A magical moment that happened in my life would have to be when I went to Vietnam in 2012. I do not get the chance to go there very often, as the overall trip is very expensive, so I make the most of the time I have over there. Nearly all of my relatives from my dad’s side are in Vietnam, and my family and I usually visit for about a month. My grandma lives in Nha Trang, one of the cities in Vietnam, and we stay at her house during our time there. The entire experience is really enjoyable, as we get to spend time with people we have not seen in a while. However, most of the events we take part in are eating and sleeping. In the morning, everyone is working, and the afternoons are too hot to do anything, so the only time we can do things is in the evening. When we do go out, we have our relatives take us on their scooters, as this type of transportation is more efficient than cars in Vietnam. We usually go out to restaurants and eat foods that people wouldn't normally eat in Canada, like ostrich and alligator. Afterwards, we will occasionally go eat ice cream or drink smoothies. Other times, we will go to the beach and play in the sand for a little while. The worst part about going to Vietnam is realizing that we have to leave eventually. I always cry before and during the time we have to leave, as I was given the opportunity to spend time and have fun with the people I love dearly, all of it ending too soon. I always think of them wherever I am, and I cannot wait until the next time I get to see them.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Magical Moments
My magical moment was meeting my favourite dancer from OTW dance crew in Vancouver, Bryson Bourchier. I got too meet him on April,12/2014 with Kiera. We got to sit front row which was awesome because Bryson was dancing first row. Their dance performance was my favourite and i got too meet him in person!!!!! Bryson gave me a hug and i got a picture with me!!!!!
Another magical moment was getting followed by Hayes Grier on Twitter!!!!!
Monday, May 19, 2014
What a wonderful magical moment...
Alice - I love this magical moment. Just super curious - who is this favourite author of yours?
PS I shared your poem out - so inspired!
PS I shared your poem out - so inspired!
My Magical Moment
One unforgettable moment of my life was when I discovered the existence of Beau Bennett. Beau is a hockey player playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins and he's also the light of my life. Its a really special moment of my life for me because I now have a motivation to my life. He motivates me to be a better person in life. For example, if I was being a lazy couch potato, my friends would use Beau to motivate me like, "WENDY, WOULD BEAU BE PROUD OF YOU?" Beau is a really nice person inside and out, and i'm glad that I found out about him.
his twitter :
his face :
(he's the dork at the back.)
My Magical Moment
My magical moment was when I got to see one of my favourite authors in person. It was my first time meeting a "famous person" that I actually admired, and I was nervous the whole car ride there. During the questioning period, I sat only about a couple of metres away; it was such a thrill to see the person you looked up to, in the flesh, so close to you. I also got to get her autograph, and when that happened, she was only a few feet away from me. She actually spoke to me, and I actually spoke back to her, and it felt like the best experience of my life so far. I freaked out about it the whole way home. I really truly enjoyed the experience and I hope I get the chance to see her again someday.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
❝ a poem on self worth ❞
4. Were you inspired? Write your own slam poem and/or audio/video record your poem and link it here. See some of the videos above or links to help you out. Be brave - give it a shot!How long will it take you to realize that
we are not defined by our collections
of bruises and scars? How many sunrises
will it take for someone, anyone to realize
that they are worth more than the size of
their designer skinny jeans and the dark
contours of eyeliner that embellish irises
so full of light already?
We have all stumbled down that path where
we cover up insecurities with a band-aid over our
hearts and a hasty "I'm fine," when truly all we do
at home is look at the curse that is the mirror and
repeat the mantra of why can't I have those nice eyes
and that body and why can't I ever have a life like his
or why can't I ever find the parts of me that love me?
But you know what the truth is? The truth is that we look
in the mirror and see who we aren't. We see the lies and
flaws that front cameras and friends shove down our throats.
So instead, see who you are. See more than the rumours that
spill from classmates' mouths. See constellations in those freckles,
and beautiful smiles in that row of braces. See eyes that shine
brighter than stars, and a voice melodic enough to be a song
all by itself. Find the sparks of determination in your soul,
the creativity in a mind full of brilliancy. You do not need to
be pretty, or dying, to leave your fingerprints on the hearts
of people who secretly wish they were you.
How long will it take you to realize that
we are not defined by our collections
of bruises and scars?
Zaccheus Jackson's Performance At Fraser Heights
On Monday, April
14th, several English classes went to see a performance of Slam
Poetry by a man named Zaccheus Jackson. During the performance, he told us many
stories about himself, the events that have occurred in his life, and a part of
his background. What he said to the audience was very humorous and amusing, and
I found myself unable to stop from laughing, but that is just a personal view. He
spoke very quickly, so at times, it was difficult to understand and required a
few moments to comprehend what he had said. However, his poems were very inspiring
and truthful. They were tales of his feelings and adventures of certain moments
in his life, and the meanings behind the words spoken were strong and had a
great impact on me. In one poem, named “…Of Wings”, he said, “I can’t really
blame him at all, because if you wasn’t raised, you can’t fall.” I felt that
these words were truthful. They tell you that if you were never raised
properly, you would have nothing, hence not having anything to lose, so you
would not be able to fall any farther than you already have. Overall, his
performance was very entertaining and inspiring and I thoroughly enjoyed
myself.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Changes in high school
What would I change in high school?
What I would like to add to that list is that we should be able to pick the courses that we want that will revolve around our job of our choice.This will result in teenagers wanting to go to school and not skipping classes this will make us want to learn about the subject we are taking.
I would also like to add to the list is smaller classes because the teacher would have more of a chance to interact with the students instead of the teacher being all over the room but she could take time with each student and have more of an impact with the student.
I agree with the rest of the things that is on that list but these two are the ones I would just like to add to the list.
What I would like to add to that list is that we should be able to pick the courses that we want that will revolve around our job of our choice.This will result in teenagers wanting to go to school and not skipping classes this will make us want to learn about the subject we are taking.
I would also like to add to the list is smaller classes because the teacher would have more of a chance to interact with the students instead of the teacher being all over the room but she could take time with each student and have more of an impact with the student.
I agree with the rest of the things that is on that list but these two are the ones I would just like to add to the list.
Zaccheus Jackson Performance evaluation
What did you think of Zack's performance at Fraser Heights?
What I think about Zack's performance is that it was very motivational because a man who started from the bottom, He was an addict, homeless, and was in and out of jail. He knew that he had loved poetry from a young age. When he was in jail he was moved to a minimum security camp this camp had a TV, video games, and very little guards. He was the cook for the camp and another man said he didn't like Zack's spaghetti because he put to much onions so Zack's thinking that he should fight this man because he grew up watching TV and he learned that the first man that argues with you in jail fight them. So he was sent back to the same jail and he was put in the "hole" the "hole" was a hole in the group and had a stone slab and a little blanket there was a window but the only thing you could see was a brick wall, there was also a LED light on for 24 hours. He was going crazy in this cell he kept reciting this poem over and over for the six days he has never written this on paper he remembers this by heart.
When he was homeless he had went into a cafe and he found a thing called a slam poem, The audience was given a score card to rate the poet as soon as he finished his poem he ran out the door and he didn't care what the other people said, He said that he had felt this high that he hadn't felt before and he liked because he wasn't causing himself harm. Zack is now a very successful man now because he had went to that cafe and found the job that he really enjoyed.
