Tidbits From Class Lessons

This is the work I have done related to all the lessons taught in class. I have referred to the teacher in the title of each section.

Aliens Taught By Cheryl Kobernik

My Alien is a Zanie from Zargon, named Zuzi. Zanies have two eyes high on the head to see and feelers on head that are used like hands to hug offspring and greet other zanies. They eat zats, which is like an apple. It grows on a tree eat in two stages. The zat becomes mature when peel turns sugar coated on the tree. Eaten through a mouth located in the belly area. Zanies live in Zambles tangles of hanging tree limbs providing shelter from zup, the occasional inclement weather system. Zanies are friendly creatures though often misunderstood because of their inability to talk with their mouth. This lack of verbal communication requires them to use their eyes and feelers to communicate their feelings.

Carousel Horse Taught By Doreen Anderson

The Pony I Always wanted
I saw it in the window. From the time I looked at the big brown eyes and long flowing mane, I knew I needed to have this horse. My mom said I didn't need it, I just wanted more toys. I knew she was wrong. In my heart I was crying out to the pony in the window. I pleaded, begged, and asked every day. Finally my mother relented. She said I could have it if I could earn the money for it. I started right away. I mowed lawns for the neighbors, washed peoples cars, and even started a dog walking business. I was surprised how fast the money seemed to add up. I quickly had ten then twenty dollars. Walking into the store I proudly placed my wad of bills on the counter announcing that the pony in the window was mine. Trying not to laugh at my youthful innocence the checker politely told me I needed a few more dollars for that pony. It was made of fine porcelain, she said. Hand painted in Tahiti, she added. Bejeweled in India, she finished. I was still determined and told her not to sell it until I returned. I now knew the value others would put on the pony and worked even harder. The day came that I had wished and worked for. I walked in again professing my desire to have the pony in the window. With reluctance the cashier took my money and took the pony out of the window. I was so excited I could barely walk home. I also barely walk home because the pony must have weighted as much as a real pony. Arriving home I took it to my bedroom and placed it in my window on my desk. I must have gazed at it for hours. My mother knocked on my door and entered to tell me it was time for dinner. She saw the pony and congradulated me on my hard work and perseverance. Little did I know this was just the beginning of my adventures with this pony. That night I went to sleep with visions of this pony galloping across the park down the street, mane flying, tail whipping in the wind. I rolled over and checked the clock. 12:00, what could have awakened me at 12:00? Then I heard it again a clop, clop on wood. Turning the other direction I saw my pony highlighted in the moonlight in the window. He looked beautiful and graceful. His slick, sleek hair was shining in the soft glow of he moon. He was pulling on the chain that kept him tied to the pole running down to my desk. Feeling compassion for this poor trapped creature I walked over and undid the chain. Quick as a wink, he was out the window and galloping down the street. With a sudden pang of fear I felt this would be the last time I saw my hard earned pony. Hanging my head I took a last feel of the slack chain attached to the pole and climbed back into bed. I again fell asleep to visions of my pony galloping across the park down the street. Though this time it could have been truly happening.

Seasons Taught By Jennifer Davis

My favorite season is fall.

The air is crispy,

cool,

and fragrant.

I can step on the colorful, crunchy leaves.

I can taste the sweet water mellon juice.

I love the fall most because it fills my senses.

Seasons Story Taught by Linda Cole

There are many good things about each season. You can smell different things in each season. The weather is different in the seasons. Each season has great holidays. Each season is special for different reasons.

Fall is an interesting season. You can watch the leaves change colors and fall into crunchy piles you can jump in. You can carve pumpkins and go Trick-or-Treating at Halloween. There is a lot that happens in Fall.

Winter is a special time of year for many reasons. When the snow falls the world becomes silent. You can also hear the crunch of ice and rock salt in the Winter. The holidays in Winter are great to get the family together to visit. Winter weather brings families into the house together.

Spring is a beautiful season of growth. You can watch the new flowers and buds grow. There are many new animals born in Spring. The sun shines in Spring and makes everything look pretty. I like the newness of Spring.

Summer is a season of stretching and moving. The weather is nice so you can wear tank tops and other clothes that are easy to move in. People are active and playoutside a lot in the summer. The wide outdoors allows for stretching your arms and running full speed to feel the wind in you face. Summer lets people get their energies out.

Poetry by Taught Amy Gaudia

School is an Ocean

Sharks cruising the coral searching for the next victim

jellyfish floating in the current pushing against the flow

nutritious minerals floating waiting for absorption

smelly, hazzardous pollution inhibiting, stifling helpless creatures.

Whales cruising through the area local life take note caring not to upset but not feeling threatened.

I am a Motorcycle

Engine throbbing, speeding up, slowing down , matching obstacles

Saddlebags stuffed, filled to capacity, no room left to add things seen on the trip.

Shield dirty, scratched, pushing dangers away taking the brunt of the wind and debries protecting the body behind.

Fringe flapping in the wind tangled and tussled looking undesirable but only unnecessary adornment.

Gastank fuel influencing the engine, empty no time to stop, must be filled.

Lights shining misleading glimmers perceived as things they are not.

Luggage rack burdoned, weighed down, balancing, carrying, straining, and persevering.

levers often used , controling, stopping momentum, idling engine.

