Its or It’s?

Whether I’m reading or editing student work or adult work, one of the most common errors is the improper use of its.

When teaching possessive, teachers usually say, “To make it possessive, add an apostrophe.” That’s true if you want to say Susie’s book or the dog’s bone. It’s also true if have a plural noun and need to say the dogs’ bones or the kids’ desks. Even I have repeated the mantra possessive has an apostrophe.

Rules in the English language are meant to be broken. Students have been known to ask, “If there are so many exceptions, how can they call it a rule?” Even so, one exception to the possessive rule should be memorable.

Its is the only possessive that has no apostrophe.

I want to look at its flower.

How can it wag its tail?

I think its hat is green.

The gods who designed the English language couldn’t put an apostrophe in the possessive its for the same reason Disney couldn’t give Hades his real Greek name in the movie Hercules. The correct Greek name was already in use–Pluto. How could Disney create a new bad guy and name him after the lovable dog? Likewise, its cannot have an apostrophe because the word already exists with the apostrophe.

It’s is a contraction. When you use the word it’s you always mean ‘it is.’ Always.

It’s going to be a hot day.

I want to know if it’s making a mess.

Can you tell me if it’s happening today?

So, very easy. Only use it’s if you mean to say it is. That’s it. No exceptions.

 

Standardized Testing

All year I strive to teach my students to enjoy thinking.

In Reading Workshop, they read books of their own choosing and write letters to me making connections to other books, to their own lives, or to the world. They visualize settings and infer character motivation from their actions. All of this is done with great excitement because they are reading self-selected books. Students leaving my class love to read.

In Writing Workshop, something similar happens. They write a novel during NaNoWriMo in November, and their confidence soars. They choose what they will write about, and discuss strategies with me and with their writing partners. Students leaving my class love to write.

The school district currently emphasizes project-based learning (PBL) as one way to implement the new Common Core Standards. Both PBL and the new standards focus on critical thinking and problem solving, on student-directed activities. It’s a very exciting time to be a teacher.

Yet this week I watch my students take the state standardized tests. In unity they open their answer sheets and write their names. All together they turn to the day’s testing section. I read the same words heard by every student in the state at this grade level. Then quiet falls over the room like a cloak as they begin. There is no collaboration here, no project, no open-ended response. It’s all right or wrong, bubble in the answer.

Parents push their children to do well on state testing because they think the scores are important. I don’t know any teacher who feels this way. Any test only shows what a student knew on that particular day at that particular time. As with any test, scores are affected by the student’s health (testing is always at the height of allergy season), the weather (testing always happens on the first warm, sunny week that promises summer), and the classroom environment. Sitting in rows silently, not able to get up out of your seat for two hours, is not how I normally teach.

I know that state testing is changing when Common Core comes to California. It will be computer-based, which will heighten student interest, and more interactive. I will reserve judgment until I actually see the test, but I don’t see how standardized testing can assess the most important skills we teach: collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.

Free on Kindle!

Both of my books, ON A WING AND A DARE and IN THE WINDS OF DANGER are FREE on Kindle now through Saturday. During my first promo, to my chagrin, it was pointed out that the formatting on the first book was garbled. That has been fixed, so download away! Please share, tweet, and Facebook to spread the word! Thank you!

Passion for Reading

I’ve loved reading since I first held a book in my hand. At school I read through the entire library. My mother used to take us to the the library once a week. I’d check out a half dozen books and read them all in a couple of days. I still love a wide variety of genres and authors, and reading is how I choose to spend my spare time.

When I became  a teacher, I was excited to share much-loved stories with my students. I learned that the student textbooks held only excerpts of novels, and they had to complete five pages of worksheets as well as a test for each story. I was appalled, but accepted it as the way to teach reading. For years I read the story aloud or had students take turns, then handed out worksheets. And each year I watched all interest in reading die in most of the young people in my room.

During the summer of 2011 I happened to read The Book Whisperer by Donalynn Miller. In the pages of that book I found my people–the people who love reading and love to share it with young people. Miller knows that worksheets and excerpts don’t create avid readers. Showing a passion for books creates avid readers.

In the ensuing two years, I have devoted my time to creating passionate readers. I tossed out the worksheets and I encourage students to select books that interest them. They read in class for 45 minutes to an hour each day, after a mini lesson I teach that focuses on how to think about their reading. Once a week they write a letter to me about what they are reading, and I try to conference with them as often as I can to talk to them about reading.

First let me say that the school where I teach sends me new sixth graders that know the basics of reading. They can sound out words and comprehend the literal story. I don’t have to deal with way below grade level readers or even second language learners. That helps. The students that come into my classroom are ready to learn that books can be amazing.

