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I am happy to report that the quality of writing is FANTASTIC!  For your first entry I have seen beautifully puntuated sentences, strong sense of voice, examples of similies, etc.  I am so proud of you guys.  Here are a couple of examples:

Signe wrote, “If you have not tasted ice cream before I am sorry but you are missing a bundle of joy. Ice cream is as appetizing as water is to a drought. Ice cream is the cherry on top of a summer day.”

Another interesting point…

“There are many ancient delicacies using ice as a product but the first people to use milk as a product in making ice cream was the Arabs. This fact I truly find interesting since I always thought that America was the first official ice cream makers but I guess not the Arabs created ice cream with either milk or cream, combined with fruits, nuts and finally flavored with rosewater. The history of ice cream spreading to the world is unclear in some areas and I am not sure what to really believe but for example the Chinese say that they were the true inventors of ice cream but others disagree and say that the invention of ice cream came from ancient times.” So who invented ice cream?

A wonderful example of voice is from Farida’s post on “Twihards.”

“The guy went to sleep one night and when he woke up he had found that his girlfriend had bedazzled him so he would sparkle. SHE BEDAZZLED HER BOYFRIEND SO HE WOULD SPARKLE, THAT IS CRAZY!”

Who can tell me what forms of figurative language was used in Emma’s entry? “Nancy was so sweet she was like a big bag of sugar; you could never go wrong with just a little extra sugar. Nancy’s cookies are the sweet memories that are brought back as the yummy smell lingers in the air from the kitchen.”

Leen shows us her passion for sushi in the introduction to her first post.

“Some like Italian food, Arabic food, European food, or American food. I’m  of those people that adore, love and worship  Sushi!… My passion for Sushi is indescribable. I can’t survive without it, literally! …You are a very lucky person if you also have infatuation for this type of amazing, incredible, mouth watering, delicious, delectable and appetizing food.”

Did you know that Jemima is accident prone?  Check out her blog and listen to her voice as she explains about things falling from the sky?

“… our new shutters fell on my head today. I don’t know what it is with me but I just seem to be an accident prone kind of person in the way that something always falls on my head. From bird poop to thick cabinet doors you think of it and its probably hit me on the head sometime or another…”

Nice sentence structure, Lucus. “In the beginning, all horses were wild, like zebras are today.”

Who doesn’t need to know how to hug someone correctly?  Annika can help you out. “There are different types of hugs. The first being the awkward just-acquaintances hug. I hate this hug so much. It’s like, really? If you’re going to hug someone, HUG THEM CORRECTLY.”

I have to say that your first entries are wonderful.  I cannot wait to see how your entries develop into fine pieces of work. I am looking forward to blog posting #2.  Happy Blogging!

This is your final required blog for your 2009-2010 school year.  I have hopes that some of you will continue to write in your blog.  You have made connection with other bloggers and hopefully are inspired to continue writing.  This quarter your self-reflection will take the form of a blog.  Please answer the following questions, one per paragraph:

1.  In your opinion, what was the purpose of this blogging activity? (Why did Ms. Rumford decide to spend so much time on blogging instead of more traditional writing activities?)

2.  What have you accomplished during your blogging and give specifics to support your ? (Think outside the box–remember, you are global citizens.)

3.  What key concepts have you learned while blogging? (This can be about writing, research or technology etc.)

4.  How did the weekly requirements (different sentences, word count, word choice, voice, research, linking, embedding, intro-body-conclusion, concise writing, etc.) help you become a better writer? For example, identifying and highlighting your sentences, knowing when to use a comma, semi-colon, phrases and clauses, etc.

5. Based on the skills (writing, technology, perspective) you learned while blogging, how will this benefit you in the future? This maybe inside or outside of school.

I am looking forward to knowing the impact this had on your writing, thinking, perspective, and technology.  Please have this posted by MAY 30th 12:01 am.  (that means posting by May 29th MIDNIGHT.  This is worth a self-reflection grade and this is the only grade in this category.  Take your time and give your best.  This will be the final piece of writing for 8th grade, so make it a fantastic one!

3rd Quarter Self-Reflection Guidelines
Please complete these questions in a word document and have it ready to be turned in on March 23rd or 24th, depending on what day you have LA.


You may add questions or compare your work to past wikis. Anything you want me to know about your blogging is helpful and appreciated. Happy reflecting.

1. How has blogging made you a better writer? Give specific examples and explain specific learning.
2. What did you learn from writing your last 2 blogs within 1 paragraph?
3. What did you learn about sentences when writing blog 4 & 5 and taking the time to identify and analyze your writing?
4. Copy and paste a simple sentence and explain why it is SIMPLE.
Copy and paste a compound sentence and explain why it is a COMPOUND SENTENCE.
Copy and paste a complex sentence and explain why it is a COMPLEX SENTENCE.

