Notes From Rachael

D.A.R.E essay

2009-05-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

The knowledge that I have learned with the D.A.R.E program is not to use tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs or alcohol. All of these drugs WILL hurt you more than you know. Chewing tobacco for example can and probably will cause lip or mouth cancer. My goal is to be as healthy as I can throughout my life, and to do that I have to make the right choices throughout my lifetime!

have learned so much in D.A.R.E! Mostly I have learned not to make wrong decisions. I have learned the 5 types of peer pressure and how to say no in many ways! I also learned that over 400,000 people die every year due to tobacco caused problems. My favorite thing was Mr. Dip Lip or when we had the drunk goggles that I did horrible at, and that everyone laughed at me. I also liked it when we did the D.A.R.E family feud game and we had extra recess, even when not all of us had our D.A.R.E. shirts that day! It also really tested our knowledge that we have learned in D.A.R.E!!!

D.A.R.E has taught me to stay drug-free. When I saw the jar of tar, I almost threw up. It was so gross, to see what some people don't even care about and what is killing them. I don't know what these people are thinking, but its not something I want to know! The black lung was super nasty! To think some people still have their lungs look like that. I also learned that I should not use prescription drugs if they are not prescribed to me by a doctor. Prescription drugs can kill brain cells and hurt your internal organs a lot. If my doctor does prescribe me something then I need to take the dose of medicine prescribed to me, and no one else!

The skills that I have learned in D.A.R.E. are, to say no to any type of drug and tobacco or alcohol in a lot of different ways to say no. Some for example are, the skipping CD or just walk away! D.A.R.E was defiantly one of my favorite activities this year. I really liked smoking Suzzie, she taught me how much tar goes into the lungs with just one cigarette. It has taught me so much about resisting drugs as seen in the paragraphs above.

I also now know not to take candy or any med's from people on the streets, because I don't know what they have put inside the package. If there is any holes in the package you still have no clue about what is in it. The package could contain from chewing tobacco to heroin. These drugs are addicting and very dangerous. This is why I pledge to stay of any drugs or tobacco, because I want to live a long and happy life. No matter what gets in my way I have learned to say NO!

Challenges to face

2009-05-14T13:53:00.004-04:00

The challenges that have faced me this 6th grade year are very little. I have faced the challenge of not passing the OAT but I think I did good. I was faced with a new class and people that I haven't been in a class with. Then I had to find friends in my new class. At the begging of the year I did not know if I would fit in, but I am sure that that is what everyone thinks on their first day of the year. I did not know if I would get good grades and, to tell you the truth I was really dreading giving up the summer for school.

I have no clue about what I will face when I get older. Well, I do know that I will have a lot of choses that I will have to make for myself. What collage to go to. What I want to be when I get older. Just things that I already know that I will have to face. I have NO clue what Jr. High will be like starting all over again. I will have to start from the begging, as if I don't know anything. I just hope I am not helpless next year.

Wonderful...Happy endings...?

2009-05-12T14:27:00.001-04:00

I am just trying to figure out why a lot of stories are happy endings. We all have our dreams of happy endings. I am just so sick of stories having happy endings. It is not just in books earthier. I can not TELL you how many rewrites of the Cinderella movie I have seen. I mean come on people that many rewrites of the same story. They always end up the boy meets the girl of their dreams and they fall in love and everyone is happy. It almost always is a happily ever after ending.

I know that not every book or story is like that, because I have read some really good books that have some sad endings otherwise not happy ones. I do like some stories that end in happily ever endings. I am just saying that it gets really old.

Everyone knows that there are not always happy endings in life. You can always have that dream life that makes your nightmares go away. Ugr....I need to quit fighting with myself. I am just saying that I guess that I am in the middle, because I like both.

If I Wrote A Book...

