Bystanders or Nazis by Maddi Palmer

In the book Night, Elie was more angry and upset with the bystanders of the world, then the Nazis themselves. One reason he was more mad at the bystanders was when he saw the bodies burning. They reached the camp and his mom and sister were separated from him forever. He went with his dad as they needed to pass the inspection. They started moving towards the flames of flesh as he saw trucks of babies and children being tossed into the pits like animals. One by one he saw them burning, hearing their loud cries for help. His body filled with rage as he said almost yelling," How is it possible that men, women, and children were being burned as the world kept silent." He wanted to go and stop hem but his dad reassured him and kept him calm.Another reason why he was angrier at the world than the Nazis was for what they were letting them do. They reached the long barracks and were immediately forced to strip. They took their clothes and shaved their heads. They were utterly and completely humiliated. As he blamed the world for allowing these horrific murders and dehumanization crimes, he watched his father get slapped which enraged him further. They reached another room where they were finally able to sit. Elie's father got a sudden tummy ache and politely asked the guard where the restrooms are. The guard stood back and swung his arm as hard as he could, striking him in the face. Elie felt useless as his father fell to the ground. He wanted to run up and rip the guard into shreds, but due to the circumstances, he knew he couldn't. He hated the world more than ever now. He didn't understand how they could let people do such torturing thing to other humans. These thoughts ran through his head as he said, " I shall never forget that nocturanl silence that deprived me of the desire to live." The idea that the world allowed these crimes to happen to his people and him personaly  devoured his will to even live.  While some people my think that Eli hated the Nazis, however he is actually mad at the bystanders of the world. He blamed them for all of it, for all f the cruelty, and that  they're the reason why  they're going through such devastating things. He just couldn't understand why this was going on and on the inside, he knew the world was to blame. Elie was mad at the bystanders more than the Nazis for these reasons.

Blue is the refocusing sentences

Was She in Her Right Mind by: Cade White

While Elie was on his doom ride to an evil place, Mrs. Shafter had heard rumors, and some of the conditions made her insane enough to see a false fire. Back in Signet, Romania, Moische, a beggar, had told them about how bad the Nazi's were from his experience. Nobody believed him for it was supposedly a rumor. From the United States Holocaust Museum, there are oral history's and historical films that show and tell how some Jews had known where that were going because they heard about gas chambers. Most likely Mrs. Shafter heard these rumors, planting images of fire and death in her mind. Another reason Mrs. Shafter was a hallucinating  could have been from the conditions she was experiencing. The cramped space made it about impossible to breathe; the little to no light made it feel as if she was close to death twenty-four seven, and the little to no food and water made her starve and become dizzy. She was separated from her husband and son which made her lose her senses. All these harsh conditions compacted on her mind could lead to hallucination of a death that she had already heard about. Some people think that she was in her right mind because she was right when the fire came, however, why was she screaming throughout the nights and had to be hit to be shut up. From the rumors to the conditions, Mrs. Shafter had every reason to see the fire and hallucinate.

Joe - The woman on the train

In the book Night, Mrs. Schachter heard rumors about crematoriums  and the conditions on train car caused her to hallucinate the fires from the buildings. The first thing that started the hallucinations were the Rumors. One person she heard rumors from was Moische the beggar. He was deported, but he managed to survive and find his way back to the town. After he came back, he walked around town telling everybody about the horrors to come. Mrs. Schachter most likely heard Moische and heard his horrible tales. Though she did not believe the rumors at the time, the conditions on the train car could have caused her to hallucinate. On the train the Jews had little food and water. They were sleep deprived and the stench was awful.On top of that, she lost her family. The lack of sleep, dehydration, and the loss of her family could have caused Mrs. Schachter to hallucinate about crematoriums and the conditions on the train car caused her to hallucinate the fire.

The Jews were still smiling - Jaylyn

The Jews held content,clueless smiles on their faces before the holocaust because they had faith in humanity. One reason the Jews had faith in humanity is that they were treated well. When the Nazis showed up in the towns of Jews they were kind, gentle, and giving. little did the Jews know that they were only prepping up for horrible times to come. For example, the Nazis would throw bread onto the streets for the starving Jews, earning their trust piece by piece. The Nazis also bought chocolate from the Jews and treated them as if they were friends all along. Another reason the Jews had faith in humanity is because of their strong belief without a clue of what was going on, they didn't believe the things that they should have and did believe the things they shouldn't. They just couldn't believe the such friendly, kind people would show such cruelty. When the the Jews heard things about the Nazis being bad people, they would say things like, that's crazy, or I won't believe that. Once, Ernst Happner, a Jew of a small town once said, "that's what we heard, but we just could not believe it. That was too incongruous." How could they believe that the Nazi's were gearing up to ruin their lives when  they were treated so well? The Jews had strong faith in humanity, so even when the mischievous Nazi's landed in their town, a smile never left their face.

The Night of Broken Glass: A Holocaust Tale

In the years around the beginning of World War II, Jews began to be discriminated at high levels. And when the days grew shorter, November 1 would bring such a chaos to innocent people that during this time period were believed by Hitler and his followers were not human, but alien. Tense air led one family to shut their curtains, turn out the lights, and blow out candles to hide from a waiting monster ready to raid and engulf its victims. Many people crowded around this blank house; heavy growls bellowed against thumping of doors. It stopped. One of the neighbors had pulled out of their house, a scowl draped their lower face, "What are you doing? People are trying to sleep." Pushing out to the front, a ruffian snorted, "These people are Jews. So impure."

"They are not home," the neighbor responded coolly and turned off to their home. With that, the crowd left to another Jewish home, hurling rocks through windows. Five, in fact, slammed the door to the floor and charged in, fists ablaze. Pleading and wails traveled across the room, "Please! Stop!" Nothing worked. Several men swept over, clutching the Jews, and hauled them away like sacks of bread. 

Many hours passed; watery light gleamed down on the rubble-clad streets. Dove gray was chased by lavender then pastel yellow as the sun glittered like warm dew. It seemed almost impossible to imagine the night's disaster. Homes lay deserted, glass blanketed around buildings like a clear snow, furniture tumbled out of the cracked doors. In truth, families with Jews and non-Jews together were broken up. Conservation camps would be refreshed with more "aliens." This aftermath would be one that no one, not even the younger    children, could forget. 

-By Brenna H.

Red and Seabiscuit Interrupted Poem

Red
the elegant, driven underdog
fails more and more
but smart and clever
even though he doubted.

Red raced more and more, only adding more tallies to his losing side. Seabiscuit, even though her came from a famous and talented family, lost every race that was thrown at him only getting the ferocious beast angry. Red was placed with the worst horse in the worst race creating a failing career that was bittersweet. Placed with bigger, faster horses, the flat footed, disorganized outcast was set up only to loose for the other horse to get better. Seabiscuit was sold for the rock bottom price of $2000 because of this. Red squeezed every cent out of what he did and did extra work to keep racing. Both were smart, clever, driven, and troubled.

Seabiscuit
the cinder block like horse
struggled to win his races
meeting his new jockey
and running low kneed and struggle legged
the blunt horse sees his hole.

This Unit Will Change Your LIFE

Faith in Humanity and the Holocaust

This unit will change your life. 

