Writing 2 Class Notes -- December 12

Greetings!

We closed out our Fall semester in great fashion.  I had made brownies, and other students brought in treats.  Our class yesterday was an effort to have a party while finishing up our writing class for the semester.

Our Quick Write was a group effort. Dividing the class into 3 groups, they were each given a list of Christmas Jokes without their punchlines.  They were to either guess what the real answer was or come up with a better one.  Most of the answers were puns or mutations of Christmas related words. Do you know the answer to these?

        1.   What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?

        2.   Who is never hungry at Christmas?

        3.  How do you know when there is a snowman in your bed? 

Some of the jokes were clever, and some were real "groaners."

Following our activity with the Christmas jokes, students handed in their final drafts of their Extended Definition or Classification Essays.  They also handed in any out-standing/ missing assignments.  After I finish grading these papers, I'll send out grades along with my thoughts about points and grades.

The students were assigned to bring in Christmas poems and took turns sharing their poetry aloud.  I'll put some of these on the blog site.  We had a couple of original poems, a limerick, and an haiku.

To close out the class, we had some Christmas-themed improvisation.  Each student drew a card with a Christmas word on it.  (e.g.  Christmas tree, Mary, Baby Jesus, Scrooge, etc.)  Each had to portray that word as a "character" and interact with another character.  For example, one student was "Christmas Lights" and another was "Snowman," and they had a short conversation so that we could guess their identities.  They were all good sports.

I've enjoyed this semester with this group of students.  They are a fun crew and are growing as writers. I'm looking forward to our Spring semester.

Have a blessed holiday season!

Mrs. Prichard

PS.  The punch lines to the jokes above:

        1.  "It's Christmas, Eve."

        2.  The turkey -- it's stuffed.

        3.  It's all wet.

This week's blog

Christmas Poems, Part 1

Christmas Poems, Part 2

Christmas Poems, Part 3

Christmas Jokes (with punch lines!)

Christmas Jokes

Below is the list of jokes from our Quick Write.  Enjoy!

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It's Christmas, Eve!

Who is never hungry at Christmas?
The turkey - he's always stuffed!

How do you know when there is a snowman in your bed?
You wake up wet!

What would a reindeer do if it lost its tail?
She’d go to a “re-tail” shop for a new one!

Q: Why was Santa's little helper depressed?
A: Because he had low elf esteem.

Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
A: Snowflakes.

Last year's Christmas pudding was so awful I threw it in the ocean.
That's probably why the ocean's full of currants!

What's the first thing elves learn in school?
The "elf"-abet!

What do the elves call it when Father Christmas claps his hands at the end of a play?
Santapplause!

What do you call people who are scared of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic!

What do you call Santa when he has no money?
Saint "Nickel"-less!

What do you call someone who doesn't believe in Father Christmas?
A rebel without a Claus!

What do you get if you cross Santa with a flying saucer?
A UF ho, ho, ho

What do you get if you cross Santa with a gardener?
Someone who likes to hoe, hoe, hoe!

And what goes oh! oh! oh?
Father Christmas walking backwards.

What nationality is Santa Claus?
North Polish!

What's red & white and red & white and red & white?
Santa rolling down a hill!

Where does Santa stay when he's on holidays?
At a Ho-ho-tel

What do snowmen eat for lunch?
Icebergers !

How do snowmen travel around?
By iceicle!

How do snowmen greet each other?
Ice to meet you!

What do you call a snowman in the summer?
A puddle

What's a snowman's favorite Mexican food?
Brrrrrr-itos!

Q: What do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a detective?
A: Santa Clues!

Sherlock's favorite Christmas song:
"I'll be Holmes for Christmas"

How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?
Fleece Navidad!

What is green, covered with tinsel and goes "ribbet ribbet"?
A mistle-"toad"!

What did the grape say to the peanut butter?
"'Tis the season to be jelly!"

Why did the gingerbread man go to the doctor?
Because he was feeling crummy!

What kind of money do they use at the North Pole?
Cold cash!

What kind of music do elves like best?
"Wrap" music!

Who sings "Blue Christmas" and makes toy guitars?
Elfis!

