Outside Reading

I have just got through reading from chapter four to eight. The chapters seemed to get lenghty at the end but I enjoyed them. I didn't enjoy them as much as I did the first few but they were ok. There weren't as many clues that caught my eye these few chapters but i did notice one that had me on the heels of my feet. Warrent gets into the poetry club thats after school, and bonds with the group. Warrent develops good skills when it comes to rhyming words and relating phrases. A similar person in the group who has the same interest as Warrent is named Johnnie Blackberry. Johnnie is in the 11th grade and makes a rap group. Their name is the Bombshells. Johnnie takes him under his wing and adds Warrent to the group. Warrent begins to recieve gifts from Johnnie such as exclusive track gear, and the latest shoes. I hope this doesn't go to far, and Warrent begins to get into the things that Johnnie is doing. The story is getting quite interesting and is keeping me curious.

Grams finds out about the gifts beause Johnnie came to their door one mourning to bring him to school in his dodge charger. Grams recognizes the boy beause she taught his mother, father, and cousins at Polk Senior High School in Queens. She told Warrent that he needs to stay away from them because he is a bad seeds. His brother and him were on the news for robbing a corner store and injuring 4 people who worked at the store. She said that they are nothing but trouble. I kind of figured that he was a dealing with violence because he has the nicest car, duffle bags of money, alcohol in his car, and cigarettes. His name also speaks for itself although their is a twist to it. His name is Johnnie Blackberry, I kind of think that because in most cartoons the anti good ones wear black, and that sexactly what he wears. He isn't really goth he just has his own style. Similar to Johnnie Appleseed, he wants to spread their music all throughout the streets of New York and expand another buisness that he's heavily investing in. He never told Warrent what type but he said it was very important.

outside reading-
Monday (12:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.)
Wedensday( 3:45 p.m. to 4:25 p.m)
Friday (11:15 a.m. to 12:34 p.m.)

Outside reading

I've just started reading a book called, "Promises". "Promises" is a story about a underprivellaged who stays in some of the worst conditions in the whole state of new York. His enviorment isn't the best but he seems to have a good understanding of what is right from wrong. His parents are not always there for him. They are hooked on drugs and are never home. So the main character, Warrent leaves the house and goes next door to a women named Grams. Grams isn't really Warrent's grandmother, she is actually a close friend of the family that knows their conditions and wants Warrent to strive. Often times he seems to struggle but Grams always keeps him on track. She always tells him to "Stay on the track." Overall this is actually a good story. It contains some violence here and there but is a real heart warming book. I have only read the first three chapters and it has pulled me in. My interest level has increaded drastically. I love the way the author also known as Warrent tells the story. He has a great personality, and is a very mature kid to say that he is only in the ninth grade. I would advise this book to many readers who follow Paul Langan because the author tells us before you read that he is one of her insperations.

I like how the author uses a lot of different techniques throughout the story. Warrent is actually a track star at his school, and Grams wants him to be successful in that as well but also tells him to stay on track with your education. The author also uses imagery when she talks to Warrent about her parents and how they got addicted to the wrong things even though they were high school scholars in education and sports. And she tells him that she wants him to be her "vow". I noticed that promise also a synonym of a vow. Also his name as well. The author doesn't just use imagery. She also shows us symbolism with certain things that Grams shows Warrent when he comes over. She gives him old poems that she use to write about hard times that she has. And it seems that the poems let loose Warrent's anger with his parents addictions. They are very powerful and I figure that since these poems have such an impact on him that he will eventually begin to write about his problems because he is thinking about joining a rap group after school.


4-1-12 (sunday 3:45 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.) 45 minutes
4-1-12(sunday 6:24 p.m.- 7:45) 1 hour and 21 minutes

Poem Analysis on "Fifth Grade Autobiography" by Rita Dove

"Fifth Grade Autobiography" by Rita Dove

I was four in this photograph fishing
with my grandparents at a lake in Michigan.
My brother squats in poison ivy.
His Davy Crockett cap
sits squared on his head so the raccoon tail
flounces down the back of his sailor suit.

My grandfather sits to the far right
in a folding chair,
and I know his left hand is on
the tobacco in his pants pocket
because I used to wrap it for him
every Christmas. Grandmother's hips
bulge from the brush, she's leaning
into the ice chest, sun through the trees
printing her dress with soft
luminous paws.

