Making the Invisible Visible

The issue that we are addressing is police corruption, which is quite a challenging subject to study because everything is kept so secretive. Police Corruption is a major issue in Malaysia because it happens so often, and there are very few police that we can actually trust.  This issue is very important because the police are supposed to be someone that we turn to when we are having any trouble or anything bad or threatening happens to us. We need someone to help us, and not someone who is just going to make it worse. Some surprises that I have encountered in my research is what the police actually do and what actually makes the police corrupt. Policemen have been doing things like extortion, cheating, drug offence, and rape. This is just so shocking because if I didn't know anything and I heard someone was doing that, then I would expect them to be a criminal and the police should help, not for them to actually be police themselves!

 Learning about this issue makes me feel many emotions actually, shocked, scared, angry, I don't really know how to feel. I'm scared because police are meant to be people that you turn to when you are in trouble, and people that you can fully trust to keep you safe. Who are you then supposed to go if the police are committing crimes? That's what really confuses me. I just get really angry because working for the police force is such and honorable job, you are protecting your country and the people. That is your job. Also how they call themselves 'police' and that they work for the 'police force' really annoys me because I personally don't feel they should have the right to call themselves something that has a job to protect people from crime when you are actually committing crime yourself.

How to Deal with a Dictator

Dealing with a dictator in most cases, is difficult and challenging as dictators have so much power and strength over a country. The way that the dictator is leading the country can be quite dangerous sometimes, as people don’t have freedom of speech, people live in fear and the dictator shows full control over all citizens. Obviously that’s not what’s best for a country, so there needs to be some ways to bring this dictator down. 

As a person living in the inside they could possibly try to start a riot or rebellion, getting most citizens to turn against him/her and bring their power away. The could also attempt to get the army to turn against him/her, even though this might seem difficult and impossible, it’s always worth a try. 

As someone living on the outside of the country, personally I feel the best way to take down the country suffering severe dictatorship would be for countries to come together and combine forces to try and gain a stronger force than the other. This will give them the advantage of being able to physically remove the dictator from power, as there is no chance for him/her to be able to fight against such a strong force. Dealing with a dictator is not an easy job, and there are very few options that will actually work. But once you have a stronger force than the dictator does, you have a higher chance of bringing them down.

Malcolm X was an African American that fought for the rights of Black people in the United States of America. Malcolm X was assassinated in New York in 1965, after he tried influencing the culture of Islam, and gaining rights for African Americans. I believe that people are assassinated out of jealousy, and out of believing what they feel is right. I don't feel that assassinations are ever justifiable, as killing someone is never the right thing to do and usually there are other ways out. But when someone is so powerful and has so much affection from the public, for example Caesar, it can be the only option and the only way out. Malcolm X and Caesar are both very different in what they were fighting for, Malcolm X was fighting for other people's rights, and Caesar was fighting for himself and gaining power. Looking at this I feel that Caesar had more of a reason to be assassinated than Malcolm X did, as Malcolm X had a reason to fight for and Caesar wasn't fighting for anything but for power himself.

Thandiwe Chama

A young girl grows up in a community full of HIV/AIDS, her only hope is that she can finish school and have a successful future. Living in a small house, and having to work at a young age in order for her family to afford education, winning the “Children’s Peace Prize” seemed impossible. Adoring her days at school suddenly realizing that it was going to be taken away from her. This is Thandiwe Chama the girl that brought education back into her community. She stood up for both her and her fellow 60 schoolmates, she also went to the government officials to try and get them to build her community a new school so that they had shelter from the hot sun and the rain. At only 8 years old having her school shutdown, and living in Zambia flowing with HIV/AIDS, Thandiwe fought for the right to education and for people to take action and fight along side her to make her community a safer and more educational place to live.

