Ashlens Blog

Journal #6 chapter 16-19 Mayella Ewell

2009-05-20T20:45:00.001-07:00

Mayella sat with her hands in her lap not looking up at the people looking at her. She inconspicuously tried straightening a piece of her hair that was sticking up to one side. It was to no use. At home she would have just spit in her hand and wiped it on her hair to make it lay flat, but she knew that that was not ok for court. This morning she had gotten up early and taken a bath.

No one had helped her whatsoever to carry pail after pail of water to get enough to sink herself into. She had looked though the trash and found a broken comb witch she used to brush through the knots and tangles of her hair. After Pa had gotten angry at her that one time and cut her hair of with a knife she had been gradually trying to grow it out and make it even. She had washed her best clothes and had them laid out. She was the only one who ever tried to keep anything clean.

All the other members of her family were men and they expected her to do everything. If she didn’t than she would get beaten. After every time she would get beaten she would have to stay in bed for a day. No one would come to help her, not her father nor any of her brothers and sisters.

The only person who had ever shoed any kindness to her in her whole life was a negro man. When she first saw him she had taken pity on him. She had been there the day he had gotten his arm in the cotton gin. She had seen his friends running for help. She asked them what was wrong and they had replied “We need a doctor, Tom’s got his arm in the cotton gin” she had run to the field to see if there was anything she could do to help. He was lying on the ground and there was blood all around him. He was screaming in pain she then felt compassion for this poor crippled Negro boy and that compassion had never left her.

Mayella wanted to die, she wanted to kill herself. After first kissing this man and then saying he raped her. What was wrong with her? She loved him but at the same time she was convicting him to death. She was just so lonely and sad and confused, she wished that there was someone that could be there for her that could in someway help her. She at this point was old enough to know that neither of those options were possible.

Was Tom Robinson so OBLIVIOUS to the fact that she loved him? Didn’t he see it in her eyes when she would ask him to help her? She would INDULGE in watching him. So strong, but she knew that they couldn’t be together for many reasons. One, he did not love her in return. Two, he was married and with children and three, she was a poor beaten girl who had never before two days ago kissed someone. She would AMIABLY though her self of a cliff right now.

Oh no… the court was starting. She wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt and looked up into the face of her fear. Atticus. She had ACQUAINTED herself with him before. So she knew… she knew he was going to find her out. She looked over to the DEFENDANT chair were Tom was sitting. She looked away. Her heart gave a painful little squeeze as she accepted what she was doing. All hope and love inside her shut down and she became prepared to lie.

Post 5 Chap 13-15 Dill

2009-05-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dill closed his eyes and listened to the conversations around him. He suddenly heard shouting and he heard scout cry out in pain. He suddenly had the overwhelming urge to get out from under scouts bed and help her. He knew that she was only fighting against Jem though. He heard Jem fall down and then Atticus entered the room. “Go to bed” Atticus said. Yes this was his chance. He squeezed his hand out. Then he felt scout step on it. She had been reading and was ready to go to bed. He couldn’t help it, it hurt. He let out a grunt.

She stopped and looked down. Even though she could not see anything in the dark. She turned on the light and went to Jem’s room. Wait! He didn’t want Jem to find him only scout. He was planning that in the middle of the night he would climb into bed with her. She would think it was a dream and then in the morning he would still be there and she would be so happy. Jem came into her room. He could see that he was holding a broom. He stuck it under the bed and hit Dill in the face. Again he didn’t say anything. Dill decided a minute later that it was no use and eventually let him get his arm out. Dill squeezed himself out from under the bed.

Scout was looking at him. She looked like it was the happiest day of her lie. Then dills stomach growled. She realized he was hungry and went to go get him soothing to eat. She came back a minute later with a pan of corn bread. He ate the whole thing he was so hungry. Then Jem did something that he would never forgive him for. “Atticus come here”

How could he do that to Dill. He had never done anything mean to him in his whole life and now he was treating him poorly. Dill thought of this as unacceptable and never thought of Jem the same way again.

Post 4 Chap. 10-11 Calpurnia.

2009-05-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Post 4 Chap. 10-11 Calpurnia.

I closed the door of Scouts room and walked down the hallway into the living room. “Are they in bed?” Atticus asked. “Yes.., ms. Scouts been talking about you lately. She’s been wondering if you were good at anything and about your past” Atticus sighed. “What did you tell her?”
“I didn’t tell her nothin’ sir” I said. It was true. When scout had come to me I had said he was good at reading. I knew that was not what she had wanted to hear but sometimes you need to love them before you understand them. “Right then, you can go home... Thank you Calpurnia” Atticus said. She loved the Fiches she had been working for them for as long as she could remember. She had always taken care of Jem and Scout. And now that they were getting older Jem was starting to drift away from Scout. She could see it. She could also see how much it hurt Scout to see that.

She was not ready to let her brother go. The next day I was washing up in the kitchen when scout ran it. She had that look on her face. She looked scared. “What’s wrong?” I automatically asked setting down the soap. She then told me about the mad dog coming down our street. I knew witch one she was talking about. Scout and Jem had never seen a mad dog in action. When I was little there had been a mad dog on our street. My mom had ushered us inside because she knew of the PERIL of mad dogs. Almost INAUDIBLY she said. “Keep quiet until I come back” I had stayed there behind our thin screen door and peeped out the window. My mom came back a couple minutes later and put her arms around me. Close your eyes honey. My mom had tried to warn our neighbors but because she was Negro they had not believed her.

A couple seconds later I heard the scream of one of our CANTANKEROUS neighbors. I never forgot that sight or sound. “Cal?!” I heard Scout say. I was brought back to the present. “Are you lying” I said. No! No, Its coming” she said. I told her and Jem to get inside. Thankfully they did not CONTRADICT me.

I called all of our neighbors and they believed me. They all shut there doors tight. The only house on the block that didn’t know were the Radley’s I would have to go over and tell them my self. I INCONSPICUOUSLY walked out side and ran to the other side of the road. The Radley’s were of the same CONTEMPORARIES as us so they knew about mad dogs. I knocked hard on there door. I looked over my shoulder and saw it coming towards me. I tried one more time. No one answered. I ran back and covered the kids with my body.

Soon the sheriff was there with his rifle pointed at the dog but he did not shoot. I saw him trying to give the gun to Atticus but he would not take it. It was getting to close it he did not shoot the dog now…. In one swift movement he took the rife through of his glasses aimed and fired. The dog jumped in the air and landed still. I had known the second Atticus picked up the gun that he would not miss. Jem and Scout stood stunned beside me.

TKAM post 3 chapters 8-9 Scout

2009-05-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

TKAM post 3 chapters 8-9 Scout

I shivered and pulled my thin coat around my body. I hated school it was so boring. We were outside and we were supposed to be playing but it was to cold for that. Some kids were running around but they were only running half heartedly. I looked down at my hands. I was gripping my coat so hard my knuckles were white. Later that day when we were walking home I couldn’t help but look at the radley tree. The hole was still filled with cement. I think I heard Jem sigh as we walked past.

I was woken up in the middle of the night. I had been in the middle of a dream were and Jem and Boo were all friends and that he wasn’t as bad as everyone said he was. The hands were cold and shocking. “Get up! Get up!” it was Jem’s voice speaking. When Jem put a certain tone in his voice I knew that it was important. I hurried and put on my coat. I could already smell the smoke.

We ran outside and I stared in horror at Ms. Maudie’s house. It was so bright in contrast to the cold winter night. “Stay over there” Atticus said. We walked over to the Radleys house we stood by the tree. Soon I couldn’t feel anywhere in my body and I was shaking I felt Jem’s hand on my shoulder and it made me feel warmer and safer. We watched the firemen trying to put out the fire. I couldn’t understand how there was a fire on the coldest day of the year. We waited there for what seemed like hours.

When the sun started peeking over the tops of the house it seemed that the firemen’s jobs were done. I had been so worried about our house but now in the sun I saw that my worry was unneeded because our house was fine. It hadn’t even burnt the sides of our house were my window was. We went into our house and started our fires again. Seeing fire in my home automatically made me on edge. I knew that I would not be having any sleep tonight, not that there was much left to tonight. “You don’t need to go to school tomorrow” Atticus announced. That made me feel at least a little bit better.

“Were did you get that blanket” Atticus asked. I looked at my shoulders. The second I saw it I knew exactly were it was from. “It’s Boo Radleys” I said. “How do you know?” asked Jem. “Because no one else would have been able to put in on me, it wasn’t you and no one else was near us” I shivered as I thought of my mental image of Boo radley sneaking up behind me and touch me. “I think you should at least try to take a nap” Calpurnia said. She ushered me to my bed and I fell into a deep troubled sleep.

A couple days later Uncle Jack came to our house. I always like Uncle Jack best. I ENTRUSTED everything I owned to Uncle Jack. He had always been there for me. Uncle Jack was INGENUOUS, he was a doctor and everyone knew that to be a doctor you had to be really, really smart. Atticus had paid for Uncle Jack’s education so uncle jack was always trying to repay Atticus in some way. We soon went to our cousins house but I hated it there my cousin was so boring and he was mean too. He called atticus a nigger lover, I didn’t know that it meant but I knew it meant something bad. I told him to stop but he didn’t and I got mad. No one would talk to me and I felt ISOLATE away from everybody else. After the thousandth time that he called Atticus a nigger lover I hit him and it hurt bad but I didn’t care because it felt good at the same time. I got in trouble thought and I heard Atticus and uncle Jack DEBATING on what to do with me. I was so mad. Neither of them understood the PERPLEXITY of children. I went into the car with out saying goodbye I was so mad. When we got home I didn’t talk to anyone.

Chapters 4-7 Jem

2009-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

I awoke to the calming sound of my sister sleeping on her bunk above me. I knew the sound of her breathing and could tell if she was a wake or not. My sister, Scout was a tough thing, she would never admit it but yes, she could be scared too. She always tried to hard to be strong and tough. Atticus said that she did that because she wanted to impress Jem but he didn’t understand why she thought she needed to do that. Jem lay there for a while and then sank indo a deep sleep. Next morning he got up for school.
Scout was still complaining about it. He reminded himself to be patient. He remembered the years were he had to struggle through school while Scout stayed at home and played and did nothing. Nothing had tormented him more that to go to school wile she just played around. Scout knew that too so she soon stopped complaining.

I came home the next day to find Scout sitting on the floor chewing gum. I automatically knew that this was not a good sign. “Were did you get that” I asked staring at it. She looked at me with her annoying “I’ so much smarter than you” smile and said “The Radley place” I stared at her. Was she stupid? I suddenly had a mental image of her suddenly keeling over. I ran forward and took it out of her mouth. Everyone knew that anything from the Radley house had a malignant quality. She took it out and washed up but I was still keeping an eye on her to make sure she wasn’t about to die.

The next day when we walked home together she didn’t run past the Radley place. She instead stopped by the tree and stuck her hand in it. What was wrong with her! I ran back to make sure she was alright when she emerged with a box. We ran home and looked inside it. In it there were two pennies. I knew the second I saw them that they were really old. And really, really valuable. I wasn’t gonna tell her that though. I knew when I looked closer that each of these was worth almost as much as three bottles of molasses. “Here, Il keep them safe” I said. She put them in my hand. That night I went to went to were Atticus was sleeping and showed them to him. His eyes widened when he took them in. “Where did you get these” He asked. I tried my new evasion tactic but it didn’t work.

“I don’t know how, but somehow she knew they were there. She knew that they were waiting for her, For us! And why would Boo Radley want to give us money anyway. You know yesterday I caught her chewing gum, you know what she said.. She said she had “found it” at the radley place. Everyone knows you never, ever touch anything from the radley place.” Atticus simply looked at me then looked away. “Oh stop quibbling” he said. “The radleys have enough problems as it is with out medaling kids interfering in there business” He sighed and then looked at me. “I think its time to tell you what happened sixteen years ago”

That night we stayed up all night talking. He told me everything. He said that if he ever found out I told he would never trust me ever again. So if you think I’m going tell you, you’re wrong, I always keep my promises. For the next couple days we spent them planning with Dill on how to get a message to Boo. It tormented me not being able to say anything, but I always kept my promises. I don’t know what was up with Scout. She reminded me of a chameleon always changing one days she would be happy and then the next she would be mad. I think it had something to do with Dill. The other day I had overheard them talking and I think I had heard something about getting married. Geez they were still kids.

Boo radley kept on giving us gifts. One day we tried sneaking in to give us something and someone tried to shoot me. I mean geez. Overall the week was pretty eventful.

TKAM post 1 Scout

2009-05-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

I sat on the rim of our tree house letting my feet dangle over the edge. I looked out at the houses. From up here I could see everything and everyone. I knew that if I told Atticus he would never let us sit up here again. He would pronounce that “, that would be rude to look in people’s houses”. The only reason Jem and I ever did it was to keep watch on the Radleys. We had wanted to make sure that we could keep an eye on them so that Boo Radley didn’t go out and kill more people. One time when I was really little I thought that I had heard Boo scratching at my window. That night I promised my self that I would sleep in the tree house, because we all knew that Boo couldn’t climb for apples. We Maycomb children had all heard the stories about Boo Radley. And we also knew to get in the house before nine o’clock because that’s the time that he got out every night.

