America, The Perfect Mix 2-27-15

America, The Perfect Mix

From all over the world, people have traveled

To make up our country’s reputation, that has unraveled

Knowledge and information, is something that we seek

Through all these humans, some loud, some meek

Unique colors, sizes, language, and shapes

Some in perfect condition, some with bruises and scrapes

Although know to not judge a book by it’s cover

Personality is how we define one another

New facts on food, religion, and clothes we’ll discover today

Communication and bondings, what better way

To satisfy our yearn

For more and more, about nations, to learn

Slight controversies, and disagreements, sure, there might be some tension

But the collaboration and agreements, should be given our attention

We are titled, and nicknamed, the Melting Pot

Pride we should take, from that, a lot

Explain how you have been surprised by what you are reading. (One Came Home) 2-26-15

Prompt:  Explain how you have been surprised by what you are reading.

Date:  2-26-15

Commented on:  Jared A., Mia C., Joseph G.

          By reading this book, I've become more and more surprised.  Especially as I've grown closer to the end.  Similar to other books I've read, this one seems to build up the plot and leave the reader with many questions, then resolve everything in the end.  All at once in a very important few pages.  Of course, I'm not going to tell you everything that happened, as to prevent a spoiler, but I'm going to do my best to explain.

          A good author can set the tone, or imply that something is true, or up for no debate, even if it might not be.  They can make the reader think how they want them to.  Once the author builds up evidence and makes this proposal, they can have everything unravel at the end and make sense.

          I know that might very well have been unclear, so I'm going to try to give a fictional example:

          I woke up one morning, to find that my cat was gone.  I wasn't too worried at the time, because he's run off for small periods of time before.  However, once it became noon, I was nervous.  A couple days ago, I had presumed he ran away, but I just couldn't accept it.  Then I got his tag or collar in the mail.  Attached was a letter saying, "We're sorry, we found this lying on the curb of the street."  By that point, I presumed him dead.  Later, I figured out that my cat had wandered into a nearby store, and the attendant had taken the collar off to examine who the owner was.  The attendant had to go back to his job though, so he set it down outside while he went to work.  A police man picked up the collar, and sent it in the mail.  My cat was then found, wandering nearby the store and returned to me.

          By creating that story, I hoped I made it a little clear on how the author might make something seem different than it really is, and then fit all the pieces together for the reader at the end.

(Please leave comments if you're unsure about my interpretation)

         

Create a ‘WANTED’ poster for the antagonist. (One Came Home) 2-16-15

Date:  2-16-15

Prompt:  Create a 'WANTED' poster for the antagonist.

Commented on:  Lillian M., Anthony C., and Saul G.

*WANTED (Dead or Alive)* 

For:  Counterfeiting, suspected and/or murder, and threatening.

Name:  Mr.  Garrow

Description:  Tall, black hair, deceptive and meaner than what is let on, is married to Mrs. Garrow, and shares custody of a young, red headed girl.  

*REWARD*

$100,000!

Note:  Please bring any information to the sheriff immediately

Global Collaboration Reflection 2-20-15

    In my opinion, before I was in 7th grade, I was aware of global events, but in a different way, or to a different scale.  An example, I was open to popular news conflicts, like ISIS, Ebola, or other negative actions.  However it's a lot different if you have the ability to communicate with actual citizens of another country.  I feel like you become more open to someone else's thoughts and opinions on their country.  A country can be very quickly judged based off of one specific event, or the way America's news system provides it.  This theory then evolves into stereotypical thoughts, and people start to think that anyone from that religion, or ethnicity is evil.  Another example is, because of the recent North Korean conflict, some American's have come up with the absurd and unfair idea that every Korean person is bad.

         I think the biggest change this project had on me, was my views or thoughts on other countries.  I'm more inquisitive than ever about what goes on in the world.  I have a constant want to learn more about the sports and hobbies, foods, music, education, and other aspects of other nations.  Before participating in this project, I would occasionally be interested in events on the news, but I was never actually seeking out information.  Now I realize I can take advantage of a great opportunity like this, to learn more.

         By being included in this project, I was able to learn so much about Sweden, and India too. I really was amazed and pleasantly surprised when I realized basketball is played in Sweden too!  It was so interesting to compare and contrast our similarities and differences, from holidays, to family members. The hands on, and self controlled part of this project really boosted my learning experience.

Poetry Reflections 2-16-15 (Where the Sidewalk Ends) 2-16-15

Prompt:  Based on the poems you researched last week, choose one of the poems to write about in your Poetry response. You may draw or find a graphic for your visualization, but make sure to explain your rationale for what you choose.

Date:  2-16-15

Poem 2:  Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein)

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright,

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

And the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And watch where the chalk-white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,

For the children, they mark, and the children, they know

The place where the sidewalk ends.