Thandiwe is fighting for the right of education and for people to realize that it is the key for a successful future. There are two types of education needed in Thandiwe's community, regular education that can help you get into college and get a job, and education on how to prevent catching HIV/AIDS. When Thandiwe was only 8 years old her school was shut down due to lack of teachers. Thandiwe did not accept the fact that she had no education, and decided she was going to stand up for herself by going to the government and demanding education for her and her fellow 60 classmates. Thandiwe and her schoolmates learned out in the hot sun all day, so Thandiwe went to the government official to plead for a new building where students could learn in the shade, and have shelter through the bad weather. The government listened and Thandiwe was granted a new school where both her and her schoolmates could learn. Thandiwe had terrible personal experiences in her community with HIV/AIDS and she knew how important it was to keep yourself sanitized to stay away from those diseases. HIVS/AIDS can be spread through sexual intercourse or sharing needles for injections of drugs or steroids. Children need the education in order to help prevent them from catching HIV/AIDS and Thandiwe knew that. Thandiwe knows that education is the key to a successful future. Without a good education, there is very little chance of a successful future. She wanted the best for both herself and the people in her community, so she fought long and hard for her community to be granted the gift of education.

Thandiwe knows that she can’t go through this fight all on her own, and that she is going to need people to take action and fight along with her. Thandiwe rallied with her community so that the government would provide more land for more classrooms. She organized this rally, and made sure she had enough supporters for it to be successful. Once Thandiwe won the “Children’s Peace Prize” in 2007, she started getting noticed by a lot more people, and was able to interview big stars like BONO. People decided they were going to help her, and after Thandiwe gave her speech during the “Children’s Peace Prize Ceremony” she was granted a library. The library was called “Thandiwe’s Library” and it was placed in the middle of her community so that all her people could have access to it. She knew that she couldn’t win this fight if she was fighting it herself. Thandiwe knew how important it was for people to take action with her, after she won her award she made sure everyone knew about her.

A young girl growing up in a small town in Zambia, the right to education being taken away from her and her schoolmates, very little education on how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and a very slim chance of succeeding in her future. Thandiwe fought for 9 years, for the right of education and for people to take action along the way before she became successful and won the ‘Children’s Peace Prize’ in 2007. Thandiwe was successful throughout her journey on trying to make her community a better place for both her and her fellow people, and was recognized for that by being given the ‘Children’s Peace Prize’ award of 2007. Thandiwe was absolutely delighted with her accomplishment, and so was her country. She made her community proud as it is now a better place to live in, full of education and more awareness on how to prevent HIV/AIDS.

In "Harrison Bergeron" different types of irony is used to make a statement relating back to the present. 'Vonnegut' the author, used dramatic irony to show us how Hazel and George think they are living in a utopia, when really they are living in a dystopia and we as readers know that. In this Vonnegut is trying to make a connection at how people nowadays think that there is such thing as perfection. But even when you think you have perfection, you really haven't got it at all. Vonnegut is showing us that in his story by having Hazel and George think they are living in a perfect world, where everyone is equal and everything is fair, nobody is better than anyone else. When really, nothing is fair, people don't have any rights, yes they might think everything is equal, but really there is no such thing as happiness. Vonnegut is trying to tell us, that there is no such thing as a utopia, it can be written in books, and told in stories, but we will never have a true utopia, it doesn't matter how hard we work. We are living in a dystopia and that will never change.

Chiune Sugihara

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat that worked as a Consul-General in Kaunas, Lithuania. One day when Sugihara was getting up for work, he looked out his bedroom window and saw at least 200 Jews waiting for Sugihara to issue their visas. Sugihara was their last hope, and the Jews all knew that if Sugihara signed their visas they would be on their way to freedom. From then on Sugihara knew he had a purpose in the world, and he was going to help save as many Jews as possible. But there was obstacles along the way, Sugihara had to go against his government to save the Jews. Sugihara sent at least 10 requests for permission to sign the Jews visas. But there was no approval. So Sugihara just went and did it himself without permission. Sugihara had shown Dissidence in his actions by going against his government, by not waiting for an approval because he knew by the time he would have got one, it would be too late.

Sugihara had shown dissidence by not listening to what his government was telling him to do. The Japanese consul denied all of the requests that Sugihara had sent asking the if he was allowed to issue the Jews visas. But that didn’t stop Sugihara. He kept asking and asking, until he had reached the point were he knew that it would be too late, whenever the Japanese consul did approve his request, or if they ever approved his request. So Sugihara signed the visas without his consul’s permission. But by doing that he had saved so many Jews from death by the Nazi’s. So Sugihara showing dissidence to his government wasn’t a bad thing at all, he decided to do what was right, than do what he was supposed to do. Sugihara said that he chose to obey God, rather than obey his government.

