LOCAL MAN SLEEPS FOR TWENTY YEARS!

Local townsman, known as Rip Van Winkle, returns from the Kaatskill Mountains after 20 years of sleeping! Coming back at the age of 78, he wears shreds of clothes, quite out of state and style, his hair reaches the length of his knees! Old schoolmaster of the town, now in congress says, “I always wondered where that good for nothing, lazy chap had gone! He used to do nothing but lean against the trees over yonder. His slothful, lethargic dog returned a couple days after he disappeared but no one knew where Rip went!” Judith Gardenier, Van Winkle’s daughter says enthusiastically, “Ah, poor man! One day he was sitting in his ole’ rockin chair and the next he left to the mountains with his dog and gun. Some thought he shot himself, others were convinced he had been carried away by them Indians!” Now that Rip Van Winkle has returned, he tells us he has no memory of a war! He announced himself as a “poor, quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the king!” when he entered the countryside.

Does Anything Seem Different?

I've switched the site over to the new Blogger in Beta!

Supposedly it's better. It does seem like you don't keep having to refresh the screen like you did in the old version.

The new sign-in is the email address you see at the top of the page--rightws@yahoo.com

The password is the same.

One really cool thing about the new version is that you can put a label on each of your posts--you'll see when you "Create new post," down at the bottom it will say "Labels for this post." Put your pseudonym (name) WITHOUT your age in that box (just "Phantom," not Phantom11). Go back and edit your old posts and add that label to all your posts.

That way, your "name" will appear in the left-hand sidebar of the Edit Posts page, and when you click on it, only your posts will appear.

So go through and "label" all your old posts with your name!

Assignment 9

Pick one topic and write three different paragraphs on that same topic:

1) Descriptive. Describe the topic using good adjectives and adverbs. Appeal to the five senses.

2) Expository. Explain the topic giving facts and information.

3) Persuasive. Persuade your reader of a viewpoint related to the topic.


Keep each paragraph to FIVE sentences:

1st sentence: Introduction & main idea.
2nd, 3rd & 4th sentences: Three supporting details.
5th sentence: Conclusion.

Why Our Town Needs a Skateboarding Park by Phantom11 (8)

I think our town should make a skateboarding park. I've been waiting for a skateboarding park ever since I got my first skateboard. First of all, all the kids would go crazy because it would be wicked sweet! Every kid would be extremely happy. Also every parent would be happy because it would be so much closer than driving to another town. And don't you think your mom or dad would be in tears if you were run over by a car while you were skateboarding on the road because there's no skateboarding park? So if you get the chance to yell at the City Council because there's no skateboarding park, take it!

A Digital Camera From Santa care-bear11 (8)

A digital camera is on the top on my Christmas list. First, you can save pictures on the computer, put them online, and send them to your friends, and print as many copies as you want any time you want. Second, the memory card stores way more pictures than a regular roll of film, plus you only have to by it once. One memory card, one camera. And last but defiantly not least you don’t waste the pictures. If you take a bad one you can see that it’s bad and just delete it. Then you can keep trying until you get a good one. I would be so excited if this Christmas I had a digital camera waiting for me under the tree.

Laptops by Nirrok 10 ( 8 )

Laptops are the best. They are so cool because, you can connect to the internet any where. So if your depressed you are able to grocery shop online at peapod.com. For example you can even buy a whole Thanksgiving diner and have it delivered to your home. This means you are self-sufficient. Best of all you can sit back and enjoy some movies or listen to music (that you downloaded from the internet) after you eat your Thanksgiving diner. Laptops make it esay to run your life at your house.

Why I Need a Cell Phone by Pickle14 (8)

I have wanted a cell phone since I was able to memorize phone numbers but my dear mother has never given me an age at which I will be able to receive one. As I said, I always wanted one, but I never had a reason why I needed one. So I have now come up with three reasons why I need a cell phone.

If I’m out with my friends and I need to ask an important question, all I have to do is dial my parents’ number and ask! Simple and easy.

Another reason is if my parents are on their way to pick me up or they want to remind me to do something, they can just send me a quick text message (because of course they both have cell phones) that says “Do your chores” or “I’ll be there in ten minutes, be ready.”

The Last and Most Important Reason, if I get kidnapped and thrown into the trunk of a car, I can either call my parents or text message them if I need to be absolutely silent.


If you ask me, I think those are very good reasons. Now… mother?

