Monday, June 2, 2014

Stargirl Connector

          My connection to the last 60 pages of Stargirl is that don 't count the chickens before they hatch. Stargirl likes to think of what will happen instead of thinking what might happen. I learned that we should not jinx it when we are not 100% sure. And we can never be 100% sure in nearly anything. When we were at our volleyball match in Skopje, we thought that we might not get 1st place, but we knew that the sportsmanship will be ours. We were being happy for getting sportsmanship award even before we got it. And then the next day they were announcing the places and the sportsmanship award. "And the sportsman ship award goes to........HELSINKI!" And there was the sportsmanship that belonged to ISB Dragons, given to Helsinki Huskies. Even though we didn't get the sportsmanship award, we got third place and wished for better luck next time. I learned that we shouldn't count our chickens before they catch because someones wight not hatch.

By: Tara Jevrosimovic

Bloomabililty



Bloomability
By: Sharon Creech

This last week of literature circles my job was to be an illustrator. Since we were finishing the book, I decided to draw one of the very last scenes. It is the scene where Dinnie is at the airport with her aunt and uncle saying goodbyes. Dinnie is finally returning back to her own family, but will surely miss them. Specifically, on the picture there is Dinnie, hugging her aunt, while her uncle is waving bye. It is the part where they set off to continue the journey alone. Specifically, I really liked this scene and I kind of knew how Dinnie felt at the moment because I feel like that all the time when I leave by grandparents and head to Serbia. I also really liked the ending of the book, because I didn't have to think of what happened next. It was all there written down for me and I was calm with no specific feelings. I finally felt that the book was very fun and enjoyable for reading. Since I am not very talented for drawing, I did my very best to draw this picture down below. 


Bloomability-Literary Luminary

Marija M. 
Literary luminary 
Bloomability 
By: Sharon Chreech
Finished the book
 
Some interesting paragraphs and sentences that I found were...

1. On page 212 in the first paragraph it said...
There was a brief deadly silence following the avalanche, when the absence of the rumble and thundering left a hollow emptiness, as if the roar of the falling snow had sucked all the noise from the air."
I think that the details are amazing and powerful. They also just made the beginning of the chapter interesting and made me want to read further to see what will happen next. I also thought that how she explained what was going on was amazing.

2. On page 122 in the 2nd paragraph first sentence…
“I thought about Uncle Max Aunt Sandy and Mrs. Sterling and the teachers, and how often they must worry about keeping us safe.”
This sentence showed that Domenica cared about how others felt. She was feeling this way when they were at Mt. St. Moritz and she saw that the teachers were getting worried, which also made her worried for them, which showed that she really cared. It was also interesting how she expressed it through the rest of the book.

3. On page 223 paragraph two…
“They arrived just before dark, bursting into the lodge, staring wildly around and swooping down on us when I waved a tentative glove at them. I was very glad to see them; we all were. Calm Uncle Max. He would take over now, and we were glad to let him.”
This paragraphed seemed like it used a lot of metaphors therefor it was harder to understand. Many parts confused me even though I knew what was going on before and then I figured out was happened after this paragraph and it made more sense.

4. On page 230 paragraph one…
“Early the next morning, when we learned that Guthrie was finally conscious and out of immediate ganger, Aunt Sandy and I jumped on the bed and whooped and shouted: He made it! He made it! Then the phone rang again, and it was Lila’s mother.”
This paragraph made me happy at first when I found out that Guthrie was better. It was a good moment because he was in really great danger. Then when Domenica and her Aunt were celebrating they got interrupted by a phone call, from Lila’s mother. That is when the paragraph ended and it left you thinking and wondering what the phone call was about. I knew that it was bad because it just seemed like the paragraph ended with a dramatic pause.