Sugihara had saved over 2,000 Jews from the Nazi’s by issuing their visas, sending them to Japan to safety, freedom and a better life. Sugihara woke up every morning and signed visas, he signed visas when he was ill, when he was tired, and even when he was meant to be having time off. Sugihara was working under pressure because he knew that if the Nazi’s ever found out about what he was doing they could take him away, separate him from his family, and kill them all. But that didn’t stop Sugihara from doing his job. He knew that if he had issued the Jew’s visa, then they would be able to go and live a safe life in Japan away from all the torture and horror in Lithuania. Sugihara was a dissident person because he didn’t care in the end about what his goverment had told him to do or what they wanted him to do, he made sure that he did what was right, and that was to save all the Jews that he had saved.

Sugihara to me was a truly inspirational person. He was so selfless and didn’t care about himself at all. Sugihara didn’t want to be known as a superhero, he didn’t want to be famous and popular, he knew his job and he wanted to do it correctly. Sugihara saved over 2,000 Jews from the Nazi’s, when they could have all been sent to their death. Even on day’s when Sugihara was sick, tired, and felt that he couldn’t work, he made sure that he signed more visas and as much as he possibly could. He didn’t care about himself being sick or all the medical attention that he needed, he knew that there were more important things in the world than him, and he wanted to make sure that they were seen to.

Sugihara had such courage to help all of the Jews. What really stood out to me was that he knew the severe consequences he would have to face if he was ever found out about. But he kept going, and signed visa after visa after visa. Sugihara was a true hero to all of the Jews who thought that there was no hope, and that they were going to get killed. But he stopped them thinking that, and told them there was hope and not to give up, he didn’t tell them that with speech, but with actions. He made sure that he could save as much Jews as he possibly could. He never gave up, and showed actions of dissidence, that people now would have thought that that would be dangerous, going against your government when they had so much power. But Sugihara didn’t care and wasn’t going to stop until he really had too.

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” -Elie Wiesel

Germans, Jews, and Propaganda.

This picture "Der Bannerträger" was painted by Austrian-born artist Hubert Lanzinger (1880-1950) in 1935. This painting shows Hitler gazing into a better future for Germany. Der Bannerträger was first displayed in the Great German Art Exhibition in Munich 1937. This image was turned into a postcard by Heinrich Hoffman ( Hitler's official photographer) in 1938.

In this image I see Hitler on a black horse, looking ahead strong and proud into Germany's future. Hitler is sitting on the horse proudly holding the German flag, while wearing a knight in shining armor suit. Hitler is looking into a better future for Ger

many and that of course means killing the Jews, and making Germany only for Germans. But of course that is the way Hitler see's Germany in a positive way. This image was made into a postcard, so basically people can choose to by a postcard of Hitler. Hitler is trying to make himself as popular and as famous in Germany as possible because he wants to make Germany under his control.

In this image Hitler is looking proud and ready to work. He is holding the Nazi flag, and is on a black horse. Normally when someone is the leader of a parade, or of an army, you will see them on a horse holding a flag, or a sword, or something like that. In this image Hitler seems to be on a horse, holding the Nazi flag, as if he is leading the Nazi's into a brighter and happier future.

Der Stürmer was the most famed newspaper in Germany. It published tons of Anti-Jewish images, and articles by Philipp Rupprecht known well as Fips. The image on the front cover of Der Stürmer shows the "Jew" as a warmonger who looks at the non-Jewish world supportingly as it is crucified on a cross marked "war" (Krieg).

In this image I see a German on the cross, supposedly being crusified, while a Jew is looking at him and smiling. This was written by a German so of course this might be a bit mis-leading. In this image I see hatred between the 2 races. I think that Philipp Rupprecht put this on the cover page because he wants Germans and German families to see how terrible the Jew's are and how they mistreat the Germans. He wants Germans to think that the Jew's are terrible people and to hate the Jew's is the correct feeling to have against them.

In this image the German is looking really sad while the Jew is looking back at him in a selfish type of way. If I was a German and I saw this image I would be quite angry because the Jew's would be killing us. So of course this is putting a bad look on the Jew's to the Germans. Because of course all of Germany wants to be safe and not killed. This image is definitely going to get Germans to start hating Jew's because it is showing the Jewish Race killing the Germans and over powering them.

Is it right to risk bringing such danger on one's relatives and friends by challenging the forces of law and order?

