NPR Vlog

This entry is based on the NPR "All About Carbon" Video #2, entitled, When Carbon Falls in Love, the World Heats Up. This video breifly discusses how the more carbon we burn, the more Carbon Dioxide is released into the air. These videos are a different alternative for learning in the classroom because it is entertaining you while giving you facts and details. I learned in this video that Carbon likes to bond with two Oxygens, and clings to them. The CO2 gets distributed across the oceans, and also absorbed into forests and trees; basically all over the world. Another term I learned more about was the Greenhouse Effect. Since there is so much CO2 in the atmosphere, the sun is heating up these molecules, adding to the increasing temperature. This series of videos is informative, and then ends of posing the question, "If Carbon is making us warmer, what can we do about it?"

Changes in the Future

Within the next fifty years, there will be several changes that effect the way us humans live our lives from day-to-day. If you look back fifty years ago, you are able to point out so many facts of life that have changed over the years. in the future, I suppose that there will be further inventions that deal with technology.


Computers will become smaller, and more portable/durable. Also, I assume there will be many advancements with cars. Who knows, the could float soon...maybe there will even be a highly efficient alternative for fuel that will help the economy. Hopefully, there will be other advancements that deal with cures for diseases or sicknesses. Research in medicine will be continued and there may be several cures out there. Lives will be saved and several aspects of life that are valid today, will not be true in fifty years.

Digital Story #2

The Use of Literary Devices and The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor





This project was very similar to the first digital story. I used my knowledge of powerpoint and my initial design to help plan out my powerpoint. This project was based on a lesson I learned in English class with Mrs. Kaplan. This book is written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and called The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor. My learnings about literary devices and the use of them in this novel was summed up and put into an organized powerpoint. The recordings were the hardest part because I kept messing up and re-doing it. Overall I found this project to be rather entertaining and it also helped me tie English learning with Technology learning.

My Trip to the Dominican Republic

My project is based on my trip to the Dominican Republic. I took this trip along with my mother, my brother, my mom's boyfriend, and his children. Among the many activities I took part in, I included pictures from the Flying Trapeze, archery, the beach, and sailing. The song I used for my video is the song that was played constantly around the resort. The songs name is "Love Generation" by the artist, Bob Sinclair. The pictures show the ocean and the nice scenery in and around the resort in the Dominican Republic. I had a great time in Club Med, Punta Cana. There are countless memories, and although some events didn't go so well, my family and I laugh about them now.



Project Reflection: In order to complete this project, my class and I had to learn how to use different programs on the Mac and also become familiar with basic tools on the computer. Reminiscing on the events and gathering pictures was fun and entertaining. I realized that my family and I had an exciting weekend, and although the trip went by fast, we did many things. The easiest part of the project for me was gathering the pictures and adding transitions. Although, the most difficult part had to be adding text to each slide, as well as adding music to my show. Since there was a specific song in mind, I had to search and convert the song from a video on youtube to an mp3 file. I helped other classmates do this, too, because if your not sure how to do it, it may be a difficult task.

Here's my Rubric!

My Family Story

When I was younger, about three or four years old, my friends, family, and I all joined together and took the day-trip to Sesame Place. Mid-day, the group of children and parents walked to the street to watch the Sesame Parade. Looking up to my mom, I quickly asked her if I was allowed to walk over to this mini ride where you climb up this small hill. She responded, "Yes but come back right after." I did as I was told...although when I returned after I had completed the climb, the place was dead. Everyone had left and I was there wondering what just happened. Of course, I was four at the time so my mind doesn't work the way it does now. I started hysterical crying because I was lost. I began to run and get hot with anxiety. All of a sudden, some older woman with a sunflower hat looked down to me, and politely asked, "Are you lost, honey?" She offered to take me to find my parents but this gesture frightened me even more. Wailing, she grabbed my hand and took me to the Lost and Found building. They announced my name over the loud speaker and soon enough my parents came to find me. Now, I can laugh and joke about it; but, at the time I was dreading every minute of it. Its not fun being lost!

