Amelia's English Blog

Prompt Response:  I discovered from comments on my poster and on my peer's posters that the visual creativity and design can influence a person's opinion and understanding of your ideas. If your poster is well organized and visually compelling, a person is going to want to look at it and read it more. I have learned that people really enjoy a lot of colors and a lot of pictures. The feedback influenced the way I think about my creative choices because it shows me that powerful writing isn't the only part of an effective poster and that the creativity and appearance also matters.  Summary: Today in class we commented on our classmates posters. Reflection:  I got better practice receiving and giving feedback.

Prompt Response:  I think the topics that challenged me the most were the ones about criticisms I have heard from others, specifically about appearance and being told you wouldn't succeed. I think these challenged me the most because I had to think about the negative ways people view me which can be tough. I worked through the challenge by thinking about things that happened to me when I was little. I've had more time to think about those moments and process them so it was easier to write about them. Summary: Today in class we made our presentations using similes and metaphors. Reflection:  I got better figurative language skills and practice making presentations.

  Prompt Response:  When writing the metaphors and similes, I learned that I struggle to write about negative stories about myself using figurative language. I think if I talk about my struggles I tend to want to make it more humorous and less serious. Writing with figurative language forced me to dig into the feelings and use language and comparisons that evoked the same emotion. In some cases, I started with a metaphor or simile I wanted to use and struggle to make it connect to a story, and other times I struggled to find a way to turn a story into poetic language. Overall, I found that I struggle writing about my struggles seriously. Summary: Today in class we wrote metaphors and similes about our struggles Reflection:  I got better practice writing with figurative language.

Prompt Response:  Over the break, my parents, my boyfriend and I went to the mountains in North Carolina. We stayed at a house with goats living on the property. As we were driving up, the host texted us that two baby goats were born that day. I really liked looking at and petting the goats and I feel like I seriously bonded with one of them. The first full day, we went to Asheville and ate a lot of food and went to the pinball museum. The second full day we went on a hike at Roan Mountain. It was very muddy and extremely windy and towards the end it started raining and hailing a bit but it was still very fun. In the days that I was home, I spent nearly all of my time sewing costumes for Lakeside's musical. It was a lot of work but it was very satisfying.  Summary: Today in class we read and discussed Maya Angelou's Still I Rise. Reflection:  I got better poetry analysis and figurative language skills.  

Prompt Response:  One object to represent how I show love would be a home cooked meal. I feel strongly that food is one of my love languages and it makes me feel really good to cook for other people. I often cook for my boyfriend, my friends and my parents. Another object to represent how I show love is a drawing. With a lot of my loved ones, especially my parents, I can feel awkward writing a sappy note to show love, so instead I will make them a drawing or collage of pictures of us to show my appreciation. My last object would be a blanket because whenever  I have people over I always want them to feel comfortable and at home. I also turn into a very nurturing person whenever my loved ones are sick or feeling down, and a blanket represents this. Summary: Today in class we wrote poems for our loved ones for Valentine's Day. Reflection:  I got better poetry-writing skills.  

Prompt Response:  I  have enjoyed Wild, the nonfiction memoir, the most because I like the writing style a lot and following the story and Cheryl's motivations has been pretty straightforward. The subject matter of the PCT is also interesting and its very entertaining to hear a perspective of an inexperienced hiker trying to accomplish such a feat. I think Fences, the play, was the most challenging for me because it was told primarily through dialogue and you couldn't rely on narration for more in depth clarification on the characters thoughts and feelings. My understanding of this preference could influence how I approach future readings because I know which types of writing are easier for me to follow, and which types I will need to focus in on more to fully grasp the content. Summary: Today in class we finished presenting our Interactive Orals. Reflection:  I got presentation skills and discussion skills.

Prompt Response:  I haven't presented yet, but listening and participating during the other group's Interactive Oral helped me prepare for my own presentation because it helps to get a feel for what kinds of questions the group resonates with. I have noticed that a lot of students have good answers to the questions about personal connections and broader human characteristics. They also responded well to analyzing Cheryl's healing journey. These insights can help my group narrow our focus to emphasize those kinds of questions. Summary: Today in class another group presented their interactive oral. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and discussion skills.

Prompt Response:  On a perfect day with my boyfriend, we would go swimming in the pool by his apartment. When we got tired, we would eat sandwiches by the poolside. Then, we would get ice cream on the walk back to my house. When we got to my house, we would watch a movie while working on a jigsaw puzzle, and we would play the daily New York Times games together. Then, we would cook dinner together and eat it while we watch Jeopardy. Finally, we would go outside and look at the stars.  Summary: Today in class the first group presented their Interactive Oral. Reflection:  I got better discussion and reading comprehension skills.  

Prompt Response:  The best piece of advice that my parents has given me is my mom telling me it is okay to let people go in your life if staying friends hurts you. I had a friend that would make me feel bad about myself, but we had been close friends for a long time and I felt too guilty and scared of letting go. My mom told me that people grow apart naturally and it's okay to give up on a friendship and relationship if it's making your life worse. Hearing this felt like a burden lifted off my shoulders. Summary: Today in class we read a poem for Black History Month.  Reflection:  I got better poem analysis and discussion skills.

Prompt Response:  The most challenging part of working in a group is having to rely on others to complete their share of the work. A time when a group assignment did not go as well as I planned was in my AP Biology class. We had to make a concept map of vocabulary terms and I had already done more than half of the words, but the project was due in just a few days and no one else had touched it. We had to complete this same project for every unit so this problem was reoccurring. On some occasions, I ended up doing all the work myself, but on other occasion my group members pulled through the night it was due. I think the issues was our different working style because I like being prepared and having things done ahead of time while my peers preferred to procrastinate and do things at the last minute.  Summary: Today we started work on our Interactive Oral projects. Reflection:  I got better reading comprehension and skills practicing making a lesson.

Prompt Response:  The most challenging part of writing an essay for me is brainstorming. I have a hard time coming up with convincing arguments and supporting details, and an especially hard time if I have to come up with the prompt or topic of the essay. Once I have my ideas written down, the rest of the writing is easy. I don't really struggle with putting my words together and forming a thesis. I also think I'm pretty good at writing argumentatively and persuasively.  Summary: Today in class we took notes on the writing process and practiced brainstorming.  Reflection:  I got a good review on the process of writing an essay.

Prompt Response:  A moment in my life that felt like the beginning of a powerful story was when I first started cooking. I remember one summer where my parents wanted my brother and I to start making our own lunches. I started getting way too into it and planning out menus for the week. I was cooking weird things like pieces of ham torn up in spaghetti but it felt like the beginning of my passion for cooking. It felt like a turning point because it was the first time I was providing for myself and I really found enjoyment in it. Summary: Today in class we finished presenting our Chapter 6 projects. Reflection:  I got better discussion and reading comprehensions.