because of Romek final post

1: I think the most horrific part of the book was watching his family get shot. That would probably be enough for me to kill myself. I cannot even imagine what that must have been like for David at such a young age. This is such a horrific turn of events in the story, and probably one of the most disturbing and also one that shows the horrors that he Nazis commited during the holocaust.

2:
While in the Krawinkle camp David actually gets a good job for once in a long time. David's job of feeding the dogs not only got him more food, but keeps him out of the cold weather and from getting a really harsh job like some of the other prisoners. This chapter was another example of just how brilliant David was. He came up with the idea of taking the dog's stew, but at the same time knew he couldnt take too much, or the guards would notice.

3:
David desribes bergen-belsen as one of the worst concentration camps he has faced so far. He says in the book that the floor was littered with frozen feces and urine, and the bunks were filled with bodies of the sick and dying, who were being eaten alive by flies and lice. David also desribes some of the people in the camp eating the flesh of the people who were already dead. David also contracts typhus while at bergen belsen, which nearly kills him and makes him pretty much a walking skeleton.

4:
I think David's most triumphant moment is when he survives getting sent to the gas chambers when he is sick. David's quick thinking and good instincts got him out of trouble several times in the book, and also kept him alive longer. In this instance, David remembers something someone told him once, and it got him thinking that something bad would happen if he stayed where he was at the moment, and his instinct was right, only a few minutes after he left, the rest of the sick people were taken away to be gassed.

5:
David Faber's book, Because of Romek, should be required reading in all middle schools, high schools, and universities because all students need to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust and the crimes commited during it. During David Faber's speech, he brought up a valid point of the importance of being educated in not just the holocaust, but other genocides throughout history. Mr. Faber belives that all children should be read this book, in order to present the horrors of a genocide, and also to prevent future ones from happening. David belives that if children are educated in the history of persecution, it will stop hatred and make the world a better place. Many people share Mr. Faber's veiws of the world, and i think anyone would be more than dedicated to making the world a more accepting place.

Reniassance Project reflection

Name: Wade Bruffey
Project Reflection
Project Title: Reniassance projects
Class: BD
Dates: 6/4/08

[ PURPOSE ]
In this project we were supposed to learn about the time period known as the reniassance and the ideas that shaped the way we lived today. We chose a person to study and then found out more in depth information about their life's achievements. This helped us get a better idea of how the reniassance worked and how it influenced the modern age.

[ WHAT I LEARNED ]I learned a lot about the reniassance in general, but even more about a man that was a huge influence in the reniassance. This man was Filippo Brunelleschi, an Italian architecht who built perhaps the most famous and most extravagant chapel in all of reniassance history. This chapel was the Santa Maria del Fiore, and Brunelleschi was put in charge of the most important and most difficult part of this church. This part was the dome, a gigantic dome so large it took nearly all of Brunelleschi's life to complete. Before we learned about an important reniassance figure, we had to learn about the reniassance itself. the most important thing we learned were the ideas behind the reniassance, the i deas of humanisim. studing humanisim meant a belief in human potential, and the hope that every human could achieve great things.

[ REFLECTION ]I really liked this project because we got to study an important figure in history that helped shape the way we live today. I also liked this project because it was kind of small, but it still taught us a lot and in a short, manageable time slot of around three weeks. If i could do this project again i dont think i would change anything, the person i chose was easy to find information on, and i felt like i finished the biography well before it was due so i had plenty of time to edit and fix things.

[ ARTIFACTS ]i could put a copy of my bio on the dp

Romek post 3

1) I think David Faber's speech was beyond words. He was so moving and he spoke with a passion like i have never seen. His dedication to the promise he made to his mother has kept him going even today. During the speech he would get so emotional, and I have the utmost respect for a man that has endured so much, and can keep a straight face while talking about it and not break down.

2) I think that Romek is proud of David because he was growing up and romek was proud of his brother's independence. David helped his country and Romek knows the feeling from being in the polish army and serving his country. David also his younger brother and i know that feeling of pride when your younger sibling accomplishes something important.

3) I think the main reason is that he is young. They also knew that he would suffer more if he did live after beating him so they probably didnt want to shoot him. The nazis are so horrible to kill his brother i wouldhave wanted to be killed if i saw that.

Romek Post #2

1: well for one, based on the pidgeons not showing up one day and David's mopther's instinct, they avoided being shot, and lived longer. I think David's white pidgeon was sort of a symbol that was like a dove, like a sign that god was with his family, and the pidgeon was a symbol representing hope. The pidgeon also was a source of joy in a time of dispair for David, and at least i know i would have enjoyed having a pet.