Write Up:

I chose this poem because of how it left me with a question about the meaning, when I was finished.  It might be different with other people, but I had to really think about what was supposedly laying beyond the sidewalk.  Then, I interpreted the poem into the thought that Shel Silverstein was referring to new opportunities after a negative situation.

Considering there are several great poems that provoke readers with all kinds of different thoughts, I believe that there's no right or wrong answer to the question of the poem's meaning and/or topic, but to me, new opportunities, fresh starts, and the fact that there'll always be tomorrow for another chance or a better possible turnout were featured in the poem. I'm going to do my best to describe my visualizations of the poem. I pictured a child drearily walking through the doorway of a house, with rain pouring down around him and trudging up the stairs to his bedroom, but then coming down the next morning with a spring in his step, and bounding out the door with a smile on his face, into the warm sun. I also literally pictured a cracked and broken down sidewalk, that led into a busy, organized street. Where everything successful and big happens. I thought of the sidewalk as the tough path you take to fortune and fame.

This poem reminded me of any famous sports player who had to work and practice to achieve their goal. Take Michael Jordan for example. All the practice and effort he put into sports like basketball, which took up a good chunk of his time, and he didn't even make his college team! That was his sidewalk, but after all that, he was on the road. In the NBA, the best in the NBA. That's what this poem reminded me of.

Why are you interested in your book? What keeps you reading? (One Came Home) 2-9-15

Date:  2-9-15

Prompt:  Why are you interested in your book?  What keeps you reading?

Commented on:  Jeremiah T., Mia C., and Siari R.

          I'm only currently at the beginning of this book, but I feel like I will enjoy it, because of its introduction of the conflict.  I feel like in most books, the conflict isn't introduced until you're well into the book, and it can be really boring at first.  In this book, you see the problem in literally the first few pages.  I mean seriously, I can guarantee that everyone reading this has experienced a book or story that dragged on and on.

          Another positive, yet hard to explain, aspect of this book.  Is how the author leaves you a little curious or inquisitive on the up coming events.  I feel like they give you the perfect amount of information, but because they don't tell you everything you need to know, you keep reading and searching for your answers.  For some reason, when I think of this trait, it reminds me of a cat chasing a laser.  Just constantly moving forward towards a satisfaction.

          Although I'm only about 70 pages into the book, I'm really looking forward to how this story's gonna turn out, and I hope it continues and persists to maintain its attraction and good quality.

"Heat" Book Talk 2-4-15

       

          Commented on:  Anthony C., Devin R., and Joseph H.

          "Heat" is a book written by Mike Lupica, and it is considered young adult fiction.  This story is set within the last decade, and takes place in Bronx, New York.  Michael is a 14 year old boy who has an extreme passion for baseball.  Michael lives with his older brother Carlos, ever since his father passed away.  Throughout the story, Michael is forced to evade and tell lie after lie to keep him and his brother from being split up, because his father is gone.  That's the main conflict for Michael and Carlos, trying to stick together and run the apartment.  I think one of the best characteristics of this story, is that the mood can very easily change or alter, but in a flowing and sensible way.  It isn't just jolting from sad, to ecstatic, for no reason, but a conflict or problem could come up that might completely overturn the current mood, without making the plot look bad.  Alike several other sports books, this one seems to preach goal setting, and achieving goals, even in tough situations.  I feel like the author is trying to get the message to the reader, that they can do whatever they put their mind to.

          I personally really liked this book because I could relate to it and I really like sports.  It might be a lot different for someone who doesn't have any interest in baseball themselves, but because I do, I enjoyed reading this novel.  That was definitely the main reason that this book stuck out to me.  Anyone who shows interest in sports or physical activity would definitely take interest in this book, and I highly encourage others to read this novel as well.  One should want to go out and read this book for entertainment.  This isn't a book that you'll get much information out of, but it's a great, easy read, and very inspiring as well.

          

AoW Impressions 2-2-15

Prompt:  What did you learn from last week's AoW presentations?

Date:  2-2-15

          On Friday, I learned a lot from all my classmates' work and articles.  Their presentations really brought me up to date with the world and what's been happening recently.  For example, I had no idea what ever happened to Ebola!  But then I realized that doctors have discovered and have made a vaccination for Ebola, and found a way to cure it.  I also didn't know about this ISIS and Japan conflict!  Japan is negotiating with ISIS because both groups hold hostages, that are being threatened to kill!  ISIS is demanding ransom money for the hostages.

          I also learned a lot about topics that I've never really investigated in the first place.  I never really took interest to, or explored diabetes or the study of it, until I read listened to one of my peers explain how doctors and professionals are coming up with a new, quicker, and more accurate test to see if one does carry the disease.  All of these modern day events and discoveries never occurred to me or were presented to me, before these presentations.  I thought it was a really cool project and activity as a class, mostly because of how it provided learning opportunities for everyone.  I hope we can do it again, or a similar task to make AoWs a little more interesting and fun to complete.  It really motivated me to make sure I knew everything about my article.