2009-05-04T15:05:00.002-04:00

If I wrote a book the main character would be about a sporty, outgoing girl with friends to back her up! I have no clue what her name would be, but it would be awesome. My main character would not be an outcast, but she would not be the bratty girl in school who thinks that she is "all that" and thinks that she is better than everyone else. Basically my main character would be like me....!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ohio Achevment Test (OAT)

2009-04-29T13:58:00.001-04:00

Here in Ohio the sixth grade students of the Logan Elm school district have taken their OAT's and have turned them in. Now I am not a big fan of testing, but I think that I did a good job as a student. I don't like any kind of test, but if it is for yourself then you should do your best.

I have herd a lot of kids my age tell me that they don't care about their grades. It really makes me mad how students don't even try to pass. When Mr. McGuire gives us a work sheet for extended response I usally get a half way decent grade. On the other hand I may look at a person across the room that will just simply say to my face " Oh well, I don't care its not like it matters to me". That just makes me soooo mad I could just smack them across the face...., I just don't get how people can go to school everyday not knowing anything and going home and still not knowing anything.

Honestly I think that we just might get an exellent grading on the OAT, wish us luck!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm....Laney

2009-03-31T14:30:00.001-04:00

We are reading a book in the Reading Workshop called Larger than Life Lara! The main character is Laney. I think that Laney is not really confident in herself. I think this because she thinks that shes not very pretty. I also think she doesn't really try to impress people she just thinks. She doesn't try to fit in a lot. I still think that she is somewhat confident!!!

The Best Book Ever

2009-03-23T13:56:00.001-04:00

One of the best books I have ever read is Charolettes Web! It is about a pig and a spider and the most awesome friendship ever! Hey, there is an idia. What is your favorite book.....

What Keven said

2009-03-04T14:36:00.004-05:00

In the book Freak The Mighty Keven aka freak tells Max "every word is part of a picture and every sentence is a picture. All you do is let your imagination connect them together." This book has a lot to do with what we have been talking about in the Reading Workshop.the thing I want to know is why. Why would someone have their parents work for them to go to school and fail poorly. Just because they did not read their book. Some kids fake read this will not get anyone anywhere. If a student fake reads then they will never know what they are missing. Students need to sit down and read a book every once in a while. If a student likes to watch TV then give them a book!

Six months to live

2009-02-13T14:21:00.005-05:00

2/22/09 Six Months to Live

My book is about a girl named Dawn that has leukemia. Which at that time was one of the most common cancer found in kids. Dawn is thirteen, and has to move her things to the hospital to start her treatment of chemotherapy. When she arrives at the hospital she meets a girl named Sandy. Sandy also has leukemia. The girls become best friends during their time in the hospital. Then Dawn gets the common cold and her immune system can't take it because of the chemotherapy. She ends up going to the ICU for two weeks. Then she finally gets to go back down to her old room with Sandy.

After that Sandy went into remission. Dawn was begging to feel lonely without Sandy. Then nurse Frida tells Dawn about a cancer camp in Ohio.

Welcome

2009-02-11T15:00:00.003-05:00

Hello, welcome to Notes from Rachael! I'm really excited to be starting my own blog. I am one out of four people in my class that are making their own blogs. Of course under the supervision of our Language Arts teacher Mr. McGuire. He had the idea of turning students wikipages into blogs. I am mostly going to write about the books I am reading. On the side of this blog you will see where I keep track of my minutes. Hope you like it!

Imported Online Journal

2009-02-11T14:52:00.000-05:00

2/9/09 Six months to live
A cause and a effect in my book is when Dawn and Sandy get into a popcorn fight during a popcorn activity, and make a mess in the Activity room with the other kids in the hospital. Dawn says she will always remember that day because, that is the day that the first hunk of her hair fell out.

1/22/09 Who are you?
If I could persuade my main character to do something, it would be to not worry about boys in the situation that she is in. Kristen has a man in the hospital because he got shot. The mans name is Douglas Merson, and he has a secret folder on Kristen. I would also persuade Kristen that she should go be a artiest if that is what her heart desires. So what if her parents think its a wast of money to send her off to art school. My parents think that I should go into life with a carrier that I will be happy with. Do you think that is a good choice?

