2-6-12

Everyday you learn something new. Last week I got in alot of trouble and I have been thinking about the events recently. I was talking to 2 of my freinds before class (around 8:07), and in the conversation me and 1 other person used our phones to look at something. A teacher came up and asked us to give her our phones. The 2 of us were boshed shocked, but gave up our phones without argument. I mean no offense to any staff, only to the rule. I found out later that day, from my parent, that I had goten a referall. I had had one prior offense for a phone (it rang in class), about 4 months ago. I found out at the same time that it was a referall as well. Why was I not informed of this when it first hapened, and by a staff member, not my parents. Maybe some people dont care, but when I get a referall I would like to be informed that I received one! A school shouldn't just hand out referalls without even telling the kids that they received one! On top of that, I feel the second offense shouldnt have even happened. The first interrupted class, therefore being nessecary. The second was completley unessecary. I wasn't harming anyone or distrupting learning. I dont feel what I did was wrong, or deserving of a referall. I always thought rules were there to protect us, not force us through unessecary referalls and grounding.

 "Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the Stars" - Les Brown

2-3-12

Everyday you learn something new. Today was are final exam day! here are my responses.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Final Exam           Zephyr Smith

6. I think that I can neither agree or disagree with Isola on weather “reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones”, because it is all dependent on your opinion of a good book. Every person has a different opinion on what a good book is. There are so many different types and genres, that for each person a good book is something completely different. Some people may like a book that you consider a “bad book”. In my opinion there are only books that you like and books that you don’t like. There are no good or bad books. For Isola, she probably got used to a certain style of book that she liked, which became her version of a “good book”. Her “bad books” were everything that she didn’t like.   

3. My favorite character from the Society was Isola, because she was so different from everyone else, or even the popular view of a normal person. Isola had a somewhat different occupation from others in the society, being a potion maker. She didn’t do something that you hear of a lot in the time period that she lived. It was interesting to hear about what she did. She also has a very direct voice. Isola was never trying to hide her feelings or thoughts from anyone except when she was spying on them. When writing to Juliet she said that she wanted to ask personal questions and that her friends had recommended she didn’t. Most people would probably try to hide the fact they were asking something personal and wouldn’t mention that they were told it wasn’t a good idea.  She also took everyone and everything very seriously. When she was sent the book about phrenology it was kind of a joke to everyone else, except Isola, who took it seriously. When she began her spying she actually took notes and tried to accomplish a mission. Isola was also a very honest and caring person. She seemed to take a liking to everyone very quickly. She always wanted to make people happy. She didn’t think less of anyone because they were different, like Sidney. She even made sure to keep his secret safe. Isola is a generally kind person and would be great to know.

1. I really liked how the novel was structured in letters. It was something I’ve never read before. I was amazed how it didn’t feel like there were gaps in the story. The letters also gave a more precise feeling of each person personality. It was also pleasurable just because it was different. It probably wouldn’t be as great if it were a common thing though. Letters are much more personal than other forms of writing. Each person has their own different style of writing letters and it gives an insight onto their personality. Letters are much deeper than other forms of writing as well. People put much more meaning into them. Most other forms of writing are meant to be fast and don’t allow much deep thought to be present in them. Letters let people say what they mean in a much more deep and personal way then other forms of writing. 

1-30-12

Everyday you learn something new.Today is a really irritating day for blogging. The internet filtering system at the school is broken, so we have to write our blogs in word and post them later. The whole idea behind the filtering system is stupid. If the teachers monitor the kids in the computer lab we wouldn’t need a filtering system. Then we would be able to use sites that are blocked and useful (YouTube). We also wouldn’t have problems like the internet being down due to it, exactly what’s happening right now.  

 "Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the Stars" - Les Brown

1-25-12

Everyday you learn something new. Today was our High School Registration day! In Social Studies we went through the long process of understanding our high school choices. I was really confused on electives but I came to understand what the 2 best choices would be. Yesterday was also the first day in Language Arts that I think the backchannel might have been helpful, but everyone did seem more focused. I wonder what Language Arts will be like next year along with all my other classes. Sometimes I can wait and others I'm preety happy the way things are now.

 "Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the Stars" - Les Brown

1-24-12 (Makeup for 1-20-12)

Everyday you learn something new. I am really beginning to think that there needs to be SERIOUS change in this class. All the little things we are supposed to uphold are dissapearing. We are suppoesed to have a class meeting on a weekly basis. That has not happened. We could actually really use one. And i dont think anyone takes these blogs seriously, the students or the teachers. This is the place where we are supposed to voice our opinion about things. I decided to put a tracking code in on my blog to see if it has been viewed. So far there has been one view and it was me. Alot of people have compleley fogotten about theese things and havent posted for an excess of 6 weeks. And from what I see people dont put alot into their blogs when they do post.

 "Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the Stars" - Les Brown

1-24-12 (Makeup for 1-18-12)

Everyday you learn something new. Latley I have been thinking about our book, The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The book is ok, it gets boring in some places, but I excpected that because it's not really my type of book. I think it dosn't really relate to our class at all. In fact the only class it's really helpful in is Social Studies, due to its relationship to WWII. I almost used it for a project, but decided to take on a different topic. When the book was introduced we were told it had something to do with a service project, but that dosent seem to be correct. The book has also become mildly inappropriate, and for some people it's a bit hard to handle.

 "Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the Stars" - Les Brown

1-23-12

Everyday you learn something new. Today was strange due to my recent absence, and the substitutes. I made me realize how little anyone seems to care about this class, or school in general. Whenever we are in the computer lab people tend to play games or mess around another way. In class people spend more time cracking jokes. I'm not saying that I'm perfect because I'm not but still, nobody seems to care. Out of all the people It's the "Really Smart Kids" and the "Favorite Classes" that I see this in. At least it helps me look at and control myself.

 "Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the Stars" - Les Brown