At approximately eight o’nine I ran out side with a blanket and a torch and set up camp in the tree house. I had presently asked Jem to stay with me. But to my annoyance and disappointment he had declined. It always irked me when Jem didn’t agree to something. But I would still persevere without him. I tried to stay up and listen and watch for any signs of Boo but to my disappointment nothing happened and I fell asleep.

I woke to the sound of laughter and looked out of the hole like window in the tree house. There was a boy on the other side of the fence. He had blond perfect hair and blue, blue eyes. I jumped down from the tree house making sure that I landed correctly. This act looked amazing but anyone that knew me knew that I had been able to do it since I was nine. “Hey who are you?” I said walking over. He stood up and barley came up to my shoulder. I laughed, id never seen a boy so short before. “My name is Charles Baker Harris” he said and looked at me full in the face. No one did that to me. I was indigenous to the Maycomb country, so I was taller that almost all the boys my age and much stronger than them too. So when some little, blond, fancy named kid stands up to me you can understand how that would make me mad. Jem walked up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. I knew that, that meant stop and uncoiled my fists.

Later I learned that Charles Baker Harris was staying with our neighbor for a wile. It was really fun having someone new around and meeting Dill really brightened up my summer. We played games and he got to know most of everything in Maycomb, not that there was much to see but it was impressive all the same. But when the summer ended he had to go. No teary goodbyes, just a firm yet warm handshake. He had been a nice kid.

Next morning I got ready for my first day at school. I think that Atticus had paid him because he had condescended to take me to school. I got into my classroom and sat at the front. I was so excited to learn new things. That’s when our teacher came in. Miss Caroline, in my eyes, looked like a peppermint stick. Not that any of us had ever seen one let alone taste one we all knew that they smelled and tasted like. She had red hair white skin. She was obviously not native to Maycomb but she was eccentric all the same. She asked people to read and I being able to read raised my hand. I had known how to read as long as I can remember. But Miss Caroline did not think that was acceptable. That day she sent me home with a new found hatred towards school.

Next day went about the same. Miss Caroline got mad for me knowing how to read and she also got in a fight with Burris Ewel. Poor thing, I knew she was not a malevolent soul but sometimes she just annoyed me to death. I knew that when I was mad I became intimidating to the other kids so on my way home they all stayed away from me. The second I got home Atticus knew something was wrong. He took me out side and talked to me. That night we made a compromise. I had always known that not reading was impossible for me so making that compromise really brightened my day.

Immigration project reflection

2009-03-29T18:23:00.001-07:00

Immigration project reflection

This semester I choose to read the book a long way gone by Ishmael Beah. I wanted to read this book because it was about a topic that I wanted to learn more about. I think that a long way gone was a really sad book. It really brought up some Important but sad issues in the world right now. I am happy with my book choice because even though it was sad I really liked it. It had a great story and it helped me to open my eyes to issues around the world.
The book a long way gone was about a boy names Ishmael Beah. He was a child soldier he was forced by the corrupt government to kill innocent people. He was never the kind of kid to want to kill so it really affected him when he was forced to kill people. I learned about how corrupt the government can be and how it can force children to kill other children. Sometimes when I was reading the book I would be in a place that I couldn’t have access to a computer so I would have to try to rush and write it so I could finish it on time. And other days I wouldn’t be able to be home until late so I think that they should be posted by 12:00 not 9:00 because a lot of people go to bed later than that.
I think that it would be easier if our lit circles should be written because it easier to read and explain that way and people don’t always have access to computers and it feels rushed because we have to get it done by a certain time. I think that it would be easier if it was not on the computer.
Sometimes the books were really confusing and I think that it would be fun if we were able to choose the book we wanted instead of having to choose from some that the teacher provided. Not that the ones that the teacher provided weren’t good. It’s just that we had no idea what the looked like or how many pages they were.
I decided that for my art piece I wanted to make my interpretation of the book. I thought that that would be a better way to express the feelings I had for this book counting on that the book was really emotional and touching. I wanted a way to show and express the anger and sadness in the book and I didn’t think that I would be able to with any of the other ways like a book cover. With the book cover I didn’t think that it would be right because I was planning on making something depressing and sad and I didn’t want to create an art piece for the cover of a book that would discourage people from buying the book.
Since this book was about sad things I thought that it would be good to make it really dark. This is why I made the whole background dark and made it look like the painting was on fire. People usually associate fire with death and darkness so this is why I choose that. When I was first making my art piece it looked horrible. Compared to how my drawing with colored pencil looked. It looked absolutely horrible. I hadn’t put the paint on think enough so his skin looked like it was odd and slightly green. But after the paint had dried I made a second layer and after that I looked better. I just kept messing with it until It looked like how I wanted it to look. When it finally looked how I wanted it to I stopped messing with it because I didn’t want it to end up looking bad. But all in all I liked how it turned out. It looked dark, sad and scary and that’s exactly what I wanted it to look like.
I think that I could have spent more time on my art piece. I know that I could have been neater and more organized. I think that I could have used smaller brushes because sometimes when I used a big brush it would get paint in places where I didn’t want it. I wish that we could have had more time to do what we wanted with our paintings.
I interviewed a friend of my fathers. She is Indian. It was fun interviewing her because I honestly wanted to know what she had to say about some of the questions I asked her. I think that the idea to interview someone 3 times and in 3 different methods is a good idea because that way you get more comfortable talking to that person so when you have your final interview it isn’t awkward. My interviewee was born in Nellore, India. In India it is very different everything if family oriented. To say thank you to someone you have to go up to them so you are face to face and say thank you. Otherwise you are considered rude. I see that immigrating to another country can be really scary at tines because if you do not know the language it is hard to find someone to talk to and you can become lonely. I’m hoping that when I give my interviewee her gift she will appreciate it because it took me a lot of hard work to make it.

book review #1 a long way gone

2009-03-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

Book Review
Why or why not you should read the book a long way gone By: Ishmael Beah

For the Reading circles this semester I chose to read the book long way gone By: Ishmael Beah. I wanted to read this book because we had previously in school been learning about kids in Africa and I had liked the idea that I could help but I wanted to know a little bit more though. I wanted to know from one kid what it was like. Then I saw this book and it was perfect. This, like many other books, starts of slow. For me it was hard to struggle though the first part of the book. This part mainly just talked about his life before the war. I think I should have appreciated it because I didn’t know what was going to come.
If you are at all squeamish I highly recommend Do Not read this book. This is not the book that start’s of happy and end’s with a kiss. This book with shock you, make you think different of people and what they can do. I also say that, If you are under the age of 13 do not read it. It has a lot of adult content. That is because the whole story is true. Knowing that the whole story was true made me re-think my life and my priorities. It made me really appreciate what I had.
I liked this book. It really made me open my eyes to the problems around us. There are so many countries that a child will grow up and have to kill his neighbors just because the “Government” said so. This is what happened in along way gone.
I have seen so many people come in and talk to us about other countries but its not the same as reading exactly what happened in someone’s life. I am surprised that Ishmael Beah had enough sanity to write a book about his struggles. After the amount of horrible trials he went though I don’t think that many people would, first, be able to get over it. Second, be able to have to think about every detail that happened. And third, write a book about it. The amount of courage and understanding that this boy had made me really want to help other people not as fortunate as me. And I think that, that is the key reason that he wrote this book in the first place.

Besides the gruesome detail and the sorrow and death. This is actually a well written book. You can tell that he though of every detail when writing. From Scent, to sound, even to how everything felt when he touched it. Sometimes when reading this I could almost imagine and feel how hard it must have been for him. This was an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who, like me, wants to help.

-Ashlen Sepulveda

a long way gone 6

2009-03-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Well, I am from the part of the country where I have not only suffered because of the war but i have also participated in it and undergone rehabilitation. So I have a better understanding, based on my experience of the situation, than any of these city boys who are here for the interview. What are they going to sat when they go over there? They don't know anything about the war except the news of it"
Ismael , page 187

Significance: I really hope that Ishmael and get this job because he really deserves it. He has experienced everything so he should be able to tell the world about it (he has, He wrote the book!) I am so happy for him that his life is so much better he deserves the best after all the hardships hes been through.
Character Judgment: I'm happy with how Ismael's character turned out. In the beginning I didn't like him. He killed people and was a slob. But now hes so much better. Its always darker before the light. I'm glad he found that light.

If you were Ishmael would you want to tell other people your story?

“Gunshots echoed in the quiet city, and the morning breeze felt harsh against my face. The air smelled of rotten bodies and gun powder”
Page 209, Ishmael

Significance:This quote makes me think of Because of Romek which is another book about a boy in a war and in that book it is always describing how it smells. I think the scent is a very important aspect because it gives you a better idea of were he is. Its really sad that he knows what the smell of rotten bodies smells like. I hope I never have to smell that.

Personal Connection: I can relate to this because I think about what it smells like and all of those small details when I'm writing. And I think that to describe something well you need to have what it smells like. That is why I choose that quote.

If you were to write a book about an experience like the one that Ismael Beah had what would you most want to get across to the reader?

a long way gone #5

2009-03-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

"No one will believe is when we tell them this"
Alhaji, page 147

Significance: Now that Ismael and his friends have arrived in the big city of Sierra Leone they are starting to see that the war hasn't spread that far. Here it is just a story that is sometimes told. They see tons of rich happy people and children eating ice cream. How are they supposed to adjust from a hard lifestyle of murder and lies back to there previous life of innocence and happiness. Would you be able to?

Character Judgment: I am hoping that Ishmael and his friends will be able to put aside what they did and try to start a new life for them selves. They are homeless and have barely any money. I don't think that I were any of them , that I would be able to forget what I did . I would probably have nightmares about it for the rest of my life.

If you were Ishmael would you be able to adjust from a hard life style of murder and lies back to there previous life of innocence and happiness?

“I smoked marijuana, ate, and snorted cocaine and *brown brown.”
Page 143, Ishmael and his friends

*Cocaine with gun powder mixed into it.

Significance: I don't like this quote I was really hoping that they would be able to start fresh and do better but obviously they are incapable of that. I was thinking that once they got to Sierra Leone they would WANT to be better and not go back to there old life.

Character judgment: I am so mad at them. Why would they want to go back to that? But Drugs, I mean really, what is he thinking? I think that they have all given up on life and don't really care anymore if they died or not. If I were them I think I would have gotten to that point along time ago so in a way they are strong. They get the Not as Bad as They could Be award.

D you think you could ever get to the point were you wanted to die?

a long way gone 4

2009-02-28T08:01:00.000-08:00

"We went to work killing everyone in sight. We didn't waste a single bullet"
Page 143, Ishmael

Significance: This quote is starting to show what kind off people Ishmael and his fiends have become. Even if they are killing rebels they are killing people. People with family's. I don't think I could kill someone even if they are really bad. Ishmael and his friends used to be so innocent. They never thought about killing anyone ever. But now they are killing people(even though they are not innocent)they are still killing people.

Character Judgment: I, in a way am mad at Ishmael. They could have just passed by the village instead of killing people out of revenge. I think that the reason that Ishmael and his friends keep trying to commit suicide is because they are depressed that they killed people. I also think that, that is the reason that they are sick.

Would you be able to kill someone even if they had killed people before?

“We walked around the village and killed everyone in sight”
Page 143, Ishmael and his friends

Significance:I don't like this quote it is once again showing how horrible these boys can be. before they were only killing the soldiers now they are also killing the soldiers wife's and children. They know what it is like to go on with out a family. So how could they do that to other people when they have experienced how horrible it is.

Character judgment: I am so mad at them. How could they do this to other people. They could have just gone on there way but for some reason. Maybe out of revenge. They had to go though and kill everyone. This just shows how much killing someone can change your life.
Would you ever kill someone out of revenge?

a long way gone #3

2009-02-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

"You guys disgust me just thinking about something like that""
Page 78, Jumah

Significance: I think this quote is a good choice because its starting to show what these boys have had to stoop to. They are starving to point were they are trying to eat dogs and other animals that in there previous life they would have never even tried to hunt let alone eat. they have changed as people so much over the past couple months and I don't think that they will ever be able to make it back to being how they used to be. They have lost there innocence.

Personal connection: I think that if I saw someone die or experienced any of the other things that they have experienced I would not feel the same way ever again. I feel so bad for them because they have killed people and I don't think I could ever bring my self to do that.
How would you cope if you killed someone?

“We must kill them all. We must make sure they never walk this earth again”
Page 108, Rebels

Significance:I think that this is really scary because a human is saying this and it reminds me of the holocaust. I don't think that people should hate each other that much. Something went wrong with the rebels to instigate why they hate people so much. I'm hoping they will tell us why.
Character judgment: I think that all of the people that were going along with that chant. NO matter what. Are bad people. I would not know what to so though would you go along with it and suffer the bad conscious or would you fight back and suffer dying?
would you go along with it and suffer the bad conscious or would you fight back and suffer dying?

a long way gone 2

2009-02-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

"I pray to the gods and ancestors that your family will always be together, even when one of you crosses into the spirit world. To family and to community"
Page 45, Old man

Significance: This quote is sad in a way because this happened before they all got killed so now what the old man said in a way is not true because they are all dead. The old man still hopes that they will be together someday. Maybe when they die.

