Learning Profiles... Again.

1. I learn best when......

I am alone and I can concentrate well. I learn best through movement and by focusing on the whole picture. When I am relaxed, I may see, hear, and easily communicate details and sequences of information, both verbally and written.

2. I need to .....

Make more lists, learn to time manage, force myself to finish what I start, break large concepts into smaller ones to help process information and understand, I can use outlines, draw pictures, make maps to clarify relationships between pieces of information, and many other things.

3. The strategies that would help me in my learning....

• Sitting where I can process internally.
• Things like Lazy 8's and Thinking Caps Brain Gym will help.
• Activities like writing, drawing with non dominant hand, playing soccer, and doing martial arts will help a lot.

4. I would like my teachers to know this about me.....

I may not be looking directly at the teacher or speaker, but it does not mean I am not listening, and there are something I cannot help but do like clicking my pen, or swinging on my chair, but it is just the way that I learn.

Me in 3

I could choose any old thing in my room. As I look around there is a whole bunch of things that could describe who I am, but then I look over to my desk where piles of things lay and I know now, that these three things that I have chosen are not just any old items. They will tell you who I really am, on the inside and out. The number one item that I knew I had to choose was a calendar my best friend gave me before she left for Turkey at the end of last year. The next item does not mean too much to me, but I’m sure in a way it will uncover me and my story; my Thoroughly Modern Millie DVD. And ‘finally’ the last item I choose is my planners. These three items may seem like the normal things that anyone would have in there room, but this shows a lot of who I am, and here is why.

My first item is a calendar that my Best Friend gave to me before she had left for Turkey. This calendar was actually put together by her; she put pictures of us together in times from second grade and above. This means a lot to me because even though I can skype and chat to her, it will never be the same, but when I look at this, I remember all the good times we had and all the fun.

My second item is my planners. If you look at my desk or around my room, there are millions of them everywhere. That is because I always like to write things down and be very organized. For example if I do not write something down then I will forget it and never do it. But my planners always keep me very organized and on time for things, so they are very helpful.


Finally my third item is my Thoroughly Modern Millie DVD, this is the DVD of the school play I was cast in last year. I was very proud of myself when I got in, seeing that I wasn’t expecting it at all. I auditioned because I thought I would get a good acting experience out of it. Ever since second grade when I did participated in a drama activity, I have always wanted to be an actress. I swore that when I grew up I would become famous and be in the most well known films and plays. I’ve always loved being on stage and getting in the spotlight and all the attention.

So these items are just a few that explain who I am, and what life is to me. As I said these three items may not mean a lot to me, I hope they have described to you life in the eyes of Alexandra Flynn.

Behind the Name

My Name

Darcey, Bridget, Molly...None of those names fit me. When my parents told me they considered calling me, those names, I nearly vomited. Not that names like Bridget, Molly and Darcey aren’t good ones; it’s just that Alexandra is so much better. When you say it, it just rolls off your tongue and you know exactly who you’re talking about. Whenever I say my name, I hate it; it never seems right. It doesn’t feel like my name -- almost like I am a whole different person.

When I was younger, I was sure I would legally change my name to Charlie. First of all I really liked the name, and second of all it was the name of my favorite star from the show Hi-5. I never really liked my name when I was younger, but as I got older I started to enjoy it more. In my family everyone has normal names, names that are so common like Nick, Maddy, Harry... but my name, it was so different to me. If I can remember right, I’ve only ever met at least 3 Alexandra’s. 3, that’s it. Can you believe how many Maddy, Nick, or Harry’s I would have met if I counted them all.

Teasing. No one ever really teased me. Nothing that ever really hurt. Some people would tell me I was “definitely” a boy, for they called me Alex, but I never took any of that too seriously. Alex is something everyone has been calling me since I was in 1st grade. I never even wanted people to call me Alex; I thought it was a boy’s name. In fact I hated it. Everyone started calling me it because they said Alexandra was to long. When I moved from place to place, I guess it just stuck with me.

I think Alexandra fits me perfectly. It describes exactly who I am; Different, but shy at the same time, not afraid to tell people who I am. Everything I am, amusing, lovely, cheerful. I could go on forever on what this names means to me. Well, I love it, and I’m glad my name is what it is.

