Student Writing

AWAKEN
by Aren K.
5th Grade, Room 21

I awaken to the sudden clattering noise of the window shutters and the rain slowly dripping down only to be joined with a puddle. I thought I would never fall asleep until I remembered the new day still yet to come and gently fell asleep.

“Should the school day be longer for American students?”

This question was the topic of discussion recently in Ms. Uhlig’s homeroom of 4th and 5th graders. The following are a few points of view on this question.

Point of View by Soghend M.

I think we should not have more school time, but teachers should make sure kids work with their parents for an hour a day or more.
Personally, I learn better with a parent. Some people think the opposite because they want kids to catch up with other countries. I do too, but I think if kids stay at school for more than six hours they will get tired and they won’t pay any attention.

Also I think kids need time with their families. I understand some parents need to work until 5:00 but they can still send their kids to Rec or drop their kids off at a friend’s house.

Now that you read my point of view I hope you will agree with keeping school days the same but working on math or subjects like that at home.


Point of View by Hodo A.

I want the school day to become eight hours.

Some kids don’t have anything to do at home so they could spend some time learning. This is important to me because I have nothing to do at home.

I also think we need more school time to have our specials more than 45 minutes. We don’t have enough time to finish some of our art, sports and music games in our short period.

This is another example for more school hours. Students need to get some of their homework done because not everybody has time to do their homework at home.

Now that you have read my view I hope you’ll agree that I want the school day to be more than 6 hours.

Point of View by Anthony C.

I suggest that kids got to school for six hours. My parents have gone to school for six hours and I want to keep school six hours.

For example, I need to let my dog outside to go to the bathroom and let her take a walk with me. I understand that right after school you can do pet care, but if we get out of school later than three o’clock I will be too tired.

I have a lot of sports to do. For instance, I play hockey. But you will have time to do hockey at four-thirty after school is over, I know but it will be dark after school, it is Maine we are not in Florida.

I think kids should go to school for six hours. I hope you consider my point of view.

Free Verse
Shared by Rm. 24
Mrs. Hamann and Mrs. Gross - 5th Graders

Snow Falling
by Collin L.

The snow is falling
on the trees that collect the flakes.
Everything looks like a
white alien world.
Light from windows
Illuminates the snow.

Snow People
by Nicole Q.

I go outside to get the paper for my dad . . .
I see all the snow and
my
mouth
drops
open
It feels like I’m in a snowglobe
with all the snow
f
a
l
l
i
n
g
then all my snow people come to life
they feel all excited
to play
in the newly
quilted snow.

Room 15 Breaths Poetry
Ms. VanSummern’s 3rd Grade Class

PERSONIFICATION
by Wyeth S. & Katie M.

Personification is when a writer makes some thing do what a human does. Personification is a wonderful thing. It can bring joy to people. It can bring more than joy to people; it can be wonder. Here are some examples from class writers:

The moon beckons day to come and stay.
~ Robert D.

The grass begs the stone to get off.
~ Nick A.

The moon sings the sun to sleep as darkness falls.
~ Peter M.

The grass shrugs off the dew as the sun comes up.
~ Wyeth S.

Time Lines & Immigrating
in the 3rd Grades of Rooms 13 & 15

In December, 2007, Ms. Van Summern and Mrs. Walsh’s classes worked on a magnificent project about when people immigrate to America. We made a 165 foot (approximately) timeline. Nick A. and Robbie D.measured the timeline and put it on a paper-tape that runs from 1500 A.D. to 2010 A.D. This tape starts at Room 13 and continues on the Teacher’s Room door.

There are 25 posters of pictures sharing historical events. We measured it by each foot representing 10 years. We then kept measuring from our classroom to the kindergarten doors. We figured that 1000 A.D. when the Vikings came would be at the computer lab. When the first people came to North America would be all the way passed the kindergarten doors and out by Brighton Avenue. Wow!

Pictures were also made for this timeline and one was for the year 1000, which is when the Vikings settled for a short time in New Foundland, Canada. There is a picture for the year of 1505 when the first African slaves were brought to the Americas by the Spaniards. Another picture on the timeline is for the year 1950 when the U. S. population was about 150 million people and there were only 48 states.

Ms. VanSummern’s class visited with Ms. Norling’s class to better understand what it might mean to immigrate to America. The students in Room 15 interviewed the students is Room 25 and here is a small sampling of what they found:

Pisey came from Cambodia in 2005. Her language is Khmer. Her favorite food from her homeland is Egg Rolls and her favorite food here is Spaghetti.

Shukri came from Somalia in 2005. His language is Somali. He like’s pizza from here and says that his country is never cold like it is here in Maine!

Submitted by Nicholas A., Robert D., Billale F. and Joseph H.

In Mrs. Walsh’s class students wrote journal entries based on characters they created. Our characters were people who immigrated to America from another country. The following are Journal Entry samples:

“April 11, 1982

It was foggy and a little cold. I will miss my aunt and uncle in London. We are going to take a big boat but we are in 3rd class. There are 1st class, 2nd class and 3 rd class. 1st class has the best rooms and food, 2nd class is okay and has decent food, and 3rd class has small rooms and not so good food. The boat was big so my two brothers Ben and Pete could play. Ben is 10 and Pete is 8. We were poor in London and our dad found a job in New York City. Our parents are waiting for us in New York City. Will there be friends? Well we’d better get some sleep.”

Journal Entry submitted by
Zander T.

“June 1, 2007

I just left Somalia, it was hard to say goodbye. I really miss my Uncle George, and I really miss our home in Somalia. I’m very worried about Uncle George. I’m really hoping he’s okay! I was also very scared about the war! I’m sure California is going to be great. Kelly, Kristie, Matt and Val are having fun. Me and Val are using our blankets and CD players to entertain Kristie and Kelly! Our cat keeps on scaring the lizard. I want to get a job in America to help Uncle George in Somalia. Dad really misses him too. I have a lot of money safe in my pocket, well . . . I’m rich. It’s cold on this plane; at least my sisters and brothers are warm in the blankets. We will take off in five minutes! Five more planes to go! At least they’re all short. I wonder if I will get a job on the first or second day in America or meet more friends like my old ones in Somalia? I hope so! Mom is crying - she told me she is okay - she just misses home. I wonder what people will think about me? I feel different! I hope my school members are nice to me. ”

Journal Entry submitted by
Mariah E.

Room 13 students also interviewed immigrants that we all know. Students met with Ms. Roland, Mrs. Darjazi, Avalinda, Mr. Kem, Mrs. Kem, Mrs. Ademi and various family members. They asked them questions about their own immigration experiences.