Blake


 * Dear Editor, **
 * I think that we should continue celebrating Valentine's Day at school because it's a day to care about people and that should be spread even outside our own homes. Who cares if it's not that big of a holiday, it's the thought that counts anyway. Also we kids always do fun games and crafts on Valentine's which make our day happier, but if schools take those things away they will be breaking a huge tradition that us kids always look forward to. Please, if you can do anything to help make this celebration permanent please do as soon as possible. **

**Thank you and happy Valentine's Day. **  **Your friend, ** **Blake **

__Directions__: Choose //one// of the following prompts and respond thoroughly. This should be a developed paragraph with meaningful supportive details. 1. Clarence the Candymaker rubbed his hands gleefully. Today, he would introduce the world to a whole new kind of Valentine's Day candy.
 * Mandatory Wiki Due Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 **

2. My mom (or my dad) is the best mom (or dad) in the whole wide world, so I couldn't give her (him) some plain, old ordinary Valentine's Day gift. No, I needed to find a Valentine's Day present as special as she (he) is. ...

3. Should schools allow children to celebrate Valentine's Day in the classroom? Why or why not? Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper arguing your position.

"You're not going to believe, but I can't get that shot today," I told Dr. Brady. "Why is that?" Mom and Dr. Brady questioned. "Well, um, because I have the Elephonto disease," I replied. "What's the Elephonto disease? Why didn't you tell me about this?" Mom asked in horror. "I didn't tell you because I knew you would get panicked like this," "Wait,wait a second you never answered her first question; what is this "Elephonto" disease?" Inquired Dr. Brady "You see, uh, this disease is one that if you get a flu shot the chemicals inside that shot will effect your DNA which day-by-day turns you into an elephant," I answered unsteadily. "Is that so? I have never heard of this disease before," Dr. Brady asked slyly. "That would be because I am, um, the first person diagnosed with it." I replied. "Okay, I trust you, but," He answered. "And that's why I can't get a flu shot today," I said, cutting him off before he could question anymore and then I ran out of the room without my shot.

__ Directions: __ Choose ** one ** of the following prompts and respond thoroughly. This should be a developed paragraph with meaningful supportive details. Let's see at least one ** semicolon ** use, too!
 * Mandatory Wiki Due Friday, January 25, 2013 **

1. You’re at the doctor’s office for a regular check up when the doctor suggests you get a flu shot as well. You hate shots, so you come up with the most outlandish excuse as to why you can’t get one. Start your story with “You’re not going to believe this, but … ” and end it with “And that’s why I can’t get a flu shot today.” Be sure to correctly punctuate any dialogue. This response should be at least 10 sentences long. Remember to use a semicolon.

2. Wednesday, January 23 is // National Handwriting Day //, and it's no coincidence that it's John Hancock's birthday as well! The forms of written communication have changed over the years from writing on stones, feather pens and ink bottles, the Pony Express, typewriters, computers, email, and text messages. Write a paragraph about the pros and cons of these changes in written communication over the years. This response should have a clear topic sentence, at least four supportive sentences (two pros and two cons) and a conclusion.

3. In observance of Martin Luther King Day, you will // dream //. Read or watch MLK's // I Have A Dream // speech. []. For this prompt, you will need to think about some big dreams you have for America. You may use the same format as MLK, but your dreams should be your own. This prompt should be at least ten sentences long, but it's hard to place a minimum on this one. Be sure it's meaningful and thoughtful.

__ Directions: __ Choose ** //one// ** of the following prompts and respond thoroughly. This should be a developed paragraph with meaningful supportive details.
 * Mandatory Wiki Due Friday, January 18, 2013 **
 * I wish I had one... because ...
 * I wish to be a ... when I grow up. Then I will....
 * I wish there were a law that said..... This would be a good law because....
 * I wish I could forget the time I ..... because....
 * I wish I could see...... because.....
 * I wish I could learn..... because.....
 * I wish everyone would learn to ..... Then everyone would.....
 * I wish I never......
 * I wish I had one more chance to..... Then I would.....
 * I wish everyone loved......
 * I wish all children would......

I wish that everyone in the whole world would learn how to find a good job for themselves and to be able to stay at their job. Then everyone would always have enough money to feed their kids and no one would ever go hungry again. If everybody worked that would also help all of the businesses produce a lot more of their products and nobody would ever have to live with the extreme cold and hot weather without a place to call home. This would also help in that no one would ever have to drink that murky water that could make you sick because everybody would be able to afford the clean kind that helps you not get sick. I hope that one day this can be a reality so that everyone will never have to worry about how much money they have and will live long and happy lives.

For this week's Wiki assignment, you will share your New Year's resolutions. This assignment will focus on the writing trait of//organization//. You will need to explain your resolution in a paragraph, which includes a topic sentence, at least three supporting sentences, and a conclusion. We will discuss resolutions and the organization of this wiki writing in class.
 * Mandatory Wiki: Due Friday, January 11, 2013**


 * In the New Year I would really like to go on more bike rides with my family. I would really love to do this because last year I barely got to go on any with my parents and the ones we did go on were mostly short. When we do go on our rides I always feel like my family is getting closer and that is what can easily make my day. Most of our rides last year were at Holden Beach. There, there are many places to go and we always have tons of fun while riding down the long streets. This year I will try to go on more rides with my family by, asking my parents if we can go on rides more, and going on good days so that we will really want to ride more. I am very hopeful that in the New Year we will get to go on many more rides. **


