Night: Week of 3/23/15

Prompt: Describe what has happened so far along with your thoughts on the story.
Pages Read: 0-43

So far in the story, it takes place in 1944, in the village of Sighet, Romania. In which a twelve-year-old Elie Wiesel spends much time and emotion on the Talmud and on Jewish mysticism. His instructor, Moshe the Beadle, returns from a near-death experience and warns that Nazi aggressors will soon threaten the serenity of their lives. However, even when anti-Semitic measures force the Sighet Jews into supervised ghettos, Elie's family remains calm and compliant. In spring, authorities begin shipping trainloads of Jews to the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex. Elie's family is part of the final convoy. In a cattle car, eighty villagers can scarcely move and have to survive on minimal food and water. One of the deportees, Madame Schächter, becomes hysterical with visions of flames and furnaces.

At midnight on the third day of their deportation, the group looks in horror at flames rising above huge ovens and gags at the stench of burning flesh. Guards wielding billy clubs force Elie's group through a selection of those fit to work and those who face a grim and improbable future. Elie and his father Chlomo lie about their ages and depart with other hardy men to Auschwitz, a concentration camp. Elie's mother and three sisters disappear into Birkenau, the death camp. After viewing infants being tossed in a burning pit, Elie rebels against God, who remains silent.

After reading about this I was horrified by the events that had happened. When they had mentioned that infants were being tossed in a burning pit, it kind of reminded me of an article someone had that talked about children experiments that had happened during the Holocaust. I didn't really think that this would be true at all. In fact it just shows just horrifying and unbelievable this historical event was. There are many things in this book that the character talks about that I didn't know happen real life. But I guess it just shows that there are a lot of things we still don't know about the subject especially since the topic is so broad.

I commented on: Carlos, Diego, Sarai

Holocaust Aow Impressions

Take a moment to reflect upon your impressions of what you have learned from the array of articles in at least two well written paragraphs, using evidence from your graphic organizer.

This week everyone had articles related to the Holocaust, and it really helped me learn more about the subject. Although, they were mostly all about survivors, their stories and experiences were still very interesting to hear. For example, in Isabella's article, she talked about a Holocaust survivor who had hid from the Nazi's for 2 years. Apparently though, he hadn't told anyone he was a survivor for 60 years. Not even his family knew. I found this to be really surprising. However, I would kind of want to know why he wouldn't tell anyone for such a long time. 


Another article that I found interesting was about the actual number of concentration camps constructed by the Nazis. 42,500 against the predicted 7,000. When I heard this I was left in complete awe. Historians say that the Holocaust had an estimated 6,000,000 casualties, but once they found out the actual number of camps I wonder how much that number will go up by! Other topics I was interested in were Josef Mengele's experiments, how descendents of those who survived the Holocaust have altered stress hormones, and survivors meeting their liberators.

Overall, I really liked this week's gallery walk. I feel like I've learned more about the Holocaust, even though we already had done some research on it. However, this is a very broad topic and there are still things being discovered today. But this is still a good way to learn more about it. 

I commented on: Amelia, Marisa, Nadrian

Berlin Memorial Reflection 3/19/15

Based on our Berlin Memorial Activity today in class, take a moment to reflect on what you learned about the Jewish decrees established during the Hitler years.

1- What did you learn?2- Why do you think this monument was built?3- What did you notice about the number of laws passed in certain years?4- Which restrictions do you think you would have the most trouble dealing with and why?

The day we were supposed to do the Berlin Memorial activity, I wasn't there. However, on Friday I looked at the wall and saw all the laws that were passed during the years. I've noticed a lot of things, some that were even shocking and absurd to me. I learned that from 1933-1945 Jews were discriminated horribly, and weren't allowed to do almost anything. As time went by, it just became worse. Jews were isolated from everything and could only do so much. 

As for the monument, I think it was built so it can remind people of how the past was, and how it should never occur again. 

When I looked at the laws passed throughout the years, I noticed a variety of things. I had taken notes on how many laws were passed during 1933-1945 and have concluded that the most laws were passed in the years of 1938 and 1942. In 1938, eighteen laws were passed against jews, and then in 1942 sixteen laws were passed. However, there were also times when there were no or very few laws passed. For example, in 1943 three laws were passed, while in 1944 there were none. Then in 1945 there was only one law that was passed stating that official acts documenting anti-Jewish actions were to be destroyed. This can be because at that time Germany was being defeated in world war II. 

I think the restrictions I would have most trouble dealing with is the one in 1939 where it stated that Jews can be thrown out of their homes without notice and without compensation. Just knowing that you can be thrown out of your home at any time is disturbing. People live there and grew up there only to be thrown out is just completely absurd. Another one I would have the most trouble dealing with is the law in 1938 stating that Jews are to add middle name of "Sarah" or "Israel". Now that just utterly disgusts me. I say this because your name is what makes you special and different from everyone else, and to be forced to add a specic middle name is just horrific. Especially since the reasoning behind this is too characterize from who is a jew and who is not. 