2: As much as the exact opposite of a vacation the camp actually was, i think it referred to being one of the camps with better conditions, and it was probably eaiser there than at the other camps. Considering that his job at the camp was to chop trees, it was nothing compared to later experiences in the book with the other concentration camps he is sent to. it way have also been because there were less guards and fewer punishments in the vacation camp.

3:

How has the experience of being in a concentration camp for so many years affected the way you see yourself and your loved ones?

How has your experience during the Holocaust affected your view of human nature?

Romek post #1

1) When I did the Family History project, the relative I chose, My grandmother, talked about the German-Austrian "Anchluss" the annex or joining of the two countries.  When we discussed and read the passage about it, i noticed a lot of similarities and differences between the story in the book and the story from my grandma. The story David talked about was very similar, when he said the austrians welcomed the  Germans with open arms, that was true. But from i Grandmother, i learned that the Austrians really had no choice, and that they had no military to defend their country and they welcomed the germans to defend their country and get them our of their recession. 

2)

A)) David's family is incredible. David is a brave boy, despite such young years. He is also brilliant, and comes up with many ways to keep himself alive. Romek is very funny, but he seems sometimes serious, and if he were to get in trouble, he would be able to come up with something to get out. David's dad is also a good person, he cares so much about his family, same goes for his mom. Unfortunately, not much has been said for his sisters at this point in the book so i cant really tell what theyre like but them seem like good people. 

B)) I think the first reason is that in this part of the book he is still young so he could remember more. and secondly it could be because the conditions he's living in are still good.  Later in the book since David gets  put in a concentration camp, he may lose some of his memory because he is being starved and worked really hard.

3) David is a brave and resourceful boy. He has a strong sense of whats's right, because he made the decision to save his father even though it was dangerous and probably stupid.  In the book, in the scene where he is rescuing his father, his spur of the moment thinking helps him come up with a plan to get his father onto the roof so they can escape the nazis. This is smart because it was the only thing that would work. If they tried to run, they would have sure been shot.

 

project reflection AZTEC

Name: Wade Bruffey
Project Reflection
Project Title: Aztec Mural Project
Class: BD
Dates: 5/5/08

[ PURPOSE ]
The purpose of this project was to learn about Aztec history and representations of their lives through murals. We visited Chicano Park to see murals painted by professional artists, and then used their ideas to create our own orginal murals. We learned about aztec culture through the murals that we created and by doing the artist's statement.

[ WHAT I LEARNED ]
I learned not just about Aztec culture, but also about the murals that we created. I learned about how Aztec gods related to the way the Aztecs lived. The Aztecs belived that every event that happened on earth was pre determined by the gods. since they belived in this, then crime was not punished by jail, they were punished by a dicipline in relation to their action. so if a person stole, then they were required to repay the person they stole from three times worth what they stole.

[ REFLECTION ]
I really liked this project because we got to design and paint a mural that related to an interesting topic. I think i learned a lot about the Aztecs in a fun way and i really liked that about this project. The project kept me really busy all through it. I dont think i would change anything about this project if i re did it either, I also think my group was really good even though it was all guys.

[ ARTIFACTS ]
i could take pictures of the mural and put them on my DP

Final group rdg post

TITLE: Nothing but The Truth

AUTHOR: AVI

PAGES READ: 90

TOTAL PAGES: 210

1: 

First of all, I find that this story completely relates to modern media exaggerations. I am a HUGE fan of comedy shows (The Colbert Report) where they talk about the blunders of the president and such, but sometimes, no matter how hard im laughing, i cant help but feel a little sorry for people who screwed up and people poke fun at them for it, even if they deserve it. I think Ms. Narwin feels like this because people only got Phillip's side of the story, and now the majority of America is against her. I cant imagine having random people sending you letters telling you that youre a complete screwup and that you are un-American and should "find a better profession for your lack of ability" .  I was suprised at the ending because  eventually the whole school turned on him and his parents got so worried they sent him off to that private school. 

2:

i think the author could have made the book better by improving the ending. It seemed to me like at the end Phillip kind of ran away from the problems he had caused, and he never even once stood up for Ms Narwin. Even though he knew horrible things were happening to her, he still never stood up for her even though he was on her side. also, i think that the superintendent could have taken even greater measures to protect Ms. Narwin from the newspaper and media. i understand why Philip didnt like ms Narwin now, and its because he felt opressed and like she wasnt letting him have any freedom.  He and his parents let the situation out of control and it was apparent this would happen right from the start. 