My Bio Poem

Alexandra Mary

Restless, Amusing, Impatient,
Best Friend of Caoimhe, Close to family,
Adores food, Adventure, Justin Bieber, and friends.
Once felt embarrassed, trapped, alone, and isolated
Hates Criminals, and losing close family members and friends,
Dreadfully scared of clowns, being trapped,
Luckily got into the play last year, learned to play touch rugby very skillfully.
Would love to go Skydiving, cast in another play,
I would love to get into the play this year, get better at acting, dancing, and singing,

Ampang, K.l, Malaysia

Flynn

This is my movie trailer for a fake movie that recreates the story of an Aboriginal myth called Dreamtime

It's Not as Bad as Everyone Says It Is

1. What piece of work and learning are you most proud? Explain.

I think the piece of work that I am most proud of is my Lit Circles. When I first stared to do these, I hated them. I thought they were the worst things in the world because they took up so much time, and like Mr. Thomas says, you are required to think a lot in order to get a good grade. If you look back at my first couple of Lit Circles you can see that a lot of them I did not pass. But then if you look at the most recent Lit Circle you can see how much I have improved in my reading understanding and writing structure. Lit Circles have taught me a lot this year. Although everyone hates them, they really have helped. Now I think about my work so much more. This assignment has also taught to use my time wisely whether it in class or at home because due dates are always much closer than they seem.

2. What were your greatest challenges? Explain.

I think that my greatest challenge this year was also Lit Circles. Like I said, although they may have helped me be a better student and person this year, they weren't easy, and they weren't meant to be. Reading the book was the easy part. Then you had to write all your questions, passage, etc. That was the hard part. I think the reason I thought it was difficult was because you had to write so much, reason and give evidence to support your ideas. I also think that I thought that it was hard because it seemed like we had ages to work on the Lit Circle but before you know, the night before it's due and you've only got your 2 passages down. Like I said, the Lit Circle has definitely taught me one thing, and that is to use my time cleverly.

3. Reflecting on your growth this year, what did you learn about yourself as a learner?

I learned that when I put my mind to something I know I will get it done and do it well. I have also learned that I slack off sometimes. I know that I am capable of doing things, but then I never end up doing them. In the end, I always try to do my best, and get things done as soon as I can. I always try to make up an excuse for myself not to do my homework for example I say to myself that I can always do it later or if it's on the weekend I say I can always do it tomorrow.

4. To evaluate your work habits, choose 1 of the following from each category ( and provide explanations):

a) Behavior

Could be improved

Satisfactory

Perfect - the model student

Explanation: I think that I am the average student. I don't think that I am the best yet I don't think I am the worst. I think that my behavior is pretty good, I always try to have a positive attitude whether I've been having a good day or not fore my attitude will reflect on how well I will do in my classes and in life with friends, family and school.

b) Participation

None

Satisfactory

Actively participate in class

Explanation: I think that I always participate during class. Although sometimes I may get off task or I may get distracted by talking to another person, I think think that in all, I participate a lot. When there is group discussions I try to answer the questions given, and try to orally answer them like required. So I believe that I do participate as much as I can during class.

c) Organization

Needs serious help

Satisfactory

I'm super organized

Explanation: Although I highlighted Satisfactory, I think that I am at the bottom of the group or somewhere near it. I always liked to be organized, and in someways I am, but in others, I am not at all. For example, I am not organized in my time. I don’t do it purposely but I waste time. Whether it’s in class or at home, I waste time. Not always, like when I really want to get something done, then I will start it early, and then finish it in time and I will have done it and done it well.

d) Effort

Needs serious help

Satisfactory

I always go above and beyond what is required.

Explanation: I think that I always try to do my best in all my classes and in everyday life, but I highlighted satisfactory because I don’t always go above and beyond. Sometimes I don’t think about what I could do to get a better grade before handing in the project, but when I do, I find that I enjoy working more and I will get a better mark for it.

5. Based upon your reflections, write two personal learning goals for Grade 7 next year.

Goal 1 - In Grade 7, I plan to

Get more into reading and Lit Circles, I don’t think that I read enough. Although I really like books, I don't take the time to sit down and really get into one. I would really like to read book after book like other kids in the class. Lots of students just expect me to not read during for example in SSR and just pretend I am, but I really like reading. And I would like to prove those people wrong. That is why- if it’s a good book- then in someways I really like Lit Circles.

Goal 2 - In Grade 7, I plan to

Use my time more wisely and get things done before the last minute. Lots of times I don’t always get my homework done on time because I get distracted or something. In 7th grade I really want to stop that. I would like to finish things such as important projects like Lit Circles and things like that before the night it’s due. Because less time wasting, leads to handing more homework/projects, and that leads to better grades!

6.Is there any more information about yourself that you would like the teachers to know?

I would like my teachers to know that I have loved the year. I thought it was a great start to middle school. Although at times I may have slacked off, or not given all my effort, in the end, I always tried to bring it back, and I have had a great time this year. I have met so many new teachers and students and I have learned to bond well with all of them. I have also learned lots of different learning techniques, and ways of learning that benefits me and how I will learn. So thank you very much!

7. What was your favorite activity lesson in Humanities this year? What did you enjoy about it?

My favorite unit this year in humanities has been ancient egypt. Before I knew absolutely nothing about egypt and pharaohs. Now after that lesson, I am almost an expert, and although there is still lots to come, I am so happy that I have learned all of this. Not all of it was the most interesting, but most was very enjoyable.

