Cynthia Rylant Author Study

We read the books of Cynthia Rylant, author of books such as When I Was Young in the Mountain, The Relatives Came

and many others.

We read Cynthia Rylant: A Writer’s Story by Alice Cary. We learned these things about Cynthia Rylant as a writer.

How did she become a great author? She read a lot of children’s books.

What did she write about? What she knew and loved.

How do her stories start? As IDEAS!

Where does she get ideas for books? From people/places/things she knows.

Things we learned about Cynthia Rylant...continued.

How does she develop a story? She starts with her imagination, then adds the plot, then adds the details. She says details are what makes stories great.

How does imagination come? By sitting quietly.

Cynthia Rylant writes many narratives. This is what we learned about narratives.

They are stories about yourself (or the author).

They are like memories.

They can happen any time but would have to be something that happened in your past.

They might have a problem but might not have one.

More about narratives...

If they have a problem, they might have a solution but they might not.

They can have any number of people in them.

They tell more than just what the character did...they tell about what the character said, felt, thought, heard, saw, smelt, etc.

Our Narratives

Scroll through the next slides to see the narratives we wrote during this author study. Enjoy!

Summer Vacation by Jasmine

On the day I went to 1st grade. I had to move a lot and I went to other schools. I went to Galveston. Just me and my grandparents. We had an awesome time. When me and my brother were bored we went out side with my puppy and played school. I was the teacher my brother was the kid. The puppy was the pet of the school. When it was the Summer I got to sleep late till noon but some times I had to go to church . When I got off of school I went to Tyler . It was boring and some times I went to Whitehouse. That is boring some times. When I told my mom I was bored she took me to the beach . My first time at the beach was awesome. It was pretty. My grandmother saw a jelly fish. I got out of the water. The next morning I was scared to get in the water so my grandmother grabbed my hand and took me in the water . I got to ride on the farie and I saw dolfins . When I went to the beach they had fire works and it wasn’t the 4th of July. I have to say I had a pretty good time.

All About Madison by MadisonAll About Madison by MadisonWhen I was born in Tyler, Tx my mom named me Madison. I was born at ETMC. Then we lived in Tyler for a long time .We moved but we still lived in Tyler. Then we moved to a town called White Oak. Then I grew up. And the first day of kindergarden was coming quick. My teacher was Mrs. Richeson. And that went by fast!! And then next thing you know I’m in first grade. I was in Mrs. Barlow’s class. I made new friends. Their names were Courtney & Brooklyn. Then months go by and then I start second grade. And me , Brookyln, and Courtney are all in the same class this year! Our teacher is Mrs. Richeson. She moved up to teach 2nd grade. And on the one hundredth day of school ... WE PLAYED ALL SOARTS OF GAMES! That day was the best day of my life. Everyone in the hole second grade was there. The 100th day of school was awsome ! We all had a blast while we were playing all the games. Well , school is the best!!! BYE!!!!!!! BYE!!!!!!!!

When I Went to Watertown by Austin

One time in the summer, my mom, brother and me we went to Water Town in Shreveport to meet some of her friends and go to the water par.k When we got there it was packed.When we got to the front desk we did not have enough money but they said if we got some cans we could get in. So we went to the store and got one can and went back to the park.We went in.It was big slides ever where but 1st we went to the pool to get ready.Then they had the big slides. Me and my brother got on it.We did it almost three times then we got tired .So we went to the swimming in the wave pool and it was getting deep.So we went to a swim around pool.Then it started to lighting and they said we had to get out of the pool.So we got out of the pool.They did not let any body in so we left.When we left to go home people got back in the pool. It was my 1st time at the water park. It was fun.

When I Was Born by Brooklyn

One day my mom graduated from college and thats when she met my dad. And they got married. And had Brinklee for five years Brinklee prayed and prayed for a baby sister and she got one. Thats were I can in . We rushed to the hospital on July 9 th. And I was born. When my mom first saw me she fainted. But the nurses woke her up. Tears of joy were in that room. 5 months later, after giving my sister a hug good bye the days were exhausting. I layed there on my mom’s tummy. As she sang I love Brookie yes I do I love Brookie and its true . And then we both went to sleep with me on her tummy. Couple hours later the phone rang . Ring ring my mom picked it up . Hello she whispered . We’re coming home in 25 minutes . Brinklee wants to see her sister. Brooklyn wants to she her sister too . She learned a new word you meany loop loop. And she learned Brinklee is best . Brinklee hear this Brinklee is the best . When Brinklee got home she hugged me so tight I cried . My mom was so happy when I was born .

