Close Reading

     For some time now in ELA, we have been studying "close reading". This is where you closely read a song, book, painting, movie, ect. In my close reading study, I decided that I would like to look closely at music. I think that every artist writes a song for a reason. I mostly focused on the musicians, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. In almost all of their songs, I was able to pick up a specific message that they are trying to send to their listeners.

     The first life message that I noticed was in the song "Same Love" (by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis). One of the things that I learned in class was that what you notice at first isn't always the most important. I used this information in my thinking by first thinking that the song was just about LGBT marriage,  although I then looked even closer. Even though, this song is about the freedom to marry and love anyone you want, I think that it is also about loving yourself. One thing that Macklemore says is "And I can't change. Even if I tried, Even if wanted to." To me this means that you can't change yourself even if you want to be someone else. He is saying that you have to love and believe in yourself because you can't change who you are.

     One other thing that I noticed about Macklemore is that he can also speak to you with his facial expressions. I watched many of his music videos and live performances online and saw myself being drawn towards the emotion in his facial expressions and body movements. The spark in his eye when he sings really makes me feel connected with him and the story he is telling. This method of singing really enables you to understand the lyrics and message. It's really important to understand the meaning of what he is saying because, like I said earlier, every musician writes their music for a reason and to enlighten their listeners about a certain issue. This is why I am amazed at how Macklemore sends a message across to his fans so that they can learn about something important from him just by how he acts while he performs his songs!

The Fox

      I recently read the story The Fox with my class. It was an amazing picture book about trust, loss, and forgiveness. Based on a synthesis page I made, I have a lot to say about the Fox. I have analyzed the text and picked out certain details about him to find out more about who he really is.

     The first time someone would read The Fox, they would think that he is only a cold, heartless, and empty character. However, there is a deeper meaning to him. What people don't realize at first is that people usually only act like this for a reason, and in this case, something big in the Fox's life must have happened to make him feel and act the way he does. On the inside, the Fox is lonely and wants attention because he is always looking for a friend (Magpie and Dog). He feels pain because no one wants to love him, so he turns on everyone who tries to.

     In this picture book, I think the lesson can be applied to life. I think the one of the morals of the  story are that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, meaning that although they were right to not trust him, both Dog and Magpie should have looked at all of his pages. Sometimes, people in your life can be quick to judge, but don't let it stop you! Most importantly, don't judge someone until you truly know who they are!

Things I love

                     This photo is from   http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/

     One of my favorite things in life is rain. This picture perfectly describes my feelings about the rain. The little girl's hair is soaking wet and she is smiling. She is embracing nature and just listening to the calming cool rain all around her. She doesn't care if she gets wet because she knows that tht is the way that its what is supposed to be.

    It makes me feel like I am the only one in the world when it rains. It makes me feel like everything is washed over and fresh. All of the birds and insects come out and it is like a new beginning for them too. When it rains it feels like time freezes and its just you and the world and the rain.

     I love the rain because it reminds me why people live and why the earth is happy. If there wasn't rain, there wouldn't be me or you or rainbows or happiness or life. Rain is what keeps us living and loving. This is why rain means the world to me!

Top 2 books read- 2013 edition!

     The first book i am recommending is called This is What I Did. It is a book in verse (a book written in poems) about a boy who suffers from an abusive relationship with his father. This book is so interesting, empowering, and inspirational, that I think it could change the lives of the people reading it. This is What I Did is a book that I will be forever recommending and one that I will keep on reading over and over again!

     A series of books that I have just started to read near the end of 2013 is the Harry Potter series.
Although it is a classic that many people have read- if you haven't, that you should start right now!
It is such a good adventure story and is written so well that the author sometimes makes you feel as if you are there. It is one of those kinds of books that you read all the way through on cold and rainy day. Harry Potter is worth any one's time to read and it was definitely one of my favorite 2013 reads!