Melissa Forney's - Race around Florida

Race Around Florida Winners

Race Around Florida Contest Winners

1st place-- $500--Will Blanchard, student
$500--Joe LaFitte, teacher
Liza Jackson Preparatory School
Fort Walton Beach

2nd place--$300--Jonathan Melendez, student
$300--Brenda Fasekas, teacher
Clifford O. Taylor/Kirklane Elementary
Palm Springs

3rd place--$100--Brittany Robinson, student
$100--Holley Sweet, teacher
Cottondale Elementary School
Cottondale

3rd place--$100--Sarah McClenithan, student
$100--Nicole Lindsey, teacher
Wauchula Elementary
Wauchula

4th place--$50--Michael Grantham, student
$50--Stephanie Hearld
Bayshore Elementary
Fort Myers

4th place--$50--Kegan Ritchey, student
$50--Anita Cambron, teacher
Freedom Elementary
DeLand

4th place--$50--John Curtis Williamson, student
$50--Kenny Seneca, teacher
Keystone Heights Elementary
Keystone Heights

4th place--$50--Larissa Meza, student
$50--Sherry Cudd, teacher
Maya Angelou Elementary
Miami

4th place--$50--Olivia Sipe, student
$50--Denise Torres, teacher
Sunset Lakes Elementary
Miramar

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Race Around Florida Contest. We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Posted by Race_around_florida at 7:48 AM 0 comments

Over the Holiday..

Over the Holiday..

Dear Kids, Well, have I had an adventure! Over the holidays I flew to the state of Mississippi to visit friends. A friend of theirs, David Mars, owns an antique airplane that is almost 80 years old. It's an open-air biplane, a plane with two wings. Can you imagine flying high in the air with no roof over your head? Your hair whips wildly in the wind! The plane can perform tricks---loop-de-loops---flying straight up in the air and then rolling to the side---and can chase other small planes. I had a ball. I hope you all had a great time off from school. Now it's time to get right back in to the Race Around Florida. You are learning to become Writing Superstars!

Your Friend, Melissa Forney

Posted by Race_around_florida at 7:48 AM 0 comments

Holiday Season!

Holiday Season!

Hi, Kids! Many of you are getting ready for the holidays. That means time off from school! Won't it be nice to be home with your families for a few weeks? I'm looking forward to that, too. Several weeks ago I did something very new and exciting. I rode in an antique, open-air airplane! That's right. Just me and the pilot, flying through the breeze with no cockpit or walls. The plane is called a biplane because it has two sets of wings, one right over the other. These planes were popular in the 1920's. Early pilots employed brave daredevils, who wore a tether line, to walk out on the wings and do tricks while the planes were in the air. Can you imagine? I didn't do any tricks, but at one point the pilot asked me to undo my seatbelt, turn around, and raise myself up so he could take my picture while we were up in the air. I had to get up on the set on my knees in order to hoist myself high enough. Talk about scary! There I was, several thousand feet up in the air, balanced on the seat on my knees! Thank goodness we didn't hit any air pockets. The whole experience was thrilling. I've been visiting schools all over Florida this fall. Many, many kids have told me how much they are enjoying the Race Around Florida. Many kids have e-mailed me to tell me they are writing a particular clue and having a ball doing it. I'm glad you are having fun with writing. That's the main thing. Learning to write well is a life-changing skill, so why not have fun while you are learning to do it? Have a wonderful holiday. I wish you and your families every happiness. Your Friend, Melissa Forney

Posted by Race_around_florida at 7:48 AM 0 comments

Hi, Kids!

Hi, Kids!

Have you noticed that it's getting cooler here in Florida? Fall is in the air. What perfect weather for our Race Around Florida. I've been receiving letters from kids all over the state who are participating in the race. The great news is that we're having a blast and learning to write at the same time! This week let's focus in on writing with description. Look around you.
What do you see? Pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch? Football games? Cheerleaders? The Fall Festival at your School? The Fair? There are lots of things to write about! Write a letter to a friend or cousin who lives in another state. Describe some of the things you've seen. Use adjectives, adverbs, and juicy color words so that your friend can "picture" just what you're writing about. That's what the professionals do. Or, use your camera! Take pictures to put in a scrapbook. Then use your best descriptive writing to capture the essence of Florida in the Fall! Are you having fun with the Clues for Race Around Florida?