5. On page 272 the last paragraph on the page read…
“Soon I could no longer see Switzerland or any land at all. I was over the ocean, miles high, and I started thinking about Bybanks, wondering what it would look like and how it would smell and how it would feel to seem mother and father and Stella and the baby again and how soon Crick might come home. Bybanks. What would I find in Bybanks? It would be an opportunity. I told myself. A new life.”
This last paragraph explains how she feels when she is on her way to go to Bybanks to finally see her family again. It also describes how she is ready for a new life, again. It also explains how she wonders how it will be like to see her family again. 

Star-Girl Rotation #5

Leo was a normal kid in a normal school. The school was no different than another, all of this ended the day that Startgirl came. Stargirl was  a "Weird" type of student, she played her ukulele at lunch, danced during all of the school games, and carried around a rat with her. Leo's school will never be as normal as it was before Stagirl.

Bloomability


Book: Bloomability
By: Sharon Creech 
Blog post by: Katarina Markovic 
# of pages read: 273/273
Job: Vocab Enricher 
 
My job this week was to be the vocab enricher. This job means that i had to fin unknown words in the book, and write on what page i found them, the definition of the word and that word used in a sentence. 



Page #
Word
Definition
Sentence
189 pg.
Tattered
Old and torn; in poor condition.
I found a tattered shirt in the attic.

191 pg.
Persimmons
An edible fruit, which resembles a tomato.
I saw a persimmons sitting on the table.
194 pg.
Tantrum
An uncontrollable burst of anger.
She threw a tantrum as she heard about the divorce.
194 pg.
Sensation
A wide spread reaction of interest and excitement.
She felt a rush of sensation when she heard the amazing news.
198 pg.
Wavering
Getting weaker.
After I have asked her a couple of times she started wavering.
201 pg.
Transceivers
A device which can both transmit and receive information.
I took all the transceivers in the house and started sending messages.
204 pg.
Nudge
A light touch or push, to get someone’s attention.
I nudged Tijana, she had to see the picture. 
208 pg.
Witless
Foolish, stupid.
I was witless, for letting him annoy me.
220 pg.
Avalanches
A great amount of snow, rocks and ice falling down a mountainside.
The avalanche started there was nowhere that we could hide, it wouldn't stop until id destroyed everything on its way.
221 pg.
Tentative
Not certain or fixed.
I grabbed the tentative box, which ended up falling into pieces.
227 pg.
Nomadic
Wandering.
I lived nomadic, there wasn't a certain place where you can find me.
232 pg.
Detained
Keep someone from proceeding to do something.
He was detained in the hospital because he had a patient.
234 pg.
Frail
A person which is week and delicate.
Babies have a very frail skull in the first few weeks of their lives.

Rotation number 5
My job: Literary Luminary
Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli

The sentence I chose:
"She seems to be in tough with something that we are all missing."page 102, Spinelli.



I chose this sentence because I think that this means that the people think that Stargirl is the abnormal one, who is missing a part that everyone else has; normal. But really, they are the ones missing out on something, she is the only one who is really what a human is supposed to be. She is special but in a good way. Stargirl is a person that is herself, and doesn't care what other people think of her and if the world was filled with everyone like that, it would be a better place. 

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Vocabulary Person

Stargirl
By: Jerry Spinelli
Complicated Words:
1.    Page 62
Squirming: show or feel embarrassment or shame.
2.    Page 62
Flustered: make (someone) agitated or confused.
3.    Page 63
Breezily: In a pleasant manner.
4.    Page 63
Jury: a body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court. OR. Judge.
5.    Page 64
Briskly: In an active and energetic manner.
6.    Page 64
Cluck: A foolish person.
7.    Page 65
Snarled: (of a person) say something in an angry, bad-tempered voice.

