Technology’s everywhere want to learn a side of the story from a GMS student? Well, if you read on you might learn about my opinions and myself! Whether it be laptops or planned out lessons with information from the computers I am increasingly growing in the ways of 21st century learning. It’s not quite all that science fiction that’s seen in movies of what the future will look like but it is getting fairly close. Only a short period of years ago everyone lived off each other on farms and learned in small buildings put aside for a whole variety of age groups and we have over 500 students here! We use technology in about half of the classes we have and there is always something more that needs to be done in every class so we are always learning.
Frankly it’s a little bit boring to me. The reason why we come to school instead of doing things online at home is so we can interact. When we are zoned out on the computer in a classroom with a group of quite zoned out other kids we are doing quite the opposite. There’s pretty much no reason to be here at all if we aren’t talking to people. I know that if I were to be homeschooled I would be doing the same thing. We should expand our horizons and create environment’s where talking in class is a good thing! In P.E. we are talkative which is expected though other classes that would be expected are not. Art for instance is very quiet though when I am at home I work ten times better with loud music to inspire me.
We can’t run in the halls which makes sense but we need exercise somehow. When we were in elementary school we played on the jungle gym for exercise. A couple weeks ago when I was actually spending time in the gym a supervisor yelled at me and a friend for running around in the gym playing basketball which was a downer because its winter and we cannot run around anywhere else! Do they expect us to be nerds and play on the computer 24/7!? I just hope we get something active we can do at school because the obesity rates are up and it doesn’t seem like they are going down. Some classes are even lacking funding to get the supplies that are necessary so we may not be learning as fast as other generations due to the low economy.
Although I disagree with computers we do need to grow in technology. I think teachers, in order to make us more successful learners shouldn’t change to the new technology completely. We can’t forget about the learning strategies that work now and make sure that we aren’t just growing with technology but adapting. Some technological equipment we use aren’t necessary like microwaves. In cooking we could be using the stoves and ovens to make interesting dishes we do things that I could make in 5 minutes at home, for my microwaves are just as good. As well as students needing to learn I find some teachers, should learn more.
I really hope that we can have increased funding with the growing amount of technology we do need and for the non academic features of school with which teach us important traits that we need to survive in the world. Also with the ban of electronic devices we bring to school it doesn’t seem like it will be a good way to adapt. Successfully, working in school is a lot easier with an IPod in one ear; IPod’s should definitely not be banned.
Standing by my decision, I think that we need to slow down and think about how we want to learn. We need to make sure we practice communication in the classrooms as well as the halls. We need to look into the new technology, and the way we are looking right now is a great start.
EMILY HITCHCOCK
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
BReAk
OK, here goes. My break this winter was pretty boring, and I made it so. Previous to Christmas I spent my days relaxing allot watching TV and occasionally hanging out with friends. I was fairely happy and my days past by slowly as I zoned out on the colorful screen that seamed to draw in my presence. As I hoped for something to happen I downloaded World of Warcraft on my computer. I was happy. Playing the video game I had forgotten about myself and friends and it controlled my reality of life so much I thought about it when I was asleep. That was my low on my break..... For Christmas nothing exciting happened except for the annual Christmas dinner that my mom makes and we went to go see my uncles new born baby girl <3. After I had sunk into a hole a ring on my doorbell came and some friends popped in they cheered me up, well except for the realisation of my sucky environment but alas things started to look up. The morning after my father took me ice fishing with the Kimble's and we skated all around Shannon Lake and caught a couple fish. It was so great and to get out and spend some time with my dad. When I got home I called up Lexi, Ashley and Kyla and we went snowboarding over at the Elementary School, and had a grand sleepover on new years where we banged pots and pans to wake up the neighbours at midnight. A couple days after I went to the optometrists and got my eyes checked and the test showed up that they were perfectly fine. We then spent the money my parents got me instead of presents because we thought it would be easier that way, I got some art supplies and PS2 games It was pretty awesome then I went home and continued a painting I had started. I love to paint with music on, it just makes my soul soar higher than ever when the wave of joy seeing things I create come together its just beautiful. That was my joy, Art and Spending time with my friends and family. Um I dont have a New Years resolution but if I did it would be to play less wow.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Isolated
