Fourth graders in Mrs.Grotenhuis' class have been working hard to develop their first opinion essays! They spent time generating ideas, drafting, revising, editing and publishing over the past couple of months. Please enjoy reading what they have to say, and feel free to leave positive comments for our writers! Their essays can be found in the pages on the right, or by scrolling through the posts below. Enjoy!

#12 I Want to Get Better at My Floor Routine

Floor Routine!

#12

You might think that floor routines can be easy but its not always easy. You have to memorize it and thats hard. And it can't be too short it can't be too long it has to be just in the middle. I want to get better at my floor routine by pushing myself, practicing a lot and by being confident.

One way I want to get better at my floor routine is by pushing myself. For example I had to make my back tuck higher so I pushed myself. One example that shows this is one time I had to do back handspring back tuck.  And I said to myself if I don’t land it then I need to do 8 back handsprings all by myself without stopping.  And I knew I could do that so I ran and I landed I was so happy I showed my mom and she was so proud of me. And I know that I can  do it again and I felt so happy. I jumped even higher and I landed it. I had to make it be high every time by jumping harder.

One way that I want to get better at my floor routine is by practicing a lot. For example my legs were apart and I had to make them so that they were together. It was hard to figure out what to do but I knew what to do I grabbed a piece of paper and I put it in between my legs. And I squeezed it as tight with my knees and flipped over and I landed it . And know if my legs are a part then I know that I can use a piece of paper. One example that shows this is one time my legs where apart so I did it again and I pretended that there was a piece of paper in my legs and then my legs where together. But it was still a little hard to do it.

One way that I want to get better at my floor routine is by being confident. For example one time I was at stoughton tumblers and my friend told me to do as many back handsprings as I can. And we were going to try to beat each other to see who did the most back handsprings. One example that shows this is One time I had to do whip whip back tuck. so I said In my head you can do it. And if i didn’t land it then people had to do 10 situps so I said to myself that I can do it I can do it. I landed it and people started to cheer of me!

I realized that floor routines can be hard to memorize. But if you push yourself, practices a lot and be confident then you can do anything. Never quit never give up, you just have to be yourself and go full with confidence And be courageous.

#6 People Should Help Endangered Animals

People Should Help Endangered Animals

#6

I have found out endangered animals are extremely important and more people should help endangered animals. people should help endangered animal, because endangered or not, animals have resources that we might need in the future, some people love endangered animals and if they go extinct and vanish forever they will be furious, and its against the law to own or kill an endangered animal.

Endangered or not,  animals have resources that we might need in the future! For example: If cows went extinct there would be now hamburgers or steak!! One reason is, if bees went extinct there would no honey! Another reason is, if butterflies went extinct there would be very few flowers left! my point is that these resources are very important and bring help to the world!

I have found out endangered animals are extremely important and more people  should help endangered animals, for example, people love some endangered animals and if they go extinct they will be mad. My biggest fear is that one of my favorite endangered and regular animal could go extinct! And that is Emperor penguins! If they went extinct i don't know what i would do. I LOVE THEM!!! People should help endangered animals, my friend for instance, he loves an endangered animal called the koala, he says “He would cry if they'd go extinct”, and he rarely cries, this one time my babysitter went to Arizona and on the way she went to the zoo and saw turtles and she saw that they were endangered and they were her favorite animal and she was very sad.

Its against the law to own an endangered animal, for example, I once read a book called owl in the shower, it’s about these people Whooooo own an endangered animal called a snowy owl named Bardy, and at the ending (HUGE SPOILERS) they find out there is a fine and it costs 5000$!!!!, they  took care of him by giving him: food, a home, they taught him how to walk and fly, and they washed him, and i notice it was hard for them to let him go when they worked so hard to take care of him.

I realize that I care more about endangered animals than any other animal on the whole earth.

Help The Endangered Everyone!!

#9 When I Get to Michigan, I Get a Warm Fuzzy Feeling

Michigan is Awesome

#9

                     

Many people might  think Michigan isn’t the best state, but I think it is one of the best states ever!!! When I get to Michigan I get a warm fuzzy feeling when we play or go to Potoski or when I see my cousins. Because it is really fun for me, because I only get to see Michigan a couple of times a year.

For example when I get to Michigan I get a warm fuzzy feeling when we play, one time in Michigan a couple of people were passing the football then almost the WHOLE cottage was playing. We were passing and running touchdowns. One time I saw the ball when no one else saw it. I went around the cottage and ran a TOUCHDOWN! In second quarter we jumped in the lake with our clothes on!!!!!! IT WAS AWESOME! The game we played was called deathball. When I get to Michigan I get a warm fuzzy feeling. For instance when we play awesome games like with lightsabers, and we played a game with a stick a couple feet away from their swing set and thought of a color. Then we told the other people our color, and then the person near the stick guessed colors, then if he gets one person’s color they have to run around the stick without getting tagged. When we do games like this it is very fun.

