So You Want to be a Writer
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*NEW* TBI Traumatic Brain Injury - A Living Nightmare
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Mike and David
Learning to Walk Again
Summer 2005
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David and Mary Anne
Working on Balance
Summer 2005
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What a Team!
David’s Physical Therapists, Michael Stevens and Mary Ann Kramer-Urner shared their plan of treatment for David and demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, a strong work ethic, and upbeat personalities. Their constant assessment of David’s needs was commendable. |
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*NEW* Strange Happenings
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 | Blue Ice Jewel
from Germany |
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Blue Ice
Jewel |
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Diamond
Jewel |
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Diamond
Jewel |
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So some weeks passed and I finally got up the nerve to change my starter bead to a blue ice gem. I wanted my gem to match Monique's . . . well almost. Hers is clear like a diamond, while mine is blue ice.. Monique searched the web and ordered mine from Germany. I couldn't wait until it arrived.
Off to the pirecers again for the change. I did not have enough courage to try to change it myself. |
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*NEW* WIND RIVER Prokaryotic Biology
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| What fun it was to see caribou, whole herds of them, walk right onto the grounds of the Aspen Lodge, Welcome to http://www.aspenlodge.net/ where we were guests. They are so big. I heard that there are bear in |
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*NEW* Treska Trivia - A Slice of Life
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RIDING the SUBWAY and a PEEK into CHINATOWN |
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Home
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| Donna is proud to note that she was nominated for and included in the 2000 edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers . This was a great honor since the nomination was from a former 1st grade student who was a High School senior at the time of the nomination. Since this first honor, Donna has also been nominated and included in both the 2004 and the 2006 editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. |
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Fotos of Phrends
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LILLIAN ELLIOTT
May 2006
Lillian and I have been friends since her daughter, *Cathy, was in my 3rd grade class so many years ago. I was performing the play, Charlotte's Web with my class and I cast Cathy as Fern's mother, Mrs. Arable. Cathy seemed comfortable with the part.
But, Lillian came to me after school that afternoon with a very worried expression. I thought she was unhappy with the role in which I had cast Cathy. She assured me she that she wasn't, but she was concerned about Cathy's costume in the play.  I told her I would like her to wear a farm-type dress. Lillian's face became even more worried. Then she just blurt it out. She told me that Cathy was very upset because she did not want to wear a dress. I told Lillian not to worry; I can be pretty convincing. She said I could try, but she doubted that I would be successful. She said that Cathy never wears dresses and can be very stubborn about it. I told her not to worry. If I could not persuade Cathy to wear a dress, she could wear overalls. Lillian's face visibly relaxed and though I did my best to convince Cathy, I failed and Cathy made a wonderful Mrs. Arable in overalls.
Lillian also played an important part in my life when I became very ill in the mid 1990s. By then, Lillian was a secretary at my school. When I was finally out of the danger zone, but needed to be hospitalized for months, Lillian carted my children's journals home (and any other work that I needed to see). Then my husband, David, picked everything up and brought it to the hospital to me and returned everything, including my plans, to Lillian the next morning.
Lillian kept calling David her boyfriend -- she still does. So when I couldn't go to the Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera with David, my father, and my stepsister, Renee, I begged Lillian to go with them. It took a lot of begging, but like a good friend, she gave in, went, and had a great time. That's what friends are for!
*(Cathy is now all grown up, a beautiful young woman, and a Physical Education Teacher -- somewhere in middle New Jersey.)
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On Teaching
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STUDENT TEACHERS: A New Generation
I already said that I love to teach, but I love to take it a step
further and teach students to be teachers. I’ve had student teachers
from William Paterson University, Felician College, St Thomas Aquinas
College, Montclair State University, Stockton College, and two students from St. Peter’s
College. I love to be able to share ideas and talk education with my student teachers.
It’s fun to discuss the children’s progress and their funny antics with them.
It’s exciting to know that some of my teaching philosophy and my
creative ideas may someday emerge into the classrooms of my students.
