Rachel's really good paragraph

Rachel’s Really good paragraph

Every night at camp, when we were extremely exhausted from playing the game, we would all collapse into a pile arms legs and smiling faces on the cabin floor. We would laugh and laugh until we couldn’t breath. It was exceedingly fun. Then after we calmed down a bit, we would suddenly be famished. Our consular would be infuriated that our cabin was always awake after lights out, but hopefully we would get her to calm down enough to let us eat chips, junk food and stuff we really weren’t supposed to have at camp.

Barbie's Really Good Paragraph

Barbie's Really Good Paragraphh
Cabin 3 likes to party
By: Barbie

Every night at Camp Hatikvah, we are always exhausted because all day long we laugh, hang, and swim at the A, Y, and U docks. When we get back to cabin 3 we all collapse in a giant pile of tangling and twisting arms and legs. In the pile all we do is laugh and laugh. Our counselors, Daneet, Liz, and Ana get so mad. After we calm down our counselors tell us to go to bed but we are famished. Just then we get an idea, let’s go get food from the boys, even though it is past lights out. We quickly dress in black and run, the boys give us chips and candy, we are delighted and we run back to our cabin partying.

Leor's "Really Good" paragraph

At camp, evening is always the most exciting time.

After incredible and exhausting games of tag in the big breezy meadow near our cabin, we would all collapse in a heap of 13 screaming, shouting girls, arms and legs flinging in every direction! We would all burst out with laughter as chortles and chuckles filled our cabin- it was a blast!! After we would cool down a little we would suddenly become starving!! Our Counselors would get furious that our cabin was still awake after midnight; hopefully we would get them to relax so we could open a bag of the delicious, forbidden, junk food.

Noga's...

A Really Bad Paragraph

Every night at camp, when we were weary out from playing an enjoyable game, we would all collapse in a gigantic pile on the wooden floor of our cabin. We would just giggle until we fell down. It felt incredible!
Then, after we calm down we would be starving!
Our counselor would be furious that our cabin was the only cabin awake after midnight, but hopefully we could get her to relax and let us eat chips and sweets that we were not supposed to have eaten our camp till the last day.

Isobel's really good lead

Every evening at Camp Hatikvah we drive our counselors crazy! After our swim at the A dock we we are bouncing off the walls of our cabin, landing on the floor in a big knot of 10 shrieking girls. After our counselors left for the evening, we suddenly were famished with hunger! We snuck into our counsellors room and stole all the chocolate bars and sweet and sour candies! And peculiarly enough they never even noticed... or did they?

-Isobel 6A

Drawing the Lead

Homework

Polished lead based on peer feedback with parent signature (Thurs)

Glossary test (five words) (Fri)

Homework

For Tuesday:

-polished narrative lead
-glossary test corrections
-two new multi-genre glossaries
-binder check including spiral writing notebook

Jacob's Leads

Mr. Linden’s Library
Beginning at the End
I had heard screaming in the house beside mine. Now I cautiously crept over to her house when I opened the door, I found her lying on her bed in a pool of blood. I could have sworn I saw something fly back into the book, like a ghost. I ran over to her. She grabbed my shirt and said in a hoarse voice “Get out of here. Hurry.” Suddenly her eyes widened I shook her but she wouldn’t move. Finally, in a haunted voice she whispered “Behind you…” I whipped around and tried to run, but it was to late. A black figure slid forward and whispered in my ear “No one can know that I exist, so you will share the same fate as your friend…. Death!”

Mr. Linden’s Library
Sound
When she opened the book, a dozen ghostly figures sprang out from the pages of the book and began screaming in their high-pitched voices, and circling her, preventing escape. As she watched, all of the figures grew long, white fangs. The screaming continued. Then the door opened and a figure clad in black ghosted into the room. He pulled back his black hood to reveal his bright, blooded eyes. Her last thought was “Vampire.”

Rosie's leads

Mr. Linden’s library

Action:

She woke up with ferns growing up her arm, teeth getting closer and closer to her face. She knew she had to do something, but what? He had warned her about this book, but she never thought it would come to this! Why? Why hadn’t she just listened? Just once?



Character Introduction:

I got this book from my father, it was called how to rule the world in less than one week. The book wasn’t just any book, but it was THE book. It had everything thing in it, it knew every word every scenario that could happen, everything, the best part was that everything that I had tried from the book actually worked! But again my book outsmarted me and noticed it didn’t need my help, it could rule the world all on it’s own. That’s when the problems started.

Eleane's Leads

Mr. Lindens library

Beginning at the end:

I was 8 years old when I died. The last words I murmured were. “The night has a thousand eyes, and the day but one; yet the light of the bright world dies with the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, and the heart but one; yet the light of a whole life dies when love is done.” As these words came out of my mouth before I died, it was a mystery yet to be answered just as the mystery of how I died. Will they ever be answered who knows?

Sounds:

“Boom, crash, bang” I awoke as soon as the terror came out of the darkness. Something was coming towards me. The noises and shadows were coming right out of my book!

Isobel's Leads

Mr. Linden's Library

Sound

Bang Bang I knocked on her door, it was midnight. Nothing happened, it was silent just the sound of the wind blowing through the window. i knocked again Bang Bang Bang, but still nothing. I slowly opened the door, I suddenly ran to her bed, she wasn’t moving. Her beautiful face was now white as snow. I saw a book laying open on her bed, I picked it up, I fell down, the book was as powerful as that strange man said.

Beginning at the end

I was still, lying in a hospital bed, someone must of found us lying in Elizabeths dorm. But where was Elizabeth? “Elizabeth!” I yelled, but instead of Elizabeth, the librarian came. All he said was “I told her to leave the book alone!”

