Blog Sept. 24, 2015

            Something that is the same in both the article and book Of Beetles and Angels is the idea of belief and not being afraid. I think that in the book, religion was a big part in Haileab's life. In the book it states, "No matter how much the strangers resembled beetles, my father always maintained that they could be angels..." This shows that Haileab believed in God and and was a religious person because he believed that some people were angels. In the article Hasan believes that Allah (their god) will help him and protect him. This shows that he is also religious like Haileab. The other idea in both the article and book is how Mawi and Hasan are fearless of some things. In the book it states, "But whenever I found Mbago alone and he said anything mean to me, I always pounced on him and made him cry." This shows that Mawi was not afraid of bullies as a child and wouldn't be afraid to tell them something. In the article it says that Hasan witnessed a dead body of a child being washed ashore. After seeing this it didn't change his mind about doing the swim. This shows that he is fearless like Mawi is for certain things. 

            Individuals that have similarities in both the book and article are Haileab, and his family, and Hasan, and his family. In the book Mawi explains how Haileab left them while they were still in a camp, so he wouldn't get killed, or taken away. Hasan is going to meet his family when he crosses to Greece. They connect because Haileab is like Hasan's family, like how they are going to wait for someone. Haileab's family is like Hasan, like how they both are going to find someone far away. In the book it states, "... Hoping that we could make it to Sudan and find my father." This is similar to Hasan how he is going to his family, because they both had to go long distances. In the article it says that Hasan is going to swim to Greece, they go to Germany, where his family is near. This shows that both of the families in the article and book are similar in a way. 

            

            War affects individuals and societies in numerous ways. Before wars people can be healthy, with many supplies. Then they can become malnourished with a very scarce amount of food, shelter, and water. War can affect societies from having a happy feeling to a very negative one. People who have expirienced this will know that people do change. Someone can go from a very happy person, to someone who is always dismal or angry. Wars can also turn someone who was very healthy to someone who needs medical or pyhcological help. Societies are filled with people who are depressed or hurt. Many refugees are like this, because they have lost everything they had before the war. They might have lost their education, friends, home, family, or even all of it. War has a very negative tone to it, because it can bring people to their worst, mentally, and physically.

Summer Reading Project: Blog 4

Prompt: How does the author use symbolism throughout the book?
Speak  by: Laurie Halse Anderson
Pages read: 93 - finished

            Throughout the book it talks about the description of her lips and mouth. The descriptions about her mouth and lips tell that she is unable to speak after what had happened the day of the party.  In the book it describes her mouth as dry, cracked, and swollen. This shows that the description of her lips represent what is inside of her, and what she is keeping hidden. It also shows the shame she feels inside, and how she is unable to take care of herself. Towards the end of the book Melinda begins to talk about the truth of what had happened during the party. The condition of her lips also improve. Melinda's lips and mouth change as Melinda does too. 

            Trees in the book shows a lot about Melinda. A tree is what she had to work with her whole year of art class. I think trees are mentioned in almost eery chapter of the book. It shows how Melinda is growing in her year of high school. In the beginning of the year Melinda struggled to draw realistic trees. This represents her struggle and depression in her life. As she gets better, and starts to talk about herself, and starts talking more, she improves the way she draws trees. It shows that she has grown, and is still growing since the beginning of the school year. Trees grow like Melinda has grown in that high school year.

            In the book she didn't like to look at herself in the mirror. She tried to avoid them, because she wasn't able to face her own reflection. This represents how she wasn't able to face her own feelings as well. In the book she says that she can't see herself. Which shows that her appearance has changed, because of what had happened in the past. In the book she looks at a three-way mirror in a dressing room. One side of it was broken. This represented a part of her that was broken as well.

            Melinda often hides in a supply closet that is in the school. This shows that she needs to hide from the outside world, so she doesn't have to talk to anyone. It also shows her isolation. She isolates herself, and her friends have isolated her. No one knows about the closet space, it is kept a secret in the book. Like how what happened to her at the party was kept a secret as well. Towards the end of the book when the secret is out, she stops hiding in the closet. This represents that she doesn't need to hide the secret anymore. A her secret got out, she began to change in a very good way.

Summer Reading Project: Blog 3

Prompt: Pick 3 pictures that represent your reading. Write a paragraph for each, telling what each item says about what you've been reading. 

Speak by: Laurie Halse Anderson
Pages read: 0 - 93

            The first picture that represents my reading is of a tree. In the book, Melinda has to take an art class. In that class their whole year was to to pick an object to draw, and they would have to work with that picture throughout the whole school year. The object they got they had to have to draw, paint, carve it, and more. The art teacher had pieces of paper with the object they had to draw in a broken globe. They had to randomly pick one piece of paper out without looking. The word she got was "tree". Just as she was going to put it back, because it was "too easy", he told her that she couldn't. He said "You just chose your destiny, you cant change that." Every drawing she draws of a tree, is too simple, and isn't good enough for her art teacher Mr. Freeman. She gets better at it though the year.