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Meet Saran Sinnette. 
Saran did her student teaching in my classroom from September 2007 until May 2008. She did both her Clinical 1 and her Clinical 2 coursework with me. So we have been hanging out with each other for a long time. It's fun to watch her grow into a "real" teacher. She was a Montclair University student.
Here we are being a little crazy on wacky hair day. It just gave us another excuse to have fun in the classroom.
This is Ellen Ptalis.
 Ellen is Saran's mentor teacher
from Montclair University.
She visited Saran in my classroom six times.
It's Ellen's job to observe Saran's teaching and offer suggestions.
She wants to make Saran the best teacher she can be.
Just as I do.
What a team!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is Denise Lynch. She's a student teacher in my classroom now. She started in January of 2007 and will be with us until May. It didn't take her long to fit right in.  Seems like she's been with us forever. It's really only a week!
I'm glad she is with us.
 It's funny! I didn't know Denise a few weeks ago -- but, yet, I did. Well . . . I didn't know her as an adult. BUT, I held Denise when she was a baby - more than 20 years ago. She doesn't remember, and I barely do.
Denise's father, Patrick, and my husband, David, played softball on the same team. Denise's brother, PJ, and her mother, Donna, were always at the field to cheer on Patrick. I was there, too, with my son, Jared, and my daughter, Kiersten. We urged David to catch those fly balls.
We got to know the Lynch's pretty well. So, when Denise was born, we were invited to her christening.
Now, Denise is all grown up. And, by some strange coincidence, she was assigned to my classroom to do her student teaching.
She is soon to graduate from my alma mater
William Paterson University in May.
Here, Denise is reading a book to the children,
called Don't Squeal, Unless It's a Big Deal.
It's a fun book reminding children to not tattletale. Then Denise tried her hand at Book Trivia. You can see some of the questions on the easel.
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Dana Buzzelli joined my class in September 2006. She is a student teacher from Felician College.
Dana comes once a week to work with the children.
She has taught lessons on writing
and on magnets.
The kids really have fun with the magnets.
It's almost -
like magic.
Here's Dana preparing to teach magnetic force
and
strength.
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Dana listens to the children read in reading groups and plays flash card games with them . . . like
Word-A-Day
and
Word Flash.
Who said First Grade wasn't fun?
Dana's
student teaching assignment, in January,
will be
in a Special Education
class
before she walks down the aisle
to
collect her diploma
and her
teaching credential
in June.
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Lauren DePreta was a student
at
Montclair State University.
She did her Clinical 1 requirements in my
First Grade class
from
February to May of 2006.
This is the semester
before 
Student Teaching
. . . the time
when
students get to
observe classroom routines
and methods of teaching,
and to start to take part
in the
teaching.
Lauren came
twice a week
and
was teaching small reading groups.
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Cindy Martinez was a student teacher in my class
from September to December of 2003.
She graduated from Montclair State University.
Cindy worked in all phases
of the classroom preparing
for the day that she would have her very own room.
She did lessons in Math on patterning
and in Social Studies
she addressed the Drug Awareness Unit.
Here's Cindy passing out
another sticker.
The kids just love to get
stickers
and
add
them
to their
sticker collection book. |
And so my classroom turns into a laboratory where student teachers can study and learn about early childhood behavior. They can practice their own teaching skills and develop their own methods; they can absorb new ideas, use new techniques, try out management skills, while still having the safety net of a mentor teacher to rely on.
I look forward to all new students who will pass through my classroom for the last phase of their teacher preparation. They are just one step away from having their own classrooms. And, then I wish them very well and hope they have as much fun in their classroom as I have in mine.
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
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Teacher/Book Reviewer
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Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea
Written by Greg Mortenson
Illustrated by Susan L. Roth
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
ISBN: 0803730586
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by Donna O'Donnell Figurski
If folks took time to listen to the wind, imagine what they might hear. When Haji Ali told Greg Mortenson to listen to the wind, Greg was confused. All he wanted to do was help the people of Korphe. After all they helped to heal him when he stumbled off the mountain he was climbing in northeastern Pakistan into their tiny village. Greg didn’t understand how listening to wind could help them. But, he took Haji Ali’s advice anyway and soon he heard the voices of young children.