8. What activity do you wish we could have spent more time on?

I wish we could have spent more time on our last tic tac toes. I wish we could have had more time to research and learn about our empires. For example my empire was Ancient Rome and I would have liked to have learnt more about Rome and their culture. I think that if i had had more time I could have brought up the grade my group got. I thought we did pretty good, around the B's range, but I've always been expected to get around that area of grades, but now I want to raise the bar, and I want people to expect me to get A's, and I do want to get A's. And not all the time but I do get grades around the A range but I would like to change that. That is why it is also one of my goals for 7th grade. I know the year is not over yet so what ever projects or assignments I get next, I would like to do my absolute best, not just the average, but the best I can do!

1. Finally, cast your minds back to the first few months of middle school (when you arrived in Grade 6 ) what "Words of Wisdom" or "Advice" could you pass on to the Class of 2018?

There is a lot to know about middle school and how it works and the teachers will not all teach you how it is done. So I am going to give you a few tips on how to survive middle school. Your teachers are probably telling you it is going to be torture and none of you will survive because one time you couldn’t hand in your homework on time. Well it is nothing like that, and all those stories about how the 8th graders are so scary, and they’ll shove you into lockers and never let you out. None of that is true, well most of it isn’t. I think everyone is gonna be fine but just a few tips to help to do well 1. Always get your work done on time, when you guys will start doing Lit circles, try to follow Mr. Thomas’ schedule or close to it. Trust me, it will help you a lot. 2. Try to memorize your locker combination so that you don’t have to call your friends over to open it for you every time you need to get something. 3. Keep your locker organized so that it’s easy to take out and put things in. This will also keep from papers getting crinkled, and projects getting ruined 4. Never keep food in your locker for more than a day, in fact done keep food in your locker at all. It will bring ants, and all kinds of bugs. Who knows, last year a kid grew a whole forest in hid jungle, so don’t keep any food in your locker.(water is fine though) 5. Be prepared for your next class and don’t waste your time during brakes. Although ten minutes is a lot, and at first, it seems like you have all the time in the world, but really, it’s not a lot at all. Some teachers at some point will let you out late, not on purpose, but you won’t always, and I suggest you don’t, always stop by Connie’s to get a drink or a cookie before class. This wastes a lot of your time and you won’t get to class in time. 6. Don’t take advantage of this freedom. A lot of people did this at the beginning of the year. For example when you go to the 6th grade deck you will see sort of a hill like wall. You will want to climb on it, and you will won’t to slide down it. And yes, it is kinda fun, but this is not a good idea. People will start to take advantage of the freedom, and then they will loose the privilege. They almost band the whole grade from then 6th grade deck. So those are just a few tips of mine that will hopefully help you during the year of 6th grade!

Dear Asher...

Dear Asher,

Since I have training to become the new Receiver I have learned a lot about the community and how it used to be. I know you will not understand this but you have to listen. I am going to leave the town tomorrow morning for I cannot live like this anymore. Now that I see color and I feel love and pain, I can no longer go on living in sameness. You see, way back back back there was difference, everybody could be as they choose. Everybody had choices, and not just a limited choice, you could choose anything. People could choose the color of things, the sound of them, music. But then people thought that color-color is like red pink, yellow, blue, the way things look, I know you don't understand, but when I leave all the memories will come back and you will see- and music etc set people apart, got people hurt so they took away everything. People could no longer see color, hear music, they could not even feel any emotions. So this is why I am leaving. I am going to else where. Where there is color, music, emotions, love. I wish I could explain more of this to you but you will not understand. For a while, when the memories come back to people, you will need help, people will not be able to deal with it. So go to the giver, show him this note, he will help you. I have been friends with you for years and it is very hard for me to let go, but I have to say good bye now or else I will never leave. I hope that you out of all people will understand. Thank you.

Sincerly Jonas

Blog Post Commenting

I commented on Abhi's Blog, and Tiffany's Blog, which were both very enjoyable and interesting.

This week we were given the assignment to do a blog that was written about how chapters 16 ~ 18 relate to the themes of freedom and choice. I have a few statements, one of them being that to us, the life that Jonas is living is horrible, but to him, it is normal. Another one of my statements being that in these chapters Jonas had to make some choices which reflected on the future. These chapters both show examples of freedom and choice, but here are mine.

First of all in this book there is hardly any freedom at all. No one has any choice in life, everything is handed to them. For us, that may sound horrible, but to their community it is normal. That is how everyone was brought up, there is no other way to live. But for Jonas and the Giver it is another story. Since they have the memories from way back, they can see how life really was before sameness. This is when Jonas starts to make choices and has more freedom. Jonas sees difference so he will be able to choose what is best for him. That is when he starts to have freedom in life. Jonas also has to make some choices of his own. The Giver wants him to escape, but it is Jonas' choice if he really wants to run away, to go to the real world.

