what can mr Samec do to make science class more interresting, or successful?

Mr. Samec is a great teacher, and has taught us science descriptively with vivid demonstrations, and tries to have the grade eight classes interact during lessons. But somehow, all the science classes got an averge lower than 70% average. Still, after a huge review session, the average marks were still extremely low. Why did the classes not get a descent average, after all the work done before the tests and activities? Is his class not interactive, or interresting enough? I think that our class understands the basic areas in the science unit that we had our first test on. I just think that our grade is just not used to the format and questions given in the tests. I don't think that the class is used to 'stretching' the knowledge that is already known, so this is partially the reason of why the mark average of the grade eight science test had been extremely low. Since the grade eights are not very prepared for the tests given, I think that we should have class done quizzes that don't count for marks, then gradually changing to quizzes that count towards our marks. This would help the students understand what the test could resemble, and be more prepared for the tests. This could also help reassure the students,(when pressured by the on coming tests.) Another thing that I realized, for math homework, truthfully,I hadn't finished all my homework for parts of the weeks in September. For some people, this could also be a problem, as it was for me in the first month of school. I think that giving a small penalty for unfinished homework would be appropriate, or giving seatwork of what the topic of the homework had (that they had not finished). Giving the student work to do would make the student do what they were supposed to do, and would know the information better. But on the negative side, students should not have teachers chasing them and forcing them to get good marks. This could be a little bit 'over the top' in some teachers' opinions. Lastly, if there were some after school days where people could come and work,ask questions, or review parts of the material, (an established date) would convince people/students to come and ask for help. Acing an established date would ensure that they could get help. Usually, this could convince students to come, instead of an open invitation, or coming to ask questions on their own. To conclude,since the grade eights are not completely used to the tests and material, I think Mr. Samec should give previous tests to prepare the students, as quizzes. I think this should not be counted for marks, but as a sneak peak into the science test. Sometimes, unfinished homework could affect the understanding to the concept being learned, so I think the students should have penalties ( such as detention, homework, or loss of points). I also think that having a club for talking about the subject after school could help the students who want to get help. Other than the information noted above, I don't think that Mr. Samec needs to do any more!

the bolded words are new paragraphs

do I believe in intelligent life outside our earth, in the Universe?

I do not agree in the belief of intelligent life in the universe. First of all, the concept of alien life is not biblical and I for one believe that the Bible is a historically sound document, with all due respect to other religions. Another is that there is no ‘irrefutable proof about it. Even if the bible isn’t considered completely irrefutable, the concept of having aliens in space is substantially more refutable; we have no documented official events nor proof to show that aliens are non-fictional either. On earth, most living things depend on the conversing climates, atmosphere, nutrition etc. Suppose there was supernatural or intelligent life outside our world, then the beings would have to be drastically different from human beings, since humans cannot live in climates other than earth’s perfect chemical balance. Lastly, the Hubble telescope had been sent years before 2013, and to this day has not found any life in the universe. If there were aliens in space, computers, space crafts, telescopes, or ‘rovers’ should have already discovered a new life form in the milky way, or even the vast, empty universe by this point in time. As I am a Christian I may be biased onwards as to the question: ‘if there is intelligent life in the universe, other than those on earth?’ However, I believe what the bible says is true and in reading my bible I find there is no reference to any other intelligent life than those on earth. I have no intention to offend any reader, but God created man in his image and if there were beings on another planet with the same substantial needs as humans, then humans would not be more important than those other beings. However, if humans are in God’s image, surely he would expect humans to be more valuable than those other beings. This would also mean that we should have this information in the written bible, which we don’t. In the technology of astronomy and space, humans have yet to find any irrefutable information on alien life forms. If they had, there would be no more debates against intelligent life outside the earth. But since the ‘events’ happening have no real credulity, or official proof, I definitely take a stand on disagreeing to the concept of ‘alienism’. The Hubble telescope had been sent up a couple of years ago and has still not found any real life forms along the way. What could possibly be outside of the earth’s atmosphere, if nothing has ever found it yet? Along with the Hubble telescope, rovers track down additional information roaming all over planets. Yet they haven’t found any intelligent life yet either. I really don’t believe that there could ever be intelligent life, with all the advanced technology we have today, already. So far, in our view of life, life has to be supplied with a proper climate, nutrition, atmosphere, and more! It would be extremely rare to find a planet, with the specific life sources provided on our earth. If there were aliens, they would basically be extremely different from humans, because of the rarity of the sources that are on earth. If the beings on another planet do not necessarily need all the foods, climate and atmosphere, the aliens would therefore not look similar to us. The aliens would look different, and act differently from us. To conclude, I do not believe in any sort of intelligent life, even if I’ve watched many sources of other examples of alien life forms. I believe in what the bible says, and aliens have no reference in the bible. Our technology has brought us very far in the world of space, and nobody has ever been able to prove that aliens are non-fictional, and still remains refutable. Even if aliens were real, I believe that there would be no possibility of having a planet, or species parallel to human beings. Aliens would look remotely different. In the end, I have no belief of intelligent life, other than the ones on earth, in the Universe.