Greg knew the children of Korphe had no school. Korphe was a small village and could not afford a school or to pay a teacher full time. A teacher came to their village only three times a week.
The children studied outside, under the trees and used sticks to write in the dirt. Hearing the happy, learning voices of the children on the wind gave Greg an idea.
He vowed to build a school for the children of Korphe.
For me, sitting in the canyon surrounded by the Taos, New Mexico mountains and watching clouds flit through the blue sky, the wind brings the sound of swishing leaves, chirping crickets and the hum and the buzz of hummingbirds. I hear the footfalls of my granddaughter as she runs through the gravel - destination unknown. As I sit quietly, I wonder if I truly take the time to listen to the wind what messages it might bring to me.
Many times our busy lives … grocery shopping, carpools, doctor appointments, and everyday errands stop us from appreciating the simple things in life. The shape of a cloud, the smell of a sunflower, the erratic behavior of a lizard can all bring such joy, but too often we don’t even notice them. Haji Ali’s idea was a good one and I’m going to try to do as Greg did. No, I am not going to build fifty-seven schools, but I am going to listen to the wind. Who knows what it may bring!
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“There once was a poor village,” said Daisy.
“Korphe,” said Caden, “… in the mountains of Pakistan.”
“A stranger came,” said Juliana.
“He was cold and thirsty,” said Caden.
“He was sick,” explained Daisy.
“The villagers gave him tea. He was from America,” said Juliana.
“Dr. Greg,” said Tala wanting to tell his name. “He climbed a mountain and almost died - but he didn’t.”
“He looked very, very sick,” said Lucy. “So the people helped him to get better.”
“After he got stronger, he wanted to help the people of Korphe,” said Caden.
“He asked what he could do for them,” said Tala.
Juliana nodded. “He wanted to pay them,” she said.
“Greg found a man named Haji Ali,” said Diego. “Haji Ali said, “Listen to the wind.”
“At first Greg didn’t understand what Haji Ali meant,” said Mikaela.
“Dr. Greg thought Haji Ali was crazy,” said Juliana with a giggle. “But he did listen to the wind.”
“He closed his eyes,” explained Tala.
“Then Greg heard children,” said Diego.
“There were a lot of kids in Korphe,” said Abby.
“And there was no school there,” said Juliana.
“Korphe needed a school,” exclaimed Lucy.
“Before the school was built,” said Abby, “Children learned by drawing in the dirt.”
Lucy nodded. “They used dirt as paper and sticks as pencils,” she said.
“Can you imagine writing on the ground?” asked Brayden. “It wasn’t fair for the Pakistan kids because they could only learn a little each day. We have five days of school, so we have more time for education,” he added
Lucy’s eyes widened. “It’s a true story!” she said.
“But I can’t believe that the teacher only stayed there for three days a week,” said Brayden.
“I don’t think it was the teacher’s fault,” said Mikaela. “I don’t think it was anybody’s fault. They didn’t have enough money to pay the teacher,” she explained.
“So Dr. Greg went back to America to get tools,” said Juliana.
“And he came with loads of wood,” said Abby.
“Then all the kids helped him to make the school,” said Lucy.
“He built the school for the children to learn,” said Abby.
“It was generous of Dr. Greg to build a school for the people of Korphe. He knew how they felt without a school,” said Lucy.
“If I were a kid in Pakistan and I was writing in the dirt, I would be sad not to have my own school to learn in,” said Callie.
“It would be a really hard way to learn,” interrupted Mikaela.
“… And I really like to learn,” said Callie.
“But now they have a new school and they have paper and pencils,” said Mikaela. “So they can learn much more.”
“Dr. Greg made more than fifty-seven schools,” announced Juliana.
“Can you believe that?” asked Brayden. “That’s amazing – isn’t it?”
