Mrs. Apperson's Class Blog

Favorite Snow Activity

2011-11-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

I must admit, snow is not my friend. Come on, what kind of friend would allow you to repeatedly ditch your car (because of them, no less), freeze your fingers, toes, and nose, and create more housework just for the sake of creating it? The worst part of snow is the scooping and agonizing back pain that seems to inevitably follow. Like I said, snow is not my friend.
Don't get me wrong, snow evokes some very fond memories and feelings. I love curling up on the couch in my nice warm snuggie with a cup of freshly brewed, piping hot coffee (with a hint of eggnog) to watch my favorite evening show or to read a few more chapters in my latest novel. I love the smell of the flames that flicker over the burning wood in the fireplace. Perhaps my favorite snow activity, however, is watching my children laughing and playing in the snow. I love to watch them sled down the hill in the backyard and crash land near the base of the patio. Gazing at them reminds me of my own childhood and the times we would ride on the hood of an old car through the country side be pulled by a my step-father's truck. Oh to be young again.. well perhaps, snow could be my friend-sometimes.

Does Technology zap creativity in our youth?

2011-11-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Lego Starburst Machine

Technology is limitless. Some may argue that technology is taking away the creativity and youthful curiosity of our young. After watching this you tube video created by a former colleague's son, I beg to differ. What are your thoughts? Can you create something "more"?

Why Blog with Another Classroom?

2011-11-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the adage: two heads are better than one? You know for the longest time, I felt as if that was a crock of hooey. However, throughout my schooling and even raising my own children, I have learned and discovered a lot of truth in those words. Two heads, are indeed, better than one! Collaboration and communication are essential components of all successes in my opinion. When it comes to education, we learn so much through our communication and collaboration with others. Still confused? Think about this, when you were young I am sure that you played with friends at a playground. Who was it that taught you boys to throw and chase girls with worms? Who was it ladies, that taught you to giggle and scream as you ran away? My guess is that no one person taught you these things, but rather that you learned them through interaction and observation of others doing the same thing. I feel that collaborating and communicating with another classroom of learners will give us the opportunity to broaden our horizons and expand our learning as we travel through this journey together. So my question to you is why NOT blog with another classroom.

Technology Rules

2011-10-30T04:32:00.000-07:00

Technology Rules

Mr. B returns for the day!

2011-10-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

One of my fondest memories from three years ago when I was a student teacher at South Page, is attending English with Mr. B. I have no doubt that many of you recall the infamous lectures of Mr. B that somehow seemed to keep you on your toes and laughing. Mr. B has a great talent for drawing learners in and teaching them essential skills without the learner having ever realized they were learning. For those of you that have had the pleasure of being a student learning under the legendary Mr. B, his temporary return was indeed a blessed treat. However, for those of you that have never had the privilege of having Mr. B as an educator, you now have the opportunity to experience life English with Mr. B.

I would like to know what your fondest memory of Mr. B's lectures were (past or present-from today).

One Book to recommend...

2011-10-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, Mrs. Guthrie made this prompt extremely difficult. I find so many books that become my favorite and one that makes the must read list. For example, last year I would have told you that you "must read" the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. However, prior to that I would have recommended the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The latter part of last year I would have recommended the Percy Jackson series (and subsequent novel series) by Rick Riordan. I feel that it is to difficult to pick one book (or series) that I like the best. Feed is another excellent novel my M.T. Anderson, it is defiantly worth giving it a shot for the more futuristic and sci-fi readers. Since, I am supposed to recommend one novel, I am going to challenge each of you to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon.

Happy Blogging

2011-10-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome junior high learners to the world of blogging. As you can see, since I have decided to follow you, that blogging is a great way to learn about each other, express our thoughts and ideas creatively and purposefully, and perhaps most importantly continue writing and improving our skills. For your first blog, Mrs. Guthrie has asked you to blog about your favorite music. As you are blogging on this topic, I encourage you to consider what is it about the music that you like. Does it trigger a specific memory or emotion? What kind of food would you associate with this music? Remember that when you are writing you should always consider your COWSIV (or six traits). Happy Blogging learners!

Conventions
Organization
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Ideas
Voice