My Dog by BryanMy Dog by BryanOne day I met my Momo and Popo to get my dog. My Momo and Popo’s dog had babies. Then we went back home. On our way home we found him a kinle. We got it at Tracter Supply. And when we play with him we let him out. A few months later we got our fence put up. So we could leave him out in the backyard. But when we play baseball we have to put him up. After we are done we let him out. We some times forget to let him out. But most of the time we let him out. He will takle you. He has takled my brother before. But he is a good dog and a big dog too.

One day I met my Momo and Popo to get my dog. My Momo and Popo’s dog had babies. Then we went back home. On our way home we found him a kinle. We got it at Tracter Supply. And when we play with him we let him out. A few months later we got our fence put up. So we could leave him out in the backyard. But when we play baseball we have to put him up. After we are done we let him out. We some times forget to let him out. But most of the time we let him out. He will takle you. He has takled my brother before. But he is a good dog and a big dog too.

The Best Day of My Life by DylanThe Best Day of My Life by Dylan

One time I caught a chameleon. It got scared and turned red. When I caught him he was tan. He saw a fly but he would not catch it! I never knew a chameleon sometimes won’t want a fly. He let it fly off. Then I let him go. I watched him slowly go away. Then I went inside and told my dad I caught a chameleon. When I went back outside I saw a RaceRunner . It is a lizard that can run 18 miles per hour. I tried to catch him but he ran away. I was so close to catching it. So then I went inside. I ate all of my spegetios . Then I got candysticks! That was the best day of my life!

One time I caught a chameleon. It got scared and turned red. When I caught him he was tan. He saw a fly but he would not catch it! I never knew a chameleon sometimes won’t want a fly. He let it fly off. Then I let him go. I watched him slowly go away. Then I went inside and told my dad I caught a chameleon. When I went back outside I saw a RaceRunner . It is a lizard that can run 18 miles per hour. I tried to catch him but he ran away. I was so close to catching it. So then I went inside. I ate all of my spegetios . Then I got candysticks! That was the best day of my life!

Summer Memories by Joe

At Kid’s Station there’s a lot of stuff to buy and win. They use to have a ball pit. They have the roll ball target game, water shooting game, rollin’ armadillo game and the crane game! Big balls with stuffing is at Kid’s Station. They have a baby playground. Chuck -e- Cheeses was fun. But I just went there 1 time. There were only arcade games and pizza and a seat game. I was in kinder garden. Swimming lessons were great! Even it had snacks! It had a cool diving board! Putt-Putt is cool because it’s golf. It has a loopdeeloop, Ramps, walls, and 18 holes of fun! It had the ball game to get bouncy balls. It has a steering wheel. Splash Kingdom is the most popular, extremely, cool ride of all swimmingdom!!!!!!!! It haves water slides, Deep swim and water castle. At the end of the summer, I felt summerific because I loved all of the places I went to. I wished it will start all over again.

My Little Memories by My Little Memories by PaytonPayton

My Little Memories by My Little Memories by PaytonPaytonOne time when I was little me and my sister were wrestling on the bed. My

mom was not home and neither was my dad. My sister put her elbow back and hit me in the eye. I fell on the floor and that’s how I got my 2nd black eye. My grand mother came in and was sad.

One time in first grade my teacher made a mistake. She was going to write in my planer but she forgot. I didn’t have time to tell her because we were leaving. When I read my book Treasure Island it was really good. It was one of the best books in the world. I was 7 when I read it.

When I was 3 years old in Pre-K I found out about Star Wars and I love it.One time I tripped down some stairs when I was 3. It hurt really really bad. (Especially when I hit the wall.) When I hit the floor I started to cry. One day my mom let me go swimming in April. By the time I got out my teeth were chattering. But it was still fun! Everything was a little fun.

