Coraima's Blog

Thesis of My Documentary

2009-05-08T09:35:00.002-04:00

The social issue that I am addressing is improving all of our local sports facilities. Including parks, gyms, etc. The message of this issue is to persuade the mayor to improve our sports facilities.

Blog Critique

2009-04-22T11:29:00.002-04:00

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Betty Smith

The book A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is about a young girl named Francie and her little brother Neely growing up in Brooklyn during 1902-1919. Francie and Neely go through poverty and a lot of hard times growing up. This book made me realize that we have life easier now then people like Francie and Neely did back then. This book is also about how terrible and great life was back then. Francie made life through her eyes fun until she grew up and understood that life wasn't as great as she planned it was when she was a child.

This book reminds me of To Kill A Mocking Bird because it shows me that not only African-Americans went through hard times but everyone was equal because they all went through hard times. In this book all of the children go through rough and hard times in school and growing up in general. In To Kill A Mocking Bird the children got through the same things with having to drop out of school to help their family around the house, to clean and grow food for themselves and others, and learning.

The saddest part of this book to me was when Francie and Neely's dad Johnny died. The was very sick for 8 months straight from January- July and then he got better for three weeks then he got sick from August- December and he died on December 25th, 1915 at age 34.

I would definitely would recommend this book to everyone because honestly it is one of the greatest books I've ever read. The book explains years of the children's childhood to when they get into their tween years. This book will show everyone just as it showed me that we have life easier then those who actually lived during 1902-1919 because they went through poverty and only certain people where allowed to work, and only certain were allowed to vote while others stood in the background watching and wishing that their life were easier. This book is worth five stars and it was wonderful to read.

Reading Response # 22

2009-04-19T15:30:00.005-04:00

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Betty Smith
Page 131- Page 286

In the past two days I've read my book club book from school A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Everyone said that this book was a great book. I didn't believe because I'm into the mysterious-weird types of books that have amazing twists but this book bend my book types. I enjoy reading this book so much. It shows me that if we think that life is hard now it was way harder in 1902-1919. We go through better things then the people lived then did.

What they considered expensive back then we consider it cheap now. But we must remember it was expensive to those who had to work as hard as they could possibly imagine and we get money given to us.

This book takes place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The protagonist is Francie Nolan(really Mary Francie Nolan). And there is only one Antagonist that comes into the book when Francie is 14 years old that tries to rape her.

Before Francie was born her grandmother and mother had a personal mom to mom-to-be talk. Katie is Francie's mom and Mary is Katie's mom. Mary tells Katie that everyday before her children went to sleep she must read them a page from one of Shakespeare's plays and a page from the Protestant Bible even if she didn't understand all of the words. KAtie did that exactly when she had Francie and Neely (Francie's Little Brother).

A lot happens in this book but it's a grat book. I wait to see what happens next!

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

2009-03-31T11:37:00.014-04:00

Living life in Brooklyn
Isn't what you think
A tree grows in Brooklyn
People fall down
It ain't what we want or what we talk about

Living life is hard
No one knows how it is
A tree grows in Brooklyn
If you were me and I were you
You'd know what I mean

Living life in Brooklyn
Isn't what you think
A tree grows in Brooklyn
People fall down
It ain't what we want or what we talk about

You this is just fun and games
1902-1919 it ain't fun at all
Poverty
Living on the street
It ain't what you think it is

Living life in Brooklyn
Isn't what you think
A tree grows in Brooklyn
People fall down
It ain't what we want or what we talk about

Live life
Work hard
Play nice
Get along
A tree grows in Brooklyn

Living life in Brooklyn
Isn't what you think
People get shot
People fall down
It ain't what we want or what we talk about

A tree grows in Brooklyn
It taught us a lot
It went from a seed
To the tallest thing
That that grew in Brooklyn taught us everything

Live life
Work hard
Play nice
Get along
A tree grows in Brooklyn

Living life in Brooklyn
Isn't what you think
People get shot
People fall down
It ain't what we want or what we talk about

A tree grows in Brooklyn
It taught us a lot
It went from a seed
To the tallest thing
That that grew in Brooklyn taught us everything

Live life
Work hard
Play nice
Get along
A tree grows in Brooklyn

Live life
Work hard
Play nice
Get along
A tree grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is the name of this song
Word

Kids Choice Award

2009-03-29T17:33:00.004-04:00

Saturday, March 28th, 2009 Dwayne Johnson hosted the 2009 Kids Choice Award. The KCA had live preformances by the Jonas Brothers, and the Pussy Cat Dolls. The show all started with Dwayne Johnson flying in. After that they pretty much got into the awards. Jack Black was nominated Favorite Animated Movie Voice. The Tiwlight Series won Favorite Book. Jesse McCartney was voted Favorite Male Singer. Miley Cyrus was nominated Favorite Female Singer. This years KCA could have been better. When Justin timberlake was the host in I believe 2006 it was the best KCA ever!

Hyperbole of My Dog

2009-02-12T10:28:00.004-05:00

Little Girl is my dog.
She sleeps like a log.
She has a huge mouth,
And eats like a hog
In her excitement
Her tail is a whip times ten.
When she sees food
Her eyes start to spin.

Some examples of hyperboles are she sleeps like log, and eats like a hog, her tail is a whip times ten, her eyes start to spin.