“Greg is a person who really cared about the people,” said Mikaela.
Tala agreed. “I think that Greg was really helpful to the Pakistan people,” she said.
“Greg helped all of those people,” said Juliana. “I think the lesson of this story is to be thankful for what you have,” she added.
Abby nodded. “The children in Korphe were really lucky that Greg was climbing a mountain that day.”
TEACHER TALK
It’s Just a Penny: Social Studies/Math
What is a penny worth? Not much in today’s standards unless you live in a country like Pakistan. Then a penny can buy a pencil. A collection of pennies can pay a teacher’s wages. Pennies can provide education for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dr. Greg Mortenson began a program called Pennies for Peace. He wanted to help children in Central Asia. Some schools in the United States heard of Dr. Mortenson’s project and they wanted to help. You can help too.
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Read and discuss Listen to the Wind with your class.
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Tell them about the Pennies for Peace Program.
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Have children brainstorm how they could earn pennies to donate to the children of Central Asia. (earn money doing chores around the house – setting table, take out trash, baby-sit)
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Be sure to send home a letter to parents to explain why the children will be attempting to earn money (or breaking into their piggy banks).
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Then put out a big jug in the classroom and start collecting.
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When all pennies are collected, have children count the coins in groups of ten. Then have them make groups of fifty. Next roll the pennies into penny wrappers before taking them to the bank to trade for bills.
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Write a class letter about what activities the children engaged in to help earn money for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Send the donation and the letter to Dr. Mortenson at the Pennies for Peace organization.
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Feel good about helping children less fortunate than you.
Dream On: Language Arts
Most people have dreams. They want to help the homeless, find a cure for cancer, or lose five extra pounds. Some may wish to walk on the moon, win an Academy Award, or write a best selling novel. Others may want to get married, have children, and live happily ever after. All are good dreams. All are goals to obtain. Some are harder than others. Greg Mortenson had a dream. He wanted to build a school for the children of Korphe. It was a huge dream. It seemed near impossible, but he put his mind to it and he made it happen.
Most of the time we turn our backs on our dreams because they seem hard and unattainable. But step-by-step and with fortitude, patience, and persistence most dreams can be found.
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After reading and discussing Listen to the Wind with your class ask the children to identify Greg’s dream.
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Then have them name all the problems that Greg encountered while trying to build a school.
Examples:
No money
No lumber, tool, or building supplies
Had to build a bridge to bring building supplies to Korphe
People had to carry the lumber across the bridge
- Next have children work in small groups to dream up dreams. They can be real or hypothetical. (get an A on the spelling test; hike across America}
- Have each group make a plan explaining how it can accomplish its dream.
- Have the children plot their ideas on paper.
- Give each group time to share their plan with the class.
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
Pennies for Peace
NEA - Students Build Schools for Kids in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Listen to the Wind 2 Minute Statement by Greg Mortenson
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan written by Jeanette Winter
Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan written by Tony O'Brien and Mike Sullivan; photographs by Tony O'Brien
P Is for Pakistan written by Shazia Razzak; photographs by Prodeepta Das
Nadia's Hands written by Karen English; illustrated by Jonathan Weiner
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My Writing Life
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| PHILOSOPHICAL BOOKS on WRITING |
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On Teaching
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RESOURCE LIBRARY
Educational trends come and go and terminology changes with each passing year. The "buzz" words of today are ancient history by tomorrow. For as we know, the pendulum in education is in constant motion. But what it boils down to is teaching and reaching kids. Do it! Do it anyway you know how . . . but make certain that you do it.
Early in my teaching career, I was very fortunate to become involved with the Writing Project at Teacher's College, Columbia University in New York City. The lessons I learned from those very dedicated teachers were invaluable and they continue to influence my teaching . . . every day.
The following list of books were written by my teachers.
