Journal#2 4-7 Perspective of Jem

It was nearing summer and Scout and I couldn't wait. It was the last day of school, and I was walking home. I walked down the dirty side walk sprinkled in leaves. I reached home and as I entered my house I spotted Scout. I saw Scout chewing on some gum so asked,"were did you get the gum?" "I found it," said Scout. As soon as she said she found it I almost exploded, it could be poisonous. " Scout don't eat things you find." I said. Scout argued back," It was on the ground, it was in a tree." We were both quibbling. I grumbled because I was getting frustrated with Scout. "Spit it out right now!" I yelled to Scout. My tyranny shocked her, I could see it in her face. Scout spat the gum out and I was furious when she told me she found it hanging in a trees coming home from school. "Don;t you know your not supposed to be touching those trees over there!" I yelled to Scout.

Summer was on its way and soon Dill would come back to Maycomb. Scout and I couldn't wait for summer. We went to school the next day and were finally let out for summer. Scout and I walked home from school. As we walked home Scout showed me wear she found the gum in the tree. I saw a silver piece of foil and I yelled to Scout "I see it!" I reached for the shiny piece and I held it in my hand and Scout and I ran home straight away. I unraveled the wrapping of chewing gum wrappers wrapped around a box that a ring would come in. I opened the velveted box, and there were to very old Indian head coins. The coins were made in the years 1906, and 1900. I thought for a moment, and Scout asked if the tree we found the coins in were somebodies hiding place. "Na, don't anybody much but us pass by there, unless it's some grown person. Grown person's don't have hidin' places." Scout asked if we should keep the coins. i told Scout what we would do before keeping the coins. I headed towards my room, and looked out the window and stared at the Radley's house, and thought. The I awoke from my wondering and walked into my bedroom.

A couple days later Dill came back to Maycomb for the summer again. Scout and I met Dill and he talked about his trip here on the train. "So what will we do today?" I asked Dill.

"Tom and Sam and Dick."said Dill. "I'm tired of those." Scout said. Dill stood at the porch and looked down the street. "I smell death." Dill said. Scout told him to shut up.""I do, I mean it."he said. "You mean when somebody's dyin' you can smell it?" said Scout.

"No, I mean I can smell somebody an' tell if they are gonna die. An old lady taught me how."

Dill leaned towards Scout and sniffed her. "Jean Louise Finch, you are going to die in three days." Scout got angry, so I stepped in and told them to stop there talking. There would have been a fight.

Dill and I started hanging out more and ignoring Scout. Dill and I were making a plan to try and get Boo Radley out of his house. Scout started to hang out with our neighbor. Then one day I took some scissors and started cutting up the newspaper, and then Atticus came in the room and got mad at me for cutting up the newspaper. He said that if it was today's newspaper he would tan me. Atticus was very mad. When I went outside with Dill, Dill asked if we could still hang out, and I replied, "well Atticus didn't say we couldn't.

I played more and more with Dill, and less with Scout. The more we played the less I saw Scout. We never really played with Scout anymore because we ignored her more, and she hung out with our neighbor Ms. Maudie. Dill became my best friend and we decided to make exciting games. We made a plan that we would write a letter to Boo Radley. We wanted Boo Radley to come out of his house so we wanted to slip a letter through an open shutter in Boo Radley's house. When we were putting the letter through the shutter Atticus came out and saw us. He told us tor stop tormenting him and to leave him alone. Atticus told me to give him the letter. Atticus really mad, and said there will be no more of this. He told us to stay away from the house. We were to stop bothering Boo Radley.

Dill and I spent the last couple of days playing games because today was his last night here in Maycomb. It was sad that my best friend was going to be leaving. I started to do disobey my fathers rules, and did anything Dill waited, because this was his last night. I even asked Dill if he wanted to me with the Radley Place. Scout also joined in with our scheme. Scout was completely unanimous. I teetered as I walked up to the Radley's Place. Dill, Scout, and I look through the old shutter, and we see a man in a hat. We all look at him just for a little while, and all of a sudden we hear a loud sound. It was so loud it made me deaf for a few seconds. We all jumped over the fence. I was the last to jump. As I jumped over the fence my pants got caught. I couldn't unhook them from the fence so I slipped out of them and ran to my house to fetch some pants before anyone saw me. When I ran towards home I saw a circle around Mr. Radley who was holding sniper gun. I decided to get some pants on first before I asked what was going on.

