Student Writing Samples
The Stack the Deck Writing Program P.O. Box 5352 Chicago, IL 60680 Phone: 1-312-675-1000 and 1-800-253-5737 Fax: 1-312-765-0453 Email: stackthedeck@sbcglobal.net
Publishing Student Writing from Check the Deck

Writing Sample Gail Russell from Lighthouse Elementary School in Juipiter, Florida, sent us this sample. It was written by then-third grader Kat McGinley in response to the Super Turkey problem-solving writing prompt in Check the Deck. Instead of writing about a turkey, however, Kat decided to make Super Kitty her hero using the alternate think sheet in the Teacher's Manual. Note the wonderful opening in Kat's story. She uses a quote by the villain, then switches back to the main character. Super Kitty

"The mayor is going out of town tonight. You know what that means," said Ralph, the head of the Big Mean Dogs. "Dinner!" said the rest of the dogs. (Back at Super Kitty's house) "Beep! Beep! Beep! Super Kitty! Super Kitty! Beep! Beep! Beep!" said Super Kitty's controlling machine. "Yes. What is it?" said Super Kitty while she was feeding her pet frog. "The mayor is going out of town tonight. We need you to guard the mayor's house while she's out of town," said the controlling machine. "Okay, what time do I need to be there?" asked Super Kitty. "9:00 A.M." said Super Kitty's machine. "Okay! I'll be there," said Super Kitty. Super Kitty finished feeding her frog. Then she ate some salmon and got dressed. She went outside and locked all the doors. Should Super Kitty take the S.K. cycle or should she run there? She took out a coin and said, "Heads S.K. cycle or tails I run there." She flipped it and it landed on heads. "S.K. cycle it is." She got on the S.K. cycle and raced to the mayor's house. The mayor was standing right in front of the house. "Oh, hi, Super Kitty. I really appreciate you coming here Super Kitty!" said the mayor. "It's no problem," said Super Kitty. "Uh... But will I get paid?" said Super Kitty. "As long as nobody takes my kittens," said the mayor. The mayor took Super Kitty to the room where the kittens were. "Daisy, Tulip and Rose say hello to Super Kitty. She will be watching you while I'm out of town tonight. Now say hello," said the mayor. "Hello," said all three kittens to Super Kitty. "Okay! You guys get to know each other," said the mayor. Daisy, Tulip, and Rose said their good-byes. Then they jumped on Super Kitty. "Ow! Your fur's pokey," said Daisy. "Her tail's soft," said Tulip. "I got to go to the litter box," said Rose. "All right! Thanks for the complements but Rose has to go to the litter box," said Super Kitty. "You guys stay here." Super Kitty took Rose downstairs to the litter box. When she ran back upstairs, the kittens were gone! She ran back downstairs and Rose was gone. Who would have taken Daisy, Tulip, and Rose? Then she remembered she was a Super Hero. "Mmmmmmmeeeeoooowwww!" Super Kitty said. "Meow! Meow! Meow!" said three little kittens. Daisy, Tulip, and Rose. It must have been. Super Kitty pressed her decoder and found out the meows weren't that far away. They were in Ralph Alley. Only Ralph and his gang lived in Ralph Alley. Super Kitty jumped out the window and landed on her S.K. cycle. Then she took out her map and drove to Ralph Alley. "Ralph, where are you, Ralph?" said Super Kitty very quietly. She parked her S.K. cycle and she locked it. Then somebody grabbed Super Kitty from behind. He tied Super Kitty to a chair with barbed wire. Super Kitty didn't know how to get out. She was just about to give up but then she remembered what her mom told her when she was just a kitten. "Remember, you're a cat. Always use cat claws when you're in trouble." Then, Super Kitty tried to cut herself free. She finally got free! Now she had to find Daisy, Tulip, and Rose. "Help! Help! Help," said three little kittens. "I'm coming!" said Super Kitty. Super Kitty ran to the end of the alley. She saw Ralph and said, "Hey, Ralph! Get away from those kittens." "Oh yeah! Make me!" said Ralph. Super Kitty thought from a moment. "You guys want a bone?" said Super Kitty. They all nodded. She took a rubber bone, squeezed it, waved it in the air, and then threw it. They all ran after it forgetting all about the cats. "Come on! We've got to get going before they come back," said Super Kitty. They ran to the S.K. cycle. She drove back to the mayor's house, unlocked the door, ran upstairs, and tucked the kittens in. "It's hard watching three kittens." She sang the cats a lullaby and they fell right asleep.