Training for Life by Jockulater(8)

If theres one sport that teaches you the most about life, it's Football. Football trains your mind to sprint down the field when you're so tired that you can barely stand. Football also teaches you to use and build all of the muscles in your body, So you can play your part the best you can. But one of the best things it teaches, is friendship. The players that you play with become your friends for life. And maybe if they are a great bunch of guys then maybe someday you'll all change the world together. These are some of the reasons why the young men all who play football love this hard training sport.

Why I Need 3 More Airsoft Guns

One small note: Airsoft guns are plastic replicas of guns that use spring power to launch one or more spherical solid plastic pellets.

Why I need to stock up on three more Airsoft guns. One is that I can exceed the normal amount of guns my friends have, which is average 2-3 weapons. The amount that will allow me to exceed their amount is five. Another reason why is so that I have a choice of weapons. My last and yet most strongest reason is so that I have extras for one or more friends and also so that I have spares in case one or two of my weapons breaks. Overall, just why I need three more guns is so that I can do all the things I have said that are above.

Posted by To Heaven & Kingdom Come.

Assignment 8

Your assignment is to write a persuasive essay.

1) Introduction (1-3 sentences) in which you state the point that you wish to persuade or convince your readers of.
(For example: "Gameboys are bad" or "My parents should give me a cell phone.")

2) A strong reason. (1-3 sentences)

3) A stronger reason. (1-3 sentences)

4) Your strongest reason (1-3 sentences)

5) Conclusion (1-3 sentences)

6) Post it! (But also bring a hard copy to class Monday.)

We WILL meet next Monday, but there will be NO homework over Thanksgiving.

Phantom11, Pickle13, Jockulater13, Horizon11 and Horsefeathers10 need to turn in Assignment 6B on Monday...or you WILL have homework over Thanksgiving!!

BLAKE AVIATION SECURITY BOSS TOPPLES RUSSIAN ATTACK ON WASHINGTON

Paladin Blake, Chief and founder of Blake Aviation Security, after unwillingly flying out an "unfinished" false fighter plane prototype and "accidentally" stumbling into enemy territory, finds out that a person whom Mr. Blake called: "the Pale Man." Evidently, the person who was in charge of sending out the prototype was found guilty by Hollywood police of fraternizing with "the Pale Man", the "Pale Man" promised the Russian man a fleet of airplanes, guns, and zeppelins to his people. Evidence has been found about the other man (not "the Pale Man") has already given him the finished prototype. which Mr. Blake brought in after escaping enemy hands, into Hollywood's personal airport. After finding out in the arrested man's apartment and locker, discovered documents clearly displaying that there will be an attack on Washington. Paladin Blake decides to go after the enemy, again into the very same camp of the "Pale Man's" fleet. Disguised as a mechanic, he slips back into "the Pale Man's" zeppelin flagship, and after managing to pass as a pilot as well, after being put into formation along with the other renegades, falls out of formation and single-handedly begins to wreak havoc among the "Pale Man's" fleet, just over the Manhatton Headquarters of the Industrial States of America. Mr. Bake tells newspapers that "he began to target the "Pale Man's" zeppelin's ammo magzines, causing a chain reaction of explosions to rip apart the motors, sending it into it's "wingmate" zeppelin, destroying nearly half the armada. Blake's plane received a direct hit from an enemy plane, just as he attempting to reboard "the Pale Man's" flagship zeppelin. The "Pale Man" tries to knok him off the deck, but Paladin takes him down with him. The "Pale Man" tries to shoot him several times, but misses. Blake manages to knock his enemy unconscious, and after succeeding, he pulls the ripcord to release his parachute. Mr. Paladin Blake is now hailed as a hero for single-handedly stopping a Russian Communist attack that would have meant no more freedom for I.S.A.

From the thrilling Xbox game prequel, Crimson Skies.

Posted by To Heaven & Kingdom Come.

SCHOOLMASTER GOES MISSING by Jockulater13 (7)

Last night schoolmaster Ichabod Crane attended the Van Tassels’ full moon party. He was found absent this morning by his students, when he didn’t show up to teach them their lessons. His horse’s saddle and two trails were found. By the signs of the two trails, the horses started at a brisk pace and suddenly bolted off the path and towards the old bridge. A local farmer said “No doubt about it, the other horse was the raging headless horseman.” Apparently, this haunted horseman is unable to cross the old bridge. The case of poor Ichabod Crane is a very sad, mysterious tale. We can only hope that this haunted horseman will not take any more joyful lives.