Barbie's Leads

Beginning at the End: My name is Mr. Linden I am 102 years old. It is almost time for me to die; hut before I die I need to tell someone the truth about me and Maggie Lee Rope. So, I was 45 years old not even middle aged, one day this woman walks into the library and picks the book WWMGMT: The Past. I tell her “don’t get that book” and she says “I don’t care I want this book fully excepting the casualties that follow.” All I am going to tell you is that Maggie was never seen alive again. I will tell you more but you have to read this book first.

Sincerely, Mr. Linden
P.s. Please enclose this in my will

Gabe's Lead

OWWWWWWW, what is this, this green thorny vine, digging in to my skin, like nailing 100 nails into your hand paying as much attention to the draconian pain, getting worse and worse every second, stabbing and swallowing you up, like a runaway convict on a killing spree, he kills you fast but slowly at the same time, like he wants to make you suffer but get it over with, think of that but triple the pain and a third the speed.

Ashley's Leads

I tried to grab onto something but it was pulling me down! I was thinking it was coming from the book but i figured that it was impossible, I looked down and thought to myself "It is possible". Who knew that a book could be so dangerous? I guess its sort of my fault for not listening to Mr linden!
Before I knew it I fell into a pile of sparkles.

I was sleeping when a plant grabbed my arm. I didn’t know how but it was coming out from in the middle of the book. I tried to grab onto the corner of my bed, but I couldn’t, I was just to far away! Just then I remembered what Mr. linden had said to me about this book, he said “never fall asleep when the book is open” but he didn’t tell me why.

Jamie's Lead

Oscar and Alphonse/Immediate suspense
Lilly was running away. It’s very simple, it wasn’t because she was unhappy, she was just sick of it, she was sick of being confined to her room, she was sick of the dull colours, and the dull food. It didn’t matter anyway, she wasn’t wanted and she knew it, it’s better for everyone if she wasn’t at the foster home anymore. So she ran, and ran and ran, she didn’t stop until her foot got stuck in The Hole. It wasn’t a particularly big hole and it wasn’t a particularly different hole but she knew it was special. While she started making it bigger she saw two caterpillars, they were different, just like the hole. They weren’t moving, just standing there, even when she picked them up, they just stood on her hand. As she was about to put them down they started to wiggle, then crawl and finally form a word, “HI”. They weren’t any ordinary caterpillars, she knew that.

Archie Smith, boy wonder/Dialogue
“Is he the one?” whispered Dinky.
“I can’t be sure” replied Fingo. “He doesn’t look very mighty, but he isn’t full grown, yet.”
“Well, I think he’s just perfect, look at him, so peaceful”
“Enough with the mushy stuff, let’s get back to business!” snapped Fingo.
“Oh, all right” Dinky said with a sigh.
Fingo grunted loudly while he climbed onto Archie’s bed, I suppose that’s what woke him up, and I suppose the reason he screamed was because, well, he woke up to a wrinkly mini man, or a pixie, but that’s the same thing isn’t it?
“Who are you, or, what are you!?” asked Archie.
“Sssshhhh” said Dinky “you have to come with us, we need you to save pixie world!”
“We’re depending on you!” said Fingo sternly.
“KNOCK KNOCK”
“Archie? What’s wrong?” asked Archie’s mom at the door.

Dara's Leads

Mr. Linden's Library

“Life is magical you are magical but this book is extra magical it has powers” those were the words that ran through my head. I could not stop them. As I woke up I hoped it was all a dream but it was not they would not stop. Then I heard a voice Mr Lindens voice, And as I got out of bed I disappeared.



“What is that?” I started to lose the feeling in my leg. Then my other leg and then my right arm. It was not cold outside in fact it was 30 degrees. Maybe it was the book. Mr linden had warned me about it. Maybe i should have worried and listened. Then I heard a voice, Mr lindens voice. As I tried harder then I ever have to get out of bed I disappeared.

Salome's Leads

Practicing the Lead

Oscar and Alphonse

1. Character Introduction.
Emma had never been out of her gloomy old house and never got company. Her biggest dream was to explore the wild and deep forest outside her yard; sadly she was too terrified to do so. But all of that changed when she met Oscar and Alphonse.

2. Suspense
I still remember the day I met them. It was a day like no other, but it changed my life forever.

3. Dialogue
"Emma, it is time for us to leave," Oscar said sorrowfully, he was looking at her straight in the eyes; she just had to understand.
"But I need you," She objected. Her voice was firm but a bit insecure.
"We’re sorry." Said Alphonse, climbing up Emma's finger and sitting on top of it.

Homework

1. Two multi-genre glossary entries from Fairy Tale vocabulary (Tues)

2. Binder checks

3. Reading lists: placed in front of binder and signed by parents (Tues)

Homework

-Reading lists emailed to agelmon@talmudtorah.com by Friday
-Complete your table of contents and number pages in writing notebook
-Binder Check (next Tuesday)
-Bingo prizes

Yaakov's Thoughts

Yaakov’s Thoughts

A) Amir
#7: I think that Amir’s quote means that even though it is a garden and gardens are beautiful, this was the community garden. This community garden didn’t only contain beautiful fruits and vegetables like pumpkins, radishes and eggplants, but it also became the home base to all different races and ethnicities of Cleveland. When all of the people in the garden became friends, Amir’s quote makes complete sense.

B) Florence
#5: In this book, when all of the people joined the garden, they all became part of their own small community. When Florence refers to all of the gardeners as “Seedfolks”, I am guessing that she giving a name to the small community of people in the garden in her own way.

#6: I'm guessing that Florence wrote this chapter at least one year after the event happened. My reason for thinking this is that when she says "that year", it means that at least a year past after the cold winter.

EItan's Thoughts

1- Amir’s age is around the 30 or 40
2- Amir’s ethnicity is Indian and lives in India
3- Amir’s contribution was learning about different nationality and make knew friends and make the garden a colorful place
4- Because when Amir is involved in the garden it reminded him like back home in India
5- Amir said that all Polish woman and men make cabbage and there rich and when someone here’s that they will fill hurt and start saying mean things about him
6- People think Royce is homeless and scary and a thief
7- Amir what’s the garden a better place and he wants to keep it safe and make it better.


