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Why I Didn't Wear Blue on April Third
It is with some trepidation that I write this article. I mean no offense in the following words.
The Student Council at my school recently sent out an email encouraging students to wear blue for autism awareness day. A few years ago, I would have gladly done so. I’m autistic myself, after all.
However, I’ve recently learned some facts about ‘lighting it up blue’ that make me hesitate. The campaign was started by a group called Autism Speaks, which is very problematic. Here are just some of the reasons why:
They want to cure autism, which they see as a disease. I’m not saying autism is always a good thing, but it’s not nearly as terrible as Autism Speaks makes it out to be.
They focus mainly on services for autistic children, ignoring or minimizing teens and adults.
They claim to care about autistic people, but rarely, if ever, consult us. There isn’t a single autistic person on their board of directors.
I know the student council had the best of intentions—but, knowing what I do, I can’t comfortably go along with wearing blue on the specified date. Instead, I’m wearing red, the official color of the neurodiversity/autistic pride movement, which seeks to help autistic people (of all ages) with their struggles, while still celebrating their good points and value as people.
Will you join me in making a stand against ableism?
It is with some trepidation that I write this article. I mean no offense in the following words.
The Student Council at my school recently sent out an email encouraging students to wear blue for autism awareness day. A few years ago, I would have gladly done so. I’m autistic myself, after all.
However, I’ve recently learned some facts about ‘lighting it up blue’ that make me hesitate. The campaign was started by a group called Autism Speaks, which is very problematic. Here are just some of the reasons why:
They want to cure autism, which they see as a disease. I’m not saying autism is always a good thing, but it’s not nearly as terrible as Autism Speaks makes it out to be.
They focus mainly on services for autistic children, ignoring or minimizing teens and adults.
They claim to care about autistic people, but rarely, if ever, consult us. There isn’t a single autistic person on their board of directors.
I know the student council had the best of intentions—but, knowing what I do, I can’t comfortably go along with wearing blue on the specified date. Instead, I’m wearing red, the official color of the neurodiversity/autistic pride movement, which seeks to help autistic people (of all ages) with their struggles, while still celebrating their good points and value as people.
Will you join me in making a stand against ableism?
Eight And A Half Tips for a Better Study Session
Studying can be hard and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here, for your convenience, I have my top eight and a half tips for better study habits.
1. Get organized. I struggle with this myself—my notebooks are a mess. Nevertheless, if you know where all your papers and notes are located, you’ll have an easier time finding them to study from.
2. Use Kahoot. If you’re over sixteen, you can create your own multiple-choice review game at getkahoot.com.
3. Use Quizlet. This is better for vocabulary than actual application problems. You can make flashcard sets or search for ones that others have made.
4. Enlist the help of others. Have a parent or sibling read practice questions aloud to you. Study in a group of your friends. The possibilities are endless!
5. Do your homework. If you don’t learn the material in the first place, your test grade is doomed from the outset.
6. Participate in class. Ask questions about material you don’t understand; share your existing knowledge with your classmates.
7. Take good notes. This goes hand-in-hand with organization and homework. Studies have shown that writing something down helps memorization.
8. Don’t try to study in inconvenient places. Busses, stadiums, and your very short work breaks don’t lend themselves to learning. Wait until you’re in a relatively quiet place where you have time to study.
8.5. This only applies to one subject, so I’m not counting it as a full entry. Search for ‘Spanish tank game’ if you want to review preterit verbs or certain other grammatical topics for Spanish class.
Studying can be hard and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here, for your convenience, I have my top eight and a half tips for better study habits.
1. Get organized. I struggle with this myself—my notebooks are a mess. Nevertheless, if you know where all your papers and notes are located, you’ll have an easier time finding them to study from.
2. Use Kahoot. If you’re over sixteen, you can create your own multiple-choice review game at getkahoot.com.
3. Use Quizlet. This is better for vocabulary than actual application problems. You can make flashcard sets or search for ones that others have made.
4. Enlist the help of others. Have a parent or sibling read practice questions aloud to you. Study in a group of your friends. The possibilities are endless!
5. Do your homework. If you don’t learn the material in the first place, your test grade is doomed from the outset.
6. Participate in class. Ask questions about material you don’t understand; share your existing knowledge with your classmates.