One time when I was little me and my sister were wrestling on the bed. My mom was not home and neither was my dad. My sister put her elbow back and hit me in the eye. I fell on the floor and that’s how I got my 2nd black eye. My grand mother came in and was sad.

One time in first grade my teacher made a mistake. She was going to write in my planer but she forgot. I didn’t have time to tell her because we were leaving. When I read my book Treasure Island it was really good. It was one of the best books in the world. I was 7 when I read it.

When I was 3 years old in Pre-K I found out about Star Wars and I love it.One time I tripped down some stairs when I was 3. It hurt really really bad. (Especially when I hit the wall.) When I hit the floor I started to cry. One day my mom let me go swimming in April. By the time I got out my teeth were chattering. But it was still fun! Everything was a little fun.

My Dirt Bike by RowdyMy Dirt Bike by Rowdy

When I got my mini elactric dirt bike I could not stop looking at it. I jumped on it and started to go. I went 14 miles per hour. That is as fast as it can go. I have ramped with it and it can go through mud, and rocks, and water that is not over the tires. It is blue with a number 2 on it. I can pop a wheely with it to. To do it you stand and then you jump as high as you can wile you are holeding on to the handel bars at the same time as each other. And if water tuches the batery we will have to buy a new one. It can only holed 1 person. That was very awesome.

When I got my mini elactric dirt bike I could not stop looking at it. I jumped on it and started to go. I went 14 miles per hour. That is as fast as it can go. I have ramped with it and it can go through mud, and rocks, and water that is not over the tires. It is blue with a number 2 on it. I can pop a wheely with it to. To do it you stand and then you jump as high as you can wile you are holeding on to the handel bars at the same time as each other. And if water tuches the batery we will have to buy a new one. It can only holed 1 person. That was very awesome.

Friendship by AlexiaFriendship by Alexia

Hi, my name is Alexia and I am going to tell you about my friend Cate. It all starts. Tete is Cate with you? Yes. Hi, my name is Cate. My name is Alexia. I’ve seen you before but where? At school when we bumped into each other. Oh yah. Wont to go swing on the vines? Yah. So we swinged and swinged until we found a hole. Look at this hole. Wow that is relly big. Yah let’s go tell. But it has whiers and they don’t have anything knected to it. It is time to go home Cate. Yelled Tete. Can she spen the night? Yes. So it got dark and we went to sleep. My brother put moos on my hand and tickled me. Wake up Alexia. Why is their moos on my face it is ok I will just clean it off. I have to go home I will see you tomorrow. Yah bie. So she went home. I played in my room and just fell asleep. The End.

Hi, my name is Alexia and I am going to tell you about my friend Cate. It all starts. Tete is Cate with you? Yes. Hi, my name is Cate. My name is Alexia. I’ve seen you before but where? At school when we bumped into each other. Oh yah. Wont to go swing on the vines? Yah. So we swinged and swinged until we found a hole. Look at this hole. Wow that is relly big. Yah let’s go tell. But it has whiers and they don’t have anything knected to it. It is time to go home Cate. Yelled Tete. Can she spen the night? Yes. So it got dark and we went to sleep. My brother put moos on my hand and tickled me. Wake up Alexia. Why is their moos on my face it is ok I will just clean it off. I have to go home I will see you tomorrow. Yah bie. So she went home. I played in my room and just fell asleep. The End.

Riding Dirt Bikes by KeelenRiding Dirt Bikes by Keelen

One fine day we went to my brothers baseball game. Then I toled my dad Talor if we are going to look at dart biks. He said why. I said because I want one. When his game was over we went to Talors house. I said lets go and he said no. Go look in the mitel bed room. I did there was a dart bike for me and my two brothers. We went to the 2 in a haf a cord land then we went to the trells. I had fun. It has a lot of traills. Their was Dilen Bells down there. My dad said lets go through Watley. Me and my brothers said what is Watley. My dad said it is where you ride. We said ow. We went across Watley and went through mud and water and dart. Dart bike riding is fun it is itertaning. We probley will go riding naxt Saterday or Sunday. Riding is a lot of fun and I was sad that when my fiftey got tacan away we soled it. I was sad that it was gone but I got a now one at Crismas. And I was so prowd I was about to have a hart attack. Just citing I was just isksited. I love riding dart bikes. They are cool. I am glad my dad can afford them. We all love riding dart bikes. I am going to be a pefasonel dart bike rider when I groo up. Ho likes dart biks riding? We do.

