CWW Happy Memories

7B CWW McDowell 2014

Thank you for such a fun week at Desaru last week! I loved learning more about you, and about how we work together as a group. My favorite times were hanging out with you at the beach, and watching the synchronized swimming. You made me proud. xx

Back to School photos!

Click on this link to check out some great back-to-school photos.

Writing according to Avi (or, "What would Avi do?" WWAD)

Six Secrets to Good Writing One: Read, read, read. Reading is the key to good writing. The more you read, the better the writer you can be. You can never read too much. Two: Write! It's not written until it's on the paper. Story telling is a great art, but it is not story writing. Three: Write what you would enjoy reading. You'll have more fun, and it will be better. Four: Rewrite! No one ever writes anything well the first time. The first draft cannot be the last draft. (I rewrite my work fifty-sixty times—or more). Here's a tip: read your first draft, and if you think it's good, you are in trouble. But, if you read it and you see it's not that good, you are in great shape—to get going. The more you rewrite the better your writing will be. Five: Write for readers. Maybe you understand what you have written, but the writer's job is to have the reader understand it. Keep in mind: writers don't write writing, they write reading. Six: Listen. Read your work out loud (pencil in hand) and it will let you hear your own writing. It will almost improve itself. For more tips, read Avi's blog, “Thoughts on Writing.”

Avi's Advice for Writers

I've been reading a book about you recently

It's called Mindset, and it explains how people are divided by two mindsets: fixed and growth. A person with Fixed mindset accepts limits and failures (a bad grade, for example), avoids challenges and gives up easily. A person with growth mindset takes risks and tries to grow, even if he/she fails the first few times. Growth mindset finds lessons and inspirations in other people's success rather than feeling jealous or threatened.  Growth mindset sees everything as an opportunity and a challenge  (even a bad grade or a low MAP score). I see myself in both mindsets but I am inspired to let go of my safety anchors and take flight. Which one are you?  Imagine a future where you are not defined by a grade or a score or what other people's success. You are free to make mistakes,  learn from others, and keep moving forward!

A one minute video to explain the book, or a 45 minute video with the author explaining growth mindset at Young Minds 2013.

And one more for Hogwarts fans...

Imagine how awesome Disney princesses would have been if they'd gone to Hogwarts like Hermione and Ginny!  Disney sends those ladies back to school!

MUGGLES rejoice! Hogwarts is Here!

© 2005 Warner Bros. Ent. Harry Potter Publishing Rights J.K.R.

A group of intrepid Harry Potter fans have made my childhood wish come true, creating a website called Hogwarts Is Here, where you can take free, online classes in the same subjects studied by Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  Read this article for more information. 

Photos from our Poetry Week

Click on this link to see fabulous photos of our week with Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger
Poetry Week with Sara and Michael