FINAL REFLECTION BLOG

Prompt: via Mrs. Larson's Blog

     One very important thing I learned this year from Mrs. Larson is time management. You can't hold off all your work the last minute, I learned that the hard way. It just comes to show that it isn't responsible at all. Getting all your work done on a Thursday night kind of sucks. I like spreading out over the week like I have learned in this class, it just makes more sense that way. This is a skill needed throughout your life.

     Another very important thing I learned this year from Mrs. Larson is how to stay focused and on task. Honestly, I still do need a little more work on this, but I know for a fact I have improved since I was a the first day of 7th grade. If you aren't on task you are wasting time, or how Mrs. Larson likes to say it, "Come on people. You are wasting precious moments of your lives. Stay focused." :)

     A final important thing I learned this year from Mrs. Larson was how to make an objective summary. I thought at first an objective summary included quotes. I know now that that is what a regular summary needs. An objective summary is supposed to focus on the central idea of a text, but restate it in your own words, no textual evidence. Only the important details, not minor ones. I now know that, I am glad I do.

     Something we did this year that I will remember for the rest of my life is how to create a Works Cited list, and the citations in MLA format. It is a very important life skill people need to have in any job, and even when we are in high school and college. When we are writing essays we need to state our sources. Instead of just copy and pasting the link we need to give full credit to the people that helped us with our essay. I think creating a Works Cited list is very important to remember throughout your life as a student and as a worker.

     The nicest thing someone has done for me in this class was whenever there was a vocabulary test Siari would study with me. She didn't mind at all and I actually did better because she would give me tips or advice.

     Something I taught my teacher was that even the most obnoxious and talkative students (me) can make progress and actually do what is expected. I can stay on task, or at least try to when told to. I get all of my work done on time and most meets or exceeds standards.

    The area I feel I had made the biggest improvements on was as simple as comprehending what I was reading. I understood what I was reading and could answer questions and tell a summary. I wasn't there reading and having no idea what I was reading.

     Something I accomplished this year was reading more than 20 books. That was my goal, and I read 28 books in total this year. I think is is my best year and it doesn't even end until July. I hope that at the end I would have read 35 books, that's my goal. The most challenging part this year for me getting all my homework done and study for vocabulary. On regular weeks we have an AoW, Blog, any other extra homework assigned based on the lesson we are doing, and Vocabulary. I have so far turned in all my work on time and completed the homework needed.

     The best piece of writing I have done this year was my Argumentative Essay to the Governor. I put every reason and statement about why I am for Death with Dignity. I clearly backed it up with evidence and interpretation. Even had all my sources in my Works Cited list in MLA format. It was by far the best essay I wrote that year, and probably any other year considering that I have more knowledge now that I did when I was 8, 10, and 12 years old.

     Of the books I read this year my favorite was The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It really just showed problems that regular people face very clearly. I especially liked how the main character, Charlie, wrote to a person (he did not know personally) who listened to what he had to say. That was the format throughout the whole book, him writing a letter to someone he had no idea about. It really gave a different approach then if it was from different perspective. I just enjoyed it so much and recommend it also.

     Advice I would give to students who will be in this class next year is two things: 1. Time management is very important if you don't want to fail this class. Like I said in the first paragraph you would have to do all your work on Thursday night and trust me it really sucks. 2. Think outside the box. You were put in this class for a reason, don't be basic and just think of meeting the standards. Go over what you are expected to do, and be successful.