I Write To...

I write to think. If there is something on my mind that is stressing me out, I write about it to calm myself down. Writing helps me think rationally about a problem I may be facing. When I write about something that is bothering me, I am able to think about it in a different way. Seeing something written on paper or on a Word document make it seem less extreme and allows me to think about it more rationally. Once I have my problem written out, I allow myself to think about possible solutions. Sometimes, thinking about solutions in my head is not enough, and I need to see it on paper so that the solutions feel more accessible or real. Writing has often allowed me to open up my mind and think more profoundly about various things.

A Reflection...

This is a personal reflection about my experiences reading and responding to my classmates' blogs.

Through visiting the blogs of my classmates and reading their posts concerning their definitions of education, their views on the importance of teaching English literature, and their favourite books and authors, I was able to develop a better understanding of my classmates and their personal writing styles. I found that I agreed with their views and thoughts concerning the topics we have studied as a class. Many of their posts were similar, or contained a similar message, to my own thoughts and ideas that I have posted about in my own blog. It was also interesting to read about my classmates' favourite novels and the small moments that they remember from the stories. I found that many of my classmates have enjoyed "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, which is one of my favourite books. I was also able to reminisce about the stories I've read in my English classes after reading about the stories that have resonated with my classmates. Overall, I found this activity helpful as I found posts on my classmates' blogs that supported my own ideas and strengthened them.

"One-Size-Fits-All" Curriculum

This post is in response to the following video about a second grade teacher who is fed up with his elementary school's 'One-Size-Fits-All' curriculum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBSgchJe2Z0

Stephen Round, the dissatisfied teacher who has decided to stop teaching at his elementary school, is reading his resignation letter to the Human Resources Department, but also to anyone else who is watching in order to get his point across. Round believes that an education that is "rewarding and enjoyable" is the most important thing for growing students. However, Round had found that students are being repressed socially and that things have gotten so out of hand that other teachers are actually bargaining with their restless students in order to get them to behave. It is clear that Round is passionate about what he is saying, through the way he enunciates each word and uses repetition in his speech. The fact that he also uses the real names of people instead of keeping things anonymous shows that he is truly looking for change and will try to achieve it through whatever means necessary.

I definitely agree with Stephen Round when he says that schools are teaching students how to become good "test-takers" instead of trying to enrich their minds. It seems that the main priority of many schools is to prepare their students for their future workplaces, which does not leave very much room for students to be able to express themselves in their studies, such as through creative English classes and other forms of art. Whenever Round would use the word 'learning' in his speech, he would use air quotations. I agree with Round's unwillingness to use the word 'learning' because schools are focusing less on learning and more on preparation for the outside world when it comes to their students. If more people like Stephen Round are able to share their messages and views on the school system, more awareness will be raised, which hopefully will lead to schools reconsidering their "one-size-fits-all" curriculums.

Stories That Have Stayed With Me

I first read Bridge To Terabithia in Grade 5 and the story has stayed with me ever since. The friendship between the two main characters, Jesse and Leslie, has been one of the strongest friendships that I have ever read about between characters. Travelling with the pair to Terabithia and experiencing what they experienced through their imaginations was always enjoyable for me as I read the novel back then. I felt as if I was one of the characters in the story because the book was written in so much detail; the author created a clear image in her readers’ minds. Leslie’s sudden and unexpected death left me shocked and I felt sadness for her and her best friend, Jesse. Bridge To Terabithia was one of the first books that truly touched me and that I thoroughly enjoyed reading in class.

            
Similarly, The Five People You Meet In Heaven was also a book that stood out to me when I read it in Grade 7. The main character, Eddie was not particularly special to me at the beginning of the novel, but as his story was told and his character was developed, I connected with his character and with the five people from his past that he encountered on his way to Heaven. The readers did not know anything about Eddie’s life at the beginning of the story but as his past was brought up on his way to the afterlife, the readers were able to understand him and feel compassion towards him and the brave things he had done.

Lastly, The Road was a novel that I will always remember due to its style and overall message. I had never studied a book before that did not include proper punctuation or grammar so reading a book like The Road was different and I soon became accustomed to the author’s writing style. I believe that I was so drawn to The Road because it truly delivered the message that love surpasses everything. As the man and his son travelled through the post-apocalyptic world, desperately trying to survive, their bond grew stronger and the love that they shared grew more powerful every day. The readers also felt the same pain that was felt by the son when his father ultimately died and they were forced to part. However, the readers understood that the bond formed between the two characters would never be broken.