Spiders Taught By Jan Switzer

Sleepy, the eight legged spider, went to visit his friends. He arrived at their orb web and was very excited to see fresh flies being held in the web for lunch. His fangs were already twitching with hunger. He called out to his friends and they came out of hiding behind their web. They were glad to see their friend and invited him to hide with them and talk while waiting for more insects to get caught in their web. While they were talking, Sleepy was excited to hear his friends were going to have a bunch of baby spiders. He asked to see the eggs. They said it would take about a month for the eggs to hatch. He was happy for them but knew they would be sad a little when the spiders hatched. When they hatched they would throw out a small bit of web and float away in the wind to another spot, where they would live and maybe never see their parents again. Sleepy remembered ballooning, as a spiderling, himself. Coming back from his thoughts of the spider eggs he asked if it was time to eat. At this time a very large firefly flew around his body. All his many eyes were fastened on the insect. He was excited and waited for the insect to, hopefully, get caught in the web. Closer and closer he flew. Sleepy and his friends were waiting in tense anticipation. Finally the firefly got too close to the web and got caught. With abdomens twitching and spinnerets ready the spiders hurried up the web to encase the firefly in a web casing before he ruined their web. The spiders settled in for an insect innerd lunch and had a nice afternoon visit.

Biographies Taught by Crista Lawson

Maggie lena Walker was an important lady in history. She was the first black woman to be president of a bank.

She was born in Richmond, Virginia. She was born on July 15, 1867. Her mother was named Elizabeth Draper. Her father was William Mitchell. Both her parents were slaves and worked for the Civil War spy family the VanLews.

Her family was very poor and she grew up during the time of Reconstruction. To make a living her mother and her delivered laundry.

She went to Richmond Normal School and got a Masters of Science degree from Virginia Union University in 1925.

She spent some time as a teacher after joining the Independent Order of St. Luke and helping sick and old people. She then started and was president of a bank.

She spent some time paralized in a wheelchair and then died in 1934. She was and is an inspiration for black women.

Position Paragraphs Taught by Michael English

Coffee is wonderful in the morning. I love coffee. I can't live without it. It gets me up in the morning and tastes great with donuts. The warm cup has a calming, peaceful effect on me. Many people say caffeine is bad for you, but brain studies show that many people think better after caffeine. So I will continue to start every morning with my wonderful cups of coffee.

Coal Mining Taught By Jeremy Washburn

Pretend you are writing a letter home to a family member from a miner.

Dear Josie,

I can't wait to earn my money and come back to you. I have been working very hard and trying to get extra days when they are offered. It is sad being away from you, but when I get my stake we will have the ranch we've been dreaming of. Tell your parents hello. Tell my mom I am well and will be done soon. Keep yourself well and think of me.

Love, Ben

Write a description of how you mine for coal.

Coal Mining is a dirty and dangerous job. You must dig large tunnels into the earth. These tunnels then need to be supported and made safer with timbers so they (usually) don't collapse. Once the tunnels are safe, men go in and hammer and blow large pieces of rock off the walls. These pieces are then sent out the tunnels, usually in carts, on tracks. This often results in dusty hazardous conditions in which men die from inhalation and tunnel hazards.

Write the first paragraph of a novel about coal mining

Ben shuffled sleepily onto the cart with the other miners. He knew it was going to be another long day in the mine. Straining in the early dawn light, looking one final time at the hills around him, he made a short prayer that he would come out, with the others, at sunrise, with his limbs and lungs in working order. Hanging his heavy head on his weary shoulders he braced himself for the long ride into the tunnels.

Argue either for or against the use of coal mining

(1915)

Coal mining is a vital and important aspect of our society. Many men would be without means and have no way to support their families if they didn't have a job in the mine. These men would resort to thievery and desperate measures without this alternative. Coal is also a very important part of modern civilization. Without coal to heat our homes society could not exist as we know it today.

Poetry Taught By Ingrid Wendt

Group list poem

The quiet of waiting at the stoplight.

The quiet of the eraser on the white board when the children have gone.

I am annoyed, bothered, crotchety

I am dark, edgy, frozen

I am grouchy, hassled, irate

I am jailed, knapping, lazy

I am moody, nervous, preocupied

I am quiet, restless, stuck

I am tired, uncomfortable, vague

I am wild, xeno, zoning

Free Association

clock

hands

face

hurry

drive

redlight

wait

clock

clock ticking moving

hands pushing time

around the face

must hurry scurry

must drive faster slower

then redlight stop

hate to wait

watch the clock

Creating a Complete historical Persona Taught By Sheree Shown

1830-1910 Victorian England

I remember my great grandmother being very stern. She would berate me often about my frivolous behaviors. I would run and jump with my petticoats flouncing. She would grab my arm and sit me on the uncluttered, simple stoop, straightening my hair and bonnet, with a somber look. "Don't mess your new dress. It's the only new one you will have for this year." She would say. I would sit demurely, copying her efficient, nononsense, stillness, for about 5 minutes. Then I would be off again in my enthuisiasic immpractical exuberance. My energy never bothered my parents. But now they were gone and I was to stay here. With my Grandmother until other arrangements could be made. Sadly my grandmother works many hours to keep food on the table, leaving me under the thumb of my Great Grandmother.

I spent years with my great grandmother but I learn more about her with every day I spend in her house. I learned the most from her diary years after she passed. One entry I read surely changed the life she led and all around her were also affected.

I know I am everything he wants in a wife. I ampractical, pragmatic, somber. Why would he look at my sister in that way. She is frivolous and scattered. Doesn't he know she would ruin his aspirations. I am shrewd enough to further his ambitions. She would let her emotions carry her. His children need a stern hand not someone focused on love and joy to the exception of achievement. I will have to be more assertive and determined to obtain his commitment. She will not have him.