Sunday, January 29, 2012

Figurative Language






What is Figurative Language?
Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else,
you are using figurative language. 


Simile
A simile uses the words “like” or “as”
to compare one object or idea with another to suggest they are alike.
Example: busy as a bee


Metaphor
The metaphor states a fact or draws a verbal picture by the use of comparison.
A simile would say you are like something; a metaphor is more positive - it says you are something.
Example: You are what you eat.


Personification  
A figure of speech in which human characteristics are given
to an animal or an object. Example: My teddy bear gave me a hug.


Alliteration
The repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words.
Alliteration includes tongue twisters. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.


Onomatopoeia
The use of a word to describe or imitate a natural sound or the sound
made by an object or an action. Example: snap crackle pop


Hyperbole
An exaggeration that is so dramatic that no one would believe the statement is true.
Tall tales are hyperboles.
Example: He was so hungry, he ate that whole cornfield for lunch, stalks and all.


Idioms
According to Webster's Dictionary, an idiom is defined as: peculiar to itself
either grammatically (as no, it wasn't me) or in having a meaning
that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements
(as Monday week for "the Monday a week after next Monday")


Clichés
A cliché is an expression that has been used so often that it has become trite
and sometimes boring. Example: Many hands make light work.

Frog jacket

LOG ON: :http://languagearts.pppst.com/figurative.html

Play Figurative Language Games:
http://www.wartgames.com/themes/languagearts/figurative.html
Reading Comprehension Practice Cards: Figurative Language (Reading Level: 3.5-5.0)
reallygoodstuff.com  (They offer 2 reading levels)

Monday, January 23, 2012

Valentine's Day Games

Who is My Valentine?
Give each child a copy of the "Who's My Valentine?" quiz. This can be done just for fun, or as a contest where you award a prize to the child or children with the most correct answers.
Game ideas were inspired by birthdaybox.com
  1. Daisy Duck
  2. Charlie Brown
  3. Minnie Mouse
  4. Lady
  5. The Beast
  6. Romeo
  7. Peanut Butter
  8. Wilma Flintstone
  9. Superman
  10. Olive Oil
  11. Barney Rubble
  12. Marge Simpson
  13. Ken
  14. Princess Jasmine
  15. Prince Eric
  16. Cinderella
  17. Mario
  18. Kermit the Frog
  19. Woody
  20. Lighting McQueen



Draw Your Heart
  1. Have three or four children go up to the chalkboard at once.
  2. Blindfold each child, and hand each a piece of chalk.
  3. Ask each child to draw a heart on the chalkboard.
  4. The children will have fun laughing with each other when they see the silly shapes they've actually drawn.
Note: If no chalkboard is available, you can hang butcher paper or large art paper on a wall, or lay the paper on the floor. You can also have the children draw with chalk on a blacktop outdoors.


Crafty Valentines


 Its Monday & I'm linking up with Mommy & Me Creations to share some cute crafts,
                all of these craft ideas are from martha stewart holiday crafts.com

                                                        Valentine Crafts                                               
                                                       
                     Thumb-Tac Frames
These easy frames are as cheerful and humble as the illustrations they're meant for. Cut two pieces of corrugated cardboard slightly larger than artwork; glue together to make a thick frame that tacks won't poke through. Attach drawing with map tacks or pushpins; hang with a binder clip.
                     Book-Mark /Cards
Make this one-of-a kind Valentine's Day card -- it doubles as a bookmark.
Dots Candy Hearts                                                                                            
Snip candy hearts for an entire class in a snap. To make, cut a heart from a strip of candy dots, and glue it to a piece of construction paper. With scalloping scissors, cut construction paper to create a border around the heart.
                     Hand Print Cards
Send a touching message with valentines traced from little hands. Just cut from construction paper, and then decorate. You can hand over sweets or a toy ring, or let someone know he's your hands-down favorite.






Sunday, January 22, 2012

A Blog Notebook - How Clever!

Archie Grand for J.Crew notebook

             Archie Grand for J.Crew notebook

$10.00 item 51637
jcrew.com
Perfect as a sketchbook or a diary, these beautifully crafted blank journals
from notebook maker Archie Grand 
My weekend find was such a surprise! 
While I was in J.Crew hoping to find an outfit (on the sale rack of course) 
 I stumbled upon a super-perfect little notebook to collect all my favorite BloG notes in!

My Favorites:

The Day it Rained Hearts - Valentines Day Books for Kids




I LOVE Valentines Day_...
and..This week I'll be linking up with Jacque from
http://mommy-and-me-creations.blogspot.com
 to share some of my Valentine's Day ideas that I'll be using in the classroom! Today's focus is "FAVORITE BOOKS! ahhh there are so many sweet stories to read at this time of year so this was super hard..but, here are
my love-ly- picks!
If You'll Be My Valentine - Valentines Day Books for Kids
Cute picture book that shows how a little boy shares valentines with things and people he loves. The youngster writes valentines to his cat, his teddy bear, a bird, his grandmother, a neighborhood girl, his mom, and other family members. This is a great book to share with young children to explain that Valentine's Day is a day that people express their love and appreciation towards others.
Nate the Great hates mushy stuff. But when he spies a big red paper heart taped to the outside of Sludges doghouse, Nate knows he must help out his favorite pooch. WHO has left Sludge a secret valentine? Its a mystery until Nate finds out his friend Annie is missing a valentine. 
The case seems easy. Nate is relieved. No more mushy stuff. That's what he thinks...
I absolutely love Nate the Great! If you haven't done an author study totally try this series
( level: J-K-L)! Here is a Unit with lesson plans to get you started.http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/pdf/nate.pdf


Valentine's Day Is - Valentines Day Books for Kids
Valentine’s Day is candy hearts, flowers, and chocolate truffles. It is Valentine cards galore. Most of all, it is a time to share with family and friends, and a time to give thanks for our loved ones. Gail Gibbons presents the history of this special holiday and shares what the day has come to mean in our present-day society.















Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Oh, how Pinteresting!


I'm linking up with the vintage apple
to show you my very Pinteresting pins! I might be a little bit early..but how cute!
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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Golden Globe Favorites!

Nicole
Sophia

George

Katharine




Have You Seen The New Items @ Creative Teaching?

I've been searching around the internet while and found some really cute new classroom decor!
I think I hit the jackpot!
Visit creative teaching:
http://www.creativeteaching.com/c-111-whats-new.aspx
Twirls and Swirls Border.

Click here to view larger image
Birthday Bulletin Board Set



Classroom Banner



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BW Library Pockets 
The BW collection  is ADORABLE.. 
I think I may have my next bulletin board design!

Re-Visiting Anticipation Guides

OK..so I'm old and when I first started teaching (16 years) ago I used anticipation guides!
Well.. Since I've gone through Oh, SO many theories and practices they became a thing of the past,
it was a good tool that was forgotten.. I just used one again this week and it was wonderful..

An anticipation guide is a comprehension strategy that is used before reading to activate students' prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic. Before reading, students listen to or read several statements about key concepts presented in the text; they're often structured as a series of statements with which the students can choose to agree or disagree. 
Anticipation guides stimulate students' interest in a topic and set a purpose for reading. After the students read the text again and get a chance to see if what they knew about the topic was correct therefore build comprehension & strength about the topic. (read think write)
                    Here is What happened in the classroom:
1.Before and after you read you are going to use your knowledge about China to fill out an anticipation guide.
2. Show the students the model Anticipation Guide. (below)
3.  Here is how I differentiated the lesson:
some groups of students made guides with statements and checked their work on their own and  included the page # .
some groups had pre-made anticipation guides, they found answers, and found page #'s on their own.
another group met as a guided group and I helped them through a discussion circle T or F  and then find out if they were correct then we wrote the page #.
4. Groups worked together to fill out guides. (they can also work independently)
REALLY FUN!! I proMise! After the Great Wall different groups did anticipation guides on: geography, dynasties, Shanghai, etc.. but I let the students write them on chart paper (SO CUTE)
I'll have to post them this week... Defiantly watch the video at the end of the post!

GREAT WALL OF CHINA   Here Is A Sample: 
Group Members:_____________________________________ 
Title: _______________Author ________________________
Anticipation Guide
 Before reading, mark whether or not you agree or disagree with each statement. After reading the text, fill in the page number where you found the answer to each statement, tell whether or not you were right, and reflect on what you found.       
A                                                                                                                                    p
    T   F            1.    China is located in Asia.                                               T    F              
    T   F            2.   The Great Wall is near China.  It was built 100 years ago.T    F                 
    T   F            3.   The Great Wall of China was knocked down.                    T   F                   
    T   F            4.   The Great Wall was built to protect the people of China. T   F                
__________________________________________________________________________________

enter to win a TARGET gift card!

Alternative Name   Lindsay is having a 
        give-a-way..It's a Target Gift card...
 $20 to spend.. Hop on over to her amazing blog, and enter!
                                                   http://msnoren.blogspot.com/



Saturday, January 14, 2012

It's Saturday!

Yellow Symbolizes - wisdom, joy, happiness, intellectual energy, and success!
I was re-organizing some of my Pinterest boards and I noticed... My board titled 
"A Few of My Favorite Things" had a a hint of yellow to it
(which made the board look happy)!
So I decided to share..Happy Saturday!


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Sip This: 3 Reasons Why Lemon Water Rocks
All images courtesy of pinterest!
Follow my Pinterest Board:
http://pinterest.com/melissavecchio/just-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/


I'm more excited about the case.. (shhhh)


iphone cases
Tory Burch iPhone 4 Case
Tory Burch sooooo..Cute!
kate spade new york rigid iPhone 4 & 4S cover (Nordstrom Exclusive)      
I'm... ThiNking..HoPing and  wishing..that this will FINALLY be the weekend I get an  iPHONE!
I don't know what I'm more excited about the actual phone OR getting a really  greatcase! 
kate spade new york rigid iPhone 4 & 4S cover
Kate Spade
I know iphone is one of the leading Smartphone’s in the industry today, and it’s easy to see why. The device is highly versatile, very productive and seems to have everything that you could ask for in a smart phone!
But...the cases that All of these designers have made, makes getting an iphone  even MORE exciting!
Tory Burch iPhone 4G Hard Case
 A great case, is the best accessory these days!

Hermes! 

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 This might be MY favorite...  found on Pinterest

All iphone cases from this post are from Nordtrom.com  






Case-Mate® 'Keep Calm and Shop On' iPhone 4 & 4S Case