When I get to Michigan I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I see my cousins. For example, one time in Michigan we were tubing, I was on the tube with my cousins Jacob, Caiden and me were tubing around, and like the wind I fell off, but any way they were so far away!! They couldn't hear me! Or the motor of the boat but they were far away! Then my dad saw me and they went back to get me. I have found Jacob is fun and creative. James is cool and likes legos. Caiden is awesome and has a LOT of legos. Lucia is fun and cool. lexi is creative and good at giant find the backpack game, it is where we have backpacks and the offending team hides the backpack and you have to get it without getting hit with a Nerf gun. Aunt Cheri is cool and makes awesome meals. Uncle Jon is fun and makes good stories. Charlie is cool and very creative.

 

For example,  when I get to Michigan I get a warm fuzzy feeling when we go to Potoski for example at Potoski off the wake zone there is a restaurant that we dock next to. Inside the restaurant there is a platform and a higher platform, connected to the smaller platform that we jump off and we dance on the platform too. Also every year we go to Potoski and get ice cream we go to a little place near by, it has some toys and a lot of picnic benches, and one has a wood cover over some wood benches and a plastic cover and plastic benches, and it has a swinging chair and a little wishing fountain with a little hole with running water going through it, and you can put a penny through it and it was awesome! When we get ice cream in Potoski I get a warm fuzzy feeling.

I realize when I get to Michigan I have some of the best times ever and I bet my cousins think that too.  

#16 Little Sisters Can Be Rats

+= my little sisters

Little Sisters Can Be Rats

#16

    

Many kids think that having a little sister would be fun and she would be the sweetest thing all the time!!!!! But I am a older sister and in my experience of having a  younger sister I have come to know little sisters can be rats!!! For instance little sisters can be rats when they take your stuff, when they tattle on you and most of all when they hurt you.

One way that little sisters can be rats is when they take your stuff, for example once my sister put on my on my shirt and I told her to take it off but she didn't and she went around telling people it wasn’t mine. IT DROVE ME CRAZY!!!!!! Another example is once my sister was playing with my stuffed animal and she started to think it was hers so she would NOT let me touch it. By the way little sisters mostly annoy you when you're closer in age. also little sisters can be rats when they take your stuff. For example one time My sister was doing rubber bands and she needed lots of a color. But she didn’t have that color and I did. So she took my rubber bands and she used them and when she was done they were gone!!!!!! it was a good color!!!!!!!

       Another way that little sisters can be rats is when they tattle on you, for example once I snuck a piece of chocolate and she tattled on me. but the good thing is my mom didn't care. But thats only one example once my sister tattled on me because I took (bunny ears) her tenneys. Little sisters are rats! also once I pulled a prank on my sister and the same ending as the others she tattled on me. Just for your information it was supposed to be funny for both of us. Little sisters can be rats.

       Also another way that little sisters can be rats is when they hurt you, for example once me and my sister were fighting and she said I was the worst that hurt my feelings also once I was sitting by my baby sister and I got in her face so she punched me in the face. I also remember once my sister was mad at me so her way to solve the problem was to pinch me. It hurt. Little sisters can be rats.

             so if you get a baby sister the best way to handle it is to ignore what they do and then they will get bored because you're not reacting to it. There is a 90% chance that they will not do it as often. But there is no way to get them to stop permanently.  Now you know little sisters are not alway so sweet and fun little sisters can be rats!!!

#22 Family is Always Going to be Your #1 Fan

My “Fan”-tastic Family

#22

Sometimes in life your beliefs change. Well mine haven’t, my belief is that family is always going to be your number 1 fan.  I know that because my family is always right by my side, supports me, and they always cheer me up. So remember when you’re growing up and your beliefs change make sure this one you’ll always have.

One reason that family is always going to be your number 1 fan is that there always by your side.  For example, when they help you when you’re hurt. One time I was learning how to ride my bike. I fell off the bike and my whole leg was scraped up and bloody. My family took me inside and cleaned me up and gave me an ice pack. That made me feel loved. For instance, another time is when me and my brother both had a soccer game at the same time. My dad is the coach of my brothers team. My brother, dad, and mom all came to see the end of my game. Those are some ways my family is right by my side.

Another reason that family is always going to be your number 1 fan, is by being supportive in everything I do. For example I had to make a decision on which activity I wanted to do. I could choose from so many I couldn’t decide. My family told me that they would support me in what ever I choose. I ended up choosing soccer and piano. Another example is when  they helped me with school work. Also they came to my norwegian dance practices at 6:30 in the morning when they don’t need to. Those are some ways how my family always supports me.

last of all why family is always going to be your number 1 fan, is by cheering you up when you're feeling down. One time I was being bullied by a kid at school. He was teasing me and not making me feel great. My parents talked to me how to make it stop and made me feel better. Also, another time is when I didn’t get the best score in my tumbling meet. They made me feel better by taking me for ice cream. They also said things like good job and nice work.Those are some ways how they can cheer you up.

This is important to remember that family is always going to be by your side, support you, and cheer you up. Just think of life as a soccer game and you're family is you're number 1 fan!