1. Florence is 35 years old
2. Florence is black
3. Florence wants the garden to be safe and nobody to stealing
4. Florence wants to change her place and wants to plant in the garden
5. I think the author choose this title seed folks because all the characters had something to do with a garden
6. It reminds her of growing up in her country

Seth's Thoughts

Amir
7. I think that he means the greatest benefit was not how beautiful it was to the eye, but that its true beauty was how it was able to bring everyone together. It allowed people who would have otherwise not known each other to become friendly.

Florence
5. She means that “Seedfolks” are like our ancestors. They plant themselves somewhere, and the family grows and spreads out to many places. “Seedfolks” could also be people we are connected to. I think that the author chose this title because all the characters are each other’s “Seedfolks” through the garden.

Reminders

Thank you for all of the thoughtful contributions on Seedfolks!

If you are having any trouble finding information to answer your questions, you don't have to look very far.

All answers and the graphic organizers are due tomorrow in addition to the binder checks.

Barbie's Thoughts on Florence

5. What Florence means by the word seedfolks is that everyone had a different part in the garden despite the fact that they only had around two things in common; 1. They all had troubles and hardships. 2. They all helped out with the garden. I think the author choose this title because it in one word pretty much sums up what the whole book is about. They are all folks, and they all either plant seeds or protect seeds. I think it also kind of means love because they all love seeds or gardening and they all like each other as friends some people even feel that the garden is like family. The book is also about working together through whatever and I feel seedfolks the title describes everything that has to do with working together and love.

6. I think Florence wrote the chapter 2-3 years after the garden had started I think that the author purposely wrote the chapter of Florence like this to show that even after a few years the garden was still going strong. It also shoes that everyone is committed to something in their life they just have to find that something.

Liam's Thoughts

For question 7 in Amir's chapter. I think that the people are becoming a community, and becoming friends, and thats all because of the garden. For question 5 and 7 which are bonus on Florence chapter, I think that the answer for 5 is that the first seeds get planted and then more and more people come along and help. For 7 the answer is "the area of the garden now was just some soil a couple months ago, and became a believing community after a while, and Florence wrote this a week after Amir I think"

Rosie's Thoughts

blog bonus question about Amir:
I think that when Amir says "The gardens greatest benefit, I feel is not the relief to the eyes, but to make our eyes see the neighbors." I think he means that the garden is beautiful, but even better than that it brought all the neighbors and the community of Cleveland Heights together. During the book most of the characters became friends and help each other in all different ways. In all of the chapters other people are mentioned, people that the garden was planted for or in honor of, people that are part of the garden. With all those people involved many friendships and relationships that could last a lifetime were formed. The garden made everyone come together as a community and as a family, it also made them care more about the place they live, and the thing inside of it.

blog bonus questions about Florence:
5. I think when Florence said that her family were the seed folks what she meant was that a seed is the beginning of something so I think that she is taking the term seed and applying it to people. If I am right than seed folks means the fist people to do something. Her family “was the first black family in the whole County. My father called them our seedfolks because they were the first of our family there.”

I think that the author chose Seedfolks as the title of the book because they are the seeds of the garden setting an example and as Florence said “any of the people who started the garden on Gibb Street their seedfolks too” “I’m talking about the first year before there were spigots and hoses, and the tool shed, and the new soil. And before the landlords started charging more for apartments that look on the garden.” Things like this are also mentioned in some of the other chapters like in Nora’s chapter she says, “Pantomime was often required to get over language barriers. Yet we were all subject to the same weather and pests, the same neighborhood, and the same parental emotions toward our plants. I f we happened to miss two or three days, people stopped by on our return to ask about Mr. Myles’s health. We, like our seeds, were now planted in the garden.”

6. I think Florence wrote this chapter about 2 and a half years later in winter after because she says that first year which means that there already was a first year and then she says that months are passing fall, winter, spring, summer, fall and then winter. I think that now the winter is just over and Kim is coming to plant her Lima beans.

Yaakov's Thoughts...

I think that Amir’s quotation means that even though it is a garden and gardens are beautiful, this was the community garden.  This community garden didn’t only contain beautiful fruits and vegetables like pumpkins, radishes and eggplants, but it also became the home base to all different races and ethnicities of Cleveland.  When all of the people in the garden became friends, Amir’s quotation makes complete sense.

Adi's Thoughts

7. I think that what Amir is trying to say is that the garden brings people closer together. Together they break the rules and communicate and talk with each other. Different people all together as a community, helping each other and helping themselves to new friends. He is trying to say the garden is not just a community garden it is a life long experience that brings people together, and no matter what it helps many with their hard life to get through it and to some a reason to live.

Noga's Thoughts

6. The people in the garden had heard stereotypes about Black teenagers and thought they where dangerous but Royce was kind and gentle. Royce has 2 sisters and likes cats a lot. He also worked well with his hands so he could help people if they were sick and in return they gave him vegetables.
7. The best thing about the garden is not the fact that it is pretty but everyone is together.


On Florence...

6. She wrote the chapter a year after all the others. I know this because she talks about the old days before Kim found the garden.

Jamie's Thoughts

4) I think Florence’s contribution to the garden was that she was firstly like a guardian angel because she stopped someone from stealing and she was also an observer, this is important because every beautiful thing needs someone to see it because then it could not be appreciated.

5) I think Florence said Seedfolks because she was referring to people who would plant seeds and it makes sense as in Folks who plant Seeds. I also think that the author made this the title because the book is about many folks who plant seeds in a garden so it’s the same reason that Florence said Seedfolks.

