Friday, February 4, 2011

Transitions

The class began talking about transitions this week because we noticed that many students' writing was flat. There are many good ideas in their writing, but much of it lacks the flair we expect at this point in third and fourth grade writing.

Transitions are used by authors to help "move" (the prefix "trans" = move) or lead the reader along from one idea or place to the next. They give pieces of writing a clearer sense of time and place. They make stories more detailed and interesting to read.

Transitions begin a sentence or paragraph and usually start with "next, then, after, when, or finally," but may also begin plenty of other words.

I am following the lead of the innovative teachers who run the Reading Roundup and have had their students write about transitions they see in the books they read.

Students and guests! Please write to tell us about a transition you have read in a book or story recently. Start by telling us the name of the book or story and then write the sentence with the tranisition in it. Thank you!

39 comments:

  1. Dear Mr.Pahl
    Book: The Whipping Boy
    Transition: When the guests stood up to toast the king their wigs came flying off.
    Sincerely,
    Woodchucker

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    Here is my transition…
    I’m reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Dog Days.
    All of a sudden I felt a little sick to my stomach.
    Sincerely,
    Little Animal

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I am read a book called Dork diares.
    The sentence is since my creal had been contaminated by miss Penelp's germs. The transition is the hole thing.
    From,
    superstar

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Class,

    These are my tranisitions from Listening For Lions. Suddenly, it seemed important to escape. At the mention of her daughter's name, Mrs. Pritchard's eyes became bleary with tears and she had to stop for a moment. After a bit, she went on.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Mr.Pahl,

    I found a transition sentence from a book called Lost Hero and it is:After talking to coach, I did what he said.
    Sincerely,
    Snake Eyes

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    I'm reading "Who Needs Third Grade" by Candice Ransom.

    Sentence:As Amber waited fot her father, she tugged at her hair, trying to make it longer
    Transition: As Amber waited for her father,

    Sincerely,
    PuppyDogs

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I am reading Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan.

    Then like a caterpillar, she slowly inched flat next to him, their faces looking at each other.
    Love,
    Tami Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Mr.Pahl,

    I found a transition phrase in Calvin and Hobbes, it is, “Another thing I like about vacations is the sharing of special moments.”

    Sincerely,
    Cycle Star

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Class,

    I'm reading Listening For Lions here are the tranisitions. Suddenly, it seemed important to escape. After a bit, she went on.

    Love,
    Shark Fin

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    This is where I found a transition, in the book The Mouse Writer. The sentence is, Once inside, he thought, I’ve left my notebook. The transition is Onceinside,.

    Sincerely, Firewolf

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I am reading Diary Of A Wimpy Kid The Ugly Truth.

    Before I went home,I went to see Rowley but he
    was not home.


    From,Pretty Princess

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    The book I am reading is Jack Get a Clue.

    But by the next morning, Scout seemed to be back to his old self.

    Trasition- But by the next morning,

    Bugman

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I’m reading The Night Of The Living Dummy 2. One sentence that has a transition is: One Thursday night, he laughed so hard.

    From,
    Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    The book I read is "Dork Diarys".The transithion is... When my mom woke up, she went in to the living room and turned on the tv.
    From,
    Rockstar

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I am reading a book called The Book Report From The Black Lagoon and here is the transitions AFTER going through shelves of book, I FINALLY he picked Robin Hood.
    From,
    Banana

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I'm reading a book called Diary Of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. The sentance is After rowley came over, we went straight up to Rodrick's room and the transition is After Rowley came over.

    From,
    Soccerstar

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I'm reading the book called Our Strange New Land.The transition is : The night before, we smiled.
    From,
    Lilly

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I'm reading a book called The Whipping Boy. The transition was "When the lantern floated off, the evil-smelling Billy clutched the boys". Sincerely,
    Sillyband

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I read a book called The Book Report From The Black Lagoon. Transition: Next she brings me Sleeping Beauty, about a princess who falls asleep for a hundred years, until a prince comes along & kisses her.
    From: Burgerpotpie

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I am reading a book called Touch Blue.
    The transition is after his mother left yesterday, Aaron didn't come out of his room.
    Sincerely,
    Star

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dear Mr.Pahl,

    I read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. My transition is Remind me again why you hate me so much?

