Tuesday, April 28th

Read THIS blog post by a teacher. I mean actually read it. Take it in. Think about it. And then, write about it. What do you think about it? What is the teacher trying to say? In your own words explain what "the main event" is.

Reading over this blog I can see what the real job of teachers is. Teacher's jobs are not to teach, while that is a part of their job, it is not the whole job. I feel like some teachers do not realize this, and that is where you can tell the difference between a good teacher and an amazing one. The teacher is saying his job is to lead these students through life, and not make it easy, and teach them how the real world is not forgiving. He is trying to get it through the thick skull of high schoolers that their job at school is not to learn how to find x of a crazy equation, or answer a study guide correctly, but rather to learn how to invest in your life and learn to overcome adversity in its many forms. The "main event" of school is to get you ready for life. Life where you excel and become great and do great things. But that life can only come from hard work, and never quitting. 

Tuesday, April 14th

3 day weekend... how was it? Give me a good story or something funny that happened this weekend. Go.

I had a three day weekend, it was okay. Friday night I had a track meet where I got a new PR (personal record) running the two mile. The next morning I left to go to Camp Quality Family Weekend. It is a camp in the summer that kids with caner and their siblings can go, and my sister and I have attended for some time. This year I have applied to be a volunteer. While there we saw a magician and mini ponies which were SOOOOOO CUTE!!! We had a bon-fire and spent the night there. Next morning we left and didn't do much exciting. I did a lot of homework. Linnea and I went to go get some icecream and then sat around my fire and talked. Monday I woke up and watched Curious George (best show ever). I did more homework and went shopping. Around 2:00 I went to Sarah's house to help her take pictures for Photography. Monday night I watched another one of my favorite shows, Scorpion, and it was intense. Season Finale is next week. 

Thursday, April 9th

Do you agree or disagree with this statement. Elaborate on why you agree of disagree.

If images are on the internet they should be "free game".

I disagree with this statement because stating that an image is on the internet is not much different than saying an image is in a book. Just because the internet is more accessible by people does not mean that it should be okay to copyright other's works. That person worked just as hard to create their website and that includes their pictures. Using their pictures is just as bad as taking a paragraph from them and coping it into your essay. Although, I don't know think it is right, it is very hard for anyone to state that they have always included where they got the image they're using from, including me. I would have to admit that many times it is a thousand times easier to just copy the image and paste it into where ever. So in conclusion my point of view is that if you are using the picture for your own personal use and not claiming that it is your picture by any means they I think it is okay to use that picture without siting your source. If you are putting that picture on your website or in an essay it is not okay.

Tuesday, April 7th

Reflection on Resume Website:

 I think my resume website was in the top percentile in our class for looking around. The brain dump was a good start to starting the website. Going around looking at everyone's website characteristics of poor website were the nav not connecting to the pages, normal font, and hard to see font due to pictures or background color. My favorite website had the good qualities of an appealing color scheme, font that reflected her personality, and awesome things she made in Photoshop. I thought her website was neat and tidy. Many people with good websites did unique and fancy things in Photoshop. I would have loved to be able to use Photoshop more proficiently and make some of the fancy things other people made. If I were to work on my website I would change the text going from one end to the other, I would work more in Photoshop and make more and cooler things to include on my website, and I would try to make it more creative. I wish I had more time and the know how to make each page look like an actual page on top of the background. I enjoyed looking around at everyone's website and seeing the cool things other people created.

Monday, March 30th

What's the coolest thing you've learned in Web Design so far? Why is it so cool and how can it help you in the future?

The coolest thing I have learned so far is that DreamWeaver is a thing, because it soooooooooo much easier to use and is very useful. It can help me in the future when I forget everything about this class and want to make a website for no specific reason, and it will make life easy. 

Tuesday, March 24th

Define 'User Experience'. What does it mean and how does it relate to web design? Explain yourself.

User Experience is a person's behaviors, attitudes, and emotions about using a particular product, system, or service. It relates to Web Design because the design of the website needs to be user friendly in such a way that the User Experience is a positive and rewarding one. The ease of using the website and the efficiency all contribute to the User's Experience. The job of the website designer is to make the User's Experience a good one and to make them want to come back. The website must  be useful (your content should be original and fulfill a need), usable (site must be easy to use), desirable (image, identity, brand, and other design elements are used to evoke emotion and appreciation), findable (content needs to be navigable and locatable onsite and offsite),  accessible (content needs to be accessible to people with disabilities), credible (users must trust and believe what you tell them)

Monday, March 23rd

What is a resume website? What do people put on resume websites. Spend about 5-10 minutes looking up resume websites and what they are used for. Explain what you find. Include an image of a resume website if possible.


this such as:

• Name and contact information
• Objective or summary statement
• Work experience
• Volunteer and extracurricular experience
• Education
• Skills
• link to reports, papers, studies, brochures, projects, presentations, testimonials, letters of recommendations, any kudos you have received -- from customers, clients, colleagues, past employers, professors, etc.
• link to a list/collection of any certificates of awards, honors, and scholarships; a list of conferences, seminars, professional development activities, and workshops you've participated in and/or attended
• a description of relevant courses, degrees, licenses, and certifications
• a listing of your military service, if applicable 
• include your photo on a personal page
• your likes, hobbies, work ethics, etc.

are put on resume websites.
Some rules to making a resume website are:

• Avoid using loud or busy background images
• Do not have your favorite song playing
• Avoid flashing images and blinking text
• Keep use of colors to a minimum -- and use muted colors
• Limited use of all caps
• Normal usage of italics, bold, and underlining
• Have email link
• Link to online portfolio of projects

an example being: 

Wednesday, March 11th

What are you doing for Spring Break?

I am going to be in my bed reading books, watching movies, etc. I won't be able to sleep in until 10 due to track practices at 9. I will probably hang out with my friends for a couple days, maybe tan out in my drive way. Cry some when I see pictures of people on the beach and having fun. Then, Thursday and Friday of next week I will get to go on a road trip to the middle of Kansas to go to a stupid museum that my sister wanted to go to. A museum that we have already been to. No joke, we are going to a museum we have already been to. So ya, basically not excited. 

Tuesday, March 10th

Who do you look up to in your life? Why do you look up to them? Tell me about them and some of their characteristics that you admire.

I look up to my great-grandma. I look up to her because she was a strong and steady woman. She was a powerful old lady and made through a lot in her life time. She lived during both world wars, the depression, he husband abandoning her with four kids, and much more. She would tell me stories of her life and they would always be so interesting and full of life. A prominent story I remember her telling me was the one about her mother and grandmother coming home and telling her they were able to vote. She was such a stubborn woman, strong in her roots, and very intelligent! She was a English teacher for her whole life, and still had time to take care of her four children without any help. She even went out with a bang, dying on 12-12-12, which is a date that won't occur for another 1000 years. I love her some much and am sad she had to leave us.

Monday, March 9th

Tell me about your weekend.

This weekend I participated in Relay For Life. I had a blast. My team had the best poster ever!!! We were the Neverlanders, Peter Pan being our theme. I wanted to dress up like Tink, but Sarah told me I would look stupid. There I got a Henna tattoo for my lil' sis who had cancer. When I got home I got in bed and slept until 3. When I woke up I tried to do some homework but I didn't get very far. We had dinner with my neighbor and afterwards we made some yummy desserts. Sunday the time changed and my dog was very confused as to why we were awake so early. I finished a big part of my homework, though I still have a lot I need to finish today as well.

Friday, March 6th

If you were the Principal for a week at BVHS, what would that look like? What changes would you make? Why?

I would make a couple changes, such as: make a longer lunch time, and have oreos to buy in the lunch room. I like oreos. Also I am hungry. I would put a huge tv in my office, tvs are nice. Plus you can watch movies on them. A lucky person of the day (and yes it would be rigged) would get to be with me in my office and play games (including running around the school with a bow and arrows) and watch movies and eat junk food. 

Monday, March 2nd

Tell me about your weekend.

Friday I went to sky-zone with Sarah and then afterwards saw you and other teachers play come B-ball, you did great. Saturday I went out and bought a bunch of toys and other stuff for children/teens who go to Children's  Mercy Hospital. Then we drove to Children's Mercy Hospital and gave them our gifts. After that I did a little bit of homework and then babysat until 10. I watched SNL when I got home, and then went to bed. Sunday I went to church and then afterwards babysat crazy children for 2 hours for a church function. After that we went shopping for presents for my neighbor who was having her baby girl that day. We also went to JCP because there was a deal going on. When I got home it was time to do homework, and I had a lot left. Then I had dinner, and went back up to my room to finish more homework. My mom made some strawberries dipped in chocolate and we ate that. It was fun. 

Monday, February 23

Tell me about your weekend. Give me a story, something funny that happened, an experiencing you had, the way you felt, etc. Include photos!
My weekend was very fun and pack full. Saturday I woke up and did APEuro. Next my dad's best friend from high school, Rob, came over. I finished my homework while they all had in depth conversations. (which is very distracting when I'm trying to learn about the Russian Revolution and all I can here is laughing and loud complaints of their lives and the drama of the present.) Finally I was able to leave and go to my friend Sheila's birthday party. We had tons of food and talked and opened presents and watched 22 Jump Street. We had a good time. I got home at about 11:40 and went straight to bed. Next day we were supposed to go run a 5k in Lawrence, but because it was like one degree out in Lawrence, and snowing, my mom decided we could not go. I got to sleep in and it was great. I woke up and then found my sister messing with stuff on my phone, she is annoying. Later I played poker with everyone, and my dad won because eventually he just made us go all in. Later that day Sarah picked me up and we went to the WW1 museum for extra credit for APEuro. Then we ate at Panera and went to youth group afterwards. When I got home I finished up some homework and went to bed. 