Is it right to risk bringing such danger on one's relatives and friends by challenging the forces of law and order?

I believe that it is both right, and both wrong to risk danger against on relatives and friends by challenging the forces of law and order. This is a difficult question because there are so many different answers to this questions for both the question being right and wrong. Why I believe that this question is right is because the forces of law and order are very harsh, when you are messing with them, your basically playing with a ball of fire. They control the country and how everything is supposed to go. In the case of "Boy in Striped Pajamas" the Nazi's want the family to go and work at Aushuitz. The Nazi's are very powerful people and you never know if you don't follow their rules and how they want things to go, what might happen to you. So I believe that he was doing what was right for his family in a way, he didn't want the forces to get a hold of him.

The reason why I believe that this is the wrong idea is because, well, the mother in the book was completely correct. This was no place for young kids to grow up. To think that your kids should grow up near a concentration camp is just horrible. Just to think that there are people being tortured, and people are dying there everyday is just really disturbing and to bring your family there is just a horrible thing to do, and I myself would never do, because I would never want my family, or my children to grow up in those surroundings. I believe that this is a dangerous situation, because like exactly what happened in the book, Bruno and most young boy's are adventurous and love playing around and discovering new things. To think that your child would just sit around the house all day for about a year is ridiculous and it's very dangerous because some day he is just going to want to break free, and will go out and explore. It's dangerous to think that if your child explores he might possibly run into the concentration camp and, will want to go in and see what is going on in there. In the book this is exactly what happened, and if the father had thought of the family, and the kids a bit more before he moved there he might not be in that situation.

Treaty of Versaille Fair of Unfair?

‘I am convinced that if this peace is not made on the highest principles of justice, it will be swept away by the peoples of the world in less than a generation.’ Woodrow Wilson

The Treaty of Versaille was established in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson. His goal was to make the world forever at peace and to stop all the war going on between the Germans and the other countries. But and interesting question came up. But was the Treaty of Versaille fair of unfair?

I believe that the Treaty of Versaille was fair. There were only 14 rules but they would be a lot to ask for for a country to do. The country's would really have to work at making peace. If all the countries decided to follow the Treaty of Versaille they world would be a much better place. Yet they didn't. That is another interesting question, Why would some of the countries dissagree to this? Wouldn't most countries and their leaders want a more peaceful place for their people to live in? I think that it was completely fair to everyone, because who wouldn't want the world to be a better place? But there were 14 points, there are only 14 but that is quite hard to follow when you have to make a whole country follow them as well.

President Woodrow I think would really need to think this over because this is a lot to ask from many countries especially Germany at that time. So of course there are going to be many countries that are going to completely disagree because it a lot to ask from them. But coming back to the question. The Treaty of Versaille was fair but hard to follow for some countries and I think that is the reason why some of them didn't sign it.

No Man is an Island

No man is an island entire of itself; every man

is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europeis the less, as well as if a promontory were, aswell as any manner of thy friends or of thineown were; any man's death diminishes me,because I am involved in mankind.And therefore never send to know for whomthe bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

These words by John Donne from the 1624 Meditation 17,

from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions

How do these texts explore similar themes?

I think that the main theme for this piece would be that all men are equal and we are all the same. There is not better man or no worse man. The saying " No Man is and Island" means that no man is isolated and we are all together and are to help each other in whatever we need help with. We are not individuals in the world we are a team, a community, and we are all to help each other. There are so many people in the world who suffer from segregation and cannot receive any help because they are different. This piece of writing tells us that it doesn't matter how different we are, we are all equal and should help each other.

How do the texts provide insight to prejudice and "otherness"?

Well John Donne was saying that every man is equal in the world and no man is greater than another. Because some people in the world believe that they are greater than others and will refuse to help anybody under their status. What John Donne is trying to say is that we are all the same, there is no difference. For example if I cut myself I will bleed, if you cut yourself you will bleed. There is no difference in mankind we are all equal.

Why do people make distinctions between "us" and "them" ?

People make distinctions between "us" and "them" because they are probably jealous, or afraid, or maybe just being cautious with the other "kind". Some people might not want the "others" to take over their power, they might be afraid of losing it. They might be afraid that the "others" are different and may harm them. In the end it just depends on our emotions with the "others" and what we think of them that makes us make distinctions.