I commented on: Autumn, Jenna, Marisa

Third Quarter Reflection

Of the books I have read this quarter, 45 pounds would have to be my favorite. I just related to it in so many ways, and in the end it inspired me to become a better person. Most books that I read are mostly fiction, but they don't really have a message that speaks out to me. Although this story was also fiction, I think it taught me a lot. It didn't necessarily teach me something I didn't know, but more as in a different view. For example, I've always looked at things a certain way, but this story showed me an unfamiliar but better side of things.

I think the biggest improvement I've made in the third quarter is my vocab. Instead of studying last minute like I have before, I've made some additional time for studying. Not only that, but I've also using different types of tools to help me practice. For example, quizlet. I think quizlet has really helped me a lot with this, especially with all the different types of study modes you can use. To review, I usually use the flashcards first, then play the games they've created. After all of that, I then create a quiz to see how I'm doing or where I need more help with. But overall, I think I've done fairly well with my vocab tests lately and I will for sure continue to use this strategy in the fourth quarter.

The most challenging part of third quarter for me was turning in assignments on time. I'm not quite sure why but this quarter for me went fast and it just added pressure to me. My problem is that instead of spending my time trying to relieve my stress and do my assignments, I use all of that time to complain about how much stress I have and ignore those assignments. Then when I turn in everything, I end up re doing it, which takes even longer. It wasn't a problem for me in the last two quarters, but for some reason it was this time around. I hated this, and I really hope I come up with an effective plan to avoid this in fourth quarter.

I commented on: Gianna, Amelia, Marisa

Group Bio-Poem for a Literary Character: Week of 3/9/15

Cath Avery

Quirky, Smart, Imaginitive, Independant .

A character in Rowell's story.

Lover of fanfiction, fantasy, and writing.

Who notices, that no one really understands her.

Who feels, lonely, tired, and confused.

Who learns, that it doesn't matter what people think of you.

Who says, "I'm the kind of girl who fantasizes about being trapped in a library overnight.” 

Who used to think that no one cared but now knows that someone does.

Major character in Fangirl.

A book that shows to not be afraid to be yourself.

I commented on: Isabela, Jenna, Isabella P

Aow Impressions: Week of 3/6/15

This gallery walk was one of my favorite ones yet. I learned so much more than last time, and I was also able to hear almost everyone's topics. Some articles were also really similar, and somehow connected in a way. For example, Citlalli and Abdiel's articles. Citlalli talked about the ISIS girl Aqsa Mahmood who was originally from Scotland and had joined ISIS in 2013. She apparently recruits girls from social media such as, twitter and tumblr to also join ISIS. Now in Abdiel's article, he talked about the missing UK teens who had left their families to join ISIS. In fact, these teens had made connection with Aqsa Mahmood, the girl that was talked about in Citlalli's article. I found this to be rather interesting, and it actually surprised me how this recruiting of ISIS is spreading all over the world.

With all of the variety of topics I was also able to learn some outstanding facts and statistics. In Isabella Perez's article, she talked about the legalization of weed. She brought up a lot of good statistics/arguments that supported why weed should be legalized. For example, when they legalized weed in Denver, the crime rate went down by 17%. Not only that, but the author also brought up a good point when they said that the government can control the use of weed if it were to be legal. I found this topic to be very captivating due to the fact that there has been some controversy over this.

I commented on: Autumn Isabela Isabelle R

Fangirl: Week of 2/26/15

Prompt: What challenges does the main character face?
Pages Read: 105-160

This book is about how this girl named Cath is a major fan of Simon Snow. (from a movie/book series) Cath and her sister Wren ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids. However now that they're older and in college, Cath has been encountering many problems. Since Wren has left from the "fandom", and started living a real life, Cath is now left all alone. Cath still can't let go of Simon Snow and continues to write fanfiction. But now that she's in college and Wren left her, Cath questions herself if she can really start living her own life and contemplates if she is ready to leave Simon Snow behind.

Not only does Cath have personal issues, but she also has a hard time with her dad. Cath always seems to be worried about her father, but Wren always tells her that he's "fine".When he's obviously not. Wren doesn't check on her dad as often as Cath does to see if he's doing alright, and it kind of bothers her. Not only that, but since Wren basically abandoned Cath, she has to deal with her dad by herself.

Later in the book though recently, Cath has been having boy troubles too. It seems as though she's falling for her roomate's ex, which is a tough situation. However, she can't help but fall for Levi's charm. He makes her feel safe and happy, in which she hasn't felt in a long time due to everything that's going on. But when she was invited to a party, Cath saw Levi with another girl and she couldn't help but feel jealous and hurt. Cath later on decides to ignore her crush, but when she needs someone the most, she can't help but go to him.