Notebook 2013-2014

This year we are using a curriculum by the Institute for Excellence in Writing designed for K-2 students (called Primary Arts of Language). I have been absolutely delighted by the results! Nearly half-way through the curriculum, we have just recently begun to put pencil to paper to create original compositions, but the weeks of preparation have clearly done their job. Not only are the kids writing extremely well, but they are enjoying doing so. Benjamin, a formerly "reluctant writer" recently told me he thinks he might be a children's author and illustrator when he grows up. Talia, always ready with a story, has learned to focus and condense her thoughts into well-organized, concise stories.

We began our writing by summarizing (re-telling) stories we read. I am teaching the same curriculum to both Benj and Talia, so there are two versions of each assignment, posted in reverse chronological order.

A Very Small Thing (a retelling of Aesop's Fable, "The Donkey and His Shadow")
by Benjamin
January 15, 2014

Once there was a pack donkey, a man, and a traveler. The traveler hired the donkey. He was going to a distant place. The man who owned the donkey came along.

There was a terribly hot sun and no shade! Only the donkey had a shadow. Only one could fit. The men who both wanted the shadow quarreled. Then the quarrel turned into a fist fight!

Suddenly the donkey which was thinking of his hay at home quickly ran away! Immediately the men stopped fighting. "Uh-oh," they thought. The traveler's stuff which was all he had was gone! The men realized they had lost a big thing when they had fought over a very small thing.

A Lesson About Fighting (a retelling of Aesop's Fable, "The Donkey and His Shadow")
by Talia
January 15, 2013



Once upon a time there was a traveler. He was going to a distant place so he hired a pack donkey. The man who owned the pack donkey came along to lead it.


It was a terribly hot day. There was only one shadow which was the donkey's shadow. Unfortunately it only provided shade for one. The men who both wanted the shadow quarreled! The quarrel turned into blows!


The donkey which was tired of standing in the hot sun galloped away with all the man's stuff! Immediately the men stopped fighting! The traveler's stuff which was all he had was gone! The men realized, while fighting about the small thing they lost the big thing.


A Right Time for Everything (a retelling of Aesop's Fable, "The Ant and the Grasshopper")
by Benjamin
January 9, 2014

Once there was an ant and a grasshopper. It was a sunny day in a field. The grasshopper was dancing and playing. Then he saw an ant who had an ear of corn. He was working hard.

"Why are you working so hard?," said the grasshopper. "I am gathering food for the winter," replied the ant. "We have lots of food. We can play," encouraged the grasshopper. But the ant kept working, so the grasshopper kept playing.

When the winter came the grasshopper was cold and hungry. The grasshopper sighed. He should have listened to the ant. The grasshopper learned you should play after you work. There is a right time for everything.



What the Grasshopper Learned (a retelling of Aesop's Fable, "The Ant and the Grasshopper")
by Talia
January 9, 2014

Once upon a time in a field there was a grasshopper. It was a sunny, summer day. The grasshopper was dancing and playing. Along came an ant who was tugging an ear of corn.


The grasshopper asked why the ant was working so hard. "We have plenty of food now." The ant said, "We need food for winter." The ant who kept working ignored the grasshopper who had gone back to his playing.


Then winter came. The grasshopper who was hungry and lonely saw the ants happy and warm with lots of food! The grasshopper realized that he should have listened. The grasshopper learned that you should play after you work.



The Ant and the Chrysalis (a retelling of Aesop's Fable)
by Benjamin
December 19, 2013

One sunny and beautiful day, there was an ant who was looking for food. Then he saw a Chrysalis who was moving.

The ant who was proud about his freedom said, "Poor animal! I can climb and run but you move just a little bit!" The Chrysalis who heard all this was silent.

A few days later the ant who had returned saw no Chrysalis! "Where is the Chrysalis?," he wondered. Suddenly he was shaded by a beautiful butterfly. "Look at me!," she said. "I will be more free than you will ever be!" Then the butterfly flew away. The ant felt foolish and decided to not brag anymore.

In the Field (a retelling of Aesop's Fable, "The Ant and the Chrysalis")
by Talia
December 19, 2013

Once upon a time there was an ant who was walking along, looking for food. It was a beautiful and sunny day. Then something caught his eye. It was a chrysalis moving its tail.

The ant pitied the chrysalis and was proud about his freedom. The ant said, "I can run and climb, you can only move an inch." The chrysalis who heard all this was silent.

After a few days there was no chrysalis! The ant went by there again and wondered, "Where is the chrysalis?" Then the ant was shaded by a butterfly. "I am your poor friend, but look at me now!" The butterfly flew away. The ant who was left alone in the field watched the butterfly disappear.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears
by Benjamin
December 12, 2013

Once there were three bears. Their names were Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. They lived in a cottage in the woods. Mama made some porridge one morning, but it was too hot. So the bears went for a walk in the woods.

While the bears were out, Goldilocks came to the cottage. She needed food and rest. She got curious and went in. She ate the porridge, broke the chair, and slept in a bed.

Soon the bears came home. They found that Baby's porridge was gone and that there was a mess on the floor. They went upstairs and found Goldilocks asleep in Baby's bed. They said, "There she is!" Goldilocks woke, screamed, and ran. The bears chased her but she escaped. She learned: Don't anger bears!!!


Goldilocks and the Three Bears
by Talia
December 12, 2013

Once upon a time there were three bears. Their names were Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. They lived I the woods in a cottage. One morning Mama Bear made porridge, but it was still hot so they went for a walk in the woods.

Goldilocks was also out for a walk and she came to the bears's house. She curiously went inside. She was hungry so she ate Baby Bear's porridge. She wanted to rest but she broke Baby Bear's chair and went to sleep in his bed.

The bears came home! They found Baby Bear's porridge gone, and a mess on the floor! They decided to investigate. They went upstairs and found her. She woke up, screamed, and ran! They chased her but she escaped. She learned not to anger bears.