What do you believe in?

I think that most of the essays I read were beautiful and touching. I think that each one is special in their own way and they both give us great examples on what to believe in, in life. Each person has a different life and they have different ways of expressing them selves. We all have different beliefs and thats great! But my favorite pretty much out of all of the essays I read would have to have been Tarick McClain.

I think that he's really inspiring, to think that he's just a kindergarden student! Not many kids at that age are thinking about things they believe in, some might but are not as advanced as that! He comes up with great ideas of what he believes in and its just really plain and simple, nothing fancy about it, he just says whats on his mind. Not many kids at that age even know what to believe in, but he has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do and what he strongly believes in.

I think that its amazing for a young kid like him to get out and just tell people stuff like that, because not many do! He seems pretty advanced. I just think that he is a really inspiring person and people should really appreciate the things in life!

Book Art

Book Art, Since most of the Libraries in the UK have shut down due to people not really needing them any more. There has been a mysterious person coming around leaving very unusual yet, beautiful beautiful pieces of art. The person has carved a different image out of each book leaving a special note on each one. The person has left them in Libraries all over the country and each one is very touching and amazing. This person is trying his/her best to keep the libraries open and to get people to read more from them. The libraries really are a wonderful place to express your learning. There are so much books each one matching the different topic you need, we really need to start using them. Because if they shut down, we're not going to have a chance to borrow fantastic books, because in book shops we have to spend money and actually buy them, but libraries you don't!

This person has change pretty much the whole face of libraries, by the touching quote he/she put. It really makes us think how important they are and how we should start using them a lot more. This person has become pretty famous world-wide for his amazing talent of carving different sculptures out of books. It really is truly amazing, and we should learn to appreciate our libraries a lot more!

My Name

Caoimhe. to me that name just looks like a garden filled with lovely pink and purple flowers. Although, when it comes to spelling and pronouncing it, its like a garden full of weeds, and a pond with lots of brown and green water, and even a war between the letters! My name is Irish, its spelt in Gaelic and that’s the way its spelt on my passport. It could be spelt Keeva or Kiva, but I like it the way it is. Everyone who reads my name just stops and says “Okay I need some help here!” or something like that. But I’m kind of used to it now. Its really hard when I try to tell people my name, they’re like “What?! How can that be Caoimhe?!” My usual response is “Its Irish!” and they understand immediatally. I like my name, the way its all complicated, I wouldn’t want an easy name. I like having an interesting name, it describes me, I’m and interesting person.

My parents decided to call me Caoimhe Anne O’Reilly after a lot of hard thought and decision. My mum had a complete different idea than my dad. In the end they thought of the name Caoimhe. They wanted to give me and Irish name so people would know straight away I’m Irish. They loved the sound of my name and thought it was really unique although. I don’t see it all. My parents thought the name Emma, Amelia, and Emer were good and that’s what they were going to call me until they found Caoimhe. For short my parents call me Iva, but not in school because that’s my friends sisters name. The name Caoimhe means gentle, beautiful and precious.

Sometimes I wonder do I really match the personality of my name? Well I’m gentle sometimes, I don’t know about precious and beautiful though, I guess that’s what other people are meant to notice, not me, because then I would sound full of myself. Caoimhe is a really eye catching name, like looking at all of these black horses and suddenly you see a grey, you kind of look at it for a while and think “Why is that there?” Caoimhe is the type of name you have to get used to, its like riding boots, you have to get used to the shape to be able to ride easily. Because so many people get it wrong, I could go on and on about all the people who have attempted to spell my name correctly, but not one so far has gotten it correct. There has been only one person who looked at my name and could say it straight away, and that was a random shop keeper in Ireland, well because he’s Irish I guess he has an advantage.

In fact, now that I have written about my name, and described it, I kind of like it. I’ve always hated my name, but now I kind of see it differently. I like how people can look at my name, and know instantly that I’m not and ordinary person, because I’m not. I am Caoimhe, and I’m proud!

Me in 3 objects

A big black and white pony, getting on a huge airplane, traveling from Gloscestshire, England to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Yes that ponies mine, my very own pony. I had just come home from school, when my mum said to me “ The money has been transferred and Joy is now ours!” Joy was our ponies name. Finally I had my very own pony! I was so excited! Something I have always wanted is now mine, like really mine! I was so ex-static! There are no words for how happy I am! I just can’t believe it! My pony is originally from Ireland and was moved to England 2 years ago.

