Words from our young authors at Oakton Elementary

This fall, we asked our students at Oakton Elementary to come up with a list of Halloween monsters and to write a short spooky story where the monster was either the protagonist or the villain. See some excerpts from the eerie tales they concocted! From Bayan's piece, "Night of the Zombie Candies":

"...Hi, my name is Jimmy. On my most recent Halloween, I went with my brother, Billy, to go trick-or-treating. When we got back it was too late to eat anything, so we went to bed. The next day, I saw a lot of people dressed as zombies. Then, when someone completely fell apart, me and Billy ran home! Our parents saw what happened so they believed us. We locked ourselves inside the house and then I saw my dog, Sausage, eating some candy. Suddenly, he became green and his eyes were completely white. He was a zombie!"

From Aaron's piece, "The Machine":

"Once, a man named Fred walked straight to a haunted church and ate some blood -- he was a zombie. He had friends named Ted, Ned, Bob, and Ben who were also zombies and were rich (zombie money is blood). A gallon of blood or more means you are rich. Fred was poor because he only had a cup of blood...The next day, a machine appeared out of nowhere, but nothing happened - yet. Fred went out to get some blood, but no one seemed to have any. When he got back the machine was moving and killing zombies! Fred threw all the meat from his house at the machine and it exploded blood. He now has 1000 gallons. Fred is rich and has a happy ending."

From Wesley's piece, "The Halloween Night":

"'Twas the night before Halloween and everything was dark. There was a monster getting ready for Halloween - he was a ghost named Klober. But Klober wasn't a full ghost: he could also change into a human. He was a cop, but on Halloween, he would change into a ghost so that he could trick people. He had a ghost dog named Scare. This year, they were going to steal candy from babies and from everybody else (but mostly from babies). Klober loved Halloween..."

From Charlie's story, "The Monster Behind the Door":

"Once upon a time, there was a kid named Jason. He was graduating from wizard school. When he graduated, he received a magical staff with a crystal on the top. When he got home from wizard school, he heard a creaking and a growling from his closet at the top of the stairs. He slowly opened the door and there was a giant monster standing in his closet! The monster swung at Jason, but he ducked. Jason grabbed his staff and shot five plasma bolts at the monster. The monster was defeated. Suddenly, another monster came up behind him, but he was prepared this time. He summoned lightning to the crystal on the staff and sent it into the monster's chest. He had won. He had defeated all the monsters."

From Dillan's untitled story:

"One night, a couple of teenagers were having a party. Some of them were drunk, but not Jack. They heard strange noises, like footsteps, but when they looked out the window, they didn't hear a single thing. Jack, who paid more attention, heard the noises ten times, and they kept getting closer and closer. Then he saw Jason in his hockey mask with a bloody machete. Jack ran to his car and drove as fast as he could - somehow he knew that all his friends had died...Today, Jason is still alive and is coming for you."

From Erin's untitled story:

"The night was beautiful, with many stars in the sky. It was cool outside. Every child was asleep -- except for one. He lurked in the shadows all night. He slept in an old abandoned house all day. He was unknown to almost all, except for his grandfather. This boy had a scar doing down his face, from the middle of his forehead to his right cheek. He had brown hair and bangs, and a skin-tone darker than pale, but not very tan at all. He was tall and wore a black jacket and navy blue pants. He was a very mysterious boy. He never came out of the shadows until one day, when his grandfather found him and brought him home on Halloween..." To Be Continued...

From Emily's story, "Grandma's Haunted House" :

"Many years ago, during the Silver War, many people were killed in a forest and were turned into zombies. When they woke up, they went looking for a place to live and they found a haunted house. They went inside, and there was Grandma. They decided to kick her out of her house, and attacked her. Luckily, Grandma knew karate and could defend herself. Grandma still lives there today, but the zombies were never seen again."

Words from Our Young Authors at Havens Elementary

This Fall at Havens Elementary we concocted bedtime stories, faced our old fears of monsters, and more! See some of the excerpts we have to share with you below!

From “My Name Is"... prompt – students inserted an emotion or personality trait for “Name”:

My creativity is giant and growing. Every day. My creativity is made from dreams and everything around me. My creativity can be sad, happy, gory, awesome, shiny, gross and lots more.

-Jack

Excerpt from bedtime story:

One upon a time Pooh Bear, Christopher Robin, Owl, Rabbit, Eeyore, and Tigger were all standing on a cliff, watching the foamy waves crash against the shore. Pooh (that’s what everyone called him when he was silly) took a couple steps forward. When he was three steps away, a rock tripped him. “Poooooh!” everyone  screamed. “My life is ending!” Pooh called back.