6) I think Florence wrote the chapter around one year after Kim planted her beans because she makes it sound as if it was the first winter since the garden was made and Kim planted the beans right after the winter when the soil was still tough.

Dani's Thoughts

I think when Florence says seedfolks she is referring to her great great grandparent when they were the seedfolks of the African Americans in Colorado, they were the first family of African Americans. I think the author was referring to seedfolks because the garden brought the community together, the garden kept growing just like the African Americans community in Colorado.

Leor's Post

The people in the garden had heard stereotypes about black teenagers that they were very dangerous, but when they met Royce they saw that they weren’t true. He has a stutter and two sisters and likes cats very much. He also worked very well with his hands so he would water for people who were sick and would fix people’s fences. In return people gave him some of their vegetables. Whenever he would help someone he would never say that it was him, he was very trustworthy.

I think that when amir said "the garden's greatest benefit, I feel, was not relief to the eyes, but to make the eyes see our neighbors," he means that the most important thing about the garden was not its beauty but the fact that it connects people together and makes them one big community where they all look out for each other. Like in Virgil’s chapter people were helping his

I think Florence wrote her chapter a year after every one else. I think this because she talks about the first year before Kim and the others came, when the vacant lot was still a dump yard and before there were tools or soil. That means that she was there to see the garden change right before her eyes.

Barbie's Thoughts on Amir

I think Amir means that the garden is something that everyone no matter their looks or religion can be a part of. It links everybody together in their own special way; even if you are only watching it or growing vegetables. In the story it linked all thirteen seedfolks together even though they had almost nothing in common. It all started with Kim a young girl just wanting to grow something to please her deceased father: everyone just caught on. Even nowadays a community garden brings everyone together just like it did in the book Seedfolks.

Joelle's Thoughts

I included question four as I thought it was thoughtful and perhaps could help others with their own interpretations. Thanks for this, Joelle. -Mr. G.

4) What is her contribution to the garden?
Florence’s contribution to the garden was mostly not physical, but more spiritual. She loved the garden and cared for it, but she could not plant seeds because of arthritis in her hands. Physically though, she guarded the garden, when someone tried to steal Curtis’s tomatoes, she stopped them right away. Also, she really felt as though if the garden was not happy, and it did not have people planting in it ( like in the winter months) she wasn’t happy either.


5) What do you think Florence meant by “Seedfolks” and why did the author use this for the title of the book? BLOG BONUS
I think that what Florence meant by Seedfolks is that there were many people in the garden, all different, but 2 things they all had in common, 1: they all had troubles, and 2: they all had one big part in the garden, a part of a growing family. I think the author used this as the title because it really summarizes what the book is about; people getting together to form a beautiful garden, and a beautiful relationship.

6) When did Florence write the chapter? She talked about that first year which would indicate quite a bit of time has passed. BLOG BONUS
I think Florence wrote the chapter 2 or 3 years after everyone else. I think this because all the members of the garden still are very committed and still garden a lot. Except in the winter months, there is at least one person gardening every day. Also, the people are still planting the same things, like Curtis, he is still planting tomatoes and someone is still trying to steal them. I think the author made Florence's part years after all the other character's to show that even years later, the garden is still up and running.

Salome's Thougths...

Amir.

I think that what Amir means, is that the whole point of having a
community garden is that there must always be a place where everyone
(no matter where they are from, or their skin color or how many
mistakes they might have made in the past) be able to express
themselves through gardening. The garden is also a place where you can
get to know your neighbors and socialize, as the phrase mentioned.

Florence.

What Florence means when she says "seedfolks" is that she is referring
to her family in the country. They used to farm there and the garden
reminded her of when she did. But the author chose the word
"Seedfolks" as a title because the book is about these different
people who decided to make a garden together so that they would forget
about the tragedies in their lives.

I think that she wrote the chapter a few years ago. When she talked
about "that first year" she meant, she had just arrived in the
neighborhood and didn't know about the garden.- from Salome 6A

Gabi's Thoughts...

I think she meant that they were the pioneers of African American people in Colorado, the same as the people of seedfolks were the pioneers of the garden.

Hana's Thoughts

FLORENCE

What does Florence mean by the word “Seedfolks”? Why do you think the author chose this title for the book?
I think what Florence means when she is talking about “Seedfolks” is that she is referring back to her ancestor who were first “planted” in the garden. Now the garden is growing and growing, not just plants but also people. I think the author chose this title because, in the book seeds grow and people grow, the seeds grow bigger, but the people become better as people. Also, the title is like the cycle of life. First the seeds are planted, just like the person is born, then the seeds grow bigger and bigger, just like humans, and then they eventually die.

When did Florence write this chapter? She talks about “the first year” which would indicate quite a bit of time has passed.
I think Florence wrote this chapter about 2.5 years after the first year of the garden passed, because she indicates that fall, winter, spring, summer and again fall passed. Then she finally saw one person come back to plant seeds, witch was Kim. After she saw Kim she probably started to write in the winter, after that fall.

Isobel's Thoughts

When Florence says “Seedfolks” I think she means a new generation of freedom and happiness like Florence’s father told her. I think the author chose “Seedfolks” as the title because not only is Seedfolks a new generation of happiness but when people come together to garden (seed people) it makes everyone happy. No matter what race or religion our differences do not matter. We are all connected and we can make the world a better place by working together like the Seedfolks did.


  I think Florence wrote the chapter after the garden became popular and everyone had a spot to garden. When she said “that first year” I knew that she had been observing the garden for a long time, maybe even since Kim started the garden with her Lima beans. Florence loved the garden even though she couldn’t physically garden she took care of the garden just as much as anyone else did. I think the Seedfolks garden will keep going for generations and later on people will look back to what Florence said “that first year” and how she was a Seedfolk.