3:

If you were the author, how would you change the end of the book?

Nothing but the truth post #2

Title: Nothing but the Truth
By: AVI
Time: 45 minutes
Pages: 0-70
Total Pages: 120 pages

1:
Things still arent looking bright for Phillip. His teacher keeps getting him in trouble for singing the star spangled banner, and he found out he cant try out for track. If i were him id be pretty upset. one thing that i would have serious problems with is that Philip was suspended for singing the "Star Spangled Banner" in class. First of all, free country. second, freedom of speech. Philip has the legal right to be partiotic any hour of the day and its really shocking to find out he cant because the teacher will get mad.

2:
Im glad the newspaper reporter got a hold of this story. Because of her, the assistant principal is in some serious trouble and he deserves to be. The Malloys are lucky to have Ted Griffin for a neighbor, because of him this story was put out there in the first place. The supereintedant seemed really mad about it too. people should have rights and Phillip was being denied his.

3:
Do you think that Philip was being denied his rights as an American citizen? Do you think he will get out of the trouble he's in?

Nothing But The Truth Post 1

Wade Bruffey

Title: Nothing but the Truth
By: AVI

Time: 30 minutes

Pages: 0-50

Total Pages This Week: 50 pages




Response:

1:
So far in the first few chapters of this book, ive found one way i could really understand how the character felt. When Philip's track coach tells him that he can't try out for the team because he failed english, i understood how that felt because i practice a sport really hard every day, so its dissapointing when my coach doesnt pick me to do something important for the team. Philip is the best runner in the school, but its the rule that he cant try out because of his grades. I felt bad for him because even though he tried his hardest and practiced track, he still cant try out.

2:
My favorite character in this book is Philip Malloy. I like him because he is funny and keeps everything interesting for the teachers and the other students. The way the book is written, as dialouge between the characters or diary entries, really allows philips's full personality to be expressed as a class clown. He has some trouble with school, but he can always find a way to make a joke about it.

3:
My question to my group is...............

Why do you think Philip and Ms. Narwin dont get along well?


3:
I think since Ms. Narwin is sort of old fashioned, and kinda strict, her uptight kind of personality doesnt go along well with Philip's class clown type personality. This makes Ms. Narwin angry because its not the type of kid shes used to dealing with.







thank you for your time

-Wade

Project reflection

Name: Wade Bruffey
Project Reflection
Project Title: MC Website Project
Class: BD
Dates: 3/12/08

[ PURPOSE ]

The purpose of this project was to learn about a subject that involved moral courage. We were required to design a website and pick a topic that related to moral courage. Once we chose a topic, we took notes and documented the sources we used to take them. We then worked on the actual web pages in DreamWeaver.

[ WHAT I LEARNED ]
I learned a lot in this project, but mostly the value of staying on task and working hard. Another thing i learned is that when you need to do a website project, dont pick a really hard topic. I learned a lot about how websites work in this project and how to use dreamweaver for website design. I think the most important thing that i learned doing this proect is that staying on task and using work time is really important. if you work hard during the beginning of the project, you wont have to rush at the end to finish.

[ REFLECTION ]
I didnt love this project, or even really like it that much, but i think it taught me some really important things and skills that i will use for the rest of my life. Doing all the website design was kind of a drag, and lots of times it got kind of boring. The project was also a LOT work, so i guess that wasnt really fun but thats how life goes, what can you do? In the end, i think my group really pulled through and i was really proud of our finished product and all the hard work i put into it.

[ ARTIFACTS ]
i think i'll put a link to the website on my DP.

rd post 3 Ark Angel

Name: Wade Bruffey
Date:3/9/08
Title: Ark Angel
Time: 2 hours
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Pages: 1-156
Total Pages This Week: 156

Response:

The book i am reading, Ark Angel, is about a teenage boy named Alex Rider, who is part of the European CIA, M16. (some people may know this book as part of the Alex Rider series and it is the last book) M16 is Britian's spy agency, and Alex is one of their best spies, and he is only 16. Previous books in this series include Stormbreaker, the Skeleton Key and several others. So far in the book we have learned that the first ever space hotel, Ark Angel, is going to be launced into orbit. However, as most spy stories go, there is a plot to destroy the space hotel because it is a "threat to the environment".

