Mr.+Henshaw

February 5, 2008

Dear Alex,

I am so glad Mr. M. invited me to be apart of your class' reading of __Dear Mr. Henshaw__. I am looking forward to conversing with all of you over the next couple of weeks. It will be nice to get to know you each as individuals and as writers. I know writing is not exactly the easiest thing. For most people writing is very frustrating- they get sweaty palms just thinking about how to start and if given the oppurtunity to write what they want, they feel they have absolutely nothing to say.

In order to get started I was once advised by my favorite author, Dean Koontz, eat something sweet, in his case it was ice cream. But he had been awake for over 24 hours writing his heart out, once he got going he couldn't stop. Which actually brings me to what is actually the best advice for getting started- WRITE... I mean anything. Anything that pops into your head. No matter how stupid... that's a strong word... no matter how silly it seems. Write it down. Then the next thing, write it. Soon you'll not just write 1 word, but 2, then a full sentence. When you find that one thing you feel one sentence is not enough you're good to go- WRITE YOUR HEART OUT!

Ex:

goat chin chin hair scratchy facial hair

My great uncle was always sneaking up on us, snatching us up into the air out of the blue. My stomach would turn topsy turvy, as he'd flip me over his shoulder and bury his scratchy beard in my bare tummy...

I hope that helps-

Your friend, Miss Johnson

January 28, 2008

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Our class is doing a project where we will be learning to be better writers. We have heard that you like to write. So we have decided to write to you in hopes that you will respond.
 * We have been inspired by the book, __Dear Mr. Henshaw__, by Beverly Cleary. The book is about a boy who writes to his favorite author. In the story, the author writes back to the boy and encourages him to write. We are hoping that you would be able to write back to us with suggestions on how to become better writers.**
 * You can find our letters by visiting our classroom wiki at www.mendellstudentwikis.wikispaces.com and click on the reading page or our individual student wikis.**
 * We know you are very busy, so we will understand if you can't write to us, but we sure hope that you can!

Fondly, Mr. M's 4th Grade Class**

January 28, 2008

Dear Ms. Johnson,

I heard you like too write. I also like writing. My class and I are reading a book called __Dear Mr. Henshaw__ I like the book but the kid in it is a weird kid. He has a favorite author named Mr. Henshaw and he writes to him for years but he only reads two books of his. Through out the years he gets angry at him but he still writes. We are doing writing while reading to make us better writers.

Fondly,

Alex in Mr. Mendells 4th grade class

1-30-08 Who are you?

Dear Ms. Johnson,

My name is Alex. I am a competitive kid who worry’s way to much. Like everybody says I am always worried about the answer. I always try my hardest though. I am still worried about this question I know who I am but I cant figure out what to write. I am smart, I think. Sometimes I don’t like that I am competitive because everyone says I scream to much or I am a show off. It gets me so angry. Like some kids have never played tackle football. When we play two hand touch some people say I’m to violent cause sometimes I say that we should play tackle football and they say that’s mean but kids need to learn not too be scared. Being competitive is also sometimes good in a way like if you win you should be happy but usually I always want to win. I am a kid who likes to eat. Food is cool like if you try something and you like it then it could mean a lot to you. I also like to cook. My favorite sport is basebal then basketball then football

2-4-08

what do you look like Dear Ms. Johnson

My name is Alex. Not much to explain about my hair it is shaved. A lot of people like it. I am the probably the heaviest in the class but I did lose 20 pounds. I am propably one of the tallest in my class. I have very light blue eyes blue eyes. My mom says I look like Nick Lechae. I still cant think of anything else.

Still stuck writer, The WORRIER 2-5-08

What is your family like.

Dear Ms. Johnson,

My family is a little weird. My whole family and I except for my mom are very competitive. My sports are baseball and basketball. Ben’s sport is basketball. Sam likes baseball. Leo likes Basketball. My brothers are very annoying and Ben is sometimes a big bully. My dad is a big baseball fan that’s probably why I’m so good at it. Leo is usually a showoff and really nice somtimes.Ben is a big bully Ben also at times can be really nice. I worry way to much. Sam cry’s way to much we call him the staller because it takes him so long to do things he doesn’t want to do. But out on the baseball field he is so fast. My mom is perfect. My dad is very fun. Even though brothers and sisters can be annoying I still love themand mean they should usually be your best friends.

2/12/08 Where Do You Live?

Dear Ms. Johnson, I live by a lot of things. The Wawa, our school, the Library, My friends houses. I love where I live. I have a big backyard and a basketball quart. Outside is beautiful but inside it is hectic. Like I said in my last journal I have three brothers. I have two basketball hoops in my playroom it is so fun playing on them. I have a big house. Four stories and a lot of rooms. Not a lot of kids live on my street but a lot of senior citizens. I live next to a guy named Andy. He has down’s – syndrome. That is why I am a good helper with Gabe in Mrs. A’s room. I love my neighborhood. The Worrier, Alex

Dear Ms. Johnson, I do have pets. I have four pets. I have two dogs Ellie and Herman. I also have two turtles Terd and Terdy. Herman is so crazy we had to get an electric fence to keep him from running away. I like playing with my pets but it seems like I have no time but I do. Usually I am playing sports, with friends, playing video games, or doing my homework. I need to stop my self. I feel bad for them. Most of the time I forget to feed my turtles and they almost starve. I also feel bad. The WORRIER, Alex

3/26/08

What do you wish?

Dear Ms. Johnson,

I wish for a few things. I wish when i grow up i want to be one of these things a pca, a baseball player, a singer, an actor or a chef. I love baseball it is my favorite sport. I love the game because one im good at it two it is very fun and three i love the teamwork. I wish i could go to disney world and ride on every ride with no lines. That would be awesome. One of my favorite places to go is disney world. I want to be an actor because I love to make people laugh and I love being on stage or singing and dancing. I want to be a pca because i love taking care of kids with problems. I really would like to be a chef because i love to combine and make thingsI like to see what happens at the end. My wish for the world is there will be peace. Its always nice to have a wish because you can set it.

the WORRIER,

Alex