-Sara

Excerpt from bedtime story:

Strike wondered where Luna had gone. She hadn’t told him a thing or left a note. Luna was in Braindude’s hideout. She was very scared. She thought that Braindude would eat her. She was in a dark structure that was old and covered from wall to wall and ceiling to floor with all sorts of gross things like webs, mice, rats and mold.

-Hannah

Excerpt from bedtime story:

Once Bo got to Dr. Mammoths’  house/lab/life he figured he shouldn’t use the doorbell so he just kicked the door open! “Aww Bo, hmmm, how did I know you were coming?” cackled Dr. Mammoth. “Because I have a brain.” Then, unexpectedly, a cage dropped right over Bo. Bad Luck!

1. Bo was trapped. 2. He really needed to use the bathroom. 3. He was bored and 4. well… nothing for #4.

-Jihae

From "This I used to believe":

I used to believe in the toilet monster. Whenever you flushed the toilet, a monster would jump out! It was very scary. One night I had a dream about the toilet monster. It had a toilet head, a water body, toilet fingers and toilet paper eyes! It was the scariest thing I’d ever seen. I was so scared of it that the next morning, I almost never went to the bathroom!

-Sophia

Excerpt from bedtime story:

Once upon a time there was a peanut named Paul the Peanut. Paul was not like ordinary peanuts. Paul could talk. When he was born, he never wanted to be eaten. He had nightmares about being eaten.

One day a little girl came up and got the peanut jar down from the shelf. Slowly, she twisted the jar. It popped open. She picked up a peanut. “Noooo!” cried Paul the Peanut. “Not Aunt Susan! Goodbye! I love you!”

-Harper

Excerpt from bedtime story:

The ground began to rumble and blackness surrounded the house. My mouth opened. The house had red blocks holding the roof up with glass windows next to every red block. Right in front was a small waterfall leading to a pond with Chinese fish. A rocky cement pathway led to the house’s red door. We entered the house.

-Eleanor

Excerpt from bedtime story:

Gloria is a flamingo. She has a great-great-great grandfather who is very old. He is a turtle and is 9,999. She hopes that he does not die. Her great-great-great grandfather’s name is Bob. Gloria’s great-great-great grandfather gave her a turtle shell as a gift. Ever since, she wears it as a hat. It is very fashionable. All the girls at school want one.

-Elizabeth

Words from Our 4th & 5th Grade Writers at Sunset Elementary

Our young writers had a blast letting their imaginations run away with free-writes, Amelia Earhart theories, and more at Thornhill Elementary this Fall. Take a look at some of our favorite excerpts from the class below!

A Fun Rainy Day!

(From a freewrite where the students were asked to describe the last night's rain.)

The rain came down hard in school! It sounds like thunder or probably like fishes flopping on the land’s ground. In the rain, it smells like dirt and muddy puddles everywhere. It felt like somebody was tapping on me a thousand times! It had no scent. Then I ran back to the class and started on my homework. Then I told one of my friends “It’s raining cats and dogs out there!”

-Tiffany

The Pops Comedy

(From a freewrite where the students were asked to list a bunch of common household objects, then use personification to bring them alive.)

One day I was eating my cereal, “Pops.” It was a sunny day just to tell you, too. When the sunlight reached the Pops, they turned alive. I was about to take my spoon and eat until the Pops said “Stop!” I looked at my cereal. What? The Pops said, “Don’t eat us because we are alive! The sun turned us alive. I know it’s weird, but it’s true.” I turned my face and saw one Pop named Jack was dancing. Wow! “My God what are you doing, it’s time for school,” my grandmother said. I was hungry at school, sadly. After school I came back to the Pops. They all were not alive. Only one of the Pops was alive. I ate him because he was as annoying as a frog. I went to sleep. The End.

-Joshua

What Happened to Amelia Earhart

(From our Amelia Earhart exercise, Take Flight Curriculum. The prompt was "What do you think happened to Amelia Earhart?")

What happened to Amelia Earhart is that she was flying for 33 days but one day she fell asleep near an island. Her plane dived for the island and she crashed her plane but was never found. She had enough food for years. She lived on that island but no one ever found her. No one knew she was stranded. Her copilot got dropped off at another island. Amelia Earhart built herself a shelter. She used wood to build a raft and tried to find fish. She was smart - she knew that the small raft could not go through the giant ocean. So she stayed there and used the few resources she had to make a big difference.

-Jonah

Friends

(From a freewrite prompt - "What's your favorite thing about being you?")