I think that the poet Autumn Jones used these hyperboles because she wanted to give us an image about how her dog reacts to food when she is being feed.

Red Cross

2009-02-09T10:18:00.007-05:00

Red Cross

by Jessica Rawls

There she is
Ms. Fisher on the steps of the Red Cross
She sleeps there, you know
"The dog who jumps in the sea loses his bone!" she
shouts
We laugh, my friends and I, and swiftly walk by
I notice a tear form in the crack of her eye
I went to her one day at the steps of the Red Cross
She sleeps there, you know
The day after she smelled of shoes
The skin of her face looked as if it were peeled, dried or
fried around her cheeks
Probably from crying
Crying, she pulled me down and whispered in my ear
"When a butterfly is pinned down a stream of time
stops"
I closed my eyes and shuddered because her breath
smelled like moldy
Porkchops
I smiled
Gave her a dollar
And left.
I went home and asked my mother about the woman
always on the steps of the
Red Cross
She sleeps there, you know
She said her name was Vanessa
I thought to myself that Vanessa means butterfly
I heard she was crazy, my mom said
I ran upstairs and called the police,
"There's a woman on the steps of the Red Cross
She sleeps there, you know"
The police went
They looked
She was asleep to the point where she couldn't open her
eyes
It surprised me
Vanessa Fisher
"When a butterfly is pinned down..."
Her stream of time stopped.

The mood of the poem to me is confusion, misunderstood, and depressing because in the poem it says she slept there you know and that is kind of depressing because that means that she is homeless I guess. I think that the poet wrote this poem with these moods because she wanted us to see that the lady that slept on the Red Cross was misunderstood and that confused a lot of the people that saw her.

Poetry Response: Bronx Masquerade

2009-02-06T09:16:00.003-05:00

The poem Bruised Love makes me feel like this girl Chankara Troupe has seen and gone through a lot of problems happen in relationships and she is sick and tired of seeing girls get hurt. This poem makes you take the time and think the types of girls that get hurt are the type of girls that let themselves get hurt. I think that the message of this poem is that girls should really take care of themselves and not let their boyfriends hit them because that shows who they really are. If you see that your boyfriend gives you a lot of souvenirs you know that they hit you for little things and if you see that he barely hits you that is how you know that he doesn't mean to hit you but you just really got him mad at you. No I can not relate to this poem at all because I
don't let people hit me because that shows them that they can hit us all of the time and they will continue to hit you if you don't show them that they can't hit you and you give them the satisfactory of hitting you all of the time.

Poetry Response: Bronx Masquerade

2009-02-05T10:26:00.006-05:00

Open Mike
Attendance
By: Tyrone Bittings

I like this poem because he talks about everyday life. Tyrone makes this poem sound like he is saying this poem out of frustration or rage because he says that his dad got shot and died. He also talks about how we should celebrate living our lives the right way today. I feel like he also says that we should celebrate our futures because once we find ours we can't change it. Tyrone talks about where he lives. This reminds me of a song called "California Love" by Tupac and another song called "Chicago" by Carl Sandburg that talk about where they live and what they feel about their home towns (or in Tyrone's place his block).

Stopping by the Woods

2009-02-03T12:07:00.007-05:00

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.

The mood that this poem creates is the mood of depression and the feeling that he is tired. The other types of poetic devices that Robert Frost are rhythm, rhyme, repetition, and alliteration. I think that Robert Frost repeated the last line twice to get his point across and i think that his point is that he is tired but there are way more important things to do before he goes to sleep. I think that the speaker is feeling tired because and depressed because he says that he has miles to go before he goes to sleep and he just wants to travel those miles before he goes to sleep.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

2009-02-02T10:10:00.005-05:00

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The inferences that I can make about this poem are that the poet Maya Angelou is comparing this bird to life. I can infer that because she says that the world is waiting for this "bird" to spread his wings and fly. She wants him to fly for everything he wants and everything he believes in.
The best word to describe this poem would have to be excitement because Maya Angelou is telling this "bird" all of the possibilities he has waiting for him and if he tries to spread his wings and fly. She is telling him that if he wants to he could achieve anything that he wants to by trying his all and never giving up what he wants.
The meaning of this poem to me is that when you want something really bad don't let it go too fast because when you lose your meaning in life you lose everything you stand for.

Why...

2009-01-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

I don't understand...

I don't understand...

why there is terrorism
why the sky is blue
why the highest number is infinity
why there is Valentine's Day

But most of all...

why there is war
why you must be over 35 to be president
why some people don't believe in aliens
why the Twin Towers had to fall

I do understand...

why plants help us
why people look the way they do
why we go to school
why there is music

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

2009-01-29T10:18:00.003-05:00

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night means that once you die you can't go back to living. So you must live your life and know that death is coming so when it does you are not surprised.
The mood that Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night sets the mood of depression and fury. For example, in the poem it says " Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light," and that means that you are getting older and your young days are over. Once your time comes to permanently leave to
give it a fight and not to die that easy.
I think that the poet uses poetic devices because he want s to get his point across. The other two poetic devices the poet uses in this poem are simile and metaphor. The meaning of simile is comparing two different objects using the words like or as. Metaphor means comparing two different objects without using the words like or as.