This is my opinion about Zaccheus Jackson performance at Fraser Heights.
"Zaccheus Jackson is a three-time Van Slam team member, two-time Vancouver Individual Slam champ, 2007 Grand Slam Champ and three year Word Play veteran. He has an obsession w/ Heinz Ketchup, never touches dimes, and his gritty, rapid-fire, real-life stories will leave you counting syllables in your sleep." (copied directly from the Vancouver Poetry House website - under "Wordplay", then "Our Poets"
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
what would you change from high school?
What I think I would change from high school is that your allowed to make your own courses WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. Study what you want to be in the future. I would also want more innovation weeks because that was really fun you could express your ideas to people and show that what your made of. That your lots of ideas flowing through you. I would also add a swimming pool and also change up the expectations because somethings are too hard for children.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
What Difference Does Kindness And Music Make?
People often
find music to be, in a few ways, very useful, such as helping you concentrate,
settling your nerves, or even allowing you to escape from reality, even if only
for a few moments. Every song has “hidden meanings” behind the actual lyrics,
leading to the true story of the song. An example would be from the song
“Royals by Lorde”. The lyrics “And we’ll never be royals. It don’t run in our
blood, this kind of luxe just ain’t for us, we crave a different kind of buzz.”
means that she was not born into a famous family and does not have the luxuries
of a materialistic lifestyle, however, she prefers a lifestyle fit for having a
good time without any cares. The stories behind the songs are often inspired by
the musician’s own life events, and because the musician has dealt with these
things, people find that they can relate to the musician as well as the song.
Therefore, they are affected by the song because of the connection they feel
towards it. This experience can also affect people’s emotions and outlooks upon
the world, changing the way they feel and think about things. An example of
this would be if someone were listening to a song with an upbeat tempo and
cheerful lyrics that are connected to the world around them. This would cause
the person listening to the song to change the way they view their surroundings
and such.
Whatever emotion
people happen to feel at the moment, the music they listen to at that time
tends to reflect those emotions. For example, if someone was feeling upset and
it was more towards the extent of being sad, they would drift towards music
with slow tempos and sad lyrics. People do this because they need something to
help justify their feelings at the current moment instead of trying to make
themselves feel better by listening to upbeat and joyous songs. Also, the kind
of music that people choose to listen to affects how they view things. For example,
if someone was angry and they listened to heavy metal or rap songs during this
period, their mind would automatically set itself so that the person would find
some reason to be aggravated by their surroundings. The music that they are hearing
arouses their emotions, increasing their amount of anger. This is caused
because the connection people feel with the lyrics of those loud songs change the
way people feel and think about the things around them. However, if, in the
beginning, someone was sad and, instead of wallowing in their misery, they decided
to listen to upbeat songs in an attempt to cheer themselves up, they would be
able to connect and relate to the music, viewing things from the song’s
perspective, thus putting themselves into a good mood.
Personally, when
I am in a bad mood, particularly when I am angry, I tend to listen to music
that matches my mood. I find it to be a way to release some emotions before I finally
move on. However, listening to that kind of music does not change the way I
view things. The only music that changes the way I see my surroundings are sad,
slow songs and upbeat, happy songs. When I just wish to listen to music, no
reason necessary, I tend to listen to pop/rock songs as well as songs that give
me the feeling of wanting to get up and dance. I find this kind of music very
enjoyable; it always makes me smile and lifts my mood. Also, when I am with my
youngest brother, we dance to the songs together just for the fun of it.
Because music
tends to change people’s outlooks on the world and do, in fact, make a
difference, I recommend the following songs because they can change your
opinion on things in a positive way.
This song, as it
says in the title, is very happy and is also upbeat. The tempo is fairly fast
and the beat makes you want to tap your foot, bob your head, or even break out
into a dance. In the song, the lyrics include “Here come bad news talking this
and that. Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold back. Well, I should probably
warn you, I’ll be just fine. No offense to you, don’t waste your time. Here’s
why: because I’m happy.” This implies that, although there are people talking
improperly about him, he believes that he can handle it, the reasoning behind
his brave attitude being that he is happy and refuses to let anything ruin his
mood. It is important to not let people’s comments get to you, because in
reality, their opinions do not matter. The only opinions that matter are yours
and the most important people to you.
I find that this song is very
powerful and uplifting. It has a strong tempo and a good dance beat, and every
time I listen to this song, it makes me feel as though it is a good thing to be
myself, which it is. I find that the lyrics “No matter gay, straight, or bi,
lesbian, transgendered life, I’m on the right track baby, I was born to
survive. No matter black, white or beige, chola or orient made, I’m on the
right track baby, I was born to be brave.” are strong, understandable, and
relatable because they are very true. If you were to strip human beings of their
entire outer appearance and organs, they are all simply bones, and afterwards,
you would not be able to distinguish the difference between each of them just
by using your eyes.
I find this song
to be very powerful and uplifting as well. The tune is catchy, upbeat and fun,
and when I listen to this song, I am able to find bravery and I can believe in
myself, and these are important factors for people who aim to overcome their
fears. The lyrics “So I sat quietly, agreed politely. I guess that I forgot I
had a choice. I let you push me past the break point. I stood for nothing, so I
fell for everything.” implies that she was being pushed around and controlled
as though she were a puppet. However, the next lyrics “You held me down, but I
got up. Already brushing off the dust.” tells me that, once she realized how
she was being treated, she decided to take action and is now ready to take back
the control of her life. This is important because you are the puppeteer of
yourself, and no one else should be allowed to replace you in that job.
This song is
very happy and sweet. The tune makes you want to bob your head from side to
side, smile, and sing along; I find that this song gives off that kind of vibe.
When I listen to this song, it makes me feel as though there is someone that I
am able to rely on, to trust, and it can definitely help to build stronger
friendships. The lyrics “You can count on me like 1, 2, 3, I’ll be there. And I
know when I need it I can count on you like 4, 3, 2, you’ll be there. ‘Cause
that’s what friends are supposed to do.” shows that true friendship is based on
trust and knowing that you can rely on your friend to come to your rescue if
necessary. This is important because it is always a good thing when you know
you have a friend who will always have your back and be there for you.
I find that
music is a very powerful thing; it changes people. For better or for worse,
that is for the listener to decide, but the main point is that music has a
large effect on our generation. It can persuade you into changing or enhancing
your emotions, or having different perspectives of your surroundings. Music
does make a difference. Each way may be different from another’s, but it is always
changing things.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
what would you change from high school? current events post #3
What would you change in high school? On Sunday evening teens on twitter where asked ONE thing they would change about high school and why? Teens are willing to change time schedule to cafeteria food. There where 20 teens that tweeted to this question. The teens are asking for time, help in school and career offers. As I was reading these tweets everyone is wanting something to change high school but most tweets are for learning. one tweet that was posted that i got attached to was this one" The courses available. My school doesn't offer any classes that are going to help me with the careers I'm interested in".
I think that this shouldn't happen to students because they should be able to choose there own courses to have their own career. Students have also tweeted about letter grades which has been discussed already but has people tweeting about because they care that they are telling people what they want to change about high school and its there own opinion.