Personal connection: I think that I would want to be with my family when i was dead. I in a way wish that I could know what happens when you die. I'm not sure if I believe in a spirit world but I hope that there is something.

Would you want to be with your family after you died?

“My children, you must hurry now, and my blessings are with you.”
Page 65, older woman, the mother of Ismael host

Significance: I really like this woman she and her family were taking care of Ishmael and his friends. The people in the village had found out about them and were our to capture Ishmael and his friends. And she had warned them to protect them. I would not have done that but I'm glad that she did

Character judgment: I love the old woman's ability to stand up for her self. If i had been in that situation i would not have helped even if they were children. She could stand up for what she believed was right even though there were killers after them and she could have gotten hurt.
Would you have put your life on the line for strangers that were children?

a long way gone #1

2009-02-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

"Too much blood has been spilled were you are going. Even the good spirits have fled from that place"
Page 11-12, Woman

Significance: This quote was intended for Ishmael and his brother because the woman knew that they were going to America and to get there they would have to see a lot of blood and broken villages. The woman was saying that it was not worth what might happen to them if they tried to go to America. The woman had already experienced what hardships you had to face to go to America and did not want children to have to go through those same experiences.

Personal connection: I can connect to this because when I say I'm going to do something that will maybe harm me my parents say not to do it and if I’m really determined then they say be careful. But I think that the chances of getting hurt are more than the chances of not getting hurt. Children are irresponsible and think that they are invincible they think “Oh that would never happen to me” but in many cases it does and usually when I do something risky I always get hurt.

Is rapping really worth getting killed?

“If any of you make a move, I will kill everyone. So don’t even breathe too hard or it might be your last”
Page 32, Rebel Soldier

Significance: Ishmael and his friends had tried to get to America and had been caught. So far Ishmael and his friend’s journey hadn’t been that great either. Ishmael and his friends had seen so many people die and now they were caught by soldiers who were threatening to kill them. They were starving and wishing they would have died in the first round of killings with the rest of there families. I feel really bad for them.

Character judgment: I am mad at the rebel soldier he is a kid just like them and what right does he have to kill these people. But also in a way I feel bad. If he doesn’t die he will have to live with killing all of these people for the rest of his life. No child would choose that for themselves so that means that he was forced to work. And in repayment he would not die.

Would you rather die or become a soldier and have to kill to save your own life?

Feild trip reflection

2009-02-14T08:47:00.001-08:00

Part 1 from Haven to Home:
In this exhibition I learned many things about the Jewish culture and how it came to America. Jews have been in America for 350 years. The first group of Jewish immigrants, approximately twenty, arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654. Many of these people had been pushed out of there home lands and wanted to start over in a clean, new, safe life. They were the first group of Jews in America. By the 1740 there were more Jews in America. Establishing there lives. In 1776 many Jews fought for America in the revolutionary war. Many more Jews and other immigrants came to America all for different reasons. Though America was safer and better than there previous home land they still had to deal with Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism started in America in 1920. Martin Luther king fought against Anti-Semitism. Many Jews after they came to America started changing.
They went from conservative to reform to humanist and so on. America had started to Americanize its people, there started to be free English classes for anyone that wanted to attend. Even though many Jews had become full Americans more still kept to there old ways. Many Jews still kept couture. They were not allowed to eat pork and shellfish. They were not allowed to eat beef and milk together on the same plate because they thought it was wrong to eat the meat of the mother with her milk. But in 1902 there was a huge scandal. Many people were charging much more for couture meat then for normal meat. This made them angry. Couture meat is only from a rib bone second to the last and up. This cow is killed swiftly so that it does not suffer. The meat also has to be blessed by a certain type of Rabbi. Many people use the term “Its couture” to mean “It’s clean.”
Soon Jews became very involved with pop culture. Some became movie stars and when the hit Fiddler on the Roof came out many more people stared noticing them. Barbra Streisand in signified was a very famous Jewish actress. Also The first Jewish Ms. New York was Bess Myerson.
Zionism was a belief that many Jews followed. It was created for the Jews. Its belief was that all Jewish people should have a homeland. But not all Jews were good. Benjamin (Bugsy) Sigel was one of the first gangsters in America. He was Jewish. He founded Las Vegas which is a huge hot spot today.
I learned many things that I didn’t know about Jewish history I also learned more things about there religion and how they immigrated here. I am glad that we got to see that exhibition because it really opened my eyes to other people and other religions.

Part 2: The Children of Immigrants:
Photo:
India Independence Day, Chicago 1997
In this picture the main focus in the child. She is a little girl and is about 3 years old. Behind her, her mom looks content she stands proud next to her husband. But the little girl is not sharing there happiness. She is scared, confused. She is no longer in her home. Why did her parents take her to this place? Though her parents had secured her future, she still misses her home. I chose this picture because it made me see that not everyone was pleased with going to America.
Quote:
“The greatest thing in my life is to become a successful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but who I am inside”
-Samira Duravovic, Yugoslavia
I choose this quote because I really agree with it and I think that, that should be everybody’s motto. I think that it is really touching and I can see that a lot of effort and heart was put into it.

Immigration Feild trip reflection

2009-02-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

Part 1 from Haven to Home:

In this exhibition I learned many things about the Jewish culture and how it came to America. Jews have been in America for 350 years. The first group of Jewish immigrants, approximately twenty, arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654. Many of these people had been pushed out of there home lands and wanted to start over in a clean, new, safe life. They were the first group of Jews in America. By the 1740 there were more Jews in America. Establishing there lives. In 1776 many Jews fought for America in the revolutionary war. Many more Jews and other immigrants came to America all for different reasons. Though America was safer and better than there previous home land they still had to deal with Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism started in America in 1920. Martin Luther king fought against Anti-Semitism. Many Jews after they came to America started changing.

They went from conservative to reform to humanist and so on. America had started to Americanize its people, there started to be free English classes for anyone that wanted to attend. Even though many Jews had become full Americans more still kept to there old ways. Many Jews still kept couture. They were not allowed to eat pork and shellfish. They were not allowed to eat beef and milk together on the same plate because they thought it was wrong to eat the meat of the mother with her milk. But in 1902 there was a huge scandal. Many people were charging much more for couture meat then for normal meat. This made them angry. Couture meat is only from a rib bone second to the last and up. This cow is killed swiftly so that it does not suffer. The meat also has to be blessed by a certain type of Rabbi. Many people use the term “Its couture” to mean “It’s clean.”

Soon Jews became very involved with pop culture. Some became movie stars and when the hit Fiddler on the Roof came out many more people stared noticing them. Barbra Streisand in signified was a very famous Jewish actress. Also The first Jewish Ms. New York was Bess Myerson.

Zionism was a belief that many Jews followed. It was created for the Jews. Its belief was that all Jewish people should have a homeland. But not all Jews were good. Benjamin (Bugsy) Sigel was one of the first gangsters in America. He was Jewish. He founded Las Vegas which is a huge hot spot today.

I learned many things that I didn’t know about Jewish history I also learned more things about there religion and how they immigrated here. I am glad that we got to see that exhibition because it really opened my eyes to other people and other religions.

Part 2: The Children of Immigrants:

Photo:

India Independence Day, Chicago 1997

In this picture the main focus in the child. She is a little girl and is about 3 years old. Behind her, her mom looks content she stands proud next to her husband. But the little girl is not sharing there happiness. She is scared, confused. She is no longer in her home. Why did her parents take her to this place? Though her parents had secured her future, she still misses her home. I chose this picture because it made me see that not everyone was pleased with going to America.

Quote:

“The greatest thing in my life is to become a successful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but who I am inside”

-Samira Duravovic, Yugoslavia

I choose this quote because I really agree with it and I think that, that should be everybody’s motto. I think that it is really touching and I can see that a lot of effort and heart was put into it.

Immigration Reflection

2009-02-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

An immigrant is a person who moves from one country to another. Sometimes its for better and sometimes its for worse. An immigrant is a person who comes to a country even though they were not born there to settle there. We are all immigrants because the only people who are not are the native American Indians. Some people were born and grew up in a country that they don't believe in. Lots of people immigrate because they follow a different religion than that of the country that they were born in. Some people immigrate to get a better education and others immigrate to countries that have money. Lots of people Immigrate here to flee from a war that is going on in there home country. But there are also those sad times in history were people would have to immigrate illegally to get away from people who would have killed them for there religion or color of skin.
Our country can provide a good education for children. It is mandatory for all children of the ages 5 to 16 to be educated. Either it being home schooled or at a local elementary school. Many people can get jobs that supply more money for there families. One of the parents in the family can immigrate here then send money back home to help there family. Many people immigrate to the US because of the religious and social freedom that we experience and take for granted every day. Many people can come to the Us to experience things that they had never experienced before. They believe that there are endless opportunities for them here.
There are so many people from different religions and countries in the us that in away although we are all different we are the same. All of our ancestors were from other countries to begin with which makes us all equal. There are restaurants serving food from every place in the word and people that are all different colors. There is an official policy of no segregation in the United states. It is illegal to segregate people so that's why so many families move here to get a better life and a better education.
Without immigration none of us would be alive because we are all from immigrant families. My parents would had never met if my father hadn't immigrated here for a better education from Mexico city. My father was 24 when he came to the us to go to UCSD for his graduate school education. My father had been planing to get an education here then return home to mexico but thats when he met my mom. Im glad he did so otherwise I wouldent be alive today.

Book Review #1 When Broken Glass Floats

2008-12-14T14:37:00.000-08:00

Book Review
Why or why not you should read When Broken glass floats By Chanrithy Him

For the Reading circles this semester I chose to read the book When Broken glass floats by Chanrihy Him. I chose to read this book because the story line was a lot like another book that I had read and liked. I usually like this style of writing but as you will soon tell, I did not particularly like this book.
During the reading of this book I learned lots of things, one of them being DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. If you procrastinated in this project you would become behind and have to re do lots of work and read more. I personally thought this book was sad, slightly boring and too long. I usually am pretty optimistic but with this book I just couldn’t stand it. It would constantly switch from the past to the present so soon you weren’t sure which was which.
She would be talking about her brother, she had 9 other brothers and sisters so after a while it got confusing, but the really confusing thing was each brother and sister had a nick name because all of there names were so long. Then it would just skip back and forth. This book was pretty serious though. I don’t recommend It to anyone bellow the age of 12, it was serious and long. A young person who was not used to reading long book’s would not even been able to struggle though it. I read a lot and trust me it was very, very hard not to just give up and put the book down.
Another thing that I didn’t like about the book was that she used Thai words for things like Grandpa and Grandma. She had told us the meanings of these words once in the book so the next time you saw it you would have forgotten and not had any idea what it meant. I think that if you liked the book Because of Romek By David Faber you would like When Broken Glass Floats because they are both about real life stories that are sad, and in both of them there whole family dies and they have to start over. I think that if David (Because of Romek) and Athy (when Broken Glass floats) met each other they would be great friends, because I think that they would be able to understand each other in ways that no one else could get.
So over all, I would not recommend the book to readers that like action and adventure because this book has none. My group members had a hard time reading this book too, so I know its not just me. I have nothing against book’s , I love reading but this book was so dull that I lost interest. But that’s because I only like to read adventure novels.