Recognition

2009-01-27T19:13:00.002-05:00

The wonderful poem below was written by a fellow classmate of mine named Ana. I re-wrote it in my blog to show you how well she did with her Barack Obama poem. Keep on rocking Ana. Great Job with your poem. I personally love it.

The Power of Change

The power of change

We have the power to change the world,

to change our minds,

to think different this time.

Since we have change,

we have hope,

we have faith ,

all around the world.

We don't judge a book by its cover,

just because is old damage or it has a color that you don't like.

The color could be ugly,

but the words help you change the country.

Open your eyes ,

see through what people don't see.

Open your ears and hear him ,

like you hear a white mans speech.

THE POWER OF CHANGE!

Amigos

2009-01-27T18:45:00.001-05:00

Friends 2

2009-01-27T18:43:00.002-05:00

This picture will say a lot

But only means one thing to me

Friends

2009-01-27T18:40:00.003-05:00

A Big Hug For You

2009-01-27T18:11:00.003-05:00

A Big Hug For You

Would be like feeding a monkey a banana

So kind and thoughtful

You put a lot of thought

Into what to say

And in what to do

You arrange

Rearrange

You think

And you rethink

To try

To make everything PERFECT

This bear will tell you

What I can't say

So will you please

Be my valentine today?

The Day My World Ended

2009-01-27T12:49:00.001-05:00

I thought that this would never happen

You were my best friend

And I thought that it would stay that way

The world was never the same after this

I wasn't allowed to go

They said I was to young

I was young

But smarter then I looked

I was furious

About the way it happened

It was like a twisted tale

So bizarre and strange

But now you are gone

And that demon danced

Right above where you were

I should have been there

To pull her idiotic pigtails

Out of her scalp

She danced and danced right above your wooden bed

She tapped and knocked

But you didn't answer

She thought that you would

But since you didn't she took advantage

When she was finished

She started to cry

Then they asked her what was wrong

She didn't answer at first

But then she murmured

"Tio is gone and never got to say goodbye"

Then they asked her

"Then why did dance over his grave"

And she answered

"Because I want to be there too"

"I want to die and say goodbye to him"

But she can't

Just imagine how it feels

To lose the one you love the most

It is sort of diturbing

In a heart breaking way

Rest In Peace dad

Have good and peaceful dreams

Forever

Poems

2009-01-26T17:35:00.003-05:00

Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age

The child is grown, and puts away childish things.

Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies.

-Edna St. Vincent Millay

______________________________________________________________

And yet, to say the truth,

reason and love keep little company together nowadays.

-William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Act III, Scene i

____________________________________________________________

Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after

all your enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone

you love is a hostage, sapping your courage

and corrupting your judgement.

-Orson Scott Card

Empire

Readers Response # 21

2009-01-26T17:15:00.002-05:00

Title of Book: Breaking Dawn

Author of Book: Stephenie Meyer

Pages Read: Page 500- Page 600

"Dont' be afraid," I murmured.

"We belong together."

I was abruptly overwhelmed by the truth of my own words.

This moment was so perfect, so right, there was no way to doubt it.

His arms wrapped around me, holding me against him... It felt like every nerve in my body was a live wire.

"Forever," he agreed.

That was the blurb of the book Breaking Dawn. That is important because Bella and Edward get married and go on their honeymoon. But that is difficult because they have physical contact and they end up having a baby together. They decide to name the baby Renesme as in Renee(Bella's mom) and Esme(Edward's mom) Carlie as in Carlisle(Edward's father) and Charlie(Bella's father) Cullen. The baby is very rare.

She has a gift of showing you what she is trying to tell you. Literally. She can talk but she just rather show you. She isn't all vampire or all human. Renesme is half and half. Half vampire and Half human. She has Bella's chocolate brown eyes, Edward's bronze color hair, Charlie's curls, and Edward's skin. Renesme grows at in incredible pace. By one month she looks like a tall five year old or a short six year old. Renesme is very smart. When Bella tries to read her stories(not the picture book type) she sometimes takes the book from her and starts reading the book. She is very INTELLIGENT.

______________________________________________________________

They Said It Wouldn't But It Did

2009-01-26T14:53:00.003-05:00

They Said It Wouldn't But It Did

They said this terrible things would never happen

Two very important things

The Twin Towers stood proud

And the Titanic could swim

But these precious things came to an end

The towers fell downAnd the ship sunk

They thought that it would tear us apart

But that just made us stronger

We learned from our mistakes

That helped stay united

They say it wouldn't but it did

We planned our moves

We preformed them in synchronization

We won and lost a couple of things

They say it wouldn't but it did

They said he wouldn't become president

But look at where he's at

He has proven them wrong

They say it wouldn't but it did

He has lightened our burden

He has shown us the way

He was proven as worhty

They say he couldn't but he did

They Said He Couldn't But He Did

2009-01-26T09:32:00.006-05:00

Grew up in hard neighborhood
Didn't have respect
But then he ran for President of the United States
He had a good campaign
He was not ashamed of his past
He used it to push himself ahead
He is not ashamed
But he played a fair game
His words
His life
Based on hope and change
That said that he couldn't
But look at what he did
He made it this far
And now he is on the presidents wall of fame
He says that will change the way we live today
But not everyone believed him
They said he couldn't but he did
Now look at what he has done
He is the first left handed president
That may not be important
But on his side he has one
That helps him stand out
And it helps him fit in
They said he couldn't but he did
He did a great job
Running his campaign
They said he couldn't but he did
Now he lives in the White House
And counts a lot
Congratulation Barack Obama
They said you couldn't but you did
Now he did his fair share
He did all he could
And now he is at the top
John McCain did great
But not as good
Barack Obama did what he should
Now he is President of the United States
They said he couldn't but he did

