Essay 7

Acting Like a Bird:

A Connection From To Kill a Mockingbird, to a Bird

January 10, 2012

8th Grade

Pine Point School

Eliza Griffin

Chapter 15 in To Kill a Mockingbird may seem odd, but it connects to a bird. From the chirping of a bird to the behavior of a bird, it all relates to what happens in Chapter 15. A bird chirps for many reasons two of which are happiness and  fear. Jem and Scout display behavior similar to that of a bird through their actions in this chapter.

(T.S) In Chapter 15 in To Kill A Mockingbird, men come, and gather around Atticus’s house trying to talk him out a defending Tom Robinson in the trial. (S.D) When Jem, Scout, and Dill saw the men outside their house confronting Atticus , they were scared. (C.M.) When Jem saw men outside his door, he thought that they were the Ku Klux Klan coming after his father. (C.M.)“ They were after you, weren’t they?” Jem said to Atticus. “They wanted to get you, didn’t they?”(Cm) Jem’s words to his father are like a bird chirping his fear.  (SD) When the  three children were scared, they start to chirp, first to one to one another and then Jem to his father. (C.M.) Although, Jem and his sister were not actually chirping, you could tell by the description of the look on their faces that they were quite scared about what might happen to their loving father. (C.M.) Also, they were asking Atticus questions about who the men were at the door, and what they wanted from him. (S.D) Another way that the bird related to the book is because, birds are very adventurous. (C.M.) For example, if you were eating in the large, green Central Park, birds would fly directly to you to see what you were doing. (C.M.) In the chapter, Jem, Dill, and Scout sneak out to follow Atticus. (C.S.) In a way, they are acting like risky and curious birds, always wanting to know what is happening around them

From chirping to acting, I found that the bird relates strongly to what happens in chapter 15. Atticus has taken on an important trial which has brought some danger into their family’s life. Jem, Scout, and Dill display the characteristics of a bird showing concern for their father. Before I read this chapter,  I did not think of Jem, Scout, and Dill acting like birds, but from now, on when I read, I will forever think of them as acting like birds.

Essay 8

Mildness All Around

Connection Mildness To My Life

January 27, 2012

Pine Point School

8th Grade

Eliza Griffin

Mildness. What does this word mean? The dictionary defines mildness as a noun that means gentle, not easily provoked. It comes from the adjective mild which means sensitivity and calmness. My definition of mildness is smart, warm, and welcoming. I believe that these definitions describe Atticus Finch, a character in a novel and  also Mr. Hamilton Salsich, an English teacher at The Pine Point School. Atticus Finch, and Mr. Salsich.

        (T.S) In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the father, Atticus, is a very mild person, he is calm, sensitivity  and gentle. (S.D) During the last few days, Atticus, working very hard defending his client,  has been in the courtroom all day, he is the lawyer defending an African American man who is on trial for the rape of a young white girl. (C.M) Whenever Atticus is in the trial; he keeps calm, and does not provoke the Ewell family when they are on the witness stand. (C.M) In addition, he does get unruly, or dramatic in the courtroom, also, he tries to treat each witness with the same respect. (S.D) When Atticus is with his children, he tries to be mild. (C.M) As a single father, Atticus never raises his voice  at Jem and Scout, instead, he tries to talk to them in a reasonable tone. (C.M) He also carefully explains things to them. (C.S) This calm non-provocative man really does his best everyday.
(T.S) In my life, I see mildness everyday when I go to school. (S.D) My English teacher, Mr. Salsich, is a great example of mildness.(C.M) In class, he always has a polite, calm,comforting voice when speaking to us. (C.M) When he presents us with our essay comments, his voice and tone is always calm . When he tells you that you did your best, you really do feel proud of your work, (S.D) Also, Mr. Salsich, calming soft voice, is very polite. (C.M) Mr. Salsich likes us to be very serious scholars, so in the beginning of English class the teacher assistant says, “ Welcome to English class, please hold the chair for the person on your left be seated and be good scholars”. (C.M) His politeness seems to be contagious because all the scholars do not  need to think about this saying because it is  memorized. (C.S) As well as his students, this teacher is a special scholar.
Mildness, I have realized  is a big impact on my life. From a classic novel to an amazing teacher, without mildness in my life, my world would be completely different. From benign calm with your family, or being so polite that your politeness rubs off on you students, theses are the things in life, that we should live for.

Assessment Essay

Making A Difference:

My Experience of Volunteering at The Boys and Girls Club of America

February 27, 2012

8th Grade

Pine Point School

Eliza Griffin

For my assessment project, I volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of America. By volunteering there I have realized how lucky I am to be able to go to a great school. Also, I have realized how important it is to help children so that they can succeed in life.