The Gestalt Side: Profile L

Everyone has different ways of learning. I was taught this the other day when Mr. Whiting came into our class to show us learning profile. I found that I was profile, which is proved to be Eistein's profile. Although I am profile L, I need lots of improvements to help learn better and understand well in class.

There are many ways to learn well but the best way that I learn is to have my dominant eye and ear, which is my on my right side facing the board, and the speaker. In my humanities, I have the perfect spot because my right ear and eye are facing the front of the room. I learned that when I move in class, it helps me understand when I am reading, writing, communicating with others. There are many things I do in class that prove I am Profile L such as rocking on my chair. I am always doing this, all my teachers and even my mum get annoyed by it but I just can't stop! I also click my pens, or take the cap off and put it back on. Now this, people get annoyed, but like I said, it helps me to listen and concentrate better. When I am relaxed, I communicate, see, hear better. Like I said, there are many ways people learn well, but these are the ways that I learn best.

With being a Profile L, you have many disadvantages, so there are things I need to do to help in school and at home. One of the things I should do is play Lazy 8's with my finger on the table. You draw 8's on the table with out taking your finger off the table, but while doing this you are looking at the speaker. There are also many other ways to learn effectively rather always just getting distracted.

As you can see there are many ways to so learn well whether it's where your sitting or playing games with a pen a paper. You can learn effectively but it can be hard sometimes, there are some disadvantages to being an L gestalt learner. But at the end of the day, I am glad I am a L learner, even though there are some bad things to it.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year

"A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous"- A New Year's resolution. Nobody is perfect, and thats why we have new years resolutions. To make our selves a better person, to make our life easier. A New year's resolution is a goal that you want to achieve by the end of the year. Thousands of people all over the world make these goals every year, and I'm one of them.

2010 had been a great year for me, but all of that could be even better in 2011. One of my goals for this year is to get all my homework completed in under an hour, with few exceptions. I know that many people have a goal to get more organized but I think that I really need to step it up. Usually what happens is I come home, and I go upstairs to do my homework. I will go straight to the computer although not all my homework is needed a computer. This is when I get distracted. I then take a long time finish even one assignment. So far middle school has been great, but one thing the seventh graders warned us about was the homework. Compared to elementary school, we have a lot of homework, but since we are half way through 6th grade, I guess we are used to it. This will keep me organized at school as well as at home. When my homework is done in an hour or less, then I can have all the free time I want. Not only that but the next day I am sure that all my homework has been done the night before so I don’t have to take time out of my lunch to do any assignment. Which means that I will not only complete my homework in a short amount of time, I will also have few or maybe even no late work. I like this goal because it impacts a lot on how well I do in school, and I would like to bring my grade up to at least an A. And I hope that this goal will help.

My next goal is about my room. I would like to try to keep it clean all year. I know that it is not going to be clean every second of the day, but at least for half of it. My room is usually messy and most of the time my maid cleans it up. This year, I would like to try and give her one less job to do. This way my maid is less tired at the end of the day. My mum says a clean room is a clear mind. And I think she’s right. Most people who have a messy room are not very organized and are inefficient. But when waking up to a clean room keeps your mind clear and open. Having a clean room will help me in a lot of ways. First of all it will help me achieve my first goal. It will also help my maid, my mother and my siblings. My mum and maid will have less work to do. And with me waking up to a clean room, I am happier in the mornings so this will create less trouble for me and my family. With my things in place and toys in order, my mother will never need to tell me to go clean my room.

“Is it recording?” I asked “Almost, just hold on a second” Jed said.  “Can we please practice one more time?” I told him. “Fine” He said. Jed and I had been friends for many years now, my parents actually knew their family before I was even born. Although I was a year older than him, we always have the greatest times together. This was our 3rd christmas back in Australia since we were overseas, we usually come back every 2 years. We were almost ready to record our video for the song Just a Dream by Nelly. I liked this song a lot but   Jed didn’t know anything about it, infact I didn’t think he had ever heard the song before. We were both wearing his brothers jackets, some flat caps and a pair of green ray-bans. “Ok, you ready?” He asked. He looked nervous, so I assured him that I was ready. “Go!” He whispered and crawled into place. As the music started to play, we slowly go into the camera’s frame. Although we didn’t have a choreographed dance we still did our best. 

Later that day, we showed everyone. Jed was so proud of it that he put it on youtube. Now everyone can see our amazing video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYWlLl2HnGw&feature=player_embedded

http://www.google.com.my/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:New+Year's+resolution&sa=X&ei=QXIqTYfAGcXVrQeb68GYDA&ved=0CBUQkAE