McCullers' Weblog

The Final Days

It's hard to beleive that this year is coming to an end.  Whew!  We've barely had time to catch our breath at times.  Think of all the new things we've learned together this year and all those special moments that we'll never forget.  Here's a jotlist of a few that pop into my head:

CNN Center, Because of Winn Dixie, Brutus, Catepillars, Broken Arm, CoCo, Final Farewell, Predicate Man, Pizza Party, Perfect Attendance Prizes, Brain Pills, CRCT, Fernbank, 22, Honeycombs, Caught Being Good, Lost Journal, S-I-M-P-L-E, Earning Money, Cursive, Multiplication, 25 books, DEAR time, Change for Change, Bees, ...

Can you think of anything that should be added to my list of moments that we just can't forget?  Or maybe one of these reminded you of something and you would like to write more about it.  Please share your thoughts about your third grade experience of 2005-2006. 

Seussian Superlatives

In honor of Dr. Seuss, we created our very own alphabet book using his example of alliteration.  Alliteration is when the same sound is repeated throughout a sentence.  We illustrated our alliteration sentences following Dr. Seuss' example of contrasting colors and fictional characters. My students' examples are quite tongue twisting. Here are just a few:

Jackal and Jordan jumprope wearing jackets in a jungle with a jackrabbit, a jaguar, and a jellyfish. - Christina

Olivia Octopus overlooked her ostrick in the ocean of Oklahoma while playing an operatta on oppossums and opening doors. - Benjamin

The drooling dictionary dared to drink dishwater dumplings. - Katey

Edward the earthworm was eating eggplant in Europe with Eddie the elephant. - Marcella

Do you have an example you would like to share?

Because of Winn Dixie

If you have not read Because of Winn Dixie, you are missing out on a great adventure. A young girl named Opal learns many life lessons one summer alongside her dog, Winn Dixie.  We were on edge as we read through the book together in class.  My students begged me to "keep reading, keep reading!" The movie inspired by the book recently hit the big screen and is just as heartfelt as the book. A few teachers and several students were able to meet at the movies on February 19th to watch it together.  It was a great time! 

Have you read the book or seen the movie?  What were your favorite parts?  Would you recommend the book or movie to others?

Homophones

*same sound*

We have been studying about homophones in our class.  Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently with different meanings.  We use homophones everyday when we speak.  Do you use them correctly in your writing? 

Here are some sample sentences my students wrote using homophones. Pick the best one in your head.  Then check the answers below to see if you are on the right track.  (Yes!  All the words in color are homophones!) 

1. I (read/red) a book (buy/by/bye) Thomas Jefferson and (it's/its) about a big (whole/hole.) 

2. They cut my (hair/hare) (two/too) times when the (son/sun) came up in the deep (blue/blew) sky.

3.  The cat (eight, ate) some (hare/hair), saw somebody's (sun/son), and (dyed/died) in the (sea/see.) 

Answers:

1. read, by, it's, hole

2. hair, two, sun, blue

3. ate, hair, son, died, see

Can you add some more examples here?

Bringing us news from Mrs. McCullers' class, here's our guest anchor...

Harry the Rabbit at JHH

By: Alicia

             Good morning and welcome to JHH.  I’m Alicia White. First up, a MAGICAN tries to get a lion to appear in a cage but instead of a lion, a rabbit appears in a cage.  Christina McDermott discusses with the MAGICAN how the rabbit appears in the cafeteria at 9:30,  “Hi! I’m Christina.   You see I’m here with the MAGICAN and his pet rabbit, Harry. So how did you make Harry appear when he wasn’t around for the whole show?”  “That’s just part of the show.  I can’t give up my secrets of magic!”  exclaimed the magician. 

Before we go, what happens when a dog rides on a scooter and falls off? Well, this dog just gets right back on again.  Could this be magic too?  That’s it for this JHH Addition. I’m Alicia white.  Stay tuned for more stories after this.

It Might Snow!

By: Lillian

Hi my name is Lillian Mendez. Today’s report is that it might snow! It might snow in February or March. Maybe there will be lots of people throwing snowballs. It might snow in Conyers, Georgia. I wanted to write about this story because I like snow. It’s a good report. Kids like snow. Kids might want to know when it will snow. If it does snow, have lots of fun on your snow day!

When I Lost My Tooth

By: Edward Davis

            One day on July 14, 2004, I had a cavity. My mom tried to pull it out, but she couldn’t pull it out. Then we went to the dentist and they had to numb my mouth. Then they took a picture of my teeth to see if I had cavities. After that they cleaned my mouth with fluoride. Then they pulled out my tooth. Then my mouth started to bleed so they put cotton in my mouth. My mom had to pay for my tooth.  It cost $400!  I’m going to try not to have any more cavities.