I am staring jealously at my brother
the day before he rode his first horse, alone.
I was strapped in a basket
behing my grandfather.
He smelled of lemons. He's died----

but I remember his hands.



I just got finished reading the poem called "Fifth Grade Autobiography" by Rita Dove from our poetry book. From glancing at the title of the poem, I figured it is about someone's past events from fifth grade. I wasn't really sure about what type of poem it was but I think I have a good picture of what it was.

Once I read "Fifth Grade Autobiography", I noticed a lot of different things afterwards. I saw that it was actually a narrative poem which was one of my particular guesses. It is a story that was told about and around a certain picture which describes the enjoyable moments with the family. I was wondering also if the title "Fifth Grade Autobiography" was relevant to like when she was looking through a old template that had her fifth grade experiences. Also I circled many examples of emjambments from a few stanzas.I noticed a lot of imagery in certain stanzas, particularly stanza's 1 and 2. The next one that follwed two which contained a few words that stuck out which revealed feelings toward her brother. At the end of the poem, the poem did a good job to me at exhibiting caesuras which puts like a bold print on the last few words of the line to show more emphasis. In this poem the author does so by describing her grandfather's hand.

Outside Reading

I have been reading this book for about 4 weeks now. And I have finally got through the whole book. To be honest this was a book that took time and patience to read. The story was hard to read, but I enjoyed it a lot. The story was told by two different main characters and their outlooks were so different from each other. It took me several times to grasp the main concept of the story. Although, I don't think that it is impossible to read. I just think that you would have to have the ability to focus no matter what and remember key events in the story so won't be lost.

The one thing that I loved most about this book was the way the main character made his family and his community proud. He went through so much adversity through out the book and never complained. He always found a way to get his self out of it and sometimes it wasn't the easy way. He did so much for himself and for the community as well. He grew up from a developing boy into a man. He is providing for his family and community which is a huge accomplishment.

Outside Reading=

Saturday ( 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.)

Saturday (7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.)

Poetry

We have just started doing poetry this this week and I am so excited!! Mainly because I have always have a thing for poetry since my elemetary days. I never really learned about the different styles, but I always loved rythming. I liked telling stories in a rythmical way. I use to put words together because of the way they sounded and their meaning. I thought writing poetry was so cool. And I am glad that we are learning this because now I will develop knowledge of how to write different styles.

Ever since I've been in the second grade, I've enjoyed writing poetry. I actually did a poem in second grade that placed third in the state. It was only three lines about the colors of leaves in the fall, but it sounded good. When I was young, I always did poems for my journal entries because I loved telling vivid stories of what I'm thinking.

Things Fall Apart

I've previously just read chapters  2 through 3 and I like how the author portrays the story.  the author shows how the main character faces challenges with the absence of his father, and decsion making skills.  The main character doesn't do a good job of making good choices, and he learns the hard way.  Although, he hasn't really had his father in his life.  Most of the time he is learning on his own.
I wonder if the main character will get back up on his feet, and continue his destiny toward making a name for himself and his villeage.  Most of the characters I've read about in previous books have overcame these struggles, btu this character is slowly developing how to make good choices.  I hope this doesn't end well, and leads him to a dark path.

Saint Patrick's Day

Today, is St. “Paddy’s” Day you guys.  St. Paddy Day is a nickname that comes from St. Patrick’s Day.  St. Paddy’s Day is a western holiday that is always celebrated on March 17.  St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland and he passed on March 17, so we dedicate this event to him.  Most people come out and decorate floats to exhibit at various parades.  They also throw different green items for everyone to wear and put on.  Many people come out to these parades to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day.

When I woke up today, I was ecstatic.  I couldn’t wait to brush my teeth, and put some green clothes on with anything else I had that was green.  My family and I went to 2 parades and enjoyed every minute of them.  There were different floats with creative green designs.  I collected a lot of green stuff, but my youngest sister snatched them from me because they didn’t have as much.  I also got a chance to watch a couple of NCAA March Madness games.  I feel kind of bad for the guys who have to play on St. Paddy’s Day because they don’t get the opportunity to go out with their families and go to the parades.  Especially, if they lost and got put out of the tournament.  Any ways, I noticed many college basketball teams had their sponsorships from the various shoe companies send them yellow, and green attire.  Some of the coaches, and players wore green and yellow shoes.  I also thought that the green Baylor jerseys were cool as well. It was a really fun day for me, and I can’t wait for it to come around next year.