My second picture was with me and my first place rosette that I won when I was on one of my school horses Looie! I loved Looie to death! Now I’ve moved onto someone bigger called Delight. But anyways lets get back to the subject. It was the day of the competition and I was really excited and nervous at the same time. I was about to go into the arena to do my dressage test, I was getting so nervous, because I was so nervous because I was competing against like 20 people most were pro riders! I was going into the arena and was getting really nervous and excited, but I was scared I would forget my test! I said quietly to Looie “ Lets do this Looie and show them what we’re made of!” I’m very competitive and I do not like losing at all! I had done my dressage test, but was really nervous to see what I had gotten. Finally the judge was giving out the rosettes, my name wasn’t being called for anything. The first thing that shot to my head was I hadn’t won anything at all! But then she said “ In first place, Caoimhe O’Reilly, Riding for Bukit Kiara on Looie!” I was so delighted hearing people clapping for me! I was so chuffed with myself and my pony! Its definitely a day I’ll never forget!

These are another few objects that describe me. I am a Roman Catholic and I pray every night before I go to bed and I go to Church. Religion to me is very important. I like to keep my religion important in my life because I feel that God has given us so much in this world and I feel so lucky to have what I have that I really have to thank him back for all he has given us. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that someones really up there looking down on us, but then I think, well you know who else is going to be up there and how else will the world have started? My dad keeps me going because he is always going on and on about how Religion is so important in this world. Yes it really is now that I think about it and I’m older and more mature than I was a couple years ago. Also when I’m having a bad day, or I want things to go right I add that in my prayers at night time and ask God to help me and lead me in the the right direction. He has always answered my prayers, so the least I can do for him would be to thank him by doing what he asks.

I like to call her my “Blonde cutie!” or “ My little gorgeous pup!” and yes, she’s mine, all mine! This is my blonde puppy Cassie, she’s really 3 but I like to call her a pup! I’ve had Cassie for at least 3 years now, and I remember the exact day we got her! We had seen her in a pet shop window for 6 months, she was no longer a puppy so nobody wanted her (except me of course!) I just felt so bad for her, and I wanted her so badly, that my mum took my dad out to get her for me as a surprise. My parents left me and my sister at home with our maid Divina, they came in through the door, and I walked down the stairs with a sad face to make them see that I was upset we hadn’t gotten her. But then I looked up and saw my dad with Cassie on his lap. “ Oh my gosh, You got her!” I was so happy I started crying my eyes out. I’ll never forget the day I got my precious puppy Cassie.

Then there is Fly, Fly is a German Short-Haired pointer and is the sweetest dog you’ll ever meet. We’ve had fly before I was even born! She is 13 now, and I’ve known her my whole entire life! Fly had become my older sister now and always looks out for me. She is the most precious thing in my life right now because she’s becoming old and she’s starting to slow down. But there are always times when she just wants to play around and have fun. I always loved that dog, and I will never ever forget her, just like all my animals. I love them all! I’m a very caring person when it comes to animals as you can see!

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

These are just some of the few famous quotes that Walt Disney has said. I bet you your wondering why I chose to have that as my new title. Well because its a true fact in life. My dream was to have a horse, I got one a couple of days ago. My new dream is to become a professional rider and enter the Olympics for Ireland. ( For horse-riding) Yeah its a pretty big dream, and this quote definitely gives me confidence that i'll get there someday. Just when he says, "If we have the courage to pursue them." It makes me want it even more, I get courage because I know how bad I want it. This quote just makes me feel like I can do anything, and that nobody can stop me. Just by the words he uses, how he uses them definitely makes me want it more. I find this quote really interesting and helpful in life. Because well, it gives you confidence, and courage, because well everyone wants their dream. I just find this quote really helpful and makes me more determined.

Grade 6 Reflection

This year in 6th grade I've had so much fun getting to go all around middle school and learning different things. Its nice to finally get out of the school you've been in for 4 years and change to something new. I feel so much more free from how I did last year. Last year we had to get lunch from trays, stay in one classroom, have one teacher, etc. This year we have like 7 different teachers and classrooms, we get to buy our lunch from the different shops, etc. It was really confusing at first but after that first week I had gotten the hang of it and finally realized this was the school I was going to be in for at least another 6 years ( unless we move ) . These are some of my thoughts on how 6th grade has gone for me and how i'm ready to move on to 7th grade.