5.  Anything extra you want me to know about blogging, technology or The Wave novel.  This is section is optional.

Blogging Rubric

Here is your new blogging rubric.  Happy writing, bloggers!

Blogging Rubric

Blogging for fun

Welcome 8th graders to the world of blogging. What is blogging?  Excellent question my little cherubs.

Blog can take many different forms of genre.  It can be a journal, diary, or educational.  The format you choose to write, will shape and mold your blog.

How do I come up with an idea?

  • What do you like to do?
  • What interests you?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • What do you want your readers to get from your writing?
  • Do you want to inform, entertain, or educate your reader?

Possible ideas

  • Reviews: electronics such as laptops, netbooks, cellular phones, video games, MP3 players, etc or movies, cars, athletic gear/clothing
  • Sports
  • Cooking
  • Report news events locally or globally
  • Address global issues of today: poverty, human brutality, air pollution, over fishing, etc.

Reflection Blog

This is your final required blog for your 2008-2009 school year.  I have hopes that some of you will continue to write in your blog.  You have made connection with other bloggers and hopefully are inspired to continue writing.  This quarter your self-reflection will take the form of a blog.  Please answer the following questions, one per paragraph:

1.  In your opinion, what was the purpose of this blogging activity? (Why did I choose to do blogging instead of more traditional writing activities?)

2.  What have you accomplished during your blogging?

3.  What key concepts have you learned while blogging? (This can be about writing, research or technology etc.)

4. Based on the skills you learned while blogging, how will this benefit you in the future? This maybe inside or outside of school.

I have been asked by several of you if people memorized these lines for movies and my answer is, “Of course.”  Now, how old do you have to be to act in Shakespeare’s plays?  Anyone can memorize with taking little bites and truly taking time to understand his words.  Here is an example of just a situation

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

You guys have spent the past 3 months using wikis and now it is time to use another form of Web 2.0, blog.  Now, you may be asking yourself, What is a blog? You have taken the time to look at links from my previous class in Costa Rica.  What did you notice about Diana, Richard, Ariela or Daisuke‘s blog?  What made them different from each other?  What made them unique? You will use blogging to share your personal “news” or ideas to a global community.  Watch the two videos and complete this document.  This will allow you to compare and contrast the two.

Blogging in Plain English

Wikis in Plain English

Once you have seen the videos and set up your blog, complete the sheet, Web 2.0: Blogs_and wikis

Creating Voice

Your blogs are taking flight and mother goose Rumford is impressed with her ducklings. You have waddled into the global community and your authentic voice is beginning to develop.  It is time to ask yourself, “What can  I do to expand my networks?”  Let’s be honest, you love getting red dots on your cluster map.  The jubilant squeals can be heard outside the frigidly cooled MMC when you realize another dot has graced your cluster map.  What does it take for your blog to get noticed?    In simple terms, you want to showcase your writing.  To do so you need to find your voice and make your writing come alive by using precise language.    You create voice buy selecting words that hook your reader.  Use vibrant, accurate, and engaging words that reflect your commitment to the topic.   You want your readers to feel connected; therefore, what you say and how you say it creates a personal identity.  Here are several questions to keep in mind as you write:

  1. What is my purpose?
  2. What do I want my readers to feel?
  3. Is my writing expressive and honest? 
  4. Does my topic come alive?
  5. Does my writing encourage others to analyze and respond?

The global community is waiting to hear what you have to say. Get those fingers clicking on the keyboard, because the world is waiting to hear what you have to say. 

FASHION ALERT

Lord of the Flies

2008 PLAYA MANUEL ANTONIO FASHION SHOW

Greetings young Costa Rican designers, it is that time of the year when the Spring clothing line will hit Playa Manuel Antonio runways. So, grab your needle, thread, and scissors and start designing.

You will design and model a t-shirt that represents various examples of symbolism in the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Get your creative energy going and use art and clothing as a form of expression. Quotes and pictures are needed to support your innovative design.

Minimum T-shirt Requirements: Title and author of the novel, 8 quotes and pictures, drawings or designs cover 95% of the white t-shirt

Materials due April 21: white t-shirt, iron-on transfer paper, and decorative items such as ribbons, shells, sand, buttons, permanent markers, glitter glue, buttons, leaves, paint, etc.

Entry Deadline:* May 2

Get your creative energy flowing and you might be the next…………

CDS TOP FASHION DESIGNER

*no late entries accepted.

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