Author Archives: nancyeblair

Quadblogging Round 2!

Quadblogging Round 2!

Quadblogging Round 2 starts this week!

1/8 – 1/14 The Falcons School for Girls in Ealing, West London, UK – http://kidblog.org/falconsgirls

This week, be sure to check out this. Cia in Year Five has written the first part of a ‘scary’ story here: http://falconsgirls.primarypad.com/1

 

1/15 – 1/21 Byron Primary in Croydon, London, UK – http://byronbloggers.primaryblogger.co.uk

 

1/22 – 1/28 Cornelia Elementary in the United States – http://mreclassblog.blogspot.com

 

You can also find out more about Quad 91 at this wiki! http://quad91.wikispaces.com/

Then it’s us!!!


Our Problems Wordle

Our Problems Wordle

Hi all. Ms. Blair here with our two new Alpha kids – football1 and baseball17 – and we have been looking at the list of problems that all of the Alpha kids made together.  We took the whole list and put it into a Wordle at wordle.net.

Here is what we made! The words that are the biggest were said by the most kids. The words that are smallest were mentioned the least. (Or as baseball 17 likes to say, “The biggest are the baddest and smallest are the safest!”

Can you come up with any inventions, ideas, or actions that we can do to solve these problems???

Exploration: All that is BAD in the world

Exploration: All that is BAD in the world

Being Alpha doesn’t automatically make you successful. Even with all of that potential, you still have to be willing to work hard and choose to make a positive impact in the world.

For the invention project, we get the chance to solve a real problem and make a difference.

But how can we solve problems if we don’t know what they are?

So, go out, ask, observe, contemplate… and make a list of all of the problems you can think of. Then, add them to the list at the link below.

Google Doc – All that is BAD in the World

Innovation Express Invention Contest – Due January 20

Innovation Express Invention Contest – Due January 20

With each new year, there is an impulse inside of us that tells us to re-examine our lives and the world around us. It tells us to consider the problems we see and the mistakes we’ve made… and to make a change for the better.

So, what better way to start off the new year than with a project that gives us the power to solve a genuine real-world problem in a practical way?

The Innovation Express Invention Contest will give each of you an opportunity to create an invention to solve a problem you see in the world. It may be as simple as your shoes coming untied… or as complex as recycling… or World Peace. Through the contest, you will have the opportunity to share your solution idea with a panel of experts who will choose five elementary students to present their “big idea” at USF in Tampa, FL.

So – let’s get started!!

Preparation:
In and out of class, we will prepare through the following activities…
1. Problem Exploration – January 5 in explorer log

2. Choose at least one of the following to write and/or draw invention ideas – January 6 – 12
– Use a SCAMPER chart to brainstorm ideas
– Use an Adaptation chart to brainstorm ideas
– Use a Foldable to brainstorm and draw ideas

The Project – Due January 20
1. Fill out the Invention Contest Form with all questions answered in great detail by January 19. We will edit and type up the answers in class on January 19-20. Entry Form PDF
2. Create a working model of your invention. (You will take pictures to put into your invention contest form, as well as to display at the Invention Convention.)

More information about the contest itself can be found at http://www.innovationexpress.org/.

MEA Invention Convention in the Multipurpose Room – January 27th
(time to be announced)

And it gets better– Every student who submits their invention by the due date will receive a free pass to MOSI. If chosen for the finals, you would receive many other prizes as well. And the grand prize winner receives 2 grants for $1000 for themselves and their school. So, let’s get inventing!!

Quadblogging: Alpha Blog Goes Global!

Quadblogging: Alpha Blog Goes Global!

The time has come for us to share with a global audience of elementary kids… or at least three other classes of them!

We are now part of Quad 91, made up of four classes:
Us. – Alpha Blog
The Falcons School for Girls in Ealing, West London, UK – http://kidblog.org/falconsgirls
Byron Primary in Croydon, London, UK – http://byronbloggers.primaryblogger.co.uk
Cornelia Elementary in the United States – http://mreclassblog.blogspot.com

But what is Quad 91? And what is Quadblogging anyway??

Hear from our coordinator, Nick Hitchen, at the Falcons School for Girls!
Welcome to Quad 91 (mp3)

This is going to be a very exciting, on-going collaboration with these other three classes. So, let’s start brainstorming!!