In high school i thought you would have more opportunities to classes and different courses but when i see these tweets i see that students are not enjoying high school because their not getting what they wanted to learn like in the tweet i posted on the top. Theses students need to be heard to learn. The students want more activities and clubs so they have a chance to enjoy high school. Some students are complaining that teachers aren't doing what they need to do and teach more and not start with lowest common of teaching. i think this is a good topic to talk about because theses students give ideas and opportunities to learn better and have a good career for collage/university.
Follow @HuffPostTeen on twitter to follow the convo
click here for more tweets on high school changes
I think that this shouldn't happen to students because they should be able to choose there own courses to have their own career. Students have also tweeted about letter grades which has been discussed already but has people tweeting about because they care that they are telling people what they want to change about high school and its there own opinion.
In high school i thought you would have more opportunities to classes and different courses but when i see these tweets i see that students are not enjoying high school because their not getting what they wanted to learn like in the tweet i posted on the top. Theses students need to be heard to learn. The students want more activities and clubs so they have a chance to enjoy high school. Some students are complaining that teachers aren't doing what they need to do and teach more and not start with lowest common of teaching. i think this is a good topic to talk about because theses students give ideas and opportunities to learn better and have a good career for collage/university.
Follow @HuffPostTeen on twitter to follow the convo
click here for more tweets on high school changes
Current Events: Things that are Obsolete in 21st-century Schools
A blogger (ingvihrannar) has recently compiled a list of fourteen things that are considered "obsolete" in today's schools. This list included things like having a separate "computer room", not having WiFi in school, banning electronics, having unhealthy cafeteria food, starting school early for teenagers, and others. The purpose of the post was to generate ideas and discussions for the future generation of learning, and to not use the same "outdated" system students used 100 years ago. I am in agreement with most of the things included on this list; however, there are some things that I am in disagreement with, and some other things I want to add to this list.
One of the things I agreed with the most on this list was starting school too early for teenagers. This is extremely relevant to all teenagers in high school, since some of the things on this list only applied to some teens; many kids are very tired in the early morning and have a hard time concentrating on the lesson and the material being taught. Some students may also be in a rush to get to school and may miss essential morning activities, such as breakfast, which can be unhealthy to them. High school students (especially seniors) have a lot of homework or daily commitments such as clubs, sports, or extracurriculars that the school doesn't provide. These commitments can eat up a lot of the students' free time, giving them less time to do schoolwork. As a result, many students stay up late trying to get work done or cram in extra study time for tests. When they wake up for school the next morning, they would be utterly exhausted, inattentive to the lesson being taught, and maybe even stressed out. This leads to a decline in the student's ability to learn well. Research shows that teenagers do and feel better in schools that start at a later time; it also shows that if we push back the time for school start by just fifty minutes and extend school time by half an hour, students will do much better in both school and after-school activities. Teachers also have more time to prepare for their daily lessons to their kids, so it's a "win-win situation".
Another thing I agreed with was having unhealthy cafeteria food. If classes in school tell students to have a healthy and balanced diet, then go on and serve unhealthy food for them, then teaching students to eat healthy would be pointless. Instead, schools should promote healthy eating -- not just in the form of worksheets or lectures, but also in the form of the food itself. Maybe healthy food doesn't have to be served every day; sometimes the cafeteria could serve "junk food", but only once or twice every week (this is similar to how in reality, you can have junk food every once in a while). The idea of students cleaning up after themselves, or washing their own dishes, is a great idea as well -- this teaches students about responsibility, which helps them prepare for the world afterwards. The small task of washing dishes will teach students to be more independent as they journey into the real world after they are done with high school. The farm/"windowfarm" is also a good idea; it could provide students with the food that they eat, and at the same time have hands-on interaction with the science of nature. However this idea may not be so realistic, since many factors can play out to make the farm idea an unsuccessful one.
Something I disagree with, however, is for the students to create their own poster/website/pamphlet for the school. Buying a service from another place does not make the school "obsolete" at all; there is nothing wrong with doing so because there would be no huge impact on the school if the students were to design the school's website. Of course, it would enhance the interactions between the students and the school, and be used as a way to showcase what the student(s) have learned in a certain class, but that does not make the school seem more "modernized" in any way. On the surface, students designing websites/posters/pamphlets for the school may only show that the kids in that school may have more artistic ability than others. Even if the kids do make their own pamphlets/posters/websites for the school, the school should not call it a "collaborative project", which implies that it is mandatory and counts for marks; students should consider making websites for the school because they enjoy it, not because it's a compulsory task. I would take this idea away from the list.
Something I would add to this list is schools that have activities that are all run by teachers or staff. By doing this, teachers restrict the amount of freedom and creativity the kids should have. Now, more and more clubs, and even sports teams are usually led by senior students and students who have been in the club for a long time or are very good at a certain sport; they are not usually led by teachers. Yes, teachers do play an important role in the forming of clubs and sports teams, but students also play a key role. This can increase the leadership side of students, increase interaction between students, and help kids become more independent and not as reliant on teachers for help. This also helps develop creativity for student-led activities; kids can have the freedom of choice, in terms of what they choose to do in their club, instead of having a teacher give instructions for compulsory guidelines for that club.
In my opinion, Fraser Heights is a modernized school; many of the things on the list apply to our school, such as the molding of today's technology into every subject, or having WiFi in school, or letting kids use the powerful tools in cell phones or tablets for educational purposes. The school is opening up a new world of opportunities by taking the modern discoveries of our world and fitting it into the school's curriculum. By doing these things, Fraser Heights is taking a big step towards education for the next generation of learners.
Link to the original article: here.
One of the things I agreed with the most on this list was starting school too early for teenagers. This is extremely relevant to all teenagers in high school, since some of the things on this list only applied to some teens; many kids are very tired in the early morning and have a hard time concentrating on the lesson and the material being taught. Some students may also be in a rush to get to school and may miss essential morning activities, such as breakfast, which can be unhealthy to them. High school students (especially seniors) have a lot of homework or daily commitments such as clubs, sports, or extracurriculars that the school doesn't provide. These commitments can eat up a lot of the students' free time, giving them less time to do schoolwork. As a result, many students stay up late trying to get work done or cram in extra study time for tests. When they wake up for school the next morning, they would be utterly exhausted, inattentive to the lesson being taught, and maybe even stressed out. This leads to a decline in the student's ability to learn well. Research shows that teenagers do and feel better in schools that start at a later time; it also shows that if we push back the time for school start by just fifty minutes and extend school time by half an hour, students will do much better in both school and after-school activities. Teachers also have more time to prepare for their daily lessons to their kids, so it's a "win-win situation".
Another thing I agreed with was having unhealthy cafeteria food. If classes in school tell students to have a healthy and balanced diet, then go on and serve unhealthy food for them, then teaching students to eat healthy would be pointless. Instead, schools should promote healthy eating -- not just in the form of worksheets or lectures, but also in the form of the food itself. Maybe healthy food doesn't have to be served every day; sometimes the cafeteria could serve "junk food", but only once or twice every week (this is similar to how in reality, you can have junk food every once in a while). The idea of students cleaning up after themselves, or washing their own dishes, is a great idea as well -- this teaches students about responsibility, which helps them prepare for the world afterwards. The small task of washing dishes will teach students to be more independent as they journey into the real world after they are done with high school. The farm/"windowfarm" is also a good idea; it could provide students with the food that they eat, and at the same time have hands-on interaction with the science of nature. However this idea may not be so realistic, since many factors can play out to make the farm idea an unsuccessful one.