1/21/09 Who are you?
A big problem in my book that happened today is, when Kristen was fighting with her mom about collage. Kristen wants to be a artiest, but her parents think it is a wast of time and money. They also think that it will not carry her through life. Kristen has a bigger problem now she needs to find out why Mr.Merson has a file on her and if he is a art stealer after her for her paintings.

1/13/09 Mr. McGuire said
Your journal entries are improving ( GOOD JOB! ), but I would still like to see another sentence or two when you write your journal entries. I would also like to see more specific details.
Areas in red need some improvement.

3 or B

Entries have several details from the book
Specific details from book relate to the topic and thoughts, ideas, and opinions
One paragraph (5 - 7 sentences) each day
Understanding of book demonstrated in journal
Explains the "So What?", theme, lesson, or share your opinion
Format is correct
Reading from S.S.R and home is logged in book journal daily
Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization is correct

1/6/09 Who are you?
One opinion of the main character in my book, Who are you?, by Joan Lowery Nixon. Is when two HPD's show up at her house asking if Kristen knows a man named Doug Merson. Kristen's opinion is that these people are crazy. They come knocking at her door saying she did a crime.Her and her parents have no idea who he is.

1/5/09 Goals
My goals for 2009 are:
1.)To learn at least half of the French language by the end of the year.
2.)Get a grate grade on the Achievement tests!

How I plan to do well on the Achievement tests is, to study, study, study! I plan to study by doing extra work and learning all math facts. I will probably get on some websites for Math, and write some papers for Language Arts. Also for Math I will try to know all my multiplication facts in less than one minute. For Science I will have my mom do some flash cards with me. For Social Studies I will play some study games with my mom.

How I plan to learn at least half of the French language by the end of the year is, I am going to play my new DS game My French coach. It is working really good so far. I can count to fifteen in French, and say some colors. I think this will help me4 out later on in life. Maybe in high school or something.

12/18/08 Anne Frank
The main problem in my book is that Anne is a Jew in the time of Hitler. Hitler and the naizes are trying to find all the Jews in Germany and kill them. While all this is going on she is making her sister (Margret) jealous. By trying to get her next door neighbor's son Peter to go out with her. Now I know that this is going to turn out bad, when Margret finds out.

12/15/08 HW assiment
I thought that the Online Journal H.W. assignment with our parents was really fun. I think this because it is fun to sit down with your parent, and talk about school. Also to have someone other than your teachers show you what to do.

12/10/08 Anne Frank
Two events about my book and why they are Important:

1.) A big event in my book is when, the men of the secret annex where discussing about giving the Jews warnings about the nazis.This is important because, if the Jews don't get warnings about the nazis, they won't know if they were coming or not. Anne and her family might get caught, get arrested or even KILLED!!! I hope it does not end like that.

2.) Another big event that happened in my book was when, all of Annes friends that are Jews are getting arrested and killed. This is important because, what if her friends know where Anne and her family are hidding. Then what if her hidding place is forced out of one of her friends. Or an ex-boyfriend tells on her for revenge. Either one, the lookout is not so good. If I were in Anne's position, I would be very scared! I can't imagine not even going outside for a little fresh air, and if I do, I might be shot! I don't think I would even worry about a crush or any boys in her situation.

12/8/08 Anne Frank
The main character in my book is Anne Frank. She is a 13-year-old Jew in the time of Hitler and World War II. She is hiding in the top of a building called the Secret Annex. She lives with her old friends the VanDann family. Anne has a crush on the VanDann's son, Peter. He is a 16-year-old and Anne and Peter had a previous relationship the last summer. When she ignores him, he finally pays attention to her trying to make her laugh. He keeps making stupid jokes and she laughs.

2/4/08 I had trouble getting to Solla Sollew
I think that the lesson in this book is that no mater where you are or where you go you will always have troubles. And that you should never give up! Although sometimes you need to give up before you just get overstuffed!

2/4/08 Anne Frank
A problem that my character, Anne Frank faced today is, that the Nazis have bombed her town twice in one day. Her family can't go any where. That's because the Hitler's army is flooding the streets. If Anne or her family goes outside, they will be executed. During one of the air bombs, Anne had to breathe through a small crack through a window. So far, Anne has survived with her family.

