1- What are the three most important things you learned this year?
The Holocaust
My belief
What I want to do to leave a mark on the world.
2- What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life?
Going into the Holocaust Museum was such an interesting experience. It showed me the lives of people trying to survive in concentration camps and trying to flee from the Nazis. The best part of the museum was the train car. The fact that it is still intact was quite surprising.
3- What was the nicest thing someone in our class did for you this year?
Helping me when I missed a class. Whenever I missed a class someone would make sure that I was up to date. When I needed supplies for my butterfly some friends offered some items to me. They are very generous and I thank them for their kindness.
4- What is something you taught your teacher or classmates this year?
That everybody, no matter who you are, can be happy. I showed them that happiness can come even in the worst situations. Happiness will always come to those who want it
5- In what area do you feel you made your biggest improvements? What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of?
Finishing my work is my biggest improvement and my accomplishment. I had 1 phone call to my dad saying I was missing work. After that I decided to turn in every single thing that was assigned to me.
6- What was the most challenging part of this year for you?
The butterfly project was the toughest project I had to do this year. I'm no artist so I couldn't really draw anything. However I did use symbolism as my main focus on the butterfly, but people didn't really notice it at first so I had to explain everything about the butterfly which was hard because most of the time I didn’t know what it meant.
7- What was the best piece of writing that you did this year? Why do you think it is your best?
The investigative Journalism piece I did about the murders and growing crime rate in Chicago. I think it was my best because of all the time and detail that i put in to make it great. I was so interested at what goes on in chicago so I always checked for new statistics and new pieces of evidence.
8- Of the books you read this year, which was your favorite? Why?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was by far the best book I've read this year. It was so amazing that I couldn't put it down. I ended up finishing it in 4 days and it was pretty upsetting to be done with such an amazing book. I've always been a fan of the Harry Potter series and the cursed child was just an amazing addition to the series.
9- What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?
Always do your work and turn it in. Mrs. Larson doesn't fool around with that stuff. If you don't want an awkward phone call to your parents saying you didn't do your work, then I suggest you should always turn in your work on time.
Friday, May 26, 2017
This I Believe
“Smile”
By: Robert Salas
I believe that everybody can be happy. Happiness is such a major part of life. Happiness is what drives people to do what they love. I am always happy when i’m in science class which pushes me to chose a career in science in the future. Michael Jackson made himself happy by singing his songs and now he is the King of Pop, even in death. Stephen Hawking enjoys his life as a theoretical physicists, even though he is disabled. Happiness can have such an impact on someone's life that they could be changed forever. Everybody has something that makes them happy. Some people use what makes them happy as a way to be successful in life.
When I was about 6 years old I went to a White Sox game with my family. It was on a pretty dull day, the clouds were gray and it was very cold. On our way to the stadium my uncle gave me $20 to spend in the park. On the sidewalk there were these homeless men that held out cups that they used to put money in. I’ve seen them before and it was always the same guys, no matter what the weather was our how many people were drunk and rude to them, they stayed there and kindly asked for a donation. I went over to one man who seemed to be the oldest and pulled out the $20 that my uncle gave me and gave it to the man. He was so happy and surprised. At the end of the game my family walked back out and saw the man smiling and continue to smile the entire time we were by him.
This really changed my view on happiness and it has stuck with me since. It showed me that the smallest acts of kindness can improve a person's emotional state, mainly into happiness. I will do my part in making others happy by helping those who feel like they can't.
I believe that everybody can be happy. If there is something that makes you happy, then do it. It's better to live life poor and happy than go through life rich and miserable. Kindness, Gratitude, and thankfulness are all components of making someone happy. So go and use what makes you happy. Everybody can be happy, no matter who they are.
By: Robert Salas
I believe that everybody can be happy. Happiness is such a major part of life. Happiness is what drives people to do what they love. I am always happy when i’m in science class which pushes me to chose a career in science in the future. Michael Jackson made himself happy by singing his songs and now he is the King of Pop, even in death. Stephen Hawking enjoys his life as a theoretical physicists, even though he is disabled. Happiness can have such an impact on someone's life that they could be changed forever. Everybody has something that makes them happy. Some people use what makes them happy as a way to be successful in life.
When I was about 6 years old I went to a White Sox game with my family. It was on a pretty dull day, the clouds were gray and it was very cold. On our way to the stadium my uncle gave me $20 to spend in the park. On the sidewalk there were these homeless men that held out cups that they used to put money in. I’ve seen them before and it was always the same guys, no matter what the weather was our how many people were drunk and rude to them, they stayed there and kindly asked for a donation. I went over to one man who seemed to be the oldest and pulled out the $20 that my uncle gave me and gave it to the man. He was so happy and surprised. At the end of the game my family walked back out and saw the man smiling and continue to smile the entire time we were by him.
This really changed my view on happiness and it has stuck with me since. It showed me that the smallest acts of kindness can improve a person's emotional state, mainly into happiness. I will do my part in making others happy by helping those who feel like they can't.
I believe that everybody can be happy. If there is something that makes you happy, then do it. It's better to live life poor and happy than go through life rich and miserable. Kindness, Gratitude, and thankfulness are all components of making someone happy. So go and use what makes you happy. Everybody can be happy, no matter who they are.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Lit-Circle and Non fiction blog
EQ: How is the outcome going to change?