Lessons From A Child by Lucy McCormick Calkins
The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy McCormick Calkins
Living Between the Lines by Lucy McCormick Calkins with Shelley Harwayne
Raising Lifelong Learners by Lucy McCormick Calkins with Lydia Bellino
Lasting Impressions - Weaving Literature into the Writing Workshop by Shelley Harwayne
The next set of books was also written by my teachers, although a little more indirectly. Each of the following authors were guest speakers at Teacher's College, Columbia University on many occasions.
Children's Literature in the Reading Program by Bernice E. Cullinan
Report Card on the Basal Readers by Kenneth S. Goodman, Patrick Shannon, Yvonne S. Freeman, Sharon Murphy
Breaking Ground: Teachers Relate Reading and Writing in the Elementary School by Donald H. Graves
Writing: Teachers and Children at Work by Donald H. Graves
Build A Literate Classroom by Donald H. Graves
Write From the Start - Tapping your Child's Natural Writing Ability by Donald H. Graves
When Writers Read by Jane Hansen
Language Stories and Literacy Lessons by Jerome C. Harste, Virginia A. Woodward, Carolyn L. Burke
The Foundations of Literature by Don Holdaway
Expecting the Unexpected by Donald M. Murray
Life in a Crowded Place - Making a Learning Community by Ralph Peterson
Grand Conversations - Literature Groups in Action by Ralph Peterson, Maryann Eeds
Transitions by Regie Routman
Invitations - Changing as Teachers and Learners by Regie Routman
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My Family Album
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 | THE DAVID & DONNA FIGURSKI FAMILY
In Order of Appearance
David, Donna, Kiersten, Jared
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| Because we live so far away from each other, we rarely get together. So when we do, they are treasured memories. This memory was courtesy of my niece, Maureen, who married her friend, Rob, in Phoenix, Arizona. |
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Student Memories
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The day began normally...at least as normal as any day in a first grade classroom. Children emptied backpacks. Jackets and sweaters were hung in the coatroom. A low buzz filled the room as the children set about writing in their journals. Attendance was nearly complete when suddenly a muffled voice was heard...a single note, "La." Several children raised their heads from their journals and quickly looked around, but soon lost interest. "La" and a slightly higher "La, La!" followed. I looked up. More children noticed and stared at me awaiting my reaction. I pretended not to hear. They glanced at each other and snickered, but quickly returned to their tasks. I glanced around the room. One seat was empty. "La, La, La, La, La, Laaaaa" rose to the highest range of the scale and then quickly decended to a very low and heavy "LAAAAAA." Every child burst into giggles. The sound escaped from behind the bathroom door. The voice suddenly rang out as if in encore, which put us all in stitches. We doubled over and grasped our sides. Our laughter mingled together and we were drowned out by the bathroom opera singer. Silently, I motioned for the children to be still. Once quieted, I whispered that if we kept silent we would be entertained with more arias. Our opera singer didn't disappoint us. Our silence made him more energetic and he began to experiment with a variety of sounds. It took every bit of control to be quiet and we giggled with our hands clasped over our mouths to trap our sounds within. Titters could be heard throughout the room as sounds escaped from between fingers. Suddenly the toilet flushed, the tap water rushed, the light switch flicked and the bathroom door opened to the astonished face of Alex. As he greeted his waiting audience the children burst into uncontrollable laughter and hooted and howled their pleasure. Alex stood in the doorway looking rather chagrinned at first. His face was scrunched up with a mixture of surprise, a bit of shyness, and a whole lot of pride as he realized the applause and attention was solely for him. His sheepish grin and gleeming eyes met mine and I nodded to the front of the room. I suggested an encore and Alex gladly accepted. He moved center-stage and ran through his repetoire of notes as we all once more grabbed for our sides. When finally we regained control I suggested that we all get busy with our day.
I silently wondered what would be next. That afternoon, Alex, my lanky, shy, Alex whispered to me that he knew all along that we were listening to him in the batroom and that was why he was doing it. Earlier I had thought that maybe I was nurturing a future opera star right there in my bathroom. Now I wonder if a comediene wasn't born that morning. |
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KINDLING WORDS: the RETREAT 2005
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?OLE! Mexico ?OLE!
