Live Your Life To The Fullest

I chose the quote: "You should live every day like it's your last day because one day you're gonna be right." ~Ray Charles~ because I feel that it's very important to live your life well. We only have one life and life is too short to waste. If you waste precious time of your life doing drugs, drinking or smoking, you'll then realize, when you're dying, that you shouldn't have wasted your life like that and you could have lived longer. You only realize what you've lost, after you loose it.

Life is so valuable. That's also the reason I smile so much. I feel if you waste too much time being depressed or unhappy, you are loosing precious seconds of your life and instead of doing that, you should smile and have a good time!

Another reason why I chose this quote is because you should never think you'll never be right. Not only should you live your life well, but you should always remember that you're always right in some way. A lot of people in the world live in misery and think that no one notices them and they have such low self esteem that they don't believe in themselves. I feel that it's very important to know that people do care for you and you ARE right about somethings!

Basically, I just feel that we should "Live like we're dying" because happiness and life is just so important to me and I hope everyone sees how important life really is!

The Arrival of Good-Byes

This year in 6th grade, we have done many things in Humanities. One of the pieces of work that I am proud of is my video about the Pharaoh Khufu. I'm proud of it because not only did I enjoy it, but I think we did a very good job with the recording and we worked hard to find pictures and when I showed the video to my family, they were all very impressed.

Although I didn't really any problems in humanities, I think one of my difficulties was finishing projects in time. Even though I used my time wisely and did them at home, I still had a bit of trouble and I ended up rushed a little near the end of our projects.

This year, humanities has taught me a lot of myself. One of the things that I learned is that I actually enjoy literature circles. I used to dread them because they were so much work but I really enjoy talking about the book that I'm reading because we predict and we try to figure out what is going to happen next.

Self Evaluation:

a) Behavior

Could be improved
Satisfactory
Perfect - the model student

Explanation: I think I have been well behaved for most of the year but sometimes I've been pulled off task a few times and sometimes I talk too much.

b) Participation

None
Satisfactory
Actively participate in class

Explanation: I feel that I have participated well in class because I know that I have asked many questions and raised my hand a lot in class.

c) Organization

Needs serious help
Satisfactory
I'm super organized

d) Effort

Needs serious help
Satisfactory
I always go above and beyond what is required.

If I had to make two goals for seventh grade, they would be:

Goal 1: In seventh grade, I plan to improve my persuasive writing because I find that I have trouble figuring out what to write even though I know the format of what I have to write, I just don't know what to write it about.

Goal 2: In seventh grade, I plan to improve my note taking skills because I remember that I tend to write to much when I take notes.

All that I want my teachers to know about me is that I like to do activities that all the students are involved in and that involve activities. I also like technology and I am the type of person who likes using the computers more than pen and paper. Despite that fact, I like to do it the old fashioned way with pen and paper every once in a while.

I would say that my favorite activity in humanities was literature circles because discussing the book that I'm reading really helps me understand because sometimes if I don't understand the book or a part of the book, I can just ask the people in my group to explain it to me.

I really wish we could have finished our auto-biography books that we started making because we put a lot of effort into starting it, it's a shame that we didn't finish it.

The only advice that I could give the next students are:

• Do not procrastinate
• Do your work on time
• DO NOT CHAT IN CLASS!!! (unless it's about work)
• Help your friends in class
• Stay on task
• Don't talk while the teacher is talking
• Respect everyone around you and accept their ideas
• Read the lit circle books carefully so that you don't get confused

Killer - Pretty Little Liars

Killer - A Pretty Little Liars Novel

By: Sara Shepard

I think this is one of my favorite books I've read this year. I'm reading the Pretty Little Liars series at the moment and I think Killer is the most exciting so far. I'm on the book Heartless and I haven't finished it yet.

Killer is very exciting to me because of the suspense and the action. The book is about four girls trying to figure out the mystery of their best friend, Ali's disappearance. Along the way, one of Hannah's (One of the girls) close friends, Mona, betrayed her by pretending to be a person called A. She wrote them letters about secrets that only Ali would know so the girls were all freaked out about the notes and letters.

