As we are coming up to a SCARY event this week, I thought I would use this picture of myself from a few years ago to TERRIFY you, and get you into the right mindset for your weekly blog writing.  This week you have a choice of what to write about.  Using PROPER PARAGRAPH form, you can either write from the perspective of a child going through a very scary haunted house for the first time, or, you can describe the scariest costume you can imagine.  The goal for this is for you to practice your descriptive writing and using different, powerful adjectives that will help you TERRIFY your reader.  Transport them to the haunted house, or create the costume in the mind so they quake with fear.  Good Luck! MWAH-AH-AH!

Isn't it crazy how life seems to just fly by.  I find myself getting so caught up in the day to day life living that it can be hard to see the big picture, to see that which really matters.  I found it really motivating to read how thankful you all were, and that you are seeing that big picture in your day to day life.  This week, I want you to spend some more time thinking about that BIG picture idea and what it means in your life to be successful.  We've written our goals, and we've thought about what we want to focus on.  Now, to get better, let's think about how to fail.  In the comments below, write down a paragraph (proper paragraph format!!!) that speaks to how you've learned through a failure in your life. This should be written in the past tense (as it's talking about something that has already happened). Think about a proper retell (descriptive writing, hooking the reader, etc.) when you're writing about this event. 

As we head towards this Thanksgiving weekend, it seems a fitting time to reflect on all we have.  We always hear how lucky we are, how great we have, how things are so awesome for us, but we don't always feel that way.  This week, I want you to think about what is it that you have?  What sort of things make you so lucky?  Even though life isn't always easy (it's definitely not), we are very blessed. Take some time to think about what matters most in your life, what people do you have, who supports you, what sort of things are you thankful for.  In your posted comments (below) write down 3-5 things (or people) that you feel extremely thankful for.  Make sure you write a reason for each of your ideas.  I have written out two things I am thankful for as an example for you.  

1. I am thankful for my family, for Jacey, Vera, and my extended family.  I feel so blessed to have a healthy family, a happy baby, and their love and support.  It means so much to me to know that when I'm feeling down, up or anyway in between I can talk to anyone in my family and that they'll listen.
2. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a teacher at River Oaks.  I love my job and I feel grateful that I have the opportunity to teach at an amazing school like River Oaks.  I am thankful for all the chances I get to share and glean knowledge from my students, the staff, admin, and the parent community.  River Oaks is such an amazing community and I'm thankful that I get to work here.  

Please post your 3-5 ideas below in the comments.

Isn't it amazing how our brains work?  They can focus so strongly on one thing that other things can slip by unnoticed.  The question then becomes, what is your brain focussing on?  When you're at school, at home, sports, drama, or other activities, are you able to give your full focus to that activity?  Sometimes, our brain is so full and cluttered with other things that we don't focus on the things that really matter.  In the comments below, I want you to write a plan for yourself that is going to help you focus on what really matters.  Write down 3 things that really matter to you and how you're going to try to give them the focus they need.