I Am From... Books

This poem is about the special moments I remember from seven of my favourite books.

             I am from a craving for novels and stories,

                              a terrifying headmistress always maintaining discipline,

                              a beautiful teacher with a voice as smooth as honey,

                              and a very unique and special talent.

             I am from Mormon handcart pioneers,

                              stolen childhood,

                              holding her trembling body for the first time,

               and accepting the fact that I eventually have to let her go.

            I am from refused kisses,

                              harboring innocent fugitives,

                              the singed book that I managed to save from the fire,

                              and losing everything I have ever loved to Death.

I am from the constant drizzle of rain,

                 the shiny, silver Volvo, gliding through the streets

                 the colour of topaz in his eyes,

                 and the crescent shaped bite mark that sparkles in the sunlight

I am from the past, present, and future,

                the dates he promised to appear carefully written into a diary,

                the perfect baby girl after six miscarriages,

                and always being left behind.

I am from the bicycle charm with wheels that actually spin,

                 flamboyant yellow bellbottoms,

                 the sinkhole where he disposed of my body,

                 and waiting patiently until the truth is revealed.

I am from a family that is absolutely mad,

        the ace gang, who is always there when I need a laugh,

         my part Scottish wildcat who always seems to be getting into trouble,      

         and choosing between my first love, the intriguing foreigner, and my best friend.

Small Moments

English classes have undoubtedly helped me to understand the meanings and themes in novels, plays, and short stories. Small moments that may have been missed in the pieces of literature were discovered and analyzed through discussions in English class. Small moments that I remember from the novels, plays, and short stories that I have read over the years in my English classes will stay with me forever.

Bridge To Terabithia

-       The rope swing Jess and Leslie use to cross the river and enter Terabithia

-       The art set Jess received for his birthday

-       Jess’ need to run faster than everyone else, especially girls

-       Leslie discovering that the school bully was being abused by her father, which was the underlying reason for her actions.

-       Jess’ crush on his music teacher and their trip to the art museum.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

-       The amusement park Eddie worked at before his death

-       The stones Eddie used to wash off the burns from the little girl’s skin

-       The house on fire where Eddie thought he saw the silhouette of a girl but he never went to help her

The Road

-       The shopping cart the man and his son would put their various items in

-       The basement the man and his son found filled with prisoners for the cannibals to eat

-       The loaded gun with only one bullet left that they would carry in case they were ever captured and they needed to kill themselves in order to escape from a terrible death

-       The beach the man and his son visited and how happy the son was to finally see the ocean

-       The Coca Cola can that the man found and gave to his son for a treat

The Lottery

-       The slip of white paper with the black dot that marked the person who would get stoned

-       The beat up box where all of the slips of paper were held

-       The pile of stones that the kids were creating

The Importance Of English

In my high school, I have been asked to read a variety of different novels, plays, and texts in my English classes. The novels that I remember reading from those classes include Bridge To Terabithia, Lost In The Barrens, The Giver, The Five People You Meet In Heaven, Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Catcher In The Rye, The Road, and The Reader. The plays that I remember reading include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo And Juliet, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Inherit The Wind, The Shape Of A Girl, and Death Of A Salesman. The short stories that I studied include The Lottery, Message From The Pigman, and many other pieces. The novels that I have read in English class seem to stand out when compared to the other plays and texts that I have studied. The novels that stand out most vividly are Bridge To Terabithia, The Five People You Meet In Heaven, and The Road.

Through these English classes, I came across amazing books and stories that I would never have even considered reading on my own. I was also able to analyze the stories and their components (such as characters, themes, setting, etc.) in order to better understand what the author was trying to convey. If I were not asked to do this in English class, I would have simply read the words on the paper without truly wondering what the message behind the words were. English class has also improved my writing and grammar through practicing essay and story writing and seminars. I would not be at the same level of understanding of the English language that I am at now without the help and guidance of the English courses and my English teachers. Therefore, even if a student is not interested in pursuing a career that is related to literature or writing, English is still a necessary part of their learning experience (at least in high school) if they wish to reach their full potential in other aspects of their lives. No matter what someone wants to do in the future, they need to have a basic understanding of the English language and how to use it during conversations and in their other studies. The mandatory English courses taken in high school prepares students for the higher level of their education by ensuring that they will have an understanding of grammar, writing, and literature, which will undoubtedly help them in whatever path that they choose to take for their futures.