Lord of the flies # 13

2008-10-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

Ashlen Sepulveda

Chapter 13: The Death of a Hero

Ralph looked back at the island watching its shape fade into the distance. He turned back to the ship and looked at the other boys who were also silent. He turned to Jack, who had been his friend then his enemy and was now his friend again.
“I won’t miss it,” jack said looking back at the island,
“I am so glad that we are finally going home” Ralph saw the tears burning his eyes. All of the boys on the island had been scared, they would all go on with there lives and try to forget the horrible things that had happened on that island but none of them would truly forget. The naval officer came up the stairs.
“You should all come down now, its starting to get chilly” they all looked at Ralph to see if that was what he had wanted. Ever since they had gotten of the island Ralph had taken the position of being the leader.
“He’s right, let’s go down before we catch a cold” Ralph's voice was hard he had not forgiven them for killing two of his friends. He walked down the stairs letting them sit in the cold with harsh wind. A couple seconds later the rest of them descended the stairs into the warmth of the cabin.
“Dinner will be soon so don't start something now” the captain said.
“But you guys can go play or something”
He smiled trying to put as much warmth into his smile as he could. He thought about the expressions on the children's faces when he had found them. He shivered inwardly. They had looked like animals with all that blood and dirt. There faces had shown fear but also a rage that was too mature for there small children's faces. The one with the red hair, he had looked like he was about to kill that kid. If I hadn't got there in time, he walked to the kitchen thinking about how things would be different.
Jack stared at the wall. He was bored out of his mind. After they had gotten of the island everything had changed. He was no longer the hunter but he was the killer, the one no one wanted to be with, no one understood him, his life. As a child he had been mistreated. He had always wished that he could be away from that hell of a life. His parents had sent him to a boarding school not being able to handle him. He had been so exited, finally he could start over. But everything had gone so wrong. The plane had shaken and he knew he was going to die. He had been thankful to be alone with himself at least we wasn’t with his family. But he hadn’t died. He had woken up to the bright sun which he would soon know all too well. And now he was returning home to the on place he hated most.
Ralph walked into him room; it was weird not having the open sky above. He felt trapped, that if something happened he wouldn’t be able to escape. An animal instinct had been drilled into all of them on the island and it would never go away. The distinct to survive no matter what.
“Lets go get something to eat” Ralph said, Jack stood up and walked to the door ignoring him as he walked past Ralph looked at him as he passed by. Even thought he tried to hide it Ralph knew that Jack was soft and venerable on the inside, Ralph had seen the bloodshot red eyes from crying. Poor Jack Ralph thought and followed Jack into the dinning hall.
They sat down at the table and started eating. None of them were used to eating food yet. There bodies were so unused to normal food after staving for months. They all dug in like animals forgetting all of the manners they had ever been taught.
The officer sat there eating with his knife and fork wondering what had God done wrong for these children end up like this? The officer felt awkward sitting there with all these children grunting and tearing apart there meat with there teeth. Finally he had to say something.
“Do you boys remember anything of when you lived in England” The naval officer hadn’t wanted to approach the subject of how long they were on the island and how many people had there been. He knew that two of the children had been killed but he didn’t want to know. Finally the tall blond one Ralph answered.
“We do, but it’s sometimes hard to remember…”
The naval officer looked at him shocked by his answer
“How long were you on that island” he whispered afraid to know the answer. There was a long pause then he said.
“I can’t honestly remember”
“I think it might have been more than a year, we are not sure. There’s something about this island, it’s weird. Time passes faster on the island that it does out side.”
“When were you born lad”
“1928 he said slowly”
I gasped that was impossible he was just as old as me and yet he looked so young, I turned looking out the window to where the island was supposed to be… but it was no longer there. Just a plain expanse of water stood before us. I turned back to them wondering for the first time what was real and what fantasy was.
“You’re just as old as me” I choked out unable to speak.
“Yes I am” he said slowly, we haven’t told everyone about this small… fact. We don’t want people looking for the island.
“But if the island doesn’t want to be found it wont be” said a sweet child’s voice. A little boy no older that 9 walked in. He looked up at me through long eyelashes and smiled.
“Percival! What are you doing here?” Ralph said
“Oh I was just seeing the other ships and who was on them, I mean we don’t want to leave anyone behind do we?”
Several ships had taken eight or nine children on them, when they had first seen them they weren’t sure if they would be easily handled. They had turned out fine but they had still kept the precaution. When the crew had arrived at the island they had seen fire all over the island and were scared until they had seen the little boys running along the beach. The reason why they had found the island in the first place is because they had found several dead bodies’s floating in the water and they had made a trail straight to the island.
The men had looked at the maps and charts but nether of them had show that any island existed, they were skeptical at first that anyone could live on such an island but then they saw the some, and fires don’t make themselves. They had anchored near by and sent out a small fleet of ships to check and make sure the area was clear. They were war vessels and they had wanted to make sure it was not an enemy trap.
As the officer told the children the story of how he had found them he tried not to think about that these “children” were as old as he was. They had suffered much more than he had that was to say. Then the angry brunette boy spoke.
“Aren’t you going to ask us who died” everyone was shocked into silence by his blatant question.
“Uh...” what was I supposed to say?
“So who died when you boys were on the island?”
They speak of death like its nothing the officer thought.
“Only two people died” he said coolly,
“But that’s to no matter” he said smirking at the blond, Ralph.
“They were useless to begin with”
Ralph jumped across the table knocking glasses and food to the floor
“You take that back Jack Merridew! You take that back or ill kill you!”
Ralph was so mad, how could he say something like that. I had thought he changed Ralph thought. I was obviously wrong.
“I will not” Jack said and sneered
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Il Kill you that’s what!” Ralph said and started to strangle jack.
The naval officer tied to get there but the rest of the boys stopped him.
“This has to be done” said Percival in his innocent child’s voice
Jack’s face was starting to turn a bluish color but Ralphs hands wouldn’t back down. Ralph had put up with Jack for too long and wasn’t going to deal with him any longer. Jack struggled a few times more then was still….
How can I annoy him Jack thought to him self watching Ralphs expressions. Jack didn’t want to go home. No matter what he would not rerun home. If it meant killing himself he would do it just so long as he didn’t have to see him family ever again. He made a comment about Piggy and Simon and about how they had died and he saw the anger flare up in Ralph. Almost there he thought and made another comment. This was it. He would die but he would be happy he had had an adventure that most kids would never have. He had spent a year on an island and had lost ten years of his life. He was old. He was tired and he wanted to go to sleep.
He barley felt the hands at his thought slowly squeezing the life from his frail body. His heart pumped faster in its final attempts at saving his life. But that was not what he wanted to he lay there at peace and then his last breath escaped and he whispered.
“Thank you” his final breath was gone his body and soul had left him. He shuttered once then Jack Merridew died.
Ralph stood there looking at Jacks lifeless body. He was so pale and cold. It was if all the happiness and life had fled his body, oh yes he had heard the words “thank you” how was the thanking him for taking his life. He stood there paralyzed not knowing what to do. He felt hands on his arms pulling him away for Jacks body. He stood up and shuttered.
“This was what he wanted” Percival said. And then he explained jacks life to the waiting audience.
“Jack and I were cousin’s, the first day we landed on this island he told me not to tell anyone or show anything that might show we were related. At home jack had been born into a poor family. His dad had left him at a young age and his mother was abusive.
She never was happy for anything he did and didn’t really care about him at all. On the other hand he had grown up next to me. I had had the perfect life as a child. My mother and father were both hard working well achieving people, even though we hadn’t had a lot of money my father and mother had always worked super hard to be able to get me what I wanted. Jack had hated his home life. He had spent most of him time alone by him self. But then he had started hanging out with the bad boys from school after that he had changed he became rowdy and was mean to everyone from then on. I don’t know what they did to him but it changed him forever.
When my mother told him that we were going away to boarding school he was so happy, finally he could be away just be himself. But as you well know everything had gone wrong and we landed up on the island and he UN knowingly had slipped back into his old role of bully. He has done some horrible things in his life, but you guys must understand he has been mistreated and criticized his whole life.” Finally Percival finished his speech. By now all of the boys had tears in there eyes for there poor friend jack.
“Maybe it is better this way” Ralph said whipping burning tears from the corners of his eyes.
“He would have wonted it to be like this” Percival said and hugged Ralph.
What happened to these children to become so mature yet so old yet so young thought the officer helping then heave Jacks body over the edge of the boat.
Ralph picked up Jacks lifeless body and let him drop from the boat to the water. Jacks body hit the water with a great splash and sank deeper and deeper to the bottom of the sea.
The End

Lord of the flies #12

2008-10-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

Lord of the flies
Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters
Perspective: Jack

Blood and rescue

I was so angry how dare Ralph come into my camp and disrupt it like this. Everyone was talking, oh Ralph oh Ralph. He shouldn’t have that much power over my people. Some of the boys were just wandering around others were eating meat and beginning to diddle. I saw the twins sitting in a corner looking like outcasts, well they are. Serves them right for not joining our tribe in the first place.
The ululations of the boys startled me, they started singing that annoying song again “kill the pig cut its thought spill its blood” I mean I had made it up and I didn’t go around singing it all the time. I was thinking about sending a cordon of soldiers out to look for Ralph but I decided to play nice this one time and let him die in peace.
I walked over to the twins. The second they saw me walking over they immediately looked away. They knew something. “Where is Ralph” I said glaring at them. I don’t know said Sam. Oh really I replied and jabbed him with the but of my spear. Hah., I glared at them and was about to poke him with the other side of my spear when Eric spoke up. He’s in the forest. Well duh I knew that, where else would he be. But at least they were talking. He’s somewhere near here though. That’s were he said he would be. Oh so this little brat had actually had a conversation with him.
I hissed in frustration why couldn’t he just die already!
Let’s go I said and jabbed his ribs. He let out a little gasp of pain than got up. Were are we going, he said. Were going to go find Ralph. Other people had been listening to our conversation and one offered up an idea. Burn down the forest that’ill get him out of hiding. That was actually a good idea I thought, but I didn’t say anything to the boy because I didn’t want him to think I liked him.
As we were getting our spears and running out of camp we passed the distended body of the sow which had been left in a corner to rot, flies were gathered at her body buzzing around.
We set of. We saw him about around here, Eric said. I heard a rustling in the bushes were he was pointing I motioned everyone to be quiet and crept closer. Then suddenly Ralph burst out of the shadows a wild look in his eyes. He was covered in blood and dirt and had a weird look to him, it took me only a few seconds to understand this. Then we were running after him through the trees and smoke, down the beach and then he went around a bend. We ran around the corner and he was just standing there looking at a man, and yes I do mean an actual adult man. We all just stood there dumbfounded. He wore a blue suede jacked with gold trim and silver epaulettes. He was talking to Ralph and every once in a while looking over at us. I heard him ask how many dead. I would not want to reply to that question…then the reality of what was happening struck me, we were free we were of this island, we could go home and see our families and get our life’s back. Tears of joy and sadness for all who had been lost stung my eyes, I cried and I was not embarrassed that other boys would make fun of me, for everyone else was crying too.

Lord of the flies #11

2008-10-05T08:49:00.001-07:00

Lord of the flies
Chapter 11: The Castle Rock
Perspective: piggy

The end

I stared around me trying to make out comprehensible shapes. All I saw were Grey shapes moving around. Pretty much I was blind. I could not see, I was useless. “In the wild when the mother lion had a cub with a disability the mother would kill its own child for the safety of the other cubs” I recited the line from the great book of animals in my head. What was I thinking? Suicide just wasn’t my thing. I went on. We were making our way towards the camp.
It was so embarrassing. Ralph had been holding my hand for the past 25 minutes. I was going to be delirious if this kept on any longer. I didn’t want the other boys to see me like this. “when we get there let go of me” Why Ralph said back. They already think im bad enough, holding your hand isn’t going to make it any better.
Soon enough though he let go of my hand and moved forward without me. “just stay here he said” wait maybe not holding me hand wasn’t the best idea in the world. I heard them talking and just stood there.
A while later I heard a sound like something giant had come out of the earth and was moving towards me. Then I heard something “piggy run” i dropped the conch on accident and heard it crack into a thousand pieces the talisman had been broken.
But the sound was too close and my unfit body couldn’t get its self out of the way in time. Smack. Something huge smacked into my body, I heard the loud cracks as my body began to fall apart. I touched my hand to my stomach. I could already fell the warm wetness seeping through my clothes. From then on I knew I was going to die. All of this took less than a second and another second later piggy’s dead body hit the ground.The cessation of piggy's life had ended. At least he wasn’t alive when he hit “Ralph thought” and as if answering that thought piggy’s whole head spit open and tons of blood and brains split out onto the wet sand. A moment later the water rushed up bubbled a little and took piggy’s gruesome scene out to sea.The truculently of what had happened disappeared into the water.

Lord of the flies #10

2008-10-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

Lord of the flies
Chapter 10: The shell and the glasses
Perspective: Jack

Chief

I stared at the group of boys before me. I counted them of in my head. the illumination struck me. That was pretty much all of them. All except Sam and Eric. Ralph and piggy could die for all I care. Tonight we hunt! I said in a loud clear voice. The boys cheers filled the clearing. I will go with two other people to the other camp to take there fire. Who will join me. theologically two boys raised there hands.
We set of while the sun was setting. When we arrived at the camp we couldn’t see any fire. Then I saw the remains of what used to be the fire. I gowned all this time and effort for nothing. No that wasn’t true. Instead of taking there fire and having the risk of burning down the whole island I can make the fire.
Piggy’s glasses I whisper. I herd the recognition in there voices. Yeah. We walked toward the hut. I could hear faint whispers. I moved forward. I herd my name said.
We rushed in and then after that all I felt was pain and chaos. Through it all I saw piggy’s glasses fall to the floor, I picked them up and ran out of there. My work was done. We were so barmy tonight i said laughing. we were back at camp and were were sitting eating roasted pig over a fire, piggy's forgotten glasses throughn aside. We had purged Ralph of all he had left

Lord of the flies #9

2008-10-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

Chapter 9: A view to a death

Perspective: Simon

The end

I awoke with a start, the world spun circles in my head. I sat up trying to remember the last thing before I fainted. The pigs head, the lord of the flies. I looked over where I knew she would be staring at me. I waited for the now familiar voice to speak. Nothing happened, I waited for one more second then decided to make my way back to camp. I needed to tell them about the beastie. The parachutist. Poor person. I wouldn’t have wanted to land on this island. I started trying to make my way back to camp. But my legs were so tired, I just wanted to lay down and sleep……
But no I had to tell them. After a while im not sure it started to rain, hard heavy droplets. They pounded my head making it hard to think. I stumbled on. When did it get so dark. I couldn’t remember anything. I remember falling to the ground after I tripped over a tree root. I lay on the ground a while letting the rain clean away the blood and dirt from my face, In a way it also cleared away the horrible things that had happened to me on this island. After that I was content.I saw the corpulent body's in front of me and made my way towards the fire. The light.Its phosphorescence shown in the dark. I heard them chanting that annoying killing song. I rolled my eyes. I crawled out of the bushed into the light.
Then everything went drastically wrong. The circle of boys encircled me chanting “kill the beast” what was happening “I’m not the beast” I tried to say, but they were too loud. Then the pain struck me, hard in my back. I doubled over in pain and gasped. What were they doing, then another and another blow. My head, my back. I saw dark blood seeping through my clothes, I saw the deep cuts and new burses, I saw the blood in the water. Dripping. But surprisingly I couldn’t feel it. My whole body was numb. I couldn’t move my brain was the only thing working. Then something hit my hard in the head and everything went black…………..
Then soon after I was looking down at a scene, a young to skinny almost sick looking boy lay on wet dirt surrounded by numerous boys they had all stopped and were looking down at the boy who had numerous bloody cuts and bruises all over his body. Some of the boys wept. Others looked down with sadness. The boy on the dirt’s eyes stared of seemingly into the sky. Almost peaceful looking. I felt bad for that strange boy, but I knew that he was probably in a better place happier to be away from that nightmare of a life. I looked down once more, I recognized him somehow. Maybe I had seen him in a dream or another life, after that brief second I forgot him and the brutal scene………………
I didn’t remember.

