Blog For Week, 1/27/16, Poetry Response

The Poem, “The Giving Tree”, by Shel Silverstein found in the website, http://allpoetry.com/poem/8538991-The-Giving-Tree-by-Shel-Silverstein, is about a boy and a tree. The boy and the tree are best of friends they talk to one another, they give each other things, and they support each other. But life happens and as time passes on in want of more companionship the tree gives everything it has to the growing up boy.

I think the author had many reasons for writing this poem. It has many lessons to teach young children. It teaches them about giving, friendship, relationships between parents, and growing up. This book helps children, like I used to be, to understand a bit more about life even with their limited point of view.

This spoke to me because when I was young it was one of the things that awoke my eyes. It made me think of my relationship with my parents, me being the “boy" and my parents being “The Giving Tree.” It made me realize that the relationship between the boy and the tree can happen in real life and it made me want to give back to my parents. 

I connected the text and words written to parents around the world. They do everything for their children and some of them aren't given anything in return. Sacrifices are necessary but parents should be given something in return. That's why we have mother and father's day. But we should honor them like that every day. This picture shows a mother stressed out by her work, to support her children, and her family life.

Second Quarter Reflection

Two Quarters ago I started 7th grade. I got new classes, schedules, friends, projects, etc. Things have changed throughout the year, for the better and for the worse.  I've learned many new skills but I've been reading less and less throughout the year. This year I have accomplished joining sports, volleyball, which was one of my goals for the New Years.  In this blog you'll learn about my second quarter life.

I have been reading less and less but the 40 Book Challenge has helped me greatly. If reading wasn't mandatory I wouldn't be doing it. Reading has expanded my vocabulary even more and has opened a window of opportunities for me. So far I have read 11/40 books all ranging from lengths and genres. Out of all the books my favorite book has been the Vampire Lestat by Ann Rice. It was everything I looked into for a book. 

One of my biggest improvements in English class is that I've been learning more about the world. In the past  I wouldn't willfully look at the news in current events. But throughout the quarter I've realized important issues around the world. These things are Obama's Let Girls Live program, El Chapo's extradition, debates on toy stores, etc. 

The most challenging part of the year has been keeping up attendance and on time behaviors. This year I've been late for more than 12 days. It could be because of the season, winter, or because its in my nature, it might've even been something I inherited. I've been minorly sick constantly because of the cold, stress, lack of sleep, etc. However unless completely unavoidable I've been present and ready to work. To overcome this I can try to be more time aware. That's something I've been proud on.

Throughout the year some things are necessary to survive in school. One of these things are time management strategies. In the first quarter I've been trying to gain strategies to plan time better. This has helped me with getting homework done, being on time, being ready to go, and other things as well. Another thing is my research skills. Research skills are of major importance in ELA class. We use them for almost everything. I think this has been my biggest improvement. I've been progressing well since August but I feel I've been doing the bare minimum. That's something I need to work on. 

Blog for Week, 1/18/16, The Count of Monte Christo

        The Count of Monte Cristo  

by: Alexander Dumas

   Historical Drama, Fiction, and Adventure Fiction.

    

            In 1815, after the fall of the Napoleon empire, in Paris a sailor names Edmond Dantès with a bright future arrives at a harbor. He is a candidate for promotion to captain, he is marrying a beautiful girl, and he is young. However 3 men corrupt with greed have another thing waiting for him. Watch and see as you read a book with a dramatical mood that keeps  you on the edge of your seat. The themes of revenge, perseverance, justice, and judgment will astound you.

                 My favorite thing about the book was the drama. From the very first few chapters I was addicted. Through ought the whole week I reached for the book at every spare moment. My family thought that I was crazy for disappearing into Edmond Dantès's life and revenge story. 

                 What I remember most about the book is the chapter where he is betrayed by people who he didn't know not to trust. I remember the scene where he is confronted and taken from his very own wedding. The surprises in the drama are what is needed to carry on the book. If you reread it the story might not give the same experience. Instead the second time you read it will be an eye opener because of how much foresight and clues as to what would happen is written. Viewers and readers should get and read this book because of the wonderful story it tells on the revenge and bitterness that is Edmond's reality.

                I would recommend this book to people who are in love with drama. You need to be able to understand complex emotions, plots, hints, and words. This is because the book has so many plots, emotions, and they are all portrayed with only words. The reader of this book also can't be afraid of the length of the book or the level of it. The book is long but only because so many things can't be put into little words. 

I commented on Brimady's Blog, Jude's Blog, and Evelyn's Blog.

Blog for Week: 12/14/15 Orphan Of The Sun by Gill Harvey

Pages: 310

Genre: Historical Fiction and Mystery

Orphan of the Sun is a book based on Ancient Egypt about an orphan girl called Meryt-Re. During a struggle for control over building constructions she witnesses theft and has to help find out who is responsible. While she is forced to help her cousin/rival, Baki, gets horribly sick, and because she was born under the Goddess of Destruction her uncle, who's been taking care of her in all her years kicks her out thinking she's the misfortune. The story tells about how she handles her problems and solves the mystery of the theft.

