The OC #2-Shootings

I didn't know much about this shooting before reading this article and I don't know much about any of the previous ones. I don't watch t.v. much and I never watch the news, nor do I read the newspaper or anything news related. I should probably start caring about what's going on, but I don't. I think what happened was horrible, who wouldn't? People were hurt and killed, but this kind of thing probably happens more often than we know. Though, I looked it up and the number of school shootings have gone down quite drastically in the past decade or so. I wasn't really affected by the article that said the shooters bought their weapons from the same place. Anyone, anywhere can get anything easily and it's not that surprising that more than one person buys from the same place. I'm sure there are more than three people buying from stores online. No big deal really. I bet someone else in some other state bought something from, say Barnes and Noble, sometime recently. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Anyways, I really hope school shootings aren't going to become a regular thing and I hope the numbers keep going down, not up. Maybe people should stop being so judgemental. Most shooters are people with poor social lives and got picked on. Some of them have mental problems, but for the most part it's because they weren't treated right and were hurt in the past.

The OC #1-Bloggerific.

I really like this class. It's my kind of class, since it requires no talking. It's a great class for people like me. Those of us who may have something to say, but are too afraid to say it. I like having a chance to think about what I'm going to say. No one just asks me a question and expects me to answer on the spot. That kind of thing stresses me out a lot. Also, I really like computers so any excuse for me to be on the computer is a good thing to me.
I tried thinking of something I wanted to change about this class, but I couldn't really think of anything. It's such a great class. The assignments aren't too difficult, the reading isn't all that bad, and we have plenty of time to get everything done. The only thing I think I might change would be maybe to add choices. For example, with the OC or Research and Linking there could be a few options and we'd only have to pick one or two. So if there's a student who doesn't like, let's say, politics, there could be another options. You could even offer a choice where they can make it up themselves, but you can only use it some specified number of times so it's not just random crap week after week.

Reading and Response Pt. 2-Emily

The story about Emily, and the story she created, just amazed me! I didn't realize how complexly kids that young think. She was not only making a story of things she normally does, but she made it up completely and used everyday stuff in a fiction story. And she was only two and a half years old!! It just amazes me how intelligent kids are at such young ages. Though I'm not totally convinced it's from t.v. A lot of it comes from their environment, how their parents raise them, and how they are taught things at school and at home. If t.v. shows like Blue's Clues and Sesame Street help, then that's awesome.

Reading and Response Pt. 1-Sticky

I didn't realize that shows like Sesame Street and Blue's Clues took so much thought and research. I never really thought about it, but now that I have, it's not actually all that surprising. They feature some intense stuff for kids. Emotions are a big deal to them because they don't get it. My brothers get so confused when one of us gets sad or angry cause they don't know what's happening. They just ask, "What's wrong with (insert anyone's name here)?" Even when we try to explain what's wrong they still don't get it. Watching it on t.v. helps them comprehend it a little bit. Lots of exposure to it in the past, present and future will prepare them for their own emotions. I hope. Or they'll grow up to be heartless, uncaring people. Whatever works.

The OC #2-Sickness and school

Don't you hate it when you get really sick and then your entire life gets messed up? I think there needs to be a way to be cure your sickness and not fall behind in everything. I know I've been more sick in the past few weeks than I ever have. I never get like deathly ill. At the moment I think I have the flu, which I've never actually gotten, and I'm falling so behind in everything. Especially this class. I haven't been allowed to get out of bed for days, though that hasn't stopped me, and I'm super busy lately, too. I have Gymnastics classes on Thursdays and I'll probably miss that, and then rock climbing sometimes that I should be starting, but now can't. Plus I'm missing a bunch of classes at school and I'm already behind from being sick and going to the dentist last week. There needs to be a way for kids to be sick and relax and get better without falling way behind in school. Some kids are super motivated once they get back, but not everyone can do that. If you have any ideas please share them. I'm going to go rest some more before posting another blog. My body doesn't like this whole sitting in a cold kitchen thing I'm doing now.

The OC #1-Welcome to Hello Kitty Hell

Ok, I've wanted to post on this for awhile and should have done it as my blog I'd be willing to follow, but here it is.
Hello Kitty Hell-One Man’s Life With Cute Overload
Hello Kitty Hell was originally a site/blog made by a guy whose wife is probably the biggest Hello Kitty fanatic in the world and became the greatest Hello Kitty site. He started by posting blogs about ridiculous HK things his wife would buy, then other people would send him emails of things they'd find and he'd post them. There are some amazing things like HK Guns, bathtubs, jewelry, computers, valentine's day chocolates, even an HK MMORPG. There are also some other, inappropriate things on there. It's the most ridiculously fantastic website I've ever seen. Whether you hate Hello Kitty or are more obsessed than this guy's wife, it's the best website to go to for a little giggle.

Research and Linking: Cool Schools

One school I found was The Met.
The Met is a small alternative high school in Providence, RI. built by two guys who were given money and told to start a high school from scratch. So they decided to forget about all the common ideas shown in normal public schools and asked themselves "What's best for kids?" They wanted a school that allowed kids to experience different things that they might be interested in and allow their parents to be active in their child's education. The website shows a bunch of statistics about the school, like #1 in the state for Parent Involvement and 94.6% Graduation rate, one of the highest in the state. I think the reason it's such a cool school is because the students aren't forced to take classes about things they don't want to learn about and the teachers and parents are much more involved in the learning process than in other schools. Students there don't go home for things like holidays, not because they can't, but because they don't want to.

Another school I found was Brockwood Park School.
Brockwood Park is located in Hampshire, 60 miles SW of London. It has a about 60 students 14 and older and has the feeling of a large family rather than a boarding school. The students as well as faculty all help to keep the grounds looking nice and really are like a huge family made of people from over 25 different countries. Much like Linworth, the students help plan their individualized schedules, as well as offer their own classes. The curriculum at Brockwood is based on the particular needs, talents, capacities, and interests of each student