Something I disagree with, however, is for the students to create their own poster/website/pamphlet for the school. Buying a service from another place does not make the school "obsolete" at all; there is nothing wrong with doing so because there would be no huge impact on the school if the students were to design the school's website. Of course, it would enhance the interactions between the students and the school, and be used as a way to showcase what the student(s) have learned in a certain class, but that does not make the school seem more "modernized" in any way. On the surface, students designing websites/posters/pamphlets for the school may only show that the kids in that school may have more artistic ability than others. Even if the kids do make their own pamphlets/posters/websites for the school, the school should not call it a "collaborative project", which implies that it is mandatory and counts for marks; students should consider making websites for the school because they enjoy it, not because it's a compulsory task. I would take this idea away from the list.
Something I would add to this list is schools that have activities that are all run by teachers or staff. By doing this, teachers restrict the amount of freedom and creativity the kids should have. Now, more and more clubs, and even sports teams are usually led by senior students and students who have been in the club for a long time or are very good at a certain sport; they are not usually led by teachers. Yes, teachers do play an important role in the forming of clubs and sports teams, but students also play a key role. This can increase the leadership side of students, increase interaction between students, and help kids become more independent and not as reliant on teachers for help. This also helps develop creativity for student-led activities; kids can have the freedom of choice, in terms of what they choose to do in their club, instead of having a teacher give instructions for compulsory guidelines for that club.
In my opinion, Fraser Heights is a modernized school; many of the things on the list apply to our school, such as the molding of today's technology into every subject, or having WiFi in school, or letting kids use the powerful tools in cell phones or tablets for educational purposes. The school is opening up a new world of opportunities by taking the modern discoveries of our world and fitting it into the school's curriculum. By doing these things, Fraser Heights is taking a big step towards education for the next generation of learners.
Link to the original article: here.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Should Women's Hockey be in the Olympics?
Sould Women's Hockey be in the Olympic?. This question has been mentioned alot for example Jacob robinson said on't tell me women's hockey shouldn't be an Olympic sport, that was as good as it gets.
Will Woman's hockey remain in the Olympics?
Should Women’s Hockey event
be taken out of the Olympics? This question had been frequently asked during
the Sochi 2014 Olympics.
“This will never happen. I can guarantee this this will never happen.” Rene Fasel, the International Ice Hockey Federation President says. Though apparently it has been confirmed officially that Women’s Hockey will be kept in the Olympics, there is still some commotion about the idea whether it should be kept or not. People are starting to take notice on the idea that in the Olympics, there’s basically only two dominant teams for Woman’s hockey that really get the chance of getting a shot at gold medal: Canada and USA. The rest of the Olympics roster? Not that much.
People who thought that woman’s hockey should be taken off, recommend that the Olympics committee should consider taking Woman’s Hockey off the chart until other teams develop into a better team, with more chances, instead of Canada and USA easily sweeping them off the charts for a chance to get a shot at the podium-- ultimately, the gold medal. Some people even thought that woman’s hockey didn’t deserve to be in the Olympics in the first place. Woman were thought of as “weaklings”, and they didn’t have enough “power” or “force” to their play- they were looked down upon.
People who disagreed and thought that woman’s hockey should be kept in the Olympics say that the winter Olympics could be used as a goal and a measure stick for the other countries. If they took the event away, women may also miss their chance too, after all it happens only 4 years. They may become too old to play. They thought that woman’s hockey needed more recognition, and they simply just needed some more time and patience to piece everything together.
Personally I think that this event should definitely be kept in the Olympics. For the people who think that women aren’t hard enough, aren’t physical enough, too gentle, don’t mind them, because they are the opposite. They can be physical, and hard if they wanted to. They may not be as physical as men as a whole, but they still can be powerful and strong. If they took away women’s hockey from the Olympics, women who did play would no longer have that big motivation, that big goal. They may have awards like the Stanley Cup in the NHL, but it’s definitely not the same. To be honest, if the other countries did want the medal so bad, they would have it right now. They would work their hardest until they got what they wanted, instead of waiting for the medal to come to them.
For the past five winter Olympics where women’s hockey was added, Canada has won three gold medals, and USA with one.
“We need a little bit more time with the women. We need to work very, very hard to close this gap with the help of USA and Canadian Hockey. Just give me a little bit more time.” Fasel says. The committee have been sending coaches from Canadian and American hockey teams permanently to give teams a stronger build and try to guide them.
[x] - Global News, Is women's hockey an endangered Olympics event?
[x] - CTV News, IIHF president : Women's hockey will 'never' be out of the Olympics
[x] - Toronto Sun, Women's hockey will remain in Olympics : Official.
“This will never happen. I can guarantee this this will never happen.” Rene Fasel, the International Ice Hockey Federation President says. Though apparently it has been confirmed officially that Women’s Hockey will be kept in the Olympics, there is still some commotion about the idea whether it should be kept or not. People are starting to take notice on the idea that in the Olympics, there’s basically only two dominant teams for Woman’s hockey that really get the chance of getting a shot at gold medal: Canada and USA. The rest of the Olympics roster? Not that much.
People who thought that woman’s hockey should be taken off, recommend that the Olympics committee should consider taking Woman’s Hockey off the chart until other teams develop into a better team, with more chances, instead of Canada and USA easily sweeping them off the charts for a chance to get a shot at the podium-- ultimately, the gold medal. Some people even thought that woman’s hockey didn’t deserve to be in the Olympics in the first place. Woman were thought of as “weaklings”, and they didn’t have enough “power” or “force” to their play- they were looked down upon.
People who disagreed and thought that woman’s hockey should be kept in the Olympics say that the winter Olympics could be used as a goal and a measure stick for the other countries. If they took the event away, women may also miss their chance too, after all it happens only 4 years. They may become too old to play. They thought that woman’s hockey needed more recognition, and they simply just needed some more time and patience to piece everything together.
Personally I think that this event should definitely be kept in the Olympics. For the people who think that women aren’t hard enough, aren’t physical enough, too gentle, don’t mind them, because they are the opposite. They can be physical, and hard if they wanted to. They may not be as physical as men as a whole, but they still can be powerful and strong. If they took away women’s hockey from the Olympics, women who did play would no longer have that big motivation, that big goal. They may have awards like the Stanley Cup in the NHL, but it’s definitely not the same. To be honest, if the other countries did want the medal so bad, they would have it right now. They would work their hardest until they got what they wanted, instead of waiting for the medal to come to them.
For the past five winter Olympics where women’s hockey was added, Canada has won three gold medals, and USA with one.
“We need a little bit more time with the women. We need to work very, very hard to close this gap with the help of USA and Canadian Hockey. Just give me a little bit more time.” Fasel says. The committee have been sending coaches from Canadian and American hockey teams permanently to give teams a stronger build and try to guide them.
SOURCE(S) :
Monday, March 3, 2014
Current Events: Should Surrey Introduce Communal Dining in Restaurants?