If you could ask the other classes anything, what would it be?
If you could tell the other classes about anything, what would it be?

Google Docs

Google Docs

Google Docs are a great tool for education, especially for writing. By setting up our novels in Google Docs, we are able to access our stories and work on them from any computer with internet, anywhere we go, without a flash drive!!

To get to our McKeel Google Docs site, go to docs.mckeelschools.com and log-in with your username and password.

(PS – Look at the other kinds of Google Docs you can make, too, like spreadsheets and presentations!)

Alpha Write-a-Thon

Alpha Write-a-Thon

Today was an amazing day!

Here’s a list of highlights:

Writing
Sensational Strategy Sticks
Writer’s Blocks
Sizzling Word Trade
Writing
Tennis Ball Game
The Craziest Lunch Break of All Time
Learning Google Docs
Writing
Piano and Dance Recital
Forts
Palm Trees and Beach Chairs
Updating Word Counts
Writing
Snack Table
Skyping with Author, Fred Koehler
More Writing

Thank you to John Pierce, Cindy Spivey and Kimberly Riffel for helping with set-up this morning.
Thank you to Cindy Solomon and all the Alpha kids for helping with clean-up.

And now… what did you think about the Write-a-thon?? How much did you get done? What was the highlight of your day? What did you learn? What surprised you? Tell all and then start writing your novel again!!

~Blair

Novel Writing Pep Talk

Novel Writing Pep Talk

Here is a novel writing pep talk that NaNoWriMo sent out. It’s written by Robert Lipsyte. Hope it peps you up for our big writing month!!

~Ms. Blair

 

Listen up, Word Warriors.

You have to stop thinking of yourselves as sensitive scribblers waiting for inspiration. It’s perspiration you need. Forget about muses; think coaches. Grab a couple of metaphors off the weight rack and follow me.

We are members of a varsity team that kicks sentences, dunks paragraphs, passes pages, slugs out stories. We need to train just the way physical athletes do—hard, consistently, with discipline and goals—because that’s the best way to improve.

For warm-ups, read. And read like a writer, not like a reader. Look for what you can use in your own work.

Just the way school ballers study college and pro athletes, young writers have to learn the moves of their favorite authors. Examine their techniques, how they handle dialogue, description, plot, sentence structure, simile. See what they do that you like. See where they swing and connect—or swing and miss. Be sure to read not-so-good writers, too, and try to figure out what you would have done to make the story better.

Now you’re ready for your own workout.

Before NaNoWriMo, try to write every day—the same way you would work out physically, but instead of running, lifting, and stretching, you’ll be listing ideas, writing notes, character sketches, and outlines. Always carry a notebook. You don’t want to miss a good thought—but more importantly, you need to get into the habit of thinking of yourself as a varsity writer in training.

Writing is usually something you do alone. But as with most athletes, it’s always better to have a coach and a team for support. By coach, think of a teacher, friend, or family member who can keep you motivated. By team, think of all the other young novelists, online or in your class, with whom you can share problem-solving and ideas.

Okay, let’s get out there.

Ready?

Sit.

Write!

– Robert Lipsyte

First Nine Weeks Wrap Up

First Nine Weeks Wrap Up

The first nine weeks is winding to a close.  It has been a grand adventure with challenging obstacles and many laughs.  Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far!!

– We learned to Blog! Here were our first posts.

– We worked with Tangrams.

– We’ve learned how to use our senses and observation skills to be Explorers of the World. (Plus, we have super cool Explorer Logs to track all of our discoveries!!)

– We created Found Object Art.

– We had a visit from a real artist, Claudia “Iris” Van Horn, who taught us about Collaboration and Elaboration.

– We learned how to create and use rubrics to guide our work. Example

– We set personal goals and learned how to track them over time.

– We swam, played soccer, and ate a lot at Carley Phelps’ pool party.  Thank you again to the Phelps family for inviting us all over so that we could get to know each other better!

– We voice chatted with a middle school class who taught us all about Odes.

– We wrote our own Odes, typed and voice recorded them… and then shared them with the middle school class… and posted them here.