Lord of the flies #8

2008-09-29T20:27:00.001-07:00

Chapter 8 gift for the darkness

Perspective : jack

Pigs

I can’t stand Ralph anymore, I quit. Hes not some prefect or something I won’t keep on being his slave. I've spent too long following his orders and abiding his rules. This is seriously pissing me off, I thought as I walked forward to the platform. I was so nervous I had never done anything like this before and no amount of training would have prepared me for this. “I’m leaving” I said, opposition rang clear in my voice. I could hear the gasps around the circle. I wiped my dirty palms on my shorts and looked around. Everyone stared at me with blank faces of disbelief and horror.
Had I done something wrong? “Everyone who’s with me stand up” no one stood. The silence was defining. Anger streaked though me, hot tears stung my eyes as I glared at everyone. “Fine” is said. I was glad my voice didn’t shake. I would get them back, I would.
I ran faster than id ever ran. I knew before I started that they would not try to stop me. Why would they? They all hated me. They hated me from the beginning. They didn’t understand. Growing up in England my home life had been a living hell. I was glad to be on this island. Glad to finally be free. Killing was my way of getting back at my family for all of those years. I sat huddled against a rock, waiting, waiting. Would they ever come? Footsteps in the distance, Hushed voices. Was that them. “jack” some one called out. Robert? One of the twins? I couldn’t tell. I stood up. Letting my hair fall in my face so that they couldn’t see my blood shot eyes. “hey jack were sorry about back there” Robert said. “its just we were so surprised that we didn’t know what to do” “but were here now” “ and we want to be with you”. “first your going to start by calling my chief” I said in a hard cold voice. They looked at each other then decided. “yes chief” Good. They were obeying me. My plan was working.
A couple hours later more people came and we set up a camp, “lets go hunt” I said. Cheers echoed around me. We started running. We knew that the pigs hid on the top of the mountain in the shade in the afternoon so that’s were we heeded south along the burnt area making sure to leave no trail behind us. Then I heard a sound. I signaled them to he quiet and to move slowly. Had we found something? I walked forward and peered stealthily around the fronts. The biggest sow I had ever seen lay in the cool shade. More than 10 piglets nestled against her chest. A killing instinct took over me and pushed any remorse for killing a mother out of my head. the taboo was suddenly gone I signaled to spread out and get ready for attack. Then I moved forward fast. She jumped up scattering her piglets on to the hard rock. Spears jabbed at her stomach her neck her head. the demoniac crime we committed did not sink in.Blood, masses of blood every where and then she lay still. Her eyes staring of into space. We would have food tonight. After that we pounced her letting her hot guts lay beside her. some animal would eat them, what did i care.

Lord of the flies #7

2008-09-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

Shadows and Tall Trees

Perspective: Simon

the hunt

We have just left camp and we are heading towards the mountains to find and kill the beast. I am scared, im not sure if i want to be here. The feeling of panic and fear is strong in the air. Why did i do this in the first place. I should have stayed with piggy and the lil'uns. jack thinks he can kill the beast.
Hah, the beast is not something you can kill. Its something we created. Ralph feels fear but will not subdue to it. He will not admit to jack that he is scared.
Jack is scared though. I bet somewhere in the farthest corner of his mind there is that doubt. Can he really do it, can he really kill the beat. It is night time now. I want to be alone. The a chance to escape. I will cross the island alone. In the dark. With no moon to guide me. It is ok though, i can make it though. I will make it through.

Lord of the flies #6

2008-09-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Chapter 6: beast from air
perspective: piggy

beastie

I dont belive that there is such thing as a bestie.Ever scince i was little i was raised not belliving in that sourt of stuff. But today was different. I could see the fear on there faces as they told us of how they had seen the beastie. Is it real. Jack was waxy after they told us. He doesnt believe in it ither.
When is this interminable talk of a beastie going to end. Its not real. I can understand how some lil'ons can believe that but Simon. I cant understand. And i remember him saying something about the beastie being human? What no that's not possible. Jack had been acting mutinously lately. He is so embroiled in this conflict that he has forgotten his duty to the tribe. he is hunter, he need food. Today jack Ralph and some other hunters left to try to kill the beastie. I hope they survive and are fine. I don't mind if something happens to jack though. I wish he would leave this island. I hate it here.

Lord of the flies #5

2008-09-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Chapter 5: beast from water
perspective: Simon

Fear

Fear, its not something you can describe but its something that most people feel. I know everyone felt fear today at the meeting. Fear for Ralph, fear of the beastie and most of all fear of each other. Fear isn't an incantation, its something you bring on your self. Fear is the sound you cant explain the feeling of cold that you cant describe.
The sounds of children's lamentation still scares me. To hear that much pain put in one sound,i cant describe it. I feel so bad for them. They are still young and before now unafraid and curios. Now they know how cruel human beings can truly be. The eggigy of fear was almost overwhelming today. The ludicrous behavior of jack was unacceptable. The jeering way he treated piggy was horrible. I couldn't stand it. But that is not the point. This needs to stop it needs to end. I cant keep living in a world without rules without decorum.

Lord of the flies #4

2008-09-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair
Perspective: Jack

Rule breakers

So what. The fire went out. It was a stupid plan to begin with. Whatever . I don’t care
I killed a pig. I felt the awesome power. I killed an animal, I always knew I could do it.
Even though some people may have doubted me I did it. I killed something I enforced my will over it. Everyone is always so belligerent towards me I don’t get it, What did I do to them.
It doesn’t matter though. All of these peoples impalpable behavior is getting on my nerves. They think there so cool, but they cant kill anything. After I killed the pig I can still see the gouts of blood just poring from its neck. Blood sickens me. I will not tell anyone though. I don’t want them to think im a sissy.
I know many people think im a malevolent person. But that’s just a blatant way of saying it. I am much more deep than that. No one knows the true me.

lord of the Flies #3

2008-09-16T20:11:00.001-07:00

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach
Perceptive: Ralph

Pigs pigs pigs

Pigs that’s all anyone talks about. Yes it would be nice to get some meat but Jack is getting on my nerves. That’s all he does 24-7. And no one is doing anything; Simon is the only one helping at all. I don’t want to be leader. But I don’t want Jack to be leader ether. Jack is so rapt in his pig compulsion that he is forgetting our main goal.
To get of this island. Even with all these vicissitudes I am still whiling to do what ever it takes to free our selves of this place. Some times Simon is so inscrutable, he’s so smart and how he talks it’s sometime hard to understand. I can understand how the lil’uns are scared. Sometimes it is so opaque in the mornings and with al those tendrils everywhere I can understand were they are coming from.
I really hope we get of this island soon. That’s all I can think about. As long as I can survive on fruit until someone saves us that’s what im going to do. Some mean would be nice though……..

lord of the Flies #2

2008-09-15T20:24:00.001-07:00

Lord of The Flies

Chapter 1: fire on the mountain
Perspective: piggy

Fire

Fire, It’s so dangerous so unpredictable. Who could have known? Those poor kids. Now they are dead it my fault. No its Jack’s fault he’s just so spiteful and horrible and errant. How can no one else see it? I can see how he induced all those people to follow him. He will lead them to there deaths. I hate him.

Ralph is another whole story. He’s so confident but I was the one who met him first. He cares only for himself. I am still resentful of how he told everyone about piggy, how could he. And I though this would be a beginning. I was dead wrong.

That fire will eventually burn down the whole forest. I cant believe I saw them capering In the trees. They killed countless children. But no one will listen to me. “shut up” that’s all they ever say. That’s all anyone says. Il change there minds. Il show them what kind of person I actually am. I hope things on this god forsaken island get better or I don’t know what will become of us.

Lord of the Flies #1

2008-09-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

Lord of The Flies

Chapter 1: Sound of the Shell
Perspective: Jack

New Island

Ever since I've been stuck on this island I've loved it. Having no one to boss me around nothing to do. Personally I think its great I hate how some stupid kids are crying and whining about it they don't appreciate what they have, I'm not going to help them. I wont be the one to tuck them in and tell them everything it all right. Because its not.
There is something off about this island. But I cant put my finger on it, today we were hunting and i saw that piglet and i couldn't do it. I couldn't kill it, I cant take somethings life....... But I'm going to have to forget that and survive. If killing is what it takes than so be it. I take care of myself as for everyone else, well they can fend for them selves.
Ugh and I hate it everyone is like Ralph!! Ralph!! He's not even that great. I don't see anything in him. Wow so he has a shell, SO WHAT! he didn't even find it. That fat kid piggy did. He's not so great he's going to get himself killed taking care of all those little kids. I should be the leader I can take care of myself.

s u m m e r

2008-08-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

Even though were on vacation im still gonna do posts
im really bored and i miss all of you guys im so happy
that were starting school
on monday though!! im on the Mr . T team
we should still keep our blogs so that we can keep in touch
fun fun fun!

Romek final Post

2008-06-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

1. I think the most horrific part of the book is in the second to last chapter when he is at Bergen-Belsen because it was disgusting when he talked about how the dead bodies were covered with lice that were sucking there blood also another part that was horrible is when he was talking about people eating the flesh of the dead, Most of the book was depressing and sad its just after reading almost the whole thing you become numb and don't feel anymore. I think the saddest part of the book though is when his whole family is murdered and when his brother is tortured to death. It is also sad when in the end it describes how he is dying of typhoid, it really makes you think about life.

2. When david is in Krawinkel Camp he gets a good job that probably saved his life, he gets to feed the german shepherd dogs. At first he is scared because they have done horrible things to them but then he finds a broom handle and uses that to push the food bowls towards the dogs, after he takes a bite of the dogs food he loved it, it is made out of cooked meat and vegetables and lots of other stuff. Every time he gives the dogs some food he took some out of the bowl and ate it, that job helped him by surviving by keeping him warm and providing him with a easy job that pays off with good food. I am pretty much positive that if he hadn't gotten that job he would have died. He has good luck.

3. When David arrived at Bergen-Belsen all he saw was hundreds and hundreds of dead people. That pretty much gave him a sign,After the first day he was sick and tired and he knew he could not go on much longer. After the first week he was sick with typhoid which is an illness that happens when you don't eat or drink, and he had a fever. I think it was horrible when he had to cary dead people and burn them. I also think it was disgusting that people ate the flesh of the dead. If i was in that position i never would have done that, I think that the conditions were so non human like in Bergen-Belsen and i can not possibly ever understand how someone would have been able to live with them selves knowing what they had done.

4. When David is almost dead from Typhoid in the end of the book a person runs in and says were free, david thinks he is making a cruel joke and tells him to go away. Then another person runs in a says its not a joke and over the loud speakers the Americas and the British are telling the people that they are free, David starts Crying and says " i did it mama, I survived" When i read that passage in the book i felt sadness and joy. Sadness because finally he is free after years of being in concentration camps and joy because he survived that horrific incident that destroyed almost his whole life. I was very proud and almost overwhelmed when he was brought to a hospital, because i felt such happiness that he was safe.

5. David Faber's book, Because of Romek, should be required reading in all middle schools, high schools, and universities because all students need to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust. After reading the book "Because of Romek" I am sure that all middle school students should read this book. Before i read the book i knew hardly nothing about the holocaust, i just knew that it was a part of our history, nothing more. But after listening to the horrors that David Faber went through i decided that everyone should know about this. One of the things that struck me the most happened during our presentation with david faber. He was talking about how recently another holocaust had almost started some where in the world and he said "where was the world when we needed them, Where were they!" I started crying at that point listening to this old man tell us about how horrible his life has been because of one man and what he thought was right. Please respect David faber and all of the thousands of people that died during the Holocaust. Let us prevent starting a new holocaust by learning by are mistakes.