1. What piece of work and learning are you most proud? Explain

This year I think that I did a really good job on my Egyptian unit. This was probably one of our biggest units this year and we had a huge test at the end of it. In this unit we had to make a Imovie about a very important person in Egypt with a partner, and we also had to create 3 diary entries to create a diary. When we were creating the diary we each got a character that fell under one of Egypt's social classes. I got a Musician, which fell under Artisans. This meant that I would have to write my whole 3 diary entries in the point of view of an Ancient Musician. This of course meant that we had to do a lot of research on our character. I had to find out what a ancient Musician did, how they lived, what they would do when they were not at work, etc. For each diary entry we had a theme like one was the Nile River the other one was Amulet, etc.

2. What were your greatest challenges? Explain.

This year I think that my biggest challenge was definitely getting my homework in on time. It wasn't really a challenge its just something I kind of left till last minute and it became a challenge. I tend to leave things last minute because, well, I want free time. But this is always a huge mistake because in the end I end up turning all my homework in late and getting bad grade on my tests. I think that I don't have a lot of homework but I leave it till last minute and then it is a lot of homework. Then I rush through it to try and get it done so that I will have it done by tomorrow. But that never helps because I then end up with half of the questions wrong.

3. Reflecting on your growth this year, what did you learn about yourself as a learner?

I think that something I learned about myself this year was since we are doing a lot more group projects that I can get annoyed if people aren't doing what I want them to do. I would normally not show it but sometimes you can see on my face that I'm not happy with what I am doing or what we are doing. I also learned that I can get a bit bossy sometimes and will make other people do what I want them to do. Mainly because I want to get my work done and express my ideas. What I need to remember is that its other peoples projects as well and they want their ideas going into it too. I think that I kind of take over the whole project when I want to. I'll be like " Okay I have a great Idea! We could do..... I think that we should!" Sometimes I kind of feel like the project is all about me. I definitely for next year have to stop being bossy!

4. To evaluate your work habits, choose 1 of the following from each category ( and provide explanations):

a) Behavior

Could be improved
Satisfactory
Perfect - the model student

Explanation: I think in class I behave well and will listen. Sometimes I can go out of my focus mode and act silly, so I think that best way to put that would be Satisfactory.

b) Participation

None
Satisfactory
Actively participate in class

Explanation: In class I always try to share my ideas and I'm not shy to say what I want. I think that I am engaged when the teacher is talking and I am Actively Participating in class.

c) Organization

Needs serious help
Satisfactory
I'm super organized

Explanation: I always have my stuff whenever there is a class. I do not tend to forget my stuff and whenever the teacher asks for things that we have to use I always make sure I have them.

d) Effort

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

Explanation: Whenever I do projects and worksheets and things like that I always try to put in as much effort as I can. I don't put that much in but I wouldn't say I need serious help.

5. Based upon your reflections, write two personal learning goals for Grade 7 next year.

Goal 1 - In Grade 7, I plan to stay more focused in class and not goof around with the other students. I want to know what I have to do and do it well. This year whenever the teacher is talking sometimes I will be laughing with my friends and when he/she is finished I will have no idea what to do. So in 7th grade I plan to focus more and be more engaged with the teacher and my work.


Goal 2 - In Grade 7, I plan to get all my homework and projects finished before they are due. This year I left some of my projects till last minute and have gotten bad grades on them. Next year I plan to get all my work done before its due so that I can get a better grade and have more free time.

6.Is there any more information about yourself that you would like the teachers to know?

There is nothing that I really need the teachers to know, but I do like doing projects that I can like create things, like posters and stuff like that. I also like using electronic devices such as the laptops. I think that it is an easier way to get my work done and it also for me is a lot of fun. I love doing projects because I get to learn so many new things and work with so many different people.

7. What was your favorite activity lesson in Humanities this year? What did you enjoy about it?

This would probably be the Tic - Tac - Toe. I loved doing the this project because we got to work with out best friends and it was a lot of fun. You had to work and best of all it was with our friends. I thought that it was a great opportunity to test our work habits to the max. Maybe because when you join up with friends you usually goof off and stuff. But when you doing a project its time to work and not be silly. I think that its really great because you get to put fun into you learning and it really shows when you present your project.