– We created Xtranormal commercials for the Good Day MEA news show to promote the Pasta for Pennies campaign and raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!  You can watch them here.

– And lastly, we have started brainstorming and preparing for our National Novel Writing Month Challenge!!!!  More info here.

It’s hard to believe that we have accomplished so much in so little time.  Students, you are doing an outstanding job and I am so proud of every one of you!!

~Ms. Blair

 

Pasta for Pennies Commercials

Pasta for Pennies Commercials

Here are the final products!  Four commercials that the students made to promote the Pasta for Pennies campaign and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  If anyone else is working on more, let me know and we’ll get yours posted, too.

Pasta Hero
by: 5th Grade Alpha

Crazy Cures for Cancer
by: 4th Grade Alpha

Presidential Pennies
by: 5th Grade Alpha

Assembly Promotion
by: 4th Grade Alpha

National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month is almost upon us!

In one more week, we will be putting our pens to paper – or fingers to the keyboard as it may be – and starting our very first (for most of us) novels!!

This last week, each of the students set a personal word count goal for their stories. As an adult, my word count goal is automatically set at 50,000!  Even though I’ll be cheering the kids on, I know I will need their encouragement as well in order to meet this challenging goal.

But we will not give up!!  Whether it is a 1,000 word graphic novel or a 20,000 word chapter book – we will write and type and brainstorm and character develop and metaphor create until we have dumped out all the insides of our brains into a fantastic masterpiece!  And then we will rule the world!!!!! —– or at least be able to call ourselves “Novel Writers.”  Hey, that’s pretty cool, too!

To kick off the project, we will be having an all day Alpha Write-a-thon on November 3rd in the Multipurpose Room, which will include Brainstorming Brain Breaks, Mini-Writer’s Workshops, and maybe even a visit or message from a real author!

Plus, all of us who finish our books and post them into the official “Word Counter” by midnight on November 30th will get official “Novel Writer” pins AND get a copy of our book published!  I can’t wait!

 

So — Alpha kids – this would be a great place to give us a sneak peek about your novel topic.  (I’ll give you a hint about mine – it includes a middle school gifted student!)

Parents & Kids – you can also ask any questions you may have about the project and program.  A link to a million answers can be found at ywp.nanowrimo.org, too!

A Unique Halloween Costume

A Unique Halloween Costume

You know those books by Tom Angleberger about Origami Yoda and Darth Paper?!  Well, he posted this cool costume idea for being Origami Yoda!!  I though you all would think this was pretty cool.  Made me think that maybe there would be a lot of neat costumes that could be made out of giant origami.  Or maybe you could be a tangram picture made out of all the pieces.  Just a thought.  Enjoy!

http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/origami-yoda-halloween-costume-back-by-popular-demand/

 

Ode to Alpha

Ode to Alpha

For the last two weeks, we have been talking about transforming our writing by adding our personal stories, feelings, and experiences. As a final product, each students wrote an Ode poem about something in nature, someone they love, or something that they feel very strongly about.

Here are some of the other writing techniques that the students said would make their poetry writing even better:
> proper conventions – spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization
> details – descriptive words, 5 senses, good word choice
> Interesting
> Focused on one topic
> Shares Evokes emotion
> Figurative language – metaphor and simile
> Onomatopoeia
> Alliteration

We are proud to share our odes with you! Enjoy!

Welcome to our New Parent Bloggers!

Welcome to our New Parent Bloggers!

Excitement is in the air…

Our parents are joining us as contributors in the Alpha Blog!

 

Parents,

Would you please tell us who you are and a little bit about yourself?

Thanks!

~Ms. Blair

PS – The kids and I are all very thankful for your support and encouragement. With you on our sides, there is no limit to what we can achieve!

Can’t Say Can’t on Storybird

Tangrams

Tangrams

Tangrams.

Is it just a pile of shapes or are tangrams much more?

That is the question the Alpha kids explored today, discovering that tangrams can be cats, flamingos, a man sitting, or even Michael Jordan.

Here is a link to an online Tangrams game that you can try.

If you make anything really unique with tangram shapes, find other amazing tangram art or activities, or have a tangram experience or expertise to share, please comment with a picture, link or information. We’d love to hear about it!