The summer finally ended and Dill went back home again to Meridian. School started, and I was a grade higher and so was Scout. Scout and I thought school was getting more boring as we moved up a grade. After school I was walking home to see my pants neatly folded on the fence

where my pants got caught. I couldn't believe they were folded. I told Scout about what I saw walking home and she was also freaked out. Scout wondered if he some them peeking into his house. She became worried. As Scout and I walked home from school we saw a present in the Radley tree. We didn't take it. Weeks later another present appears. We took the present and the present was soap figures. Oddly enough they were shaped as us. I was a little freaked out now. I didn't know what to think. A while later we walked by and we saw the oak tree was cemented. Mr. Nathan Radley said it was because the trees were dying. It was sad to see the trees destroyed.

Journal #1 Perspective of Dill

I was turning seven when I visited my aunt Rachel in Maycomb, Alambama for the summer. Instead of staying the summer with my mom in Meridan, Mississippi I spend it with my Aunt Rachel. When I arrived in Maycomb Alabama with Auntie Rachel I went to her back yard to explore my surroundings. I love Aunt Rachel's yard, especially the collard patch. I was in the yard one day playing in Aunt Rachel's collard patch, when I felt like something was staring at me . When I turned around I found two kids starring at me through the wired fence. They stared at me for while. I think they thought I was eccentric. I paused to stare and I finally said, "Hey." The older one said hello back. I then introduced myself, and added that I could read. They introduced themselves to me too. Jem the older one asked how old I was. He guessed at my age " four in a half" he said.



"I'm turning seven," I replied. We all then started talking about ourselves. "Scout has been readin' ever since she was born," said Jem. Jem is the older boy who is ten. Scout is the girl who is only six. When I heard that scout could read to I was a little disappointed knowing that she was six and she could read too. Jem then asked me to come over. I struggled to get under the fence when Jem said, "It will be easier if you just climb over it." I then told Jem an Scout about how I won five dollars in a Beautiful Child Contest. " Don't have any pictures here,except Jesus ones in the courthouse sometimes," said Jem. "Ever see anything good?"
"I've seen Dracula before," I said. Jem looked at me with his eyes telling me "Tell it to us."


I began to talk about Dracula, and Jem was fascinated. After talking for a while we became real good friends. I hung out with Scout and Jem that summer, and they told loads of stuff. I was fascinated with the story about a man named Boo who never came out of his house. Jem told more and more stories about Boo Radley. The stories started to intimidate me a little. One of Jems stories talked about how a malevolent phantom haunted the house. People said that the phantom existed, but every time Jem, and I walked past the house we never saw it. Ever story Jem told me fascinated me more and more. I became very curious about what Boo Radley looked like so I tried to make a compromise with Jem and Scout about how we should try and get him out of his house. But Jem made another pronouncement about how he was six and a half feet tall and ate cats and squirrels. Jem went on and on about Boo Radley, I could tell he was afraid of Boo Radley. After talking to Jem for a couple of days he finally went up to Boo Radley's door touched it and ran back. I have made some really great friends when spending the summer with my Aunt Rachel. I have also had many adventures though the summer was ending, and I had to return back home to Meridan, Mississippi.

Project Reflection

Immigration Project Reflection
By: Haileigh Smith
Literature Circles: In the Immigration project I have learned many different things. In the project we read books about immigration. The book I read was called Ashes of Roses. The book Ashes of Roses is about a girl and her family who immigrate. The book talks about their experiences, and what it was like going through the immigration process, and how they came through Ellis Island to America.

I really liked the book Ashes of Roses, because of all the different conflicts that went on. I have learned a lot from this book. I have learned what it was like for some people to immigrate during the 1900’s, and what the immigration process was like. I also learned about Ellis island, because in the book that is how the family entered America.
While I read the book Ashes of Roses, I have found many significances between me and the book. I learned that an immigrant was willing to give up everything they had, and hope to have a better life.

In the LC meetings I think that maybe we could have got together with our group to share our thoughts, and have a chance to agree and disagree on things in our book.I think that if we were to do that then we would understand more of the book. I say that we should do that, because sometimes when you read a book it can be confusing in some parts, but when you have other people that read the book they can help you understand what is going on
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In this part of the project we blogged about the book. I liked blogging, because it is a lot easier, and I think that is makes it easier to say everything you are feeling about your blog. I also thing that it is easier, because you can just write what your thinking without being interrupted by someone else speaking. I think blogging makes things a lot more organized.

While blogging I didn’t have any problems posting. Blogging was very easy for me, but I do know that others had problems posting. I thought that posting was a good way to express what we thought about the book to our other group members. It was interesting to see the different opinions my group members had towards the book. It was also interesting the way we all talked about the book in different ways.