Imagine this: Instead of grabbing a bite at a restaurant with friends or family, picture being seated at a long, narrow table and enjoying your meal... with total strangers. It may seem strange or unfamiliar to picture, but this style of dining ("communal dining") has been introduced in Vancouver in 2012; it was one of 19 reports made by the Mayors Engaged City Task Force, a group dedicated to making Vancouver a more "welcoming" and "engaged" city for tourists, residents, and immigrants alike. Communal tables are, as mentioned above, very long tables that can seat many people. Customers can "reserve" a seat on the table for lunch and dinner, then be seated with unfamiliar people (or people they don't know at all!) while they eat a meal. The goal of this project is to get more people in Vancouver to interact and bond with each other. So far, some of the restaurants in Vancouver have already begun to do this, such as "The Salty Tongue" and "The Alibi Room".
People who agree with this idea say that contrary to popular belief, Vancouver is not as engaging as it should be when it comes to making friends. A survey showed that one-third of the residents in Metro Vancouver had a hard time when it came to making friends, and that a poll showed that Vancouver was "less than friendly or inclusive". This way, strangers can meet face-to-face at a public place (a restaurant) in a stress-free environment, and just get the chance to know each other. At the end of the day, the purpose behind the communal tables is to provide a window of opportunity for people to interact with potential friends, and to hopefully form bonds that will eventually lead to friendships. It also develops better etiquette and manners -- one would certainly need to behave themselves when talking to someone they are unfamiliar with, especially if they are eating together.This is also a good way to get Vancouver as a city to be more active and engaged; Canada's global reputation for being friendly and polite somehow didn't extend to the act of eating a meal, and by promoting the use of communal tables, that could change.
However, some ideals might not turn out so well in reality, says the people who disagree. Some people, especially those who are introverted or shy, prefer eating with those familiar to them, such as friends or family. Others, who are preoccupied with phones or music, don't need, and therefore don't like the idea of having long tables. People who prefer privacy over being in the open may not find the idea of having communal tables appealing either. Ian Tostenson of the B.C. Restaurant Association says that idea behind the communal tables is a good one; however, he doubts it will change many things: he implies that friends will still sit together with friends, and they will talk among themselves instead of to other strangers. As stated above, it seems that while Canadians will go out of their way to help someone fix their flat tire or give directions, but draw the line when it comes to eating, an act too "intimate" to share with others.
In my opinion, we should give communal tables a chance. As the poll stated, there are lots of Vancouver residents who have a hard time finding friends; the communal tables could make for an opportunity to get some of the people to interact with each other, and to form new friendships. However, we must also take the people who favour privacy into consideration: lots of people (me included), are shy, especially when you consider the fact that you're almost elbow-to-elbow with the stranger sitting next to you. Some people feel uncomfortable when stuck in a situation like that, especially when having a meal; eating is an "intimate" thing, and some people like to enjoy in privacy, away from the prying eyes of strangers. Restaurants should have both communal tables and regular tables so people, whether they're outgoing people who want to gain more friends in their friend circles, or for the introverted adult or the average group of teenagers, can have more choice over who they want to eat with.
Reference links:
Vancouver made friendlier by communal restaurant tables? -- CBC News
Dining with strangers among recommendations to make Vancouver more engaged -- the Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Communal Dining and Long Table Restaurants -- BC Living
Reference links:
Vancouver made friendlier by communal restaurant tables? -- CBC News
Dining with strangers among recommendations to make Vancouver more engaged -- the Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Communal Dining and Long Table Restaurants -- BC Living
Women`s hockey out of the future Olympics
Should Women's Hockey be in the Olympics?
Jacob Robinson"Don't tell me women's hockey shouldn't be an Olympic sport, that was as good as it gets."
Evan Soloman "Could that be one of the best hockey games ever? Maybe. Congrats on gold for . What a comeback."
Steve Paikin "tell me people don't care about women's hockey as much as men's. this place just erupted. ``
These 3 people say that women`s hockey should be in the Olympics. Some people are saying that women's hockey shouldn't be in the Olympics because there is no competition because its always Canada and USA in the finals. I agree with this because there is simply no competition because the other countries are just under developed. The other countries don't focus on women's hockey because they think that its a waste of time when they are so underdeveloped while Canada and USA are just destroying competition. I also agree with this because even though its an interesting match up between Canada and USA it gets boring after a while because its always the same match up, I would like to see other teams like Sweden and Russia vsing in the finals.
I have mixed feeling`s about this topic because i agree with it and disagree. I disagree with this because women`s hockey is a tradition in the Olympics because it has always been in the Olympics. I agree with this because in my statement before the other teams are just simply are to underdeveloped if they other countries were more developed then i wouldnt disagree with this topic
If you want more information on this topic just click the links
http://globalnews.ca/news/1162894/is-womens-hockey-an-endangered-olympic-event/
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sochi/iihf-president-women-s-hockey-will-never-be-out-of-olympics-1.1691364
I have mixed feeling`s about this topic because i agree with it and disagree. I disagree with this because women`s hockey is a tradition in the Olympics because it has always been in the Olympics. I agree with this because in my statement before the other teams are just simply are to underdeveloped if they other countries were more developed then i wouldnt disagree with this topic
If you want more information on this topic just click the links
http://globalnews.ca/news/1162894/is-womens-hockey-an-endangered-olympic-event/
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sochi/iihf-president-women-s-hockey-will-never-be-out-of-olympics-1.1691364
Should Surrey Have Communal Dining In Restaurants?
In an attempt to
make Vancouver more engaged, the Mayors Engaged City Task Force has made a
recommendation for more communal tables. These are long tables with chairs put
on each side going from one end of the table to the other, open for strangers
to come and share a meal with other strangers. Many people think this is a
great idea; it can bring people together and make Vancouver a friendlier place.
However, many people prefer to go to a restaurant with the people they know and
talk to the people they know.
Those who agree
with this idea believe that an engaged city is one that can bring people
together so that they can speak and address issues of common importance, solve
problems that they share and bring a positive change to people’s sociability. Strangers
should be given the chance to get to know each other, and while dining with
others, it gives you the opportunity to engage in conversation and bond and
learn from each other. Also, it helps develop better manners, and the small social
skills used during the meal times can provide a base for future social
interactions. An example could be if new immigrants were coming to Vancouver.
If they were to go into a café that was filled with people who chose to keep to
themselves, remaining in an eerie silence and refusing to socialize unless
necessary, that would not be a very welcoming sight.
However, others
prefer to keep to themselves and only converse with the people they know. Ian
Tostenson of the B.C. Restaurant Association says that it’s a nice idea but
doubts it will change much. Many people like to go to a restaurant with the
people they know and talk to the people they know, not with strangers who decide
to take a seat next to them and have a conversation. It is found to be surprising
that the Canadians who are friendly, willing to give a tourist directions or
help with a flat tire, find the common joy of food to be too intimate to share.
I think this is
a great idea for people who are outgoing and willing to have a conversation
with someone they just met, and it can definitely help to bring people
together, making any place more engaging. However, I find it uncomfortable when
I am seated at a table next to another group of people. There is no
conversation, yet I still feel awkward about their presence. I have no
objections to being friendly and engaging, but I find that eating is not
something I would do with someone I do not know very well. There are people who
enjoy talking to others in an act of friendliness, but there are also those who
feel shy and awkward, and do not wish to socialize with strangers. I think this
should happen in Surrey, but not throughout the entire year. It would be good
for everyone to come together and socialize, and for the people who are shy,
for them to step out of their comfort zone and have a friendly chat with
someone. However, if this event went on at someone’s favorite café or
restaurant every day, specifically someone who does not feel comfortable in
engaging in conversations with strangers over a meal, it could prevent them
from not wanting to come back. Before the event starts, they could have
possibly gone there every day. But if they were put in a position that they
were not comfortable with, surely they would not want to return. If you like to
converse with strangers, go to a café or restaurant that has communal tables.