Piece of Cake

2009-01-26T08:32:00.006-05:00

Last week the 8th grade took the state wide ELA test. Some thought that it was hard. But out of the three books the second one was the easiest and the third one was the hardest. Some people in my class didn't get to finish and that just made me wonder 'Did they try s hard as they say?' The only answer to my question is another question. "Did you give it 100%?"

I would have said yes. But now that I think about that test was a piece of cake. Hopefully that cake tastes good. Because if it did I will pass the 8th grade and continue on to high school and then on to college. the test could have been a little harder but that is just me.

I am so extatic that this test was the last ELA test that I would have to take if I pass. Wow what a great test to begin the new year. Seriously I think that the test makers slcked off just a little bit becasue last year the 8th graders thought that their state test was hard. This years test was as easy as 1 2 3.

But maybe that is because this 8th grade is and always will be the smartest 8th graders that 339 has had in the year of 2009. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. But the teachers we have are awesome. So great job Ms.Johns, Ms.Levine, Ms.Kaelin, Mr.Blanchard, and Mr.Goldsmith. You guys and ladies have helped us a lot. So this is our thanks to you as the class of 2009.

Inaugural Poem Response

2009-01-23T09:43:00.003-05:00

I think that the poem Praise Song for the Day by written and recited by Elizabeth Alexander means that we should be ecstatic about our new America. Now that Barack Obama is our new president we should praise that everything is going to change. Barack Obama is going to be a great president and he is going to help us change everything because if he has come this far and has given us hope why in the world would he let us down now?

This poem makes me feel like Elizabeth Alexander wants us to see how eveything is going to change soon. For example, she states in the poem:
We cross dirt roads and highways that markthe will of some one and then others,
who said I need to see what’s on the other side
I know there’s something better down the road.

We need to find a place where we are safe.
We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain: that many have died for this day.

Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,
who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,
picked the cotton and the lettuce,
built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of."

This tells me that she wants no that she knows that with Barack Obama on our side he will right what was wrong.

Some of the pharses that I really liked from the poem are:

Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself,
others by first do no harm or take no more
than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?

Love beyond marital, filial, national,
love that casts a widening pool of light,
love with no need to pre-empt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air,
any thing can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp,

praise song for walking forward in that light.

And to me those phrases connect and say to me some people learn to accept each other no matter what is happening between them. Also that love is the most powerful thing in the world and no matter what that will always stay the same.

This poem really relates to Barack Obama and his life because she states in the poem:

Say it plain: that many have died for this day.
Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,

That means that people like Martin Luther King Jr., Sojourner Truth, Malcolm X,etc. have died fighting for the future of people like Barack Obama. They fought for the rights for African-Americans to have bright long futures.

Readers Response #20

2009-01-05T14:57:00.007-05:00

Title of book: Breaking Dawn

Author of book: Stephenie Meyer
Pages Read: Page 1 - Page 756
Chapters Read: Chapter 1- Chapter 39

The book Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer is a very great book so far. This book is all about romance but with a twist. One because one of the main characters is a vampire. And the other reason is that he is immortal and the life of his life is mortal(which means his heart doesn't beat and hers does).

Bella Swan is one of the main characters(she is the one below)

You have to watch read Twilight(or watch the movie), New Moon, And Eclipse in order to know what is going on between Edward and Bella to know how strong their love is.

In this book Edward and Bella get married and have a baby girl. Bella decided to name her Renesme Carlie Cullen(hers and Edward's moms names are Renee and Esme, their fathers names are Charlie and Carlisle and their last name is Cullen). She has hard skin like Edward, chocolate brown eyes like Bella, Edward's color hair and Charlie's type of hair(brown and curly).

Like Edward Renesme gas a special talent. She can show you what she is thinking just by putting a hand on you. Bella also has a special power which is to shield. Bella can stretch her shield very far from her body and anyone in her shield is protected well enough so that they don't get hurt.

Only one problem really happens in this book. The Volturi(a very powerful coven of ancient vampires) think that Renesme is an immortal child(a new vampire which is a child that was bit and never ages). Though she is half mortal and half immortal she is non-venomous. She bites people all of the time and they are still perfectly fine.

Another not so big problem happens in the book. Once Bella became a vampire she and to keep that secret from her father Charlie.

Readers Response # 19

2009-01-03T14:37:00.005-05:00

Title of book: Eclipse

Author of book: Stephenie Meyer
Pages Read: Page 404- Page 629

In the dead silence,

all the details suddenly fell into place for me

with a burst of intuition.

Something Edward didn't want me to know.

Something Jacob wouldn't have kept frome me....

It was never going to end, was it?

Readers Response # 18

2008-12-30T15:50:00.005-05:00

Title of book: Eclipse
Author of book:Stephenie Meyer
Pages Read: Page 1- Page 404

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destructive ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

-Robert Frost

Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird

2008-12-22T10:00:00.004-05:00

Some of the major themes in To Kill a Mockingbird are racism and justice and equality for all.