Jacob's Thoughts

SeedFolks the Final Chapters – Florence
I think what Florence means by the word seedfolks, is that in a family, your great great great… grandparents would be the seeds and then their children would grow from the seeds, which would be the grandparents (the seeds). I think the author chose the title “Seedfolks” for the book because each and every character works or watches the garden. Some of the characters, such as Gonzalo, are very young, while others like Sam are older. They can all learn from each other, if you think about it.

Liam's Thoughts

I think everyone in the garden was looking for a community, and when they got the chance they took it. I think the greatest benefit of the garden is that it brings people together, and makes hope in the used to be dirty Cleveland.

Jamie's Thoughts

What I think Amir meant when he said this statement was that when all these different raced people are walking on the street, they’re too scared to try to communicate with other people when they don’t speak the same language because they’re afraid that this person or that person is a gang member or not a good person. Take Royce for example, he looked like a really bad guy but all he really wanted to do was help, when he was in the garden, he could be nice and not be aggressive because everyone else was nice to him. I think that people were just very unsure of themselves when they weren’t with friends in the garden doing something familiar, not hearing people speak a foreign language.

Hana's Thoughts...

I think what Amir means is that the reward of the garden isn’t just the beauty of it, but how it brought together all different sorts of people. When we read the chapter about Sam he thought the garden was just like the rest of Cleveland Heights, but now the garden is the total opposite. Everyone is friendly to each other no matter what color, race or religion.

Neev'e Thoughts

I think that he means is that it doesn’t matter who turns up or how the plants look, its just for people to put an effort and make the world a better place.

Joelle's Thought on Amir

I think Amir means that the garden is not only for beauty, but to bring the neighbors of Cleveland Heights, all those troubled people, together. The garden is helping 13 different people get smiles back on their faces.

Isobel's Thoughts

Here is my blog bonus Mr. G!

Blog Bonus

7. I think the quotation, “the garden’s greatest benefit, I feel, was not the relief to the eyes, but to make the eyes see our neighbours,” means that the garden even though is beautiful to the eye, it also brings neighbours together and work as one to make something beautiful.

Jacob's Answer

I think what Amir means when he said, “The garden’s greatest benefit, I feel, was not relief to the eyes, but to make the eyes see our neighbors” is that everyone, no matter what race or religion you are, can come together in the garden, and form a community. I truly recognized this when Amir met the Polish women and realized that his stereotypes about Polish people were wrong, and they could also be nice and friendly. Sam was like Amir in a way, because he was friendly to everyone, no matter what race or skin color.

-By Jacob L.

Seedfolks: The final Chapters

Please answer these in your Reading Power Notebooks. These are all due on Tuesday, December 15th.

Blog Bonus: any questions with "Blog Bonus" next to them is an opportunity to earn extra points. If you email your answers to me for posting on our blog, you will receive two bonus points each. I will only post answers that have been proofread. Remember, if this is going out on the World Wide Web, it better be polished!

Chapter 12: Amir

1. What is his age?
2. What is his ethnicity?
3. What is his contribution to the garden?
4. What was his reason for becoming involved in the garden?
5. What are some of the stereotypes Amir has about Polish people, and how does his
attitude change when he meets one?
6. What do we learn about Royce through Amir?
7. Amir says that, "the garden's greatest benefit, I feel, was not relief to the eyes,
but to make the eyes see our neighbors." What does he mean? Use examples from other
chapters. BLOG BONUS

Chapter 13: Florence

1. What is her age?
2. What is her ethnicity?
3. What is her contribution to the garden?
4. What was the reason for her becoming involved?
5. What does Florence mean by the word "Seedfolks"? Why do you think the author
chose this title for the book? BLOG BONUS
6. When did Florence write the chapter? She talks about "that first year" which would
indicate quite a bit of time has passed. BLOG BONUS

Homework

-Parents sign and read your Seedfolks project marks and responses (Tues)
-Binder check Tuesday
-All corrections or redone Seedfolks entries must be in by Tuesday

Your Seedfolks Trailer

Seedfolks Introduction by Josha

 
Set in Cleveland in a multi-ethnic neighborhood, Seedfolks is a story that transforms the individual lives of thirteen very different people.
 
It begins with one Vietnamese girl who is mourning for her dead father. She is the first to dig into that rat-infested lot- with the wild hope that the seeds she plants may attract her father’s spirit. Many are to follow. But how are they all connected you ask? Through the belief- each in their own way – that tending the garden could be the answer to the central struggles of their lives.
 
Piece by piece, story by story, the garden begins to come alive. The once vacant lot- like the once lifeless neighborhood and it’s seedfolks- becomes vibrant, colourful and full of meaning.
 
For any reader, Seedfolks is a journey that cannot be missed!
 
                                            
                                                      By Josha

Homework

Proofreading worksheets and binder checks due Tuesday

Nora chapter

Shane's Curtis Presentation

Presentations begin...

Practice your read-a-louds!

Homework

1. Rehearse your part for Seedfolks read-a-loud
2. Finish up posters
3. Binder check

Bonus: "Jing" your presentation (jingproject.com)

Seedfolks: Leona

Seedfolks

Presentation and responses due Friday, Nov 20

No homework

Homework

1. 2 multi-genre glossary entries (words from your novel) Due Thursday

2. "My Humanities Binder" parent signature Due Thursday

6A must have locks on lockers by next Monday.

Homework Grade 6

-Multi-genre glossaries or spell x 10 each word you misspelled in your last two assignments (a maximum of 5) Due Monday

Homework Grade 6

"Prior Knowledge" entry for any of the Seedfolks characters/chapters up to now (Tues)

Buddy Picnic Tomorrow

Tomorrow's the big day! Bring your buddy books and a snack (for 4-6 people) for our picnic.

The Fight

Made on tonndoo yah

Buddy Books

Polished and bound copy of your buddy books due on Thursday, June 11th.