7. Take good notes. This goes hand-in-hand with organization and homework. Studies have shown that writing something down helps memorization.
8. Don’t try to study in inconvenient places. Busses, stadiums, and your very short work breaks don’t lend themselves to learning. Wait until you’re in a relatively quiet place where you have time to study.
8.5. This only applies to one subject, so I’m not counting it as a full entry. Search for ‘Spanish tank game’ if you want to review preterit verbs or certain other grammatical topics for Spanish class.
Over the Garden Wall Review
“Somewhere lost in the clouded annals of history lies a place called The Unknown.”
So begins an amazing cartoon miniseries called Over The Garden Wall. It’s dark, yet witty, so it appeals to teens and adults—but for the most part, it’s completely appropriate for younger viewers.
What happens? PLOT TWISTS.
In all seriousness, the ten episodes follow two stepbrothers named Wirt and Greg as they try to find their way out of a mysterious forest, aided by a talking bluebird who used to be human. Adding conflict is the spectral figure known as the Beast, along with his unwilling minion, the Woodsman. It’s a classic fairy tale plot. In fact, it could come off as cliché in the hands of an amateur. But the show’s creator, Patrick McHale, obviously knew what he was doing.
The series starts out silly, complete with a mildly annoying song titled “Potatoes and Molasses” in the third episode. Soon, however, it’s clear that things are not what they seem. The last few episodes leave you floored—while still retaining that whimsical air.
Would I recommend this? Yes, but only if you have patience. The early episodes are a little hard to sit through at times.
I’d give Over The Garden Wall four out of five stars.
“Somewhere lost in the clouded annals of history lies a place called The Unknown.”
So begins an amazing cartoon miniseries called Over The Garden Wall. It’s dark, yet witty, so it appeals to teens and adults—but for the most part, it’s completely appropriate for younger viewers.
What happens? PLOT TWISTS.
In all seriousness, the ten episodes follow two stepbrothers named Wirt and Greg as they try to find their way out of a mysterious forest, aided by a talking bluebird who used to be human. Adding conflict is the spectral figure known as the Beast, along with his unwilling minion, the Woodsman. It’s a classic fairy tale plot. In fact, it could come off as cliché in the hands of an amateur. But the show’s creator, Patrick McHale, obviously knew what he was doing.
The series starts out silly, complete with a mildly annoying song titled “Potatoes and Molasses” in the third episode. Soon, however, it’s clear that things are not what they seem. The last few episodes leave you floored—while still retaining that whimsical air.
Would I recommend this? Yes, but only if you have patience. The early episodes are a little hard to sit through at times.
I’d give Over The Garden Wall four out of five stars.
Today, two modern Disney classics will be compared, contrasted, and judged.
Let’s talk about Frozen first. Making its theatrical debut in 2013, this retelling of The Snow Queen was a hit. Four years later, it’s become less popular, but still has plenty of fans.
I liked the sisterly bond, which has only been done in a few Disney movies before this. The music was decent—not amazing by any means, but catchy.
I didn’t like the spoken dialogue much; it felt trite and forced at some points.
Also, after the movie became popular, it was very overmarketed, to the point that even if you liked Frozen before, the constant hype could almost make you hate it.
Now, Big Hero Six is vastly different from Frozen, and yet, it’s similar.
Both feature a sibling bond, both have good music (I could almost make another article out of judging “Let It Go” vs. “Immortals”), and they were released within a year of each other.
On the other hand, Big Hero Six features a lot more action and several more light scenes. This would normally make me dislike the movie, but there’s a balance there, too.
The sad scenes are rather heavy, but don’t seem melodramatic.
Also, Frozen had a happy ending, while Big Hero Six’s last scenes could be described as…bittersweet.
As a bonus, it’s far less hyped than Frozen!
Which movie would I recommend more? Well, I really enjoyed both. It’s a close race, but I’d have to say…
Big Hero Six is the better movie.
Let’s talk about Frozen first. Making its theatrical debut in 2013, this retelling of The Snow Queen was a hit. Four years later, it’s become less popular, but still has plenty of fans.
I liked the sisterly bond, which has only been done in a few Disney movies before this. The music was decent—not amazing by any means, but catchy.
I didn’t like the spoken dialogue much; it felt trite and forced at some points.