Your Friend,

Melissa Forney

Posted by Race_around_florida at 7:48 AM 2 comments

A reader writes...

hi, my name is nialah robinson and i love the cool story!it was a blast!my teacher raed it to us,and i liked it.when i seen you on a picture you looked Dazzling!very gorgeous.HaHa!bye

December 2, 2007 4:58 PM

A reader writes...

The fair is going on in my county(Palm Beach County). It is a blast! I go on rides,eat great food, and play games.

January 28, 2007 6:58 PM

What a Blast!

Hi, Kids!

I've been visiting the Ft. Walton beach along the Gulf of Mexico. What a blast! Florida's beaches, especially along the western coast, are glorious examples of white, sugary sand. There are millions of shells, too. If you're lucky, you can find a sand dollar in shallow water. Early in the morning, seagulls fly overhead and pelicans dive into the aquamarine waves. It was also interesting to see surfers out surfing in the waves from sun-up to sun-down. When the wind blows, the waves get high. Surfers wear wet-suits and ride across the tops of the breaking waves on their fiberglass surfboards. Sometimes they ride up in front of?a wave. People from all over the world travel to Florida to walk along the edge of the Gulf of Mexico and swim in the warm, tropical waters. You don't have to walk very far to find children building sand castles and digging holes to sit in at the water's edge. Aren't we lucky to live in such a place of beauty! I hope you're having fun on your Race Around Florida, discovering new and wonderful things about our incredible state.

Your Friend,

Melissa Forney

Posted by Race_around_florida at 7:48 AM 0 comments

Skill Safari!

Hi, Kids!
I just got home from training teachers who want to be better writing teachers. We had so much fun! One of the neatest things we did together was to take a "Skill Safari" to revise our writing. We divided the group into four sections: the waterfall, the snakes, the jaguars, and the monkeys. Each group
had a special sound to make that went with their character. I gave each of the 106 teachers a special pencil and a glow stick. I put on binoculars and a pith helmet. Then we turned all the lights out at once.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I said. Come with me into the jungle...We can hear the sound of the waterfall (sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh), the snakes (s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s), the jaguars (yee-OW--yee--OW), and the monkeys (oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo). In the jungle, we have to carry our light with us. Break your glow sticks NOW." You should have seen the eerie green glow creep over the room as 106 teachers broke their glow sticks at exactly the same time. You couldn't see anyone's face---just the glow sticks casting their spooky green glow. We used the glow sticks to light up our papers and look for----you guessed it---writing skills! Yes, we looked for similes, metaphors, dialogue, hyperbole, alliteration, strong verbs, sizzling vocabulary, and more. Talk about a cool
experience! Revising our papers was spectacular!
You can do this same activity in your classroom with your teacher. While you are in "the jungle," look for individual writing skills to make your writing better.
Have you started the Race Around Florida? Check out the photos on this web page. You'll find some fascinating facts about the state of Florida!

Your friend,
Melissa Forney

Posted by Race_around_florida at 7:38 AM 7 comments

A reader writes...

The "Skill Safari" was so much fun! The teachers at Keystone Elem. School in Clay County LOVED it! We are just finishing up our Race Around FLorida Suitcases. The kids are SO EXCITED! THANK YOU, Melissa!

September 26, 2007 10:58 AM

A reader writes...

Thank you for your spirit of open sharing and creating ideas on the spot! Not only did we learn ‘exquisite‘ new writing techniques for our students, but you shared many success stories in a manner that enabled us to build an environment so our students may succeed.

Clay County was extremely fortunate to spend two days with you before school began. Thank you for coming and putting the ‘sizzle‘ back into teaching!

Ilah

September 26, 2007 6:42 PM

A reader writes...

Melissa,

I would like to thank you for the amazing techniques and strategies showed during your seminar. I can't express how excited I am. I can't wait to show my students all the amazing things I learned.
Thank you, and thanks for your commitment to our children.