T.S When it came time for me to choose what site I was going to work at for my assessment project, I knew right away that The Boys and Girls Club of America is where I wanted to volunteer at. I knew this because I wanted to help children, especially those that need learning and writing strategies help to succeed in school. S.D One thing that I made sure that I looked for in choosing my site was if I wanted to work with children, adults, or animals. From the start, I knew right away that I wanted to work with children. C.M I wanted to work with kids because I wanted to help my generation. This is because the generation before me has helped me to succeed in my schooling and I wanted to give back. C.M. Also, I find that children are more fun to work with opposed to working with adults because children laugh easier. S.D By working at the club, I was able to pass on strategies that I was given to help the boys and girls improve for a better school year. C.M One strategy that I showed them, was how to focus on reading one line at a time.  C.M. I showed them this, by using a white piece of paper and gliding it down the page of a book after each line was finished. C.M Another strategy, was when the children had to read, and answer questions, we would read the questions before reading, so we knew what we would later have to answer. S.D Lastly, I chose to volunteer at The Boys and Girls Club of America because I realized that the children did not have the support that I was given, and I wanted to fill this gap. C.M.  I realized, that the children needed the support because there is no one for them to go home to help them. C.M When I left the club, I felt that I made a difference were it is needed the most. C.S. From choosing to work at the Boys and Girls Club, it has not only impacted the students’ lives, but my life as well. I have learned to appreciate how fortunate I am t be able to go to Pine Point School and to have all the help I need.

        T.S. Through out my visits to The Boys and Girls Club, I had to face some challenges while working with the children. S.D. For example, when I was working with Tadeka, a fourth grader, she signed homework packet, instead of having her parents sign it. C.M. When we were working on her homework, I saw this scribble that she drew on the front page. When I asked her who had signed this, she said, “ I did, but I was pretending to be my parents.” This really shocked me. C.M To solve this problem, I had to tell her that it is not okay for her to do this, and that her parents needed to sign the packet tonight. S.D Another problem that I had with the club, was scheduling visits on days that I was going to volunteer on. C.M This situation was caused, because there are many Mondays in January and February that are holidays. From Christmas break, to Martin Luther King Jr. Day I missed about five visits in total. C.M This situation was solved, because for two weeks, I went to the club twice a week on Mondays and Wednesday. S.D Having the children not feel shy around me was also a challenge that I faced while working at my the club. C.M I attempted to solve this problem, by telling the children my name, and asking them if they had any siblings. C.M Also, I asked the children about their families. C.S Having these troubles while I was working with the children, made my assessment project a harder assignment. If each kid had behaved and listened to me, I would not have to be strict with them. These struggles that I had made the project a challenge.
        T.S There, was not a single day that I volunteered, at the Boys and Girls Club feelings that I had not helped the children with their school life. S.D Each time I visited, my goal was to try to make the children laugh. C.M I would do this, by telling them jokes, that they had not heard before. One of these jokes that Tadeka really liked, was what is a fish with two knees? A Two knee fish. When I told her this joke she would not stop laughing. C.M Also, Tadeka and I share a passion for the same TV show, which is Glee. Each visit, we would discus the episode from the week before and laugh about funny things that the main character, Rachel, would do. S.D I also felt good because I taught the children strategies that their school did not teach them. C.M. The strategies that I taught them would help it so that they could reading fluently. C.M These techniques also would help the children in their school years to come. S.D. Tadeka also trusted me, and she was not afraid to talk to me or tell me things. C.M After a while, she was not shy around me, and she would ask me many questions. C.M On my last visit to The Boys and Girls Club, the children would give me hugs every time I came in and would leave. C.S By working at the club, I believe that I children have given me a good feeling, but I believe that I have given them a good feeling too.
        T.S Researching Childhood Education, this made me appreciate The Boys and Girls Club even more. S.D While I was researching, I learned that parents try to be the main teacher in their child’s life. C.M If there is only one parent, and they work, there is not that opportunity for them to teach their child because they are working to support their family. C.M. By them working, they have handed over the job of teaching their children to afterschool programs, for instance like The Boys and Girls Club. S.D. Also, I learned that afterschool programs help children so that they are ready for life. C.M. For example, the kids develop good social skills, by making friends with all the kids in the club. C.M In addition, in the beginning of each day, the club has the children be active for 30 minutes, by having P.E. S.D. Lastly, the children are not afraid of speaking out at The Boys and Girls Club. C.M. The Boys and Girls Club teaches the children to be their own person, and don’t be who your friends want you to be. C.M. There is a quote in Mr. Mitchell’s room that says “ If you don’t shape your world someone else will” .This message is what the club tells you exactly not to do. C.S. By researching Childhood Education, I understand why it is so important to have a club like The Boys and Girls Club around.
       T.S.  When I was volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, I was working with children, and in the book To Kill A Mockingbird; the plot is mainly about children too. S.D While I was working with the children, I realized that children were a main point in To Kill A Mockingbird. C.M. I learned that you have to trust the children in order to let them to work with you. C.M. Atticus trusts the children, by letting them stay for the entire trial, because he thinks that it is important for them to listen to it. S.D Children, with their short attention span, can also be hard to work with. C.M. Atticus finds this through out the story, when his children do not always listen to him about what to do, and what not to do. C.M I also realized this, because sometimes the children just did not what to do their homework. S.D Finally, you might not be aware of it, but children really do care when you do something for them, even if it is a very small thing. C.M. For example, Jem and Scout were extremely grateful that Atticus let Dill stay with them, even though he had run away from his home. C.M. I believe, through out my visits to The Boys and Girls Club that they children appreciated me coming to work with them even if they did not say it.  C.S. Even though To Kill A Mockingbird was written in the 1960’s, the plot still relates to life in 2012.
        T.S Looking back on my seven visits, there are something that I would have done differently. S.D. First, I would of like to have changed the relationship that I had with the students. C.M. When I first walked through the doors of the Boys and Girls Club, I was shy, and I did not talk to the children, compared to how much I talked to them on my seventh, final, visit. C.M. I could have solved this problem on the first visit by trying to talk to the children more. S.D. Second, while I was volunteering there, I mostly worked with one girl, Tadkea. I would have like to have changed this, and worked with other children, instead of just her. C.M If I had done this, I would have probably felt more comfortable with the all the children instead of just Tadeka. C.M Also, I could have learned more about Childhood Education, if I had worked with more then one student. S.D. Lastly, I would have picked different days to visit the Boys and Girls Club. C.M. This is because, by visiting on Mondays after school, I would miss about 20 minutes of basketball practice. C.M. Also, there are so many holidays that fall on a Monday, that this interfered with my visits because we would not have school. C.S. Although I loved my time at the Boys and Girls Club, there are still somethings that I would have liked to have changed that would had made my time there more enjoyable.
        T.S. From working at the club, I have changed. S.D I am now aware of people’s situations at home. C.M. Kids who go to the club, do not have anyone at home with them, who actually cares about their homework. C.M This shows me how lucky I am to have a loving family, and to be able to attendPine Point School where everyone cares about you. S.D. I also feel good about what I have done, because I have made a difference in a child’s life. C.M When I leave the club, I feel good each time.  C.M. If I had a teenager helping me with my homework, like what I did with the children, I would want to do the best I could do on my homework every night. S.D I have been changed so much by working at the club that I would like to keep volunteering there. C.M. Unfortunately, you have to be 16 and over to be eligible to volunteer full time at The Boys and Girls Club. C.M. When I turn 16,in a couple of years, I might end up volunteering at the club again. C.S. Being aware of peoples situations at home have made me want to help people through out my life.
        This life changing experience of being able to volunteering at The Boys and Girls Club of has helped me understand what some children have to go through in order to succeed in school. This made me realize how lucky I am to be able to attend Pine Point School, where the teachers really want you to succeed in school. By helping at the club I understand more about how children learn, and how it is important to help them.