12/3/08 Lily Friendly Foal
Someone would like this book if they liked animals, especially horses. My book is about a girl named Winnie that helps horse owners get their horses to behave. I think this book would be good for someone that feels that they do not have friends because that is what Winnie feels like at school. This book would be good for horse lovers because then they could easily compare themselves to the main character that is a horse lover too. In my book Winnie just gave a foal to a little boy with autism and is trying to train the foal for him. The little boy loves his foal and once tried to ride her.I think that Winnie will train the horse and the little boy will be very happy. The main character in this book uses animals to try and figure out people. Like once Winnie made a diary that in it all the kids and teachers were compared to different breed of horses that have different personalities. If you are like that this book would be good for you.

12/3/08 Mr. McGuire said
Can you picture yourself in Anne's position? Would you act like her? How would you be different?
Please add another sentence or two when you write your journal entries. I would like to see more specific details.

12/2/08 Anne Frank
What happened in my book today is, Anne Frank has been thinking about how a lot of her friends are getting KIDNAPPED by the natzies.

11/18/08 Anne Frank
I predict that at the end of the book, Anne will get caught by the Nazis. Then get KILLED by them.

11/17/08 A Mother to Embarrass Me
I predicted that this book would be super funny. Then it went a little bit over bored on the drama. I cant exactly think of how to tell you. It was a good book but I don't think that it was for me.

11/14/08 A Mother to Embarrass Me
This book is so funny! Yet, I really wish her dad did not hurt his neck. No, I haven't showed my mother this book yet.

11/14/08 Paitaan W.said--
Rachael I think A mother to Embarrass Me sounds like a good book I think I might just read that. Did you like and if you had a chance you would read it again?

11/14/08 Mr. McGuire said
I will be interested to hear what you have to say about this book. I thought it was one of the funniest books I have ever read. Did you show it to your mom? What did she have to say about it?

11/13/08 A Mother to Embarrass Me
The main character in my book is Laura, a twelve year old girl. Laura is so embarrassed of her mother she just wants to crawl into a hole and stay there. Her mother listens to old time music.

11/12/08 Indigo
I Just finished my book Indigo it was one of the most awesomest book I've ever read.

11/11/08 Indigo
The best part in my book is when Heidi shrinks Marthas mothers shawl in the washer. Then Martha just went down into tears.

11/11/08 Peyton G. said-
Rachael Indigo sounds like a good book I just might read it. What is phobia mean? It is good that you put alot of details it makes the book sound really good. Rachael remember when we were going to go to the circus with Austin but then we decided not to. That reminds me of the book Big Sister Blues .

11/10/08 Indigo
Five things that happened in my book are.....
1.)The McGill boys painted their room like an ocean, but their dad has lived through one of the most deadliest floods their town has seen. So he has a phobia of water.
2.) Their dad re-did their room while they were asleep.When the boys awoke, they wondered how they even stayed asleep.
3.) Their father always says that water is dangerous.
4.)Marthas nanny Heidi has been telling Marthas dad that she thinks that children should eat in the kitchen that way the adults can have their privacy.
5.) Although Marthas father just ignores Heidi, because he is too depressed about Marthas mom's death last year.

11/7/08 Indigo
I predict that the McGill boys are some kind of mysterious water creatures. I predict this because the boys have been acting wierd around water. For example, when the boys where little they would only go to sleep if you would turn on the tap water.

11/7/08 Mr. McGuire said
Series books are my favorites too!

11/6/08 Big Sister Blues

I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out! Now that I am done with Big Sister Blues. I thought that this book was very good. It had awesome details and a lot of cliff hangers. I liked the part when Amy finally got a new baby sister.

11/5/08 Big Sister Blues

I can't believe that Amy does not get to go to Fall Fashion week. Just because her mum (mother) is not feeling well. I feel bad for
Charlotte, because she has to take her brother Patrick to the circus with her friends.