Art/Literature: In this project we also created paintings with our book. We all made different paintings on either painting an interpretation of the book, a scene that struck you in the book, a cultural component, a famous painting redone of your book, the theme of the book, and a new book cover. I chose to make my painting an interpretation of the book Ashes of Roses. I chose to make an interpretation of my book, because I wanted to show people my understanding of the book, and see if people agree with me.

I think that creating my art piece was a little challenging to me, because I also wanted people to see what the book is kind of an out, and also have them thinking at the same time. I wanted people to see my art as a mystery. My thought was to get people thinking and questioning, what is the book about, and what could this mean?

I think that my painting is good, and it is the way I imagined it to be, and even better. I think that I have created as much as I could trying to make it look interesting. I wanted it not to look so boring, and easy to figure out. I really like that my painting has got to where it is. I am amazed with myself, and the effort I have put into the painting. In the painting I think that the background could have blended more, and the painting wasn’t so dark colored, but the things that I have done to my painting is what makes the painting more exciting.

From the experience of creating a painting to the novel we had read, I think is very creative. I learned a lot from this experience. I learned more about my book by going back and reading some parts, I also learned how to make a water effect.

Interviewing: The last part of this project was interviewing an immigrant. When interviewed my immigrant it was kind of hard. When I interviewed her she was very shy, and she had a strong accent so it was hard to understand. Throughout the interview she was a little more open, and not so shy.

When I heard that we had to interview someone, I didn’t know what to think. I have never interviewed anyone I didn’t know before, so I was afraid when I heard we had to interview someone. I was with the IRC, so I interviewed them only twice. It was interesting getting to interview someone, and it was interesting interviewing someone around the same age as me.

In the interviews I learned many things about my immigrants culture, and country. My immigrant is from Cambodia. I learned that they have many temples there, and that most of Cambodians are Buddhist. I also learned that they ear a lot of fish and rice. Another thing that I found interesting is that in there history they used to wear different colored clothing. Each different colored clothing was a symbolization of a day. Like red would symbolize the day of Mars.

I think that interviewing someone for another country helped us, and me understand the immigration process, because all of the things they had to go through to get to America. I also learned from the interviewing the differences of immigrating from then and now. It also showed me the many differences that America has compared to Cambodia, and other countries. I thought that many countries have everything America does, but ow I realize that from someone else's perspective, there is a big difference. I think now I have learned why so many people come to America.

At the end of interviewing our interviewee we made them a gift that meant something special. I made my interviewee a calender so that she could remember the different temples and places in her home country. I had put a lot of time in effort into my gift to show that I am very thankful that they could take time out of their day for me to interview them.

Ashes of Roses Post # 6: Final Post

Quote #1: "We're goin' to die!"

Significance: I chose this short little quote because it tells us what troubles Rose got into in America. It shows how things happen so drastically. I think that in this quote it says something and grabs our attention because it as something to with possible death, but mostly I grabbed this quote because it shows how the  building caught on fire and it all just kind of happened really fast without knowing in the beginning. Like they just got done with work and they are all like, okay see you late, and then all of the sudden there is a fire. 

Connection: My connection would be like if you are going to run inside the house, but you actually ran into a glass screen door, then you realize that you ran into a door. The connection is that everything was fine until you hit the door, and like in the quote, everything was fine until there was a scream, and flamed appeared. 

Question: What do you think would happen next since they are trapped inside the building?

Quote # 2: " I have to find my little sister."

Significance: I just chose this quote, because to me, it helped me remember where Maureen was. I realized that Maureen started to work in the Triangle, now I wonder what has happened to her. I think that this quote relates to the challenges that Rose might have to face if she doesn't find her sister Maureen. I also chose this quote, because it tells us that she was so scared, that the thought of her sister being in the building too, didn't cross her mind.

Connection: I think that a connection could be ind of like when you are really scared you can't think, and that happens to me when I take big tests, but here in the quote I chose it shows how Rose wasn't thinking about her sister, because she was so scared she was just trying to get her self to safety first, because when your scared, nothing really comes to mind. I think not only when you help yourself, getting out of the mess you were in then do you think of the things you are missing, because you then have time to think.

Question: What do you think happened to Maureen?

Ashes of Roses Post # 5:

Quote#1:  We are just gong back to get your coat, Rose.  And the pay that Mr. Moscovitz owes you. He can't have us arrested for that."  pg 142 Gussie

Significance: I chose this quote, because it tells us the troubles that the immigrants are facing in America. Rose has had something done very bad to her. I think that in this quote it shows us the new things that the immigrants, such as Rose are learning about what kind of people there are in the world, America. 