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| OIC NEH ETC GRADUATING CLASS of the SUMMER of 2004 |
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*NEW* TBI Traumatic Brain Injury - A Living Nightmare
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Speech Pathologist, Gillian Bower’s gentle ways and her knowledge will contribute to David's recovery.
When Gillian Bower and Terryn Davis needed to leave for personal reasons a few days earlier, John Benich and Mike Seagraves, respectively, stepped in and made the transition quick and easy.
All of David’s therapists were very professional and knowledgeable in his or her area of expertise and we are very grateful to each of them for their dedication and for making our time in California an easier one and a memorable one for all the laughter.
I don't want to forget Mona Robertson who worked in the office and was my first friendly contact at Domincan Hospital. We had so many wonderful talks. She was never too busy to stop her typing fingers, well, I bet she was busy, but she stopped them anyway, to help me with so many little/big problems and, to just talk. Our first talk was when I was driving on the Cross Bronx Expressway (with my earphone in, of course) from the JFK airport -- a tricky drive in the best of times. I hate driving New York. Our talks in her office were much more sane and comforting.
Also, I have to mention Rodger. I said my hellos to him every day.
(Sorry - no pictures here. I had them, but my camera lost them. Notice, I blamed my camera because I would never have done such a thing.)
If I've forgotten anyone, I sincerely apologize. I truly believe you are all wonderful. |
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*NEW* Strange Happenings
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STRANGEST YET!
TATTOO?? You've Got To Be Kidding!
It's just a little hummmingbird.
http://abkldesigns.com
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*NEW* WIND RIVER Prokaryotic Biology
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 | Aspen Lodge
Trish and Uldis' Cabin
Dining Hall to the right |
| |  | Aspen Lodge
Cabins |
| |  | an overview of
Aspen Lodge |
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 | This was my deck and
where I watched the caribou. |
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A small group tonight.
One night I saw a herd of about 12
right from my deck. |
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*NEW* Treska Trivia - A Slice of Life
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 | Treska in Chinatown
at Canal Street
Subway Station |
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going Uptown |
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Riding the "A" Train |
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| We only had a half hour, so Treska and I jumped off of the train and dashed around Canal Street -- in and out of all the little store-fronts. A half hour is just enough time to find matching rings . . . a good reminder of all of our wonderful memories of the weeks she spent with me and her grandfather in NJ/NY. |
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Home
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| Donna is currently working on a number of picture books including, Teacher's Pet, Kanona Prattsby, and “Tie Your Shoes, Miss Tress.” |
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Teacher/Book Reviewer
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That Cat Can’t Stay
Written by Thad Krasnesky
Illustrated by David Parkins
Publisher: Flashlight Press
ISBN: 0979974658
Ages: 5 to 7
Review and Lessons Plans by Donna O'Donnell Figurski
I can totally understand the father in That Cat Can’t Stay. That would be my view too. I am not a cat lover. I do admit, however, that the cats were cute … on paper … within the confines of the pages of this book, but no cats for me … thank you. No dogs for that matter either or rabbits or mice or birds. Well, I did have a bird when I was a child and a turtle, too, but those days are over.
I admired Mom’s wily and crafty ways as she perfected her skill of wrapping Dad around her finger. That mom tugged on his heartstrings. How could Dad possible put a cat out in the rain? And that poor calico – it was going to starve to death, wasn’t it? Surely, Dad couldn’t send it to the hereafter on an empty stomach. And anyone would help a cat that was hit by a car … like the ginger kitty was. Even I would do that.
So what was Dad supposed to do? Of course, he did what any good dad would … he allowed the cats to stay until the rain stopped, until the kitty was properly fed, and until ginger kitty’s leg mended. That Mom … she was a clever one! She sure was! She knew what she was doing. And those cats just stayed and stayed and stayed even though they scratched Dad’s knees, carried fleas, and ate his cheese. Poor Dad!