FAMOUS EXPLORER SHOT IN CIBOLA by Phantom11 (7)

Last night, the great explorer Esteban passed away. A black man originally born in Spain, recently of Mexico City, Mexico, he was leading an expedition to find the legendary city of Cibola. Yesterday afternoon, he located this almighty and powerful city and heroically attacked it. After a memorable fight, he was captured by the Cibolans. They made an agreement and Esteban was released. As he was running to join his men, the Cibolans shot him in the heart with a bow and arrow. “This honest and wise man will be greatly missed,” said Chakoh, an Indian boy who was part of the expedition. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at the village of the Buffalo People. Frey Marcos will officiate.

NEW GIRL IN TOWN by horizon11 (7)

Yesterday, May 5, 1687 a new girl walked for her first time on Wethersfild, Connecticut. She got off and looked at her new home. I came to her and asked her some questions who was she, where did she come from, what did she think about Wethersfild, and and why did she come to Wethersfild. She didn't answer my questions, she just said that she was Kit Tyler and she was looking for her uncle Matthew Woods house. Later she said that she didn't much care for Wethersfile, that she came from Barbados, and she came because she was trying to get out of marring a 50 year old man that was a friend of her grandfathers who had just passed away and the only family in the world she had was the Woods. She loves her new family but thinks that it's hard to work with the new people and her new life.

Assignment 7 (3 parts)

1) Make sure you posted last week's assignment (6A). When you get a chance, leave praise/suggestions for others.

2) Take your rough draft of your essay on Kit/Witch of Blackbird Pond or Amos Fortune (Assignment 6B). Make any changes that were suggested to you by your partner on Friday. Have a parent look it over and make suggestions too. Have you fulfilled the assignment?

Prepare a final draft to TURN IN this Friday. Have a parent proofread it.

3) Pretend you are a newspaper reporter and choose an exciting story from your Sonlight reading to report on.

1) Think of a short, catchy headline.
2) Cover the "5 W's"--Who, What, When, Where and Why? You may also include How.
3) Use journalistic style--see example below.
4) Pretend you interviewed a character from the book. Include a quotation that they might have said.
5) End with a short statement that either sums up or points ahead.

Sample Story:

Right Writers Banish Wordiness

The Right Writers, a homeschooled writing class taught by the mother of two of the students, are on a campaign to eliminate wordiness from their writing. In class this Friday afternoon, the students agreed to use journalistic style for their next assignment. This style is characterized by direct, straightforward sentences. "There's no room for wordiness in this type of communication," their teacher, known as Mama Hen, stated. The students, who publish their work on a class website, use pseudonyms to protect their real-life identities. One of the students, known online as Pickle13, commented, "This new assignment will be an amazing challenge for me because I really am always tempted to use a lot of words when I probably don't really need to use that many." Another student, known as The Jockulator, stated, "I think my classmates are up to the challenge." The students' assignments are due next Friday.

Story Contest

Write a story and enter a contest!

Click here for the details.

Lacrosse by Jockulater13(6A)

I think lacrosse is one of the funnest sports you can play. It has all the funnest sports packed in to one, which makes an amazing challenge. One of the best parts in the game is the teamwork, all the players need to be close friends to achieve great things on the field. Another one of my favorite parts is the physical annihilation you give your opponents. But my absolute favorite is the skill of it all, you need to train yourself to be the very best player that you can possibly be, and then train some more. These are just some of the many reasons why I love the amazing sport of Lacrosse.

Christmas care-bear11 (6A)

Christmas is my favorite of all 365 days of the year. I wake up in the morning with a tingly feeling. My brothers, sisters, and I all wait on the stairs for my mom and dad to finish filling our stockings (which are so heavy that we can’t hang them up). When we hear Manheim Steamroller’s song “Deck the Halls” we race down the stairs. After stockings, we have our special Christmas breakfast and my parents give me a little sip of their bubbly champagne. Then, my favorite part, we open a mountain of colorful presents. The rest of the wonderful day we try on our new clothes, play with our new toys, and watch our new movies. I go to bed feeling sad that it will be a another whole year before Christmas will come again.