Homework

1. Glossary words: (contort, expanse, sprawled, grotesque, implore) Thursday
2. Glossary Test: Friday

The Giver Journal Question

What type of personality traits would make someone successful and happy in the ‘Giver’ society? Which of your traits would help you and which would make it more difficult?

I think that if you were to life in the ‘Giver’ society you would have to be an easy going naïve person. You are unable to question in the ‘Giver’ so you would it would not be helpful if you were independent or if you always wanted an explanation for everything.

I think that the fact that I am kind of an observer could be helpful. I think that being able to see things and understand them would help a lot in the ‘Giver’ society. I am sometimes (when I want to) able to blend in to crowds and be less noticeable. I think that this could help because in the ‘Giver’ society no one is supposed to stand out or be different.

A few personality traits that might make life in the ‘Giver’ society a little more challenging would be my independence, questioning, sarcasm, sense of humor and how I like to ‘challenge’ authority.

It would be hard to live in a society where everyone is the same when you have an independent personality. I do not like to be doing what everyone else is doing all the time so being forced to do the same things as everyone else would really bother me. I find it weird when people wear the same clothes or do the same hair styles as everyone around them and that is what happens in the ‘Giver’ society. I prefer to stand out and be different.

In class I almost never let anything go by with out asking a question about it. In the ‘Giver’ society you are not allowed to ask questions about pretty-much everything. I do not like it when I get a simple answer that does not really answer the question that I asked. Simple answers are the only answers anyone gets in this book. Outside of class I ask people questions too. It would be very hard for me to stop being curious about life and everything that goes on.

I find it weird how in the ‘Giver’ society you are not allowed to exaggerate or joke about anything. I enjoy joking around about stuff and being sarcastic. Without jokes life is boring and bland. It would be very hard for me to not be sarcastic or make a joke about something in a day.

I do not like to follow rules that I find do not make sense. If a rule does not make sense to me I would either disobey it or question it. In the ‘Giver’ society all rules must be obeyed. I would probably get released fast because I can see myself breaking over three rules in one day! It would be hard to switch from a freedom to strict rules.

I think that moving to the ‘Giver’ society would not be a good idea for me because I would have a bit of a problem with one or two rules…. Or maybe a few more!

The Giver Week 4 Glossary

annex:

Dictionary:
annex ˈanɛks
A building joined to or associated with a main building, providing additional space or accommodations.

Sentence: The annex on 5th street is white and blue.


alcove:

Dictionary:
alcove |ˈalˌkōv|
Noun
A recess, typically in the wall of a room or of a garden.

Sentence: The queen’s alcove looked over her kingdom.


fretful:

Dictionary:
fretful |ˈfretfəl|
Adjective
Feeling or expressing distress or irritation.

Analogy:
Fretful is to unsettled as small is to tiny.


Admonish:

Dictionary:
admonish |ədˈmäni sh |
verb [ trans. ]
Warn or reprimand someone firmly.

Sentence: Bob admonished Jill about going into the Cavern of Peace.


tentative:

Dicitonary:
tentative |ˈtentətiv|
adjective
• done without confidence; hesitant.

Sentence: Joe tentatively listened to Bob’s “advice.”

Chapter 10- Bram

I think that if you were living in Jonas’ society you would need many things to be successful and happy. The first major thing would be being very conforming and trustworthy. You would need to be able to follow rules easily. I can be a little bit of a trouble maker sometimes and I would find this really hard. I’d probably get a lot of smacks. Almost everybody in this book is all polite and conforming. You don’t hear a lot of people breaking the rules. I also think you’d have to be modest as an adult. The penalty for showing your body to another is a major rule. You should obviously have the same kind of things you have here. You should be smart, energetic, fun. Almost all of the people in this society have all these things. Almost all of them are close to perfect.
I think that a lot of my normal qualities like brains, strength, and other things of that sort would help me. The fact that I think for myself would be very hard. I am not very good at following. This would make my life in this society extremely hard. The only job Id be good at it is the Committee because I could give my opinions and they would affect the community for the better.

MVP Allocations

Reminder!! Allocation meetings are tomorrow. Please make sure you have read the booklets and are prepared to discuss all the agencies in them.

Journal Question

In order for someone to be happy in the “Giver” society they would need to not fit into our society.  They would have to be oblivious to the world around them, because you aren’t allowed to ask a lot of questions.  They would have to be accepting because there are weird rules that come up sometimes that you can’t question and you just have to accept.  They must enjoy work and not need pleasure, because the “Giver” society tries to avoid pleasure, i.e. the pills and not having entertainment.  They must enjoy blending in because the society wants everyone to be alike.  Finally, they must follow and never question the rules.

 

I think I would have a very difficult time in the “Giver” society.  I can be curious, I complain, I like change and I don’t like to accept things without knowing what I am accepting. These are all things you need to fit into Jonas’ society.  At times it would benefit me to have decisions made for me because sometimes I have trouble  making up my mind on things.  Also I enjoy biking, although I don’t know if you are allowed to bike for pleasure.   Basically, that society isn’t for me.

-Sam

The Giver Chapter 10

If I was in the “Giver” society, I think that some of my traits would work and fit in, but some of them wouldn’t be acceptable. Being loyal is probably one of the biggest things that would help me because in the society you have to be honest about your actions. If I were to be disloyal and lie, then that would not help me a lot. Being smart would help me because in the society if I was smart I would be able to get a better assignment and would be able to help out the society more. It could also be bad for me because if I’m smart, then I may realize that there are some major things wrong in the society, and I would brake the rules.

My two traits that would make life the most difficult for me would be that I am questioning and a party animal. In their society, asking questions is considered to be extremely rude and is also forbidden. It would make my life too difficult if I were to always be asking to many questions. Also being a party animal would not be good because it would probably brake many of the rules, and it could get me in a lot of trouble with them.