the bottom 2 mini paragraphs are Not part of the last blog

Is Social Media a good thing or a bad thing?

Social media is a world wide spread of communication, or entertainment. Contacting people on the web, or meeting long lost friends promote the idealized communication in our year. Nobody really notices the consequences of the cyber space when they first log in to an app or website. The click of a button, or a mean comment that just slipped under a social media user, and everything could go wrong. What may seem funny when spoken may not be as funny on the Internet, or through texting. People could get arrested, cyber bullied, charged, fail an assignment in school,or even lose their jobs.At first thought, when a user starts an account, the media provides the positive outcomes of that site, but nobody actually sees what harm could be done by a click of a key, or a picture and a couple of words. In my opinion, I don't think that social media has many good outcomes, comparing to the worse, negative outcomes.

Every day, people use social media instead of using an ordinary telephone. In our time, cyber space seems to drain out everything productive in life. This causes to produce laziness, addiction and unfinished work, (not only school work). Every time a person spends more time on the Internet, the less time their body wants to spend working. This also tunes out real life. Some people say that they apathetically answer to people, because they end up being too connected to their phones. All to include with this, is that people could get 'off track' and spend all their time socializing behind a screen, until they have no more time to finish their homework, jobs, or duties.

On the Internet, nobody knows how a comment is actually meant, behind the screen of a Internet surfer. A mean comment could be a complete joke, as the author of the comment laughs, but behind another screen, the same comment might inflict on a person in the opposite way. People could be severely bullied, if they listen to everything they read on the Internet. Usually, the cyber bully could just sit behind a screen, and potentially never get caught. Sometimes, users end up slipping the wrong word, and sending or posting a comment. The words spreads out, and nobody old actually know what the writer had meant. People could also misinterpret quotes, words or posts. Nothing that is real could actually be described the same way as by texting, posting or using any type of social media network.

The cyber space is a dangerous place to make mistakes, too. By posting pictures, or comments, people can either find something offensive, illegal, or hurtful. Some users probably forget about this important point, because they don't tend to think of what they send, as they just try to post as fast as they could. The outcome of doing something illegally in a picture, is that you could get charged, or arrested by the police. If something is extremely offencive, you will be 'known' for what you did, or by a biast opinion of what your personality is, based on what you posted on the Internet.

Lastly, I find that texting promotes bad grammar, or difficulties with human physical socialization. When a lot of people text, there is usually shorter versions of words used. Even my mother told me that I wasn't allowed to use inproper grammar in emails, but I was allowed to use improper grammar in texting. Nowadays, a lot of people spell incorrectly because of the shortened versions of proper word, making school probably harder. Also, after spending a lot of time behind a screen, they get unprepared to talk to real faces, in real life. If they spend too much time behind a screen, I think this would decrease their communication skills, in the real world. 

In my opinion, I think that social media is addictive, promotes laziness, and gets people off task. I think it provides a habit or danger that never needed to happen, such as cyber bullying. I also think that people get used to inproper grammar, and this ends up decreasing their knowledge. Sadly, people probably end up having a lower self esteem, hiding behind a screen and depending on every comment that a person posts on the Internet about therm.