This summer events by Horsefeathers10 (6A)

Just this summer I went out to Boston Massachusetts to visit my relatives that live out there. The car on the way out there was packed with my grandpa, brother, two sweaty dogs and a lot of stuff. The first day I got there my cousins greeted me and my brother. Then my cousin told me her parents were getting a divorce. That night we went to my grandma and grandpa's house for dinner. The next week we were running through the forest and streams behind my cousin's house. Me and my cousin had been sent in the back to weed. We had not been out there long when we heard my nine year old cousin crying. Thinking he had got hurt we ran to see if he was alright. When we got tot the front of the house my seventeen year old cousin came up to us and told us that Sammy (their dog)
had got hit by a car and wasn't going to make it. My cousin and I stood for a moment and then she ran to her mom and crying brother. I ran to the road there I saw my big brother carrying the lifeless animal to the front lawn. Then everyone started to show up. My grandparents, my uncle, my uncles parents even the lady that hit him came to the little funeral.






Two days later me and my cousin went to camp. It seemed to cheer us up hanging out with all the other girls there. We stayed at camp for a week but three whole days we had to stay inside because of the rain. When we got back from camp we were just in time for dinner. A week later my dad, sister and two little brothers came out to my grandparents house. By the week my cousins and family were at my grandparents lake house in Maine. Me and my cousin were in the little house headed outside. On the front deck we saw a crowd of my grandpa, dad and two cousins. We tried to see what they were crowding around. Finely we found an opening. It was my older brother laying
on his back starring up at the circle of faces above him. "What happen" I asked. It was my older cousin who answered. "He was chopping wood and accidentally chopped of the tip of his thumb" she said. After that my brother couldn't put his hand in the water. For the three nights we were there all the kids slept in a tent outside while my grandparents, dad and two baby brothers slept in the lake house. The kids in the tent stayed up past midnight. Playing games or seeing who could say up the latest. That night when we got back to my grandparents house everyone was busy unloading the
car. The next morning me, my dad, sister, three brothers and two dogs jumped in the car and started the long car ride home.

BLUEBERRY BUCKLE by Nirrok10 (6A)

I love blueberry buckle. The first thing I do is turn the oven onto 350. Second I make sure I have all the ingredients. Then I mix it all together in the order the recipe book says to. Fourth I pour the batter into the pan. Then I put it in the oven and set the timer for 30 minuets. Then I wait and wait for what seems like forever. All of a sudden I hear the timer rining. I jump up and get the blueberry buckle out of the oven. I let it cool off a minuet then cut my self a big peice of blueberry buckle! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Theater by Pickle13 (6A)

Since I’ve joined theater, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and learning from the directors and choreographers. I never realized how much joy it could bring me to be able to act, sing, and dance as well as I can now. I love the feeling of acting in amusing, loud ways and knowing my songs and dances. Theater has made me realize that I can do so many things if I just try hard enough and practice. When I acted before I joined theater, I was quiet and I didn’t use the stage and I never was dramatic enough. Now however, I know to move around across the whole stage and say my lines loudly and make my motions big and dramaturgical. When I sing now, I project my voice across the theater so that everyone can hear me, and I open my throat so as not to sound so nasley. My dancing has improved a lot also. Instead of stomping around onstage like I used to, I practice making my dance moves smooth and big. All of the things I've learned from theater, have not only made me look and sound better but make me enjoy it more and not feel so insecure about myself.

White Water Rafting by horizon11 6A

White water rafting is something that we do every year. First there's a 5-7 hour drive up "yuck."
Then when we get there we put up our tent, have a good night sleep if it's not raining. We get up the next morning have a great breakfast, pile in the back of a pickup truck and go to get the rafts. We have a big group so it takes a long time to get everyone all ready. O.k. Time to get on the big school bus. All the seats are full. We get to the place where we want to start and pull the rafts in to the water and we're off. At first it's slow but it gets faster and faster I can see the first waterfall it looks really big. It's fast and fun but before I know it it's over. We have 5 waterfalls all together and there"s cliff jumping. Now we're up to the last waterfall it's really big and fast. I think that I'm going to get off but my dad says "stay in" so I do. I can see everything and then the fall it's breath taking, before I know it it's over like the other waterfalls. I can see the others are coming down. It's over now I cant wait for next year.

Skateboard Tricks by Phantom11 (6A)

Ever since I got my skateboard, I have watched other kids do tricks. When I hear my friends explain skateboarding moves, I'm eager to get home and try them out. Of the tricks I know, the "manual" is the easiest. You just tilt the front wheels up, keep on rolling and you're doing it. The only hard part is keeping the rear of your skateboard from touching the ground. The "Chevy turn" is a little harder. You stand still in the manual position, and then you do a 180 turn. I think the "ollie" is the hardest. You tip back, move your foot forward so that the rear flips up and both wheels are in the air, and you land on the front wheels first, then all four. Now you know three challenging skateboarding tricks. Have fun practicing!