Wednesday, December 3, 2008

December


We just have to get through three weeks until vacation!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!


What are you thankful for?
What are you doing for the long weekend?

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Happy Halloween


Doing anything for Halloween?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Fall Blogs...

Is summer over? Say it ain't so! I was in the ocean on Sunday and it was chilly.
What are we all going to do when it gets cold?
Spend as much time outside as possible!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Continue Blog?

Well, I'm not sure I will be doing this blog with my classes...
I am only teaching math! (And word works.)

I'm not sure I can think of interesting topics for math....

I do like teaching math all day, though. It's fairly simple and straightforward.

Enjoy your schools!

- Mr. Byrd

Thursday, August 28, 2008

First Day of School

I hope you all have a great first day of school.

I know it can be tough, but after a few days you'll get the hang of it for sure...
I have three new classes coming at me this Tuesday.

Good luck to everyone!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Dogs Days of August

Hey, everyone! How is the summer treating you?

Friday, June 27, 2008

Summer is Here! Hello July!

The last day was tough for some of you. I hope you have a great summer.

I spent the last day at the beach, swimming in the ocean. I thought it was a great way to start the summer right.

What exciting things are you doing this July?
(I thnk I'm going to be working!)

Friday, June 20, 2008

You've Graduated!

How does it feel? How did you like the ceremony?

I am so glad it's over, but I hope you had a good time.

Mrs. Hazzard

It's time to send out your positive comments to Ms. Hazzard!
(She missed the circle of positivity)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Prom Night, Er, Afternoon




So...What do you think about the prom?

Sorry I didn't post this sooner! I just realized it is a very interesting topic (for all of you perhaps.)


Thoughts?


Tuesday, June 17, 2008

School Staff

Who are your favorite adults in the building? (not including teachers.)

Why?

Monday, June 16, 2008

Graduation




What will be the highlight of the graduation ceremony?


I am always very nervous about the ceremony going smoothly.

It is a very stressful time for teachers!


I hope you all have a great time! You have been a very special class to me.

(Ms. Shulman's class is included in that, of course.)

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Father's Day


Father's Day is Sunday.

What is everyone doing that day?


PS161Q

The Internet connection has been weak at school,
so I had to post from home. Here's the next topic:


What will you miss most about PS161Q?

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Talent Show!


What was your favorite act and why?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

School Jobs



If you worked in a school, what would your job be?

(Be specific, please!) Explain!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Summer Reading


Summer's coming!
I definitely set aside a few books for the beach or the pool.
I always need reading material for when I'm traveling. I hate sitting in an airport or train station just staring at people's shoes!
What books do you recommend?

Saturday, June 7, 2008

The Heat is On




How do you keep cool on a hot day?

What activities do you enjoy?

What do you do if you can't partake in those activities?

Thursday, June 5, 2008

BBQ



The school barbeque!

What did you like most?

Senior Trip

So? What are your thoughts about the Senior Trip?

What was your favorite part?
What was the funniest?

Share your thoughts about this special day!



Thursday, May 29, 2008

Memoirs

We're in the final stretch of memoirs. Please try to have your best version completed so they can be handed in for a grade.
Try to have them typed and saved so you can edit them in class.
If you save them in googledocs, you can edit them in class without having a memory flash drive.
To put your memoir into googledocs:
Just go to docs.google.com - use your gmail account and paste or type in your memoir.
Then you can access it from any computer without saving it on a flash drive. You can also also "share" it with others. I would like to do this so we can edit each other's work on the computer!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Careers!




What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
What will you need to do to get there?

What are your other choices?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Comic Strip!




Turn your memoir into a comic strip!
What were you missing?
Make sure you have all of the description you need to "paint the picture."
THEN:

Give us a few sentences of good description from your memoir!

What scares you?

People who vote but haven't examined any facts!
That is scary to me.

What scares you?
(Be careful - I did not ask
"What would scare you?")

Friday, May 23, 2008

Movie Posters!




Try to use
hugebiglabs.com to make your movie poster cover for your memoir.
Post the link to it here so we can see it.

What do you think about sixth grade?

What are your thoughts?
I am glad I teach sixth grade. This is because the students are older and they are capable of a lot of things!
What do you think?

I Love Long Weekends!




What are you doing this weekend?
I am going to the beach!
It is the first weekend of the season!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What's So Funny?

What are the funniest moments you remember from sixth grade? Fifth grade?
Fourth?

Monday, May 19, 2008

Favorite TV Shows

What are your favorite TV shows?
Why>?

Sunday, May 18, 2008

D'oh!


To which Simpsons character do you most relate?

I think I have (or have had) shared traits with all of them...
What about you? Tell us why!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

TV Show



If you could write a TV show, what kind would it be?
What would you call it?
What would be the main premise?

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Kindness

Tell about an act of kindness that affected you. What happened? How did it make you feel?

Back to...?

If you could repeat any age? What would it be? Why?

Time Travel

Write about a trip that you could take back in time to meet one famous person.
Who would it be?
What would happen?

Wishy Washy

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

Stranded!

If you had to spend a year on a desert island with one person, who would it be? Why?

Reflection

Try these prompts when creating a memoir!

I remember when…


It made me feel…
I think that…
I learned that…

Do this for as many memories as possible!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Happy Mother's Day



What do you plan to do for Mother's Day?
What are your favorite memories of your mother or other family members?

It's in the Details!

Your memoir should take the reader to those moments in time.
How can you do that if you don't give us details!