1. This unit will age you (you will be forced to grow up a bit more)

2. Your character will change (you will become a more empathetic person)

3. You will write with more passion because you will be more passionate about life

4. You will look at the world differently

5. You will look at the world of words with more light

Broken Pieces By Kaycee Smith

 Seabusict - The huge dark mass with the brown dark eyes that look straight into our souls. Unable to trust anyone sheering, fighting, with his anger build up to the walls and higher. Beat down flat the hideous duck-waddle called his run disorganized and blunt he had properties of a cinder block. motionless unlike his ancestors.

Red Pollard - Supernatural orange hair tautly muscles ruthless and cheap. Unwilling to give up on his life dream. Ruthless to make everything better. All his hard work not pulling out he was falling in a pendulous motion. Stress bilt up with in but he was still trying he was not done with his career yet.


    Red and Seabusict had an indescribable connection between them. Red never gives up on his dream trying to find an open horse to ride. While Seabuscit lets no one ride him because of what they did to him in the past. Seabusict has forgotten how to be a horse. They meet both wanting a new start. Red compares to Seabusict because he to has had a rough past. Seabusict listens to Red's calming voice and lets him get closer than anybody else has. Seabusict hasn't gotten close to anyone before. This is because he doesn't want to be hurt again so he drives them away. Red was different, him and Seabusict connected in an odd way. They were both broken and together they would be repaired. Over comming all odds they would become unstoppable.

Red and Seabiscuit

RED
cheap, rare skilled
a pushover, but tautly muscled
a loser, but a seeker of fight
Red's power is coming to light
~Jaylyn

Red is chosen to tame this horse. After being watched like a hawk and its prey, Red's lawless spirit and ruthless determination has showed that he can do anything. Red waits in front of the stall unsure of what to do, but still not letting fear get the best of him. All he can hear is the shrieks coming from Seabiscuit just wanting to be free. CRASH! Seabiscuit stands  and his his hind legs and hits the side of the old, wooden stable. A wave of courage takes over Red. Slowly  creeping open the door, trying not to frighten the horse, Red steps foot into the dark eerie stable. Seabiscuit jumps showing Red he is not welcome. But Red doesn't back down. Red holds an apple in his extended arm, signalling it is okay to eat. Still frightened, the Red. Red whispers calmly, "It's going to be alright." For the first time, Seabiscuit shows trust because Red has shown commitment. ~Lunden

SEABISCUIT
blunt, coarse
a loser, but stubborn
an enemy, but a friend
Seabiscuit has found a friend
~Jaylyn

The Crowed Hour - by Allie

Seabiscuit
disorganized yet a threat
Seabiscuit was carrying others debt,
he roared around the track
captured every opportunity to attack
he was lonely inside
it was a rush every ride.

Seabiscuit was a troubled horse just like Red Pollard who was instead a grown up boy who lost his parents at a young age. Seabiscuit was an odd horse instead of a sleek, elegant figure he was boxy, and small. Red was also a strange build for his type. Most jockeies were short, light men so the horse didn't have to struggle with the jockey atop its back. Red was a tall jockey who had to go to drastic lengths just to remain under one hundred fifteen pounds. Red and Seabiscuit were a perfect match because they both had struggled through life and didn't quite fit the category of "eye candy".

Red Pollard
beat down with others words and actions
yet horses felt a gentle reaction
real horses with a special empathy
was caught in a daily catastrophe,
different weight and size
took time for many to realize.

Losing by a nose by Brooke

"Thoroughbred racehorses are one of God's most impressive engines." States Laura Hildebrand in "The Jockey" I couldn't agree more, These horses are equipped with  God given talent and only few athletes have the honor to understand. Red Pollard was one of the few, he could ride a horse like no other, like he was one with the horse. Though he didn't win a single race for over 12 years, he still gave his heart, soul, sweat and blood in every race.

One of the ruthless races he was in he only lost by a nose. He saddles the enormous beast weighing over 1200 pounds, Red climbs onto the back of the animal, putting his own life in danger. The bell rings and the horses are off with strides that can go over 28 feet. Red squats over the saddle in perfect timing with the horse-he never touches the saddle. In front of him through dirt-covered goggles he sees another jock get thrown off his machine and crashes to the ground. Red sees the inside open and lunges at the chance, he slips in wit on ease of an arrow. The other jockey didn't like that and started hitting him with large powerful snaps of the whip, red takes the whip and punches the fellow straight in the face. If he would not of had a helmet on he would have been out cold. Red gets a jolt of happiness because he thinks he can pull off a win, but the other jockey recovers and tries to pull Red off his mount. Red regains balance, while trying to get the other jockey off, but fails miserably. Finally losing by a nose. . . .

Adventures of the 1920's - McKenna

Adventures of the 1920’s

          The cold air fills the lungs of miserable working men.  A plead for mercy drifts onto a gust of wind. Hope is lost in the endless patches of ice and freezing water. The smooth surface of a camera rubs against a workers hand. CRACK! Eyes of desperate men shoot to the ship. Pieces start to break and crumble. A stormy cloud of despair settles over the ship. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. The men stare at the ship while it slips under the ice. Helpless and stranded, they stand on the hard, icy ground in shock, unable to process the devastating series events that had happened and that lie in their path. Their hearts sink unto their stomachs. A stinging breeze glides across their faces. Shackleton blatantly stares into the miles of empty space that he would soon fight for survival in. The crew looks at the pen mass of icebergs and impure water. Their eyes fill with desperation and their stomachs with pity and lost dreams. They endured through days of vigorous travelling and miserable coldness. Shackleton and his crew survived years of nothing but rowing boats in icy waters and fending for what they held dearest, their lives.

          Adventure in the 1920’s lured in both men and women who showed courage, but one man in particular, Sir Earnest Shackleton, was brought into one of the most dangerous adventures of American history. Although, Earnest Shackleton had many trips and goals in his life, he didn’t just accomplish them, he persevered through them with courage and bravery. Shackleton was a brave man who would promenade into a situation put in his hands, and come out of it with more dignity and pride. He had many goals in his lifetime. Even though he tried his hardest to achieve them, not all of them were within his reach. Not only did he have numerous goals, he approached prevalent adventures. He attempted to reach the North Pole twice, but both time he sadly failed. He didn’t give up on his dreams though, which showed he had courage. He wasn’t just any average person who had a dream to sail across the open seas, he was a selfless man who didn’t just care about himself he cared about everyone around him and while on his journeys, that definitely paid off. One of his most famous adventures was his attempt to sail across the Antarctic: many called the trip, the endurance. His trip was one that would shift his life into a completely different direction. He set sail on November of 1914. He picked twenty seven crewmen and took nearly seventy sled dogs. He started off into an environment hostile to human life that held many dangers and commodities that no one would dare think about running into. Nothing stopped him from going, which demonstrated the determination and fearlessness he had. Icy winds up to one hundred miles per hour rocked the ship as it sailed through the patches of ice and water.( youtube, Saptakmandal) Eventually the ship couldn’t push through the ice any longer, and froze to the solid ice. Workers tried to break the ship free for days and days, but it seemed impossible. The temperature dropped rapidly, leaving the men stranded. Things couldn’t possibly get any worse, or could they? The cold air filled the lungs of miserable working men.  A plead for mercy drifts onto a gust of wind. Hope is lost in the endless patches of ice and freezing water. The smooth surface of a camera rubs against a workers hand. CRACK! Eyes of desperate men shoot to the ship. Pieces start to break and crumble. A stormy cloud of despair settles over the ship. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. The men stare at the ship while it slips under the ice. Helpless and stranded, they stand on the hard, icy ground in shock, unable to process the devastating series events that had materialized on their path to Antarctica. Their hearts sink unto their stomachs. A stinging breeze glides across their faces. Shackleton blatantly stares into the miles of empty space that he would soon fight for survival in. The crew looks at the pen mass of icebergs and impure water. Their eyes fill with desperation and their stomachs with pity and lost dreams. They endured through days of vigorous traveling and miserable coldness. After the ship stranded them, Shackleton knew that he had to protect his crew so that they could survive. The men started to gain hope in Shackleton.  They decided to try and reach Elephant Island by row boat. It took Months to get there, and along the way all they had to eat was penguin, blubber, and other unknown things. After they finally arrived at Elephant Island, Shackleton picked a few people to start off to Georgia Island. He never stranded them or left them to fend for themselves ( PBS. PBS). After they left, they had a hard journey ahead of them, but they made it. Because of Shackleton’s kindness and consideration for his crew, he saved every single mans life. None of the men died on that trip and they went on to go on more adventures and explorations. (youtube Saptakmanda)

