Final Reflection

Final Reflection - Please incorporate these nine questions into your final reflective blog for the school year. Keep in mind these questions should be focused on your time in Mrs. Larson's Accelerated English Language Arts classes.:)

1- What are the three most important things you learned this year?

       One thing that I will definitely carry on with me into the future is the time management skills I have learned this year. With more and more work coming from this class and several others, it has been vital to manage my time and make sure not to do everything last minute. Last year I would save everything for Thursday nights and yet this year I have begun my assignments earlier this year. With time management I have realized how much less stressful I can make the end of my week. The homework will only come in larger amounts in high school so I will definitely hold on to that. Another important thing I learned this year was about the rising troubles with terrorist. With all the AoW activities I have learned so much about ISIS and even the re-rising of al-Qaeda. Without the articles I probably would only know basic information about ISIS but the activities have allowed me to learn several aspects of the terrorist group and really how terrible they are. Before this year, where we have focused more on AoW's I wasn't as aware of things happening around the world and important things. Part of the reason is because the news on TV often publicizes the wrong things so the AoW's have given me the opportunity to really learn. Finally I learned in depth coverage and personal experiences from the Holocaust. The lessons we did on the Holocaust really allowed me to further understand and realize the true terrors of what happened. Not only this but I really enjoyed "Night" because it was the first chance at looking at a first hand experience of the Holocaust which made it easier to connect and made it all more real. It has allowed me to understand the situations that they went through.

2- What is something we did this year that you think you will remember for the rest of your life?

       One thing we did this year that I will remember was when we were allowed to bring food in and have a little party among ourselves. I have never had a class or teacher that let us do this so it was really fun to get a break from work and relax with our classmates. I felt as though we were being appreciated in a way because being in this class, well it brings a lot of work and dedication. The parties were nice breaks and I felt as though we had earned our right to do it. Plus eating food is fun as well so it was a really memorable moment I had with my classmates that I will remember. 


       Another thing we did that I think I will remember for the rest of my life is the "Tuesday's With Morrie" reading because it really allowed me to see a new aspect of life and it was a really inspiring story. Well I'm not going to say more cause I talk about it later.

3- What was the nicest thing someone in our class did for you this year?

       Well it has been several people but the nicest things people have done for me have been, helping me understand or figure something out. In this class we have read pieces and done work that has been more complex and that I haven't understood. The people in this class have been so generous and helped me in times where they could have been doing their own thing. Or during the Holocaust Research people helped me find information or websites that related to the question, which was a big help when I was lost. Another project that I feel my peers were a big help in, was the poems because for me, I tend to struggle with poetry. Whether it be analyzing it, or making a drawing out of what the author says, I struggle. But thanks to the amazing students in my class, I was able to get help and make a project I was proud of. Every student in our class is very smart and nice, so I felt very comfortable asking and getting help because of how kind and willing everyone was. So thank you class mates for helping me.

4- What is something you taught your teacher or classmates this year?

      I don't really remember teaching anyone directly during this school year in Language Arts. Umm since we have to pick something I guess I'll do something that was kind of indirect. I think I taught everyone to pay attention and not talk low and monotone. The pay attention thing was because I often would not know the answer to something Mrs. Larson asked me and it was a bit embarrassing. In my defense at times I actually was paying attention but I just didn't know. The other part was about talking in a low or monotone voice because I often did this when speaking, asking, and answering questions. When I did this I would often have to repeat myself, which once again was a bit embarrassing. So I think everyone learned to pay attention and have a good answer. Plus to speak up and be a little more excited about what you are saying. 

5- In what area do you feel you made your biggest improvements? What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of?

       I think that my biggest area of improvement has to be in my ability to analyze a quote or part of a book/article and further interpret it. This has been the main focus for the past two years I have felt and it has really allowed me to grow and become a better writer. For AoW's and writing assignments when I look back, I have gotten so much better about getting a powerful quote or statistic to add on to my writing. Not only this but being able to write a few sentences on the quote and its importance has been something that I will appreciate and use in high school. I think my best example in which you see this was in my SeaWorld/Blackfish essay. I was able to take research and use it to support and contrast two sides of a debate which I felt was a tough thing to do, but I was really proud of how I did. 

       Something I have really been proud of has been getting A's all year in this class without (I think), having to redo anything. This class has been challenging for me and a goal I set for myself this year was to get A's on the first try so that it would make my life easier and create less stress. So this year I worked really hard on projects and assignments the first time so that it would pay off later on and if I do well on this assignment I will have gotten A's all year in this class which will be a big deal for me.

6- What was the most challenging part of this year for you?

      The hardest part of this year has definitely been keeping up with all my work while still playing sports and doing other activities. There was one point where I had a basketball game after school at 5 on a thursday and I knew I had so much homework that I did a blog on my phone during the bus ride and while I waited in the bleachers for our game to start. There have been nights where I have been up until 2 or 3 in the morning working on homework or projects that I had started at like 6 in the afternoon. Especially with more and more homework coming in from every class, it has become harder to keep up but with time management I have been able to turn everything in. 

       There was another point this year where I just wanted the year to end because I was very negatively minded about school at the time. I think it was because we were in the middle of the year and in a sort of weird stage where is is just week after week of work which really effected me. But as we came towards the end of the year everything got better.

7- What was the best piece of writing that you did this year? Why do you think it is your best?

