Paradox and Dream Reflection

Reflection
Prompt: 
1)  Choose two paradoxes that speak to you and reflect

2) Reflections should be at least two paragraphs in length, should include a topic sentence, and include quotes to support your reasoning.

          "We trample friends, relatives, and strangers who get in the way of our achieving it." 

          This paradox means when we are trying to achieve something and a person gets in the way we push them away from us so that we can achieve what we want. Basically what it is saying is that we push away the people who get in our way. 

           I think most of us can relate to this paradox. Either we are the person pushing people away or we are the person getting pushed away. I can relate to this because when our friends are trying to achieve something and you're trying to support them but they push you away because they think you're just an obstacle in their path. This has happened to me before. I have also seen how people stop talking to other people just because they think that they're just putting them down or are just an obstacle.

         "We truly believe ourselves to be natural-born mechanics and do-it-yourself-ers." 

          This paradox means how people always think that they can do anything and that they know everything in the world. When in reality we don't know how to check a car, hunt, and most importantly work without technology.

          I think that all of us can relate to this paradox. I think that because mostly everyone thinks that we can do anything. I can relate to this because I used to think cooking was easy because all you had to was follow the recipe, it might seem easy but some foods are kind of messy and complicated to do. I've also seen a lot of this in little kids and adults. Little kids think that they are so strong that they can do anything, when in reality they can get hurt really bad. Adults think that they build anything without a looking at the instructions but they actually don't even know how to put the first parts together.

End Of The Year Reflection Blog

My Reflection

Prompt: 

1. What are the three most important things you learned this year? What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life? 

2. What was the nicest thing someone in our class did for you this year? What is something you taught your teacher or classmates this year? 

3. In what area do you feel you made your biggest improvements? 

What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of? What was the most challenging part of this year for you? 

4. What was the best piece of writing that you did this year? Why do you think it is your best? Of the books you read this year, which was your favorite? Why? What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?

           The three most important things that I've learned this year are new vocabulary words, how to write a proper paragraph, and how to write an argumentative essay. The vocabulary quizzes we did this year are important because that's how I have learned many new words and I can remember things more. How to write a paragraph is important because you have to have a strong topic sentence and supporting details. How to write an argumentative essay is important because for when you have to debate something and you have to know how to write it properly.

          The nicest thing that someone did in our class was bringing in food for all of the class parties we had and when Evie helped me out with homework. Evie helped me out when I didn't know there was homework and when I didn't understand it. In all of the class parties cooperated and brought food for each other. I think this year everyone got closer to each other. We all have memories we won't forget. I think everyone in this class is really kind and nice to each other. Something I taught my classmates this year was that Google is making their own wireless wifi service and right now it only works on the Nexus 6.

           In the are I think the area that I made the biggest improvement in was writing a paragraph. I learned how to write a strong topic sentence and how to support it. Something that I accomplished this year that I'm proud of is that most of the time I managed to get 100% in most of my vocabulary tests. The most challenging part for me was the poetry unit. I'm not really good with rhyming words or coming up with a creative story. 

          The best piece of writing I did this year was my Death with Dignity paper. I think it was the best because that's when I learned how to properly write an argumentative paper with a topic sentence, supporting details, thesis, counter-argument, etc. Of the books I read this year Go Ask Alice was my favorite. It was my favorite because it showed how by taking a drug your whole life can go downward and it is based on a true story. 

My advice for the students who will be in this class next year is that you should be really organized and manage your time wisely. I say this because I had trouble organizing all of my homework and I also had trouble managing my time wisely. You will have to do articles of the week, blogs, and vocabulary tests all in one week so you should be really organized and not waste your time.

I commented on Sonny's, Justin's, and Lillian's, blogs.

Symbolism Activity

A Book
Prompt: Identify a symbol (something concrete representing something abstract) that represents yourself. Explain how that symbol is the perfect representation of you in a solid paragraph or two, including supporting details on your blog.