By: Tara Jevrosimovic


My job - summarizer

My job - Summarizer

In these first few chapters of the new book "Stargirl" we started, I was very happy because the book was so interesting and I could not put it down. It starts with a boy named Leo with his best friend Kevin. They are surprised by Stargirl the new girl and how she acts. The whole school can't wait to go to school just so they can see what she will do next. Stargirl is always dressing differently, like a long white dress, or not matching clothes, and etc. She knows when all of the students have birthdays and sings the Happy birthday song to them while playing her ukulele. The girl always carries a rat in her bag. She sets a vase with flowers on her desk at the beginning of each class and packs it back at the end of the class. Stargirl recently joined the chearleading squad on which Hillary invited her to. In conclusion, she is a very mysterious girl and no one knows anything about her but she knows a lot about everyone else.

By: Tara Jevrosimovic

Friday, May 23, 2014

Week #4 Bloomability

My job this week was to be the discussion director
Book: Bloomability
By: Sharon Creech
Blog post by : Marija
#of pg. read: 188/273
Questions:

1. Do you think that Domenica wants to go home?


Anna: "No. She says she wants to but if she were given the opportunity to go home, she would not take it." 

Katarina: "Yes"
Tijana: "Maybe"
Marija: I think that she misses her family but i also think that she like the fact that she is not moving all the time. I also think that she likes being able to develop really good friends in her school instead of just friends that she has only for a few months and then has to leave again. I also think that being able to get post cards from her family helped a lot as well. 

2. Why do you think that Domenica is being a really good friend to Lila if she is that mean?


Anna: "Because she just really wants a friend and she is not picky about who." 

Katarina: "She thinks that she can get the best out of her."
Tijana: "Because she does not have any friends and she just wants a friend." 
Marija: I think that Domenica might see something in Lila that other people don't. I think that even though Lila is her true friend Domenica still feels sorry for her because she had to live in Switzerland alone without her family. They are kind of in the same situation excepted for Domenica had her aunt and uncle. I also think that because of both of them not having there family around that Domenica understands Lila.    

3. Where do you think Lila was when all the kids were already at Mount Saint Moritz?

Anna: "I think she was just late."
Katarina: "I think that she was just late or was not sure if she wants to go."
Tijana: "I think she was late."
Marija: I think that she was being suborn as always or finding something that she can complain about. Or she might have gotten lost. (it does not really say in the rest of the chapters)

4. Why do you think that the kids at school think that Guthrie and Lila are together?

Anna: "Because they spend a lot of time together and they are really good friends and he does not dislike her as much as everyone else."
Katarina: "I think that the kids think that they are together because Guthrie is by her side and always helping her, unlike any of the other boys."
Tijana: "I think that the kids at school think that because Guthrie and Lila spend so much time together and she seems to like her way more than the other guys."
Marija: I think that it is because he is the only guy that hangs out with Lila and spends time with her even when he does not need to. The kids also might think since Lila and Guthrie are such good friends that it seems like they are in love because they care about each other. 

5. Why do you think that Lila changed when she finally came to Mount Saint Moritz? 

Anna: "I think that for such a long time she goes home and says how bad things are and complains but then she realized that things are not that bad after all."
Katarina: "I think that Lila changed when she came to see her parents and thought that everything would be perfect but then she realized that things were better at school"
Tijana: "Maybe she realized that there is no reason to be mean because then nobody would like her so, and then she realized that she wanted more friends"
Mount Saint Moritz 

Marija: I think that she wanted to build up a new reputation for herself and to now be know for other things like, liking to talk or being really interesting. I also think that she was sick of complaining all the time and so she just wanted a change where she could get more friends which she did. Everyone was talking to her and it seemed like she like the new Lila too and so did Domenica and Guthrie.  