Also, after the movie became popular, it was very overmarketed, to the point that even if you liked Frozen before, the constant hype could almost make you hate it.
Now, Big Hero Six is vastly different from Frozen, and yet, it’s similar.
Both feature a sibling bond, both have good music (I could almost make another article out of judging “Let It Go” vs. “Immortals”), and they were released within a year of each other.
On the other hand, Big Hero Six features a lot more action and several more light scenes. This would normally make me dislike the movie, but there’s a balance there, too.
The sad scenes are rather heavy, but don’t seem melodramatic.
Also, Frozen had a happy ending, while Big Hero Six’s last scenes could be described as…bittersweet.
As a bonus, it’s far less hyped than Frozen!
Which movie would I recommend more? Well, I really enjoyed both. It’s a close race, but I’d have to say…
Big Hero Six is the better movie.
I will confess: I don't really care for classic novels. They tend to bore me or annoy me. The ones I do usually like--such as "Of Mice and Men"--aren't really great for younger readers
However, there are a select few that I WOULD recommend wholeheartedly for a wide range of ages. These would be great read-alouds.
1. "Pollyanna" by Eleanor H. Porter. This is actually not as cheesy as people seem to think. I read it this summer and enjoyed it immensely. There are sad moments, uplifting moments, and redemption arcs galore!
2. Little House in the Big Woods--Laura Ingalls Wilder. Pioneers, living in days gone by. Cute moments of storytelling around the fire. After you read it, you could try making some of the handmade goods that the Ingalls family did.
3. The Witch of Blackbird Pond--Elizabeth George Speare. A clean, subtlelove triangle, a spunky heroine, and some good messages about not judging unfairly.
4. "The Secret Garden"--Frances Hodgson Burnett. Speaking of redemption arcs...also features the power of the outdoors on young minds.
5. Anne of Green Gables--LM Montgomery. Pollyanna-esque, but with more power of imagination, and better descriptions. I'd suggest all of the books on this list, but if you have to pick and choose, this would be better than Pollyanna, honestly.
However, there are a select few that I WOULD recommend wholeheartedly for a wide range of ages. These would be great read-alouds.
1. "Pollyanna" by Eleanor H. Porter. This is actually not as cheesy as people seem to think. I read it this summer and enjoyed it immensely. There are sad moments, uplifting moments, and redemption arcs galore!
2. Little House in the Big Woods--Laura Ingalls Wilder. Pioneers, living in days gone by. Cute moments of storytelling around the fire. After you read it, you could try making some of the handmade goods that the Ingalls family did.
3. The Witch of Blackbird Pond--Elizabeth George Speare. A clean, subtlelove triangle, a spunky heroine, and some good messages about not judging unfairly.
4. "The Secret Garden"--Frances Hodgson Burnett. Speaking of redemption arcs...also features the power of the outdoors on young minds.
5. Anne of Green Gables--LM Montgomery. Pollyanna-esque, but with more power of imagination, and better descriptions. I'd suggest all of the books on this list, but if you have to pick and choose, this would be better than Pollyanna, honestly.
Jagadish Chandra Bose was a pioneer in several scientific fields, but chances are you’ve never heard of him. I’m here today to fix that.
Bose was a Bengali scientist who lived in India when it was a British colony. He was a pioneer in science fiction, botany, and radio science.
He was born on November 30, 1858 in Bangladesh and received a wide, varied education at several different schools. His father wanted him to be a scholar, luckily for scientists everywhere—if he had followed through with his plan to go into the military, we may not have radios today. Eventually, he was accepted into the University of Calcutta.
In 1899, he discovered more about microwave radiation; this contributed to the development of radios.
He ran many experiments on plants and how their cells respond to stimuli, proving that their responses were electrical rather than chemical, and he invented the crescograph, which measures plant growth.
Speaking of plants, Bose did have one unorthodox belief—he thought plants could feel pain and understand affection! Although he was a genius, this claim is a little out-there, in my opinion.
He also wrote The Story of the Missing One, which was one of the first works of Bengali science fiction.
Overall, I think Bose is a very important figure who did a lot of important scientific work.
Bose was a Bengali scientist who lived in India when it was a British colony. He was a pioneer in science fiction, botany, and radio science.