One fine day we went to my brothers baseball game. Then I toled my dad Talor if we are going to look at dart biks. He said why. I said because I want one. When his game was over we went to Talors house. I said lets go and he said no. Go look in the mitel bed room. I did there was a dart bike for me and my two brothers. We went to the 2 in a haf a cord land then we went to the trells. I had fun. It has a lot of traills. Their was Dilen Bells down there. My dad said lets go through Watley. Me and my brothers said what is Watley. My dad said it is where you ride. We said ow. We went across Watley and went through mud and water and dart. Dart bike riding is fun it is itertaning. We probley will go riding naxt Saterday or Sunday. Riding is a lot of fun and I was sad that when my fiftey got tacan away we soled it. I was sad that it was gone but I got a now one at Crismas. And I was so prowd I was about to have a hart attack. Just citing I was just isksited. I love riding dart bikes. They are cool. I am glad my dad can afford them. We all love riding dart bikes. I am going to be a pefasonel dart bike rider when I groo up. Ho likes dart biks riding? We do.

Things That Happened in Florida by Courtney

I went to the beach after Kindergarten. I went to Florida with my mom, dad, aunt ,uncle, and nana, papa, and my great great grandmother. We had fun at the beach .Well before we got there we saw war boats and war planes. We had a house in Florida which is an apartment. When we went down to the beach I got stung by a jellyfish and I woke up and we went down to the shore was covered in seaweed. We did not get to swim. I saw a lot of boats. I saw sail boats. I caught some fish and they were, big, medium, and small. When me and my dad were fishing we saw the bridge we drove on. One night we wanted to go in a pool and we got to go in a pool and we got tired of that so we got in the hot tub. I saw dolphins in Florida. I had a great time in FLORIDA!

MY FROG by John PaulMY FROG by John Paul

I was at wal-mart looking for a pet fish. But instead, I got a frog. “I`ll name him …mater.” I said. Now, we had a tank, rocks, water and the frog. He was an albino frog. I fed him every morning. When you weren`t looking, he would eat his food and take a nap. When you were looking, he would just spread his back legs out. The next year, on January 1st, he died. They could only live for a year. I had to clean his tank out once a week. We hope he went to frog heaven. I loved him so much. I hope I get another one real soon. I will never forget you, mater!

I was at wal-mart looking for a pet fish. But instead, I got a frog. “I`ll name him …mater.” I said. Now, we had a tank, rocks, water and the frog. He was an albino frog. I fed him every morning. When you weren`t looking, he would eat his food and take a nap. When you were looking, he would just spread his back legs out. The next year, on January 1st, he died. They could only live for a year. I had to clean his tank out once a week. We hope he went to frog heaven. I loved him so much. I hope I get another one real soon. I will never forget you, mater!

When I First Got My Black Eye by Zach

One day I woke up. I had to go to school. We played baseball at school. The ball was hit right to me. Then it hit me in the eye and I got a black eye. My eye was swoling. The next day my mom had our suit cases ready. I said where are we going? Then my mom said to the beach in Galistin. Then I smiled at mom .She said we’re spinding a night at a hotel with a pool where you can go under and out. It was awesome. And I stayed there with my baseball team that was even awesomer than the swimming pool. Then the next day we had to go home. I was having so much fun there I didn’t want to leave the hotle. But when I got home I went swimming and a snake was in the pool. I yeld Mom! And she came and saw the snake in the pool and said it was a Water Moccasin and she told me to get out of the swimming pool and keep out of it until the snake was gone. The snake actually got out of the swimming pool. Then the day after that I saw the same snake. And like last time I yeld Mom! And she came. She saw it this time. Mom went and got a hoe and hit it eight times in the body and one in the neck and chopped off its head and we never saw that snake agin.