The Year of the Hangman is a What if scenario. It's the outcome of America losing the revolutionary war. However, the main character Creighton was meant to change the fate of America. The reason that this EQ stands out is that the answer isn't clear. The outcome itself is obvious that America loses the war, but it's unclear on how they lose the war. On the book preview on the back it says “Creighton must decide where his loyalties lie. . . A choice that could determine the fate of a nation.” His choice however doesn't seem to affect the nation at all because America already lost the before Creighton even went to the colonies. So this EQ made all the other people who read this book, go back and read it again and again to find the answer.
Nonfiction article
The topic that both my book and the article have in common is the events before and during the revolution. The article I chose was “American symbol returns from obscurity: Boston’s Liberty Tree”. The article states that “Throughout these early years before the revolution, the ancient elm tree across from the distillery became Massachusetts’ most important symbol of revolt. In the decade before the Revolutionary War, images of the Liberty Tree, as it became known, spread across New England and beyond.” This tree is a major part of the revolution because it's a part of what starts the patriots to rebel against the British.
Paragraph 14 states “In August of 1775, four months after the first battles of the Revolutionary War, British troops and loyalists cut the tree down. After the British evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, revolutionary Bostonians tried to reclaim the site. They erected a “liberty pole” there, and in the following years newspapers occasionally mentioned the site of the Liberty Stump.” The battles that happened during the war were all in my book, which gave it more accurate detail. Although, you never see Boston or the Liberty Tree itself, there is a newspaper called Liberty Tree which was printed by Benjamin Franklin. Liberty Tree still makes an impact on Creighton and it pushes him to finish the decision on where his loyalties lie.
Blackwood, Gary L. Year of the hangman. New York : Turtleback , 2004. Print.
"American symbol returns from obscurity: Boston's Liberty Tree." Newsela | American symbol returns from obscurity: Boston's Liberty Tree. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2017.
The Year of the Hangman is a What if scenario. It's the outcome of America losing the revolutionary war. However, the main character Creighton was meant to change the fate of America. The reason that this EQ stands out is that the answer isn't clear. The outcome itself is obvious that America loses the war, but it's unclear on how they lose the war. On the book preview on the back it says “Creighton must decide where his loyalties lie. . . A choice that could determine the fate of a nation.” His choice however doesn't seem to affect the nation at all because America already lost the before Creighton even went to the colonies. So this EQ made all the other people who read this book, go back and read it again and again to find the answer.
Nonfiction article
The topic that both my book and the article have in common is the events before and during the revolution. The article I chose was “American symbol returns from obscurity: Boston’s Liberty Tree”. The article states that “Throughout these early years before the revolution, the ancient elm tree across from the distillery became Massachusetts’ most important symbol of revolt. In the decade before the Revolutionary War, images of the Liberty Tree, as it became known, spread across New England and beyond.” This tree is a major part of the revolution because it's a part of what starts the patriots to rebel against the British.
Paragraph 14 states “In August of 1775, four months after the first battles of the Revolutionary War, British troops and loyalists cut the tree down. After the British evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, revolutionary Bostonians tried to reclaim the site. They erected a “liberty pole” there, and in the following years newspapers occasionally mentioned the site of the Liberty Stump.” The battles that happened during the war were all in my book, which gave it more accurate detail. Although, you never see Boston or the Liberty Tree itself, there is a newspaper called Liberty Tree which was printed by Benjamin Franklin. Liberty Tree still makes an impact on Creighton and it pushes him to finish the decision on where his loyalties lie.
Blackwood, Gary L. Year of the hangman. New York : Turtleback , 2004. Print.
"American symbol returns from obscurity: Boston's Liberty Tree." Newsela | American symbol returns from obscurity: Boston's Liberty Tree. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2017.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Lit-circle blog
The Year of the Hangman is a “What if?” Book. It shows what could've happened if America lost the revolutionary war and follows the life of Creighton Brow. Fifteen years old British boy named Creighton Brown who is very selfish and rude is sent to the colonies with his uncle as a disciplinary action. The plan backfires as Creighton gets separated from his uncle and Creighton ends up living in the house of Dr. Franklin and his housekeeper Sophie. His uncle is a British officer and decides to use Creighton as a spy to find the author of The. Liberty Tree, a rebel newspaper. Creighton must choose which side he lays his loyalty on. America or England. Whichever he chooses will decide who wins the revolutionary war.
Interpret (Which characters would you interpret to be ‘good’? Which would you interpret to be ‘bad’? What has the author written that leads you to those interpretations?)
Since this story takes place during the time when the British had rule over the colonies, the antagonists are obviously the British. However, an entire country is hard to pin as an antagonist. So to narrow it down, there is one officer that deserves the role of antagonist. Hugh Gower (Creighton's uncle) is a terrible man who is persistent on making sure that Britain wins the war, even if it meant hurting his nephew. He claims to other people of authority that everything must be done with honor, even though he will play dirty and has almost no respect for other people's lives. His partner in crime and friend of Creighton is Hervey Hale a lieutenant for the British Army.
The protagonist of the story is Creighton Brown. In the beginning of the story Creighton is shown as a boy who loves his homeland and is fascinated with hangings. When he arrives at the colonies he lies about himself and ends up making friends in the rebellion such as Pete a giant man, Benjamin Franklin, Benedict Arnold, and Sophie. Though he is used as a spy and currently despises the rebels, he is starting to grow a liking to them. Other protagonists are of course, the other rebels.
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