Christmas Poems, Part 3

Below are poems shared by students in class.

Stopping by woods on a snowy evening (Robert Frost)
(from C.V.P)

Whose woods these are I think I know.  

His house is in the village though;  

He will not see me stopping here  

To watch his woods fill up with snow.  

My little horse must think it queer  

To stop without a farmhouse near  

Between the woods and frozen lake  

The darkest evening of the year.  

He gives his harness bells a shake  

To ask if there is some mistake.  

The only other sound’s the sweep  

Of easy wind and downy flake.  

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.  

But I have promises to keep,  

And miles to go before I sleep,  

And miles to go before I sleep.

The Night Before Christmas
(from K.T.)

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Christmas Poems, Part 2

More poems from the students for a December 12 class.

Winter Haiku

(from T.B.)

Read both options.  How does the meaning change depending on the placement of the period?

Opt. 1

I giggle and fall.

In the drift of crystal white

Snow Angel appears.

Opt. 2

I giggle and fall

In the drift of crystal white.

Snow Angel appears.

Christmas Poem

(from B.C.)

The angels in the snow with their beauty

Remind me of my duty

To Christ, as a child he did come

So that I might have freedom.

The Ultimate Gift

(from J.M.)

As the stockings were hung by the chimney with glee

Some are for others but one is just for me.

As we hang all the ornaments and light the Christmas tree

I gaze down under to the nativity scene I see.

All of the wooden figures that put me in the mood

Especially baby Jesus in a bed made for food.

One day, all the earth will give joy

For the one simple birth of this tiny little boy.

He changed the course of history by changing the way of life

No matter who you are, boy or girl, husband or wife.

He cleansed our lives and took away the loss

He did this by giving his life on the cross.

They wrapped his dead body and laid him in a tomb

But three days from then, it was just an empty room.

All his words and teaching he gave

Had just one purpose, to seek and to save.

His arms are wide open to anyone that is willing

And he will come into their hearts like a much needed filling

He has love for everyone no matter why they have done.

How is this possible?  Well he is simply the chosen one.

So next time you see all the gifts under the tree

Just remember Jesus died, for every human being

Eternal life may seem far away, like a drift

But through the living Christ it is truly the greatest gift.

Christmas Poems, Part 1

Below are the Christmas poems from our December 12 class:

Christmas Poem
(from S.V.)
I made a Christmas wish for you,
For a holiday full of pleasure,
Friends and family all around
And memories to treasure.



Roses are red
(from K.S.)
Roses are red,
Snow is white
Candy canes are both,
And that is right.
(K.S.)

Christmas Poems by L M Willson

(from M.D.)

 It was a silent night in Bethlehem,

When Christ our King was born,

While shepherds watched their sheep,

On that very early morn.

A brilliant star was shining,

Upon that sacred shrine,

Of the Holy Family kneeling,

Beside the manger of God Divine.

The shepherds followed this radiant star,

Of royal beauty bright,

And listened to the angels sing,

While praising God all through the night.

Hosanna in the highest,

Unto Him all nations sing,

Christ our Saviour is born this night,

'Tis Christ our Saviour King.

The radiance of His being,

Will shine through all our lives,

And crush the sins of all mankind,

Upon which all evil thrives.

Oh Blessed Child of Mary,

To whom all the world will bow,

'Tis God's Son - The only One,

To this our God forever will avow.

Oh loving Saviour of mankind,

The souls of man both then and now,

Will sing Your praises forever,

And unto You all knees will bow.

Each year we'll celebrate Your birth,

To please our God our King,

And pray You will come again,

So peace to this world You'll bring. 

Writing 2 Class Notes -- December 5

Greetings!

We had a good class yesterday.  Our Quick Write for the morning came from a book entitled Story Starters.  From this book, you can randomly put together writing prompts as third at a time.  Our prompt for today was "This is just awful!," said the kangaroo as he/she jumped out of the way."  They put a lot of thought into their writing, and we had some creative responses.