When given the ability to choose, I find that students read much more than they are assigned and they enjoy it. With no test, they try new genres and feel okay about abandoning books they don’t like. These students improve at reading because they practice it constantly. They share books by word of mouth and blog, and they always have a book in their hands. Reading is exciting in my classroom (as is writing) and it makes my mornings magical.

Now I have to figure out how to do that with math.

♥

On my Kindle: Fate War: Alliance by E. M. Havens

My Book Reviewed!

My first novel, On a Wing and a Dare, is being featured on E. M. Havens’ blog. Click to check out an excerpt from the first chapter, author bio, and her review of my book.

Remember that BOTH of my books will be free on Kindle April 18, 19, and 20!

In the Winds of Danger

Always tacky to review your own book, so here is a review from the first student to read this book.

by Kayla

The book In the Winds of Danger, by Linda Ulleseit, tells about what happens after the people of Tremeirchson move to High Meadow in an attempt to recuperate the horses lost to poisoning. But mystery and deception never stray far from the new residents of High Meadow.

Although Emma and Davyd, the beloved characters we first fell in love with in On a Wing and a Dare, aren’t the main focus of this book, Mrs. Ulleseit introduces a strong female protagonist, Nia, and provides a background story on a horse’s groom, Owain. Nia is a character that really interested me. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind and is loyal to her friends. Owain was a character that I wanted to know more about after reading about him in the first book. To me, he seemed a little shifty, but later I realized that he wasn’t a bad guy. Without giving away too much, I can say that In the Winds of Danger reveals Owain’s mysterious past, surprising readers at every twist and turn.

One of my favorite parts of this great book is when Owain compares Emma and Jenett, soon-to-be mothers who are due at around the same time. Jenett is gloomy, ungroomed, and very temperamental. On the other hand, Emma is cheerful, happy, and positively glowing. They are as different as night and day. I find it interesting how two people are put through the same situation but react so differently. This reminds me of people under pressure. Some may panic and go crazy. Others may take the pressure differently and act completely calm.

My favorite part of the entire book has to be the setting. In the Winds of Danger is set in the magical hills of medieval Wales. Although the residents of High Meadow are still recovering from the horses lost in On a Wing and a Dare, flying horses still soar the skies. Mrs. Ulleseit describes ancient Wales with such beautiful writing that anyone can imagine themselves walking the streets of High Meadow.

In the Winds of Danger is the best historical fantasy book I have ever read! It is full of suspense, romance, and mystery. I highly recommend this amazing book to fans of flying horses, intricate plot lines, and great books!

Pie

by Jenna and Keilani

for Novel Madness 2013

You walk into the library and look for a book. You suddenly have a craving for pie. You see the book PIE, by Sarah Weeks. You may think that the Hobbit is a better book, but PIE is a wonderful book that is filled with amazing characters and plot. This novel has a heartwarming bond between friends and family members, it is for everyone, and the mystery captures your mind.

Very few people think that PIE is just mostly about pie; however, it’s also about friends and family. The book centers on how friends and family are important. The author uses descriptive language that simulates you in the main character’s shoes, so you can easily sense how they feel. Referring to that, PIE would be easier to understand. In the book Alice’s aunt passes away. Almost everyone knows how it feels when a loved one passes. In Hobbit, there’s not that much love. It’s mostly fighting and everyone is just killing his or her enemies.

Some people may feel that the Hobbit is for everyone, but PIE is for ages 0 to 100 because Hobbit is scary for kids. PIE does not have any violence, unlike the Hobbit, which has dwarves being hanged and almost cooked. Also, PIE doesn’t have any drugs. In Hobbit, they smoke a pipe with tobacco. Plus, two elves fall asleep drinking. PIE just deals with pie! There is no smoking nor drugs and no bad scenes for kids. Hobbit is for tweens (10 and up). PIE is for everyone, even for grandparents.

Some may say that the Hobbit is more intense than PIE; however, PIE is covered with mystery in every page. PIE has a mystery that is heartwarming and sad at the same time. First, the greatest pie maker in town passes and everyone goes crazy for her pie. Her niece tries to stop the chaos. That is the caring part. The sad part is that someone steals Aunt Polly’s cat Lardo because he supposedly has the recipes. Also, someone breaks into her pie shop leaving a mess. The mystery leaves you wanting to read more and more.

You close the book and you are satisfied with what you read. Now you don’t crave for pie because the author does a good job describing them. Some people may say that Hobbit is an awesome book, but PIE is a breathtaking novel that is occupied with pie recipes in every chapter. This novel has a positive bond between family members and friends and it’s approved for all ages. Also, the whole book is filled with secrets of the missing pies recipes. If you want more pies then vote for the novel PIE!

For a complete list of Novel Madness titles and links to student essays, click here.

For the results of this matchup, click here.