Amanda K's CyberEnglish Blog

The second semester has just started, which means it’s time to reflect upon the first semester. As I read my About Me and Reader’s Profile pages I am coming to realize that my work ethics are still the same, but I think some of my goals have changed a bit. In my About Me I said “I am going to turn all my homework in on time, and try my hardest in all my classes.” I am still working hard to do that. Also I wrote that I want to get at least a 3.7 GPA, but turns out a got a 3.9.

 Some of my strengths in English class would definitely be reading. I love reading, especially nonfiction, which is what we read in this class. Other strengths I have, not only in this class, but in all classes would be organization. I feel I am a very organized person who can keep track of all of my assignments as well as papers teachers give you and tell you to hang on to. I get all of my homework done, even though I have dance practice every night.

 I have strengths as a student, but I also have many weaknesses. First of all, sometimes I don’t feel like paying attention. If the class is extremely boring, a lot of times I’ll zone out and go over my competition routine in my head. My coach would probably be happy with that but I’m pretty sure my teacher’s wouldn’t. Also if I had a bad day, or I didn’t get much sleep the night before, I won’t be very motivated to do anything that day. Most of the time I just feel like reading, because when I’m not feeling good I grab a book and it takes my mind off of things.

 During this past semester I learned many things during Cyber English. To start off, I learned how to write blog posts. I have never had a blog before, so obviously I didn’t know that there was a special way to write them. Also I learned how to analyze books as I read them. Before this, I just read the book, and when I was done with it I went to the next book. Now I have learned that there is so much more there when you really think about what you have read.

 My goal for this next semester is to get all A’s. I achieved that this semester, so I believe I can do it again. My goal for all of high school is simply just to stay involved and keep up my grades. I have talked to seniors who are going into college and they say that a lot of colleges are very competitive. Colleges like people who are extremely involved in not only sports but clubs and comities too. Right now, my goal is to become a physical therapist when I am older. It could change, and it might, but I know that if I want that goal to become reality, I really need to work hard for it.

 In my free time, I like to do a number of things. First of all, I’m on the dance team, so I have practice 6 days a week for that. That takes up a lot of my time. What I really like doing is just hanging out with my friends. We go ice skating a lot, and we always go to Dairy Queen. It’s just our traditional place to go. I love watching the Packers and the Brewers. Those are my two favorite sports teams. Brian Kohn and Craig Counsell are my two favorite players! I think it would be so cool to go to the SuperBowl because the Packers are in it this year.

When Adora Svitak first started talking, I could tell that she knew a lot and had many good things to say. One of her quotes was “To make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.” I thought that was a really good quote. It’s saying that if you want something to happen, you have to use your imagination to think and dream about it. Kids are very good at imagining because they don’t know any restrictions. They use their imagination to come up with new ideas and pretend to live in a world that they want to live in, and dream that that land will someday become reality.  On the other hand, adults are always thinking about how much it’s going to cost, and whether or not it can actually be done. But if you think of an idea, and then say “it’s impossible and can’t be done” then obviously it won’t be. As the quote says, you have to dream about it and believe it in if you want something to actually happen.

Another quote Adora Svitak said was “You must lend an ear today, because we are the leader of tomorrow.” This is also another great quote that has a big meaning behind it. Eventually, all the adults are going to die out, and the children will be the only ones left to run the world. But some adults don’t listen to children because they think that children aren’t smart enough, or say “I don’t work well with children.” If children grow up hearing that, when they are adults, they are still not going to think their good enough for people to listen to them. And if all of the leaders of the world go around thinking that they’re not good enough, think about what the world will become. Children have ideas and dreams, most are better than adults, so why don’t adults listen. As the quote says, you must listen today because if you don’t, the world will be crazy when the children are the leaders of the new world.

I really enjoyed listening to Adora Svitak. She has a really good message and some good ideas to talk about. She believes that children are just as smart as adults are. Sometimes children can be even smarter and better than adults. So if they have an idea, listen to them, because they are going to make it a reality.

For the Internet Safety Assignment I worked with Megan K. Here is what we learned about internet safety:

 Internet Safety

In summary, we learned to never give personal information out on the internet.  All of the sites that we visited told us to be careful who we talk to and what we tell them.  Children should be extra cautious of predators and sexual harassers while using the computer.  People with psychological problems might be in danger of cyber bulling.   They stated that you should never make plans to meet an online chat buddy because they might not be who they say they are. 

Networking sites are fun to go on, but can be very dangerous if you’re not careful.  The sites suggest that you only become friends with people you know. It mentions that you should use a password with numbers and symbols. Also, you shouldn’t use personal information or login names for your password.  Always remember to change it regularly, and don’t tell anyone what it is.

If a parent has a suspicion that their child is talking to someone that might hurt them, or looking up bad things, they should have an open discussion with them.   Some signs that your child might be doing any of these things are: quickly turning off the monitor when you walk past, if your child is becoming withdrawn from the family, and being defensive when you ask them what they’re doing.    

Welcome to Stay Safe Online | STAYSAFEONLINE.org. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://www.staysafeonline.org/>.

“Connect Safely |Online Safety 3.0: Empowering and Protecting Youth | Commentaries – Staff.” Connect Safely |Connect Safely | Online Safety 3.0 – on and off the Fixed and Mobile Internet. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://www.connectsafely.org/Commentaries-Staff/online-safety-30-empowering-and-protecting-youth.html>.

“US-CERT Cyber Security Tip ST06-003 — Staying Safe on Social Network Sites.” US-CERT: United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-003.html>.

“FBI Publications – A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety.” FBI — Federal Bureau of Investigation Homepage. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm>.