Try using the five senses to bring the memory back to the present!
What sounds, smells, and other senses can you tell us about?

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Leads and Endings

A good memoir has a good lead!
Think of how your memoir should start and write your first sentences here!

Then think of the last sentence. Share it with us!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Have You Changed?

One way to think about ideas for a memoir is to think about your own character traits.
How have you changed?
Now think about a memory or memories that have caused this change.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Podcasting!

We can publish your podcasts here!

1. Register for free at www.gcast.com
2. Create a short audio file and upload it to gcast.com
You can call your file in by phone!
3. Then post the link to your file here. (My link is at the bottom of this post.)

If you want to create an audio file on your computer, you will need a
microphone.
If you need recording software,
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ provides free recording software.

You will then have to download the free MP3 encoder.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3

Here's the link to my podcast:
http://www.gcast.com/u/dbyrd2/main

Memories That Made You

Describe a memory and explain how it made you what you are today (in some way).
Did you think differently back then? How so?
How did that time change you? Add to your life?

When I look back at pictures, I remember how I used to be - and how I've changed since those pictures...

That's one technique

Friday, May 2, 2008

MMMMMemoirs!

Look back in your writer's notebook.
Mark off interesting or important memories.
What small moments reveal something about you?
Were there any "teaching moments?"

Monday, April 28, 2008

We Are Family

List each person in your family. Write one positive thing you like about each one.

Dream On!

Write about a dream or goal you have for yourself.

Promises, promises...

How important are promises to you?

We Missed Earth Day

What is your responsibility in keeping the earth clean, healthy, and safe?

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Vacation Time


What are you doing with yourself?
Enjoy!
Relax!
Take a good book with you on your travels...
If you like to write, don't forget that pad and pencil!

New posts will be arriving in bunches from time to time...

Friday, April 18, 2008

What Excites You?

Describe what makes you happy, excited, thrilled, etc.?

Post your feelings!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Pet Peeves


Here's an interesting topic: Pet Peeves...

What little things irritate you?


Here's one of mine: shredded lettuce!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Who's Special?


Who is special to you?
Why? Submit a poem or even just some thoughts...

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

It's Rhyme Time!

Can you think of two lines that rhyme?
Can you make a poem that makes sense and has rhythm?

on the weekend
flying high
to the beach
to see the sky

no clouds today
the waves are white
I'll dream of this day
when I get home tonight

Remember - use sounds that are easy to rhyme!
use the alphabet plus: br, bl, cr, chr, dr, fr, fl, gr, etc.
Try to use more that one syllable...

Monday, April 14, 2008

A Special Place

Imagine a perfect place or a place where you can escape your troubles and worries!
Use the five senses to describe it! Post a poem or just some thoughts about it!

Here is a poem I wrote after imaging a place:

Hiding Place

In a bubble on the bottom
of the smooth floor
of the salty sea

the currents caress the hairs on the back
of my neck, diving and swirling against my skin

tiny capsules of air dance euphorically
rising beyond my view
toward the light

I can float to the surface
as the light gets brighter
and I break through
to the scent of mangoes

I am home

Friday, April 11, 2008

Misty, Water-Colored Memories at PS161Q




What are your favorite memories of class this year (or before)?

Which moments would you like to forget?

(Christine R.'s idea)

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings



Poetry is a great way to get out your feelings.
Think about a time when you experienced some emotion.
How did you feel?

How does it feel when you're anticipating a party or vacation?
How does it feel when you accomplish a goal?
How does it feel when someone insults you?

Insult by Mr. Byrd

An insult is a swift slap
burning my cheeks as my head hangs low
shoulders hunched
doubting myself

Why can't I let it go?
an insult is a sharpened arrow
straight to my heart,
straight to my thoughts
and it's nagging me again

An insult pounces
and I am thrown down
waiting for the strength to stand

I hear a call -
a dependable friend of mine
I bet that insult will soon
drift off like a blue balloon escaping from a child's hand

Share your feelings and good times, bad times, etc.!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Adjectives: Happy Versus Joyous

Here is a challenge:

Let's share adjectives that we could put into our poems.
Keep in mind:
Each adjective should be new and interesting.
Each adjective should fit smoothly into the poem when read aloud.

Good luck!
Here's one from me:
malicious

The malicious night took over the sunset

More With Metaphors

I saw some great metaphors on the other post!
Keep it up!
Remember, metaphors compare two things. Try this format:






Now fill in the blanks! Here's an example:

Joy is a
sleek surfboard
riding on white-capped waves,
balancing beautifully between the ocean floor and sky

See what I mean? I could now keep going with my metaphor, or I could find new ones for joy. Try it out!

**Did you notice the alliteration?
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alliteration

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Join Our Blog


Check out comments to each entry!
I have posted a picture of a place that inspires me.
Can you guess where it is?

Similes, Metaphors, Imagery, Oh My!

Write down your best metaphor, simile, etc....

Here's one of mine:

The tiger pounced as quickly as an arrow
towards the unsuspecting rabbit
waiting like the deserts waits for the rain

Monday, April 7, 2008

Welcome to Blogging!

Why should we use blogging as a class?
What skills do you think you will use when blogging?

Advertisement for a Friend

What qualities do you look for in a friend?

I think it's important for a friend to be supportive.
When I want to do something different, I want my friends to say,
"It's worth a try!" or "Go for it!" I don't like people who scoff or discourage me in any way.

What do you look for in a friend?