          Not only was Shackleton a daring adventurer, a woman named Amelia Earhart became one of the most respected and well know risk takers of America’s history. Amelia took many adventures, crossed the Atlantic Ocean by plane, attempted to fly around the world twice. Amelia knew that she was born for flying planes ever since she was a little girl, and that’s what pushed her to set records and go on dangerous expeditions such as being the first woman to ever fly across the Atlantic. She wasn’t of failure, because she would just try again. She started up the smooth charcoal black runway and was of to prove the world that women could do anything men could do, possibly even better. She had many struggles along the way such as rough turbulence and other near catastrophes. The trip as a whole took twenty hours and forty minutes, and that was the title of one of the books she wrote.( "Amelia Earhart Flies Across the Atlantic.) She could now officially be called, a courageous woman. She was fearless, courageous, and daring. She was the woman of the decade. After she successfully flew around the world, she started on her first attempt around the world. She started on the Honolulu runway nearing her trip towards the adventure of a lifetime. She turned on the roaring engine. The plane rolled along the long black pavement, gaining speed and momentum. She though everything had been checked, but a problem occurred that result in a runway crash. She was not injured but failure had been set at her feet, waiting for her to kick it away and try again. Later that year, 1937, she tried again at her goal of flying around the world.  Courage and bravery ran in her veins. Adrenaline pumped through her body as she departed from the runway. She was so close to achieving her goal of flying solo around the world, it was practically in her hands already. She never gave up on her dreams no matter how scary they were. She once said” The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” She always acted with confidence and dignity. She achieved some of the most unimaginable goal a woman could dream of. Although she started off her trip around the world with fierceness and bravery, she never got to finish because she disappeared in the middle of her trip.( centennialofflight) The people controlling and talking to her got some messages from her before she disappeared such as there was rough weather and turbulence.( youtube, NationalGeographic) She always fought through her trials and usually succeeded, and even though she didn’t succeed her last time, she went out of the race with goals that had been acquired.( "Amelia Earhart." Amelia Earhart)( bing.com)

          Sir earnest Shackleton and Amelia Earhart both had dreams of their own, but Gertrude Ederle, a famous speed swimmer, had unique ambitions that she more than achieved, she made them her life. After realizing that swimming is what her passion was, she made it to the Olympics and swam in many, many races. The Paris Olympics were incredible. She set nearly twenty nine records ranging from fastest speed in the one hundred meter butterfly to the four hundred meter freestyle.( REAL VERSION." NBC New York) She loved swimming. It was more than a hobby to her it was her passion, her life. She also swam in the sea. It was her best friend. She said once, "To me, the sea is like a person - like a child that I've known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I'm out there." She also had many, many races. Some were local for her and others were national. One of her really memorable races was when she swam a twenty one mile race across the Lower New York Bay, the water was frigid and the hair on her skin stood up.( "Swim-City.com - Swimming Metropolis." Swim-City.com) She was excited and nervous at the same time. The race took over seven hours of non-stop swimming in the bleak waters, but she didn’t care, every second was worth it. She was a risk taker who would do what it took to achieve her goals and dreams. She never gave up and she tried her hardest at everything she did. She had many accomplishments in her lifetime. Not only did she swim races and set records in the Paris Olympics, she was the first woman to every swim the English Channel. She had to be drenched in Greases and jellies of different sorts. The first time she tried to swim it her coach secretly poisoned her so that she would get sick and be unable to swim the full length. After minutes of struggling, An Egyptian swimmer eventually pulled her out of the water. Her courage kept pushing her through her trials and she decided to try again. The got up on a bright early morning in 1926, she was ready to do what people thought was impossible for women, swim the complete length of the English Channel. She persevered through the rough waters. She dodged jellyfish and sharks that could have been fatal to her swim. She made it in fourteen hours and thirty one minutes. Over two hours faster than any man had ever swum it. She accomplished her dreams and never gave up, that is what made her a courageous, brave, fearless, and bold young woman.

          Adventurers of the nineteen twenty’s were not only daring went to extreme measures to achieve their goals. Sir Earnest Shackleton was one of the most fearless men of American history by far. He endured through many trials that he faced and never gave up on himself or his peers when it came to survival or anything else for that matter. Amelia Earhart was an American idol for many people. People praised her for he talents, she achieved numerous goals, and while trying to persevere through her trials, she learned to be a courageous woman. Gertrude Ederle, much like the other adventurers, she set multiple goals for her life, and achieved them. Even if she failed the first or second time trying to break a record or do the impossible the always tried again and usually succeeded because of that. All three adventurers ended their races with dignity and pride, and never gave up on a dream. 

Dear Parents

Dear Parents,

We just finished our 8^th grade integrated unit on the Progressive Movement and the Roaring 20’s. In English we learned about writing with elaboration such as anecdotes, indirect quotes, direct quotes and descriptions; we also wrote two essays. After watching the Disney movie the Newsies, we read about, wrote about and acted out anecdotes about the real newsies from Kids on Strike by Susan Bartoletti and the New York Times newspaper articles from 1899. Students then put their new knowledge and writing skills together by writing an anecdotal essay about the newsies. This essay was done with a fair amount of teamwork and teacher guidance. Finally, we wrote an essay on the Roaring 20’s, students choose a topic, researched it and wrote an essay with less guidance and teamwork. 

Our next integrated unit is the Great Depression. We are going to use the theme of the Great Depression to anchor our writing and our literature. In English students are going to be working on word choice, figurative language, sentence fluency, conventions and parts of speech. They will also be learning how to write an analytical paragraph and essay. In class we will use excerpts from Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand as a model text of great word choice. In Literature we will use clips from the movie Seabiscuit to learn about literature elements such as symbolism, motifs, themes and allusions. Students will also be reading either Out of Dust by Karen Hesse, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, A Long Way to Chicago,  by Richard Peck, Hitch by Jeanette Ingold or Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and doing a packet of activities with classmates to gain a further understanding of the literature. A reading calendar is on sms8students@blogspot.com. Also, I purchased extra novels this year, so that parents could check one out to read along with their child.

During the 8^th grade year I would really like the students to read every night. I do not give students much time to read their novels in class, so it is helpful if they read their assigned novel at home or another novel, magazine, graphic novel when they do not have an assigned novel. Students learn to be better writers, gain more vocabulary, and become faster readers by simply reading. I really strive to not give students homework, so that they have time to read for twenty minutes at home. 

