7th Grade Reflection

When I first arrived in August, I expected school to be much more difficult, but also that it would be more fun that ever, especially now that I would get to play sports for our school. I soon realized that I was right, schoolwork was tougher and the homework had multiplied. West Ridge football was a lot of fun, but the only problem was our team couldn’t win. My team didn’t win a game all year. By October, I realized I needed to study more, especially for math and science.

Over the school year, I have learned a lot of things that have helped me in and out of school. First of all, I have learned a lot about speaking Spanish and maybe someday I will be able to have a conversation. I feel like this could be useful in life, mainly because we are in Texas. Another important one would be how to manage my time after school. Since I always have a bunch of homework and some sort of sport activity after school, it is very important for me to manage my time and getting everything done. Last but not least, the last big thing I have learned all year is how to get to the front of the lunch line. As it may seem ridiculous, it can be very helpful on days where you are stuck at the back of the line and won’t get whatever they are serving that day and won’t have enough time to eat lunch once you finally get your food. Coming straight from choir which is pretty close to the cafeteria, it is fairly easy to get towards the front of the line. The lunch line builds up fast, so you must squeeze into the front of the line fast so that you can get your lunch.

If I had to do it over, I would for sure study more and try to be more organized with all of my schoolwork. Although this year was lots of fun, I look forward to the summer and the start of 8th grade. Next year us 7th graders will rule the school and I think it will feel good. People have told me that 8th grade was actually easier than 7th, making me look forward to it even more. As for now, I am looking forward to finishing this year and having a long, relaxed summer.

What I Do With My Friends

           In my neighborhood, there are a bunch of guys I like to hang out with on the weekends. There are about 8 of us that get together and do whatever we want. We all live so close together we can call or text each other and meet up in a matter of minutes. We always just joke around and have fun. These days are always the highlights of my week. 

          On the snow days, we would all put on a bunch of layers of clothes and play football in the cold. Now that it is heating up, we usually go swimming at the creek or at someone’s house, or play trampoline basketball. Trampoline basketball has to be my favorite and it will never get old. It is slam dunk after slam dunk and there is always laughing. What’s not to like about that?? 

           The best part about these days is just being with your best friends and enjoying the moment. We can all forget about all that homework or the chores we need to do around the house and just enjoy each other. I really hope we can continue to do this throughout the summer. 

Favorite Poem

Sick

by Shel Silverstein

“I cannot go to school today,”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay,
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash, and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more–that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue–
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke–
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is–what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is—Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”

 

Sick” by Shel Silverstein is a great poem that I really connected to. Right when I read it through the first time I actually started to laugh a little bit. I have felt like this on days I don’t want to go to school. It has never really worked and I end up having to go to school anyways. I have also thought it was a school day before on a Saturday and when you finally figure out it is the weekend, it is one of the best feelings in the world. This is now my new favorite poem and now I know a new excuse for not going to school in the morning!

Challenge Week Five: Media and a Memory

The Sandlot

Countless times on road trips and hundreds of times during the summer, my brother and I would watch The Sandlot. This movie is about a boy who moves into a small town and his mother tells him to go make some friends. He finds a group of baseball players his age at the sandlot. He learns that all they do is play baseball, every single day. He has no idea how to play and has a hard time fitting in. He eventually learns the game of baseball.  When they need to borrow a ball of his, he gives them his Babe Ruth signed baseball, the greatest ball player to ever live. The group runs into some problems getting that baseball back and the meet Goliath, the giant dog at the house behind the baseball diamond.

Every time I watched this movie,  I would imagine I was one of those kids, playing the great game of baseball every single day. I will never forget those days my brother and I laughed on the couch as we watched this amazing movie. These memories will stick with me for the rest of my life.

The Sandlot was a big part of my childhood, as I probably watched the movie about 250 times, and it never once got old. My favorite scene has to be the smack talking between the gang and the Tigers, the high class rich kids in the city. It makes me smile even to this day when I watch this scene.

Every kid should have the opportunity to have this movie, for it is a classic. It is still and always will be my favorite movie.

Challenge Week 3: 5 Favorite Apps

As I scroll through my pages of apps, I am deciding which app to use and why. I like a lot of my different apps for different purposes. They are all great and super easy to use. Here are my favorite apps and what I use them for.

1. Instagram
Instagram is a really cool app that I use almost everyday. I can see what my friends are up to, look at funny pictures or videos, or see what the new news is in sports. I’m not a frequent poster, but I do like to look at what my friends are doing. With a new feature, called Instagram Direct, I can send a picture to just a few of my friends instead of all the people who follow me. I think this feature is really cool and I like being able to communicate with all of my friends. Instagram is one of the most popular social media sites around, so if you don’t already have it, I recommend you get it.

2. SportsCenter
SportsCenter pretty much is what it sounds like. Wherever I am, I can always go to the SportsCenter app and catch up on any sports news going on around the world. I can also see things like when my favorite team plays next and see who has the best record in the NBA all right there in one app. If you are a sports fan, then this is the app for you.

3.Smash Hit
Smash Hit is a really fun and addicting game that I recently got. I saw one of my friends playing this game and it looked fun, so I downloaded it. Now I’m hooked to the game. Basically the object of the game is to dodge all of the obstacles in this maze but also throw balls at targets to earn points and help you stay alive. It may not make much sense, but it is actually really simple once you get the hang of it. Smash Hit is my favorite game on my iPad, so I think you should give it a shot.