 * This is a very nice sweater built with, auto heating pads, water proof exterior, and a super comfortable inside. This sweater can also be customized so that it can be any color, have any design on it and you can even spell out things on it. **** You can even have a mini radio encased in the sleeve, although that will make shipping longer. **

Over the holiday season, many of us are busy shopping for just the right gift for our loved ones. We hunt in catalogs, stores, and online for just the perfect present. For this week's wiki assignment, we will practice using the word choice trait by writing a description of a sweater for sale in a catalog. You may imagine what kind of catalog your sweater would be found in (i.e. catalogs might appeal to skiers, hunters, or those looking for high fashion.) You must use only 50-75 words or less to convince your audience to buy the sweater. In addition, you must use at least one simple sentence, one complex sentence and one compound sentence. TAP: Task: Write a 50 word or less description of a sweater for a catalog. Audience: Your audience will be your peer group. Purpose: Your sweater description will need to convince your reader to buy the sweater. (It also will help our word choice trait and force us to look at sentence structure again.)
 * Mandatory Wiki: Due Friday, December 7, 2012 **

Since this will be the last Wiki assignment before Thanksgiving, this week's assignment is to write a letter in friendly letter form to someone important in your life. Be sure to express your sincere gratitude for the things this person does for you. Be specific and sincere. Practice using your voice in this letter. Remember, sharing our deepest feelings helps to strengthen the voice in our writing.
 * Mandatory Wiki: Due November 9, 2012 **

(To help with proper friendly-letter formatting, do not use the tab key on the Wiki to write the date and closing; you should use the space bar.)


 *  418 Dartmouth Road **
 * Dear Mom and Dad, November fourth, 2012 **
 * Thank you so much for this wonderful life you have given me. Thank you also for letting me go to such a great school and giving me the opportunity to play all of the sports that I love to play. You two give me support when I need it most and have been the best parents ever. Also you let me do the little things that make me really happy like going and cheering on the Apps to victory. I hope that we will get to spend lots of more years together.**


 * Thank you so much,**
 * Blake**

Directions: Choose one of the prompts below and write a paragraph for your response. Be sure to revise your response for word choice and edit for spelling and grammar. 1. What would you do if you were Dr. Ebeling for a day? (Be sure your actions are reasonable.) //OR// 2. If you could change places with anyone, who would it be and why? //OR// 3. Write a paragraph about <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #fa9449; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**bullying**. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Be sure to define this term in your own words. Consider the following questions/statements when responding to this prompt. Describe a time when you felt **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #fa9449; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">bullied **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**.** Explain what happened and how you felt. Have there been times when you've witnessed other people getting **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #fa9449; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">bullied **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> and done nothing (or something)? How did this make you feel? What can **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #fa9449; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">bullying **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> look like in fifth grade at Summit School?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mandatory Wiki: Due October 19 **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If I were Dr. Ebeling for a day I would first have no homework for every grade. We would also have pancakes and cookies for lunch. (I picked those because they would be my favorite possible school lunch) Another thing would be a hour long recess and P.E. and we would all have a big pep rally where everybody got to play a game. It would also be Pajama Day so that you could just roll out of your bed and go to school. Last but not least for snack it would be 2 pretzels per person and chocolate milk. I hope that one day that will be a real school day that we could have once a year or maybe twice.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Due to popular demand, this is an optional wiki writing assignment that will be due by Friday, October 5, 2012. (Actually, I will read them on Monday, October 8, so if you need the weekend to complete it, go ahead!) Take a shot at the prompt below. Try to include your response to each of the questions for the most thorough entry. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**PROMPT:** The 2012 election is quickly approaching! What are the most important characteristics a United States presidential candidate should have? If you were running for president, what attributes do you possess that would make you the best choice for president? What are the most important issues in this election, and what is your stand on them?
 * October 2, 2012: OPTIONAL WIKI ASSIGNMENT **

Directions: For this assignment, you will respond to a ** RAFT ** writing prompt. R= Role; A= Audience; F= Format; T= Task Choose the ROLE by thinking about the perspective from which you will write. (You will "become" this thing, and write from that perspective!) // **Role=** // Cell membrane Nucleus Cytoplasm Animal cell Plant cell Chloroplast Cell Wall Sunlight
 * Our Very First Wiki Assignment! Due Friday, September 28, 2012 **

// **Audience=** // Plant cell Animal cell Nucleus Cytoplasm Cell membrane Chloroplast Cell Wall Sunlight

// **Format=** // Debate Recipe Chain letter Love letter Diary entry Friendly letter Obituary Want Ads Poem Dialogue

// **Task= Write to inform others about your learning!** // You need to write something using one of the formats above to help explain to someone things about our Living vs. Nonliving lessons. Remember, write from the perspective of one of the items under "roles", and write to something under the "audience" section. Choosing one of the items under format tells you // how // you will write your wiki entry! For instance, you might choose plant cells as your role, sunlight as your audience, and write a love letter from the plant cell to sunlight. This should be fun, entertaining and informative!

Dear Cell Wall, Thank you so much for keeping all of the bad guys out and keeping us together. We know that without you there would be no us. We also know that your job is very tough but we are very thankful that you do it anyway. You are like our guard gate and that is something you don't find every day. I hope that you know how important you are to every one of us. To us you are our hero and everybody cares and respects you and what you do for our community. Keep up the great work. Thank you so much, The Entire Plant Cell Community