Coming Soon

Seabiscuit

Click here to watch trailer

Newsies by Brenna

            Fresh, thin air freezes the lungs of a newsboy. His feet are crooked to rest his sore arches and prevent the cold that lingers on the concrete from seeping through his boots. With pleading eyes, the boy, his frozen fingers clasped on his papers, urges people to come and buy his burdens. Customers pass by vanishing into the distant smudge of snow and gray without even noticing the poor child. His breath billows around him as frosty, bitter winds swirls thought the city, pushing his red-nosed customers into the depths of wintery New York. Emptiness sweeps through his frail bones as he stands alone by the light post. Watery light drenches around him and the barren city. This cold light is foreboding. Teeth chattering, the boy frowns as his only chance to help his poor family is swept away. The dampness of the day comforts him as he looks at the place where the people he begged vanished. Selling the papers required the newsboys to mash and twist the headlines, tug the sympathy of their customers, and bombarded society with devilish tricks at all costs.

            Headlines, both good and bad, was the way a newsie made the money that they needed to survive, but it would have to be just right if a newsboy was to be successful. First, hawking, or selling, newspapers needed more than just a paper; a headline had to be good. Each good headline could affect the way the newsie felt on a day. Weather, season, sports, or anything else could help the newspapers sell. Susan Bartoletti, author of “Kids on Strike,” writes “The more war, murder, mayhem, and disaster, the happier the newsies seemed to be.”(Kids on Strike) Second, a headline wouldn’t be the best all the time. If a headline was horrible, the newsies, using their devious ways, would twist and mash it around to make it sound more exhilarating to alert their patrons. Although mixing the headlines around was beneficial, calling out “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” seemed to work too, even if it didn’t work as well. As well as calling out “Extra,” Susan Bartoletti claims anything at all from Washington DC or the Whitehouse would sell easily, made up or completely true. (Kids on Strike) For example, Philip Marcus was a newsboy. He recalls yelling, “Read all about the White House scandal! The White House scandal! Read all about it!” (Kids on Strike)

Even if editing headlines was on a newsie’s agenda, messing with people’s sympathy was a dominant way to sell newspapers. To begin, the injuries, both real and fake, mixed up the sympathy of the newsboys customers. With so many newsboys that had lost limbs trying to hop about a trolley, one woman felt eager to do something. She started a fund to earn money to buy wooden legs for the newsies, but they refused. The more helpless they looked, the more papers they could sell, even if there were fake cripples. Not only did crutches and empty pant legs help sell the papers, but they also evoked more tips from customers. Next, having an illness of any kind prodded the sympathy of the newsies’ customers. Coughs, colds, and running noses, any type of illness, would make the customers feel bad for the newsboys, and give them an extra bit or tip. Being hungry, which was on a regular basis, could also lead to illness, so the customers did what they could to help. To conclude, tears of any kind brought in more sympathy- and more money- for the newsboys of 1899. Being poor with little family on the streets made customers relies the issues around them. Those poor newsies one may think. A man by the name of Philip Marcus was a newsie during this time. He told Susan Bartoletti that he, one day, had made a deal with guy. Philip remembered that he said he’d buy all of the guy’s papers. That is when he discovered that there was much too many for him to sell. Knowing that losing money was a big deal, he bawled out all his sorrow. But while he was letting his tears rain down, people kept on coming until all of his newspapers were gone. “And while I was standing there bawling,” Philip continued his tale to Susan Bartoletti, “I sold all them sheets.” (Kids on Strike)

             Although their sorrow was just a way to sell papers, playing tricks, or dodges, was another kind of way to make a quick profit. For starter, change given to customers made all the difference to a newsboy because it was one of the most common of tricks around. In a hurry, a customer may make his or her way down the streets. This customer may stop to buy a paper from a newsie, but it could be a mistake. Waiting impatiently, the customer watches the newsboy fumble around his pockets looking for the change. Still taking his time fumbling for the customer’s change, the newsie waited and hoped that the customer would be too impatient to wait for their change. Again, Philip Marcus retells a tale of one of his experiences. He remembers that the newsboys would run up along the sides of a streetcar to sell the day’s papers. The customer may need change, but they had to wait for the newsie to look, and look, and look until the car started to go, and the Newsie couldn’t catch up. (Kids on Strike) Next, being inattentive could lead to less change that was supposed to be given. A customer could get three pennies instead of four. Susan Bartoletti writes of this sneaky dodge. Some customers would notice the issue, and turn back to teach the newsboy, who played them like a lute, a lesson. Sun shines down on the streets of New York City. Footsteps bounce off the concrete until they end at the feet of a Newsie. On such a beautiful day, the customer observes the trees in the nearby park rustle in the summer breeze. “One paper please,” the person hands the boy nickel. Still watching the birds soar high from tree to tree. Jolted back to reality, the customer notices three shiny pennies in their palm. With papers being only one cent, the customer doesn’t realize that they got cheated as they stroll of into the city park. Finally, rough, burly newsboys of 1899 were ready to pick a fight along with their other dirty tricks to sell their papers. Some boys would take on a territory like a busy street corner. If someone tried to pull in to sell some newspapers, the corner “owner” would sweep in to get rid of the pest. On the other hand, a fake fight could earn just as much money, or more. During a blistering hot July day in City Park, New York of 1899, disturbing wails echoed around the buildings, sending dreadful chills down the spines of Brooklynites. People rushed in to view a heavy-set boy with a plump belly standing above a scrawny boy with dirt covered clothes; the smaller one bore a couple of bruises. Rising with trembling distress and determination, the thin boy plants a fist to the other, but is quickly thwacked back like a fly. With the battered boy writhing in pain on the earth, the plumper newsboy shreds a couple of the papers and he vanishes, leaving tatters in his place.  That poor boy people contemplate as they eagerly crowd around the slightly tattered boy, change rattling in their pockets. After the customers disperse from buying the frayed papers, the scruffy boy hops up and takes his newfound money to the café as if nothing ever happened to him. Joy spreads across his face as he settles down next to his friend, the plump boy who pounded him. They push juice filled pie into their mouths, not really worried on how ill-mannered they look. Customers far off grumble at the shredded papers. The papers they had just bought are a couple of weeks old. (The New York Times July 6, 1899)

            Converting the headlines, revealing sympathy, and using innovative tricks all assisted the Newsies to get their customers’ attention and make a profit. Being a sleek fox to preserve as much money as possible is what the newsboys of the late 1800’s did. The streets of New York were being filled with the newsboys, helping others know that they could overwhelm any obstacle with strength of mind. Any risk was worth taking for a Newsie if they were to live a prosperous life.  

A Newsie Lead- McKenzie

            The hot sun beat down on the crowd as a single newsboy stood in Park Row, New York, on a nice July day in 1899. Park Row was filled with the common loud chatter and the reverberating footsteps as a lone newsboy stood and handed out both his new and old papers with a stunningly bright smile on his young face. Not long after the shrewd young boy had taken notice that there were no competitors nearby to interfere with how much money her earned, a long bone-chilling "Scab!" rang out, and almost immediately hundreds of the striking Newsies dashed to swarm him. Shock dominated the boy's face as well as a frown as he looked up at the group of boys and saw that their jaws were obviously set. They wasted no time and asked the latter of the majority, "Why don't you stick to your union?" The boy, who was reluctant in giving his reason for becoming a traitor, had the papers that had previously filled his arms violently knocked to the cold, muddy ground, tearing loudly as the striking newsboys carelessly tread over them. Cries of pain could be heard from afar as the boy was beaten by the larger group of boys who had the advantage in numbers. Since Pulitzer and Hearst had raised the prices and made making money nearly impossible, the young and furious Newsies threw their own papers into the mud, went on strike, and fled from the angered police while evading nearly certain arrest.