He was born on November 30, 1858 in Bangladesh and received a wide, varied education at several different schools. His father wanted him to be a scholar, luckily for scientists everywhere—if he had followed through with his plan to go into the military, we may not have radios today. Eventually, he was accepted into the University of Calcutta.
In 1899, he discovered more about microwave radiation; this contributed to the development of radios.
He ran many experiments on plants and how their cells respond to stimuli, proving that their responses were electrical rather than chemical, and he invented the crescograph, which measures plant growth.
Speaking of plants, Bose did have one unorthodox belief—he thought plants could feel pain and understand affection! Although he was a genius, this claim is a little out-there, in my opinion.
He also wrote The Story of the Missing One, which was one of the first works of Bengali science fiction.
Overall, I think Bose is a very important figure who did a lot of important scientific work.
What’s the best solution when you have a lot of books to get rid of? For me, it was setting up a table full of free books near the English classrooms at my school.
The staff have had something like this in the teachers’ lounge for years. One day I thought, ‘this would work great for students, wouldn’t it?’
Talking to my English teacher, Jill Gastrock, was the first step. She was enthused about the idea and suggested that I check with the principal.
Luckily, he also liked my proposition, and several teachers even agreed to hang up posters with relevant information. A few days later, I set out at least fifty gently-used books.
At first, nothing happened. People would grab a book every few days, but overall, traffic was slow. Then, things suddenly picked up! An anonymous donor supplied even more books, and several students enjoyed the books they had chosen.
I will admit that the idea has gone through some changes from my original plans. It’s in a completely different spot, for one thing. For another, there’s now a disclaimer in front of the books, advising students to check with their parents before selecting a more mature book. On the whole, however, I think this will improve the literary climate of our school.
The staff have had something like this in the teachers’ lounge for years. One day I thought, ‘this would work great for students, wouldn’t it?’
Talking to my English teacher, Jill Gastrock, was the first step. She was enthused about the idea and suggested that I check with the principal.
Luckily, he also liked my proposition, and several teachers even agreed to hang up posters with relevant information. A few days later, I set out at least fifty gently-used books.
At first, nothing happened. People would grab a book every few days, but overall, traffic was slow. Then, things suddenly picked up! An anonymous donor supplied even more books, and several students enjoyed the books they had chosen.
I will admit that the idea has gone through some changes from my original plans. It’s in a completely different spot, for one thing. For another, there’s now a disclaimer in front of the books, advising students to check with their parents before selecting a more mature book. On the whole, however, I think this will improve the literary climate of our school.
For a cartoon that started out so silly, "Steven Universe", now in its fourth season, has become skilled at breaking viewers' hearts. A fine example of this is the newest episode, "Storm in the Room".
The episode begins innocently enough, with Steven and his friend, Connie, playing cards. However, once Connie's mother comes and has a touching moment with her daughter, things quickly turn dark.
For those of you not familiar with the show, a key plot point is that Steven's mother, Rose, "gave up her physical form" for him to be born. In realistic terms, she died during childbirth. Recently, she's turned out to be a hypocrite; she forbade another character from shattering (killing) a major villain, then turned around and did exactly that.
Steven goes into the room that used to be his mother's. Knowing that it grants wishes, he tells it, and therefore her, "I want to know the real you."
An appiration of Rose appears, and all seems well. The mother-son duo even play football together for a while. Then, Steven realizes that this is not his mother. It's just what he wants her to be.
"Did you create me just so you didn't have to face all your mistakes?" Steven laments. "Is that all I'm here for?"
For one suspenseful moment, it looks like Rose might attack Steven. But she doesn't--the episode ends with him coming to terms with her legacy and leaving the room.
This episode was phenomenal, one of my new favorites.
The episode begins innocently enough, with Steven and his friend, Connie, playing cards. However, once Connie's mother comes and has a touching moment with her daughter, things quickly turn dark.
For those of you not familiar with the show, a key plot point is that Steven's mother, Rose, "gave up her physical form" for him to be born. In realistic terms, she died during childbirth. Recently, she's turned out to be a hypocrite; she forbade another character from shattering (killing) a major villain, then turned around and did exactly that.
Steven goes into the room that used to be his mother's. Knowing that it grants wishes, he tells it, and therefore her, "I want to know the real you."
An appiration of Rose appears, and all seems well. The mother-son duo even play football together for a while. Then, Steven realizes that this is not his mother. It's just what he wants her to be.
