Picture Poem- "The Big Game"

Today was the day.

The big championship game.

The Mustangs are playing GBS

They’re down two points.

They can tie with a layup or

Take the lead with a three

They can play it smart

Or take the lead

10 seconds left.

It’s Over Time now

He gets the ball

He dribbles fast down the court it makes people say wow.

He crosses one defender than another

He goes to the three pointer and shoots now

It looks like it’s good

It rises up and up

Then you hear the sound of iron

changing both the teams mood

Then it bounces out as the buzzer is heard

Game Over

Global Collaboration- Final Draft

       My level of global awareness was low before 7th grade. I didn't really explore, I just hear of events on the radio and the news. However, all I hear about involves wars, killing, bombing, etc. It's very depressing to hear  all of those things, and I wish they told some good news for once. I think I started getting interested in world news during the World Cup. Seeing all those different cultures and religions in one place was beautiful. However, it could've been dangerous because they could dislike each other.

      My collaboration with the Indian and Swedish pen pals put two more cultures in my global awareness. I learned how they talk, where they go to school,and what religions they were. I also learned different games and different types of food they have. I got to see what their school was like and how they learn. Sweden has a different process from Heritage. They don't have the 1:1 program. India also doesn’t have computers. Instead they have study rooms and have different books for each subject.

    The perspective I had on other cultures has changed throughout this project. I thought, since we had computers that they would also have them. They have similar activities as us, but different believes. In India, they have different types of dances and a school team for the game Khoo-Khoo. In America, Khoo Khoo is tag. Therefore, I thought it was weird they had a school team for it.

   The most shocking thing I saw, was from the Swedish group. They have such a big school. They have all types of playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields and stuff like that. Their cafeteria is huge. They sometimes get to choose what they want the cooks to make for them! Although, as I mentioned before, they don't have the 1:1 program. That means they don’t have computers to take home. This project is  fun, and I hope to find more interesting facts about these kids.

The Thief Lord

February 26, 2015

Prompt:  One character I least liked, One word I didn't know, and What character I liked best

                   The character I least like is Esther. She is the aunt of Prosper and Bo. She wants a detective to find Prosper and Bo just to separate them. She talks bad about Prosper right in front of Bo. I think the only thing she is good for is nagging! Esther must always get her way no matter what it is.  She gets an attitude with the detective but then cries when she can’t find Bo.  I don’t think she has the ability to raise a child. I hope she doesn’t get custody of Bo.

                     A character I like the most is Victor. He’s a detective, but he’s really funny. He has many different disguises and has two pet turtles. The reason I like him, is because he changed his perspective of the kids. He helps the group along with Ida Spavento. The kids love him like a father. Even though they had some hard times, they get along very well. He protects the kids and provides them with snacks.  He started as a villain, but is ending like an allie. 

                    One word I didn't understand was diabolical on page 208. I thought it meant evil or bad. The sentence it was in was  "Bo would throw a diabolical fuss if he found out the others where meeting the Conte." After I re-read that sentence I thought it meant annoying or irritating. As you can see, I had different choices to choose from. Before I looked it up I wanted to make one more shot. I couldn't think of anything so I just stuck with my two guesses. After all of that I looked it up in the dictionary. It means so evil to recall the Devil. Therefore my first guest was the closes.

Global Collaboration Project 2-20-15

        My level of global awareness was low before 7th grade. I didn't really explore, I just heard  to things on the radio and the news. However, all I hear is wars, killing, bombing, etc. It's very depressing to here all of those things, and I wish they told some good news for once. I think I started getting interested in world news during the World Cup. Seeing all those different cultures and religions in one place was beautiful, but it could've been dangerous because they could dis-like each other.


       My collaboration with the Indian and Swedish pen pals put two more cultures in my global awareness. I got to learn how they talk, where they go to school, what religions they were. I also saw the different games and different food. I got to see what thier school was like and how they learn. Sweden had a different process from Heritage. They don't have the 1:1 program. Same for India, they have books instead of computers.


    The perspective I had on other cultures has changed through this project. I thought, since we had computers, I thought these kids would have computers as well. They have similar activities but different believes. In India they have different dances and a school team for the game Khoo-Khoo. To America, it's what we call tag.

   The most shocking thing I saw was from the Swedish group. They have such a big school and all types of playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields and stuff like that. There cafeteria is huge. They sometimes get to choose what they want the cooks to make for them. Although as I mentioned before, they don't have computers. This project should be fun and I hope to find more interesting facts about these kids.
 

The Thief Lord

February 19th
Prompt: Letter to a character from a friend.





             Dear Prosper,

                                  Hey Prosper, I'm okay. But I miss you, I don't like being with Ester. Will you come and get me? I miss all the others. How are my kittens doing? Are you guys feeding it and giving it it's baths? I miss that old movie theatre.  It was nice and cozy, and it felt like home. I miss Mosca's cooking. Were's the snoop?  Is he the one who gave away our hideout?  Hehehe, he's still funny though. I miss all you guys.

                                  Even though Ester says I cant right to you, I do it anyways. How's Scip? Is he our friend again?  I want to see him again, he's really cool. Prosper, why did all of this happen? Will you please come get me? I miss all of the group. I don't like Ester. Even though I feel angry with you I want to see you. You've protected me ever since we came to Venice. I want to say thank you and I love you.

                                When you come get me, will we still live at the theater? Probably not right? Well I'm going to miss it. But were are we going to live then? Will we have to leave Venice for good? I have so many questions to ask. Don't get caught by Ester though. She is still threatening to send you to a private school. So please be very careful, or she will send you away forever.


                                                                                                     Sincerely,
                                                                                                           Bo

Poetry Reflection

2/17/15

Holding Court

By Jacob Saenz

Today I became King

of the Court w/out a diamond-

encrusted crown thrust upon

my sweaty head. Instead

my markings of royalty

were the t-shirt draping

my body like a robe soaked

in champagne & the pain

in my right knee — a sign

of a battle endured, my will

tested & bested by none

as the ball flew off my hands

as swift as an arrow toward

the heart of a target — my fingers

ringless yet feeling like gold

This is a poem about basketball, my favorite sport. It connects to me in so many ways because I love the sport. I have not yet been crowned a champion, but I’m working hard to make it. Our Heritage basketball team failed last year. It was a depressing lost. This poem made me remember how that feeling was, to loose our championship chance by 3 points.

I think it will connect to anyone who truly loves basketball. For the kids that work hard, practice and practice. One of the most important ones I recommend this to are the ones who strive for greatness. Not just people who play the sport, but they must love the sport. Although, people who want to love the sport, this could inspire them.

The Thief Lord

Blog for 2-9

Prompt:What are some things you do when you don’t understand what you’re reading? What are two emotions the main character has felt? What made the main

character feel that way?What have you learned about life from what you’re reading?

        When I don't understand what I'm reading I do a few different things.  I re-read the paragraph I just read. Then I will think about it, try to understand what I read.  I'll ask myself what is the main idea of this passage. I'll see what words I don't understand and look them up. After all that and I still don't understand, I ask for help. Then if the help doesn't work, then I change my reading material.
        

        Two emotions Prosper (the main character) felt anger and depression. Scippio had betrayed the whole group. He had lied and said he was a big time thief. He basically told them stories that were all lies. Therefore not just Prosper, but everyone felt anger and depression. Now, the group denies Scippio of everything. He doesn't even get anymore money.


        I learned to enjoy all things I get. Even the little things. Some kids don't get nice and warm clothes on their backs. Or they don't have parents to look out for them when they hurt themselves.  Some kids are very ungrateful, because kids across the world would trade spots with me in a heartbeat.