Following our Quick Write, we worked on some Sentence Building.  I had the students start with a simple Subject-Verb sentence and then had them add a prepositional phrase, an adjective, and an adverb.  After that, they were to make it a compound sentence with the same elements.  Then, they were to incorporate a subordinate clause into the sentence.  This exercise gave us a great opportunity to talk about the different parts of speech and to put that knowledge to work.  For our Grammar Discussion, we also briefly reviewed our discussion from last week about phrases:  prepositional phrases, participial phrases, and gerund phrases.  Little by little we're becoming proficient in these finer points of grammar. 

The students had handed in their rough drafts of their Extended Definition/ Classification Essays.  I usually compile a list of common errors which I found while reading through these first drafts.  The best way to learn about writing is to simply do it.  From there we can discuss strategies and techniques.  I'm seeing a lot of improvement in their writing.  The final drafts are due next week.  Along with correcting and editing their papers, they are to write "5 Things I Learned from the Corrections on My Rough Draft."  For example, if I circled a contraction and corrected it, they could put "no contractions in essays" as one of the things.  Or if I inserted a comma, they could mention "use commas with introductory phrases."  It's good to correct mistakes: it's even better to know what was wrong and why it needs changing.

Our poet for this week was Emily Dickinson.  At first look, her poems may seem dark and somewhat depressing.  However, a closer look reveals bits of hope.  I've put together a blog post about Dickinson with information from Sparks Notes; the second paragraph is especially enlightening.  We read aloud "Because I could not stop for Death," and I've also included a post with the text of this poem.

Assignments for Next Week:

-- Bring to class a Christmas or Winter poem.  This can be an original.

-- Final Drafts of Extended Definition or Classification Essays

-- Write 5 Things I Learned from the Corrections on My Rough Draft"

-- Optional -- bring treats --- We'll be celebrating our last class of the semester.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Prichard

Because I could not stop for Death

Because I could not stop for Death

Because I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me;

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,

And I had put away

My labor, and my leisure too,

For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,

Their lessons scarcely done;

We passed the fields of gazing grain,

We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed

A swelling of the ground;

The roof was scarcely visible,

The cornice but a mound.

Since then 't is centuries; but each

Feels shorter than the day

I first surmised the horses' heads

Were toward eternity.

Emily Dickinson's Poetry

from SparkNotes -- Analysis of Emily Dickinson's poetry

Emily Dickinson is such a unique poet that it is very difficult to place her in any single tradition—she seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Her poetic form, with her customary four-line stanzas, ABCB rhyme schemes, and alternations in iambic meter between tetrameter and trimeter, is derived from Psalms and Protestant hymns, but Dickinson so thoroughly appropriates the forms—interposing her own long, rhythmic dashes designed to interrupt the meter and indicate short pauses—that the resemblance seems quite faint. Her subjects are often parts of the topography of her own psyche; she explores her own feelings with painstaking and often painful honesty but never loses sight of their universal poetic application; one of her greatest techniques is to write about the particulars of her own emotions in a kind of universal homiletic or adage-like tone (“After great pain, a formal feeling comes”) that seems to describe the reader’s mind as well as it does the poet’s. Dickinson is not a “philosophical poet”; unlike Wordsworth or Yeats, she makes no effort to organize her thoughts and feelings into a coherent, unified worldview. Rather, her poems simply record thoughts and feelings experienced naturally over the course of a lifetime devoted to reflection and creativity: the powerful mind represented in these records is by turns astonishing, compelling, moving, and thought-provoking, and emerges much more vividly than if Dickinson had orchestrated her work according to a preconceived philosophical system.

Of course, Dickinson’s greatest achievement as a poet of inwardness is her brilliant, diamond-hard language. Dickinson often writes aphoristically, meaning that she compresses a great deal of meaning into a very small number of words. This can make her poems hard to understand on a first reading, but when their meaning does unveil itself, it often explodes in the mind all at once, and lines that seemed baffling can become intensely and unforgettably clear. Other poems—many of her most famous, in fact—are much less difficult to understand, and they exhibit her extraordinary powers of observation and description. Dickinson’s imagination can lead her into very peculiar territory—some of her most famous poems are bizarre death-fantasies and astonishing metaphorical conceits—but she is equally deft in her navigation of the domestic, writing beautiful nature-lyrics alongside her wild flights of imagination and often combining the two with great facility.