Thad Krasnesky and David Parkins team up to make a very funny book, which will have children cheering Mom on. Kids will have fun joining in on the repetitive, rhyming parts, too. And they just might learn a little about using reverse psychology … on their own parents.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“There’s a family and Mom found a cat,” said Tala.
“It was a broken cat,” said Caden.
“Then she found one cat in the rain,” said Daisy.
“And Dad said, ‘Well, we’ll let that cat stay, but not for long,’” explained Juliana.
“Mom was bringing cats back every single day,” said Caden.
“But Dad did not like cats,” said Abby.
“They carry fleas,” said Caden sticking up for Dad.
“And they scratch his knees,” explained Brayden.
Juliana nodded. “Dad probably got hurt from cats,” she said. “Then Mom would rescue another cat and Dad would say, ‘That cat can’t stay, but Mom brought the cat home anyway,’” said Juliana.
“Maybe she just took the cats because she had no one to talk to,” said Lucy.
Callie shook her head. “What Mom really wanted was to have a cat – lots of them,” said Callie. “But I bet she was just making Dad crazy for all the cats she was finding and saving,” she added with a giggle.
“Dad always said, “Well, we’ll let that cat stay, but not for long,” said Juliana.
“But … Dad, said, “Well!” said Diego as he drew out the word to sound like this, w-e-e-e-e-l-l-l. (And then the cats always stayed.)
“Mom was trying to trick Dad to keep the cats – as many as she could find. She would give him a reason so she could keep the cat, but he said, ‘No’ and she still kept them,” said Tala.
Brayden nodded, “Mom got all the cats by using psychology,” he said.
“Reverse psychology,” proclaimed Daisy.
“Reverse Psychology is like … you can trick someone,” said Tala.
“To get what you want,” said Juliana. “There was a lot of reverse psychology in this book.”
“I think the Mom was pretty smart,” said Mikaela. “She kept going with what the father said so he would feel guilty and then she could keep the cat,” she explained.
“Mom was trying to convince Dad,” said Lucy.
Caden shook his head. “But Dad wants the cats outside,” he said.
“I like how the mother uses reverse psychology to get what she wants,” said Juliana. “The mother is really, really good at doing that.”
“I wish my mom would do reverse psychology … on my dad,” said Lucy with a smile and a giggle.
TEACHER TALK
A Cat Is: Language Arts/Science
Cats are cute. They can be loving and mysterious. Their fur, soft and downy, makes you want to tickle them. They can be sneaky, too, and pesky; and they are definitely finicky eaters. There are so many words to describe cats. Make an A to Z list with your class to list all the words they can think of to describe them. I’ve listed a lot below to help you. (Sorry, I couldn’t think of descriptions that begin with X. If you think of any, let me know.)
A active, affectionate, alert, athletic, almond-shaped eyes,
B black, brown, bushy-tailed,
C calm, curly hair, curious, cuddly, claws
D domestic, downy-coat
E ears, energetic, even-tempered, eyes, easy-going,
F furry, friendly, fluffy, feline, fussy, finicky
G green-eyed, glossy, golden, gentle, graceful,
H hardy,
I inquisitive, independent
J jumpy
K kitten
L long-haired, lively, loving, litter box, lazy
M mellow, mysterious, meow
N nervous
O orange eyes,
P playful, plush, proud, purr, pets, pesky, picky
Q quiet, queenly
R ruddy, racy, restless
S soft, spotted, short-haired, scary, silky, sleek, sweet, slinky, sneaky
T tail, temperament, tan, tufted ears, tufted toes,
U ugly, upbeat
V velvety
W wild, whiskers, white,
X
Y yellow, yawning
Z zesty, zippy, zappy, zany
Name a Cat: Language Arts/Writing/Science
First have children name as many cats as they can think of. Start with the ones from the book That Cat Can’t Stay. List them on a chart.
Ex.:
Calico
Ginger
Tabby
Add others.
Ex.:
Persian
Siamese
Main Coon
Himalayan
Manx
Burmese
Then have the children use the list from the lesson above to construct Acrostic Poems. Acrostic poems use each letter in the topic word as the beginning letter of a new word to describe the topic. See examples below.