      My best piece of writing I felt was my SeaWorld/Blackfish Essay. I think one reason was because I felt it was the hardest, and longest paper I have written. I worked on it for a long time and felt that I gathered good information to support my writing. I had never really done a debate paper like that so it presented something new and challenging. It was a harder topic for me because I didn't really know how to write it at first. With the help of my classmates and Mrs. Larson however I was able to research and find evidence to support my side of the argument. With everyones help and my determination to write a good paper, I came out with a well written piece that I was proud to have written. 

      I think it is my best because it was an example of how much we have grown in this class. I went from paragraphs of 5 short sentences to being able to write a essay with evidence and clear thoughts. It is my best paper that has the TIQA format and not only has one side, but shows the other and tries to counter it. It was a long piece that I am proud to say is mine.

8- Of the books you read this year, which was your favorite? Why?

       My favorite book this year was Tuesday's with Morrie. I felt as though when I was reading it really touched me and I felt myself thinking about a lot of things. In fact there have been times during the day where I will be doing something and often think about Morrie's aphorisms which is odd for me because I have never really had a book stick to me like that. I feel as though this is a book that can influence my decisions and stay in my mind for a long time. I have never read a book that has offered these kind of things so I definitely have to go with "Tuesdays with Morrie" as my favorite book for this year. Thank you Mrs. Larson for introducing it to us.

9- What advice would you give students who will be in this class next year?

       DO NOT PROCRASTINATE because it will make the end of your week or the time given for the project feel dreadful. At first you may think I'll save this for Thursday but chances are that there will be other homework, which will just add more hours of homework. You will be a lot less stressed and it will be easier if you do your homework throughout the week. Not only this but then your not exhausted on Friday when you have vocab tests and most likely other tests. When I'm tired I perform worse so I would suggest getting your work done throughout the week. Good Luck guys.

Morrie's Aphorisms - Final Project

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life.They seem half-asleep,even

when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” (p. 43)

1- Explain the aphorism in detail. what was Morrie's main message?

     He is trying to tell the world that we get caught up in our work too much and focus too much on things that aren't as important. For example like jobs and our reputation within them can deprive you from being able to have experiences that are so much better. To Morrie the people you love are the most important things and he feels that work often distracts you from them. Another part of this has to do with money. Morrie feels that our society is so focused on money and expensive items that it often distracts us from what has real value in life. His message is to not focus and devote ourselves to our work or material items, but instead to those who we love, to our community, and to our passions that actually help us. He probably realized for himself as well that he wasted some time or close people did because they were too involved in work or personal business. I believe his main message is to not get distracted from our family and things we love by jobs, money, and materialistic items because these things could disappear at any moment while family and love does not.

2-     Relate the aphorism to a movie, song, historical event, current event, personal experience, etc. and explain in detail how the example you have chosen relates to the aphorism.

     In my personal life I have experienced periods of time where I spend very little amount of time with my family over homework, being on my phone, or doing other things. Towards the middle of the year of this past 8th grade I remember coming home from school or a game and starting homework, then not finishing up until 10 or 11 o'clock at night. The reason this relates to Morrie's aphorism is because throughout the week I would get caught up in school work and personal life that I didn't get to spend much time with my family. I would do things like be on my phone, which is far less important than spending time with family. I also think that it relates to a lot of movies, not just one in which the children aren't paid too much attention to. There has been several movies and even friends I have had whose parents get so wrapped up in themselves and really don't bother to go to any of their child's events. Some of the kids are stars at whatever they are doing but their parent's are so stuck in their own world that they miss the opportunity to witness a special moment of their child's. 

3-     Evaluate the aphorism by explaining why you agree/disagree with it. Give specific reasons for your position and specific evidence from the text to support your position.

     I agree with the aphorism because of my personal experiences and the way Mitch was living before he once again reunited with Morrie. For example in the book Mitch is so caught up in work that he didn't have time for his wife or time to start a family. In fact he was so caught up by the way he described it that I thought that his wife had left him but that was not the case. He instead wasted his time on material items such as money or cars which didn't give him the same joy that being with Morrie did. The part I am going to focus on in my personal life is the part about devoting ourselves that gives us purpose and meaning. For me this aspect of life is basketball because although I can say school, I feel like school is different because it is an obligation to start with. Basketball has always been a passion of mine that has helped me, introduced me to new people, and gives me purpose. The feeling you get when you see how much practice has paid off is something irreplaceable. Not only this but the people I have met through the sport have been such a large influence on my life. 


     I am creating a separate paragraph because this is a combination of numbers 2 and 3. There is this song called Wesley's Theory by an artist named Kendrick Lamar in which he expresses his ambitions before blowing up in the music industry. This song proves Morrie's aphorism wrong in a way because Morrie says that the most important things in life are family and love, that money often blinds us. Yet this song and the rest of his album shows that sometimes money is the only way out and only thing that can make a family happy. Especially for those who grow up in poor, dangerous communities that need to get out. Sometimes the only source of happiness is making it out and being able to buy your mom a new house. So Morrie for the most part is correct but I feel as though Morrie doesn't think people should care about money and clothes but I think everything is based off of how you grow up. 

4-     Take a picture of your aphorism to use as your graphic. 

My Aphorism: Mentality is everything. Your mentality will be what puts you ahead or leaves you behind.