But in some cases, users leave their personal information out, for a stranger to see. This could create not only easier ways to figure people out of their crimes on the Internet, or



When somebody contacts a person, the most frequent way is to text. This is much 'faster' and

I cant create paragraphs on my blog...

I'm not sure how to make a paragraph on my blog. I started off with paragraphs, but when I published it, the paragraphs just bunched up into one!

If I could talk to someone for a day, who is in history...

         All the time, I hear about my grandfather, how he was dearly loved, courageous, funny, and always smiling. Sadly, I don’t have much of a memory of him, because he deceased after a nap that had turned out to be a hard attack. I don’t remember enough to picture a character of an elderly man, or a solid memory about him to make me ‘know him’. If I had the chance to talk to anyone, I would pick my grandfather. He lived through World War Two, and lived a different life from our modern society. I would be curious to learn about more informative stories about the early nineteen hundreds. I could recall bits and pieces of how he would be loose on rules for me, letting me stomp around the house, and jumping up and down on his bed, flicking his large over hanging lamp on and off. This would usually be against the rules in my family’s house, but when my ‘Deda’ (grandfather in Serbian) arrived with my grandmother, the rules disappeared as soon as my parents left from my attention. Apparently, my Deda had been in the Second World War, being a chef in the army. But he hadn’t stayed in the Serbian force for long, before he got sent away because of his ‘flat feet’. He was intelligent in a way that he’d snuck himself out of the army without going against the laws, unlike his fellow spiritual brothers.
          But also, my grandfather could’ve died in the First World War, because the attackers at the time were advancing towards their town, and my Deda’s grandfather wanted to take him. Instead, his mother refused to let him go with his grandfather. Apparently in the end, the cart that my Deda’s grandfather used to travel with had been stolen, and the bandits had left him behind, shot dead. I thought that nobody else in the world would fit as a better person to talk to for a day,than my Deda, in my opinion. I chose my grandfather, if I had the chance of talking to someone in history, because he died when I was only three, having only a few vivid memories and stories from my grandmother. All the stories that my grandmother retold me always beckoned me to want to figure out the missing information about my Deda’s harsh childhood.
          Ever since I started making a family tree, I searched and asked anyone that might know some stories or names having to do with my family. I thought that the missing pieces could be answered by my grandfather, having my grandmother only knowing so much about his life, history, or family. There were stories about world war two that were so interesting, apparently my grandfather had been trained in the army forcefully, and then almost died in many circumstances. I also would want to see a question from my grandmother. She still cried every time we passed a grave yard, which made me sad. My grandfather had obviously been extremely important and dear to her, seeing that she cried every time anyone mentioned his name. If I could talk to my grandfather for a day, I would talk about his history, and life as a child. I would also ask him about my grandmother, and tell her about what he’d said. I really wanted to unravel the stories that everyone talked about, and I’d ask about the stories that my grandmother told me. I would also tell him about the family, after the years that he missed, deceasing at least nine years ago. Through the years, my other two brothers had been born, and my aunt and uncle had gotten married. Seeing him would be a little creepy, but I’d still try to seek information about his family ‘history’, so I could retell them. From all the stories that I’d heard, from all the people but the original story teller were interesting.
       In the end, I would definitely pick my grandfather as a person to talk to for a day. He was quite memorable to some people, and he was very dear to many. I would ask him about stories of his family, to clarify the ones that my grandmother had retold me. Sadly, I’d never met him as an older child, so I could not possibly know much about him. If I could meet him in person, I could piece some new memories of my grandfather.

the Harrison Bergeron story vs. year of 2081

In the story of Harrison Bergeron, both in the written form (Harrison Bergeron) and the mini film (2081), Harrison Bergeron is the 'main' antagonist towards the government. Harrison is extremely strong and intelligent, his appearance is appealing and he's a giant.  Since the government has become so corrupt following the 213 amendments, in the year of 2081 nobody is legally allowed to be above the standardized 'average'.  The average in the story is considered quite weak, un-intelligent and not as good looking. This point tells us that fourteen year old Harrison Bergeron cannot be able to walk around as a normal citizen.  Harrison and many others become disabled with ear pieces that scatter their thoughts every twenty seconds wearing bird shot weights around their necks or waists, and masks to cover themselves.  Harrison escapes from jail, and takes off his handicaps, on television.  Meanwhile, his father is watching the T.V.  Harrison tries to overthrow the US government but gets executed, and his parents don’t remember a thing.