My Academic Experience

In 2007, when I was ending my 6th grade year, my school had started a theater after school program. The end result was to present a full length musical. At this time, the play was Annie. Auditions went well, and I was able to achieve one of the leading roles. Through the hardships of learning the script and adapting to the role of Oliver Warbucks, I learned and my friends among my cast and fellow students in the school. Within months, the play came together very well and play-time was arriving. Soon enough, the cast found out we were one of the chosen schools to present a scene on broadway for a moderately well-known organization named Broadway Jr. Since I was one of the lead roles, the song I had a solo in was chosen to be performed. It was decided upon that the musical number NYC. I had the opportunity to go backstage on a Broadway stage and perform in front of other schools, adding to other members of the audience. Overall it was a great experience, and a day I'll remember.

Current Events

RESPONSE: I read the article named, "Pink Cleats to Show Support of Breast Cancer Awareness." This article is simple but it deffinately shows that it has a lot to say and a strong point to prove. The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The article clearly states within the first few sentences that many teams or players on teams in the N.F.L. have agreed to wear pink colored gear in order to support the cause and raise awareness for it. The article later speaks about runningback DeAngelo Williams' experience and families' fight with the dreadful disease. I think that this is a great idea and will prove a point to many who are often oblivious. For more information on Breast Cancer and awareness, go to .

Current Events

RESPONSE: I read the article named, "Commentary: World should shun Iranian leader." The article speaks not only about the Iranian leader, but also about the relationship of Iran with the United States and the UN (United Nations). There are problems occuring in Iran dealing with the government, which is characterized as a theocracy. A theocracy is a government that has ruling with religious importance. In Iran, there are protests going on dealing with how the people view the government and the leader, President Ahmadinejad. During the protests people have been reported to be tortured and beaten. This is cruel and my opinion is that the government does not necessarily care about the people; rather, it cares about staying in power. The United States is trying to reach out to Iran to a certain point so they can work on their relatinship. For now though, we must take it slow and come to compromises or agreements.

Blogging in Education Essay

                          Blogging in Education                                                          by: Chris Smart             

    Blogging is beneficial to education. It benefits education by creating enthusiasm,motivating students, and creating online and in the classroom collaboration. It is helpful to schools because it increasing social and academic participation. Using Blogs in schools can help teachers and students as well .Blogging in schools helps them by increasing the participation in students and communicating with students and parents.

    Blogging benefits education in many ways. One way blogging benefit students is by creating enthusiasm. Blogging creates enthusiasm by getting the kids and teachers excited about using new technology to do the work. It also motivates students to do their work.  It motivates them by making them want to learn because the are excited for the new way of learning.Blogging also help to create collaboration. When the students want to use new technology and new ways of learning they can work together in a group and share eachothers ideas for using the new technology. Sharing ideas, commenting, and reading other ideas on blogs is also a form of collaboration in and outside the classroom.All three of these reasons are great beneficial ways of blogging.

    Blogging is also very helpful in schools.Blogging is helpful in schools because the kids get very excited to experience different technologies, such as blogging. When first graders were asked about their feelings on blogging there were various different responses. One boy said that he likes blogging because he gets to become a better writer through blogging.One kid was even excited because two people commented on his blog.Blogging was also helpful too schools when a school in maine closed down to to severe weather. Once the school was announced closed 200 kids went online and started blogging and spreading the word about school being closed down. These are just a few examples of how kids learn better when they are motivated by new technology.   

    Blogging is helpful to teachers in school for many reasons. First of all it is helpful to teachers because it motivates the students to want to learn so it is easier on the teachers to get the students to pay attention to their work. then it  is helpful to teachers because it helps them to communicate with the parents of the students in their class.It is also helpful to teachers because it keeps them connected and reduces their level of stress.These are all beneficial reasons that blogging helps teachers in schools.

    Blogging is very useful to schools, educations, and teachers in many ways. These are just some of the reasons why teachers, schools, and education benefit from blogging and new technology.

Blogging in Education

Blogging is beneficial to education. It benefits education by giving students the chance to communicate efficiently and easily using technology from the 21st century.  It is helpful to schools because if a computer is available in your school, it is cheap and easy to start blogging.  Using Blogging in schools can help teachers and students as well. Blogging in schools helps them by increasing the knowledge of the student population with technology and letting them participate in a different, more unique sense; via the Web.