Pet Argument Karen Gierzak from Rockwell Elementary School in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, sent this student paper for the persuasive Pet Argument assignment in Check the Deck. Can I Have A Lizard? Dear Mom & Dad,          I would like to get a lizard for a pet. We could get it from a pet store without any problem. The cats would like to watch him. He wouldn't make much noise especially since he can't bark at the washing machine. The lizard won't take up much room, and he would keep me company.          I know you'll say it has sharp claws and salmonella, but I'll always wear thick gloves when I pick it up or touch it. You think the cats will eat it, but I'll put a screen on top of his cage. I'll never make you touch it, so you won't have to feel its scaly skin. Besides, I like to clean cages, so you won't ever have to do that. Love, Niki Travel Brochure Katie Gansel from Clissold Elementary School in Chicago wrote this paper in response to a writing prompt dealing with describing a neighborhood place and publishing it as a travel brochure. Bob Cahill, the son of one of the developers of The Stack the Deck Writing Program, taught Katie. Finch Lake          On Finch Lake in Michigan there is a beautiful sunny cottage that is very organized, clean, and friendly. This cottage has a flag pole in front, and is the third cottage on the left.          At this cottage you can meet five friendly people and a playful dog. You can meet my very social dad, my extremely neat mom, my teasing and wild two brothers, my silly dog, and helpful happy me.          If you bring kids, we can swing on the swing, play Play Station, ride bikes, roller blade, and play board games. Also, the kids and the adults could all go on the boat to go swimming and do other things.          If you come to visit you can bring your family or friends, you can do a lot of fun activities in the summer. When we go on the boat, you can lay on the beach and feel the sun as hot as steam on your skin. The Gansel family is as fun as a bird flying in the sky. Katie beautifully included colorful words and similes and supplied specific details. The prewriting mini-lessons and student think sheet enabled her to stay focused.

Essays from Clissold Elementary School in Chicago Teacher Bob Cahill sent us these essays by students from his class at Clissold Elementary School. Congratulations to Mia Baldacci. After reading Alexander and the Terrible, Miserable, No Good Day, Mia Baldacci created her own version. A Bad Day by Mia Baldacci Last summer when I was nine, I had a dreadfully horrible day. To start it off, I bumped my head on the headboard of my bed. Then I was walking down the stairs, when, just my luck, I slipped and bent my finger. I could tell that this was not going to be the best day of my life. I got up and went downstairs for breakfast. We were having cornpops. I brought the spoon up to my mouth when it tipped and spilled down my front. I reached for the pop tarts. Later on we roller-bladed, and I fell and scraped my knee. After that we went swimming, but the water was too cold. My sister and I went home and had a bowl of soup. No one told me it was tomato soup. Belch! That afternoon was terrible. That night when I was in the shower, soap got in my eyes. It really hurt. Then I printed something out on my computer and got a paper cut. When I went down the hallway, I tripped over a shoe and twisted my ankle. This day was too annoying.

Samples from Brookings, South Dakota Darlene Schingoethe from Central Elementary in Brookings, South Dakota, sent us these wonderful samples of her students' writing from the first unit in Check the Deck. Each student published his/her work as a travel brochure. Congratulations to Daniel, Julia, Zoe, and Luke.

A Character Sketch from Woodville, Ohio Elementary teacher Kay Peloquin from Solomon Lutheran School sent us nine-year old Amy Myers' character sketch assignment from Flip the Deck. Christina is lucky to have a friend like Amy. Friends Forever I have a friend named Christina. She always looks very positive. She has hazel eyes, and her skin is as soft as a sheet of paper and as dark as mine. When she dresses for school in her uniform, she makes sure her skirt is as nice as it is when it is first bought. The chain of a friendship necklace is under her white and beautiful blouse. Her socks must not be wrinkled and her shoes have to be clean. Christina's headband always sits flawlessly on her long, brown hair. After school we both come to swim team at Saint Francis DeSales High School in Toledo. Even though she is in a different group, we stretch together on the rough, brown and wet pool deck. We even have the same orange-black spotted suit. We are friends because we met up eating at the "Mini Meet." We had a banquet just before the meet. There were tons of things to eat. We sat down together on the high, silver, and cold bleachers eating fruit. Before you knew it, we were talking away. We gave each other our phone numbers. Since that wonderful day, we have been best friends.

Back To Previous Page

Labor Saving Devices | Book Catalog | Writing Workshops | Shop Online Writing Samples | Teaching Tips | News | Home

Copyright © 2001, Stack the Deck Writing Program. All Rights Reserved.