The movie and the book had the same general idea.  In both versions of the story, they had the same antagonists of the whole country, the Government (or the Handicapper Generals).  The parents of Harrison also had no idea about the fact that their son had died in front of them on the television.  There were a few significant differences between the film and short story.  Harrison wasn’t a giant or a fourteen year old in the movie.  While in the book, he was a giant and fourteen years old.  In the movie Harrison had escaped from jail after having been in jail for over five years!  The breakouts out of jail had been different.  Also, I’d imagined that the movie would have canvas bags full of bird shot, as handicaps to the citizens. Instead, the movie had straps dangling off the people, and metal rectangular weights hanging from them. There were some smaller differences that weren’t very important. In the book, after there was an interrupting news flash, a reporter struggled to read his assigned bullet. As he finally gave up, he handed his bullet to a ballerina, which I suppose was probably a female. I think the movie missed an important point like this, because the ballerina had a beautiful voice, comparing to her monotone correction (which she was supposed to use on television). The movie passed this important point, not showing how disabled everyone in America is, changing the ballerina’s position to another man’s monotone voice. Harrison’s speech on stage had a different point in both the movie, and the book. In the short story, Harrison tells the camera and the studio, that he is the new emperor. He also chooses his ‘empress’ and they dance to defy the laws of gravity, floating off the ground. In the movie, Harrison tries to create a revolt in a ‘life or death’ way, threatening the audience at a theatre that there was a bomb beneath them. There were quite a few differences, but the general ideas of both the movie and book were the same.

Overall, I preferred the book much more than the movie. The fact that Harrison is only a child and gets executed; the audience of the presentation would be much more disturbed than an adult being killed. In our society, it’s much sadder to see a child die (even though it’s sad that an adult dies too). This is part of the reason why I prefer the short story more than the film, because the audience gets in different emotions throughout the story. This made me extremely sad when Harrison gets killed, as opposed to the film, when there wasn’t as much exaggeration, and an outlaw of an adult lay dead on the floor. The costumes in the film didn’t work out as well as I thought the movie would. Harrison had eye liner on, and was scary looking from the start to the very end. In the book, Harrison starts his part with as a terrifying figure on the stage, but is supposed to look at least pleasant in the end, and not as rough. Another minor disappointment in the movie was that Harrison and his empress (to supposed to become) didn’t end up defying the laws of gravity as they danced together on stage. I thought this part of the book could be very interesting in a movie, flying around the stage.  In the movie, they just got shot in front of the camera. In the end, I enjoyed reading the book more than watching the movie.

After the film, my favorite part of the movie was when Harrison’s father hallucinates. While Mr. Bergeron watches television, during a twenty second limit of time, he sees his own son being captured through the doors of his house, by the government, in bits and pieces. But as Harrison’s father’s ears beep and scatters his mind, he began to mix up and mess up his memory as he looks at his front door.  I think the film makers did an excellent job doing that part of the movie. The bits and pieces of Harrison’s arrestment really described how Mr. Bergeron was trying to remember his son, but his memory didn’t last long until he forgot everything!

I enjoyed reading the book, because it changed up the feel of th story many times, between feeling sorry, angry or sad. I enjoyed watching the movie, but not as much as the book. I find that the book was more expressive, very descriptive, and easier to follow.

"Does your teenager need a credit card?" (Agree or disagree)

I don't agree with the text by Miss Smolkin. I don't think that early teens should have their own credit cards, because in my opinion, there is no need if teenagers live with their parents and don't work.

Stereotypically, teenagers don't represent responsibility (overall). There could be so many possible problems that could lead from getting, or even owning  a credit card. The teenager's wallet could be stolen, and if the parents are paying interest for the credit card, there's a chance they'll have to pay after the son or daughter's credit card was stolen. And, usually adding up to the possible money that was used by the robber, the money could add up to large amounts.

