Recognizing your own traits

In class today, we started to work on reader-text connections.  A reader-text connection (or what we’ll come to call a “text-to-self” or “text-to-life” connection) is made when a reader is able to somehow relate to an event, an experience, a feeling, or a situation in the book.  In the coming days and weeks, we’ll talk about the different kinds of connections you can make.

This is your homework.  First, watch the video I made for you about character traits.

Now, think about the character traits you saw in the video.  Choose one or two character traits that best describe you.  Remember, these are traits of your own PERSONALITY, not descriptions of how you look.  If you need a reminder of some of the different traits, you can rewatch the video, or look at some of the resources I have found for you.

• Resource one
• Resource two
• Resource three – for those who want to be challenged with tough words (Look them up if you don’t know them!)

Choose one or two character traits that describe you.  Write down what they are and why you think they apply to you.  Use this sentence format:

I think I am __________ because…

Here is my sample response that I am writing about myself:

I think I am patient because I am willing to work with anyone to help them to learn, even if it doesn’t come easily to them.  I will happily sit with students who are having a tough time in math or reading or writing, and I will work with them for however long it takes.  I like helping my fellow teachers to learn to use technology in their teaching, even if it takes them a while to figure new things out.  This makes me seem like a patient teacher.

Bring in your responses tomorrow.  Please don’t post them online or email them to me.  Hard copies (written on paper or typed and printed on paper) please!

Posted in Homework Assignments|By Jon Moss

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Amazing Actual Alliterative Adventures

Alliteration is a fun kind of figurative language in which most (maybe all) of the words in a sentence begin with the same sound.  Here is an example:

Most monkeys mocked the mocha muffins Moss made.

Your homework tonight is to create an alliterative sentence of your own.  Remember, you cannot use your own name or that of a classmate, but you can use other names.  You could pick a random name or maybe write a sentence about Piney or a celebrity or someone else.  Remember, though, you want to stick with ONE beginning sound for most words.  (For example, a sentence like “Katy Perry kept passing killer pickles to calm patrons.” would not work because you are reusing TWO sounds – K and P – not just one.  But “Katie Perry persuaded people to pack purple pullovers in pink pouches.” would be dandy!)

Remember, your sentence must be one that we can visualize.  It can’t be a nonsensical mish-mosh of words that start with the same letter.  It must make sense.

I think many of you already have a sentence ready.  If you do this quickly, consider posting a second or even third sentence, or consider commenting (respectfully) on someone else’s post!

Posted in Homework Assignments|By Jon Moss

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