If you do not, you are not being forced to eat and engage in conversation with
strangers. Although it is recommended, it is not necessary if you do not want
to attend.
Links For Information:
communal dinning in restaurants? Should we have them in surrey?
Communal dinning started in a restaurant downtown Vancouver. The restaurant has put a long wide table for everyone to sit in. Most people get amused by what they see but the crowds do not interact. people find that sitting near or beside a stranger you will socialize but sometimes people like to eat individually or just with group of friends alone from other people. As this restaurant puts a long table where everyone sits to socialize it could get tighter and uncomfortable to most people. How would people that cant stand tight spaces sit in a table that is crowded with chairs. there are some minor problems because families like to sit together as a group not crowed with strangers, but for the younger people that like to communicate and socialize with one and another. It also gets people to bond together and engage to opportunities with each other.
The problem is that the fact that u don't get to eat enjoy your dinner without anyone looking at you because people like there privates and personal space. So far in Vancouver there are 16 restaurants that have the long table for communal dinning.
I think communal dinning in a long table is a bad idea because as a family its nice if your sitting alone together instead of sitting with strangers but there are good thing that you can do sitting on a long table is that you communicate and socialize with strangers but also have a good time. Which will make the restaurant/ pub popular because of how many people talk about how much fun it is to dine and engage to people. This would be a good idea but i think it would be better if it only stayed in Vancouver because in surrey most people go to restaurants with a group/friends and mostly families. This depends on the people themselves but I think they should just leave it as it is because if people want to dine with strangers they could connect the tables together but if not its should stay as a regular sized table for families or friends that could eat alone and at their own time.
click here to see more about communal dinning
More information on Vancouver's foodster website
The problem is that the fact that u don't get to eat enjoy your dinner without anyone looking at you because people like there privates and personal space. So far in Vancouver there are 16 restaurants that have the long table for communal dinning.
 |
| Salty tongue- in Vancouver |
I think communal dinning in a long table is a bad idea because as a family its nice if your sitting alone together instead of sitting with strangers but there are good thing that you can do sitting on a long table is that you communicate and socialize with strangers but also have a good time. Which will make the restaurant/ pub popular because of how many people talk about how much fun it is to dine and engage to people. This would be a good idea but i think it would be better if it only stayed in Vancouver because in surrey most people go to restaurants with a group/friends and mostly families. This depends on the people themselves but I think they should just leave it as it is because if people want to dine with strangers they could connect the tables together but if not its should stay as a regular sized table for families or friends that could eat alone and at their own time.
click here to see more about communal dinning
More information on Vancouver's foodster website
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Sochi Olympics 2014 -- Revised post
According to Toronto Star, the coach for Canada's Olympic hockey team Steve Yzerman requests players to shave their beards. Steve Yzerman made a similar request to players during the time when he coached for Canada's Olympic team in Vancouver 2010, where he got to guide the team to a gold medal with Sidney Crosby's overtime-winning goal. Though there was still no official decision made, it has caused a stir-up in the hockey community, with both agreements and disagreements. It has always been a ritual for hockey leagues, not just the NHL, (National Hockey League) to grow playoff-styled beards. Playoff beards were a superstition for hockey players who once they're in the playoffs, to not shave his beard until they are defeated or have won. This tradition started when the New York Islander players did not shave when they were in the playoffs, and ended up Stanley cup champions for four years in a row (1980-1983).
Yzerman's reasoning on why he wanted players to shave for the Olympics were so that players looked more "respectable". People who disagreed and thought that players shouldn't shave would state that it was always a tradition and should be carried over to the Olympics. Play-off beards were more than just beards, but a symbol showing the unity in a team. Though there weren't too many people who agreed to shaving, they thought that growing playoff beards was a stubborn idea, and should have been ditched long ago. They thought that shaving would make players look more respectable.
In my opinion, I disagree with Yzerman's idea. I think that players should have the choice whether they want to grow a beard or not, because that's their problem. Some players may be superstitious, and if you just suddenly told them to stop doing something that they've always believed in, it may change them mentally or even physically. It doesn't matter how you look on the ice because everyone is too busy giving all their attention to the puck, not to mention the speed of players when they're skating.
Resource(s) :
1. The history behind play-off beards You can read the original reason on how it all started and why people kept it.
2. Thoughts of playoff beards Andrew Podnieks throws his opinion out on playoff beards.
3. Do play off beards really work? A sided opinion on someone's thought if play off beards really work.
Yzerman's reasoning on why he wanted players to shave for the Olympics were so that players looked more "respectable". People who disagreed and thought that players shouldn't shave would state that it was always a tradition and should be carried over to the Olympics. Play-off beards were more than just beards, but a symbol showing the unity in a team. Though there weren't too many people who agreed to shaving, they thought that growing playoff beards was a stubborn idea, and should have been ditched long ago. They thought that shaving would make players look more respectable.
In my opinion, I disagree with Yzerman's idea. I think that players should have the choice whether they want to grow a beard or not, because that's their problem. Some players may be superstitious, and if you just suddenly told them to stop doing something that they've always believed in, it may change them mentally or even physically. It doesn't matter how you look on the ice because everyone is too busy giving all their attention to the puck, not to mention the speed of players when they're skating.
Resource(s) :
1. The history behind play-off beards You can read the original reason on how it all started and why people kept it.
2. Thoughts of playoff beards Andrew Podnieks throws his opinion out on playoff beards.
3. Do play off beards really work? A sided opinion on someone's thought if play off beards really work.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
No More Letter Grades for the Surrey School District? [Revised Post]
Recently, the Surrey School District has gotten rid of letter grades in thirty-nine elementary schools in Surrey, replacing them with detailed feedback about what the student is excelling in and what the student may need improvement in. Instead of evaluating a child's progress with the "traditional" A/B/C format, report cards will offer information about how they are doing on each task or project. This way, both parents and their children get a better understanding of the student's strengths and weaknesses. Many teachers and parents believe that this new way of writing report cards would be a good one, since they think feedback could lead to more discussions on education than the standard letter grade. However, many also disagree with this opinion.
People who disliked the idea of removing letter grades thought that a student would be more "motivated" to do better in school if they saw an F or a D on their report card. Students knew what the consequences would be if they got a low mark on their report card, and would strive to improve that mark. Getting an A was like a "goal" to a student -- if they wanted to reach that goal, they would work harder to achieve it (in other words, trying their best to get an A). Parents could also see how their child is doing in school at a quick glance, and would be able to help, even without the "in-depth constructive feedback." It's also a lot more work for teachers, since they need to constantly keep track of how each of their many students are doing in a certain assignment and subject; they would need to pay close attention to each student they teach in order to evaluate them with the "constructive feedback" system, something that would take a lot of work to accomplish.
However, the people that agree with this new system disagree with the idea of keeping letter grades. Some think that the letter grade system prevents conversation about "learning" -- instead, the topic of interest is focused on what grade the child has gotten, rather than how to improve in one's learning. They think constructive feedback is better because it gives a more specific outline about the student's strengths and weaknesses, helping parents better pinpoint what to improve on. For example, one could be good at understanding some of the information taught in Science, but not all of it; getting constructive feedback would let the parent know exactly what the child is misunderstanding, and they could get help on just that one topic, instead of re-learning everything.