I feel that the whole plot of the series because it's very exciting and has a lot of suspense. I enjoy reading books that have suspense because the author keeps you coming back for more and you don't want to put the book down.

This book made me think of the shows on TV where there is a murder and the FBI's are trying to figure out what happened but in the book, it's the four girls who are trying to figure out what happened because they might not be able to trust the cops.

This book has challenged me because I normally wouldn't read mysteries. I did when I was younger but I couldn't find any books that seemed interesting for me to read so I stopped reading mystery books for a while. Now, I think I'll start reading more mystery books because of the suspense and I now know that I love mystery!

I wouldn't read this book if you don't like to be caught hanging because at the end of each book, the author writes about something very important but doesn't say much about it. If you don't like to wait to get the next book, then I don't think you should read this series because that's all they do! Also, I wouldn't read this book if you don't like murders. There are a few murders in this series.

Literature Circle Response Two

Chapters 16-18 in the book The Giver by Lois Lowry have to do with freedom. In Jonas's world, as I've said in my last blogpost, is controlled. The people in his community have no control over their life. They don't get to choose what job they get. Their jobs are chosen by the people of their government who observe each person and give them a job based on their personality. There are no colors, no music, no hills and nothing that could cause conflict.

These chapters have to do with freedom because Jonas learns about love. He confessed that he liked the feeling of love. He discusses love with the Giver and when he gets home, he asks, " 'Do you love me?' " (127) and his father says that he shouldn't use that word. He said that love was equivalent to a swear word. Then, when Jonas was tucking Gabe in for bed, he shares secrets and talks about love with Gabe,
" 'Things could change, Gabe,' Jonas went on. 'Things could be different. I don't know how, but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors.
'And grandparents,' he added, staring through the dimness toward the ceiling of his sleepingroom. 'And everybody would have the memories.
'You know about the memories,' he whispered, turning toward the crib.
Gabriel's breathing was even and deep. Jonas liked having him there, though he felt guilty about the secret. Each night he gave memories to Gabriel: memories of boat rides and picnics in the sun' memories of soft rainfall against windowpanes' memories of dancing barefoot on a damp lawn.
'Gabe?'
The newchild stirred slightly in his sleep. Jonas looked over at him.
'There could be love,' Jonas whispered. " (128-129)

This quote from the book shows that Jonas wants freedom. He tells Gabe that he wants change. He wants there to be love. He wants there to be grandparents to comfort him.

This book talks a lot about freedom in general because of the way that most people can't see color. Only the gifted ones like Jonas, the Giver and Gabriel. There are many things different between our world and theirs. People think they have emotions but they really have no idea what emotions are. They would get upset about things that are unimportant. Children are grouped by age. For example, Eights, nines, twelves. The eights would get to start doing volunteer work. Then, when they become twelves, they get to receive their job. As you can probably tell by now, our world, in ways, is better than theirs. Their world could be better because there are no conflicts or bad happening but it is very boring.

The Giver - Literature Circle Post One

In class, we've received a new lit circle book. I am reading The Giver. In the book The Giver, peoples' lives are controlled for them. They get assigned jobs once they are 12. They call each other by age groups. For example, "eights, nines, elevens" instead of saying "second grader, eighth grader" etc. They also have adopted children. They come from Birthmothers and the baby gets sent to a care center and another family takes them. Each family is only allowed to have one girl and one boy.

We have to answer a question out of:
1. Would you want your future to be decided by others ? Why or Why not?
2. How do you feel about the "standard practices" and "rituals" in the community?
3. Why is interdependence fostered in the community?

I chose to do number 2: How do you feel about the "standard practices" and "rituals" in the community?