Essay 9

Being Different:

How My Life Relates To A Quote From To Kill A Mockingbird

January 6, 2012

8th Grade

Pine Point School

Eliza Griffin

On page 234 in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is speaking to the jury when he says “ We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people have us believe—some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they’re born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others—some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of men.” This quote tells us that everyone is different, and there are no two people in the world that are the same.
(S.D.)  By using this quote in her plot, Harper Lee emphasizes  the differences between human beings. (C.M) We already know that Mr. Raymond enjoys living  in the life style of how blacks live in Maycomb. (C.M) This makes him different from the other whites in his town as well as most of the white population in the South at this time in history. (C.M) Atticus, always acting so politely and trying to be the best that he can be, is different from everyone in Maycomb too. He is defending Tom Robinson, a black man, which no other white person in  Maycomb was willing to do. (C.M) He is not defending Tom just to be different. He is defending Tom because he knows it is the right thing to do. (S.D) Furthermore, I know I am different from others, in the obvious ways such as height, hair color, and eye color, but the way I feel the most different is because I have a learning disability . (C.M.) This separates me from many others because I cannot read or write as quickly as the average person. (C.M.) It takes me longer to read a page, and decipher new words. (C.S)  Mr. Raymond and Atticus  are different because they want to be. However, I just want to be able to  read and write as easily as everyone  else can. Nelson  Rockefeller  once said, “I was one of the 'puzzle children' myself -- a dyslexic . . . And I still have a hard time reading today. Accept the fact that you have a problem. Refuse to feel sorry for yourself. You have a challenge; never quit!”
Nelson Rockefeller is just one of the many successful people who have had the same disability as I do. His words stay with me and help me accept  that I am different from my classmates. Mr. Raymond’s black lifestyle made me respect his choice to not be like others. Atticus’s  defending of  Tom Robinson inspired me because Atticus accepted the challenge which made him different. Just like the quote, we know that no two men are equal; however, these three men through their differences teach us an honorable lesson. It’s okay to be your own person in life, and there is a lot to learn from those who are not like us.

Self Assessment:
1. One writing problem I am continuing to work on is cutting down on the number of words in each sentence. I am trying to be sure that each word in each sentence is necessary.
2.  A strong point I see in my writing is that I really searched to try and find words that best described what I was trying to say.
3. One weak point I see in my essay is in the introduction sentence in my body paragraph. I feel the sentence could hook the reader more.