    From,
    Dragonstar

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    The book I am reading is Encyclopdia Brown. The transition is John Stanley, Idaville's best young tennis player, came into the Brown Detective Agency.

    from,bugman

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I'm reading Bow Down Shad Rach by Joy Cowley.
    My transition is,When Mikley had finished his potatoes, he left.
    From,
    Lightningbolt

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I am reading a book called Dork Diaries.
    The sentence is Since my cereal had been contaminated by Miss Penelp's germ,I dumped it into the sinkand ran upstairs to my bedroom.
    From,
    Superstar

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I am reading a book called Fantastic Mr.Fox by Roald Dahl. The transition is: This time we must go in a very special direction.
    From,
    Mr. Awesome

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    The name of the book is Dark Day in the Deep Sea. A transition is One summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods.

    Sincerely,
    Doggy

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I found an excellent transition in the book called The Whipping Boy. It is: Defiantly biting back every yelp and cry, the whipping boy received the twenty whacks.
    Sincerely,
    Sighame

    ReplyDelete
  28. Today I am reading "Magic Tree House: Afternoon on the Amazon" by Mary Pope Osborne. The transition is: "Before we do anything, I’d better check the book." I loved the way the author used "Before we do anything" instead of just saying "I’d better check the book”

    Sincerely
    Chronicle Dragon

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    Today I read a Readabout smartfile and my transition sentence is After all, chimpanzees are very similar to humans.
    And my transition is after all,.


    Sincerely, Firewolf

    ReplyDelete
  30. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    Sentence:When she looked up, Mrs. Murtland gave
    him a final pat and smiled.
    Transition: When she looked up,

    Sincerely,
    PuppyDogs

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dear Mr.Pahl, I'm reading Rascal by Sterling North. One transition is, “After an early dinner we brought in the animals Rascal first, to allow him to wake up for the festivities, then Wowser, and finally the selected cats.” Sincerely, Little Animal

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I am reading The Book Report from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler here is the transition. When I got home I went straight to my room and no cookies.
    From,
    Tami Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    I found a transition in The Book Report The Black Lagoon. Luckily she's up reading. The transition is luckily.

    From: Burgerpotpie

    ReplyDelete
  34. Dear Mr.Pahl,
    I'm reading the book called Savvy. The transition is: Later that night, I lay awake in the dark bedroom I shared with Gypsy.
    From,
    Lilly

    ReplyDelete
  35. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    I’m reading Dingoes at Dinner Time by Mary Pope. One sentence that has a transition is ‘’A moment later, three dogs crept silently into the clearing. The transition is one moment later
    From,
    Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  36. Dear Mr. Pahl,
    The book I read is Island Of The Blue Dolphins by Scott O’ Dell. My transition is: "This time, you will need to do nothing," Captain Orlov said.
    From, Lightning Bolt

    ReplyDelete
  37. Dear Mr. Pahl
    I am reading "Blitz" by Hetty burlingame Beaty. My transition sentece is: When winter set in, Sye had the blacksmith put sharp pegs on the horses' shoes to keep them from slipping on icy roads. The transition is:When winter set in,
    Sincerely,
    Star

    ReplyDelete
  38. Dear Mr. Pahl ,

    I’m reading A-Z Mysteries my transition is: Since she called the police they found the bandit.
    Sincerely,
    Snake Eyes

    ReplyDelete
  39. Dear Mr. Pahl,

    The book I’m reading Dragon breath by Ursula Vernon My transition is: Since the whale saved us we got to explore a little more with Edward.

    From,
    Snake Eyes

    ReplyDelete

We love it when you leave us a comment!

Please be sure your comment is interesting for others to read and that it somehow adds to the conversation. Be sure to read it after you type it. Does it say what you want it to say? Is it correctly written and spelled?

Please use ONLY your first name when commenting. You may also tell us where you are from or whether you know someone in our class. Examples: From, John, Mr. Pahl's friend, or From, Dawn, Nik's mom, or Sincerely, Mary, a student in Mr. Salsich's class.

Just below the Comment Box is a drop down menu. Select "Anonymous" from the choices; it is the last choice on the list. Then click "Post Comment." In order for your comment to be approved and posted, you should see a message highlighted in yellow that says "Your comment will appear after moderation." If you see a red line after you click Post Comment, your comment did not go through for some reason. Try it again until you see the message highlighted in yellow.

Thank you!