Morphology: Breaking Down Words to Build Meaning

It is such common sense!  Teach students as many root words, prefixes, suffixes, focus on the cognates  – not only for ELLs but also for our students who will eventually take a foreign language – -wow – -what an efficient way to build a vocabulary.  Teach kids the strategies – -look for the root, look for any pre/suf – -then look to the context.  I will definitely be incorporating this strategy into my future vocabulary lessons.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

What a great read.  The descriptive language and combination of mystery, magic, and malice immediately had me hooked.  My 6th grade daughter also – (I must run out and get another copy of the book, as she has confiscated it – with my blessing – for her independent read)

I love it when I find an author and great series that I can enjoy for a bit –

I have enjoyed being immersed in everything Pirate for the last few weeks – -I have learned so much about using instructional level trade books to create student inquiry based social studies and language arts experience that will allow the students to build their content knowledge using technology, language arts, visual arts, performance arts as they explore their “want to knows” about a subject.

I am thankful that I can apply so much of the skills learned in this unit – to my Causes of the American Revolution unit – we have covered so much with Internet Workshops, Instructional level trade books, twin-text of fiction and non-fiction, Literature Circles – journal writing and shared reading – -I want to be able to use this when I am out there – -I think the only way to get comfortable with it all is to use it — I think I will start on a much smaller scale and proceed slowly…..can’t wait though!

Blackbeard I Poem by Lisa Hatfield

Blackbeard

By Lisa Hatfield

I am cunning, I am evil, I am merciless, and I deceive.

I approach as a countryman, as the faux rag descends, and delight in the horror my joli rouge impends.

I feel the thrill of excitement, like predator for prey, closing in on my victims not a care who I slay.

I am fearsome to look at, six feet tall plus some more, privateering for Britain, an outcome of Anne’s war.

I perfect my craft on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, I pillage, I plunder, I grow my fleet by the tens.

I am cunning, I am evil, I am merciless, I deceive.

I own the Caribbean seas up the coast to Virginia and collect wives and treasure for home in Carolina.

I extort tolls for the use of my Pamlico Sound, splitting spoils with the locals so they will stay off my ground.

I grow bored stealing treasures as sailors no longer fight, so I take Charleston until I get the cure for our plight.

I enjoy the fruits of my labor, from my beach house in Bath, my transgressions are pardoned, but there will be aftermath.

I crave adventure again this is my fatal mistake, I seal my fate with the determined enemy I make.

I am cunning, I am evil, I am merciless, I deceive.

I understand life is but a journey, I sense mine coming to a close, I gather up my people and celebrate with those.

I outmaneuver Maynard, and dry dock his boat, but underestimate his sly, this will cost me my throat.

I fail to believe he and his crew are not dead, but he’ll not be defeated in his quest for my head.

I perish like the legend I am, pierced through twenty times, but Maynard is the victor and I pay for my crimes.

I laugh, with a shrill, as I take my last guilty pleasure, my secret, to the grave, with the site of my treasure.

I am cunning, I am evil, I am merciless, and I deceive.

What? No Plank?

http://www.teachshole.com/blackbe1.jpg

Edward Teach by Lisa Hatfield

I am cunning and merciless
I wonder how this voyage will end
I hear the unsuspecting approach of my next victim
I see my treasure waiting
I want nothing more than a pirate’s life
I am cunning and merciless

I pretend tranquility only to deceive
I feel superior to prey and predator
I touch the core of terror in others
I worry not
I cry out demands
I am cunning and merciless

I understand life is but a journey
I say what is required, not more
I dream of fortune and betrayal
I try what I fancy
I hope for adventure
I am cunning and merciless