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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The First Amendment

     We have been learning all about the First Amendment this past week. I (just like many) have so many remaining questions on the topic. I want to know what the country would be like without these freedoms, or just without speech in individual? I want to know if we have other amendments other than the five we learned in detail?
     As I previously stated I want to know what would happen to the country with out freedom or speech or visa- versa.
     Without speech we wouldn't have the freedom of press or really petition. In China they don't have freedom of speech. They are supposed to have freedom of speech but it is heavily censored. What I mean is that the government controls practically everything that is publicized. My point is a world without out freedom of speech does exist!
     When you think about it without the other four amendments to have the freedom of speech wouldn't be as valuable. You wouldn't have the right to petition or write what ever you want. Its like having money but nothing to spend it on. I am glad that we have all five!

    Another Question was weather there were other amendments. I googled it and this is what I found!
    

#AmendmentsProposal dateEnactment dateFull text
1stProtects the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the governmentSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
2ndProtects an individual's right to bear armsSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
3rdProhibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetimeSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
4thProhibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable causeSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
5thSets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardySeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
6thProtects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counselSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
7thProvides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common lawSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
8thProhibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishmentSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
9thProtects rights not enumerated in the constitution.September 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
10thLimits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the ConstitutionSeptember 25, 1789December 15, 1791Full text
11thImmunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation for sovereign immunityMarch 4, 1794February 7, 1795Full text
12thRevises presidential election proceduresDecember 9, 1803June 15, 1804Full text
13thAbolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crimeJanuary 31, 1865December 6, 1865Full text
14thDefines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post-Civil War issuesJune 13, 1866July 9, 1868Full text
15thProhibits the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous condition of servitudeFebruary 26, 1869February 3, 1870Full text
16thAllows the federal government to collect income taxJuly 12, 1909February 3, 1913Full text
17thEstablishes the direct election of United States Senators by popular voteMay 13, 1912April 8, 1913Full text
18thEstablishes prohibition of alcohol (repealed by Twenty-first Amendment)December 18, 1917January 16, 1919Full text
19thEstablishes women's suffrageJune 4, 1919August 18, 1920Full text
20thFixes the dates of term commencements for Congress (January 3) and the President (January 20); known as the "lame duck amendment"March 2, 1932January 23, 1933Full text
21stRepeals the Eighteenth Amendment and prohibits violations of state laws regarding alcohol.February 20, 1933December 5, 1933Full text
22ndLimits the president to two terms, or a maximum of 10 years (i.e., if a Vice President serves not more than one half of a President's term, he or she can be elected to a further two terms)March 24, 1947February 27, 1951Full text
23rdProvides for representation of Washington, D.C. in the Electoral CollegeJune 16, 1960March 29, 1961Full text
24thProhibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxesSeptember 14, 1962January 23, 1964Full text
25thCodifies the Tyler Precedent; defines the process of presidential successionJuly 6, 1965February 10, 1967Full text
26thEstablishes the right to vote for those age 18 years or older.March 23, 1971July 1, 1971Full text
27thPrevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress



 In short there were other amendment that we didn't cover. I kind of want to know more about them. I wish we had enough time to cover them all!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Grades

    To me grades are completely unnecessary. To teachers I'm they are the epitome of school. Grades are teachers way of judging us, whether they realize it or not.
     I think we should be graded in a way that we get the help and know exactly what we need to do to get better. I believe we need to transfer to a standards- based grading system and a "tutor". What I mean is we should get a graded on a proficiently scale and then a teacher should help you go through anything you didn't understand one child at a time. I believe grading needs to be totally revised.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Are schools killing our creativity?

