Thursday, October 30: Write a really scary story!

Wednesday, October 29: You can have any superpower. What do you choose and why?

There are so many powers I wish I had...

I wish I could reverse death 

Interrupt mortality and 

Manipulate this world into a place 

Where I and everyone I love can stay

Together in this mostly blissful 

But sometimes burdensome 

Thing called life. 

Tuesday, October 28: What costumes should your teachers wear for Halloween?

Monday, October 27: Describe your Halloween costume. What does it look like, and how will you act like the character?

I hate wearing a costume! They're usually so itchy and uncomfortable. Sometimes just seeing giddy people wearing costumes makes me grumpy, like a Grinch who can't stand to see other people having fun. How can people wearing such awkward costumes seem so happy? Usually I spend Halloween watching a movie or reading a book...basically avoiding the costumes. 

But this year I was thinking I would work on my attitude toward costumes. Does anyone have an idea for a non-itchy, completely comfortable (but also cute) costume? 

Ms. R 

Thursday, October 23: Write a spooky story using at least 10 spelling words.

Wednesday, October 22: Who takes care of you? How do they take care of you?

Tuesday, October 21: If you could be any age, what age would you be and why?

If I could be any age, I would be 11 so I could go back to sixth grade and tell myself not to worry so much about being cool. In sixth grade, my mom still made my clothes, I spent recess writing poetry, and I was a fierce basketball player. I would tell myself not to be jealous of the girls with matching GAP jeans but rather proud of my individuality. I would definitely not spend my allowance on the pleather pants I wore the first day of seventh grade. I would tell myself to do what I wanted in middle school instead of doing and saying whatever I could to get people to like me. If I could go back to 11 again, I would, and I would do my teenage years up the way I should have! 

Monday, October 20: Write a story about the best moment or event during your 3 day weekend.

The best moment of my weekend was at 7:00 AM on Saturday morning, when the sun streaming through my window woke me up and I realized it was the weekend and I could go back to sleep. I don't usually mind waking up early on weekdays for work. I've been getting up early as long as I can remember, and sleeping in on a Wednesday just doesn't feel quite right to me. But we've been in school for a quarter now and us teachers have had just one extra day off, Labor Day, and I'm so tired sometimes when I wake up in the morning it feels like I need pliers to pry my eyes open. So at 7:00 AM on Saturday, I was positively ecstatic that I could roll over under the covers, wrap myself back up in my sheets, and go back to sleep. I dozed for two more hours, before waking up around 9:20, quickly brewing some coffee, and walking to the gym for Body Pump. I can't imagine a better way to start a Saturday than sleeping in, coffee, and exercise.

Wednesday, October 15: Write a silly story using at least 10 of yourspelling words.

Don't get me wrong, I love to write. But on a night like tonight, all I want to do is watch TV! After wrecking my toe, I almost didn't make it to yoga! Thank goodness I knew how to take deep breaths to cool myself down and get my head right for yoga. We have so many mats that they like like colorful patches on a hallway quilt! We acted out the life cycle of an apple. We started by wrapping our arms around our legs like little seeds. Then we warmed up by stretching our arms high and bending one knee at a time for tree pose. Balancing is tough if you get an itch! By the end of class, our trees had blossomed, been pollinated by bees, and juicy apples had grown on our branches. For snack, each of our helpers used a knife to slice the four varieties of apples: Honeycrisp, Sweet Tango, Granny Smith, and Asian Pears. Phew! By my count, I used 11 spelling words. I'm wrecked! Time for bed.

- Ms. Radding

Tuesday, October 14: If we could go anywhere in the world on a field trip, where would you want to go and what would we learn about there?

Monday, October 13: Write about your experience on the field trip today.

When I close my eyes...


I see Caleb falling playing make-believe football,

Landing on his hands,

So the flap of skin looked like a door to a room full of blood.


I hear John chuckling as he shows me

How he slid through the mud

And is now wearing the field on his pants.

I hear John asking me, "Can I wash off this mud?"

And I hear Nadia's mom responding, "The mud's gotta dry first, honey."


I hear jubilant students cheering during the compass relay,

And I see Bria grab Diego's hand and sprint,

Helping her friend find his way to the finish line.


I see Anthony's eyes squeezed shut,

His arms extended, swaying side to side,

Imagining himself a bird whose wings

Can lift him high enough to see the city below.

Thursday, October 2: Describe your favorite toy or stuffed animal. What memories do you have of playing with this toy?

Wednesday, October 1: Invent a new game for a device. Describe the characters and the setting, and explain how to play.