Naturally a Leader Would...

There are many qualities that a leader should have to positively inspire a group, tribe, family etc. Personality of a person can greatly influence characteristics of a leader; some might say you are born a leader. Leaders know all the different perspectives of his followers and understands what they need to function.

In some situations leaders need to stay calm so his/her followers don’t also panic, such as in the pilot episode of LOST, Jack restrains himself from panicking. An example of leadership where it’s not a matter of life and death would be a leader of a stringed quartet. The leader must demonstrate three qualities, reverence, zeal, and punctuality. This type of leadership is more organized. I believe these three qualities are extremely important to having a successful music group. Reverence is the passion, and the attitude of playing the instrument. If a leader shows this, players also follow the lead. Zeal is the work ethic of the group. Once again if the leader pushes his followers to repeat their dynamics, they can perfectly function and tackle ay piece written. Punctuality is mostly playing the instrument without flaw, leaders must show skill. I can relate to the followers in the musical perspective more than the survival situation. I think I have some characteristics of a leader, but I rather stray from telling people what to do. Naturally, I’m a follower.

Childhood

Some of my fondest memories when I was a young lad was snuggling in bed and having my mom read me stories. There were a variety of books an enjoyed, but the most memorable books were "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. Short story books were great and all, as my mother said, she much rather read an adventurous meaningful chapter book that would last longer than a ten-page book. I think my mom was afraid to read the same book every night to me as a regular routine.

I loved listening to my moms voice tell the story, any other person even attempting to read a story wasn’t as satisfying as her significant ability. Its not that the story itself made me think, it was the words she was saying. Words I didn’t understand she would explain to me in a way id understand. She’d say the word and id answer back. She would use the word in a sentence and I would understand it maybe a little bit but I felt as though I was growing up. Learning how grown adults talked. That’s what I remember the most about childhood stories. Often time I wish she would still read to me the way she used to.

-Technological-

Oh technology, what would we ever do with out it. Life would seem to drag on longer without all the quick shortcuts my young generation is capable of discovering. After hearing many stories from my parents and grandparents it is clear that research and learning is more accessible thanks to computers and other communication devices. I cannot think of going through middle school or high school with out quickly "googling" my questions. Not having the ability to surf the word wide Internet, or chat with my friends would be a missing chunk of my everyday life.

As the years go by almost every thing we ever do is based around new ideas and efficiency, the search to making life easier. Even though we can benefit from the positive, we are loosing touch with the three dimensional world. People walk down the street totally immersed and unaware of everything around them. Most kids can’t stay in one spot and look at the natural environment and appreciate the beauty. Those who cannot are living with there eyes glued to the screens. I feel as though this will negatively affect us humans, and slowly cut the face to face communication.

Final Blog! I Didn't Forget it! Woo!

Wow, when Mrs. Gilman suggested that we would be writing on an online blog, i wasn't to excited. After this long year, i think i finally see the point and meaning of these blogs. To share our writing with our classmates as well as reflecting on our learning styles in class on specific things. While reading all of my blogs i realize that some blogs i put a lot of effort in them, and some not so much. Easily my favorite types of blogs were the ones that didn't have to be super long on some random topic. Such as the first post we ever wrote. I feel as though my ideas on locations for reading a book have not changed. I still need complete silence to soak the book up and completely understand it. Yet, if your crunched for time, going back isn't always the best method of approach. Annotations help better than going back. The first book i annotated this year was Treasure Island. It was an epic book. I loved it! As Mara would say, "Its in-fricken-sane!". Well, it wasn't that good. While Treasure Island was one of the better books i have read this year, i cannot say it was 100% perfect. While you'd be reading it you always had to look up words they'd say because you have no clue what the pirates mean. I know it sounds whiney but its the truth. While reading my past blogs i laughed the most at this post, "Memory Lane". I can still imagine the house boating trip in my mind 11 years ago. My skin just hurts thinking about it. I absolutely hate sun burns. My mom taught me a very valuable lesson in a some what mean way. "Madison, hold still dammit!" Oh mom, Love you. My favorite blog was the best friend blog post. Of course i wrote about the best topic, Parker Newman, what a character. The day after the blog was posted i just decided to follow him around after second period and follow him around to what he'd do. Im such a genius! Best blog. Another blog about life lessons was a memorable blog. I feel like such an idiot that i was a gossip queen when i was little. The next post was the first blog primarily looking at motif. This was an important blog because it helped me, and probably other student understand the importance of motif. Now i can identify motif with ease. Even though it can be hard. I don't really like it. i can do it though, no worries! To Kill a Mocking Bird was a great book to teach motif because it was so obvious. Then along came poetry out loud. One of my favorite things in english. I love reciting it because its fun! We were given the opportunity to watch some videos of kids preforming the poems. It was amazing how talented some the kids were. One girl did a poem that was as long as a short story. i can't believe how good she was. She cried mid poem. That really shows you that she was effected by it. My jaw dropped, but it also gave me the confidence to achieve on my own poetry out loud reciting. The next post was my Animal Farm project, an epic poem. I obviously panicked about the project because i hadn't started it on time and rushed through the whole thing. Not a good way of doing a final project kids! I'm ashamed of the poem. Please don't shun me Mrs. Gilman, i tried. 2o10 blog, new year resolution. I feel as though my excitement for reading has probably decreased since that time. I'm very tired of all the work in my classes and would like a break. Reading a book right now would be suicide, but i'm forced to read one now and its short. So i think i am fine with that. I'm sure this summer i'll get excited about reading again! In a quiet place of course. I think the victorian age project was a good preview to our final this year. It's seems like the blog post could help me think about the questions and attitude i should have for my upcoming final. Glad we had that one! The group essay blog was not fun. On top of all the essay writing we had to do, we had a blog. It wasn't the best, but i endured it. Yet another blog reflecting our writing abilities. Next came Great Expectations. I'd like to take a second of your time reading this and award GE the most boring book in history. The blogs where other students answer were helpful blogs i think. Getting input from other piers is sometimes better then the teacher. Then we got to do skits on the most boring book in history! Woo, Mara's skit was the best thing id ever seen, she pretended to be on fire. I loved it. The blog was all about finding the best scenes to preform, i said the scene when Mrs. Havisham catches fire, go mara! Its fair to say i have the best second period of anyone! Another post we had was a reflection on our year,i only have good things to say about my class. At the end of that post i whine about motif some more. After we had been reading Romeo and Juliet a while we had to find some modern day arts referencing the book. I found a song by the Killers called "Romeo and Juliet". The most fun R+J blog was writing about your zodiac sign and telling how Romeo relies on the stars to know what to do. I enjoyed this blog because i got to find things about myself that i never knew. The last two blogs this year were about our summer reading list and a reflection on how we have increased our essay writing abilities. I feel as thought i can write a kick ass essay. Mrs. Gilman you have made an influence on me, thankyou! Your an awesome teacher! As my Dad always says, "the tassel is worth the hassle!" Honors rocks!

Essay Anyone?

This year i feel as though my essay writing skills have increased rapidly. In honors english we have learned many techniques to writing a good essay. It has been a lot of hard work, but it has been worth the knowledge learned. I think literary techniques such as symbolism is beneficial when it comes to understanding novels and or plays.

My essay could use some work. My conclusion is not "beefy" enough and needs a stronger ending. This weekend i"m mostly going to be focussing on my conclusion. My paper right now is a "B" grade, but after this weekend, it'll be a big fat "A"!

Books Anyone?

There are several books i am excited to read this summer. Two to be exact, The Shack by William young. My dad recommended this book to me because he said id enjoy this book way more than any other book i have ever read. The other book was recommended from my cousin mark, Keeper by Mal Peet. This book is about a young boy growing up in poverty who struggles on society, but he becomes one of the greatest goalies in the world. Im reading this book first!

Pisces. Fate. Epic.

My birthday was March second, 1995.

My zodiac sign is called "Pisces", witch look like to fish.

The astrology on my birthday is to suggest that "a Pisces born on March 2 has a perception that borders on genius. Although they may seem to clear everything through intellectual channels, they are really exercising psychic sensitivity. Most major life decisions are made this way. They are gentle souls who may lack self-confidence. This is unfortunate because they have many talents." I don't fully agree with all of that, but if the stars say read it, then it must be correct. I would not say I'm a genius but i am fairly intelligent when it comes to common sense. I do have many talents, and i hope to gain more as my life progresses. As a freshman in high school i feel as though i have a lot of self confidence. Astrology has also suggested that i have nervous ailments which deprive me of sleep. I can relate to that for sure. If something is bothering me, or i'm nervous for something coming up, i loose sleep.

No matter what the stars say, or how much Romeo relies on the stars and fate to interpret his fate, i believe that my zodiac sign relates to me and that i am who i am, and its not going to change.

R&J Culture Shock!