I think that if I lived in that type of community, it would be awfully boring. The people in The Giver wouldn't know the difference because they have never lived a life where they get to control their own actions. In Jonas's case, he's turning 12 and they are about to give him and 'assignment', meaning he's about to get a job. In the real world that we live in, we would choose our own job and get interviewed. But in The Giver, people observe you and give you your 'assignment' based on your personalities and your interests. I would also really hate to live in that type of community because you can't quit your job if you don't enjoy it. I would want to have my own opinion. Also, since the children don't get to stay with their biological mothers, I feel that they don't get the real experience of motherly love. I find it strange that people aren't allowed to get bicycles until they're nine years old because I know I would have wanted to ride a bike before then. I think that if the whole world were like The Giver, life would be much easier with no war, but then you would have wasted so many lives because they never got to live their life properly because they were being trapped and controlled and not spending their life with freedom and fun.

iMovie Self Evaluation and Peer Review

I've done it on my last blogpost. I evaluated two group's so I will do two more. Here are the rubrics:

My iMovie:

Content Rubric
Introduction~ A description of the pharaoh is relevant, factual and correct. Time he/she ruled is correct.	5	4	3	2	1
Pharaoh’s accomplishments ~ Clearly explains the important contributions the pharaoh made during his/her rule.	5	4	3	2	1
Architectural Achievements ~Clearly describes and explains the important buildings/monuments that were built during this time. Explain how evidence of their religious beliefs is shown in these buildings.	5	4	3	2	1

Skills Rubric
images ~ All images are relevant, interesting and of good quality (saved properly as a jpg). Images match narration throughout.	5	4	3	2	1
Narration ~ Voices are clear, loud and fluent with good intonation. It is obvious you have practiced your part before recording. No background noise.	5	4	3	2	1
Transitions & Effects ~ Subtle transitions between the parts of the presentation are used throughout. Any effects used only enhance the message and are compatible with the image content.	5	4	3	2	1

Dania and Johanna's -

I- Movie Presentation

Group members: Dania and Johanna

Pharaoh: Nefertiti Final Grade: 30/30

Your movie should be approximately 3 minutes in length ( no more than 4 minutes)

Content Rubric
Introduction~ A description of the pharaoh is relevant, factual and correct. Time he/she ruled is correct.	5	4	3	2	1
Pharaoh’s accomplishments ~ Clearly explains the important contributions the pharaoh made during his/her rule.	5	4	3	2	1
Architectural Achievements ~Clearly describes and explains the important buildings/monuments that were built during this time. Explain how evidence of their religious beliefs is shown in these buildings.	5	4	3	2	1

Skills Rubric
images ~ All images are relevant, interesting and of good quality (saved properly as a jpg). Images match narration throughout.	5	4	3	2	1
Narration ~ Voices are clear, loud and fluent with good intonation. It is obvious you have practiced your part before recording. No background noise.	5	4	3	2	1
Transitions & Effects ~ Subtle transitions between the parts of the presentation are used throughout. Any effects used only enhance the message and are compatible with the image content.	5	4	3	2	1

Notes:

I really loved their presentation. The introduction was wonderful because they said how long Nerfertiti ruled for and when she was born. I also liked the intro page because it was very creative. Their pictures were wonderful because they matched the timing and they matched the subject. The voice they used was very nice because they explained a few things then Johanna pretended to be Nerfertiti and spoke as if she was Nefertiti.

William and Cameron's -

I- Movie Presentation

Group members: William and Cameron

Pharaoh: Khufu Final Grade: 23/30

Your movie should be approximately 3 minutes in length ( no more than 4 minutes)

Content Rubric
Introduction~ A description of the pharaoh is relevant, factual and correct. Time he/she ruled is correct.	5	4	3	2	1
Pharaoh’s accomplishments ~ Clearly explains the important contributions the pharaoh made during his/her rule.	5	4	3	2	1
Architectural Achievements ~Clearly describes and explains the important buildings/monuments that were built during this time. Explain how evidence of their religious beliefs is shown in these buildings.	5	4	3	2	1

Skills Rubric
images ~ All images are relevant, interesting and of good quality (saved properly as a jpg). Images match narration throughout.	5	4	3	2	1
Narration ~ Voices are clear, loud and fluent with good intonation. It is obvious you have practiced your part before recording. No background noise.	5	4	3	2	1
Transitions & Effects ~ Subtle transitions between the parts of the presentation are used throughout. Any effects used only enhance the message and are compatible with the image content.	5	4	3	2	1