I have a lot of friends and they live across the world. One of my favorites is Alex. He lives in Australia, does home school, and surfs real good. One time I was surfing with him and we got in a water tube! My other friend lives in Saint Petersburg and knows everything about the city. His name is Dan. He took me across the whole city without me even having to pay. And last but not least Fred. He lives in Brazil and is great at soccer. He even knows how to do a bicycle kick! But most of my friends are here in America.

-Pasha

The Rain

(From a freewrite where the students were asked to describe the last night's rain.)

The rain came down hard. I could hear the rain plip plop plip plop. So I woke up but then I saw there was a flood. I was so wet. I saw people swimming in it. It was funny but then I saw thunder. But then I felt hungry. I smelled pancakes and syrup - it smelled yummy. So I opened my blinds and ran to the kitchen and I ate some pancakes. Then I watched some TV. Then I went downstairs to play the computer. Then it was time for lunch. When I finished it I drew a picture. Then I looked outside again and the people were still swimming. Then I found out they were really walking to get to their cars. Then I started watching TV again. Then we went to the car so we could drive to Costco, but when we opened the garage door and water came pouring in and then we drove through the rain. We finally got to Costco but it was flooded so we had to go home. Then it was time for bed.

-Sydnie

Puffy the Bumblebee

(From our prompt, Flight of the Bumblebee. The students listened to "Flight of the Bumblebee" and wrote a story based on what they imagined.)

Hi! I’m Puffy! I’m a bumblebee and I’m owned by Nectar, a honey and insect fairy. Today I’m flying home from a successful day of nectar gathering. Let me tell you about how Nectar and I work together. I collect nectar then Nectar makes honey. Unfortunately the flower and garden fairies live away from Fairy Garden, so Fairy Garden has no real flowers. Today I visited Snapdragon’s garden. Her flowers have lots of nectar and pollen. I like to mix the two together. Now I’m flying home to Fairy Garden. I’ll bet Nectar has made an excellent honeycomb by now. I hope she makes beeswax dumplings and honey cake. Yumm! I’m glad that nectar has given me many good foods, like Hot Frogs, and I think I’ve tried the most foods of all the bumblebees.

-Helena

The Diary of Frank, Amelia Earhart’s Copilot

(From our Amelia Earhart exercise, Take Flight Curriculum. The prompt was "What do you think happened to Amelia Earhart?")

Dear Diary, Thirty days ago Amelia and I left for our around the world trip. I got this diary from New Guinea and wanted to start using it today. Everything has been going smoothly so far. I’ve had the best time on this trip than I’ve had for awhile. Oh! Gotta go.

Dear Diary, The strangest thing happened, but luckily we’re safe. Amelia and I were flying through the night sky when a portal opened out of nowhere. We tried to turn right, but out plane just wouldn’t let us. Right when we got to the world, two unknown creatures which we soon called Lanzas took us into a room which looked a bit like a science lab. The Lanzas took our blood and put it in test tubes. We’ve actually been treated well in the world of other captured humans and Lanzas. Everything is fine except the food is made of green goo.

Dear Diary, Weep, weep. Something terrible has happened. Just as we were getting settled in, Amelia fell down a stairwell and went into a coma. Her sickness was so bad she has never woken up. I can only see her on the weekends. Ugh, I can’t write anymore. My paper is too wet.

-Illysa

The Tale of the House

(From a Halloween freewrite, inspired by a picture of a spooky-looking house.)

Hi, I’m Kip. There’s this house of an old man and there’s a rumor he’s a wizard. We hear that it’s true, me and my friends Tyse, Zack, and Carl. “Come on,” said Tyse. “Ok,” said Zack and Carl. We went in. “This is weird,” I said. “A bone!” said Zack. “That’s just a dog bone, he has two dogs and ten cats,” said Tyse. “Oh yeah,” said Zach. “Grrrrrr,” said a dog. “Rarrrwr,” said a cat. “Hello,” said a voice. Aaah, who’s there? To be continued....

-Niall

Words from Our 4th & 5th Graders at Thornhill Elementary

The 4th and 5th grade group at Thornhill has been writing all types of amazing poems (with a little Halloween prose thrown in for fun) this Fall. From list poems to riddle poems, we’ve been having a blast and here’s the proof!

Ode to Leaves by Sidney

The long roads to freedom lead the way out the town. The leaves have freedom to fall on the ground. To explore new places. Those who are shy for they never leave home. They stay stuck to the branches and never roam. They get punished by the deep winter freeze. The breeze carries the free ones over the villages eaves. They are our messengers. The red ones bring us fall. The brown ones bring us winter. The green ones bring us spring.