Danny

Journal Question

In the “Giver Society” you must act a certain way or else you may be in risk of getting released. I think it is dumb that everyone must be the same and follow a strict set of rules. When everyone acts the same, it results in a boring society where there is no free speech or individuality. Some traits that I have realized in the society so far are oblivious, unsophisticated, accepting, unaware, gullible, wise, polite, obedient, honest and similar. All these traits are the key to be successful in the giver society, but in a normal society these traits could sometimes lead you to bad situations.

I think my traits would not go together well with the giver society in some cases and in others they would. I am a very independent thinker and like to share my own opinion one things. In the giver society, this is no allowed and you must obey all rules. In other words, you do not have any say towards anything. I am also very questioning and I like to learn more through my questions. In the giver society you are not allowed to ask questions as a normal person. On the other hand, I am an honest person and am happy to tell someone how a feel. In the giver society, this is important during the “sharing feelings” or “dream telling” activities.

The giver journal

I would think that the ideal personality traits for someone who lives in the giver society would have to be a follower. Everyone is very close to being exactly the same and a ‘perfect’ person. If they are not like the other children, adults or elders they will get released and no longer be part of the community. I think that some of the most useful traits in this society that we don’t always have is truth and politeness. Some of the bad traits would be like no asking questions and no being unique. In the society all it is is a strict schedule for the day. There is only a little way for being unique in this matter.

In this society I would probably not fit in very well. I only lie when I have to and I like to ask many questions about everything. If my best friend was being released I wouldn’t just stand there and watch him or her be released into who knows where. I would stand up and tell them to not release my friend. For this act I would probably be released. The other part I don’t like about this society is the dream and feeling sharing with your family. As we grow we get different thoughts and dreams that are usually better to keep to ourselves. 

-Janine-

Journal Question

It all depends on your personality, if you are a fun, energetic, athletic and love of playing games you will get a job that satisfies you which will obviously make you happy. Also if you are very accepting and follow the rules without asking questions you could fit in much easier. If I were in the “Giver” society I think that since I am a very talkative and engaging person which helps me meet a lot of people and make a lot of friends. On the other hand, if I lived in the “Giver” society I wouldn’t fit in very easily because I talk out of hand and my grammar isn’t very good. SMACK!

Giver Questions

In the Giver society every one must have the same personality traits or else they would get released. No one is the exact same but I think everyone in the society acts very similar. The traits that I have noticed in the society that are similar are that they are oblivious, gullible, following, conforming, unsophisticated, average, truthful, polite, accepting, bliss and similar. I think that some of these traits are good to have but also it is not always the best to be completely accepting and following.

In the society of the Giver I think my traits would fit in alright. Unless the society was proposing something outrageous I would probably follow and not argue. In the society the people who enforce rules are highly respected so I would probably follow and respect them and not give them a hard time. The thing that would not work for me is I am a quiet and secretive person so I would not want to share my feelings every night with my family. I would probably refuse and get into trouble with the society. I find it weird how they are so open with each other but the people living in the community probably think it is normal because they would not know otherwise. 

Journal Question By Jonah 7B

Someone who likes playing games and having fun would make a good trait because you would probably get a good job that would be fun. I am a nice person and always excited so maybe I would get an exciting job. My bad trait is that I am not so patient which is bad because you need a lot of patience in some good couriers.

Journal Question By Jonah 7B

Someone who likes playing games and having fun would make a good trait because you would probably get a good job that would be fun. I am a nice person and always excited so maybe I would get an exciting job. My bad trait is that I am not so patient which is bad because you need a lot of patience in some good couriers.

Glossary Homework Due Tuesday, May 12

(1-2 Paragraphs)

What type of personality traits would make someone successful and happy in the "Giver' society? Which of your traits would help you and which would make life difficult?

Homework

1. Journal Question (Tues) Blog bonus available
2. Glossary words (annex, alcove, fretful, admonition, tentative) (Wednesday)
3. Glossary test (Fri)

Blog Bonus: Birthmothers

My opinion on the assignment of a “birthmother” is mixed. It is honourable in the sense that you are chosen to create the children that form the society. Without the role, new generations would not be possible and the society would one day come to an end. This is a very good reason to why birthmothers can be important.

You can also look at from a different point of view. Being a birthmother may seem like you are being used. All the work put towards having three children will not allow you to gain anything, and you are not even able to keep the children. I believe that this is not fair and that the birthmother should receive some credit.

Chapter 6 Questions

Hi Mr. G

I can't print so I hope you can accept this

                        Chapter 6        

 

1.   A child replacement is a child that is given to a family who has lost their previous child. Is it a good thing? Yes and no. Yes because you get a new child because your previous one had been lost, and no because it can bring back bad memories and sadness from the time you lost your child.

 

2. The release of the Elder is a joyful celebration where the Old go to a “better place”. While the ceremony of Loss is a more solemn event on which we commemorate a loss in the community.

Which I think is two separate things.

 

 

3. I think Jonas trusts the committee because they have done this so many times before and our very skilled. Also they have watched every step of Jonas since he became a child. 

Blog Bonus Questions

I disagree with Jonas' mother because if you are chosen to be a birthmother it means that you are worthy of doing a lot of work and you have the ability to enhance your society physically.

Noah

Bonus Question By Jonah

Bonus Question

I think it is still bad because when you are a birthmother you are being used.
You get luxury for three years and then you are demoted to labor.
It is like you are thrown to the dump.
I would never want to work as a labor worker my whole life because I would have nothing to live for.

Chapter 6 Questions

1. What is a "replacement child"?
2. Compare the Ceremony of Loss with the release of the elderly
3. Why do you think that Jonas trusts the Committee to choose an appropriate assignment for him?