Bloomability by Sharon Creech

Book: Bloomability by Sharon Creech
Pages read: 90
Job: Summarizer

This week's reading begins with the introduction of a new character, a Japanese boy named Keisuke. Keisuke is described as "slim and quiet" and as the complete opposite of Guthrie. He mispronounces words and incorrectly phrases sentences. He is also Belen's crush. Just before break, Lila tells Dinnie that she wants to leave the school but Dinnie wants her to stay and tries to get Guthrie to convince her, to no avail. Dinnie spends winter break in Switzerland with her aunt and uncle. On Christmas Day she goes to church and receives skiing paraphernalia from her aunt and uncle in preparation for the school's upcoming ski trip. On the skiing trip Dinnie learns to ski and Lila returns with a whole new attitude. The month after the trip is Global Awareness Month and everyone begins to think about how people in the world struggle. Thinking is also the new English homework which leads to many discussions about the new book they are reading, Romeo and Juliet. This week's reading ends with a day skiing trip where when everyone meets up in the cafe on the mountain, Guthrie is nowhere to be found.

I think that at this point in the book Dinnie is beginning to form a circle of friends, beginning to enjoy her time at the school, and slowly growing away from her family. She is willing to have new experiences and doesn't miss her family as much.

Key Points of this Week's Reading:

  • Keisuke is introduced
  • Lila wants to leave the school
  • Winter break
  • School ski trip
  • Global Awareness Month
  • Thinking as English homework
  • Day skiing trip
  • Guthrie not in the cafe

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Stargirl rotation 4

My job this week was to be a connector. When you are a connector, you have to connect something that has happened in your book to you, or another person in real life.
Stargirl s a very interesting book and it can relate to only a specific type of lifestyle, unfortunately I do not have that type of lifestyle so I could only find one connection. Everyone wants to make an impression on their first day of school, whether the impression is small and humble or the impression is large and attention drawing. Stargirl's  first day, started out with her not knowing anyone at her new school. She was very shy at first but as soon as lunch came she started singing and dancing and it left everyone speechless. This relates to my life because my first day started out just like hers, shy and quiet, but a lunch I showed all of my soccer talents and turned out to be the second best one.

Rotation #4 Stargirl

Rotation #4
 Celine Monestel
 My job: Illustrator

I drew a picture of Stargirl cheering on the football field during a game. In the background, there is a bunch of cheerleaders in the back trying to call her off the field. I drew this because this is when people start to hate her because she cheers for the opposite team instead of hers. Also, Stargirl likes to cheer and jump around a lot.

Thursday, May 15, 2014



 Bloomability Written
 by: Sharon Creech
Tijana Boricic
Vocabulary Enricher- Literature Circles
Bloomability
Pages read: 93/ 273


       This week my job was to be a Vocabulary enricher and I really enjoyed in having this job. Since the vocabulary words were all very basic, and pretty easy I choose some words that might be interesting and somehow connect to the story. Next week my job will be a travel tracer. Down below, you can find all of the words that were most challenging in the book so far, and their definitions.

 Page and paragraph 
 Word
 Definitions
 Pg. 32 p: 1
 Burglars
 A person who does something illegal or commits a crime. 
 Pg. 39 p: 4
 Gradually
 A slow, but evident movement, could be by degrees. 
 Pg. 42 p: 1
 Bubbling
 Rising bubbles of gas or air. 
 pg. 42 p: 4
 Confess
 Admit or acknowledge something reluctantly, typically because one feels slightly ashamed. 
 pg. 43 p: 4
 Centipedes
 A predatory myriad invertebrate with a flattened elongated body composed of many segments. 
 pg.49 p:3
 Intimidated
 Frighten or overawe (someone), especially, in order to make them do what one wants.
 pg. 80 p: 3
 Satisfactory
 Fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable, though not outstanding or perfect.
pg.80 p: 3
 Observant
 Quick to notice things.
pg.81 p: 1
 Jumbled
 Mixed up in a confused or untidy way.
pg.90 p: 2
 Grapevines
 A vine native to both Eurasia and North America, especially one bearing grapes used for wine-making or eating.
pg.91 p: 1
 Perched
 Alight or rest on something.
 pg.91 p: 2
 Submerged
 Descend below the surface of an area of water.
 pg.93 p: 3
 Bleached
 Cause to become white or much lighter by a chemical process or by exposure to sunlight.