Gallery Walk Reflection for AOW 1/30/15

Writing Prompt: What impression are you left with after our gallery walk? Please reflect in at least two well written paragraphs, using evidence from your graphic organizer.

          After completing the gallery walk I have learned lots of things. Things such as, 635 people were infected with Measles in 2014, There is a app that makes it easier to cyber bully, and a women sold her child for $7,000. Even though these topics aren't exactly joyful, there were some more positive things that I learned. Things such as, drones being created to help people, Ebola vaccines, and cancer treatments.

          Though there were happier articles, I found that most of them had a topic that wasn't very...good. For example, there was an article about ISIS holding 2 Japanese residents hostage. Things like this are giving me the impression that the world is turning into a more dangerous, violent place.

Middle School the Worst Years of my Life 1/26/15

Blog for: January 26, 2015

Writing Prompt: What does this book remind you of?

          The book I am reading is called Middle School the Worst Years of my Life. This book is about a young boy named Rafe who is having some troubles with Middle School. He has made up his mind that he is going to try to break a bunch of rules by the end of the school year. If he does it without getting caught then he gains points. Him and his 'friend' Leo are the ones that made up this crazy idea. The reason I put friend in quotes is because Leo is an imaginary person made up by Rafe. In other words Leo is Rafe's imaginary friend.

          This book reminds me of the book I Funny which is also about a boy struggling with school. The main reason he struggles is because he is handicapped. In other words he is in a wheelchair. He also has to live with the school bully and his family. The only reason this is so is because his parents have died. Believe it or not this kid sort of likes being bullied because it makes him feel like a normal kid. Another reason is because he doesn't like being treated as someone who is handicapped.

          Another thing this reminds me of is the book/movie series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This is also about a boy who is having a not so good time in/with school. This kid (Gregory) also has to deal with his annoying older brother who thinks he is the coolest person ever. Along with that Gregory has a best friend that can be quite embarrassing. Over protecting parents, an embarrassing younger brother, and a bit of a lying problem isn't helping him either.

Commented on: Mia C., Jared A., Devin R.

Middle School the Worst Years of My Life 1/19/15

Blog for week of January 19, 2014

Pages read: 1-98

Writing Prompt: Do you like what you're reading? Why or why not?

          My book, Middle School the Worst Years of My Life, is about a young boy in middle school and his not so good life. He works through his problems with his imaginary friend Leo. This book is like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Words and then some pictures here and there to help give the reader a visual aid. In my opinion I think this is a good book. I have enjoyed it quite a lot so far. The only reason I have not finished this book yet is because it is not challenging therefore I read other books during the school year. I hope to finish this book soon so I can focus on there things.

          Even though this book has some pictures (that have no color) I really enjoy this book. Before the school year really got started I was reading this book quite often. I was really enjoying it. Once the school year did start I realized that other book should be read in place of this one. Since that was so, I had to put this book aside and continue it another day. I have yet to complete that goal.

          I enjoy this book because it is funny and provides much entertainment. I would definitely recommend this book to other people. Friends, family, strangers, anyone who is looking for something interesting to read. Although, to be perfectly honest, I think adults would find this book simple and easy. It is a children's book after all. Even though they might think this I still think that some would find joy in reading it. Over all I believe this is a great book that I really love, and should be read by many.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 1/12/2015

Blog for week of January 12, 4014

Writing Prompt: Is what you are reading believable? Why or why not?
Pages Read: 60 - 174

          The book I am reading, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is about the zombie apocalypse starting again. As I read this book it always crosses my mind wether or not this could actually happen, wether or not this stuff is believable. The thought of this kind of scares me. Along with the book I also watch the TV show "The Walking Dead". Watching this show makes me more nervous. I think and think but I always say that this is impossible. If only I knew what causes a zombie apocalypse. Then I might feel a little better.

          Maybe sometime in the future some kind of dangerous chemical will spill and make the dead raise form their graves. This is a possibly that just might happen. This makes the reader think that what is going on in this story is believable. The problem is, the TV shows, movies, or books never tell you how it all started until the end. So until the end people don't know wether something like this can happen. Some people do believe that stuff like this is believable because there are many different ways that something terrible can happen and the world can turn into the zombie apocalypse. Some of me thinks all of this stuff is believable.

          Another part of me thinks that all of this is not believable. Like, the zombie apocalypse couldn't really happen! There will not come a time where flesh eating monsters roam the earth looking for their next meal. There is just no way...right? I feel that a world such as "The Walking Dead" doesn't and wont ever exist. Yet some of me thinks that it does. I would say that I am in the middle of believing in this stuff and not believing it.

The first time I... 1/5/15

Blog for week of January 5, 2014

Writing Prompt: When was the last time you did something new for the first time?

          About four weeks ago I learned to to play "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals on the guitar. "House of the Rising Sun" was a song that I had been obsessed with at that time. I am not as obsessed with it now but I defiantly still love it. It was the end of my guitar lesson and I had brought it up to my guitar teacher that I was starting to like that song. When I told him he asked if I wanted to learn how to pay it. I was thinking that we were going to wait until our next lesson. My mom hadn't arrived to pick me up yet so he quickly wrote down the chords and taught me how to play them correctly so they matched the song.

          When I told my guitar teacher that I knew and liked the song he was a little shocked. The reason he was this way is because he thought that I would consider that song "one of my mom's slow jams" or an "old people song". He thought this because this is what I call all of my mom's music. I call it that because I believe that all her music is slow and boring. Most of it anyway. Even though he was a bit surprised he was happy to help me learn and pay it like a pro!

          I am glad that I now know how to play a song that I enjoy. Of course this isn't the first song I've learned to play, but it is one of the few songs I actually have fun and enjoy playing. Being a person who has played guitar for almost four years I feel like it would be silly not to learn a song that I enjoy so much. Believe it or not that song is actually not that hard to play...for me anyway.