Depending on which part of the books you're in the mood varies. In the beginning the mood was serious. The book immediately starts off with the forced marriage between her and Ramose. Then she talks about how she doesn't want to marry him and she doesn't want things to change. In the middle the book has a sad mood. Meryt-Re has been kicked out of her house, her relationships are falling apart, their is more pressure on her marriage, and the trials against the mastermind behind the theft are getting involved with her friend's family. In the end the book has a more happy mood because she solved the mystery, saved her friends, is accepted back in her home, and the marriage is gone.

The characters are of a more simple variety. But even then I have my opinion on each of them. My favorite character is Teti. A prophet in the village, Teti is kind hearted and takes care of Meryt-Re when she is kicked out of the house and at her most vulnerable. Teti has a close relationship with the Gods so she is feared throughout the village as a powerful person but is just and warm. My least favorite character is the villain in the story, Userkaf. He beats his slaves, forces them to steal, bribed court juries, and is simply a snob.

I commented on Sophie's Blog, 

Nonfiction Blog, November 30, 2015, Women's Rights: Changing Attitudes 1990 - 2000

Genre: Nonfiction (Informational Text)

Pages: 64

Woman's Rights has been a problem throughout the years. Recently Woman's Rights has accomplished most of its goals and we have made a certain amount of gender equality in some countries. This book tells about the causes and effects which lead to the change in mindset throughout generations.

There are many interesting segments in the book. One of them was, "Indian reformers established schools and colleges for girls and women, and campaigned against customs such as sati (the burning to death of Hindu widows) or purdah (the practice of keeping women confined indoors)." (Paragraph 2, Page 28) This means that not only in America but in India women had to fight against inequality and brutality that even now is hard to believe happened.

Another interesting segment was, "Upon marriage, they were expected to leave paid work and become housewives, devoting themselves to husband and children." (Paragraph 1, Page 27) This means that once women married they were forced to lead the lives of housewives and had no choice.

Most facts are forgotten especially when we learn so much everyday. Some facts I will remember is that Hitler and the Nazis was against women's rights and they even said they were stealing jobs from men. I will also remember that women who were arrested due to protests were called "Suffragettes" and were seen as "plain and humorless women, rejected by men. In fact most had husbands and families." I also learned that on April 17 the women known as Mother's of the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina carried photos of their kidnapped children (because of their earlier protests) every week despite dangers for years.

Women have suffered a lot over the years. Our hard work, dedication, and persistence has made us worthy in the eyes of others. Through protests and courage women managed to gain our spot in gender equality. Though today we still see gender issues, like higher waged for men in same jobs as women, we will continue to defend and fight for our rights.

I commented on Amelia's Blog, Brimady's Blog, and Evelyn's Blog.

The Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice Theme Blog

Focus: Determine theme/ analyze its development throughout the novel.

The Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice is about a man, of too much human nature, becoming and coping with being a blood feeding vampire in the past centuries. He tells about his experiences in an interview with a human in the 20th century. 

The themes in the story are coming of age, courage, effects of the past, manipulation, need for change, obligation, perseverance, quest for knowledge, revenge, seizing the moment, etc. In the story he faces many challenges not only from the changes in time century to century but from the other vampires he's involved with. His main challenge is, the harsh and uncaring emotionally scarred, Lestat.

Lestat is a huge catalyst of conflict in the story. He forces our main character to change and to grow up as well as gain courage and get revenge for all the years of suffering. Lestat is not only a problem himself but he made problems. He made a vampire out of an innocent girl in a family ruined by plague. He forced a woman to be forever stuck in a child's body just so that he would have the obligation to stay with him. The setting also affected the themes in The Interview with the Vampire. The setting in The Interview with the Vampire was constantly changing. This forced the main character to change as well according to current times. These conflicts and characters influenced the themes greatly.

I commented on Brimady's Blog, Evelyn's Blog, Kezia's Blog, and Sophia M.'s Blog. 

1st Quarter Reflections

During the year I have changed a lot. I've learned a lot of new skills in my 1st quarter classes. In this blog you'll learn how I've changed.

My 40 Book Challenge is a factor that changed my tastes in books. In the past I would have stuck with fiction and fantasy. But the 40 Book Challenge had requirements that made me read in a variety of genres. The genres were classics, poetry, informational books, historical, etc. So far I've read 4 and 1/2 books. 

In 6 grade I was a blogger in my reading class. This year I'm also blogging and it's had an effect on me. Blogging has made me a better writer because I'm practicing writing with every letter, word, sentence, and paragraph I write. I've learned how to be creative with restrictions and set topics. 

During all my years in school my teachers have given me many strategies that are very useful. For example when testing they tell me to read the questions before I read essays. They also tell me to have a clear and detailed schedule because time management is important. When trying to commit something to memory I've been told to relate things to events or things in my long-term memory. These strategies have helped me throughout this first quarter.

In my reading class researching is an necessary tool. Every day we use this strategy and skill to find the answers to our questions. In the past I thought that I had great researching skills but in this class I see people with true researching skills. Learning new ways to research things and learning new formatting has helped me improve my researching skills. 

This year many new things have been included as a weekly homework event. For example we have to write down our spelling words on quizlet and a sheet of paper along with roots and examples. One thing that I'm glad we have is the AOW or our Article of the Week. In the past I wasn't aware of world news unless someone else informed me about it. With the AOW I'm learning and understanding world problems like refugees and new laws or intentions by people with high rank around the world. I hope to keep on task and keep changing for the better this year.