In my opinion, both letter grades and constructive feedback should be given. Letter grades are more effective when a student wants to know what he or she needs to improve on in general, but constructive feedback gives you the specifics on what a student needs to improve on. Having letter grades tells a child in a quick glance what they may need to improve on (which makes them want to get better) and to let them know what they're excelling at, as well. Having a balance between constructive criticism -- which tells you where exactly to improve on your work -- and letter grades -- which tells you what you need to improve on your work in general -- is the best option.
A link to the article -- here.
A link to my original post -- here.
Here is a webpage about the history of letter grades. This post helps us understand more about letter grades in general, and why they have been used for so long.
This webpage shows a debate centering around whether or not letter grades should be eliminated. It's particularly interesting to see that 50% of adults agree with removing letter grades while the other 50% don't.
Lastly, this article talks about why constructive feedback just won't work, and why letter grades do. This was interesting to read because the man who wrote this article mentioned a lot of points that argued against having constructive feedback that many other articles hadn't touched upon.
People who disliked the idea of removing letter grades thought that a student would be more "motivated" to do better in school if they saw an F or a D on their report card. Students knew what the consequences would be if they got a low mark on their report card, and would strive to improve that mark. Getting an A was like a "goal" to a student -- if they wanted to reach that goal, they would work harder to achieve it (in other words, trying their best to get an A). Parents could also see how their child is doing in school at a quick glance, and would be able to help, even without the "in-depth constructive feedback." It's also a lot more work for teachers, since they need to constantly keep track of how each of their many students are doing in a certain assignment and subject; they would need to pay close attention to each student they teach in order to evaluate them with the "constructive feedback" system, something that would take a lot of work to accomplish.
However, the people that agree with this new system disagree with the idea of keeping letter grades. Some think that the letter grade system prevents conversation about "learning" -- instead, the topic of interest is focused on what grade the child has gotten, rather than how to improve in one's learning. They think constructive feedback is better because it gives a more specific outline about the student's strengths and weaknesses, helping parents better pinpoint what to improve on. For example, one could be good at understanding some of the information taught in Science, but not all of it; getting constructive feedback would let the parent know exactly what the child is misunderstanding, and they could get help on just that one topic, instead of re-learning everything.
In my opinion, both letter grades and constructive feedback should be given. Letter grades are more effective when a student wants to know what he or she needs to improve on in general, but constructive feedback gives you the specifics on what a student needs to improve on. Having letter grades tells a child in a quick glance what they may need to improve on (which makes them want to get better) and to let them know what they're excelling at, as well. Having a balance between constructive criticism -- which tells you where exactly to improve on your work -- and letter grades -- which tells you what you need to improve on your work in general -- is the best option.
A link to the article -- here.
A link to my original post -- here.
Here is a webpage about the history of letter grades. This post helps us understand more about letter grades in general, and why they have been used for so long.
This webpage shows a debate centering around whether or not letter grades should be eliminated. It's particularly interesting to see that 50% of adults agree with removing letter grades while the other 50% don't.
Lastly, this article talks about why constructive feedback just won't work, and why letter grades do. This was interesting to read because the man who wrote this article mentioned a lot of points that argued against having constructive feedback that many other articles hadn't touched upon.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Are vaccinations really helping to keep our bodies healthy? Revised post.
In British Columbia, there has been a spike in H1N1
flu cases, meaning that people are rushing to be vaccinated. One person has
died in a possible case of H1N1 and about forty people have been hospitalize,
approximately thirty of them in intensive care.
Some people are for the
vaccinations, they believe it is a good idea. They say that immunizations can
save children’s lives because of the advances made in medical science. Some
diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated
completely and others are close to extinction, primarily due to safe and
effective vaccines. This has been said because vaccines are only given to
children after a long and careful review done by scientists, doctors and
healthcare professionals.
However, others are completely
against it. They say that pharmaceutical companies can’t be trusted. An example
would be the hormone replacement therapy for women. It was claimed to reduce
the risk of heart attacks and cancer and even helped them feel younger.
Instead, their breast cancer risk doubled for the women who were on HRT, the
risk of stroke was increased by 41% and there was also a 29% increased risk of
heart attacks. The vaccines are loaded with chemicals and other poisons, such
as MSG, antifreeze, phenol, formaldehyde, aluminum, glycerin, lead, cadmium,
sulfates, yeast proteins, antibiotics, and much more. Also, some vaccines have
had problems and have been removed from the market. An example would be the
Rotavirus vaccine, which was removed from the market in 1999 due to an
association between the vaccine and life threatening bowel obstruction.
In my opinion, vaccinations are not a good idea because they can be very dangerous to people.
They are harmful to our bodies, and to inject it directly into our blood does
not make matters any better. From what I have learned, vaccines are filled with
chemicals, and to put that into our bodies, hoping that it will keeps us
healthy, it may just make you worse.
My References:
This article gave the opinion as to why children should be vaccinated.
This post gave the opinion as to why children should not be vaccinated.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Current events redo
Recently, the Surrey School District has gotten rid of letter grades in thirty-nine elementary schools in Surrey, replacing them with detailed feedback about what the student is excelling in and what the student needs improvement in. Instead of evaluating a child's progress with A's, B's, or C's, report cards will offer information about how they are doing on each task or project. This way, parents as well as children will get a much better understanding of what the student is doing well in and what he or she may need to improve on.
The Principal of George Vanier Elementary in Surrey thinks the new program has more understandings. He believes that the new system helps the children and the parents better understand their strengths, weaknesses and better discussion . Instead of having A, B or C the information will help the parents get a better understanding.
What the system we have now and the new system are similar because when I see a bad grade I will try my hardest next time to get a better grade and having the feedback will also be the same if i'm not doing good enough i will make the feedback even better then before. So these systems connect but in a different way of sharing it with parents and kids.
The Principal of George Vanier Elementary in Surrey thinks the new program has more understandings. He believes that the new system helps the children and the parents better understand their strengths, weaknesses and better discussion . Instead of having A, B or C the information will help the parents get a better understanding.
What the system we have now and the new system are similar because when I see a bad grade I will try my hardest next time to get a better grade and having the feedback will also be the same if i'm not doing good enough i will make the feedback even better then before. So these systems connect but in a different way of sharing it with parents and kids.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Suggestion for your current events blog posts
Try to give each of your posts a more accurate title. We will be doing current events blog posts for a while so if they are all titled "Current Events" it will be harder for your readers to find the post they are interested in and some readers will choose not to go into your archives if all the posts are titled so similarly. Instead consider .E. P. #1: Changing Report Cards or something else like it so that readers can identify your topic right away. Remember, pretty soon you will be sharing your blogs with your parents and they will be responding to you and your writing, so make it "easy peasy" for your less computer literate parents :)
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Current events
Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, described Sharon as "one of the architects of modern-day Israel" and one of its "staunchest defenders" in a statement of condolence.
"A renowned military leader, Mr. Sharon pursued the security of Israel with unyielding determination that was recognized by friends and foes alike."
Sharon played a central role in the Israeli government for several years, changing the political landscape through his leadership and vision, Harper added.