Use this site for more information on writing acrostic poems.
Acrostics for Children
C ats can be
A thletic
L oveable,
I nquisitive, and
C ute with
O range eyes
C ats are
A ffectionate and
L ively. They can be
I ndependent and
C uddly and sometimes
O rnery
P layful
E nergetic
R are
S hort-haired
I nquisitive
A ffectionate
N ervous
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
CFA: For Kids About Cats
Math Cats
Cats and Kids
FUN SITE for CAT NAMES
Cat Breed Descriptions
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
I Always, ALWAYS Get My Way written by Thad Krasnesky; illustrated by David Parkins
Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! written by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter; illustrated by Steve James
How Many Cats? written by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Robin Eley
The Best Cat written and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
If You Give a Cat a Cupcake written and illustrated by Laura Numeroff
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My Writing Life
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Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Wild Mind Living the Writer's Life by Natalie Goldberg
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
Women Writers at Work edited by George Plimpton
If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brand
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My Family Album
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| |  | | My beautiful daughter, Kiersten and her husband, Falko. |
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Kiersten went to Bard College in Annandale-on-the-Hudson in New York State, where she did her senior thesis in German Women's Studies. During the summer between her junior and senior year at Bard, she studied in Germany at the University of Heidelberg and developed a great love of the European culture. So it was no surprise when after graduation, with a grant from the DAAD, Kiersten headed directly to Germany. And it's a good thing she did, too. There she met Falko . . . and the rest is history. They are now happily married with two beautiful daughters.
Kiersten lived in Germany for almost eight years. Four of those years were spent in Leipzig, Falko's hometown. Then, with their daughters in tow, they packed up and trekked across the ocean, and across this wide land to New Mexico. Kiersten had a burning desire to become a midwife. She began her training in Germany in 1998 and finished in Taos, New Mexico at the National College of Midwifery and the Women's Health and Birth Center. She graduated with an Associate of Science in Midwifery (ASM) and became licensed as a CPM and LM in 2002. She is now a home-birth midwife and is "catching" lots and lots of babies. She loves every minute of it . . . even the middle of the night phone calls and the long, unending hours.
Falko, who was the layout editor for The BILD, Germany's largest newspaper, gave up his career to travel to a new land and follow new dreams. He loves the beauty of New Mexico and hopes to begin a business of constructing new homes in the foothills of the mountains. During the winter, Falko works in a Bavarian restaurant in the ski valley. And he is the REAL thing. |
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?OLE! Mexico ?OLE!
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Graduating Class of August 2004
OREGON INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL -- NATIONAL ENDOWMENTS for the HUMANITIES
Espa |
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*NEW* Strange Happenings
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 | My cute, adorable, harmless,
hummingbird |
 | Monique's Little Hummingbird.
She just HAD to have it.
NOW! |
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Okay, so I added a few more holes to my ears. I now have a total of five. Thanks, Betty! And thanks for going with me, and for telling me that it was not cool to have an equal number of holes on each ear . . . thus the odd number of five. Then I poked an extra hole in my nose. Thanks, Kiersten! I swear - I would never have thought of this on my own. Although I can come up with some pretty weird ideas without anyone prompting me, this idea is totally your responsibility. And thanks to Betty for holding my hand and saying, "You can do it! You can do it!" but who wouldn't do it herself when I encouraged her to get her nose pierced, too.
Monique is totally responsible for the tattoo. Her friend, Sarah, called from Germany with the news that she got a tattoo. Hmmmm!
Soon Monique was talking about hummingbirds. She talked about it in the car. She talked about it sitting on the floor of my office. She talked about it at the dinner table and talked and talked. She asked me if I wanted to get a tattoo with her. |
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*NEW* WIND RIVER Prokaryotic Biology
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| My best and very old friend, (She |
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Come see my published works under Writing!
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All contents copyright (c) 2002. Donna O'Donnell Figurski. No content may be copied or reproduced in any way without the express permission of the creator.
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