Teenagers can also could be tempted to overdo the money,if the parents don't keep track of them, making greater debts. There are so many things to buy in this world, and credit cards provide a very generous amount of 'extra money', making shopping or spending a worse temptation in my opinion.

If I were a parent, I would give or permit teenagers to be loaned money. If by chance they lost the money loaned to them, it could've been much worse if they'd lost a credit card. At least at that point, I'd know to choose if the teenager 'deserved the credit card' from their responsibility.

I'm in favour of not having a credit card, because I don't actually think I need one. I probably won't be in necessity for one, until I start working or go to school where my parents aren't. I never have money on me, or a bank account, I don't have a wallet and my family doesn't really do the 'allowance' activities. This is partially because I don't take the TTC home, but I walk. I don't use money when I go to school, and I don't buy myself things. My parents get me things when I need them ( or on my birthday or Christmas.

In the end, I don't think teenagers should have a credit card, if their parents still buy them food, and
they live with their parents. If they don't really pay taxes, work or live away from home, it's not very necessary. Having a card could bring danger, and unnecessary temptations to overdo the money on the credit cards.

If I could live anywhere...

If I could live anywhere, I would live In Santa Fe, New Mexico, because I have family in the New Mexican state, there's a beautiful scenery in every backyard, Santa Fe is a very artistic part of the world, and there are natural mountains with tons of activity within every season. When I went to visit my aunt's family, everyone in the area was friendly, and as we walked along the roads, we could tell the State was very artistically unique.
I'd like to live in Santa Fe, because of family. My aunt used to live in Toronto, and our families had gotten close. When she moved to New Mexico, she still visited us, and when I was six years old, I became the flower girl for her outdoor wedding. New Mexico had brought a lot of great memories, following by Christmas celebrations. We celebrated Christmas with my aunts family, and we walked along the pueblo homes, (Spanish houses with flat roofs). During the winter celebration, the Santa Fe people place candles in tons and tons of paper bags beside the sidewalks. (This may sound a little fire hazardous, but the candles in the bags have sand surrounding them.) A lot of my family memories in New Mexico had persuaded me to choose Santa Fe ( to live there)
A second reason why I'd want to live in New Mexico, is because the state isn't littered of packed Urban cities. In Santa Fe, where ever you go, you'll see the huge Sandia and Santa Fe mountains behind the city. In the summer, just a couple hours away, is the famous Grand Canyon. During one trip, my dad and his friends took a camping trip in the giant rock canyon. Last year, my aunt got to see the filming of the movie, 'The Lone Ranger'. The movie is in a desert scene, filmed in the New Mexican State. No wonder the crew had chosen the backgrounds of the deserts in New Mexico, having all its wild life!
One of my favorite hobbies is doing Art. In Santa Fe, there are tons of art shops, and artists. New Mexico also has a very interesting native cultural signs that are very unique.  To me, art is an important element, so The third reason why I chose Santa Feis because of the Art shops and the artistic cultures.
The Sandia and Santa Fe mountains have a lot of ski and snowboarding areas,and since I ski, I think
the mountains would be a fun activity. My aunt and uncle told me that they go hicking in the spring,and sight seeing in the summers.
If I could live anywhere, I'd stay in 'safe' North America and live in New Mexico, in Santa Fe. The cultures and outdoor activities made me choose this area.

My opinion on the news article

The 'Do over generation set to experience dead lock shock' article shows a good change in Canada's education.
In my opinion, in the 1990's, the children or students my age were less productive in school, and didn't learn enough at school, to the point that they weren't prepared for University, reality, the working world, or their own future. I don't think that the students around my age, up to High school had enough discipline, or learned responsibility either.
I agree with the article's message, that teachers should be allowed to deduct marks for late or missed assignments. I don't think it was fair to the High school students who'd worked hard to achieve, and brought assignments on time, just to almost get penalized. It was definitely making no sense when I read that students got away with missing assignments, and getting a credit still, when they'd missed almost twenty percent of class!

S.F

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