Q10:
One thing that confuses me in this book is the aspect of "eco-terrorists". In the book, there is a group of eco terrorists trying to destroy the space hotel, Ark Angel. The reason this confuses me is that whenever you think of a terrorist, you get the image of someone who doesnt care very much about the environment, or anything else for that matter. Reading about the terrorist in the book made me wonder if there is actually a such thing as an eco terrorist.


Vocab:

Represent: to show or stand for

revolting: disgusting or horrifying

boast: to brag or exaggerate

enthusiasm: exitement or joy in doing something

ordeal: trial or misfortunate event


This is the second time i have read this book and as usual i have noticed more of the small things parts of the book. i recommend this book to anyone in the seventh grade who wants to read it.


Q1:
My Favorite

Lord of the Flies final post

NAME Wade Bruffey DATE 3-1-08
TITLE Lord of the Flies TIME 2:00 HOURS
AUTHOR William Golding PAGES 75- TOTAL
PAGES THIS WEEK 133

RESPONSE:

Q. What exciting events just happened? What do you think will happen next, and why?

Right now in lord of the flies the characters are having some problems. A very important thing happened, a ship passed the island that the kids are straded on. This was a chance to be saved, but the kids were unprepared and missed there chance of getting rescued. Everyone has there own role to play in the island's economy. There is a group of kids whose job it is to keep a fire burning, so if a ship passes then they will see the smoke and come to investigate. But, since the kids were not keeping the fire burning, but instead messing around, the ship passed the island, so they are still stranded.

Q. What character do you like most in this book and/or what character do you like least? Why?

My favorite character is Ralph, the cheif of the island. Ralph is my favorite character so far because he is a good leader, and understands how to run the island and keep it in working condition. Ralph has run the island since the beginning, when he found the conch shell on the beach in the beginning of the book. Towards the end of the book, Ralph loses control of the large group of kids, and they split into clans, the Hunters, The Savages, and The Flies. Ralph is the leader of the savages, and he does a good job keeping them in line, but later many of the clan's members become afraid of the other more pewerful clans, and join them for safety.



Vocab:

ululating: to shriek or howl loudly

phosphorescent: to glow or burn without heat, or oxidating

oxidate: to dissolve into oxygen, or become part of oxygen's chemestry

envious: to be jealous

omission: something that you are supposed to do, but still dont




I will need to read another book because Lord of The Flies was pretty short.....

This was a great book and i reccomend it to all who feel comfortable reading advanced material







LiVIn ThE liFe

-Wade

lord of the flies #1

NAME: Wade Bruffey DATE2/24/08
TITLE: Lord Of The Flies TIME: 2:00 HOURS
AUTHOR: William Golding PAGES: 1-75
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 75

RESPONSE:

So far, i am liking Lord Of The Flies. The book is about a large group of kids who get stranded on and island and have to survive and start little clans inside the larger group. So far the book is good, even though the first few chapters were a little hard to follow. The book just sort of starts with out explaining anything and you have to really pay attention to what the characters were saying to understand how they got on the island and the characters' lives before they were stranded there. So far the kids have split into the hunters and the rest of the groups, and life is pretty good, there is plenty of food and there are no adults to tell them what or what not to do. The elected "cheif" of the island is named Ralph, and he calls meetings twice daily in order to keep the islands little economy running. I have liked the book so far, and know it is a classic, so i am exited to find out what happens next!

Ender's game group!

Ok everyone all the posts are done so the stress is off!

enders game 1st post

ok heres our questions......

1: Why do you think everybody cals Ender "third"?

because he is the third child. i dont know why that is a bad thing but the kids use it as an insult.

2: what changes in how people treat Ender after he gets his monitor removed?

I think people start treating him with respect, and they even fear him after he beats up Stilson. Its like becoming accepted after you get your monitor out. you become part of the group.

3: do you think it is ok to separate kids from their families to go to a boarding school? or in the case of the book, battle school?

If the kids want to go I think they should. Colonel Graff seems to enjoy making Ender feel bad about being the third child, but he is also makig his parents look bad. It seems he is using this embarassment to make Ender feel unloved so he decides to go to battle school because he has no place back on earth with his family.


post your answers on comments
thanks

Enders Game rdg group shedule

ok here it is......

actual reading schedule:
3 chapters every two days. that should have the book finished by the 9th......

we got a late start reading so the comments are due sunday night at midnight. (all nighter rock on)

im going to make the questions for the first post, MIF you are doing the second, JP third, Julian fourth, Wade fifth.

I'll have the post up by tomorrow night (saturday)

thanks. if we get off schedule i'll post the correction.