The author reveals these themes by showing Atticus taking on the Tom Robinson case because he is black even though he knows that he isn't going to win because black people don't get fair trials in Maycomb, Alabama.

I think that the characters will each learn something from the Tom Robinson case. For example, Scout learns that no matter what people tell you keep your head up high and say "Yea whatever those words mean nothing to me." And i think that Jem learned more about Justice for all because he tries to explain it Scout but she doesn't understand it as easily as he does.

The lesson that Harper Lee would want me to know by the end of this book would most likely be that no matter your race, no matter your color at the end of the day you are still part of society and no matter what people tell you don't let them bring you down because thos ewho tease you are the ones that hace no self respect for themselves.

Readers Response # 17

2008-12-17T08:34:00.006-05:00

Title of book: New Moon
Author of book: Stephenie Meyer
Pages Read:Page 1- Page

These violent delights have voilent ends

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,

Which, as they kiss, consume.

Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 6

I knew that they were both mortal danger.

Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole.

I could feel my heart racing in my chest,

the blood pulsing hot and fast thriugh the veins again.

My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin.

It was like there had never been any hole in my chest.

I was perfect-not healed, but as if

there had never been a wound in the first place.

Test Prep Action Plan

2008-12-15T09:31:00.006-05:00

My goals for test prep are to pay every bit of attention, to get a four, to do acuity at home, and to try to come to Saturday academy. To keep up with my goals I will read more often and that will improve my reading skills, when I get home I will do all of my homework and then do acuity, If I can read more pages in the book then I plan to I will definitely pay more attention, and to come to Saturday academy I will bother my mom until she says yes. The hardest question on the test for me would be the vocabulary questions because if don't get what the word means I tend to ignore it and I tend to get frustrated about not knowing what that word means. What I can do to improve the questions/ passages/ or Test Books for me would be to read and to think between the lines to try to comprehend what the vocabulary words mean.

"To My Parents: What I've Learned so far in ELA."

2008-12-11T09:34:00.007-05:00

Dear Mom,

Some of my biggest accomplishments so far this year in ELA are my memoir entitled"Farewell", my political essay entitled"Who Will Win?", my blog in which you can visit any time by going to the website http://coraima802.blogspot.com.

My favorite unit so far has to the Strategy Unit because the five habits that we learned about Activating Schema, Making Predictions, Questioning, Visualizing, and Making Inferences really helped me apply that to everything that I read and that was great for me.

Us using technology in school has really helped because we don't waste as much paper and that has helped the environment because we don't kill as many trees.

Readers Response # 16

2008-12-08T17:33:00.013-05:00

Title of book: Twilight
Author of book: Stephenie Meyer
Pages Read: Page 1 -Page 259

Chapters Read: Chapter 1- Chapter 12

About three things that I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him-

and I didn't know how dominate that part might be
that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably

in love with him

The book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer so far is about a girl named Isabella(Bella) Swan that meets a boy named Edward Cullen and they fall passionately in love with each other. The big conflict with their relationship is that Bella is mortal and Edward is immortal because he is a vampire.

The other conflict with their relationship is that Edward is always saying that they can't be together because he was afraid that he might have hurt Bella.

Readers Response # 15

2008-12-04T17:11:00.003-05:00

Title of book: Why I'm Afraid Of Bees

Author of book: R.L. Stine

Pages Read: Page 22-Page 44

Why I'm Afraid Of Bees is a book by R.L. Stine that shows how a ordinary boy named Gary Lutz learns to enjoy and live the life that he lives if not he will have to stay in the body of a bee forever.

Readers Response # 14

2008-12-03T17:28:00.005-05:00

Title of book: Why I'm Afraid of Bees

Author of book: R.L. Stine

Pages Read: Page 1-Page 22

Why I'm Afraid of Bees by R.L. Stine is about a boy named Gary Lutz whose body is switched with the body of a bee whil another bit named Dirk Davis controls his body and Dirk Davis's body is controled by a bee. And after the three boys find that out their lives are switched all around...

Readers Response # 13

2008-11-26T08:16:00.011-05:00

Title of book: To Kill a Mocking Bird

Author of book: Harper Lee

So far in the book To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee I have learned about a girl named Scout that has this brother named Jem and a curious friend named Dill, and there are some other fringe characters that make this book so special to so many people. For instance, there is Atticus, there ia Author "Boo" Radley, there is Nathan Radley(Boo's older brother), there is Mr.Radley(Boo's father), and there are also a bunch of other characters.

After Mr.Radley died Nathan Radley came to watch over the house and Boo. But I think that Nathan only came to watch over things because he doesn't probably didn't trust Boo all alone by himself in the house. I say this becuase he didn't bother to come live in his dad's house before he died and he probably doesn't trust Boo because of what he did when he was younger.

Readers Response # 12

2008-11-25T19:05:00.005-05:00

Tilte of book: Fear Street Nights; Darkest Dawn

Author of book: R.L. Stine

Pages read: Page 130- Page 182

At the end of my book Fear Street Nights; Darkest Dawn by R.L.Stine Jamie learns that she has to be careful with who she trusts because now she is in a tight situation in where she is forced to kill all of her five remaining friends.