Lizard

By: Abby

            Today on CNN student news there is nothing like a lizard for a cat.  A cat brought a lizard into the basement. The lizard ran around the basement. The cat chased it to the back of the basement. The lizard bit her, but she flipped him of. She finally caught him. The lizard had his mouth open. Then I went back down stares and he had polka dots on his skin. A few minutes passed, then he was gone!!!! I still do not know what happened.  Did he escape and go back to his home?  Did my cat eat him?  Did my mom throw him out?  The mystery still remains, but the lizard does not!

   

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

News Stories Are a Hit!

This week in my class, we focused on writing news stories.   The class was extra excited when they were able to write their own stories on topics of their choice.  Many have chosen to write about something important that has happened to them in third grade so far.  Others can't wait to summarize an important current event that they've seen on CNN.  With anticipation in her voice, Marcella asked, "Can we act like we are guest anchors on CNN?"  Ricardo wanted to know if we could have a set and film our very own news show.  Benjamin suggested, "We could read off of teleprompters like the reporters we saw at the CNN Center."

Well, needless to say, with responses like these, I was more than excited to have a part in bringing the "news" to you.  We will continue working on our drafts and fine-tune our very own news broadcast.  Please look for highlights of these news stories soon.

Memories

At this time of year, we like to remember the things that mean the most to us.  Here are some of my students' special memories:

My Best Present

By Noelle

When I came from school, my mom told me to follow her.  As I did I saw a blanket.  She led me to her room.  When I got there, I saw a baby.  Guees who the baby was?  It was my baby sister.  Her name is Baylee.  She was small, cute, and had short hair.  It was amasing! She was sleeping on my mom's bed. I love her.  That was the best present I ever had in my life.

The Day I Almost Saw Santa

By Marcella

One Christmas Eve I was in bed.  My sister was sleeping all ready.  Even my mom and dad but I wasn't.  I couldn't go to sleep. I didn't no way!  I stayed up until midnight.  But good idea I didn't go to sleep.  I heard something in the chimney but I didn't know what it was.  It was Santa!  But then I saw him go up the chimney.  I saw him.  I ran to the chimney but nothing was there so I saw reindeer go over my house.  I said, "Come back, Santa!" But I never saw him again. 

                                                                                                                              

My Christmas Memory

By Benjamin

One Christmas I got an autograph from Santa Claus himself.  I left a letter, and I asked him or him to sign and he did right on the spot.  It was my best Christmas memory yet.  I was 7 1/2.  I left crescent like cookies.  My mom made her village perfect just for the day.  My dad video taped and I still have it.  I wonder what he will do this year?

The Wish of Wishes

By Alex

One day my dad comes in on Christmas Day.  He gives me a huga and gives me a puppy.  Then everyone gets in the room and opens presents.  We eat and talk.  Then we try on our new clothes and then we shoot pictures.  Then everyone goes home except my dad.  He stays.

Please share your memories with us!

Poetry

We recently studied poetry. Included in our study were three different types of poems that follow specific patterns: cinquain, limerick, and haiku.  Below you will find examples of the three types that were written by my students. 

The five lines of a cinquain consist of a one-word title, two describing words, three action words, four feeling words, and a one-word synonym for the title.

Swimming

fun, fast

enjoyable, cool, jumpy

the fresh cold water

pool 

By Lillian

A limerick is five lines.  Lines one, two, and five rhyme.  Lines three and four rhyme.  Limericks are silly.

I am a bee

yes me

I am flying

I am sighing

Can you "bee"lieve that I am a bee?

By Abby

A haiku is a Japanese poem that is three lines long.  The first and third lines have five syllables.  The second line has seven syllables.  The subject of a haiku poem is usually something found in nature.

A busy squirrel lands

on a beautiful tree now

to eat a fresh nut.

By Ricardo

Do you know of any other types of poems? If you can think of a poem to share with us, please do! 

A Final Goodbye

Our class participated in a memorial service on Friday, November 12, 2004.  Here is a memo we received from Ms. Barajas informing us of the recent loss:

Due to the constant and relentless usage by authors all over our school, the following words finally reached the point of exhaustion this weekend.  As a result of incessant overexertion, they all suffered a collapse and, unfortunately, were not able to be revived, despite all efforts.  Each of these words will be deeply missed and although we will no longer be able to utilize them, their memories will linger forever in our minds.

The words that will no longer be used in our writing are: go, went, say, said, like, liked, is, was, stuff, some, eat, ate, thing, big, bad, tall, nice, a lot, happy, fat, pretty, very, good, and sad. 

If you went to the memorial service, tell us what it was like?  Why is it important that we try not to use these words in our writing?

Exercising Our Right

On Monday, November 1, 2004, the third, fourth, and fifth grade students at J.H. House, were able to exercise their right to vote. The students participated in Kids Vote 2004 and were able to choose the presidential candidate of their choice. The JHH Poll was set up very similar to a real poll. Students had to have their registration cards and their photo I.D.s to be able to vote. The students voted on a computer, very similar to Georgia's new touch-screen computer . It was a great experience for all involved. The students realized that every vote counts!