List Poem by Gabby

Milk low-fat, preferably white A nectarine with a soft bite Chocolate chip cookie dough, oh how I want to eat it Absolutely no asparagus, oh how I must defeat it. Lettuce and tomato for a healthy salad So in the future when I’m strong and tall, I sure will be glad. Also I shall get some mighty noodles. Then I’ll get some soft snickerdoodles I can’t wait to gobble up all my food But I’m keeping it all to myself, so shoo!

Repeating Line Poem by Michela

I saw you sing so loud so sad. So unhappy. So un glad. Why so sad? Extinction can’t be glad!

O tiger in a trap eat the hunters with some sap.

I hear you howl and sneak like a snake. So close to me I thought you were fake! O tiger in a trap eat the hunters with some sap.

Ode to Rain by Selah

Rain cries day and night On sunny days it might stop Rain will cry of its fright the ice melting from the night of heat.

Riddle Poem by Jamie

I will turn and begin. I will end when you’re done with me. You can rip me if I don’t have enough protection. I have pictures and words. What am I? (a book)

Free Verse in homage to Billy Collins by Mitch

On turning 9, it was almost scary. I got all these new responsibilities. I got blamed for everything.

It was like a fly being asked to eat a frog.

I used to think I was a famous singer, all over those magazines Like I was a dog, a puppy. Or a strong knight guarding a castle. But that was the past and today is today.

So now nine has kicked eight away.

Repeating Line Poem by Sophie

You think I’m so scary, but seriously I can be nice. I am black and white, just like dice. You think I’m a tuffy, but I’m mostly fluffy! I squeal when I’m excited. It’s real, don’t just recite it. You think I’m a tuffy, but I’m mostly fluffy!

Halloween Scary Story Excerpt

by Parsa

(We picked 12 things we thought were important for a Halloween story and then tried to fit them all in one story!)

Zombie and Vampire stepped into the darkness of the haunted house. The house was a cellar made of blood. There was a huge bloody river in the middle of the haunted house. When the vampire was about to speak a crumpled up love letter appeared in front of his face! When he opened it, they heard dramatic opera music....(to be continued)

Ode to Letter E by Maxwell

You the letter the letter E You’re a sparkle Your personality brings meaning meaning of justice, hope, beyond more you’re the moon shining your glory to our globe your voice sheds glory to the word more than power your own E ways the letter E thank you!

You Don’t Scare Me at All Poem by Elise

Dogs barking Monsters walking Clowns honking You don’t scare me at all

Spies spying Robbers robbing Thunderbolts flashing You sure don’t scare me at all

School bell screaming Cats meowing Teacher yelling You don’t scare me at all

Police say stop Ghosts say boo-ooo You don’t scare me at all

I say hi, they go bye I don’t scream, they fling I don’t cry, they die

You don’t scare me at all

Repeating Line Poem by Reemi

Clouds Why do you cry? How do you fly? Are you old? Are you young? Tell me about the world and its nature. I feel your baby water balls. Your misty coolness all around. When you get mad you’re gray. When you are happy you’re white and bright. Tell me about the world and its nature.

Ode to Shoes by Hannah

Click Thump Clack Smack Tap On the street On the floor Walking out the door Leather Plastic whatever color you ask it Rough Isn’t allowed You walk Oh, so proud You are the bounce The jump The hop In my step The ground Such a killer You are the police Not Allowed In Most houses For style For girls Mostly Lady Gaga Is your client Sometimes you just support us You keep our feet clean So many of you Congrats The thing in your capsule is not rose scented But you held up Through wind Rain The snowy terrain So I slip My foot Into your soft touch And Lace up Yank, Yank Tie a bow Velcro Scratch scratch Or just slip on So simple So easy So many days I owe to you My P.E. sessions And Protection

December's Teacher Spotlight

Want to get to know some of the creative writing masters behind "Take My Word For It!"? Meet this month's teacher spotlight, Sarah Bruhns!

Name: Sarah Bruhns

Currently working at: Sunset Elementary

Hometown: Crescent City, CA

What’s your favorite bookstore? Green Apple

What’s your favorite VERB? Vamoose

If your life was a book, what would be the title? You’ll See Someone You Know: Small Town Experiences in the Big City

Did a teacher inspire you to be a writer? How? My playwriting teachers Zay Amsbury and Brian Thorstenson taught me how a single finely written moment onstage can reveal an entire character and their story.

What’s one of your favorite TMWFI moments? At a final reading, one of my students came up to me and said she was too scared to read her piece out loud in front of everyone. After some encouragement she gathered her courage and went up there all by herself. She was very proud and I was too.

Words from Our Young Authors at Joaquin Miller!