Homework

1. Chapter 6 questions (Wed)
2. Glossary (solemn, fragment, reluctant) (Wed)

The Giver Chapter two

The Giver chapter two: Journal Question

From my perspective, being assigned a lifelong community job at age twelve seems unfair. What happens if your interests or aspirations change? What if you grow to become bored or tired of your job? How should you know what you want to do for the rest of your life at such a young age? In Jonas’ society the twelves each year have to go through this situation.

I do recognize that the jobs are assigned according to likes, strengths, interests and aptitudes, though they can easily change as years go by. The Elders whom assign the jobs try their hardest to choose a job that fits the child. This can satisfy a child, but often can disappoint a child’s dream of being a certain job. This raises the major issue of assigning jobs. Receiving a job you dislike can affect your whole life. I believe that this is unjust to the citizens and that they should be able to speak up for themselves without having the risk of being released.

I think I would be assigned a job to help others. Weather it is a doctor, social worker, or counsellor I cannot choose yet. I enjoy taking care of others, so I believe any form of a helper would be suitable for me.

-Aviva 7A

Assingments

I think that the assignment you are assigned is according to how good you are with different skills like if you are good in hand eye coordination you would have a better chance of getting assigned to a doctor, or a job that requires good hand eye coordination. I believe this is a good process and has the right idea, but you don’t get to choose what job you want. They should give you a list of the different jobs you would be best suited for; you would get to choose what job you wanted, this would make the government and the people happy that you got a job that you picked and a job that you are good at. I don’t have a clue what job I would be assigned because I am okay at sports, but they don’t have sports, I also like to take pictures, but I don’t believe that they have a newspaper or need for photography, I believe that I am like Jonas, I would be apprehensive about my job but i am exited to find out what job I would receive, maybe I would receive whatever job Jonas is getting.

By Micah Berlow

Part of Journal #2

The jobs are chosen by what your hobbies are. For example if someone liked to play with little kids they might be a Nurturer. I think that this is not a good idea because some people play with things like toy guns but they would not want to be in the army or be a police man, they might want to be a doctor or a teacher. They play with the toy guns just for fun not because they want use them in real life. The Elders in the society choose what they think would suit you best.

Giver Journal #2

The Giver Chapter 2:

Q: How are jobs or “Assignments” chosen for twelves? What are your thoughts on this process? What job might be “Assigned” to you based on the talents, skills and interests you have shown over the past years?

A: In the ceremony of Twelves, jobs are chosen by what your interests are. The Elders observed the kids, and decide on something that they believe the kids would enjoy and be good at. In the story, Jonas father was chosen to be a Nurturer because as a kid he spent a lot of his time with the newborn kids.

I find the process kind of unfair. The kids don’t get to choose their jobs; the Elders choose them for them. Some people may argue and say that it’s good, because their “Assignments” are based on the kid’s interests. I disagree because it doesn’t let the kids choose their own jobs; it makes them do a certain thing. I don’t like the idea of it, but in the book it sounds like it works well for them, because all of the kids are happy with what they get.

I may be assigned in something that has to do with math, because it’s pretty easy for me and I enjoy it.

THe Giver Glossary

Click Pictures To Enlarge!!!

The Giver Journal Entry #2

1) It is chosen by the Elders of the community. Over the years they watch the kids to find which job will best suit them. Except for the two years before they get their job, the Elders look very closely at their marks and especially at what they do during volunteer hours.

2) I find this way of choosing jobs good and bad. Since Jonas’ community is small the Elders will be able to know everyone. But, if the community is like the size of Vancouver, there will be too many kids and too little Elders to asses them.

3) I think that in our world I would probably be given the Job of something to do with Investing Money because that is what I am strong at and that is what I also hope to be.

Journal # 2

Journal Entry #2

I think there is a good thing and a bad thing about it.

The good thing is that the job your are assigned is fit around you, and your personality and interests. Which can be a good thing.

The bad thing is that you can’t chose what you get as your job. Why is it bad? Because how about in a year you have a whole new mindset and interests.

What I would think I would be assigned? I think I would be a doctor. I love medicine and helping people. The background is so big and needed.

Journal 2 By Jonah

In the Giver you are assigned a job from the elders. They give you a job on your personality and interest. I think that this is bad and good because you might get something that you like or something that is bad and also if you liked doing something when you were younger and as you get older your interest changed.

Everyone in my family thinks I would be a good lawyer because I am a man of justice and fair. I think everything should be even. I think the elders would make me a professional tennis player. I play tennis from 2 to 4 days in the week and compete in BC tournaments. My training coach says that I will soon be in provincial tennis. If I had to chose a favorite sport I would pick tennis. My favorite activity is fishing. I have been fishing since I was 5. Now I go fishing mostly every weekend. I caught my first fish in Penticton lake Okanagan.

The Giver Journal Entry

When you are eleven the elders take notes about you for a couple of months they base your chosen job on your actions. I do not agree with the way the elders choose the jobs because as you grow and get older you look at life differently, your actions change and so does your personality. I think that age twelve is too young to choose a job for your whole life. Lets say you were given a job that you did not like or thought it wasn’t right for you would not be able to change it you also have to be with the kids in you group for your job.

I think I would be “assigned to be a teacher for little kids because I love being around little kids I also chose this job because that is what I am told by people I know.

Sharon Ardon 7B

The giver journal 2

I personally think I would be a dentist or a doctor. My mom says “with the patient and skillful hands like yours you could use them for anything you want like being a dentist or a doctor.”

The assignments for Twelve are chosen for them according to their strengths and weaknesses.  The elders are always watching the kids play around and recording things they do well and things they do wrong. Those notes later go to choosing their jobs.

My thoughts on this are both positive and negative. Positive by when you are stuck choosing a job and don’t know what you are capable of doing, other people decide what you should do according to what you are capable of. Negative by being too young to choose or get a job.  You also might have many useful skills in an area and you just don’t show them to the community.  Later at the ceremony those skills are trashed and never used.