4. Edublogs

Edublogs is a really great app that I use. I am able to post something, visit blogs, and do my homework for English class all in the same app. This is a neat app that can be used when you are on the go and can’t go to Edublog’s online. I actually prefer the app over the website.  It is a great app for all of the Edubloggers!

5. Flipboard

Flipboard is a really cool app that can be used for educational purposes. I can read cool articles, make my own magazines of stories, and see what Mrs. Kriese has been writing about. I think Flipboard is a great app to use for someone who lovrs to write!

I have a lot if different apps, but these are my favorite. Hope you get them for yourself!

Challenge Week Two: What to do in the ATX

It is a warm Saturday in November in Austin, Texas and you are looking for something to do. There is no better option than to go to a Texas Longhorn football game.

The first reason you should go to a game at Darrell K. Royal Stadium is the tailgating and pre-game festivities. Barbecue pits are set up everywhere while friends are tossing around the football. Everyone is dressed up in their burnt orange ready for the game. TVs are set up in the beds of trucks to watch even more football. Be sure you get a nice, juicy sausage wrap before the game. As you walk into the stadium, students lead Texas Fight chants and everyone is fired up for some football. The tailgating is one of the best parts about UT football games.

Another reason you should go to a Texas football game is the atmosphere once you are in the stadium. Once you find your seat, you realize how huge the stadium is and how beautiful it is. Soon, the Horns come out of the tunnel and the crowd is going crazy. Once the game starts, you can’t help but cheer for UT, even if you aren’t a fan. Then, Texas scores. Touchdown! The huge cannon fires and the stadium erupts with enthusiasm. I love Texas football games because of the atmosphere.

After reading this, when you come visit Austin, be sure to go to a Texas football game.you will have a great time and see one of the greatest things about the heart of Texas. Hook ’em Horns!!!

The Phantom’s Lair

Dark. Cold. Frightening.

The Phantom takes Christine down into his lair. He takes her down the haunted hallway. A few candles flicker out their last bit of light. Ancient paintings, unwanted masks and a giant organ filled the lair. The organ started playing and the horrid phantom with the mask starts to sing.

Christine was terrified. The room was painted black and crimson, making her think of blood. She realized she shouldn’t be here, and she was in danger. The Phantom was no longer her Angel of Music, just a man no one has ever cared for.

She realized she was in danger and searched for an escape route. The came across a replica dummy of herself, really giving her the chills. The Phantom mocked her with his wicked laugh. She felt her way through the darkness of the place, desperate to escape free. She ran out to the pond behind the lair, crying for help.

As Raoul came to her rescue, she would never forget the scary memory of being trapped in the Phantom’s lair.

war tunnels
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: i k o via Compfight

The 2014 Winter Olympics

These Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia have been very exciting. So many crazy events for a bunch of crazy competitors from around the world. Everyone watching at home is yelling at the TV, cheering on their country. It’s too bad that we have to see it come to an end.

Looking back at the events, my favorite events were the Alpine Skiing. The skiers fly down the mountain, hoping it is good enough for gold. I actually enjoyed pretty much all of the events, even some of the ones I had never heard of before. Some of the new events like Slopestyle skiing/snowboarding were also some of my favorites.

Although it seems like all was good in the Olympics this year, there were some American let downs. The main ones would have to be Shaun White not winning a medal in the Men’s Halfpipe, Shani Davis not medaling in Speed Skating, the Men’s Hockey team did not leave with a medal, and the entire Speed Skating team left with just one medal.

All in all, the USA did a good job of supporting our country, getting second overall in the medal standings. I enjoyed watching as many events as I could, cheering on Team USA every moment I could. Fire and Ice
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Evan Leeson via Compfight

Why The House of Torment is Scary

“BOO!” yells another wild zombie. This haunted house is easily the scariest I have ever been in. The House of Torment is a very scary place.

One main reason the House of Torment is so spooky is all the ways the monsters scare you. They can come up from behind and scare you half-to-death. The will also do the jump-around-the-corner move and make you scream. The monsters/zombie creatures always find a way to scare me.

Another reason why the House of Torment is scary is the loudness of the place. Sometimes there are wild people with chainsaws running after you. Maybe it is the shrieking scream of the zombie right in front of you. The House of Torment is very loud which makes it even more haunted and a little bit scarier.

The House of Torment is very spooky for many different reasons. The haunted house is dark, bloody, deafeningly loud and there is always a zombie trying to make you scream. The House of Torment is insane.

Why the Texas Basketball Team is a Very Good Team

Before this college basketball season, most UT fans and I figured the UT men’s basketball team would be mediocre, as usual. No NCAA Tournament, much less a chance at a championship of anything. So far, I have been completely wrong. The Longhorns have become a very good team.

Texas is now 18-4 and ranked #15 in the country. One big reason to their success is coach Rick Barnes. He must’ve done something to turn the program around. He seems to have really changed his attitude for the better. He has improved his team better than he ever has in his coaching career. Everything about his team has skyrocketed.

Only a few great players have come through the program, and that remains the same this year. Although they have no superstars, they have been able to come together as a team. All of the players are good athletes, friends with one another, and know how to play unselfish basketball. This has been a huge part to their success. Their team is very young, about 90% of the team is just freshmen or sophomores, but they play mature and like they have played with each other for years. The Horns have beaten 4 ranked opponents in a row and are on an impressive winning streak.

Texas has become a solid team and has a chance at a run in the tournament if they keep up their hard work.

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