The 1920's were a HIT

Babe Ruth not only changed baseball, but his success changed all sports from a hobby to a national passion. Sports Illustrated named him the greatest baseball player of the 20th century. This left handed wonder batted 714 home runs.

"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run" - Babe Ruth

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from coming to bat" - Babe Ruth

check out The Babe's home run by clicking on the link 60th home run in one season

Listen to the roar of the roaring 20's

The roaring 20's, what a crazy time. A time full of adventure, movie stars, sports and music. About all the things that entertain us now exploded into a roar during the 1920's. We will learn and write about Charlie Chaplin, Louis Armstrong, Trudy Elderly (first women to swim the English Channel), Babe Ruth, Henry Ford, and much, much more.

"What we play is life." Louis Armstrong

Check out Louis Armstrong singing, click on the following link. 

What a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong

IMPRESSED

You guys and gals knocked my socks off on Friday. I gave you a difficult task with out much time to complete it, and you rolled up your sleeves and got it done. Not only did you get it done; you got it done well. You did three things that made it happen. (I know that was a power number).

First, you listened and paid attention when you needed to most. You made it easy for me to teach because you trusted me enough to make it important and learn what you could. For example, you had your eyes on me, some even smiled :) you did not need me to repeat directions, and you stapled the info into your brain.

Second, you worked as a team. When I said "go" you guys and gals put your heads together and problem solved. The groups where one hundred percent on task. The talking was respectful and productive. I loved how you got along, and got it figured it.

Third, when it was time to work you worked. This class is a very hard working class. Everyone of you buckled down and did your best. By the end of the day I had goose bumps (I am not lieing) because I was so impressed and honestly so moved by how hard you worked.

Your trust, your team work, and your brilliant effort make it a joy to teach you. I am proud to be your teacher. Thank You

Fake Fight by Eva

In the evening of July 6, 1899 two young boys set out to sell their newspapers. The shrewd newsboys wait in the streets of Brooklyn for the many people that hurry home from work this way. One small, scrawny young boy and one beefy, round boy are seen by the passersby. Soon adults from the streets hurry over to see what everyone is gathered around. The little boy is fighting with the bigger one. Punches and groans soon fill the air, as the bystanders watch with wide eyes. The older boy cruelly rips the poor boys papers. Police come to the rescue, but they only find the small, scrawny boy with tears in his eyes with adults huddled, buying his papers out of sympathy. Across town the chunky boy waits for the little boy at a restaurant, so the two friends can celebrate by tasting some pie. They use the money they cleverly stole from those unsuspecting adults that watched their "fight" to pay.

Work Hard and Have Fun

prewrite

great week - started newsies - students did well on test - movie night
worked hard - movie night 16 hour day, preparing for newsies, having passion for subject
had fun- rewarding, students on task, students having fun writing, i laugh and have fun

I had a great week with you guys and gals this week; you did wonderful on the paragraph structure test, we started Newsies and movie night was a blast. I was impressed with your test, not only beacuse you did a great job with the struture, but you also improved 100% from the begining of the year and your content was great. I could tell you worked hard over the last three weeks because of the amount you have already improved. What I really enjoyed though was the content. Those of you who wrote about immigration nailed it. You really learned a lot about immigration and more importantly the type of character it would take to survive. Those of you who wrote about leadership also seemed to have learned a lot during the last three weeks about being a leader. Your writing really showed maturity. As well as having a great test, I was super excited to start the Newsies unit. It is a really fun unit, where I see a lot of growth in 8th grade writers. I have worked very hard on this unit and I am excited to teach it. To end the week I had a great time at movie night. Students seemed to appreciate our pirate dodge ball video. We gave out prizes and we made about $200 dollars for field trips this year! This week was a blast because all of you made it fun, but it was also fun because I worked hard.

I worked hard this to prepare for the newsies unit, having energy in class, and movie night was a long day. I love the newsie unit, but boy did it take work. The packet alone took really a year to create, but this year what I really tried to put into it was more researched based writing strategies. So what I mean by that is that I am only using strategies to teach that have been absolutely proven to make you better writers. For example having models of my own writing for you to see, having you show cards of different types of elaboration, and having you look at each others writing. I also have to work hard to have energy in class. I try to show my excitement for teaching in class, but believe me it takes energy. I am totally zapped at the end of the day. Movie night was great, but it was a long day. I got to school at seven Friday morning and I left at nine. Not to mention all the work leading up to movie night creating the pirate dodge ball movie. I am not sharing all this hard work for you to feel sorry for me or to brag, I am trying to make a point that because I worked hard school was fun this week.

Hard work pays off and this week it paid in the amount of fun. First, because I worked hard students, were on task and learning. Believe it or not seeing students learning is really fun for me. You guys and gals did a great job working hard and becoming better writers. That really brings a lot of joy to my life.  Second students had fun while learning. I know it is crazy to think you had fun writing, but I defiantly saw some smiling and laughing this week, and even some shy grins. Finally, because you had fun, I had fun, which was awesome. It goes full circle; you have fun and learn. I watch you learn and having fun, so I have fun. Since I am having fun you have fun. Pretty cool. Thanks for making this a great week, if nothing else I hope we have learned that hard work makes life more fun.

p.s. sorry not my best writing I was trying to keep it short so you would read it, but at the same time elaborate on a lot of stuff. As it turns out that does not work so well.

Dear Parents and Students,

We just finished our 8^th grade integrated unit on United States immigration. In English we reviewed and learned about the paragraph. First, we reviewed four types of topic sentences and learned five new ways to write topic sentences. Second, we also reviewed numerical transitions and learned how to write with chronological, cause and effect, problem and solution and argumentative paragraphs. Finally, we began to elaborate and stretch our paragraphs by using examples as evidence.

In literature we read novels that dealt with the immigration experience. These novels gave students a more personal look at what they were learning in social studies class. Students read and responded to their novels in the paragraph structures that we were learning in class.

Our next integrated unit is the Progressive Movement. In English we use the movie Newsies to look at the child labor movement. We watch the movie to gain a common background and to get students interested in the subject. After the movie we spend a couple weeks looking at the real story of the newsboy strike by looking at a nonfiction publication and reading real newspaper articles about the newsboy strike from the 1899 New York Times and New York Sun! Our objectives are to learn different note taking strategies, write with more elaboration, use quotes, use anecdotes and write an anecdotal mutli-source five paragraph essay.

During the 8^th grade year I would really like the students to read every night. I do not give students much time to read their novels in class, so it is helpful if they read their assigned novel at home or another novel, magazine, graphic novel when they do not have an assigned novel. Students learn to be better writers, gain more vocabulary, and become faster readers by simply reading. I really strive to not give students homework, so that they have time to read for twenty minutes at home.

Sincerely,

Mr. Johnson

YES!!! Newsies

I love the Newsies unit. It is not the great songs that get stuck in my head.It is not that the main character in the movie  is Christian Bale (Batman).  It is not all the great dance moves in the movie. It is not the fact that kids worked together to change the world for the better, although that is inspirational and impressive. It is not even  the feel good, fun movie. It is not that we actually read real newspaper articles about the newsboys from 1899 (which is pretty cool and took an amazing amount of work,  New York phone calls and letters of request). It is not that we have a lot of fun in class acting out Newsies scenes from those newspaper articles even though that is pretty fun.