Now that she is about to kill her last five remaining friends she has a few tricks left up her sleeve.

Listening Passage: Mona Lisa

2008-11-24T10:32:00.011-05:00

The article "Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa" offers theories about who the real Mona Lisa was. Based on the information in the article, name one possible identity of the Mona Lisa. Use details from the article to support your answer.

One of the Mona Lisa's possible identities was that the Mona Lisa was a self portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. For example it a scientist named Dr.Schwartz compared the Mona Lisa to a self portrait of Leonardo da Vinci and found out that the pictures matched.

Reader's Response Journal # 11

2008-11-21T09:48:00.014-05:00

Tile of Book: Fear Street Nights; Darkest Dawn
Author of Book: R.L. Stine
Pages Read: Page 35- page 130

Blog Questions:

In my book one of the main characters is Jamie. What makes her so important was that she had an accident with a horrible person that was killed named Angelica Fear, and now Jamie was at a flea market with her cousin Dana Fear and she sees this beautiful bracelet and her soon to be boyfriend Lewis stole the bracelet for her and she let him. I disagree with her decision because what is going to happen to her next is going to kill her. If I were in Jamie's situation I would have made Lewis either make him pay for the bracelet or make him go to put it back.

Jamie Richards is a senior for the second time in Shadyside High school. She would have graduated along with her close friend Lewis that they had a situation that they had broken some bones while killing Angelica Fear. In the book Fear Street Nights: The Darkest Dawn R.L. Stine didn't really mention Jamie's physical apperance.

Jamie has changed through out my book because she learned how to be careful in who she trusts.

Character Unit Intro

2008-11-17T14:22:00.011-05:00

Question: Do people ever really change?

I think that people do change in some specific categories. But some people change because of a bad thing while others change because of good things. For example, there was this friend that i have (who will be unknown) that he changed because of the things that started to change around him like his sister got married and she moved out, they were really close so it was like he had lost his best friend forever. So he started to behave even better to show his sister that he will always stay and be good (just for her). Then I had another friend (who will be unknown) that her little sister (that will also be unknown) got everything that she wanted and she got tired of it so she started to act so rudely with everyone. Then her grades started dropping and she just stopped coming to school for a while.

Another example for me could be in this book that i read named A Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan that the main character Laurie Stratton changed by learning that she should be careful with the people that she trusts. For example, she went out with this boy but after a while he started to boss her around more often and told her what to do. And her twin sister was so nice when they first met (through astral projection-which is when you use your "spirit" to contact someone anywhere in the world) and then after a while her sister started to turn on her an tried to ruin her life!!!

Readers Response # 10

2008-11-16T13:59:00.006-05:00

Title of book:Fear Street Nights:Darkest Dawn

Author of book: R.L. Stine

Pages Read: Page 3- Page 77

R.L. Stine to me is a genius because he writes so many interesting fictional stories abotu monsters, ghosts, e.c.t. He also wrote the fictional book that I am radeing and am hooked to Fear Street Nights: Darkest Dawn. What makes this book so interesting to me is what I read on the back of the book(the blurb).

When you can't sleep,
there's always NIGHTS.

The Night People are safe at last. After all the ugly pranks and vicious murders, things have finally returned back to normal. The friends who are left hare trying to forget and move on, taking comfort by meeting up late-night at their old hangout, Nights.

It is the ancient spirit of Angelica Fear that caused all the trouble. And now she's been destroyed once and for all. Burned in a fire.

But if it's true that the horror is dead, what did Angelica mean when her voice cried out from the flames?...

" The Evil Lives!"

Readers Response # 9

2008-11-10T17:28:00.007-05:00

Tilte of your book: Disney's Princess Collection-Love&Friendship Stories
Author of book: Sarah E. Heller
Pages Read: 17-32

Sleeping Beauty: The Friendship of Fairies

"In amagical kingdom there lived three kind and gentle fairies: Flpra, Fauna, and Merryweather. Together, they worked to bring forth beauty, happiness, and love. Only by the power of their friendship could they defeat the evil power of their rival, Maleficent. One day after Maleficent cursed the infant Princess Aurora with a powerful spell, the three good fairies secertly conspired to protect the innocent baby."

"Maleficent doesn't know anyhthing about love or kindness or the helping others,"Fauna reminded her firends.

Just by reading the first two paragraphs of the book what can you infer about the three good fairies? What can you infer about the three good fairies rival Maleficent?

What I can infer is that the three good fairies really do care about Aurora the infant baby because they eventually start to live the life of four peasents to keep Aurora the infant baby safe and otu of Malefcent's hands reach. To me Maleficent is like the least person in a situation that you would like to see. For example, if your mom gets married with a men and you don't like him in yor situation he can be Maleficent because you might think 'maybe he could snap at any minute. Maybe he starts to get too abusive. Maybe he uses your mom as a three months married package and he leaves her and divorces her for no apparent reason.'

Happy Holidays

I hope that your wishes come true

"Respect Everyone.

Hurt No-One.

Be Someone."

