Christine

I have created my wikispace using my compass odyssey log in and password information."

An advantage of using wikispaces to do homework and classwork is that I think it is easier to concentrate when I do this sort of stuff at home. Also you always know what homework is. I like that you get to see and comment on other people's reflections. A disadvantage is that if you have an unexpected technical difficulty you wouldn't be able to do homework.

I completely understand the rules. You shouldn't post bad stuff on any website, especially this one because its for school. I don't know why anyone would want to break the rules. It would be bad if one person in this class ruined this for everybody. Plus you would get in sooo much trouble if you did break the rules.

__ Cultural influences that are present in my local area __
 * Styles
 * Dances
 * Music
 * Food
 * Clothes
 * Celebrations
 * Language

__American values shared by other cultures__
 * Clothes
 * Religion
 * Language
 * Food

Meg Ferrigno worked as an educator in China. She was kicked out of the country with other foreigners before the 2008 Olympics. When she heard of the earthquake in China she worried about all the people she taught and worked with. Since then she has been keeping touch with her friends in Yushu. In 2005 she went to Gargon, a small village with no electricity, running water, or cellphone service. She taught English, science, and art in a school with about 110 students. In 2008 the government expelled many missionarys and teachers, including Meg. She is helping spread word of where people can donate money to help."I consider it paradise," Ferrigno said. "The people are incredibly generous though they're deep in poverty. . . . It's a really inspiring place, with lots of energy, spiritually, geologically, and politically."

Why was she kicked out of China? Was it religious? education? Personal?

In March 2008, the 49th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, protests erupted in Lhasa and spread to Tibetan regions of China, including Qinghai. With the Olympics near, the government expelled large numbers of missionaries and teachers, Ferrigno among them.




 * "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”**

I think that the quote means that if you tell someone something they will probably forget, but if you show someone something there would be a better chance they will remember. If you walk them through it then they will understand what you are explaining to them. It relates to what we are learning in class because if you go to a foreign country you will learn more about that place than if you read about it because you are more involved in it. Also if you create something you will understand it more than if you read the directions.

Great reflection! I liked how you told about a person going to a foreign country and learning more about it instead of just reading it in a book. That is so true. "Erica"

I think the next verse in the song "We Shall Overcome" should be:

We shall work together We shall work together We shall work together some da y

I think that your verse is very good. I liked how you thought of working together. Great job. "Erica"

I don't really remember anything about field day from last year. This year I really didn't like playing kickball. Part of the reason why I didn't like it was that we had to play for 2 hours!!! Also we didn't play with the regular rules and we had to rotate classes because there were three. I liked how we got to eat outside and got popsicles. It was fun running around when we were done eating too. Most of the rotations were fun. I liked the parachute and the batting the best. The parachute was interesting because we usually don't do that sort of thing on field day. Batting was fun because all you had to do was swing as hard as you can. The cones were a little low though, so it was sorta hard to hit the tennis balls.

__**The Cabinet**__
 * President - Barrack Obama
 * Vice President - Joseph R. Biden
 * Department of State - Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
 * Department of Treasury - Secretary Timothy F. Geithner
 * Department of Defense - Robert M. Gates
 * Department of Justice - Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
 * Department of Interior - Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar
 * Department of Agriculture - Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
 * Department of Commerce - Secretary Gary F. Locke
 * Department of Labor - Secretary Hilda L. Solis
 * Department of Health and Human Services - Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
 * Department of Housing and Urban Development - Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
 * Department of Transportation - Secretary Ray LaHood
 * Department of Energy - Secretary Steven Chu
 * Department of Education - Secretary Arne Duncan
 * Department of Veterans Affairs - Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
 * Department of Homeland Security - Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
 * White House Chief or Staff - Rahm I. Emanuel
 * Environmental Protection Agency - Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
 * Office of Management and Budget - Director Peter R. Orszag
 * United States Trade Representative - Ambassador Ronald Kirk
 * United States Ambassador to the United Nations - Ambassador Susan Rice
 * Council of Economic Advisers - Chair Christina Romer

Wikispace has may pros and cons. It is good because you can comment on other people's writing, but if you re a slow typer then it will take a while to do homework. Also if your computer isn't working then you can't do homework. It also gives you the chance to discuss your work with your peers.

I agree with you about the computer not working. For example MY computer is not working so I have to use my dad's, but I don't think that just because it's not working we can't do our homework. Maybe you can't do it the night it was given but Ms.Flood will ALWAYS make sure you get EVERYTHING done. *~Ashtin~*

Using wikispaces is beneficial because it lets you look at other people's writing to help improve your own. Also you can discuss work you don't understand.

I enjoyed getting to type everything instead of writing it down. I also liked getting to discuss work and other things.