"Did you create me just so you didn't have to face all your mistakes?" Steven laments. "Is that all I'm here for?"
For one suspenseful moment, it looks like Rose might attack Steven. But she doesn't--the episode ends with him coming to terms with her legacy and leaving the room.
This episode was phenomenal, one of my new favorites.
If you’ve ever talked to me about books, you know that my favorite genre is science fiction—more specifically, books that are set in the future. Today, I’ll be counting down the five best dystopian or post-apocalyptic books I’ve ever read.
5. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. I was obsessed with this mega-popular series a while ago. The love triangle is a little unnecessary, but it’s written in a way that’s not too distracting. The first book in the series is good; the second, Catching Fire, is all right, but not superb; and Mockingjay, the finale, is absolutely amazing!
4. Allegiant by Veronica Roth. Yes, I know it’s third in a series. Divergent and Insurgent were just okay—nothing I’d rave about, but readable. Their sequel, though it garnered a lot of criticism from fans, was a tragically wonderful way to end the story.
3. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. This book is pure dystopian, masquerading as a steampunk novel; at first, you think it’s set in Victorian times, but that’s just an elaborate façade that most of the characters live under. The other set of characters live in a sentient prison. Does this sound confusing? Read the book to find out what I mean.
2. House of Stairs by William Sleator. A little-known classic involving near-Pavlovian conditioning experiments being performed on teenagers. (You don’t specifically find out that it’s set in the future until the end, but hints are dropped before that.)
1. The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry. The first book won a Newbery, and for good reason; the other three (Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son) are great, too. This is the series by which I judge all other dystopian novels. If you decide to read just one of the books on this list, let it be The Giver.
5. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. I was obsessed with this mega-popular series a while ago. The love triangle is a little unnecessary, but it’s written in a way that’s not too distracting. The first book in the series is good; the second, Catching Fire, is all right, but not superb; and Mockingjay, the finale, is absolutely amazing!
4. Allegiant by Veronica Roth. Yes, I know it’s third in a series. Divergent and Insurgent were just okay—nothing I’d rave about, but readable. Their sequel, though it garnered a lot of criticism from fans, was a tragically wonderful way to end the story.
3. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. This book is pure dystopian, masquerading as a steampunk novel; at first, you think it’s set in Victorian times, but that’s just an elaborate façade that most of the characters live under. The other set of characters live in a sentient prison. Does this sound confusing? Read the book to find out what I mean.
2. House of Stairs by William Sleator. A little-known classic involving near-Pavlovian conditioning experiments being performed on teenagers. (You don’t specifically find out that it’s set in the future until the end, but hints are dropped before that.)
1. The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry. The first book won a Newbery, and for good reason; the other three (Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son) are great, too. This is the series by which I judge all other dystopian novels. If you decide to read just one of the books on this list, let it be The Giver.
I have never liked traditional physical education classes. From having to hurriedly change clothes, to feeling embarrassed at my lack of skill, there were many factors that made me dread this part of my day.
When I heard that an online version of the class was offered, I jumped at the chance to join for a semester. As I soon discovered, it’s a great choice—for the right type of person.
How is it similar to regular PE? You exercise, obviously, and you need a doctor’s note if you wish to opt out for a while. That’s where the similarities end.
How are the classes different? I’ve come to the conclusion that online PE requires more discipline and responsibility; for the one offered at my school, you have to fill out a weekly exercise log, complete assignments (which range from short reports to vocab tests to demonstrating a drill you’ve learned on camera), and watch videos. There’s no set period in which all of this is done—I actually completed my first assignment on my iPad at home.
So, should you sign up for this if your school offers it? Well, it depends on your interests and personality. Are you more introverted? Are you good at planning? Then by all means, take online gym. However, if you’re an extrovert, or if you tend to procrastinate, I’d suggest sticking with the tried-and-true approach.
When I heard that an online version of the class was offered, I jumped at the chance to join for a semester. As I soon discovered, it’s a great choice—for the right type of person.
How is it similar to regular PE? You exercise, obviously, and you need a doctor’s note if you wish to opt out for a while. That’s where the similarities end.
