Snow

Author's Note: We just had the first snowfall of the season! I love playing in the snow, so I decided to write a poem about it. My focus is voice.

Flurries of snow fall all around

Melting as soon as they hit the ground

Images of playing

Run through your mind

Instead, you're stuck inside

Taking tests.

But soon, they will be done

Inches of snow will be on the ground,

School will be closed

And you will be outside

Playing in the snow

Stress

Author's Note: This week is the week of volleyball tryouts. I have camps almost every night in order to prepare for them. So, this week is really stressful for me. I decided to write a poem about it. I tried the Diamante form. My focus is voice.

 Stress,

Busy, Rushed

Running, Hustling, Racing,
Fret, Hassle, Easy, Calm,
Sitting, Sleeping, Resting,
Free, Slack,
Relaxed

The Holidays

Author's Note: Over teacher's convention, my family and I went Up North. While we were up there, we went to this Halloween festival/ craft fair, where my mom got this really good smelling candle. The candle smelled like a Christmas tree. It made me think of how fast the holidays are coming and how much fun it is to decorate for them. I focused on word choice in this piece.

Currently, there are over 100,000 people employed in the Christmas tree industry. This is about 8 times the population of Pewaukee. So many people are needed because up to 36 million Christmas Trees are produced each year. (That would be enough trees for each person in Wisconsin to have about six trees!) Christmas trees are a big part of celebrating the holiday. Families love setting up the trees and putting delicate ornaments on them. Decorating for Christmas is so much fun, because I love the memories that it brings back.

Setting up decorations means so much to me because I love tradition. The definition of tradition is: the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice. My mom has an advent calendar that has been handed down to her by her mom. There are 25 pockets on the calendar. In each pocket, there is a handmade ornament along with a poem about the ornament. My sister and I take turns on who gets to put it up. This is one of our many Christmas traditions.

All families have their own customs. Some watch movies. Some put up their tree together. Whatever it is, each family has a tradition of their own. This makes the holidays special. Christmas also brings families together. For some families, this is the only time of year they see each other. With all that goes on with Christmas though, we can't forget the real meaning of why we celebrate it. We celebrate the birth of Jesus. Why do you like Christmas?

" Wisconsin's population growth ." Department of Workforce Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/oea/articles/populationgrowth_0304.htm.

"Christmas Tree facts - fun and true." Christmas Tree Farms, Tree Lots, Hayrides, Sleigh Rides and Other Winter Fun . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/facts.php.

"Pewaukee, Wisconsin (WI 53072) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders." Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, house prices, home value estimator, recent sales, cost of living, crime, race, income, photos, education, maps, weather, houses, schools, neighborhoods, and more. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <http://www.city-data.com/city/Pewaukee-Wisconsin.html>.

Chocolate

Author's Note: I wrote this persuasive piece telling the reader why they should eat chocolate. My focus is sentence fluency.

Did you know that chocolate can be good for you? Studies have proven that small amounts of dark chocolate can keep your heart healthy. Cocoa contains antioxidants that help prevent some diseases. Chocolate is not only good for you but it is good to eat, too. This makes chocolate one of the most famous candies on the planet.

Chocolate comes in so many different forms. Today, America's top selling chocolate is the Snicker's bar. It consists of peanuts carmel, and milk chocolate. If you don't like peanuts, then you could try M&M's. Small pieces of colored milk or dark chocolate. So many varieties make chocolate easy to love. My favorite kind of chocolate would be the Reece's Peanut Butter Cups. These are made of milk chocolate

If you want chocolate that is healthy for you, try to find one with more cocoa. The more cocoa there is in the chocolate, the less sugar there can be. Also, there are more antioxidents in chocolate then almost any other food. It's nice to know that when you are eating one of your favorite treats, it can also be healthy if eaten properly.

The reason why some people don't like chocolate is because of it's sugar content. Even though the typical amount of sugar in chocolate can be high, it is lower then other foods. I think that as long as chocolate, along with every other food is eaten in proportion it can be a healthty snack. One of my favorite shows, the Biggest Loser, focuses on this. The point of the show is to lose weight. But, the trainers also give the contestants tips on how to stay fit at home. All of them really want the contestants to get that once in awhile you can still have your favorite snack as long as it's eaten in proportion.

"Chocolate." Veronika Love. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2006. <www.veronikalove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/chocolate.jpg>.

"Types of Chocolate - Facts About Chocolate." Facts About Chocolate - Everything about Chocolate. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <http://www.facts-about-chocolate.com/types-of-chocolate.html>.

Life

Author's Note: In my lit. group, we are reading the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. The main character,  in the book has just died and is in the after life. I decided to write a free verse poem on why we should enjoy life.

Cherishing the time that's spent,
with everyone around you,
enjoying life,
while you are still fortunate,
to have it,
So live it up,
treat everyday as if it were your last,
Because, you never know,
One day,
It will be.

Soul Surfer

Author's Note: I wrote the rough draft of this piece while I was Up North. My sister has watched the movie, "Soul Surfer" one thousand times, so I decided to write about it. My focus is word choice.

At the age of thirteen, Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a shark. The young surfer lost an arm. But this didn't stop Bethany. She worked every day to get back into shape, and used to surfing with one arm. It paid off. Bethany has won many awards for her amazing comeback. Not only did she continue surfing, but her story continues to inspire others.

Do you know a person like Bethany? Somebody who's had a major accident or event occur in their life, but continues to persevere? My friend Kylee is a perfect example. Kylee is a very skilled gymnast. Just recently, eight year old Kylee found out that she broke her foot. The injury happened right before competition season. Although she couldn't do her full routine, Kylee worked hard to stay in shape until her foot had healed.

People like Kylee and Bethany continue to influence people today. Both suffering from major pains in their lives, but still they continue to work hard at their goals. If you go through an obstacle at achieving your goal, use stories like these to motivate you to keep going.


"Bethany Hamilton - Shark Attack Survivor and Surfer - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Bethany-Hamilton-Shark-Attack-Survivor-and-Surfer>. 

Fall

Author's Note: I just got back from an amazing trip Up North. It's right around Halloween so everyone is dressed up. I decided to do a Haiku on Fall. My focus is voice. 

Leaves always dropping,

Halloween and Thanksgiving,

The beauty of Fall

"Bob Atkins - Digital Photography - Camera Reviews - Lens Tests - Canon EOS FAQ - Nature - Wildlife - Gallery." Bob Atkins - Digital Photography - Camera Reviews - Lens Tests - Canon EOS FAQ - Nature - Wildlife - Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://bobatkins.com>.