Read in the Classroom

Our sixth graders' writings are always enlightening,
and this week was no exception.

One of my students had trouble writing about her topic, Hatsheput,
one of the first female pharaohs in Ancient Egypt.  

When asked (begged, really) for something important that she had learned about Hatsheput
 (who was a powerful woman known for commissioning impressive monuments, her success with trading and who mysteriously disappeared and was likely assassinated),
Lia supplied,

"She married her step-brother."

***

Budding writer, Annie, wrote an "entire" paragraph about Ramses the Great:

Ramses was one of most big builders in agent Egypt .He built the most cites  temples and tombs. .He had at least one hundred kids.Ramses was also one of the most awesome and one of most powerful .He ruled for 66 years, the second longest. All and all, he died.

Clearly, there is some work to be done on conclusions, among other things. 

What is it with kids and end punctuation these days?

***

From a journal entry about racism, 

a theme in the book Maniac McGee, which we are reading in literature class....

I don't feel that people who are a different color are different. 

They all act the same, and half of the people that are different colors are famous 

(football, baseball, basketball).

Yes, I am embarrassed, but cut her some slack; she's eleven,

and she lives in a rural, mostly-white community.

And yes, we do plan to enlighten her.

***

And finally, another journal gem, inspired by the topic, "Thank you notes".
(And no, for future reference--we do not grade these in front of the students.)

I think one lesson people should learn is to appreciate what you have. 

Big or small, a ton or a little. 

You've heard the saying, 

"One man's junk is another man's treasure!"

***

Get it? One man's "junk"? (I laughed so hard!!)


You'd think I was the one in sixth grade...