NewsQuest

Caffeine Machine by Derrick

Why do middle schools and high schools have coke machines? Caffeine can make you hyper or mean. The machines are making money for the schools. The scientists are now saying that caffeine is a drug. Sugar in soda is known as a drug to children. Bullies at schools like middle school are drinking caffeine to make them mean. So once in a while drink milk or water, especially at night.

P.S. Please don't be a caffeine machine.

What's the Big Idea? by Brianna

Have you ever been to school in the month of May? When May comes around, in most schools you do the SAT9 test. I think that the SAT9 test is unnecessary, because it judges how smart you are on that particular day. Also I think it isn­t fair that teachers get blamed for the student­s scores on the test. The people who make this test have no right to call kids dumb and say that the teachers aren­t teaching the kids correctly. The SAT9 test should be put to an end!

Child Abuse by Perla

Have you noticed how many kids are abused each day? You might be one of them and you might be the only one that can prevent that from happening .There's many ways kids are abused everyday and the saddest thing is that sometimes kids are abused by somebody they love. Sometimes that is why they never tell about them been abused but if you don't tell it hurts even more. If you are one of the kids who is abused, tell don't live with it. Be a normal kid and don't let this ruin your life. Be your own hero and prevent this from happening to you.

Blog Blues

This past Thursday we experienced computer or networking glitches in the lab. The students could not sign-in on their log-ins correctly. It would not release the set-up of the last person who had used the web log. Therefore, students could not directly type their stories on the NewsQuest schoolblog. The students quickly "switched gears" and opened up Microsoft Word and began typing their opinion/persuasive writing pieces. Walking around the lab and reading the different stories was fun! Mrs. Hooper came by and talked with each student about their writing. They loved having her visit and sharing her thoughts. She was impressed!

Then we began exploring the use of idioms in writing. The class cracked up as they created clever sentences using idioms as relates to what is happening around our world. I wish you could have seen the expressions on their face and heard the peals of laughter as they created their sentences. It is important to teach kids about idioms and how important they are to the way we communicate. Over the years, I've found that they don't always understand them at first, but with a little discussion and thought they take to them like a duck to water.

Their homework assignment is to illustrate two of their idiom sentences. More, if they have time. Also, they are to be creating new idiom sentences as they listen to the news this week.

I spend time coaching the students, on the sidelines, listening to peer interaction, providing feedback on the sorts of problems in thinking they are engaged in.

Students, if you are to develop as a thinker, you will need to develop as a writer as well. I want you to know that I am proud of your efforts so far and know you will continue to improve. Keep it up!

I told the students that due to "Blog Blues" that I would post their stories for them. Today is the first that I could get to this. I wanted to post over the weekend but was busy scoring conference submissions for a national computer conference in June. Now, I can get to the posting of their stories.

Look for some bulletin board posts a little later, and see if you can answer them.

Also, remember parents, it is wonderful to hear from you and all the others who have been so kind to post in response to this great little group of students. Keep on posting!

Lucy's Thoughts

These are my thoughts about what we are doing. I think that what we are doing is fun and challenging. For challenging thoughts sometimes we have to do riddles that are sopose to catch a reader's attention. It might not seem hard but it sometimes is. For fun we get to do unrealalistic stories and even the real ones are still fun! I'm glad to be in this group and it has given me some new thinking wrickles!

Bye for Now,
Lucy.:)

Dane's Thoughts

My thoughts about this program and what we are doing are filled with questions and knowledge. I'm having a magnificent time and yet I'm becoming a better writer at the same time. I feel that its important to know what is going on in the world. Plus the subject were working on is extremely interesting.We have a wonderful teacher that I have worked with many times in the past.

See-ya later,
Dane

Ben's Thoughts

I like CNN because it fills us in about our enviroment. It also tells us about the wildlife for instance the brown snake is taking over. And some animals are even almost ixtinct by now. And I hope you start watching CNN because it will fill you in!!!.

Lindsay s' Thoughts

Hi, this is Lindsay
We are writing down our thoughts on the Newsquest writing group the only thing I have to say is that this is a wonderful group. The only downside is that we have diffucult homework some of us need a challenge so we don't become . Also you get to think outside the box. We also get new brain wrinkles. Those are my only thoughts.

gotta go ,Lindsay

P.S. Another thing I enjoy is I can share my writing with other people and have them respond and say what they think.

Slithering Sniper

Hi, I'm here to talk to you about the Sniper and what he is doing. Sniper has shot eight people. Actcally, I think he has shot nine people. He has killed atleast two people.He has also shot two kids out of the nine. One going to Benjamin's Middle School and the other in an elementary school.
This affects me because it's very sad to hear that one person shooting all these innocent people. Even though I don't know any of the people, it still hurts me.
I will be watching the news to hear more please do the same.

What is a person called if he shoots and kills, and uses a sniper gun?who am I?>

answer:Sniper

Signing off,
Lucy

Derrick's Ideas

I think that in this group I think harder than I used to. I work more and I have more friends and grow ideas more. I also have more homework but this group is funner than school even though it is in school. The website is a very interesting about more cnn student news. I also think that the website is very nice and enoligable.