Project Reflection Renaissance Ball project

2008-06-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Name: Ashlen Sepulveda

Project Reflection

Project Title: Renaissance Ball project

Class:C Dates:2008

*You may type directly in this document and copy and paste into blog, or simply address each of the following in a post. It should be approx. 2 pages worth of writing.

PURPOSE: In this section, explain what you were supposed to learn and what you were supposed to do.

The purpose of this project was to learn about the renaissance time period and all the the people and places that it had. In this project we were assigned a person to become. After we had done lots of research on our person we wrote a biography on our person. When our paper was finished we had to fully become our character at a ball in which we had to act our our character, we learn the Pavon which is a common dance back then, we also learned how to act if you were upper class and how to act if you were lower class.

WHAT I LEARNED

In this section, tell what information or skills you learned or improved.

Mary Stewart was Born on December 8 in Linlithgow 1542. She Died on 8 February in Fotheringay 1587. She was the only daughter of James V of Scotland. She became queen when she was only three days old. Her Mother was Mary Of Guise. Became Queen of England, Scotland, Ireland and France in her life. She was Executed at 44 years old. She lived in prison for 19 years. Her only son became the king of England when queen Elizabeth died. I learned about the time period in which Mary Stewart lived, the Renaissance. I learned about what the sold at markets and why it was important. I learned the names of the most famous artists and why they were inportant.

REFLECTION

In this section, reflect on your experience. Did you like the project? Why or why not? How did you do? What would you do differently next time?

I Liked this project because i loved learning about the interesting people back then and how they changed history. I also loved dressing up and becoming someone else for a day. It was fun! I also loved learning a dance and doing it with my friends. I fell like next time I could not goof of as much in class and work harder to make my paper better.

ARTIFACTS

You should have at least one artifact from each project on your DP. What document, picture,link will you have for this project? or

This will be on my blog

Romek #3

2008-05-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

1. I think it was an incredible experience hearing someone from the holocaust speak to us. I think it will be great to be able to tell our children that we heard a survivor because when our children are grown there wont be any survivors left. I cried, It was heartbreaking hearing him speak about the murders of his whole family, you could hear the sadness and anger at the Germans in his voice. I was really really touched by him, and i hope he lives a long time so he can do what he promised to his mom.

2. I think Romek was proud because he was in a organization kinda like the partisans and he was glad that his little brother was following in his footsteps to stop the Germans from reaching world domination. I think he was happy because he knew that if he died David would be able to survive and take care of the family, that he wasn't a little kid anymore.

3. Because i think some of the Germans were still evil but still had some feeling so they made him go back to the ghetto. I think they knew if he went back the the ghetto he would eventually die in a concentration camp or starve of just get shot, i don't think it was meant to be a favor of any kind. I just think he has great luck.

Romek Post # 2

2008-05-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

1. I think he kept the pigeon because with all the sadness and death he didn't want to kill something beautiful. Also he was really lonely and just needed sometime with someone who was depressed and crying about the war. The pigeon saved his whole family's life because when the pigeon didn't come it hinted the mother that something was wrong and so they hid and were saved.

2. I think that Puskow the Vacation camp was probably the easiest out of the camps, not to say it was easy im just saying that it wasn't like gruesome and horrible like some of the other camps he will eventually go too. I think it was called the Vacation camp because it was not that hard and was just preparing them for Ashwitz and some of the other horrible camps were they could die in an instant i think it was just a "prepare" camp

3. What is it like knowing that you are one of the few survivors of the Holocaust?

Do you ever regret something you did during the holocaust?

Romek Post #1

2008-05-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

1. Before we started this project i already knew allot about the Holocaust before i started reading "because of Romek" When i was 11 i went to the museum of tolerance. When i went there i learned a lot about the holocaust and allot about Hitler. I learned about what the Germans did to the Jews, and i learned why they did that.

2. a) I feel really bad for Davids family, First because I know that they all die and second it must have been a horrible experience for all of them. The whole family is scared because they don't know what to do. Soon, too soon. David is going to have to take over the family and he is not sure if she has the experience nor the courage too do so. They are all very worried for there sun's.

b)I think that David Faber can write such a moving and realistic story because it actually happened to him and if something like that happened to anyone and they survived I think it would be imprinted in there memory for ever. The whole story is true, even if some people don't want to admit it.

3.I think that when David puts his mind to it, he can do anything. I think that is part of the reason he survived the holocaust and it alive today; I think he is cunning, smart, and has a kind heart. Later on in the book I know he helps people in need, and when you help people, they help you back.

Aztec Project reflection

2008-05-05T13:28:00.001-07:00

Name: Ashlen Sepulveda
Project Reflection: Post on your Blog

Project Title: Aztec Mural project
Class: C Dates: May, 5, 08

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this project was to learn about the Aztecs and there culture. In order to learn about this we had to create a mural symbolizing an important part of the Aztec culture. My group and I decided to make a mural about the Aztec gods and their Sacrifices. All the people in my group word hard to achieve a perfect mural. Which i think we did. All the people in my group worked hard using each other to accomplish things. In the end our mural turned out great and we got a good grade.

WHAT I LEARNED

In our Mural depicts how the Aztecs would have human sacrifices to please the gods. At the bottom of our mural are skulls. The skulls represent the people that the Aztecs sacrificed. All over the skulls is blood. The blood is from the people that were sacrificed so that the gods could be happy. Above the skulls is the stairs of a temple. A man stands at the top of the stairs holding a heart in one hand and a knife in the other. Blood drips from his hands on to the stairs. There is a trail of blood going down the stairs leading to a body of a man. His body is crumpled and broken, he is covered in blood. He is a slave Probably from another near by village, the Aztecs sacrificed him. There is a large hole in his chest were his heart should be.
The Aztecs would sacrifice people to make the gods happy. When they sacrificed a person that represented killing the gods. That was a good thing. The gods were once mortal too, so when they sacrificed a person it represented the birth of the gods. The Aztecs also sacrificed people if it was a time of famine or poverty. When the crops were bad the Aztecs would sacrifice a person to make the gods happy, If the gods were pleased then they would make the crops grow better.
Behind the Priest is an eclipse. An eclipse is when the moon goes over the sun. That was a very bad sign. Its meant that the gods were very angry. When the gods were angry they would punish the people, and for the gods not to punish the people they would make sacrifices. Which brings us back to the main purpose of our mural.
On either side of the eclipse are two gods. The god of corn Xochiquetzal and Quetzalcoatl
the feathered serpent god. The gods are looking down on the people waiting for their sacrifice.
depicts how the Aztecs would have human sacrifices to please the gods. At the bottom of our mural are skulls. The skulls represent the people that the Aztecs sacrificed. All over the skulls is blood. The blood is from the people that were sacrificed so that the gods could be happy. Above the skulls is the stairs of a temple. A man stands at the top of the stairs holding a heart in one hand and a knife in the other. Blood drips from his hands on to the stairs. There is a trail of blood going down the stairs leading to a body of a man. His body is crumpled and broken, he is covered in blood. He is a slave Probably from another near by village, the Aztecs sacrificed him. There is a large hole in his chest were his heart should be.
The Aztecs would sacrifice people to make the gods happy. When they sacrificed a person that represented killing the gods. That was a good thing. The gods were once mortal too, so when they sacrificed a person it represented the birth of the gods. The Aztecs also sacrificed people if it was a time of famine or poverty. When the crops were bad the Aztecs would sacrifice a person to make the gods happy, If the gods were pleased then they would make the crops grow better.
Behind the Priest is an eclipse. An eclipse is when the moon goes over the sun. That was a very bad sign. Its meant that the gods were very angry. When the gods were angry they would punish the people, and for the gods not to punish the people they would make sacrifices. Which brings us back to the main purpose of our mural.
On either side of the eclipse are two gods. The god of corn Xochiquetzal and Quetzalcoatl
the feathered serpent god. The gods are looking down on the people waiting for their sacrifice.

REFLECTION
I enjoyed this project because I loved working in a group with my friends. In this project we got to choose the people we wanted to work with so i chose a small group to work with. We had 5 people in our group including me. There were two girls and three guys. At the beginning i thought it might be hard being in a group with mostly guys but it turned out not to be a problem. One of the guys which was the most talkative had to leave the school. Which thankfully was an improvement. When he left all the other people in our group didn't slack of, they did there jobs. I have nothing bad to say about this project. If you stayed on task and didn't do anything stupid they would have had a great time like me and my group had.

ARTIFACTS
I will put a link to my project reflection from my blog on my DP

Reading responce OP#3

2008-04-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

Title: speak

By: unknown

Pages: 1-92

Wow The ending of this book was great!
I loved how the author focused on the ending.
My favorite part was of course the end were she is in the closet with Andy and he is like trying to rape her again but she stands up for herself! im so proud of Melinda for doing that. This whole book she has been a sad solitary character but in the end she shoes that she has true spite when she get him corned. She could have killed him then but she didn't.
Im really glad that the soccer team found her. Now everyone will know so they don't try to be mean to her ans so they don't hurt her. Over all this book was a little depressing but really really good.

Question:
If the author made a sequel what do you think it would be about?

reading group question 2

2008-04-09T16:29:00.001-07:00

why do you think that melinda likes david perkins?

Reading group Post 2: Speak

2008-04-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

Reading group Post 2: Speak

Title: speak

By:

Pages: 1-92

Nothing incredible has happened yet but melinda keeps on being anoying. Why cant she get over the fact that she got raped and live with that fact. I know it sounds like alot but you know she can be nice to people. She is always pretending to be someone else. She used to be happy and popular but now shes just depressed and emo. WAKE UP!!!
i really hope she decides to do something about her life. At least she has started to clean the lawn and i cant belive she thought that boy liked her
And she tryed to comit scuicide!!!!
what is rong with her. this book is makeing me mad

OP# 1 Speak

2008-03-31T17:26:00.000-07:00

1. I think that Melinda is depressed because all of her friends hate her and don't want to talk to her. When she tries to talk to them they make rude comments and walk away. She used to have a whole group of friends that she hung out with but now its just her "all Alone"

2. I think everyone hates her because she called the cops at a party at someones house and some kids got arrested. I don't know why she called the cops. I think its because either she got raped or she saw someone get raped. I think this because on the back of the book it states hints towards that.

3. I think she called the police because she got raped or she saw someone get raped. I personally think that she got raped. I don't know why

Question # 1 Speak

2008-03-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

Choose 1 or write a little about each one

Why do you think that Melinda Is so depressed?
Why does everyone hate her?
Why did she call the police?

Project Reflection, global warming

2008-03-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

Project Title: Moral courage website project ____________________________________________________________
Class: Humanities

Dates: 031208

The purpose of this project was to learn about moral courage and global warming in our case. My group and I decided our topic would be global warming. Some other people in our group disagreed but all in all we decided together. We all knew that global warming was a very controversial subject, but we wanted to help people, so we kept with our original plans. All the kids chose a subject that had to do with moral courage. Moral courage is standing up for whats write even when its not popular. We choose global warming because many people have different views on global warming. Some People think its real and others do not. I personally think its really real.

WHAT I LEARNED

In this project, I learned how to work in a big group to get things accomplished. My subject was animals affected. Soon our world will look like something from a science fiction move. 30% of the world species will be extinct and the temperature rises 4.5 degrees. That is not that much more than it is today. This shows you how much global warming is really affecting our planet. But, global warming is affecting polar bears the most because they can't live in water like the other arctic animals. Polar bears spend most of their lives alone just hunting and sleeping, and the only time they see other bears is to mate and that's it. Polar bears are now dying because they have no where to live because of global warming. Global warming is melting the ice caps and making the arctic into a ocean with no ice for the animals to live on. Polar bears swim hundreds of miles just to get to land. And when they finally get there, they are so tired they die of starvation because they are so week and hungry. Polar bears are becoming extinct because of humans, because we are causing global warming which is triggering a series of events that may soon kill everything in our world that we have tried so hard to make.

REFLECTION
I didn't necessarily love this project. I always love working in groups so it wasn't that bad
. I think it was too long. We had a lot of time to work on our project but i think it was to much stress and to much time. I liked this project, it was fun learning about global warming.

ARTIFACTS
i will put all of my info about animals effected on my dp

Reading responce OP#3

2008-03-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

Ashlen Sepulveda 3 | 7 | 08

New moon 2 hours

Stephanie Meyer 83 - 123

123

Response:

I feel really bad for Bella. I can’t believe that Edward left. That makes me so mad. Bella and Edward were meant for each other.

September

October

November

December

January

Months have gone by since Edward left Bella. Since he left, in the book New Moon, Bella has been depressed. She hasn’t done anything about it but mope. All of her friends have left her. None of them talk to her anymore. When Bella and Edward were together they separated themselves from there friends because they were totally enthralled with each other. But now that Bella doesn’t have Edward its really hard for her.

Some of her friends have come back to her, at lunch they sit on the same table but they have different sides.

There is the good side which has Bella, Jessica her shy friend, Mike, the boy who likes her and is her friend, and some other people. On the other side is Angela, Bella’s first friend in Forks, but now because of Courtney, she has turned against Bella. Bella is happy she has some of her friends.