Connection: I don't really have a connection, but the lesson that was taught to Rose. If you watch television, you learn about the dangerous kind of people that are out in the world, and my parents tell me that I need to be aware of my surroundings, and the people I meet, and the people around me, because you never know. I think that from this you learn the mistakes, and to be more aware. 

Question: Who is Gussie?

Quote#2: "No. I think I'd say Rose hurt him instead."pg 14 Gussie

Significance: I chose this quote, because it shows us that what Mr. Moscovitz only made Rose stronger, even though what Mr. Moscovitz did was very wrong. I think that from this Rose will be stronger to support her family, or at least her sister.

Connection: My connection isn't close to what happened to Rose, but I think that when people say mean things to others, it just makes that person want to do it more. I know that when someone tell me to be quiet, but in the "shut up" kind of way, it makes me mad, and I just keep talking. That also gets me in trouble though, which isn't good. 

Question: Why did Ma, and the other little sister, I think Bridget leave the country? 

Question #2 Don't you think Ma is worried about them? 

Post # 4 : Ashes of Roses

Quote#1: "You're in for it now. When Papa comes home, he's going to throw you out on the street, where you belong." Pg 100 Hildergarde

Significance: I chose this quote, becasue it shows hoe much the Americans care about most mmigrants. In this quote and in the scene of this quote the Nolan Family, Oatricks family is real annoyed with Rose's family. Elsa and the girls take the whole rose paper thing as the last straw, they have had enough.  Lately Patrick hasn't been talked about, so I wonder how he feels. 

Connection: I guess a connection could be that everyone has that last straw, everyone always gets mad and says things that they might regret. i'm not sure, but I think that maybe the girls will rgret what will happen next, what ever comes next.

Question: What do you think Patrick is thinking about this whole thing?

Quote # 2: " I just can't take any more of this. I want my husband. And who knows what's become of poor Joseph? The family should be together. We had a good life in Limerick. We never should have left."

Significance: I chose this quote because it shows how  everything has gone for Margaret's family, the Nolan family. It shows the struggles the Nolan family has gone through coming to America, and what they have experienced being in America. In the quote it talks about how the Nolan family is being treated, and how she is feeling about this new country.

Connection: I can connect to this becaUSe some people never give things a chance. Some people think that soMEthing they see will be something they don't like.  I think that people just need too take a chance, and in the scene of the quote Patrick Nolan says that Margaret has not even given America a chance, because she is thinking of leaving.

Question: Without have read  further, what do you think will happen?

Post # 3 : Ashes of Roses

Quote # 1: "Learn this then, fast learner. It took me five years as an apprentice to learn this skill. There's a boatload of you greenhorns landing every day,and you all think you're going to make a fortune in America. Well, don't hold your breath, girlie, because it's not going to happen." Man in the shoe shop, pg 68

Significance: The significance here relates to how Americans treat immigrants. In this quote a girl name Rose, Margaret Rose, is just looking for a job, and she walks into a shop and this man tells her that she basically should have never come here because they aren't going to make any money here. SO this basically shows that some people don't like immigrants. In the quote he also says that everyday more and more immigrants come. So far the man has only treated one character in the book unwelcoming, but what will others do? 

Connection: I;m sure I cant really compare my connection to what people have done to Margaret Rose, but I think that everyone has been treated somewhat like the way Margaret Rose has been treated. My connection with the quote is when people tell me things. WHen people tell me things like "oh you can't do this." I think everyone hears something like that. People are told that like they have no chance, and that is what is basically happening in this quote. This man is telling Margaret ROse that she will never make it in America, she will never find any money. Comparing to my connections, people tell other people that they can't do something, like they can't do this, you will never be a star, things like that.

Question: What does greenhorns mean?

Quote # 2: "So ye think ye might have work for me?"

Margaret Rose, pg 71

Significance: This is relating to the challenges the characters in the book are facing and are going to face. In this quote it shows that someone is looking for a job, and that someone is Margaret Rose. Margaret Rose is looking for a job to support her family, and also so that her family can live somewhere else, because she doesn't like living with her snooty aunt and cousins. So far Margaret Rose hasn't found any work, but she is still looking. Margaret Rose is young to work, but because her father isn't with the family in America she has no choice. Soon  her mother is going to look for work too, but Margaret Rose wanted to try first. 

Connection: I really don't have any connections, but Im sure getting a job is really hard. Sometimes it isn't that hard, but to get a job where you actually want to work, that has to be hard. So in the book I'm learning more about Elsa. I learned that this character isn't trying to really get rid of the Nolen family, but she is just trying to help. Actually she is doing both at the same time. I also think that she can be snobby. She tries to act nice, but she gives a tone that shows that she is faking. 

Question? What is the place that Mrs. Murphy told Margaret to go to?