I have enjoyed the year with all of you. I don't like good-byes, I just say "Go forward!" I know all of you will do well and I hope you continue to add to the conversations on blogs! I thank all of you and Mrs. Emmert for being able to be a small part of your education. You are a terrific group of students. I'll miss our weekly visits and here's wishing you the very best of everything life has to offer!! SO GO FORWARD, PURSUE YOUR PASSIONS, READ, REFLECT, LEARN, & MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!
I know you are having a couple of weeks of testing coming up so I thought it would be great to just have some fun today. We'll reflect and have some good conversations and then you can catch up on whatever you want, pursue whatever you want, post whatever you want, comment to whomever you like, and we will just enjoy the moments! How does that sound?
Today we are going to do a creative activity for Harley. I'll explain in the morning. What fun! I know he has been one of your favorite bloggers this year. He sure is a good role model, don't you think? We have learned a lot about blogging and many other things with a lot of help from our "best friend"! Now I love the JHH song about doing your personal best so make this one of your best blogging pieces! Think about how he has made a difference for you personally. Reflect back over the year. Reread a few of Harley's posts.
Guess what! Harley needs you to put your thinking caps on today and help him with something that is going on with a red bird that wants in. After our creative activity go see his latest post! Make a comment to him and help him out. Then we'll see who the real problem solvers are! Tomorrow is going to be fun!! I can't wait to see you!
It was excting to read about all of your passions. You made your blogging come alive! Riding bikes, playing baseball, legos, Obama, video games, church, acting, basketball, and art were listed as some of your passions. All the posts were good reads and we will follow this up with some more activities relating to your interests. Good blogging, students!
This week's session is going to be a day for you to catch up, either on posts or comments! We will also have some fun with podcasting so put those thinking caps on! See you Thursday of this week!
What does it mean to be passionate about something?
Martha Graham was a famous American dance teacher who once said, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”
You can really see this when someone is dancing. You can feel someone telling a story with their body when they dance versus simply going through the motions. It's like they come alive. The costumes help. The music helps. The scenery is important but their passion is what makes you truly enjoy the dancing.
You've seen people who love doing what they do. They have a zest for a hobby, an activity, learning about a topic, a game, a sport, or a cause like helping others. So what's something you love doing when you can do what you want?
Can't you think of some times when you noticed passion in someone else and you were amazed and excited just watching the person tell you about why they loved it?
Let's look at some samples from some other fifth graders. Check out Jennifer's post on country music, jazz music, and art. You can really feel her passion because she gives details and really makes her enjoyment come alive for you. What makes you come alive?
Angelica, a fifth grade student, is passionate about teaching others. It inspires her.
Derrick is passionate about bowling. He tells how it makes him feel.
"When I'm up on the lane ready to throw a strike and when I throw it..."BANG!!!!" All the pins go flying and I have gotten another strike.
So go make your passions come alive! Put some "spark" in your writing to get your readers engaged and inspired. They will love hearing your story.
Tips for your writing:
I received this email from Greg. Greg is one of our student assistants in the Instructional Technology Center in the College of Education at Georgia State. He keeps up to date on your blogs and is impressed with your blogging. He always comes into the office and a big smile always crosses his face when he talks about you guys.
Here is Greg's email: