Hungry? Try this book!

This book was absolutely AMAZING. hooray.

From the issue of human emotion to human safety, this book will keep you on the edge of you seat.

At first, I thought this book was just a book about some teenagers trying to save the world or something of the sort, but in reality, this book was similar but much more defined and specific. They were trying to stay alive–save their world. The character of Katniss was hardcore in my opinion, with an air of feminism (which always captures my attention). The romance aspect was quite intense and they liked to show their affection quite often, but was it true affection? Were they really in love? This question is a big issue concerning The Hunger Games readers. I liked how emotions were the only thing that Katniss struggled with because in every other aspect, she was completely in charge and control. Peeta had her heart on a string even before she was aware at what was happening. In my opinion, I do believe that Katniss and Peeta loved each other– I believe that Peeta has always loved and Katniss learned to love.

This book has been said to resemble Survivor, but indeed it is different because it takes place in the future. Violence played a major role in this book focusing on a means of survival. Violence either makes or breaks a book, in my opinion, and for me, violence was just a key that brought the love key for Peeta and Katniss together!

People are talking about this book and not only are they talking about it, but for some, they consume this book and it inspires them to become better — I can honestly say that one of my friends who read this book is in love with Peeta and wishes she was indeed Katniss.

Hunger Games not only brought about the issues of violence, but also the issues of control, surveillance and power (through the Capitol). No one likes to be contained, watched, or caged, all they desire is freedom, security, and stability.

Question: How much is too much violence? Was their love real in your opinion? Are you going to watch the movie? Did you play the Hunger Games? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Thumbs up for me– I enjoyed this book much better than Little Brother.

This is an extremely funny video that actually puts characters with actors and actresses for the movie:

The American Experiment

“ We experiment to make things better, and we argue about what experiments are worthwhile and whether or not those we try are any good.” Life is about experiments. Experimentation to make things better or even perhaps worse, but along with experimentation comes risks. According to Postman, freedom is something that  constantly under a telescope as to whether or not it should be taught in schools or not. In my opinion, this article was boring, but it had some good thoughts in it.

In my personal opinion, I think that students should know about freedom. I went to a private, Christian school so we discussed freedom and specific freedoms such as religion, on a constant basis. My school embraced patriotism and even on September 11, 2001, I was in my history class and we discussed what was happening, why it was happening, and what we could do to support the change to prevent it. We talked about freedom in the United States and we also talked about other countries and their lack of freedom (such as communism rule). My school made us memorize the Declaration of Independence, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,  The Amendments, and the Emancipation Proclamation so we could hold true and fast to the foundation that our forefathers layed and grounded before us. Because my schooling was different from those in the public schools, the government did not have as much as a say in what was taught and the ydidn’t fund us either.

I think that teachers are somewhat unsettled about teaching patriotism and freedom because they would be promoting something that not everyone appreciated, and because of this important factor, chaos would arise.

I thought the part about Postman’s view of technology in the scheme of themes was a bit misplaced and probably could have been more expounded upon and more focused in another article.

LET FREEDOM RING.

What are your thoughts? Are you going to teach freedom and patriotism in your classroom? What are the downfalls? Are you scared of losing your job?

Here can be found one person’s view on patriotism:

Little Brother- BIG Ideas

“Skipping school isn’t a crime. It’s an infraction. They’re totally different. (w1n5t0n)”
— Cory Doctorow (Little Brother)

At first glance, I experienced a dejavu moment because I have actually read  the “Uglies, Pretties, and Specials” series that he has published.  I really thought it was a good idea  that Doctorow published a copy online that was free easy access for all. So first off the bat, I was thinking ” BRAVO!” When I first started this book, I was a little worried it would be entirely about technology because honestly, I am technologically challenged. I was captured by this book, and I felt like a character in the book ready to take on whatever would come my way. I really liked how Doctorow explained things in a way that made me think it was the only way it could be explained– his detail is impeccable and really kept my attention.

“Little Brother” starts focused on the life of a teenage, Marcus, but then expands into this huge deal. This novel’s main question to me was, ” What kind of rights is society willing to compromise for technology ( life, liberty or pursuit of happiness)?” And it really made me think because privacy and our rights are really important to our society, but do we sell or give up our privacy for a cost?  From Marcus’ unwillingness to give Homeland Security the passwords to the lengths the Homeland Security went through  to obtain information should say a lot about the intensity of one’s privacy. Similar to privacy is censorship–ranging from the internet to the censorship of rights.

Technology played a major role because the Homeland Security labeled technology as a negative and “the enemy” but in reality, it was the “glue” to the whole book– including the education aspect.

Something I thought worth mentioning was the  focus on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” . What does “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” mean to you? The thought of possibly losing privileges as a result from the terrorist attacks became reality for those involved in this book and the government played a major role in this book.

This book brought up issues concerning the government, censorship, privacy, technology, and the rights of citizens (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) What is the definition of these key terms to ya’ll? Are you going to be bold about these topics that could be controversial ( government censorship vs. technology)?  As a teacher, I want to be comfortable enough with my students to talk about their view of the government and the pros and cons of our government in power. I did enjoy this book and it clever and entertaining.

Questions: How much is too much? What is the line for privacy? Does the government play a good role or a bad role?

This quote from the book sums it all up : ” I can’t go underground for a year, for ten years, waiting for freedom to be handed to me. Freedom is something you have to take for yourself.” – Cory Doctorow ( Little Brother)

Here is an interview with the author himself:

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This picture is of a famine-starved child in Sudan crawling toward a food camp which was located one kilometer away. Indeed this vulture was waiting for the child to die so it could eat its prey. This heartbreaking photograph won the Putlzer prize in 2004 — and the photographer who shall remain nameless committed suicide only 3 months after this photograph was taken (he was unable to help the child based off of rule and regulations).

This photograph makes me speechless. I saw it once in high school and I literally cried. When I look at this picture, I see truth– everyone always tries to candy coat everything, but this photo is raw and real. The emphasis is drawn to the child- – who doesn’t even look like a child. but the dominance seems to be in the healthy vulture waiting for the end of to come. The only two objects in the picture that are notable is the vulture and the child.

The tone of the picture I think is harsh- whereas the lighting (besides being natural sun) in my opinion has no effect on the picture. The background seems to be a bit blurred only to help the focus of the picture. The angle seems to be from the left side, yet at the same time it seems straightshot.

The circle of life is seen in this photo. Part of me wants to reach through the picture and hit the bird but the bird knows nothing better than to follow the circle of life in his mind. This picture to me symbolizes all of the starving children in Africa who just need  help. Death is scary for some, natural for others, and happy for some. BUT death should not come for children at such a young age. This picture has no strong frame- but it is framed in silence. Silence is its first impression embedded on others as well as myself. A lot of black exists in this photo.

As said, Pictures are worth a thousand words- but will these words impact people enough so they would make a difference? Personally, I have apassion for children in Africa and I have adopted one through World Vision. I pay a small amount each month to provide food, medical help, and care for “my” child.

This photograph–although brings silence and conviction provokes ACTION. IT SCREAMS ACTION.

What are your thoughts? What do you think about that child? Are you going to make a difference?

So – do something about it.

Be Active.

Wiki Wiki

Let me just start out by saying- I LOVE WIKIPEDIA.

There- I said it. This is important because in class we were talking about credibility and sites that are found to be without this spice of credibility. Wikipedia is the most judged website (in my opinion).For example, during the first minutes of class I had to look at the website concerning the product dehydrated water and Martin Luther King Jr. I fell for both like a bad habit– but indeed they were false. But in class we focused on what makes a website credible and the list that we compiled and I feel that we can agree on is the following:

*Site looks professional

*Testimonials or Links that work

* Quotes and other sources provided

*Sites ending in .edu or .org

* Top 5 results

Here are some videos concerning Wikipedia that open your eyes to the enjoyment of WIKIPEDIA.

As mentioned about, Wikipedia is always under a watchful eye because according to Crovitz, Wikipedia is collecting a sum of human knowledge in a vast, constantly growing digital repository (60). This article was interesting to me because it notes how quickly Wikipedia changes an example being the VA TECH shooting .  Crovitz makes a good point that students should make the effort to use Wikipedia while still using caution. At one point, personally I wanted to see if those in charge of Wikipedia would pay close enough attention to specific words and I actually changed the contintent of “Australia” to “Austria” . Within minutes, it was changed back to the original word.  Snoot and Crovitz both note that wikipedia is used as a useful tool for research for students because they see the other information put in place by other individuals and they are able to compare and contrast their own opinions– I have never thought of Wikipedia in this manner–but people do not always think this way.

According to Snoot, like many, teachers at Middlebury College in the history department ban Wikipedia from tests and papers whereas Columbia College  creates assignment where editing wikipedia and providing research is actually a necessity. Something I found about Snoot to find completely mindboggling is the fact that there are Wikipedia users with higher authority that can block certain words from being changed (such as “frog” “Mark Twain” etc.)—but not Australia. haha. “Wikipedia puts control in the hands of users” — I love this because it is absolutely true. Sometimes Wikipedia may not be the most credible source, but it is the best for research and evaluation. For me, Wikipedia is a good starting point.  I will allow my students to use wikipedia.

What are your thoughts? Is it credible to you? On a scale of 1-10, how credible is it?

My favorite Place

I went on a mission trip in Summer of 2006 and I fell in love with the country of Czech Republic(traveled to Brno and Prague). After I graduated high school in 2008, I went back to Czech Republic for six weeks and taught English in different high schools  in a small city called Olomouc. I am currently still learning Czech daily as well as keeping in touch with the friends I made a year and a half ago.

The language looks like:

Poem:

Karel Hynek Mácha: Máj (May)
Beginning verses, translation by Edith Pargeter

Byl pozdní večer – první máj - večerní máj – byl lásky čas. Hrdliččin zval ku lásce hlas, kde borový zaváněl háj. O lásce šeptal tichý mech; květoucí strom lhal lásky žel, svou lásku slavík růži pěl, růžinu jevil vonný vzdech. Jezero hladké v křovích stinných zvučelo temně tajný bol, břeh objímal je kol a kol; a slunce jasná světů jiných bloudila blankytnými pásky, planoucí tam co slzy lásky.

Late evening, on the first of May - The twilit May – the time of love. Meltingly called the turtle-dove, Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay. Whispered of love the mosses trail, The flowering tree as sweetly lied, The rose’s fragrant sigh replied To love-songs of the nightingale. In shadowy woods the burnished lake Darkly complained a secret pain, By circling shores embraced again; And heaven’s clear sun leaned down to take A road astray in azure deeps,

The Helfštýn castle ranks among the most extensive castles in Europe and it is one of the best preserved castle complexes in the Czech Republic:

The country looks like:

The flag looks like:

Favorite Food

I like vegetable sushi. Yum– and I recently got a sushi making kit for Christmas. How exciting!!

Web 2.0 — an interesting eye opener

As a young child I remember playing MATHBLASTER on the computer and on many occasions somehow I would “break” it making the screen turn off. Because I continually “broke” the computer I really did not mess with them until all my friends were “hip” and used AIM (AOL instant messenger). That was a lot of quotes — so sorry ! Then, I disobeyed and was punished by having it terminated FOREVER (at least I thought so). Needless to say, computers were never very important to me, and I did not get a cell phone until I was fifteen years old, nor texting until I was a freshman in college (aka last year). My first thought was , “Web 2.0 what?” This video is a quick look at web 2.0 although I had absolutely no idea what Web 2.0 was until today. My father is a computer programmer and yet he still was unsure as to what I was talking about. The fact is that Web 2.0 is something I have been using since I was fourteen years old yet I never knew what to call it! Web 2.0 is a second generation for the world wide web in which content is user generated and dynamic — it mimics the desktop version — encourages collaboration of users.

As a student, I use Web 2.0 most commonly through Facebook! I used to have a Xanga, then a Myspace, and most currently a Facebook. Check out this awesome video–seriously I know I am not Simon Cowell, but these folks have awesome vocals.

I also use SKYPE which is similar to AIM but you can also use a video camera to stay connected with people all over the world. Personally, I skype with friends in the Czech Republic and a friend serving in the military in Afghanistan. Also as a student, I check teacher’s blogs to keep me updated on what homework is due and what changes are made during each class semester. As a student it helps me to be more up to date without sending my teacher eight emails with no clarification on the subject matter. I use it to be more organized so that I can confidently know what was assigned.

As a teacher, I will have my own blog where I would update homework assignments where my students can also ask questions concerning homework and whatnot without having to call my cell phone or send e-mails. Organization is key. Richardson makes a note of this in the book we are currently reading,Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. If I choose to teach high school, I would love to have an assignment where each student will have to keep a blog (look at my first post to see mine) where each student can discuss the topics we have covered and while also letting me learn a little about themselves. Another way we could do this is Survey Monkey (mentioned in the post before)

Hooray for Web 2.0.!! A title now exists for something I have been using for almost six years (since 2004). What do you think about Web 2.0? How does it relate to everyday living for ya’ll? Does it help or hinder your life?  Let me know your thoughts.

Go facebook someone and be happy to have the freedom to use Web 2.0.

The Internet Does What?

Survey Monkey is such a fun site to express your true thoughts about queries about anything you want! I absolutely loved completing my first quiz (take it if you like!) because I was able to ask many different types of questions ranging from humorous to serious. I can see myself using this survey in my own classroom in so many ways. For example, I could pick a “student of the week” each week throughout the school year and they can post a survey for the whole class to fill out by Friday– each student can take a turn and it would be an awesome way to get to know someone! Secondly, I could use it as an evaluation of myself as a teacher because honestly I am really good at depicting who has what handwriting so it would all be anonymous. All in all, I found Survey Monkey to be way cool, and I am really happy we had the chance to make our own. I liked how you can pick different types of questions, and I also like that you could make someone answer a question (I used this feature). I will most likely be using this Survey in the near future if not for my classes, for my own personal fun . I like how Survey Monkey is similar to blogging but with a more focused and specific Take time to  create a survey- there is no harm! What do you think about Survey Monkey? Would it do more good than harm? Is it effective to have something online for the students to accomplish–or would it be too much of a distraction?

Survey Monkey is a valuable tool that allows student to be completely honest yet creative at the same time.

An example would look like:

Here is a YouTube video to help you follow simple step-by-step instructions:

Blog Blog Blog :)

Blogging is definitely one of those things that if it was a tangible thing, I would hug it. I absolutely love blogging and as a future English teacher, I will make it mandatory that my students either blog a journal or physically write a journal. I would use blogging to have my students respond to the different readings that will be assigned throughout the semester. Recently, I had the opportunity to  make a blog, maintain a group, and essentially hold conversations concerning the different readings through different blog comments. Sometimes people are able to voice their opinion more often and expound more when they don’t have to look a person face-to-face. Blogging can be used for people with “no voice” to have a voice. Also, blogging is a great way for others to get to know each other. Who knows, maybe someone will find their soulmate!! Basically, according to Lorelle, ~ Your blog is your unedited version of yourself.

A blog is in many ways a continuing conversation ~

Andrew Sullivan

Blogging is a communications mechanism handed to us by the long tail of the Internet. ~

Tom Foremski

A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from change the world to share your shopping list. ~

Unknown

The heart and soul of blogging is the individual and/or the group of individuals opining on the fly and responding post-haste to one and all. ~

Michael Conniff

A blog is a type of website that is usually arranged in chronological order from the most recent ‘post’ (or entry) at the top of the main page to the older entries towards the bottom. ~

Darren rowse