After that Bella goes to a campfire at Billy black’s house and gets to see Jacob her friend again. The moment she sees Jacob Bella’s happy for the first time in months. Jacob and Bella become really close friend’s. And that all I got. I hope Bella and Jacob become really good friends.

Vocabulary

Glowered: looking at someone in a mean way.

Dense: thick

Trudged: walked in a stompy way.

Inevitable: unstoppable.

Depravation: stopping some one from getting something.

If you would like any more info about Stephanie Meyer or any of her books please click on the link below
Click here

Reading responce OP#2

2008-02-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

Ashlen Sepulveda 2 | 27 | 08

New moon 2 hours

Stephanie Meyer 1 - 83

response

This book is the sequel to a book that I really liked. So far this year I hadn't gotten around to reading this book so i decided that for independent reading i would read it. In the last sequel by Stephanie Meyer Twilight the story was that there was a girl, Bella who's parents where divorced and she wanted to move to the small town of forks to live with her dad, Charlie. When Bella gets to forks shes sad because she misses her mother. In the story the mother sis portrait as child like, so Bella's life has been taking care and protecting her mother. Well when Bella gets to forks she hates that its so wet because it always rains there.

After she gets over the wetness she goes to the local school. She is afraid that no one will like her because in her old school in Arizona she was an out cast. But when she gets to the school she notices that people like her and she she becomes friends with some other boys and girls.

But then she meets Edward. Edward is a vampire and i know when i say the word vampire your thinking Dracula, suck blood coffin's ex but Edward is a different vampire. He has been alive for about 80- 100 years and has thought hes seen all of humanity when he meets Bella. The thing that catches his eye for her is the smell of her blood. Edward and his family had tried for hundreds of years to not drink human blood instead they drink the blood of wild animals. Edward does not want to ruin his family's tradition so he leaves for a couple days and goes to Alaska where he meets up with some of his old friends.

Meanwhile Bella gets the impression that Edward hates her and hes sad because she think she felt something for him. But when Edward gets back he seems allot nicer and is happy to become friends with Bella. Bella on the other hand wants to be more than friends. He warns Bella that he is dangerous that he is a bad person but Bella refuses to listen. Later in the story the fall in love and go on countless adventures together some of them risking Bella's life...

But so far in new moon the sequel sad sad things have happened. Last book Bella had been almost killed by a sadistic vampire who wanted Edward to be hurt. Bella had survived but Bella had come very close to dying. Edward had still not gotten over it when it was Bella's birth day. At her birth day she accidentally gotten a paper cut. When Edwards brother smelled the blood he went crazy and tried to kill Bella which had really hurt Edward seeing his brother trying to kill his true love. So i think i knew what would happen even though i wished it wasn't true. Edward had to tell Bella that he didn't love her and that he and his family were leaving forks to get away from her. I know it might not sound very sad to you but i cried my eyes out it was very sad for me.

Vocabulary

resurface: did not come up again

stirred: moved slightly

surreptitiously: acting in a secret way

unwillingly: not wanting to do something

predictable: knowing that someone is going to do something

If you would like any more info about Stephanie Meyer or any of her books please click on the link below
Click here

OP # 4 Ties that bong ties that break

2008-02-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Question #1:
Do you think the author left the book at a cliffhanger? Do you think there should be a sequel? If not, do you think the author wrapped the book up nicely? Explain why, or why not.
I think he could have made a sequel but of coarse he did not or we would have read it. He did make another book though something like an ocean away a something apart i don't know but thats what we will be reading next in our group.

Question #2:
What was your favorite part of the book? What part was it? Was there a certain part that if you could change it, you would? If so, what part?
i liked when the boy started being nice to her it made her fell better which made the story a little happier

Question #3:
If you were in Ailin's place, would you do all the things that she did the same? What were some things you would do the same? What were some thing that you would do differently?
i would not get my feet bound, but some of the other things i do not agree with. i would definetly not get bound feet thow Way to go Ailin!

Over all this book was OK its not the best book iv ever read but it was not the worst

OP #3 ties that bond ties that break

2008-02-11T14:00:00.001-08:00

1 If you were eileen would you go back to China? why or why not?

No i wouldn't i would want to make a new life. this story is good

2 What did you think of the outcome of the story?

i thought the author did a good job of finishing the story he left some parts undone but most of the story he covered

3 Why do you think the houseboy suddenly treated Eileen with kindness?

I think he started to feel bad for her and i think he started to like her and be nicer to her

OP #2 ties that bond ties that break

2008-02-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

1. Do you think Eileen (Ailin) will quit the job of being an amah? Why or why not?

I think that she will quit because who wants to work at something they dont want to be. She wants to be a school teacher, not an amah. I really hope she accomplishes her dreams. because shes a good person.

2. Do you think the houseboy and Eileen (Ailin) will become friends? Why or why not?

I really hope so. I think they will become great friends. they have A LOT in common so they can become easy friends.

3. If Eileen (Ailin) chooses to go home, what do you think will happen?

And what do you think her family might think? I dont think she will go home. I wouldn't want to. I would be afraid of big uncle hes mean!

Ties that bond ties that break OP#1

2008-01-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

1 I think that is just what they call each other to respect each other, maybe its just something they do in Asia I wouldn't know also in so far from the bamboo grove the family members referred to each other and honorable brother ex..

2 since he is one of the old people in the house and you have to respect your elders i think that he think he can do what ever he want and just be mean and boss people around

3 i wouldn't do it i would run away probably my parents wouldn't make me do it in the first place but still i just wouldn't do it

Bamboo grove final post

2007-12-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

1. I loved the end of this book. I thought it was really good because in the end Yoko, Ko and Hideyo all met and so now Yoko and Ko can go places because they have a male guardian now. I am so happy that they finally met because Yoko was starting to get really depressed because they had no money. Now they have Hideyo.

I feel really bad for Hideyo because he needs to find out that his mother died. I would hate to finally come home and see your sisters for the first time in months and the first thing you find out is that your mother died.

Now that they have Hideyo back they can get more food because now Hideyo can work to. I think the Kawashima family's life is slowly getting better. When they first started this trip they we starving and had no idea how to take care of themselves.

Now they know how to get food and water. In the book on page 151 Yoko suggests that they get food out of the garbage and Ko responds by saying " I wont let you do that anymore" in other words Ko thinks that now that they have somewhere to live they can by there own food so they don't have to eat in the trash anymore.

Yoko is getting better at taking care of herself. She is willing to eat in the trash so she doesn't have to spend mothers money

2. The Kawashima family was originally from Aomori japan, where the Cherry blossoms grow. The family even though they lived in Korea they still had there Japanese customs. When they where in Japan they both bought beach other special presets for new years day. Ko bought Yoko rice cakes and Yoko bought Ko Green tea fish and miso soup. Even though they were in Korea they still where every Japanese.

The mother brought the family's sword because it had been in the Kawashima family for years and she didn't want to forget it at there house.

3. I respect Ko the most because she is the one the whole time who is taking her none of them would have survived. Ko was the one getting the food the whole time. She was the one who got everything ready for food, who found out where they would sleep what they would do. If Ko had died so would they have because Ko is the best she is the one who took care of them the whole time. Even though she is young Ko is mature for her age.

Probably second i would have put mother no offence to Yoko but all she did was whine the WHOLE TIME!! i understand why Ko was always mad a her. Because she was the one doing everything and Yoko was just complaining about how bad everything was when she was trying to make it better. I respect Ko!!!.

4. In this book i learned about the Korean war. Basically all the Japanese people who where living in Korea where now treated as trash because the Japanese had lost the war so in the book the Koreans where happy. In the book the Koreans where raping Japaneses girls because they we celebrating there new fond freedom.

I admit that i would be happy that i got my freedom after 50 or so years but i wouldn't go around raping little girls for fun!!. I mean who would do that?

5. Always be thankful for what you have because you don't know when it could be taken away. i used that because in the beginning Yoko wouldn't eat carrot because she didn't like them and in the middle 0f the book when she was starving she would have been happy to eat those carrots.

Always be nice to your sister/brother because no matter what they say they still love you. This one is because all through the book Yoko is always describing how she hated her older sister because she is always being mean and in the end Yoko finds out she did that because she loves her.
All in all I loved this book and hope i can read it again

OP # 4

2007-12-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

1. i think Mr. Naido helped her because they are the only 2 people who the girls are mean to in the class. They bath understand each other and are both the same in a way. Yoko when she first met Mr. Naido was really nice to him and she helped him bye making him not studder. So they became friends. And Mr. Naido helped her bye selling cans and bottles and giving her school supply's.

2. yoko thinks that Ko is a mean sister because she stays home after school on new years and so yoko is really mad and she goes to go sell some little doll things and sees ko shining shoes for money for a treat on new years. Yoko goes out and buys fish and miso soup she also buys a tea pot and green tea for Ko. When co comes home she gives yoko rice cakes and yoko gives her green tea after all Yoko knows that Ko is really a great sister.

3 How has yoko changed during the book?

well in the beginning she is a pampered girl who chooses what she wants to eat like in the first chapter she dosen't want to eat carrots and in the middle of the book shes starving and wishes she had the carrots she changes from a week pampered girl to a tough smart girl who knows how to take care of herself.

OP # 3 bamboo grove

2007-12-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

1. so what because they start seeing girls getting raped all the time and they are starting to get worried about Ko because she is a girl and you can tell well... because she has "a chest" so they had to bind her chest so you couldn't tell they had to go to the bathroom like guys AKA standing up so after all of that they decided to go to Pusan because from there they can take a boat to Japan where they can go see there family so thats why.

2. i would have because they really had no chose they had to go otherwise they probably would have been killed or raped so they as a family decided to leave for the family's safety yes i know its horrible to leave Hideo behind but they really had no choice.

3. why do you think the Korean Communist army killed there own soldiers?
i mean whats the point of killing someone on your side it dosen't accomplish anything i think he did it because he wanted to show the other soldiers that he "was in charade"

OP #2 bamboo grove

2007-12-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

1. well so far i the book Hideo has shown that he is really strong because all through the book he has taken charge of himself and his family imagine coming home and finding all your stuff trashed and your family gone i mean you would have to be really tough to live throught that and also he has waled for a long time and had to throught dead bodies of his people of a clif i would never be able to do that but he did.

2. i would bring my dog first because i lovoe her so much and i would be soo sad if i left her behing. secong i would bring my traveling clothes because when we were waling or what ever we would to i would use them to keep me dry. Third i would bring my expensife toys lie my ipod and my computer hard drive i would only bring thease if i had space. i would bring water and food for me and my cats and dogs i would also bring a mess it maches and a rope so i would do the same thing the kawashima family did.

3. i thin the moast upseting thing so far in this book is when they were on the train that whole part really made me sad with the mom killed herself because the baby died and all the people throun of the train i would hate to see that be done this boo is sad!!

OP #1 bamboo Grove

2007-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

1. so far in the book Yoko has shown that she is a strong minded person she knows how to take care of herself but she is still just a little girl so she cant do much. She doesn't like being bossed around by her sister Ko as you can see in the book on page 46 how shes describing what horrible sister Ko is and then Ko comes and brings her across the bride and she feels bad about that. But still she doesn't like being bossed. I cant imagine having to be a kid back then it must have been so hard.

2. Yoko admires and loves her older sister. The only thing she doesn't like about her is that she is so bossy in the book she announces several times that she doesn't like how bossy Ko in and on page 46 she has a small tantrum about how bossy'' honorable sister is'' so all in all Yoko loves her sister but doesn't love how she's bossy.

3. what they did on the train was incredible they risked their lives trying to save these poor woman it was so sad how that one woman found out her baby was dead and killed herself bye jumping of the train that really made me cry and also Yoko shared her blanket with the woman who had just given birth which was a great stand for Yoko Shes so cool!

writing responce

2007-11-14T20:18:00.000-08:00

Words:

Nape: bottom or edge of something

Dwindling: Getting Smaller

Picturesque: picture like not real looking

Desolation: destroyed sad depressed

Shambled: walked slowly scuffling feet

Reading responce

2007-11-14T20:15:00.000-08:00

Name: Ashlen DATE: November 14

TITLE: Twilight TIME: 2 HOURS

AUTHOR: Stephanie Meyer

PAGES: 67-157

TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 218

RESPONSE:
OK so Edward Decided he wanted to drive Bella to the nearest town because He heard she was going anyway and wanted to talk to her and bring her and so Bella was really nervous because she liked Edward and so she was nervous. So she was at school and Edward sat with her at lunch and talked to her which was weird cause he only ever sad with his family so theirs proof he loves her!! ok so after that she went down to the local Indian reservation and saw a old friend which is the son of her dad Charlie's best friend and so they talked for a while then she tried to flirt with him and got him to tell her scary stories about their ancestors and about how they thought the Cullen's (Edwards family) were vampires and so she went with him to the nearest town which was called port Angeles and they had dinner and talked and she said he thought he was a vampire and she said he was after a long time of trying to convince him so yeah and thats were i got YAY i cant wait what will happen what do u guys think?

sad

2007-11-05T17:53:00.000-08:00

And for all of you who know who this is Robert Jordan Died :'( waa
(hes a writer)

Reading responce

2007-11-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

OK so i finished Eclipse so now im reading New moon By Stephanie Meyer seriously she is the best writer ever and i have read ALOT of books so in my book write now
Bella the main character just got to her home town which is forks (i don't exactly know where Forks is but.......) Well she went their to live with her Dad Charlie who is divorced from her Mom Renee. So when She gets to town she metes this boy whose name is Edward She can tel their is some secret about him and she really wants to find out what it is so eventually she talks him into telling her and thats were i got............