            The second picture that represents my reading is of Melinda (from the  movie) have her lips stitched together. In highschool Melinda is very quiet. Many people dislike her because of what she did one year. One year there was at party, and she felt the need to call the police, because something bad had happened to her, and she was scared. Everyone found out it was her who called the police, and were very angry at the fact that people got busted for going to that party. Now she keeps quiet, and tries not to talk to anyone. It is not like she doesn't want friends. She wants to have a group to hang  out with but it is very hard for her to do that, because so many people  knew what she had done. She has made one friend named Heather, but only because she was new and didn't know her. In the book she only talks to a few people, and tries to keep quiet.

            The third picture that represents my reading is of a person alone. She had friends before the whole party incident. She even had her own "clan" like everyone else. They would do everything together. They even dressed as the same thing for Halloween. Now all of her old friends won't even talk to her, or even make eye contact. In the beginning of the year she was completely lonley. She didn't have anyone to talk to, and everyone just ignored her, and looked at her weird. Until she met Heather, but even she didn't seem to like how Melinda acted sometimes. Melinda felt like they were both invisible, so it was no use to join clubs so more people know them. She can't even talk to her parents, because they wont understand her. Melinda and her parents argue sometimes. Her parents sometimes just leave notes for Melinda to read when she gets home.

Summer Reading Project: Blog 2

Prompt: In the  book how does the main character's actions make the people around her feel?

The Pregnancy Project by: Gaby Rodriguez
Pages read: 75 - finished

            Her mother was one one of the few people who were in on her project, and promised to keep it a secret. She helped her make her fake pregnant stomach, and helped her at times when she wanted to quit, because of how stressful it was. She also was extra careful in making sure none of Gaby's siblings would find out about her fake pregnancy. Her sisters and brothers were pretty upset about this. At family gatherings they wouldn't even make eye contact with Gaby and her boyfriend, Jorge. Her older brother, Javier, was the one who was the most upset about this. He was very disappointed knowing that Gaby had broken her promise to do better in her life and achieve her goals. Finding out that she was pregnant, Javier, was very upset. Javier thought that she would be the one to be different and make their mother proud.

            Gaby's boyfriend, Jorge, was also in on it, because he obviously needed to know that it was fake and she wasn't actually pregnant. He also helped, like her mom, to keep her from getting too stressed out, and by making sure it was kept a secret. His parents did not know that she had faked her pregnancy. They were not happy at all, when they found out Gaby was "pregnant". Many of her classmates would be very mean to her at times. One of he friends said that she made a huge mistake and that she was dumb to do that. Most people had low expectations for her future since they thought she had gotten pregnant. They would say that her life is over, would question if she would graduate, and say things like they saw it coming.

            She had to tell the principal about this to make sure that her project could be approved. He helped with getting her project approved by the school board, setting up the assembly for her to present her project, and with dealing with interviewers and news casters.  He overall wasn't against her project but instead was shocked that she wanted to try and pull it off. One teacher was very upset with her. He expected more from her, and was very disappointed to hear that she had "thrown her life away". After revealing that her pregnancy was fake her teacher was even more sad to hear that she had been lying to him this whole time. He felt as if Gaby didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth about the project. Other teachers were very supportive to her.

Summer Reading Project: Blog 1

Prompt: What inspired the author to do this project?

The Pregnancy Project by: Gaby Rodriguez
Pages read: 0 - 75

            One reason why the author was inspired to do the project was the background of her family. This helped inspire her, because every girl from her big family, including her mother, went through teen pregnancy. Gaby, showing the sign of being the most mature one, promised herself that she would never get pregnant as a teen, and focus on her education. When her senior year came around, so did her senior project. The senior project was a project that every senior had to do. It had to include research of some sort, and impact their fellow classmates when they later presented them. Gaby, being the bright student as she was didn't want to do any old project. Instead she wanted to truly impact the lives of her classmates and teachers. To do this she decided to fake a pregnancy, and collect data. The data she collected included the reactions of people from her school, and how people treated her, especially because of her family's background. 

             Another reason why the author was inspired to do the project was, because she wanted to have a different and impact full Senior project. What made her project different was how it wasn't just on paper or shown as a presentation. Instead Gaby decided to actually live her project to collect the data she needed for it. What she did was not only show her class, but show the whole school.  She held an assembly to reveal her secret fake pregnancy. After the truth was discovered by her follow classmates and teachers, many of them had different feeling towards it. Some of them were very upset that she had lied to them for so long about such a serious topic just for a project. Others felt bad, and regretful after hearing and spreading rumors over Gaby's pregnancy, and assuming things about her just because she was "pregnant", and now finding out it was all fake. In the end Gaby's project really did impact people's many lives.

          

            The last reason why Gaby was inspired to do the project was, because she wanted to prove to people that she would have a successful life, and not end up pregnant as a teen like her sisters and mother. As Gaby grew up, she would always be told that she would end up becoming a teen mom. Gaby wanted to prove them all wrong. When Gaby told the school that she wasn't actually pregnant, and she only faked it for her project, it showed the people who thought little of her that she was going to have a great future for herself. During the project many people thought that since she was someone who was smart, she had ruined her chance of having a bright future. This whole project taught many people about stereotypes. 