Hope to see you soon in my school,
Kelly

October 4, 2007 7:21 PM

A reader writes...

Melissa,

Thank you for the energy and passion that you shared with us in West Palm. Each strategy illustrated the "fun" in teaching children. The kids are very excited about writing, and I can't wait to have even more fun in class!

If you are ever in Boca, please stop by at ADHUS.

Thanks,
Gina

October 14, 2007 6:19 AM

A reader writes...

WOW! Escambia County will never be the same. We are so fired up for writing! Thank you for providing a mertorious workshop. I just been in my class 2 days since your seminar and have already used several skills. SIZZLE, SIZZLE It is getting hot in here! (laughing)

God bless you Melissa

Angie

October 27, 2007 4:59 PM

A reader writes...

COOL HI MY NAME IS NIALAH THE KIDS AT CHAIRS LOVED IT U KNOW THE SKILL SAFARI. I LOVED IT I REALLY REALLY DID.

November 28, 2007 10:37 PM

A reader writes...

HI,MS.MELISSA FORNEY MY NAME IS NIALAH LASHUNDRA ROBINSON AND I GO TO CHAIRS ELE.I AM IN THE FOURTH GRADE AND I HOPE MY NAME GET PULLED FOR THE 500 DALLORS. MY TEACHER NAME IS VICKI HUSTON YOU SHOULD KNOW HER.SHE IS A VERY PRETTY.IF I WIN THE 500 DALLORS I WOULD GET MY ENTIRE FAMILY SOMETHING.GOD BLESS YOU. AND HAVE A GREAT X-MAS.

December 1, 2007 7:20 PM

Hi Kids!

Hi, Kids!
What a wonderful time of year. School has started, the weather isn't as hot as it's been, and we're starting the Race Around Florida together. This web site is for you! I'll be posting a blog for you to read. I'll share tips to help you become better writers. I'll post pictures and information so you can learn about our magical and spectacular state of Florida. We have a rich, colorful history in this state. We have amazing animals and exotic plants. Florida is an incredible place to live. You are learning to become great writers. Having the ability to write well is a life skill! Good communication skills open a lot of doors of opportunity. You've got a great future ahead. As you write this week, try to imagine you are a video photographer. As you take your "video pictures," your audience will be able to see and hear everything you point your camera at. Your special video "camera" will also enable them to smell and taste things, too. That's the kind of writing that drives readers wild! Use every kind of description you can think of. Chose words
that help readers picture just what you want to say. Be very specific. Here's an example:
Instead of writing, "When I stubbed my toe on the sharp rock it hurt really bad."
Try writing, "When I stubbed my toe on the sharp rock the pain was so bad I went ballistic. I ran around in circles screaming at the top of my lungs. See how easy that is?"
Have a great week writing. Enjoy the clues for the Race Around Florida. Have you made your paper bag suitcase yet?

A reader writes...

hi mel i love race around florida.im still in the race im on clue#3 and i hope i win my name is isnavys and i hope u also get my papers bye

October 11, 2007 2:13 PM

A reader writes...

i love race around florida im already on clue #2 and i hope i win just incase my name is isnasvy

October 11, 2007 2:15 PM

A reader writes...

Hi melissa forneywe we are haveing fun with the race around florida.It's been a plesure that you seen my teacher miss.oneill she have been talking about you evrey day when we come into the class room. I know that i am gone to be on my best behavior. melissa forney my teacher said that you can hep us with clue#3.one more thing my class had sunt a picthur to you but i was not in it.I had lelt eary that day so the next picture we take iI would be in it bye bye!!

October 24, 2007 3:54 PM

A reader writes...

Dear Melissa Forneywe, I love Race around FL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so fun to write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your frind Emily Martire!!!!

November 30, 2007 1:30 PM

A reader writes...

HI,ITS NIALAH AGAIN I LIKE CLUE #6 ABOUT MANATEES. IT WAS ALSOME! BUT * I HOPE TO WIN THE $MONEY.500$ COOL$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$500$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$500$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$500 cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

January 3, 2008 8:56 AM