 A book symbolizes myself because a book could represent knowledge, wisdom, leadership, and education. This represents most of me. For me, my education always comes first. My future depends on the type of education I get. Leadership can also represent me. Out of all of my friends, I am like the leader to them. When we are going to take a decision they always ask me what I think and what we should do. They take me as a leader. Also, my friends always look for me when they need advice. This sort of represents wisdom. Lastly, book represent knowledge. This symbolizes a lot of me because I am an honor roll student. I have a lot of knowledge compared to others because I am in accelerated classes and I take Algebra 1. My friends always look for me when they need help with homework or stuff like that. I think that a book symbolizes most of myself.

I commented on Evie's, Giovanna's, Nick's, Omar's, and Rebecca's blogs.

Blog of 5/11/15 (OMAM Movie vs Book)

Of Mice And Men Movie
Prompt:

1.  In the film, the director shows us “the incident in Weed” differently from how we find out in the book. What’s different? Why do you think he chose to do it that way? How does it change the story?
2. The book begins with the “stage” set by the pond. In the film, we see George on a train first. Why would the director do this? What is the director telling us about George’s life?
3. What do you think of the director’s choice of Sharilynn Fenn to play Curley’s wife? Does she look the way you imagined her in the book? Whom would you have chosen?

What are your general thoughts, feelings, reactions of Of Mice and Men? What had the most profound impact on you or your understanding of the novella? Who would you recommend this  book to and why?


           The difference is that in the book George tells us what happened in Weed when they are by the pond but in the movie they start off by showing us how they are running away from Weed. I think he chose it to be that way because in the book it is way easier to explain what happened in the past and it is harder in a movie to explain what happened in the past because it might get confusing for the audience who haven't read the book. It changes the story because in the book it has flashbacks into what happened in weed while in the movie everything goes in order.

          I think that the director would do this just to show how migrant workers had to travel most of the time. I think he also did this just to show how the movie would end by George being in the train and going somewhere else. I think that the director is telling us how George has to keep moving from place to place just because of Lennie. 

          I think she actually played out the part of Curley's wife pretty well. She showed most of her actions in the movie just like book said. I imagined Curley's wife blond and about George's height. If I could chose someone to play Curley's wife part I would choose Jennifer Lawrence. I would choose her because she already has blonde hair. I would also choose her because I have already seen many movies (Such as the Hunger Games series) in which she plays a part in and she is a really good actress. 

           My general thoughts about this book are that it is a really good book and it could potentially teach us something too. It could teach that even our closest and most trusted friend could betray us at any moment. It could teach us this because Lennie thought that George would never be capable of doing anything bad to him because he "knew" George, but in the end George shot Lennie in the back of the head. What had the most profound impact on me was how George instead of thinking of a plan to escape or something he just decided to shoot Lennie himself. I would probably recommend it to my friends just to see their reactions when they reach the end of the book.         
I commented on Evie's, James's, and Justin's blogs.

Blog for 5/4/15 (AoW Impression)

Prompt: AoW Gallery Walk Reflection

          Throughout our gallery walk, I have learned about what has been happening around the world so far. For example, one thing that I have learned is that dogs and human interaction actually makes a positive impact in the mood of the dog or a person. I was informed by this from Joseph's article. When a human is feeling sad or depressed a dog could help improve their mood by like playing with them. Having a dog could be useful in some cases. This reminded of how Candy had a bond with his dog in the book Of Mice and Men. They have also tested wolves to see if they can do the same thing to humans. As it turns out it is possible for wolves to do that but the mood change isn't as much as dogs. This was interesting because I didn't know dogs could be able to make such a positive change in a human's mood. (I don't have a dog and that's why)

          Another article I found interesting was Omar's. His article was about giving out free water in California. I found this interesting because I never thought people would give out water just like that, and free. The water is processed, fresh, and clean. Which means it isn't low quality water, it is drinkable water. They give out everyone (poor people) a gallon of water for the day but they can refill it and use as much as they want. I found this interesting because I never thought anyone could just give out fresh water for free.

          These are two of the articles I found the most interesting to me. I could've never thought dogs could improve a human's mood. I would never thought of this because I don't own a dog so that's porbably why I would've never thought of that. I also never thought that in California people would be giving out free water. I would never thought of that because since California has drought problems. These are the two articles I found the most interesting.