It is because 8th graders go into the Newsies unit like a caterpillar and come out like a butterfly. I could call it the cocoon unit. You crawl into the unit writing well and strong and feed. (Caterpillars eat a lot before they turn into butterflies according The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. 8th graders are figuratively feed because you are in writing shape and you have good organization and paragraph structure.) Any way in the Newsies unit you will  get in a cocoon, work hard, learn a lot and BAM you will break free and your writing will be beautiful, strong and you can fly.

Newsies I can't wait,
Mr. Johnson

You Asked

Questions and answers from student inventory

(My favorite) Besides teaching what are your other hobbies?
What I love about this question: This question implies that in the first day this student not only saw that I take teaching seriously, but that it is a hobby not a job. The fact is teaching is not only a job for me, or a hobby for me, it is a passion. I LOVE IT.

(Another favorite) Are you awesome?
Well that depends on how you define awesome.
If awesome means: Do I strike awe in some people then no.
If awesome means,  do I make some people say awe, then also no, that is a dentist.
But if awesome means: That I am awe-kward some times, then yes.

What types of books will we read?
I have 4-6 book options for each unit. Most are historical fiction that go with what you are learning in history, So most are historical fiction but not all. I try to pick good books, some classics, some easy, some for boys, some for girls, some short, some themed on relationships and some on action. I am always looking for more books and I buy new ones to add every year.

My favorite and kids favorite books by the unit:
Immigration: my favorite Ashes of Roses  - kids The crossing
Great Depression: my favorite Seabiscuit  - kids Of mice and men
Holocaust: my favorite Until We Meet Again and Book Thief - kids the same
Civil Rights - no book
Montana Literature: my favorite A River Runs Through It - Kids The Big Burn and A River Runs Through It

What were you like in middle school?
Great question. I was quiet. I really liked history. I really did not like language arts. I played a lot of basketball. I was very, very funny looking (I had a big overbite, braces, crazy hair, and thick glasses). I really liked to mtn. bike and ski. In 8th grade I began working on Big Mountain in the Summit House. I was becoming a better student. I read sports biographies. I listened to U2. I had a couple close friends. I played football (middle linebacker and tight end). I wanted to be a physical therapist.  I still could not spell.

How long have you been rock climbing?
8 years

Are you a tough teacher or do you let some things slide?
Both
I am tough on the following:
effort - i do not let poor work ethic slide
bulling -
off task behaviors
I let the following slide:
laughing in class
educational distractions
mistakes as long as you make them at 100% effort

What is your favorite design for a tie?
Paisley

What is your favorite color?
Blue

Do you like fishing?
I like the idea of fishing.

What is the farthest you have swam?
9 miles, the length of Lake McDonald in Glacier
I have also swam:
Whitefish Lake 6 miles
Width of Flathead Lake 8 miles
Logging Lake 6 miles with a 17 mile run
Two Medicine 2 miles with a 16 mile run
Foys 1 mile (lots of times)
Old Man .5 miles (very, very cold)
Dickie Lake down and back 4 miles
Finger Lake down in back 1.5 miles
Bowman 7 miles
Holland Lake 2 miles
Harrison Lake 3 miles
Wall Lake 1 mile
Tally lake 3 miles

What is your shoe size?
10.5

Are you a triathlete?
Sometimes

Do we have a spelling Bee?
I think so

How many essays do we write?
at least 7

Do you ever yell?
No, I do not think so

Do we watch a lot of movies?
We watch 8 movies. Some we watch as an entire 8th grade in the band room, others we watch only ten minutes at a time.

How often do we change seats?
every week or two

How old are you?
35 most of the time

Do we do projects?
Yes, we do a lot of writing projects and a really big Montana Museum Project at the end of the year.

Why do you ride your bike to school sometimes?
It saves on gas, I get exercise, and it wakes me up better then coffee. I also swim a lot of mornings before school. I use to get to school after a swim and people would say, "you look really tired." I finally figured out that I looked really tired because of the impression the goggles left on my eyes. So if I look really tired, with bags under my eyes it may just be that I just got out of the pool, or my daughters had nightmares, got sick or otherwise could not sleep, which also happens. Then I look tired because I am actually tired.

Why do you wear ties?
I wear a tie to remind me of my job as a teacher. I take this job very seriously, and when I put on the tie it reminds me that I am a professional and that this job is one of the most important things I can be doing in my life, because I am a role model for you.

Where is the jacket?
It is too hot for a jacket right now, but I will wear one later.

Is this class going to be hard?
hmmm, It is going to be one of the hardest classes you have ever had, and I am going to try to make it seem easy.

What is your favorite sport?
Any game or challenge that involves moving and thinking
Team: soccer and track
Otherwise: lake swim races

What annoys you most?
The sound of the pencil sharpener. I have thrown several annoying pencil sharpeners away.

Do you like complete sentences?
Yes, I like complete sentences, unless a student is brainstorming. But I like complete paragraphs more.

When did you start your teaching career?
I started teaching at Somers eight years ago. Before teaching here, I was an aid in a school in Bozeman during the day, while I went to college at night for three years.

What is the biggest mountain you have ever climbed?
I am not sure. Here is some of the mountains I have climbed:
Bearhat
Peiagon
Polluck
Bishops Cap
Goat Mtn (i did not see any goats)
Oberland
Reyonlds
Clements
Dragon's backbone
etc...

How many books do we read?
At least 6 but many will read up to 20.

What writing activities are planned?
Thousands, more then I could possibly list or even name, but here are a couple highlights.
Ghost stories, Faith in Humanity Essay, Montana Museum Project, Memoir Scrapbook

We write for three purposes.
1. To convey experiences (narratives, fiction, nonfiction and personal)
2. To inform
3. To entertain
4. To think
I have a hard time counting sometimes.

Are we going to have a good year?
That is up to you. I am strongly leaning toward YES!

What is your favorite movie and actor?
I don't have a TV and I do not watch many movies, but my favorite movie is probably "Lord of the Rings" I can only think of about 5 actors, my favorite maybe Tom Hanks. (I know I am old)

a SUPER school year

You can relate to a superhero, to a superman, if you can identify with a real person who in times of crisis draws forth some extraordinary quality from within himself and triumphs but only after a struggle. -Timothy Dalton

Wow! I am ready to start school, and once again I am excited about 8th grade. A lot of fun, exciting, and even life changing events will happen this year from the history trip to choosing your classes for high school. Not to mention your new role as an 8th grader, a leader, a role model with the power to create a school you want. This year you will have the power to make school a place that will prepare you for a bright future. This year you will have the power to make school a great place to be for your classmates . This year you will have the power to create a year you will never forget. You have the power to be a SUPER hero, and it all starts on the first day of school. I am excited to see how you are going to use your new powers.

A River Runs Through It

Trailer

Coming Soon

A River Runs Through It and Memoirs

We will study a Montana Story, and through it learn about life,  while studying how to write about life through memoirs.

Student of the Month

Kassara Hanson is the student of the month because she has integrity; she works hard, and she is powerfully positive. Integrity simply put is doing what you are supposed to do when no one is watching. Kassara lives her life day to day doing the right things, making the intelligent choices, constantly becoming a stronger, smarter, kinder person because she knows that the decisions she makes today will affect her tomorrow. Kassara is a hard worker, but not only does she work hard, she listens and applies what she is learning directly to her assignments. She goes the extra mile daily. She checks her work, she takes assignments home and makes them better, and she brings them back. Kassara, most importantly though, has a powerful positive attitude.  It is easy to be positive when life is easy, but life has not been easy for Kassara, and she still chooses to see the best in life. For Kassara positivity has been a super power. She comes into class smiling, ready to do her best, ready to focus on school, and ready to laugh; when assignments are difficult she powers through them with the belief that she can accomplish any task as long as she works at it. This choice to be positive has made her a strong person. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge.” Through Kassara’s life challenges she has stood on integrity, climbed with hard work, and soared with positivity. 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Trailer

Coming Soon: 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Visualize the old West while becoming better writers.