Notes:

Their presentation was short but enjoyable. Their voices had lots of echo but that wasn't their fault. The pictures were good but they weren't of Khufu although they did have to do with what they were saying. I also enjoyed the 'background music.' ;)

Victor and Ramon -

I- Movie Presentation

Group members: Victor and Ramon

Pharaoh: Ramses II Final Grade: 30/30

Your movie should be approximately 3 minutes in length ( no more than 4 minutes)

Content Rubric
Introduction~ A description of the pharaoh is relevant, factual and correct. Time he/she ruled is correct.	5	4	3	2	1
Pharaoh’s accomplishments ~ Clearly explains the important contributions the pharaoh made during his/her rule.	5	4	3	2	1
Architectural Achievements ~Clearly describes and explains the important buildings/monuments that were built during this time. Explain how evidence of their religious beliefs is shown in these buildings.	5	4	3	2	1

Skills Rubric
images ~ All images are relevant, interesting and of good quality (saved properly as a jpg). Images match narration throughout.	5	4	3	2	1
Narration ~ Voices are clear, loud and fluent with good intonation. It is obvious you have practiced your part before recording. No background noise.	5	4	3	2	1
Transitions & Effects ~ Subtle transitions between the parts of the presentation are used throughout. Any effects used only enhance the message and are compatible with the image content.	5	4	3	2	1

Notes:

The introduction was very good because they had all the required information. They included all the accomplishments as well. They also had the architectural information. The pictures matched their narration and the transitions were good.

Sorry about the spacing. I don't know what happened. I tried fixing it but it didn't work.

Pharaoh iMovie Reflection

In humanities class, we had to make an iMovie about an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. My friend and I chose to study about the pharaoh Khufu. It was graded with a rubric. We have to write a reflection based on that rubric. Here's how I thought I did:

I feel that we had a good introduction about Khufu because we had a lot of background information including info about Khufu's parents and children. In terms of Khufu's accomplishments, we didn't really have much information. I think that we did pretty well with architectural achievements because we wrote a lot about the Great Pyramid of Giza which Khufu built.

I think we did well with images because we had about 20-25 pictures and only repeated about 2 pictures twice. It took a while for Mao and I had a bit of trouble synchronizing the photos and our narration but I feel the content of pictures were very good. The narration itself was clear and we could understand our own voices pretty well. The transitions in our iMovie were pretty good but we repeated some transitions.

Content Rubric
Introduction~ A description of the pharaoh is relevant, factual and correct. Time he/she ruled is correct.	5	4	3	2	1
Pharaoh’s accomplishments ~ Clearly explains the important contributions the pharaoh made during his/her rule.	5	4	3	2	1
Architectural Achievements ~Clearly describes and explains the important buildings/monuments that were built during this time. Explain how evidence of their religious beliefs is shown in these buildings.	5	4	3	2	1

Skills Rubric
images ~ All images are relevant, interesting and of good quality (saved properly as a jpg). Images match narration throughout.	5	4	3	2	1
Narration ~ Voices are clear, loud and fluent with good intonation. It is obvious you have practiced your part before recording. No background noise.	5	4	3	2	1
Transitions & Effects ~ Subtle transitions between the parts of the presentation are used throughout. Any effects used only enhance the message and are compatible with the image content.	5	4	3	2	1

Total Grade: 27/30

Micah and Rosee did their presentation on the Pharaoh King Tut. They had good information about King Tut and they had interesting pictures. Although they repeated the pictures once or twice, I liked how they had an end slide that gave us a nice laugh. This group didn't have MLA format though.

Another group, Johanna and Dania did their project on Nefertiti. I liked the way they narrated the information. They didn't just read it out in a boring, bland way. Johanna acted as if she was Nefertiti and she said things in her point of view. Their pictures were really nice because they matched the pictures with the narration really really well. I think they had MLA citations but I'm not sure.

This is the URL to watch my project about the Pharaoh Khufu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fApkB6svaCo