"Paradox and Dream" Reflection

"Paradox and Dream" Reflections

Paradox: "Fortunes are spent getting cats out of trees and dogs out of sewer pipes; but a girl screaming for help in the street draws only slammed doors, closed windows, and silence."

            This means is that many people will help animals before they would help their own kind. Also when people put up signs about missing dogs, they usually have a reward, which is usually money. This also means that when someone is in the need for help, people will not care and ignore the problem. When a pet is stuck in a tree or something, people will get police and firefighters just to get it down. If a pet is missing, many people will probably look for the it. When there are signs about missing children, it seems people don't bother even looking at the sign. 

            I can relate to this, because I have seen something like this on the news and heard of it. It was a video of a little girl getting run over by more than one car. The people in the cars did not bother to even stop to see what it was. Many people also saw her lying on the ground, and didn't care to get help. Those people just kept on walking and ignored the situation. I have heard from many relatives and friends that they have rescued a dog or cat. I have heard more about people saving animals than people saving people. 

Paradox:"We proudly insist that we base our political positions on the issues - and we will vote against a man because of his religion, his name, or shape of his nose."

            This means that people judge people before they really get to know someone. If someone has a different religion then, people will judge him or her for it. Also people judge people a lot from just the way they look. If someone who looks "weird", most people will assume that he or she is weird. This is horrible, because people always judge people before even knowing them. A lot of People will say bad things to one another because they they have a different religion, name, or look.

            I can relate to this, because I have seen and heard many people judging one another by what they wear or what their hobbies are in school. Again, many people just assume that a person is like that, because of the way they do things. I think at one point everyone has judged someone for something they do, say, or wear, including me. Maybe it's because I hear my friends being judgmental or something else, and we just follow them. Whatever it is we will always think something that may or may not be true about someone.

I commented on Justin's, Jared's, and Evie's Blog.

Final Reflection Blog

Prompt: 1- What are the three most important things you learned this year?  2- What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life?  3- What was the nicest thing someone in our class did for you this year?  4- What is something you taught your teacher or classmates this year?  5- In what area do you feel you made your biggest improvements? What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of?  6- What was the most challenging part of this year for you?  7- What was the best piece of writing that you did this year? Why do you think it is your best?  8- Of the books you read this year, which was your favorite? Why?  9- What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?

            The three most important things I've learned this year is how to do blogs, annotate, and learned better vocabulary. Blogs are important to learn how to do, because as you go on writing you learn how to get better. I have learned to be a better writer compared to the beginning of the year. Annotating is important to learn how to do because it allows you to understand what you are reading more. We have done a lot of annotating this school year, and I have improved a lot since I first started. I think the most important thing I learned this year is better vocabulary. In the beginning of the year I used confused when I am speaking. Now when I am speaking I use words like, discombobulated, bewildered, and befuddled. Something I think I will remember for the rest of my life that happened this year was when we had out first class party. We all had so much fun. We also had lots of laughs and memories that we won't forget.

            The nicest thing my class did for me was having great attitude. Everyone is so kind in my class. We all have laughs together, and no one is left out of the conversation. I really enjoyed how everyone was never mean to another classmate. I think everyone has a close friendship, because in this class we had to communicate and lot. I felt like everyone is so close now, especially since we got to meet all of these people. Something that I taught one of my classmates was how to understand a book more. I told her to write in notes like, thoughts, questions, and predictions. I think this really helped her, because it made her think more about the book.

            An area that I think I made the biggest improvements is my writing skills. Before I would not go back to check for any mistakes, so I would finish my writing mistakes with grammar errors. Also I would not put a topic sentence. I would also write run-on sentences.  Something I accomplished this year that I am proud of is when I was able to stay in the accelerated class. If you get a grade "C" or lower, you are not allowed to be in that class anymore. I passed that class with "A's" and "B's". I am proud of myself, because I was able to push myself into doing something. The most challenging this this year was time management. Most of my homework was due on Friday, and I was busy on most of the days on the weekdays. I had to do most of my homework all on Thursday. I think I have become better at fixing that problem over the year. I've learned how to make notes on what day I should do each day.

            The best piece of writing I did this year was a blog about an ending to a story called "The Lady or the Tiger?". The story I had to write had to be about what happened at the end, because it never says. I think this was my best, because in my opinion, I think it was very creative. Also because a lot of people seemed to enjoy it. Of the books I read this far my favorite is A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. This book was so sad. It was about a true story on a boy who was abused by his mother and bothers. This book was something that I will never forget. I recommend this book, because it is just so great.

            Some advice I would give students next year is to set goals. Goals are what keeps you focused on getting better. It's what keeps you moving forward in life. If you don't have goals then it is very hard to accomplish things. Even if you don't reach that goal, you did more to reach it tan not trying to reach it at all. Some other advice is to pay attention. In this class this ear we moved very fast at some times. If you are not listening then you might get lost quickly. It will also help you in the future.