On the first day of snow this winter there came a motionless guest who thought just like you and I but no one could hear or acknowledge his existence, this is his story. "On the day I was born" he began, "I was as small as a pea with fresh new ideas of my new found relationship with the world". All was silent and not a creature was stirring not even a mouse but the grandfather clock struck midnight. I could hear a noise coming from the chimney of the house. Silently, I watched a man. He wore a red suit glimmering under a brightly decorated tree wearing a black belt around his waist that held up his large gut and black boots shinning so much you could see a reflection purely by looking into the tip of his shoe. Quickly, he thrust a large bag on the ground with a heap and unloaded rapped up large and small boxes along with little toys. Under the tree, he placed all the boxes and he placed the toys in socks that were hanging above the fireplace, how large they were I feared that giants might live there. Cold, the wind rushed past me and made a quiet lullaby to my ears and I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning I awoke to happy shrieks from small little children. I was not expecting them to be so small considering how big those socks were. Soon enough adults sauntered down the hall with messy hair dressed in long robes. They seamed so happy surrounded by family, I looked around me and I couldn't see any family, or friends. I was alone. They had friends and family to share there joy and I had none I was growing by the day allot larger than those humans. They consumed beautiful creations of food and ripped up the boxes that the strange man left finding something different, new and exciting for each of them.
Children ran outside dressed in fluffy suits and rolled down there driveway that was covered in a foot of snow. I tried to tell them to bring me but I couldn't move or speak because I had no mouth I was clear and it was as though I had no soul. Shrieking, from my soul for them to take me but no one could hear. A taller child approached me but to my surprise he ripped me from my roots and licked me top to bottom. The Child expressed his disgust when he threw me flat on the ground yelling, "It froze with the dirt in the gutter!". I was split. Down the center of my body I was split in two and I lay motionless surrounded in snow where I lay for what seemed to be days on end.
One morning I could see the light of day again. Then I realized it was hotter outside, I thought how pleasant it was but then I realized it was burning the flesh that I had left. Horrified, I began to melt when you came up to me and began to talk to me. You seemed a little strange because you could hear me to so I told you how I came to be and my story of how I began. Now that he told me his story he said goodbye, and melted into a puddle on the ground.
The next morning I awoke to happy shrieks from small little children. I was not expecting them to be so small considering how big those socks were. Soon enough adults sauntered down the hall with messy hair dressed in long robes. They seamed so happy surrounded by family, I looked around me and I couldn't see any family, or friends. I was alone. They had friends and family to share there joy and I had none I was growing by the day allot larger than those humans. They consumed beautiful creations of food and ripped up the boxes that the strange man left finding something different, new and exciting for each of them.
Children ran outside dressed in fluffy suits and rolled down there driveway that was covered in a foot of snow. I tried to tell them to bring me but I couldn't move or speak because I had no mouth I was clear and it was as though I had no soul. Shrieking, from my soul for them to take me but no one could hear. A taller child approached me but to my surprise he ripped me from my roots and licked me top to bottom. The Child expressed his disgust when he threw me flat on the ground yelling, "It froze with the dirt in the gutter!". I was split. Down the center of my body I was split in two and I lay motionless surrounded in snow where I lay for what seemed to be days on end.
One morning I could see the light of day again. Then I realized it was hotter outside, I thought how pleasant it was but then I realized it was burning the flesh that I had left. Horrified, I began to melt when you came up to me and began to talk to me. You seemed a little strange because you could hear me to so I told you how I came to be and my story of how I began. Now that he told me his story he said goodbye, and melted into a puddle on the ground.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Exhilarating Thrill of Winter
When I woke up and saw the snow, I was reminded of a bright summer day the way everything glowed when the sun's rays hit the ground. Tired, even though the nights were longer, when I opened my door I had a burst of energy and excitement and all exhaustion disappeared. Curiously, I left for school bundled up with my scarf and the rush of air chilled me to the bone. The air swiftly pushed through my entire house like a jet through a cloud. Chipper, I walked outside and with every hefty step I launched myself a little closer to school. Shivering, a gust of wind past by, as if to chill my ears so much to appear like they were red as ruby's and to my face as pale as the snow itself. The air was as deep, heavy and cold as an iceberg and slowed down my pace, and my heartbeat.