We will use the movie as writing prompts while you learn to use sentences that make you look smart. (you are smart, but it does not hurt to also look smart) Your writing is often the first real impression you give others make it a good one. 

Using more sophisticated and complex sentences correctly gives you an edge in writing and writing gives you an edge on life. Learn to be a better writer with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on Monday.

Still Here by Langston Hughes

Still Here


Been scared and battered.
My hopes the wind done scattered.
Snow has friz me,
Sun has baked me,

Looks like between 'em they done
Tried to make me

Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin;--
But I don't care!
I'm still here!

Langston Hughes

Still


Harvey                                   Both                             Viola
Still fighting
                                                                              Still married
My hopes my wife
has battered                                                            My dreams my husband
                                                                               has shattered
Buying up records
                                                                               Spending up our money
                                      Joining the K.K.K?
Looks like she's                                                       Looks like he's
done tried to                                                            done tried to
make me                                                                  make me
                        Stop Lovin', Stop Carin', Stop tryin'
                                      But I don't care!
                                      I'm still married!

Garrett
Iris weaver:
Been cough and let loose
My hopes: to avoid the noose
Wind has pushed me
Rocks have blacked me
Looks like between 'em they've
Tried t make me
Stop movin', stop deliverin', stop collectin',
But I don't care!
I'm still runnin' booze

Kandra A:
Ester Hirsh
Been lost and hopeless
My dreams were lost with mommy
I did make me cry
Still between hope and tears
Trying to stay, trying to hold on, trying not to cry
But I don't care
I'm still missing my mommy

Jake
Violia Pettibone
Still Married
Been worried and scared
My hearts done Harvy teared
Husbands tried me
Klans been asking me
looks likes me i might
Have no choice but to join 'em
N' stop laughin', stop lovin', stop sayin',
but that don't matter
I'm still married  
                                 

Dreams Deferred

In the poem,Dreams Deferred by Langston Hughes he explains that it will take sacrifices to reach your goals. The more you put it, the more you get it out is a good way to look at it. To begin, coming up with the dream to be something that you want to be is the first step and usually the easiest. However, it can be the most important, and it could decide how you spend the rest of your life. Martin Luther King Jr. speech,"I Have a Dream" was probably one of the most important speeches in all of history. He set apart the difference and went for it; he, "took the first step without seeing the whole staircase." Next, having the drive or motivation is also another determining factor in life; it isn't always easy to stick with your plan but it will pay off if you do. You have to want it more then anything else in life. "You have to be willing to go days without sleeping or eating to be successful," as said by Erie Thomas in his "success" speech. Giving up fun things in life is part of being successful, you don't want your dreams to be deferred. Lastly, is the plan that comes along with succeeding in reaching your goals. You have to be willing to take your spot. Sticking to plan relates back to being something with your life or you will go nowhere. They build on one another, getting harder as you go but more rewarding. In the end it all comes down to how much your willing to give. - Sammy

Merry-Go-Round

Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round
Mister, cause I want to ride
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can't sit side by side.
Down South on the train
There's a Jim Crow car
On the bus we're put in the back-
But there ain't no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where's the horse
For a kid that's black?

I could hold on no longer, quickly I pulled my hand furiously to get away from m dad's grasp. I finally got free and sprinted to the man selling tickets. "Where is the Jim Crow section on this merry-go-round mister" I asked in confusion. My heart seemed to jump out of my chest, I wasn't sure what to say next, I was so excited. When it was my turn to ride I eyed the horses carefully, trying to find the right one or me. It was a small brown horse with a tan mane. When I  got on, my heart thumped rapidly. As the animals started to spin my legs tightened around the barrel of the horse. It was my first time on s merry-go-round and I was surprised at how fast it went when you were actually on it. When I went around the first time I saw a small golden ring on the wall. Everyone was trying to grab it and the man said that if you did get it you got another free ride. I came around again, I could see it coming closer and closer. I reached for it. "Ahh!" I yelped. My hand was sweaty from holding on so tightly and I had lost my grip. IT seemed so fast and before I knew it I was on the ground in pain. My arm had a sharp pain hat disabled me from getting up. When the man walked up t me he asked "Are you ok child?" I felt the ring and smiled warmly, "yes."-Davis

As I watch the little girl go round and round I get more anxious to go on. The music makes me get jittery from all the excitement. The laughter fills the hot sunny day air. I dozed off on the ride as it just goes round and round. I go up to the man controlling it and say, "Mister, where is the Jim Crow place for us?" He has a little chuckle but still kind of had a straight face the whole time. I just realized that there were whites and blacks on the ride. I couldn't believe my eyes, what they saw. I thought I was dreaming. It looked like a dream because of all the music, colors, and horses around me. The man looked at me and smirked. I didn't know if I should be afraid of excited because I didn't know if he was going to let me on. My hands were clammy feeling because of the sweat. All of this excitement at once overjoyed me. A that moment when the horse i saw looked at me in the eyes and I knew that it was going to be the one I was going to ride. The man gently opened the gate and let us in. I stood there for a minute. My excitement took over me. I ran around twice trying to find the horse I saw earlier. I was getting curious about where the horse is and why I cant't find him. But right then I did a lap and a half and I saw it. It was beautiful. I don't know why that one caught my attention but it just did. It was white and had  black blotches on it. I thought to myself its kind of like how it is right now. There is white and black horses together. That didn't seem right. I wish it was like that in real life. Life would be a lot better for us. Even though my dream came true for once I never thought that this moment would come and it did. -Taylor R.

When we arrived at the circus, I left my fathers grip and ran to my favorite ride. The marry-go-round. When i got to the ride I asked the man " where is the Jim Crow section on this marry-go-round mister"? Just then I fell in love with a grey and brown spotted horse. "I want to ride."I said to the man. He replied with kindness. "One moment, you must wait until the ride is over." I boarded the horse with excitement. As it started to go around the little kids screamed with joy. Groups of white people crowded around the merry-go-round and began to boo. I didn't understand why. Then the man running the machine, stopped and told me to get off the horse, out of the fence, and to leave. So I did what he told me. As I left, the mad had gone up to the horse that I had rode. He wiped it off with spray and a cloth. Then he started the ride again and the crowd left muttering.-Treju 

Lessons from To Kill a Mockingbird

Out of the movie To Kill a Mockingbird I have learned one of the most important lessons in life. The lesson I learned is of courage. I have always thought of courage as toughness or guts, but it's not a state of body, it's a state of heart and mind. I have learned this lesson many times in life, but it this movie it was the first time it really hit me. The most important courage of all is courage of the soul. Courage that tells you how honest and thoughtful a person is, not how tough. Atticus Finch is the character in the movie who has the most courage. He is one of those people who will always find a way to do the right thing. I understand why Mr. Johnson would want to be like Atticus. -Brenna