The Killers "Romeo and Juliet" is from the 2007 album Sawdust.

A lovestruck Romeo, sings the streets of serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"

Juliet says, "Hey, it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack"
He's underneath the window, she's singing
Hey, la, my boyfriend's back"
You shouldn't come around here, singing up at people like that
Anyway what you gonna do about it?

Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet and you exploded in my heart
And I forget, I forget the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
Both dirty, both mean, yes and the dream was just the same
And I dream your dream for you and now your dream is real
How can you look at me, as if I was just another one of your deals?

Well, you can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin
Now you just say, "Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know
I used to have a scene with him"

Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said, "I love you like the stars above, "I love you till I die"
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

I can't do the talk like the talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
Can't do anything except be in love with you

And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
All I do is keep the beat, the bad company
And all I do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme
Juliet, I'd do the stars with you any time

Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said, "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you till I die"
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

A lovestruck Romeo, he sings the streets of serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
He says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"

Reflection on 2nd Period

The first thing id like to say is I really hope this computer does not die mid-blog. Over the course of this year in Mrs. Gilman's Honors English class, its fair to say I have learned a lot so far. You might think that an "Honors" class might be more serious and strict than normal ninth grade English, yet its.. not. We do get a lot done in that class (most days) but the classroom is a comfortable place to learn. Class clowns (Max.. cough* cough*) do exist but the only enhance the experience of English (not, but just kidding). Moving on.

Don't even get me started on the word motif. In the summer as i looked on the online assignment I noticed this word. I thought it was fun to say, and I really had no idea what it meant. Now, I know what it means, and its no longer fun to say, let alone hear. Motif must be the most frustrating, confusing thing in English class, but I'm sure i'll understand it at some point in my life. I hope.

Skits...

The three parts of Great Expectations that i think would be best acted out in class would be...

1)When Pip first meets the convict in the marshes

2)When Pip meets Trabb's boy

3)When Pip first meets Mrs. Havisham, in her dark creepy home

All of these parts would be perfect to act out in class because not only would the class watching enjoy it, the actors them selves would enjoy it too!

Questions In GE

One question i have about Great Expectations is why Mr. Jagger shows everyone Molly's cut wrists, "I'll show you a wrist. Molly, let me see your wrist. . . .THe last wrist was much disfigured- deeply scarred " (ch26/228)

Why is it so important to show everyone her wrist and how do they resemble strength?

TIOBE: Group Essay

The three topics i will be discussing in my paragraph show how women are expected to do certain things in order to become proper and lady like, unlike today where women have the choice of the life they live. Some examples are how Cecily is Mrs. Prism's pupil. I have specific quotes to enhance the understanding of Mrs. Prism's place in society as well as Cecily's.

Cecily knows she cannot live an independent life on her own so she pursues a relationship with Algernon. Commentary will include conversations between her and Mrs. Prism and Gwendolen.

The Last concrete detail is how Lady Bracknell is a fine example of a well versed women of the victorian age. She is ranked high in society and has a proper social life. These are the concrete details and commentary examples i will base my paragraph off of.

Victorian Age? I Think Yes.

The Victorian Age research really helped me understand the "Importance of Being Earnest" better because we got to have a preview of the setting before we started reading the book. Understanding the way people interact differently with one another really impacted my understanding of the play in a positive way.

I learned how people went about living in their social class and what society fit in with them. I learned that you are born into social class of your future. your born into a rich family... BOOM your gonna be rich. Your born into a poor family... you guessed it, BOOM your poor. Yet, women could change their social class by marriage. Also, when ladies had friends in higher class the too could be exposed to rich and wealthy people high in social status. I really believe the Victorian Age research was helpful in expanding my knowledge and understanding about "Importance of Being Earnest".

MMX, Another Year.

As a very little boy i was never really enthusiastic about reading. I never had a problem learning to read but, satisfaction was hard to find in a book. Many teachers over the years have gotten me excited about reading, but i have seemed to loose the time. This year my goal is to read more books. I know it will enhance my ability to spell, comprehend text, and understand meaning. I am sure that i can accomplish my goal, it is realistic as well. If you have read an exciting book, that has a interesting plot then let me know, please!

Animal Farm Epic Poem

On Manor Farm, all animals thrived

horses, hens, goats and pigs, all dreamed of the day

Mr. Jones would die. A prize winning Boar, so old and wise

by the name of old major developed a plan to drive Jones

off the farm. Animalism took its course and the animals finally ruled,

but those pigs wanted to most.

Napoleon and Snowball the two smartest pigs

set out and told the animals they would be their leaders

and never quit. Yet

Snowball and Napoleon were always fighting, they disagreed on

almost anything.

"What to do, what to do..." Napoleon thought, and so he sent out

those vicious dogs who were only loyal to him, to go out and find snowball

and put an end to him. They chased him away in a flash,

and Snowball was never seen again.

Napoleon, Napoleon, oh greedy Napoleon told all the animals

that Snowball was the traitor, and he caused the trouble.

So the naive animals continued their well being never questioning the

poor missing pig. Until the day of rebellion, Napoleon would

have corrupted all the land, and animalism would never be seen again.

Poetry Out Loud

I watched Amanda Fernandez preform, Unknown Girl In The Maternity Ward by Anne Sexton. Her performance was jaw dropping and i could not believe how well she relayed an important story through poetry. While Amanda recited Anne Sexton's poem, it was as if she had gone through the experience her self. Her understanding of the poem was obvious and her dramatization was perfectly necessary. She appeared very comfortable on stage while she recited and had a loud strong voice to make the poem even stronger.

I believe the poem is about a mom, who puts her baby up for adoption. She doesn't know much about the father because he had left them. The woman cries because she really cares about her baby and she wants the best for it. When Amanda had a happy voice, suddenly she could change it to a sad crying voice.

Motif of the Mockingbird

After reading To Kill a Mockingbird, i realize that motif was a very strong literary element used in the novel. At the beginning of the year i was unsure what motif was and i really was not sure how to find it and use it. I am confident now that i know what motif is because the mocking bird motif really pops out at you once you go through the motif epiphany.

In the novel, several themes occur such as racial prejudice, justice verses injustice, and southern womanhood. These themes all point to the mocking bird motif in some way, "Do not harm someone or something that cannot harm you." The motif is easy to understand because we can all relate to the problems the characters face in the novel except on a different level. Just think about how they go through rough times because of there gender or color in the 1930's, yet today we may feel like we do not fit in because of our personalities or our social classes.

Life Lesson, My Young Padawan

I have learned many important things about life through out my childhood, but the most important one is that telling lies is not the same as joking around. When i was first grade i would tell stupid lies about people because i thought it was funny. People always got very annoyed with stupid made up stories about them passed around at recess. After a while i realized stories about my self were coming back t me.

Some were very hurtful and i was very mad, so i told my mom the story. She had asked me if i had been passing around lies about people as well. I said yes and she was very upset. She told me thst lying was bad and to never tell untruthful things about others. So, i think this was an important lesson because i finally realized the effect of the gossip cycle.

Passage 1

He waits in line patiently to collect his favorite snack. Everyone is rushed but he knows he will make it in time before class starts. One by one the line gets shorter. His foot keeps a steady beat along with his hand tapping his thigh. He picks up two "Fruit Roll Ups" and opens them with his head held high. He does not just eat the rolls bite by bite. Instead he opens both packages and morphs them into a ball form. He immediately stuffs his face with the strawberry fruit snack ball. The only possible way he can chew and swallow is to breath through his nose and open his jaw up and down as if he was trying to swallow a soccer ball. His braces are now, filled with red gummy goo. While he walks down the hall minding his own business, totally oblivious to others he picks his teeth with his hand.

Passage 2

Parker, what a subject to talk about. My friend Parker is a very interesting boy. We are alike in some ways, and different in others. Some might see him as an patient and relaxed kid, but he really is not at all. Two words fro you, squirmy an inpatient. We share a lot of the same interest but he really has an ear for music. Im pretty sure his two favorite things in life are music, and texting. Although he is a very smart kid he can have his "blond moments", thats what he always says to me.

Memory Lane.

When i was four-years-old my dads side of the family all went to California on a house boating trip. My aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins everyone was there. The sun was blazing hot during the trip from what i remember, so sun screen was a necessity. Every morning with my cousin Mark id get a thick layer of sunscreen. I would always yell of course, standing still for more than five minuets was not ideal for a little kid.

"No Mom, i don't wanna hav it, no,no,no its yucky!"

"Madison, hold still!"

Then my mom said, ''Alright, you don't have to wear it."

that was the most unfortunate day of my life. At first i couldn't believe she let me go with out sunscreen, i was so happy. By the end of the day though. I wasn't at all. I was so burnt i could hardly touch my toes or even look like at my toes. I sure learned my lesson.