Want to see some of the star-studded writing coming from our young writers at Joaquin Miller Elementary? Check out some of our favorite poems below!

Exercise: Writing Odes – students created their own odes using descriptive language, rhyming, and repetition.

Shadow by Marley

You dance across the ground With exquisite delicacy. You walk across the ground Without a sound. Oh shadow, the harmless but dangerous hunter.

You sleep in a soft blanket of moonlight On the hard ground. You walk in the sun’s warmth On the cold, frosty ground. Oh shadow, the harmless but dangerous hunter.

You walk quickly, Without fear or pause. You can’t be hurt, Unless it’d dark out. Oh shadow, the harmless but dangerous hunter.

You leap across the floor With gracefulness. You skid along with someone else, Who is not alone.

Oh shadow, the harmless but dangerous hunter.

You’re very smart But you can’t learn. You love eating blackberries, But you can’t taste them. Oh shadow, the harmless but dangerous hunter.

When you die, You stay alive until you are buried. You’re loud and annoying, But you can’t bother anyone. Oh shadow, the harmless but dangerous hunter

A Bee by Luke

I saw you make the flowers droop. I saw you fly in a loopty-loop. You are super fast, I can’t see you pass. Oh bee, why do you buzz? Oh bee, why do you have fuzz?

You fly away, You sting your prey. In sight, You are a fright. Oh bee, why do you buzz? Oh bee, why do you have fuzz?

I sit and watch you in the air, And I wonder if you have hair. You fly by my eye, I see you say hi, You fly away – bye bye. Oh bee, why do you buzz? Oh bee, why do you have fuzz?

Owl by Julia

Owl oh Owl, where do you roam?

The owl danced across the night sky, Oh my, Oh my. Owl oh Owl, where do you roam?

The owl spoke Hello, Hello. Owl oh Owl, where do you roam?

The owl sprouted feet and a nose. Owl oh Owl, where do you roam?

And what do you know, What do you know, Some toes. Who knows, who knows. Owl oh Owl, where do you roam?

Turtle by Pearce

Oh turtle, why are you so slow?

The turtle walks through the room. It is soooo slowwww. Oh turtle, why are you so slow?

The turtle wears a slow reddish-green coat. Why is it so slow? Oh turtle, why are you so slow?

Turtle, you walk so slow you can’t stub your toe. With no name, you won’t get to the Hall of Fame. Oh turtle, why are you so slow?

Mr. Monkey by DJ

Why Mr. Monkey, you don’t have to do what you do. I watch you from the Grand Canyon to the polar ice caps. But why do you terrorize the world? From the Space Needle to the Statue of Liberty, You destroy with your TNT breath.

I saw you on vacation at the Eiffel Tower and the Rome Coliseum. Why won’t you go away? I don’t understand why you won’t just go. But why do you terrorize the world? From the Taj Mahal to Tokyo, You destroy with your TNT breath.

In the end, the world was chaos and fire and destruction. People survived by digging below the surface for iron as money. But on the summit of Mount Everest was you, Mr. Monkey, In a mansion – the wealthiest of them all. And still from Mount Everest to the end

You destroy with your TNT breath.

Exercise: Life Doesn’t Frighten Me At All – after reading Maya Angelou’s poem of the same name, students wrote poems about the things that frighten them while experimenting with using repetition lines.

Life doesn’t frighten me at all by Morgan

Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Unicorns mocking me, Clowns taunting me, Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Mermaids flying in the air, Scissors snipping here and there, Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Darkness everywhere, Robbers creeping down my stairs, Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Frightened by Louka

I am not afraid of microscopic atoms that go in my brain. I am not afraid of chickens who cackle, Or clowns who pass by. They think they know what scares me, But they don’t know it’s just a story. I am not afraid of monkeys that cry. There is one thing I am afraid of. I’ll only name a clue. It’s a thing that’s dead and rotten. I am not afraid.

Exercise: On Turning Ten – after reading Billy Collins’ poem about turning ten years old, students created descriptive lists of the defining traits of turning a certain age, then wrote poems using those lists.

On Turning Four

by Marco Four is when you realize that things aren’t what they seem. Candy is less sweet, Steak is just plain meat, School turns out important, Field trips are educational. Four is the year you start forgetting things, Wait… what did I just say?

Exercise: List Poems – students read a selection of poems that use listing as a technique, then created their own list poem using the five senses and concrete details.

My Junk Drawer by Hunter

3D glasses make the movies amazing. Baseball cards are fun to collect. Sticky stars are great weapons. Football cards are not as fun. Mario Cards are the worst. Legos are so… so awesome. Rocks rock, And more stuff that I can’t name.