To Kill a Mockingbird Moments

A mob goes to the jail to lynch Tom Robinson, but are unsuccessful when a a seven year, Scout, filled with youth, uses the power of words to stop them. The mob came with one intention, to kill. Tom Robinson is innocent, but they don't care; he is black. Their racism gets the best of them and the mob cannot be stopped. The unlikely power of words, however, stops them. Listening and waiting Scout strikes up a casual conversation with Mr. Cunningham. By the jail, Scout talks to Mr. Cunningham her voice filled with youth and innocents. To be kind to someone at a time like this is something only a child could do. The unlikely seven year old heroine gets the crowd to leave, through kindness., Scout saved at least two lives that night with her undeniable kindness. Clearly the power of words is something everyone can use, but only some choose to use it.
-Savanna

Secret Diary of Boo Radley

August 15th, 1932

Dear Diary,
 The rumors fly. I can hear hem all the time. From my small, basement window, I can see little kids spying. I know they think I'm crazy but I'm not. It's kind of fun watching through the dusty window. I really like to hear how much the story changes once it passes through several people. Even though I enjoy watching them, I also hate it. I don't know what I did but even the adults steer away from my house. For once I would like to be trusted. Oh well, I can have my fun still. Let them think I'm dangerous.-Boo Radley (Kendra)

August 31, 1932
Dear Diary,
Tonight my dad was shooting at a "prowler" or "intruder" at least that is what he thought. Bu earlier I saw those three kids sneaking up to the house. I wouldn't have noticed them if it wasn't for the gate that made a loud noise. I'm not sure exactly what they were trying to do but I'm sure that it had something to do with me. T walk up to my house, those kids were very brave, especially for the things that they have been saying about me. The kid who came back for his pants must have been terrified after thinking he was being shot at. I hope one day people will be able to see the real me and know that what they thought before was never true. -Boo Radley (Jessica)

During August 31, 1932 these intruders came on my property. They were little kids not adults I mean little. I saw three of them. I think it was the same three kids that I saw last time. But I don't know because I see a lot of little kids running around, these ones seem different from the rest. Because they are curious little youngsters and just want to have some fun. To creep up on Boo's house, Jem has to be very quiet so he isn't heard by anybody. All I want to do is be able to go outside for one day that's it. the rumors I hear from outside my basement window are horrible. They really shouldn't be prejudice against me. they don't know what has happened with my life. They don't know if I'm an ugly man. It really hurts my feelings. When I heard the gun shot I felt bad because it as my dad doing it to some other kid. I makes me feel sad for hem and guilty.
-Boo Radley (Taylor R.)

October 4th, 1932
Dear Dairy,
I think the young boy that is trying to see me finally understands that I am not the bad person everyone thinks that I am. That night they snuck into our courtyard I wanted to help them, but I knew I had to stay in the spot my father told me to stay. All of a sudden I heard the bang of the door, my father slammed the door shut behind him, so I rushed out to the backyard. Grasping, folding, holding the boys pants that got tangled in the wire; I quickly put them on the fence, worried about seeing my dad. Once inside I peer out my window at the young boy grabbing his pants. A gun shot pierces into the air and the young boy is gone in a swift movement. I want to stay in contact with the the boy prove that I am not the monster everyone thinks that I am.  I put objects in a tree that will show the boy who I really am, I don't think my father will put up the charade for long though.
- Boo Radely (Janeigh)

October 7th, 1932
Tick, Tick, Tick. Candlelight flickered as my knife scraped across the engraved surface of the wood. A finished doll laid in my lap, smiling up a me. It's smile seemed to brighten the flickering light around it, its aura bringing joy to my lonely heart. Tick, Tick, Tick. My pocket watch was no longer with me, though I could still hear its consecutive tick. he notches that ruled my days, the ticks that ran my life, were my only colleague. Tick, Tick, Tick. Wondering, pondering, questioning existence I spent my days encased in my tomb buried alive in this moldy cellar. Tick, Tick, Tick.
-Boo Radley (Eli)

October 12th, 1932
Today the Finch kids found the dolls. I do hope that they like them. Those took me almost two weeks. I really tried to capture both Jem and Scout's true features. Many things, trinkets and mementos, I have put into that old tree. The medal, the watch, and many others. I recall very clearly the day I received that medal. I was in the sixth grade and it was the final word of the spelling bee. How surprised I was that I won. The watch. Aah the watch, something very dear and close to my heart. Most fathers' hand down their pocket watch to their son. It's a kind of ritual; a tradition. Although, they may not truly know it, I've drawn very close to those kids and Jem is almost as a son to me. So therefore I put that shiny silver thing heir to give him almost a piece of me. My father has cemented up the tree, however. It makes me very angry to know that now I cannot continue to give those kids anything that way now. Oh well I'll just have to find another way.
-Boo Radley (Abi)

February 29, 1933
Today I put my last treasure in the tree for the boy to discover. So far I've put my possessions in it, like my school medal, a pocket watch, and two dolls I made for of them. The dolls were the last object, afterwards my dad put concrete all over it to keep me from putting my things in it. I won't give up, I will find a way to reveal the truth without my father knowing. I think it's time to show those kids who I am so they won't be afraid of me anymore. Running, hiding, frightening, my father doesn't like any one.
-Boo Radley (Jacob)

March 2, 1933
Diary,
I watched from my window and smiled as the two children next door took the gift I had left them in the knot in the tree. Two carved dolls, mean't to match their likeness. The smile on the little girls face made my life seem brighter. Their happiness made my heart flutter. Maybe one day I would stand by their side. As the two stood, talking of the carvings I saw a shadow creep across the tree. My father brought his head around the tree making the to jump. In his hands were a troul and a box of cement. Without a word he slid in front of the two children and shoveled the cement into the tree, scowling at the two as he so. No. The only way of communicating was gone. Lost. Forever. I closed my eyes. "NO!" I cried. The only world I knew was falling apart by the seams.
-Boo Radley (Ciana)

Spring 1933
Dear Diary, School is out for kids, so they are everywhere on he streets. Th two kids I've been keeping an eye on, finally came across the items I've been putting in he tree. To pull them closer to me, I must leave items to show that I'm not a monster. I still remember when they snuck their filthy  bodies onto my lot. I know these kids are strong hearted at everything they do. So if I get them to realize I'm not a monster. And no matter anybody says, I know who I am ,and that not a monster. From my window, I see people having a great social life, while I just remain hidden in my bird cage. Birds need to be let go and explore the world they're living in. Especially a mocking bird.
-Boo Radley (Hailey)

October 31st, 1933
Today I saved two lives. Not just only lives but the life of Jem and Scout. Today I held Jem in my arms. Today I held Scout's little hand. Today I showed myself. Hiding in the shadows listening to people shatter about the monster they thought I was. But today I emerge. Awestruck, their little game is over. It felt good to have someone see the real me. Not Boo Radley, but Arthur Radley. The quiet neighbor who no one knows. Now Scout knows me. Jem will know me from Scout. Maybe the neighborhood will get new rumors, ones more exciting. More accurate. Today was the day i will cherish forever.-Boo Radley (Mia)

Words to Live By

To stereotype someone you don't know compared to something different is a symbol for it to be a sin to kill a mockingbird. - Kodee

To accuse a fellow human of things only rumors told, is be prejudice and destroy others live is inhumane, even if hat person is only a mockingbird. -Josh M.

Speaking, telling, striving, to serve justice, Atticus does the best he can to defend innocent Tom Robinson against the prejudice world around him.. -Sydney

Struggling, enduring, ignoring Atticus brings justice and equality to Tom Robinson as he does what is right and keeps his head up.