Words

Verbose: Being able to talk easily

Stipulation: a gift of some sort

Adjoining: together

Prattled: talk

Meek: shy

reading responce

2007-11-01T18:55:00.001-07:00

The book that i am reading is Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer IT IS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!

Reading Responce

2007-11-01T18:51:00.001-07:00

Ashlen Sepulveda November 1, 2007

Reading response 6:16pm

Stephanie Meyer 50

Response:

Question: If you could change anything that the author did what would it be?

I would change Bella falling in love with Jacob. Firstly because I think it just messed things up with Bella and Edward. For all you many people who have read the whole Twilight series I think you would agree, first because I think that Bella (the main character) Should have been with Edward(her sole mate) and not with Jacob(her best friend) I truly cant believe that the author made Bella fall in love with Jacob, I mean Bella was Made for Edward!!! I cant even imagine them apart! Well I love that book and hope all of you will read it! And for you twilight lovers Stephanie Meyer is making 2 more book, Midnight sun which is in Edwards point of view and Breaking Dawn which is another in the Bella series!!! YAY you can read the first chapter of midnight sun of Stephanie Meyer’s site.

Family history project reflection

2007-10-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

Name: Ashlen Sepulveda

Project Reflection

Project Title: Family History project (FHP)

Class: C Date: October, 18 2007

PURPOSE

The purpose of this project was to learn about our family and their history. In this project we had to interview a family member who was alive in a historical event. I interviewed my great aunt Hinda who is 87 years old. She was alive as a child during the great depression. She lived in Wisconsin at the time, we had to write a paper about the subject we were doing and so i wrote my paper about the great depression because thats the subject i interviewed my aunt about. Then we had to write up our interview we had with out subject in my case my Aunt. After that we had to write a small piece of literature, I wrote two, one about my and my family's eyes and the other about my hair. Both i put in my album winch had all the other pieces of literature. In total we learned how to work independently and much more.

WHAT I LEARNED

In this Project, I learned how to work as a historan, i learnde how to work independently and how to take care of my own worck so that i didint have to make my mom skedual everything. Now i cand worck by myslef and do everythig independently i have leaned how profetional writers worck. With the hard due dates i have had to keep up with everything eventualy making it so i am responsible for my own worck.

REFLECTION

I Loved this project because i loved learning about my family history. My brother did this project two years ago and ever since sixth grade i have been looking forward to doing this project. I am always trying to get stories out of my family members so this was a great excuse to have them tell me some. I LOVED this project and wouldn't change anything about it. I think all the due dates gave enough time to work but not to goof of. It was a great project and i hope the sixth grades will have a chance to do it next year.

ARTIFACTS

In our project we had:

Historical Narrative: a paper on the subject we chose to do( 3-4) pages long

Interview: an interview with the subject of our choosing

Personal Narrative: A piece of literature about anything we like

Artifact(s): Notes, papers, pictures anything that had to do with your period in history

Family tree(optional): a drawing of picture of your family tree

Final wave post

2007-10-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

1. I think that means never let yourself be ruled by other people you should stick with your own

decisions and not go with others, That you should be true to yourself.

I Can apply that to life for example, if someone asks you to join a club were only people who have joined can come in and you exclude all other people that means that the message is telling you not to join, not to exclude other people for race, religion,sex(male or female) or looks. Don't be mean to people with diferent color skin because they are the same as you they just have a different colored skin because their ancestors come from a different place. WE ARE ALL HUMAN!! no matter were we come from what we look like or anything like that we are all equals and the same.

2. Robert at the start of this book was a unpopular nerd no one liked him because in their eyes we was weird ''un cool'' and stupid. From the second the wave started Robert almost became a different person instead of slumping in his chair during class he excelled sat up strait answered all the questions, was equals for one with everyone else and was the new class hero. He sat with the cool kids at lunch now and was vehement about the wave, firstly because it changed his life and second because it finally made him stand out, it made him ''cool'' and special. He would hurt anyone who was against the wave because he didn't want it to be taken away, which it was sadly in the end.

I think now that w=the wave has ended Robert will still be popular because now the kids have seen his best side, they have seen how cool and nice Robert can bee. They seen how he can stick with something till the end and can also be really good friend.

3.The wave was against everyone that apposed it . In the wave Ben Ross was the dictator h was then one giving the orders on what to do. The wave members where his army they followed out his orders on what to do without any questions because they knew that it would be for the wave . My example is How Adolf Hitler murdered all the Jewish people because of their race. He sent them to concentration camps were you would their bury the dead or die in the gassing chambers they killed thousands of Jewish people by the time it was actually stopped.

I have gone to the museum of tolerance it is one of the saddest places i have ever gone because it shows how brutally murderer the Jews were how they would dig giant hole and pile in the dead i read a paper about a girl who was put into a gassing chamber. A gassing chamber is a big room where they would put 100D's of people and send out poisonous gasses into the air so you would breathe them and suffer a pain full horrible death . i hope nothing like this ever happens again in history

4. Avoiding Mob Mentality: A Practical Guide by A Middle school Student, for Other Middle School Students.

One way you can avoid mob mentality is by not joining any clubs,groups or gangs, one you join something you can get caught up in something horrible but at the time not even notice what your doing. Don't try to fit in by doing stupid hurt full things to yourself and other people. mob mentality is when you get in a group or mob to do something and you all have the same idea together and you'll do anything to make it happen. And i mean anything take for example the Holocaust, the German where subjected under a dictator(Adolf Hitler) they all thought that the Jews were bad , dumb stupid, they thought that the German people were a superior race that they were better , in the end they ended up wiping out almost all the Jews.

In the end i really liked the wave i thought it was a really good book adn i would probably recomend it for the 6th graders to read when they come to 7th grade.

The wave

2007-10-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

2.''poor Robert, Ben thought. The only one who had anything to lose in this whole thing. he walked over and put an arm around the trembling student'' i REALLY feel for Robert i mean gheeze he could have told them a little nicer i man ahhg it makes me so mad Robert became all popular and cool and everyone liked him he became one of the cool kids in school and then he just lost it all i hope that Robert stays popular then it would have been good.

3. what do you think is going to happen to Robert after this?

The Wave OP#4

2007-10-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

1. I think that he likes the wave and is to preoccupied to notice that its getting out of hand hes allowing kids to be his body guard ands not doing anything about the kids that are getting beat up because they don't join the wave. what happened to everyones an equal?

2. ''maybe we should give ourselves a name,'' Alex said. '' if they're the Wave, we could be The Ripple'' I chose this scentance because i thought it was funny its really describing how idiotic and stupid these people think the wave is to them lets all hope the wave people don't beat them up.

3. What do you think Laurie and her friends are going to do to stop the wave?

O lny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.

2007-10-04T19:45:00.001-07:00

O lny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.

cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The

phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,

it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if

you can raed tihs psas it on !!

Psas Ti ON !

The wave op #3

2007-10-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

1. First because the kids are starting to chant the waves motto in class even when Mr.ross dosen't tell them to and they are all starting to talk about it and incorporate it into their daily lives like in the football team.

2. '' Our salute! he ordered. Around the room students jumped to attention beside their desks and gave the wave salute. Strength through Discipline, strength through Community , strength through Action!!'' I chose this small paragraph because I thought it really showed how dedicated all the students were to the wave.

3. What do you think Laurie is going to do about the wave science she dosen't like it?

The wave

2007-10-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

1. Because the student is Mr.Rosse's history class have felt the feeling of unity that discipline brings and like it they can see how it is is changing all the student and want to change themselves one of the ways the people have started using th wave out of school is in the football team they are tired of loosing and have seen the wave in action and want to bring in in to their football team so that they can win.

2. "wow that was weird mad it was like a rush, Brian gasped with uncharacteristic enthusiasm"
I chose this passage because it is describing how happy and exited the kids where when they finally learned some discipline.

3. why do you think that Mr.Rosse's wife docent like his experiment?

Keep up the good work!

2007-10-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Daniel did 6 comments over all on all of our blogs (including 2 on Johns)

Erica did one on mine and 2 on Daniel's

Derek did 1 on Erica's and one on Daniel's

John did one on mine one on Erica and one on Daniel's

And i did one on Daniel's and one on Erica's

The Wave

2007-09-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

1. The Wave experiment happened in a high school history class in Paulo Alto CA in 1969. It is based on a true story of what a school teacher did.

2. First of all they used film projectors with celluloid film instead of video cassettes or DVDs like we use now. Also, everyone was smoking and its very rare for people so smoke now in California. Furthermore, the only person who had a computer in his home built it from a kit because he want to become a computer engineer when he goes to collage. finally In school they used typewriters instead of laptops like we use now.

3. The school used bells to tell when the end of each period was. Almost all the children smoked. homework was optional and not at all important!! The y had a cafeteria in the school that served hot dogs on plastic trays and finally they where allowed to sleep and do whatever they wanted in class. Man they had it easy!!! but how did they ever expect to become anyone important or do anything or value?!!?

Post's

2007-09-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

Well good job everyone (In my group) all of you have done your post's really nicely you've all done everything except for john but i think he's sick or something? i dunno well keep up the great work team!!

PS:email me if u have any prob's or questions
~Ashlen

The Great Depression

2007-09-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

Go to this site!if to want info about the great depression Click here

reading group

2007-09-19T12:24:00.001-07:00

Our reading group chose to do question 1.

Betty Ann

2007-09-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

1."Why don't you girls like Betty Ann? she likes you..."
I chose that sentence because It showed how worried and sad the mother was for her daughter who had no friends and who everyone made fun of. This was not a happy story but to me that was by far the saddest part because it can, and dose happen to people and that makes is real.

2."Have you eaten any maple sugar candy or watermelon kiddo?"
At that point i think i would have told my friend to stop being mean and stood up for Betty Ann because I know thats the right thing to do in that circumstance. I think that if she has and became Friends with Betty Ann she would have probably changed her life.
PS:( maple sugar candy is awesome)

3.I think it means... don't be so insensitive to one person that you don't notice the pain you're causing them and hurt them to the point were it will affect their lives mentally and physically.

7th grade

2007-09-14T15:18:00.001-07:00

1. "Frenchie oh wewe gee in September" I chose this sentence because it really made me laugh. I thought it was funny the way the author wrote the boy trying to speak French. It was so far off from real French that it made no sense. But at the same way it was funny.
2. I could relate to the part when Victor thought his friend was acting really weird when he was making weird faces because my friends act weird all the time. but its fine with me

TEST

2007-09-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

1. "She would have passed from sweet easy sleep to the dark heavy sleep of death, nothing between"
I chose this sentence because it really made me understand the sadness he was feeling for killing this little girl. The way the author wrote it it was sad and depressing at the same time even thought he didn't actually kill her, or so we think. It makes you really wonder about if it was a dream or true fact that he killed the little girl by the way that he is feeling.

2. I don't think the test was fair because no driver has the right away to pull out in from of him while he is passing in the first place which caused the accident. I think they should just do a normal test and he shouldn't have been sent to jail because they TOLD him that it was just a dream, so that he believed he didn't actually kill her, therefore he shouldn't have felt sad.

3. I think the ending was accurate because no one knows for sure that anything is fact at all. I really think is was a good ending for the story because it made you want to read more to find out what happens next in the story or book and thats what authors are trying to accomplish when they write a book.

planet earth

2007-09-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today in class we watched the series Planet Earth. The biome we learned about was the tropical grass land biome. We learned a lot about grass in general. Grass covers 1/4 of the land in the world and can grow all over the world from extremely hot to extremely cold places like the arctic tundra. Snow geese fly the entire length of north America just to get to the arctic tundra for the summer, they nest and lay their eggs, and eat the grass. Their nemesis, the arctic foxes, eat the geese but summer there is very short, so soon they have to leave with their babies and go back home. Another place that is the complete opposite of the arctic tundra is the plains of Africa, and even there where there is barely any water, grass can grow. This grass supports the whole food chain of Africa and gives food to all the animals. After we finished watching the program about the grass lands we started to watch the one about tropical rain forests. Just so you all know, for vacation I went to the Amazon to the exact place where they filmed the Planet Earth series on the Amazon, and it was awesome because I saw it all in person!

Twighlight

2007-09-05T10:34:00.001-07:00

The main character Bella Swan arrives in a new town where she thought she would be an outcast at the school she is going to. After the shock of how easily she fit in, she soon realizes who the real out-casts are. The Cullen family who sit in the corner of the cafeteria room. They captured Bella's attention, especially one of them. Edward Cullen. He saves Bella from a near death experience. But when Bella looks further into the Cullen family history she discovers a cold deadly secret about who they are. As Bella and Edward get closer and closer there is a deadly barrier between them both that they have to find a way to overcome.