8. What activity do you wish we could have spent more time on?

I wish that we could have spent more time on maybe on our Tic-Tac-Toe. Maybe because I thought that it was the best project that we ever did. I really enjoyed getting to work with my friends and getting a pretty good grade on it. I had a really good time and wish that there was more to it than just 3 projects. I had such a good time and it was one of my most favorite projects.

9. Finally, cast your minds back to the first few months of middle school (when you arrived in Grade 6 ) what "Words of Wisdom" or "Advice" could you pass on to the Class of 2018?

Maybe that you should always keep a positive attitude when your doing your work and Socially. This will help you enjoy your work and well hopefully keep you out of fights with friends. Also just go with it. When a teacher tells you there's going to be a test don't stress just relax and got with it. Thats what I did and i'm having such a good year in Middle School so far!

Letter from Will

Dear, My family and People of Wherton

I am so sorry for leaving you without you knowing. I really couldn't help it! I couldn't be capped! I just couldn't! I have thought about this for a while now I really couldn't take it! So I met this man called Ozymandias he told me where I would be safe from all this. Of course I was deep into this and I wanted to know. He told me that there as a place called the White Mountains. He told me that I could escape all of this just by going there, so sure enough I had begun my journey. I couldn't tell anyone because you would all keep me from going so I basically ran away. But someone stopped me on the way I turned around to find out that it was Henry. He wanted to come with me because he wanted to escape the Tripods. So we left and began our long journey. We met a person called Beanpole, he was a really nice Character and had helped us with shortcuts and places we could stay. We stopped in one place, it was an old city in France. There were many little abandoned shops and I found some bomb like objects I thought would be useful and a watch so I kept them. One day I had separated from them and woke up in a beautiful castle in France. I met a beautiful girl called Eloise. Sure enough I had fallen in love with her, only to find out she had been capped and had to go and serve the tripods. I was truly heart broken.

This taught me so much about Society and Life. I've learned that you really have to stay focused and work hard. I'm mainly saying this because Eloise had distracted me a lot from what I was meant to be doing. Society well, you have to trust some people and others not, you really have to know who your trusting. I trusted good people so nothing bad happened to me. It's just made me really think about it. I really miss you all and can't wait to see you again. I'm really sorry and I love you all.

Sincerely,

Will

How does chapter 6 express freedom?

Well this first paragraph is going to be on the quote that was on Mr.Thomas's blog. From reading this thinking of freedom is quite easy for me. I think that this expresses freedom because well being capped seems to be a way of life there and they are used to it. Its kind of like well school for us its a way of life when you finish elementary then you go onto middle. With them when you finish being a child you move on to becoming a man or a lady. I guess well this is freedom for them. This means no more school and well you're and adult you can do your own things in life. This for them is happiness and I guess well happiness and freedom are 2 different things but well its the way that they live and this is freedom for them I guess. They are happy to be doing it and they know whats going to happen and what they are going to have to do. Also when he says "All the spirit and Gallantry was being wasted." well probably because this would lead to the exact opposite of freedom and peace and thats all you want. You don't want there to be war and people telling you what to do you want to be free so that is why they are just doing what they are meant to be doing get capped. This is good because they are getting what they need and after that they are done and its over and everything will be okay.

Another reason ( now this will relate to everything in chapter 6 ) well it says that they did not want boys to run away and there was a war once and they didn't like it at all. So they decided to just do what they were meant to do. Hopefully they would get used to it and that would turn into freedom for them. Women had some right not all and men were meant to stay strong and courageous. This would then not lead into any trouble. In this chapter it also shows there way of living and what they would do in there normal days. It showed that as I said before the rights and what people had to do. Boys again were not allowed run away from home as it was not accepted with the villagers. They wanted people to have spirit and courage. As it said in the book when a boy ran away from home it was counted as spirit in believing what was right to do and what was best for you. Wars were not allowed there was once and that led to so much trouble they decided that it was not allowed to ever have on again. This was definitely much more peaceful for the society but yet again we are talking about freedom and this well it did help people have freedom because well wars are mainly about freedom. With wars you are not allowed to do things and to go were you want you are stopped from these things. So without them it is a big help.