk. I was so good I could always tell when Marilyn was saying go, walk, spelling the word walk, and hand signals. I listened intently for the mere mention of going out for a walk. It was my sole duty to go out and survey the grounds around our home and mark the territory. 

As a solider, I would protect the homestead until Marilyn would return from work or being gone. She took some weekend trips that made my job difficult. I waited and would go out every couple hours to check to see if she was home yet. Eventually, by the second night, I sadly sensed that she wasn’t coming home anytime soon.

One day I noticed that the garage door had something to do with her getting home. I would wait by the fence to see her drive up, but it was when the garage door went up that I knew for sure that she was truly home for the night.

Over time I lost my energy and enthusiasm to run, play, jump, and be held by Marilyn. Even when she would attempt to take me for a walk I would just sit down. I had no strength and/or drive to walk with Marilyn. I wasn’t hungry or thirsty and I just wanted to lie around in my bed. It wasn’t too much longer after my decrease in energy that I became very ill. I was out of my mind and wasn’t really aware of what was going on with my body. Marilyn did her best to reassure me that everything was going to be all right. I just got so tired that I went to sleep.

 

By Marilyn King

Assignment #2

 

Dreams Do Come True

 Many people have dreams, and most of us don't remember them. The times that I have remembered the dreams, I made the effort to write them down. The first dream I had was when I was in high school.   I was at the dentist office and the dentist was going to pull two teeth.  When I got to the dentist that day he discovered that I had two infected teeth and that they needed to be pulled.  He had to numb both sides of my mouth as the teeth were on the back upper right and left that needed to be pulled.  Some may call this a premonition; I didn't give it much thought then.  Then later in life I had 3 dreams that did lead me to getting a sweet puppy.
    The first dream was on a Saturday morning.  I was dreaming that I was at an animal shelter adopting a dog.  I thought "Well I need to get a collar and a leash."  Then before the dream ended, my son called me from

Georgia

and wanted to talk. So I didn't give the dream another thought.  I went on with my day that included going to church, dinner, and a restful afternoon. Sunday was a normal busy day with not much to do, but to get ready for work on Monday.
    The second dream happened on Monday morning.  This time I was at the animal hospital adopting a dog.  The dog had white hair, small, and its name was Copper.  Again I considered that I would need a leash, collar, and other items in order to be prepared for this puppy.  So on my way to work, "I thought I will stop by the Animal Shelter."  I entered and told the officer that I was looking for a pet dog.  She took me to the cages and let me look.  I found the small dog with white hair, only no one knew her name.  I had the privilege of playing with her before I left the shelter.  When I inquired about her status the officer informed me that they had just picked her up. They needed to keep her for 2 weeks to give the owner enough time to claim her.  She let me know that it was first come first served.  Boy howdy I desperately wanted to be the first one to seek her out.  I left the shelter and felt like there was some hope for me.  It was a week before Thanksgiving. So I thought, "I would check back with them after I returned from the Thanksgiving Vacation."

    Thanksgiving was great we had memories and shopping that kept us busy.  It is always sad when I would leave to go home.  I usually didn't leave until 2 pm.  Sunday morning I had the third dream.  I dreamed that my mother had gone to the shelter and picked up the puppy. In my dream I asked her, "How did you get her so soon."  She replied, "They said that she was ready."  So I finished packing and a little more shopping. Then I packed the car and headed for home. Monday at noon I made a special stop at the shelter. Sure enough she was ready to be adopted.  I could hardly control myself.  I wanted to take her that very moment.  As it turned out I had to get permission from landlord to have the pet.  Then Missy had to be spayed and checked out making sure she had all of her shots.  I finally picked her up 3 days later.  It was love at first sight for the both of us.  She melted into me by laying her head between my shoulder and neck.  I loved her unconditionally. We were soul mates who truly needed each other. 

    This small puppy was finally mine.  I learned that she had been abused by big boys. Therefore, she didn't trust men.  I named her Missy King.  Missy loved to be held.  I needed Missy and she needed me.  I rescued her and she rescued me from my depression.  Missy was very smart she seemed to understand every word I said to her.  Whenever, possible I would take her with me.  She would growl at trucks that passed by my car.  She would tug on my sleeve to get me to go to bed. Missy started to whine every time I was home.  She wanted me to sit so she could sit with me.  She would jump into my chair, look over the arm, and whine until I would sit with her.  Missy was diagnosed with Addison's disease when she was four and a half years old.  Missy couldn't handle any stress whether it was good or bad stress.  Her little body could not produce the necessary adrenaline to help her with stress.  Missy had two episodes before she died.  Her electrolytes were not balanced. Missy would become dehydrated and her blood sugars went terrible low. She had to have a shot every 31 days to help her with her electrolytes.  Missy died September 29, 2005 of a heart attack and problems with breathing. She was so very special to me! Even though I know that I can't replace her, I am still looking to find her somewhere. Maybe she will be reincarnated in another dog.  I will always miss her.

    By Marilyn King
    Assignment #1