Readers Response # 8

2008-11-06T16:02:00.007-05:00

Tilte of book: Disney's Princess Collection_Love&Friendship Stories

Author of book: Sarah E. Heller

Pages read: 1-16

Cinderella-The Mice Save the Day

Cinderella is a classic fairytale about love(s), romance(s), and betrayal of family. I know that this might seem like a book for four and five year olds but there is a couple of thiings that I would like to put the spotlight on in this book. For example, how the author was so descriptive: Cinderella imaged herself dancing at the royal ball as she held her mother's old dress against herself. It might have needed a few alterations, but they wouldn't be difficult, if only she could find the time to alter the dress herself.

But on the other hand their were somethings that I thought could have been a little better. For example, after her animal freinds(her mice friends) made the alterations to Cinderella's dress, she just thanked them. But was there anything that they did while they altered her dress? If so why didn't the author mention them?

The little books are the books that really make you wonder 'Why do people decide to slack off when it comes to writing children's books? Is it because their littlt? Is it because they don't understand? Or is it because of the way that they were told the story(or stories) as they were growing up?'

Election Reflection

2008-11-05T11:55:00.002-05:00

Barack Obama the new President of the United States, as a country we(the people old enough to vote) chose him as its first black chief executive and that says it all. What that means is that now anything can happen in America. This election means a lot to me because this election showed that anything can happen and anything is possible if you What I think that made this election so special Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th belive that you can make it happen. This election also means so much to the country because it shows that a black(African-American)man just won the highest role in the U.S of A.(United States of America)and that if we can change the way that we think about people, then people can change the way that they think and feel about life and the way that we treat our environment.

Today I feel that the country will be ran better all with the help of us(the people), and the President of the United Sates(Barack Obama) because if he keeps up with the words that he spoke then I know and belive that America can change. I belive that Barack Obamam will do a wonderful according to the what he said and what we heard.

"Ghost Story: The Tale of Hollywood Rivera"

2008-11-04T18:40:00.000-05:00

October 31st, 2008
Happy Halloween

In California late last year a little girl Hollywood Rivera was with her parents when all of a sudden they were on the ground. And 3 months later she was at their funeral reminiscing the good times that they had together. This hurt internally and externally. She went from beauty queen to a gothic queen that hated Mischief Night. She put curses on all of the people that she thought helped kill her parents. People thought that maybe it was a coincidences that bad things happened to them. Until they noticed that everything bad that happened to them Hollywood was there laughing and enjoying their pain. Almost as if she was feeding off of their pain and getting stronger off of their pain. She soon went mute to avoid all of the problems that came to her after the strange "coincidences."

And now Hollywood Rivera was a number one target for all people on Mischief Night.

Hollywood Rivera was a quite and calm little girl whose parents died and left her the deed to the house so that she can have a place to stay and they left her 18 billion dollars so that she could feed and have money for school. She soon strated to watch the towns people closely to make sure that she wasn't next. But she still was and she knew it too. She knew because of all the strange dreams that she strated having about her dieing. She decided to go out for a walk. But poor little Hollywood never saw that bullet coming…

Constance Rivera was a quite and calm little girl whose parents died and left her the deed to the house so that she can have a place to stay and they left her 18 billion dollars so that she could feed and have money for school. She soon started to watch the towns people closely to make sure that she wasn't next. But she still was and she knew it too. She knew because of all the strange dreams that she started having about her dieing. She decided to go out for a walk. But poor little Hollywood never saw that bullet coming… Happy HalloweenBy: Coraima

Readers's Response Journal # 7

2008-10-17T09:41:00.001-04:00

Title of book: Dead -End Job
Author of book: Vikki Grant

Pages Read: Page 64- Page 104

Continuously on the pages of Dead-End Job Frances has found her own personal stalker while working her night-sifts at Highway Buy-way Convenience Store. Her stalker's name is Devin[ they don't mention any one's last name]. He tries to hide the fact that he isn't the son of a famous wildlife artist; he's just an average boy that is in love with a girl named Frances. But one of these days he watch who he is messing with... because it could leave him DEAD...

At the end of this Miraculous book Dead-End Job Devin tricks Frances into having dinner with him in the back of Highway Buy-way Convenience Store's washroom. "Frances you surprised me!" Devin was standing in the back room, holding a couple of wineglasses."

While reading this book I asked myself 'Is it really worth it, kidnapping a girl just because you think that tou love her?'

Reader's Response Journal # 6

2008-10-16T19:51:00.001-04:00

Title of book: Dead-End Job
Author of book: Vikki Grant

Pages Read: Page 35- Page 64

Previously on the pages of Dead-End Job Frances met a psychotic boy named Devin. Devin has been lying to Frances about his father. He has told her that his father is a great rich artist. And now he is in love with Frances but he is ruining her life and her relationship. 'Frances is on to your lies Devin so watch out.'

Devin has to wacth out because Frances has her little plan too. 'Remember Devin what you plan today, tomorrow today's plans will be yesterdays thoughts.'

Reader's Response Journal # 5

2008-10-16T19:16:00.001-04:00

Tilte of book: Dead-End Job
Author of book: Vikki Grant
Pages Read: Page 1- Page 35

On the pages of Dead-End Job I can't help to wonder if Frances can survive the graveyard shift? 'I ran blindly into the store, sliding in my greasy shoses, knocking cans onto the floor, ramming into shelves. I fumbled for the phone. I picked up the reciever. I could feel Devin right behind me. I dialed nine, one... His hands slammed the phone down.' "I hoped it wouldn't come to this," he said.