He also said that Canada values its long-standing relationship with Israel, "which is based on shared values, common interests and strong political, economic, cultural and social ties."
Sharon died Saturday at the age of 85. He spent eight years in a coma after he had a stroke at the height of his power in 2006. His death followed a week of sharp decline in his health as his vital organs began shutting down.
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander will represent Canada at a memorial for Sharon, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
Current events
Steve Yzerman whom will be leading the Canada's men hockey team in the Olympics this year in Sochi, plans on requesting the players to shave for the games instead of keeping a play-off style beard. There has been no official decision, though he had made this request before, back in 2010 when Canada won the gold medal with Sidney Crosby's overtime winning goal. Read the article here.
Steve's reason on wanting the team to shave their beards were to make them look more "respectable", and for their smiles to be more easily seen. Even though there hasnt been an official decision, the organization does support Yzerman's idea.
Some people agree with the idea of shaving, some not so much, and others didn't care much about this call. Personally I don't agree with Yzerman's idea, because I think the players should have a choice whether they want to shave or not. Some players like to keep their beard, like for play-offs, and it has been a superstition around the NHL about keeping playoff beards, along with other hockey leagues. Whether you have a beard or not during the game, doesn't really matter because all the focus is on the puck, not on how much facial hair a player has.
Steve's reason on wanting the team to shave their beards were to make them look more "respectable", and for their smiles to be more easily seen. Even though there hasnt been an official decision, the organization does support Yzerman's idea.
Some people agree with the idea of shaving, some not so much, and others didn't care much about this call. Personally I don't agree with Yzerman's idea, because I think the players should have a choice whether they want to shave or not. Some players like to keep their beard, like for play-offs, and it has been a superstition around the NHL about keeping playoff beards, along with other hockey leagues. Whether you have a beard or not during the game, doesn't really matter because all the focus is on the puck, not on how much facial hair a player has.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Current Events Blogging
Recently, the Surrey School District has gotten rid of letter grades in thirty-nine elementary schools in Surrey, replacing them with detailed feedback about what the student is excelling in and what the student needs improvement in. Instead of evaluating a child's progress with A's, B's, or C's, report cards will offer information about how they are doing on each task or project. This way, parents as well as children will get a much better understanding of what the student is doing well in and what he or she may need to improve on. Many teachers and parents believe that this new way of writing report cards would be a good one, since they think feedback could lead to more discussions on education than the standard letter grade. However, many also disagree with this fact.
People who disliked the idea of removing letter grades thought that a student would be more motivated to do better in school if they saw an F or a D on their report card. Students knew what the consequences would be if they got a low mark on their report card, and would strive to improve that mark. Parents can also see how their child is doing in school at a quick glance, and would be able to help, even without the "constructive feedback."
However, the people that agree with this new system disagree. Some think that the letter grade system prevents conversation about "learning" -- instead, the topic of interest is focused on what grade the child has gotten, rather than how to improve learning. They think that constructive feedback is good because it gives you a more specific outline about the student's strengths and weaknesses, helping parents better pinpoint what to improve on. For example, one could be good at understanding some of the information taught in Science, but not all of it; getting constructive feedback would let the parent know exactly what the child is misunderstanding, and he or she could get help on just that one topic, instead of re-learning everything.
In my opinion, both letter grades and constructive feedback should be given. Letter grades are effective when a student wants to know what they need to improve on in general, but constructive feedback gives more specific information about what the student needs to improve on. Having letter grades tells a child in a quick glance what they may need to improve on (which makes them want to get better) and to let them know what they're excelling at, as well. Having a balance between constructive criticism -- which tells you where exactly to improve on your work -- and letter grades -- which tells you what you need to improve on your work in general -- is the best option.
A link to the article --- here.
People who disliked the idea of removing letter grades thought that a student would be more motivated to do better in school if they saw an F or a D on their report card. Students knew what the consequences would be if they got a low mark on their report card, and would strive to improve that mark. Parents can also see how their child is doing in school at a quick glance, and would be able to help, even without the "constructive feedback."
However, the people that agree with this new system disagree. Some think that the letter grade system prevents conversation about "learning" -- instead, the topic of interest is focused on what grade the child has gotten, rather than how to improve learning. They think that constructive feedback is good because it gives you a more specific outline about the student's strengths and weaknesses, helping parents better pinpoint what to improve on. For example, one could be good at understanding some of the information taught in Science, but not all of it; getting constructive feedback would let the parent know exactly what the child is misunderstanding, and he or she could get help on just that one topic, instead of re-learning everything.
In my opinion, both letter grades and constructive feedback should be given. Letter grades are effective when a student wants to know what they need to improve on in general, but constructive feedback gives more specific information about what the student needs to improve on. Having letter grades tells a child in a quick glance what they may need to improve on (which makes them want to get better) and to let them know what they're excelling at, as well. Having a balance between constructive criticism -- which tells you where exactly to improve on your work -- and letter grades -- which tells you what you need to improve on your work in general -- is the best option.
A link to the article --- here.
Current Events
In British
Columbia, there has been a spike in H1N1 flu cases, meaning that people are
rushing to be vaccinated. One person has died in a possible case of H1N1 and
about forty people have been hospitalize, approximately thirty of them in
intensive care.
Some people are
for vaccinations, they believe it is a good idea. They say that immunizations
can save children’s lives, because of the advances made in medical science. Some
diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated
completely and others are close to extinction, primarily due to safe and
effective vaccines. This has been said because vaccines are only given to
children after a long and careful review done by scientists, doctors and
healthcare professionals.
However, others
are completely against it. They say that pharmaceutical companies can’t be
trusted. An example would be the hormone replacement therapy for women. It was
claimed to reduce the risk of heart attacks and cancer and even helped them
feel younger. Instead, their breast cancer risk doubled for the women who were
on HRT, the risk of stroke was increased by 41% and there was also a 29% increased
risk of heart attacks. The vaccines are loaded with chemicals and other
poisons, such as MSG, antifreeze, phenol, formaldehyde, aluminum, glycerin,
lead, cadmium, sulfates, yeast proteins, antibiotics, and much more. Also, some
vaccines have had problems and have been removed from the market. An example
would be the Rotavirus vaccine, which was removed from the market in 1999 due
to an association between the vaccine and life threatening bowel obstruction.
In my opinion, I
think that vaccinations are not a good idea because they can be very dangerous
to people. They are harmful to our bodies, and to inject it directly into our
blood does not make matters any better. From what I have learned, vaccines are
filled with chemicals, and to put that into our bodies, hoping that it will
keeps us healthy; it may just make you worse.
Click here for the H1N1 Article.
Current Events Blogging revised post
No letter grades in Surrey!
Right now Surrey schools are planning on getting rid of the letter grade system and instead of having letter grades the student will be having more information on how he/she is doing in school. The letter grade system was easier because parents can see how they are doing right away on the letter grade. Know the students have some information but it will not show the students there improvements in the letter grade. Students and parents will only get feedback and info on their kids progress in school.
What the system we have now and the new system are similar because when I see a bad grade I will try my hardest next time to get a better grade and having the feedback will also be the same if i'm not doing good enough i will make the feedback even better then before. So these systems connect but in a different way of sharing it with parents and kids.
link to Surrey schools-No letter grades- Shttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/surrey-school-district-extends-its-no-letter-grades-program-1.2485832
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