     Are schools killing creativity????? That seems to be the question asked by many creativity specialists, including Sir Ken Robinson. In Ken's TED talk speech he brought it to my attention that schools are killing the generations "creativity". I 100% agree with him! Schools may not even notice it, but they are making us think in a convergent matter. Meaning that it's almost like traveling on a one way street, there is no room to veer off the road or go another direction or end up/go in a different direction. Training our minds to think that is in a way making us grow out of our creativity.
     Schools, I believe need to "gear" or even work with our creativity, not work without it. In my opinion schools need to rewrite their whole curriculum to incorporate more work that we can use our creativity. Throughout the course of reading the paper about creativity, many specialists stated that in many schools math and LA are the priorities. Music, art, and creativity are the least important in the learning pyramid. I think schools need to realize what they are doing!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Being Gifted

      There are many advantages and disadvantages that come with being labeled "Gifted". Behind that name are also many myths and truths.
      Being gifted can be very stereotypical. For instance, We are "smart in every subject." Or we "know everything." We "don't need help." This is not always true.  According to National Association for Gifted Children, 61% of teachers don't know how to help us! They don't have the training to assist us therefore, we don't have the opportunity to reach our full potential.
      I must say that there are some good things about being in a gifted class, for example we do get to be challenged. Not to mention getting an extra 7 points on our overall GPA and getting to meet some awesome people.
     Don't get me wrong, being gifted is hard. People expect so much from you, expect you to know everything. Sometimes people put so much pressure on you, because "you know the answer, you're smart, you're in that smart people class." You can and will be used in ways too many to count. We can be  bullied or put down, for being ourselves... for being smart.
     Being followed with the myths and truths of being gifted can sometimes be a burden. Following is a list of misconceptions about Gifted children.

Myths: the following myths are linked to NAGC
 Gifted Children always get good grades: Gifted student may get bad grades due to a lack of interest or to fit in also known as "dumming down"
  Gifted students don't need help, they find everything easy: Just like everybody else these students need to be guided to reach thier full potential.
  Gifted students are all nerds: these students can be sometimes classified as "nerds" but this is also untrue.
  Gifted students think they are too good for "avarage" kids: This statement can be true sometimes, but most of the time that is untrue.
Gifted children get good grades in every subject: this is rarley true. Every gifted student have their stronger subjects or maybe none at all.
They are just like everybody else: weather you want to believe it or not a gifted student is different from every other child. They are stronger in a least one area.

Truths:
Every gifted child has at least one talent: that is how they got labeled gifted.
Is mentally above average child for their age: according to the states definition if a gifted child is gifted if he or she is "above the average"
In the end being gifted can be pretty awesome, but it does come with a price.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Learning Style Test Results

    I took two tests today. They gave me a chance to look at my self in a new way.
    According to the Gardner test I learn Musically. This means that I think in rhythms and melodies. I need things like music playing all the time.
    I also learn Bodily-Kinestheticly. This means I learn through stomatic sensations. (stomatic means physically.) I love dancing (fits me perfectly!) and I learn best with hands on activity.
    Finally I learn Interpersonally, by bouncing ideas off of other people and leading.
    I think this test describes me very well.
 

    The second test was Anthony Gregorc's Learning Styles Test it turned out that I scored 15pts. for each category! I guess this means that I am a Concrete Random Learner, Concrete Sequential Learner, Abstract Random Learner, and an Abstract Sequential Learner all at the same time. (following deffinations from Gregorc's test).
Concrete Random Learner: I learn by problem solving, working out things out, trying out my ideas, and finding things out on my own.
Concrete Sequential Learner: I learn by doing practical things and being told exactly what to do, working logically, and I love when I get things right.
Abstract Random Learners: I also learn by talking to others, using my imagination, using drama, art and music and liking work to be fun and working with other people.
Abstract Sequential Learner: I also like to read and work alone, and organizing my school work.

    This all helps me in school because I know know that I can learn in many different environments/ways so there is no more excuses.
  
  One person I admire is my Mom. I think she learns in a Logical-Mathematical way. This is because she is very good with mental math and puzzles and solving problems. I think she also learns Interpersonally. This is because she likes to lead just like me.
    Another person I admire greatly is my Dad. I believe he works Intrapersonally. This is because he is very to himself when working.
     Finally, I admire my dance teacher. I believe she works Linguistically. This is because when she is very big on describing things to us. I don't think she even realizes she's doing it but she does it so well.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

First Post!

My Name is Katherine Narwid.
I am now in 8th grade.
My favorite subject in school is Reading.
My favorite thing to learn about outside of school has got to be new dance moves.
In my free time (which I rarely have) I love to dance.
When I grow up I really want to become a professional dancer. But it is SUPER hard to make it in the professional world, so I would also like to own my own dance studio!
So many things make me happy, (and i know this sounds cliche) but dance, my family, my friends, and when I do something that makes others happy.