How are the classes different? I’ve come to the conclusion that online PE requires more discipline and responsibility; for the one offered at my school, you have to fill out a weekly exercise log, complete assignments (which range from short reports to vocab tests to demonstrating a drill you’ve learned on camera), and watch videos. There’s no set period in which all of this is done—I actually completed my first assignment on my iPad at home.
So, should you sign up for this if your school offers it? Well, it depends on your interests and personality. Are you more introverted? Are you good at planning? Then by all means, take online gym. However, if you’re an extrovert, or if you tend to procrastinate, I’d suggest sticking with the tried-and-true approach.
Are you looking for a refreshing summer treat? Are you eager to cook, but pressed for time? Look no further! I recently found and tried an easy recipe for infused water. My whole family would recommend it.
For one serving, you'll need a 1/2 pint jar, enough water to fill it, 1/4 cup of blackberries, and 1 Kiwi (peeled and sliced).
Put the fruit in the bottom of the jar and mash it well. Fill the jar with water, stir it a few times, and refrigerate overnight. If you like, you can add sugar or other sweetener.
Variation: My sister left out the Kiwi and added 1/4 cup of raspberries.
If you tried this recipe, what did you think?
For one serving, you'll need a 1/2 pint jar, enough water to fill it, 1/4 cup of blackberries, and 1 Kiwi (peeled and sliced).
Put the fruit in the bottom of the jar and mash it well. Fill the jar with water, stir it a few times, and refrigerate overnight. If you like, you can add sugar or other sweetener.
Variation: My sister left out the Kiwi and added 1/4 cup of raspberries.
If you tried this recipe, what did you think?
I’m writing to address the topic of Accelerated Reader’s place in the curriculum.
In my opinion, AR has no place at any grade, in any classroom, of any skill level. It’s a disgrace and it destroys, yes, destroys many a student’s desire to read. First of all, according to a respectable blog called Gifted Guru, AR teaches children that reading is extrinsically rewarding, rather than intrinsically rewarding. In other words, while reading should be fun on its own, AR, its point system, and any prizes a school may attach to those points can teach children that reading only has value when there is something else to look forward to afterwards.
Second, according to Pennington Publishing, the database of available quizzes is extremely narrow. This sends a message that only well-known books are worthwhile, and obscure, old, out-of-print books are ‘not worthy’ because you don’t get points for reading them. Would any hospital function if the doctors only received a pay check for treating common ailments? Imagine if a doctor said this, “You’ve got a broken leg, so I can help you.” Compare that to, “Oh, you have an acoustic neuroma. That’s treatable, but my boss won’t pay me to help you, because it’s not in the database. Sorry, buddy.”
You may think that AR is the only way to get kids to read, and I can understand that not every child will naturally gravitate towards a book, but there are effective alternatives to the insipid quizzes. Donalyn Miller makes a case for sustained silent reading, a tactic in which children have time for free, nonacademic reading set aside during the school day.
In conclusion, I despise AR with a fiery passion for many good reasons. Please, for the sake of your students, for the sake of their futures, for the sake of literature, don’t use this program.
In my opinion, AR has no place at any grade, in any classroom, of any skill level. It’s a disgrace and it destroys, yes, destroys many a student’s desire to read. First of all, according to a respectable blog called Gifted Guru, AR teaches children that reading is extrinsically rewarding, rather than intrinsically rewarding. In other words, while reading should be fun on its own, AR, its point system, and any prizes a school may attach to those points can teach children that reading only has value when there is something else to look forward to afterwards.
Second, according to Pennington Publishing, the database of available quizzes is extremely narrow. This sends a message that only well-known books are worthwhile, and obscure, old, out-of-print books are ‘not worthy’ because you don’t get points for reading them. Would any hospital function if the doctors only received a pay check for treating common ailments? Imagine if a doctor said this, “You’ve got a broken leg, so I can help you.” Compare that to, “Oh, you have an acoustic neuroma. That’s treatable, but my boss won’t pay me to help you, because it’s not in the database. Sorry, buddy.”
You may think that AR is the only way to get kids to read, and I can understand that not every child will naturally gravitate towards a book, but there are effective alternatives to the insipid quizzes. Donalyn Miller makes a case for sustained silent reading, a tactic in which children have time for free, nonacademic reading set aside during the school day.
In conclusion, I despise AR with a fiery passion for many good reasons. Please, for the sake of your students, for the sake of their futures, for the sake of literature, don’t use this program.
