Presentation: Teen Suicide

Throughout the past few days I have seen multiple presentations, but the presentation about teen suicide was very interesting. This presentation had a lot of good facts and I could really connect to it. The facts they included were about teen suicide websites and how when kids get bored they visit these websites. This topic affects me because in the past few years many teens have committed suicide. I personally have known some people who think about suicide, but have never actually tried. Everyone is affected by teen suicide and more people need to become aware of this problem. I believe if more people are aware of it then we can help prevent it. Teen suicide is rising and we need to prevent teens from doing this. Even though multiple presentations were interesting, the teen suicide one was the one that affected me the most.

Changing...For the Better or Worse

As I read on in the book Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen, I learned there were two sides to if a combined family effects the way people are; one, it does effect people or two it doesn't. I personally think it does effect the way people are in either good or bad ways. To start off, it makes people judgemental. "I'd try so hard to push the monsters back into the shadows." This shows that the main character, Jess, is immediately judging her step-sister Angela even though she hasn't had a conversation with her yet. Another way it effects people for the better is it makes people learn how to share. "She's going to stay with us. In my room. I have a roommate." This shows that even though Jess doesn't really want to have her space invaded she still has to learn how to share it with Angela. Lastly, being in a combined family helps you learn to deal with change. "This was not the normal state of my room." This shows the reader now that Jess has to share her room with Angela, she has to deal with what changes Angela makes to the room because it is now hers as well. In the book Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen, it clearly shows how being in a combined family effects the way people are for the good or the bad.

Combined Families: Good or Bad?

As I started reading Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen, I noticed some pros and cons about combined families. To start off one positive thing is that children always have a place to go. "I rang the buzzer at Dad's apartment..." This shows that when she didn't want to be at her moms house with her step dad that she could go to her dads house instead. A negative reason about having a combined family is your space gets invaded. "...stick her in a tent in the backyard for all i care. Just not in my room." This shows that the daughter, Jes, doesn't want her soon to be step-sister staying in her room with her and would rather have her somewhere else because she needs her own space. Finally, children are forced to get a long with their step-siblings/parents. "Jes, I know you're not thrilled about getting a stepfather..." This shows the reader that her mom knows she doesn't like her soon to be stepfather, but basically she is going to have to deal with it because it's going to happen. Conflicts with combined families is clearly shown in the book Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen.

Helping Each Other Out-PLN#3

In the book Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan, Marlo shows that she wants to use the material she knows about work and give it to the aborigine children. Marlo teaches Aborigine children new things: "I agreed to teach them how to purchase raw material, organize a workforce, make the item, market, and get established in the business and banking community." This shows that Marlo is taking what she has learned from the work industry and giving that information to children who have no idea what that is. When the children grow up and need a job, they will know a little bit about the workforce and will have a better chance of getting a job in the future. Marlo gets every aborigine involved so no one feels left out: "We had a bookkeeper, someone to shop for supplies, another who took pride in perfect calculations of our running inventory." This shows that Marlo didn't leave anybody out and that everyone had a job. This way everyone will learn something they didn't already know before. Everyone will also get the same experience of the work industry. Marlo also makes sure the company that the Aborigines started became successful: "Our company was by all standards very successful..." This shows that Marlo didn't just want to teach the aborigine children about work, but she wanted their company to be successful. That way the children will know that they really can have their own company and gain self confidence from it. So far I am enjoying this book and it keeps me wondering what will happen next on their journey.

PLN#2

In the book Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan, an American woman, Marlo, travels barefoot through Australia with many Aborigines. Throughout the journey she discovers how the Aborigines live and what it is like. At first, she has no idea what she is doing, she thinks she is going to a business meeting, but soon finds out she is taking a long journey into the Outback.

Throughout this book there are many examples of "good and bad" people, but i think the Aborigines are a good example of "good" people. In this book they show Marlo that she doesn't have to always have the best clothes, jewelry, etc. Marlo is starting to figure out that it doesn't always matter what you look like. As she goes on this four-month long journey she realizes that Aborigines have a lot of intelligent life lessons to teach her.

PLN#1

In the book "The Sledding Hill" by Chris Crutcher, it shows how a young boy who lost his best friend and dad is trying to deal with things, which I can somewhat relate to. I haven't lost my dad or my best friend, but i have lost multiple family members. I can relate because I know sometimes it would be better if they were here or it would be different if they were still here, kind of like Billy does in this book. I think relating to the main character helps me get into the book more than I would if I didn't relate to it and it makes it more interesting. This book has made me think and challenge my mind. In the beginning it was kind of confusing but as I read on it started to make a little more sense. I kept wondering why does Billy keep thinking Eddie is alive? Is it leading up to something in the end? So far it's a pretty good book, but I can't wait to read on and find out more.