Frances works in during the night so it's called the graveyard shift. So maybe, just maybe one of these days Frances just might not survive that graveyard shift...

Readers Response Journal # 4: Questioning

2008-10-15T12:07:00.001-04:00

Policy Before Politics

My skinny questions:

1. Why is the name of article #3 ' Policy Before Politics'? [Before reading question]
2. Why are Barack Obama and John McCain smiling in the photograph?

3. Why do Barack Obama and John McCain need those peoples votes so bad?

My fat questions:

1. Why did Tom Brokaw of NBC News the moderator let the undecided voters from the Nashville area ask Barack Obama and John McCain questions?

2. Why did Tom Browak of the NBC News the moderator ask the follow-up question?

3. Why are Barack Obama and John McCain decide to run for the role of President of the United Sates?

Answers to my fat questions:

I think that Tom Brokaw of the NBC News the moderator let the undecided voters ask Barack Obama and John McCain questions because

Raft: This Land Is Your Land

2008-10-15T11:44:00.001-04:00

Question:

How does the information in the text box " A Day in the Life [ of me!]" help the reader understand the article?

My Answer:

The information in the text box " A Day in the Life [ of me! ]" helps the reader understand the article because it explains what Ashirah Knapp does for a living. For example, the text box says that from 1:00-1:30 she practices playing her guitar. Also the information in the text box gives us details about her daily tasks about her living off the land. All together the information in the text box gives us the details and information on her life-style[s] about her living off the land in Maine.

Readers Response Journal # 3

2008-10-08T12:37:00.001-04:00

Title of book: Stranger With My Face
Author of book: Lois Duncan
Pages read: Page 1- Page 126

My book Stranger With My Face is a book about an adopted child named Laurie Stratton and her blood related twin sister Lia Abbott. They don't have the same last name because their mother [who's name is unknown] gave them up for adoption. The Stratton's wanted to adopt a child because they weren't ready to have their children yet, so they went to the girls house and they chose their one child. Mrs. Stratton picked up Laurie and instantly loved her, but then she picked up Lia and she put her right back down in their playpen. So their mom ended up with Lia and eventually died. So seventeen [17] years passed by and Laurie was still with the Stratton's with two[2] other siblings Neal and Meagan[often called Meg], while her twin sister that she doesn't know about has been in four[4] foster homes.

So it was a week[7days ] before Laurie goes back to school and a boy named Gordon that never payed attention to her decided to start talking to her and said "is that a new swimsuit?" So she replied "No this is the same one that I had last year." So then Gordon replied back to her and said "Well something sure is different about. Why don't you set up camp and stay awhile? Want some lotion?" So Laurie said " No thanks I never burn." And then after that little conversation Laurie and Gordon started to talk more and eventually started going out. But then they hit a big bump in the road. Laurie was home, but her boyfreind Gordon swears that he saw her on the beach with another guy. And now her family insists that that they see her coming in and out of the housewhen she's been at school for hours. But how can she be in two places at one time?

Readers Response Journal # 2

2008-10-08T11:40:00.001-04:00

Title of my book: Bull Rider
Author of my book: Marilyn Havorson
Pages read: Page 50 - Page 75

My book Bull Rider by Marilyn Havorson is about a boy named Layne and his little sister Tara [Terror as Layne calls her] that they keep big secrets from their mom. After Layne's little bull riding accident Jana's grandfather Chase Kincaid started to train Layne on bull riding . Chase is training Layne because Chase used to be one of the greatest bull riders of all time right before Layne's dad was killed. Layne's father was inspired by chase Kincaid.

I can infer that Layne's mother doesn't think that bull riding is safe [especially after what happened to his dad]. The book says " No Layne," said mom in a tight voice. Her eyes met mine again. "Not bull riding. You know how I feel about that." I knew all right. We'd been through this so many times before it was like living in an instant replay. But this tome I fought back. " Yeah and you know how I feel about it too." " I don't care how you feel," Mom shot back. "All I know is that I watched a bull kill my husband and there's no way I'll risk watching one kill my son." [Page 2, paragraph3, 4th sentence].

Readers Response Journal # 1

2008-10-07T11:39:00.000-04:00

Title of book: Bull Rider
Author of the book:Marilyn Halvorson
Page 1- Page 50

Dear Ms.Johns

My book Bull Rider by Marilyn Havorson is about this boy named Layne who's father was killed during a bull ride. Layne's fathers death encouraged him to become a bull rider. The only problem is that Layne's mother doesn't want him to be a bull riding cowboy and he still does it behind her back. One problem that he came in contact with was that he almost got killed by a bull named Rhino. His little sister Tara [aka Terror as Layne calls her] is always there with him because she loves her horse named Rambo at Jana's [Layne's best friend] parents rodeo.
What I can infer from my book Bull Rider by Marilyn Havorson is that Jana and Layne like each other because in my book after Layne's bull riding accident when Layne and Tara were on their way home Jan kissed Layne on the lips and in the sweetest voice she told Layne ''Be careful.'' 'One question that I would ask Marilyn Havorson is why doesn't Layne's mother think that he isn't bull riding? If Layne loves bull riding so much why doesn't she get it in her head that he isn't going to quit?'