I recently read a middle-grade dystopian/fantasy book titled The Unwanteds. On the surface, this book looked like just another bland Harry Potter wannabe—but it surpassed my expectations.
The plot
In the futuristic realm of Quill, strength and cunning are valued, while creativity causes you to be Purged, or labeled an Unwanted and sent to the Great Lake of Boiling Oil. At least, that’s what everyone believes. Actually, the Unwanteds are rescued by a mage named Marcus Today and taken to a realm called Artime, where they unlock their true artistic potential and learn to use magic.
What I liked
The novel combined the best elements of “The Giver” and “Harry Potter”, without copying either.
The good characters weren’t perfect, and most of the bad characters seemed to at least have a bit of humanity.
The worldbuilding was superb, immersing the reader in Artime while providing just enough information about Quill.
There were definitely some plot twists I didn’t see coming.
What I disliked
Some of the events of the story were a bit predictable.
The main character was a little too flawed at points, making him unlikable.
Maybe I’m being picky, but a quill is a traditional symbol of writing, and thus, creativity. Why would the oppressive, boring world have that name? It doesn’t make sense to me.
Overall
I’d rate The Unwanteds four out of five stars. Any tween who doesn’t mind a bit of peril and fighting will enjoy it.
The plot
In the futuristic realm of Quill, strength and cunning are valued, while creativity causes you to be Purged, or labeled an Unwanted and sent to the Great Lake of Boiling Oil. At least, that’s what everyone believes. Actually, the Unwanteds are rescued by a mage named Marcus Today and taken to a realm called Artime, where they unlock their true artistic potential and learn to use magic.
What I liked
The novel combined the best elements of “The Giver” and “Harry Potter”, without copying either.
The good characters weren’t perfect, and most of the bad characters seemed to at least have a bit of humanity.
The worldbuilding was superb, immersing the reader in Artime while providing just enough information about Quill.
There were definitely some plot twists I didn’t see coming.
What I disliked
Some of the events of the story were a bit predictable.
The main character was a little too flawed at points, making him unlikable.
Maybe I’m being picky, but a quill is a traditional symbol of writing, and thus, creativity. Why would the oppressive, boring world have that name? It doesn’t make sense to me.
Overall
I’d rate The Unwanteds four out of five stars. Any tween who doesn’t mind a bit of peril and fighting will enjoy it.
When I was in seventh grade, I was a cyberbully. Oh, I didn’t mean to be—if you had asked me how I behaved on Nameberry, my then-favorite forum, I would say that I tried my best to be a positive influence. I may have even told you that most other users were the toxic ones. This wasn’t a complete lie; there were members of the site who were downright rude. But, with three years away from the site, I can see that I was a problem, as well.
Why am I writing this? It’s not for attention, or to condemn the site. I merely aim to educate others so that they can avoid falling into the same mental traps that I did.
How do I know if I’m being a cyberbully?
You lash out at people you believe are in the wrong. In other words, you fight fire with fire.
Other users stop replying to your posts, or seem annoyed when you comment.
They overtly express hurt at what you post.
How do I know if I’m being cyberbullied?
You get less enjoyment out of the Internet than usual.
You dread seeing a certain user’s activity for fear that they’ll say something hurtful.
What can I do in either of these situations?
Apologize to anyone you’ve wronged.
Talk to a trusted adult in real life.
If the problem is pervasive, then consider leaving the site altogether. I hope you never have to deal with cyberbullying, but if you do, remember these tips.
Why am I writing this? It’s not for attention, or to condemn the site. I merely aim to educate others so that they can avoid falling into the same mental traps that I did.
How do I know if I’m being a cyberbully?
You lash out at people you believe are in the wrong. In other words, you fight fire with fire.
Other users stop replying to your posts, or seem annoyed when you comment.
They overtly express hurt at what you post.
How do I know if I’m being cyberbullied?
You get less enjoyment out of the Internet than usual.
You dread seeing a certain user’s activity for fear that they’ll say something hurtful.
What can I do in either of these situations?
Apologize to anyone you’ve wronged.
Talk to a trusted adult in real life.
If the problem is pervasive, then consider leaving the site altogether. I hope you never have to deal with cyberbullying, but if you do, remember these tips.