When I got to school, I was so relieved and warm that I took off all my winter gear. I sat in my class and looked at the window moaning to be released back into the snow. School was long. I waited, and waited, until the final tick of the clock alarmed the bell and I ran straight outside just to escape the silence of the classroom that seemed to numb my already stressed brain.
The snow had settled onto the ground and the sky was beginning to clear into a bright blue sky. Thrashing, I broke down the bulky snow banks that the snow plows had recently made. Joyfully, I jumped face first into the snow and made a perfect snow angel. Snow had fallen over every surface, and highlighted all the beautiful features of the trees and hilltops. I slid down the hill which took me so much energy and struggle to climb with ease and grinned a huge smile which seemed to amplify my happiness.
I walked in my door and piled all my cloths in a big wet heap on the ground. Satisfied, of the snowy experience the warmth of my house kept me inside. As my kettle warmed itself up and I slouched down on my couch I thought to myself silently for a while. I was home.
When I got to school, I was so relieved and warm that I took off all my winter gear. I sat in my class and looked at the window moaning to be released back into the snow. School was long. I waited, and waited, until the final tick of the clock alarmed the bell and I ran straight outside just to escape the silence of the classroom that seemed to numb my already stressed brain.
The snow had settled onto the ground and the sky was beginning to clear into a bright blue sky. Thrashing, I broke down the bulky snow banks that the snow plows had recently made. Joyfully, I jumped face first into the snow and made a perfect snow angel. Snow had fallen over every surface, and highlighted all the beautiful features of the trees and hilltops. I slid down the hill which took me so much energy and struggle to climb with ease and grinned a huge smile which seemed to amplify my happiness.
I walked in my door and piled all my cloths in a big wet heap on the ground. Satisfied, of the snowy experience the warmth of my house kept me inside. As my kettle warmed itself up and I slouched down on my couch I thought to myself silently for a while. I was home.
When I woke up and saw the snow, I was reminded of...
Ideas....
- a bright summer day the way everything glowed when the suns rays hit the ground
- the door opened and a chill blew through the house like a plane threw a cloud
- the snow highlighted all the features and bumps of the ground
- it was silent other than the wind blowing threw my hair
- chilled ears
- tobogganing after school
- sitting in class waiting to be released into the snow
- happily pillowing threw bulky snow banks
- breathing like the air is as heavy and cold as an iceberg
- long nights that make you even more tired than the summer
Words
- moaning
- highlighting
- frozen
- exhaustion
- thrashing
- whirlwind
- joyfully
- chipper
- prolonged
- excitement
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Had a bad day
Crushed, as I sat on a rock and stared at the house and trees around me. A young child such as myself being denied privileges that older kids had, that was age discrimination. I was just as mature as my older brother and sister, maybe I ate a little more sloppy and got a bit more dirty but, how can my parents think they know how to measure maturity. They wouldn't even let me walk around the corner to buy some candy by myself or be outside past 8pm! Laughing, when my parents left me alone my brother and sister would pin me to the ground. They said "I" was annoying, well I wasn't going to take this lying down even though I was pinned to the ground I squirmed and kicked but eventually I was so exhausted I gave up. I was mad. Angered as my parents came home I told them what happened I figured I'd show them who was boss! The reaction I got was not what I expected, they got mad at me for being a tattle tale, can you imagine that? Furious, humiliated and sulking I stomped out the door and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. On the rock there I was sad and discouraged. Even though I was young, I knew I would be in charge when I grew up!
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