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!
Friday, February 4, 2011
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Dear Mr.Pahl
ReplyDeleteBook: The Whipping Boy
Transition: When the guests stood up to toast the king their wigs came flying off.
Sincerely,
Woodchucker
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteHere 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Class,
ReplyDeleteThese 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.
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI'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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Class,
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Listening For Lions here are the tranisitions. Suddenly, it seemed important to escape. After a bit, she went on.
Love,
Shark Fin
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThis 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThe 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI’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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThe 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI'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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the book called Our Strange New Land.The transition is : The night before, we smiled.
From,
Lilly
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI'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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. My transition is Remind me again why you hate me so much?
From,
Dragonstar
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThe 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Bow Down Shad Rach by Joy Cowley.
My transition is,When Mikley had finished his potatoes, he left.
From,
Lightningbolt
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThe 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
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
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”
ReplyDeleteSincerely
Chronicle Dragon
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteToday 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteSentence:When she looked up, Mrs. Murtland gave
him a final pat and smiled.
Transition: When she looked up,
Sincerely,
PuppyDogs
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
ReplyDeleteDear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI found a transition in The Book Report The Black Lagoon. Luckily she's up reading. The transition is luckily.
From: Burgerpotpie
Dear Mr.Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI'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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteI’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
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThe 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
Dear Mr. Pahl
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Mr. Pahl ,
ReplyDeleteI’m reading A-Z Mysteries my transition is: Since she called the police they found the bandit.
Sincerely,
Snake Eyes
Dear Mr. Pahl,
ReplyDeleteThe 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