Abby, Sheila, Hope, and Rachel at the party

pictures I have to take so they know I was there

My Birthday

The perfect set of classes to prepare me for the life I want to live would be as follows:
Understanding Literature: where we read books and then deeply go into them and learn all the little things and such. I would spend my class time learning about the little things an author does to make a story a story and why they do it and etc.
Math: I like math so anything math related. I would spend my class time doing math.
basic science class: just a year of a little bit of science and more so on the physics side so i can make it through life with an okay science knowledge.
Life-Lessons-Class: this class consists of my 8th grade math class and our teacher is Mr. Hanson. We will forever be in the class because it is an important class to take.
Religion Class: NOT taught by my parents, inside joke (with myself) would be taught by someone who knows what they are doing, because I like learning more about my faith and having my doubts relieved
RECESS: because it is fun and I haven't had it in a while. I would spend his class hanging with friends, studding, doing homework, or taking naps,

Thursday, February 19th

Copy and past these over to your blog and tell me a little about yourself. If you have a picture or two that might represent one of your answers make sure to include it.

My favorite food: kraft Mac'n'Cheese on a winter day, Steak & potatoes & asparagus on a summer day, and some nice Chicken Cordon Bleu on a medium day.
Foods I'd like to avoid: spicy, mexican, and CHINESE
My favorite things to learn: about books and how I can interpret them and why an author does a spesific thing and all that jazz. 
My favorite color: greenish-blue
My best friends are: Regan Hamilton, Linnea Rimmer, Sarah Weinand, Sheila Gregory, Josie McKenna, Sydney van Ophem, my dog Sammy, and many many more.
My favorite games to play: Mario Kart Wii (that I can no longer play due to my lack of a working Wii) also I love this game called Apples to Apples, I am sure you have heard of it, this game brings back so many great memories and is just fun to play. 
My favorite books: I can't, I just can't give you a favorite book or series. It is just impossible.  But I will say I ADORE anything and everything Cassandra Claire writes so look her up. 
My favorite movies or TV shows: Survivor/Scorpion are my favorite tv shows, I have too many favorite movies, basically anything Disney and Pink Pankter 1 & 2 have been a favorite of mine for a long time. Masters of Disguise, that's a old but funny one, Robin Hood: Men In Tights is funny, but Princess Bride is just a classic that is too amazing to be true. 
My favorite holiday: World Lemur Day
Things I do well: school
Things I need to practice more: remembering
My favorite place to go: friends house
My favorite family activities: watch movies
My favorite thing to do outside: run
My favorite chore: swifting the floors
My least favorite chore: vaccuming
What I want to be when I grow up: no clue
A place I want to visit: Rome
My favorite part of the year: summer time spent with friends
My favorite part of each day: going to bed

Tuesday, February 17th

Color can convey a lot of emotion when it comes to designing anything from a product to a website to an advertisement to a logo and so much more. What do you think the importance of colors on a website are? What is a color scheme and why is it important to have when designing? Explain any thoughts you might have around color in design.

Colors are very important because they can make a viewer happy, sad, excited, interested, and bored. To make them feel the emotion you want them to feel you need to color code accordingly. A color scheme is a group of colors that work together to form a pretty bouquet of beauty. It is important to have a color scheme so you website does not get the boring black and white, maybe a little gray, website. You want to make your colors make the viewer stay on as long as possible, and this does not mean by adding hundreds upon hundreds of  neon color, that will get the viewer's eyes hurting and they will want to leave. Also you need to make sure the color-combo you have created still allows the viewer to see and read the text you have, yellow and white is probably not a good combination.

Tuesday, February 10th

Think about the quote above. What does this mean to you? How could this apply to your life? How could this apply to your school work (especially Web Design!)? I would love to give you less work in class if it meant you were going to focus harder on the work. Do you think you would get more out of it? Would that work for you? Why or why not?

If we could, or were obligated, to do less with more focus there would be mixed outcomes. In what we were focused in we would have a greater understanding of that one thing and things would take much longer than they usually do. This is why people do not like to "do less with more focus", because it takes time, and in this world time is a thing people crave for. If there is something made to make like go faster and more efficient, that thing will be bought up like hot-cakes! Doing less with more focus would totally eliminate multitasking. Teachers could quickly weed out the kids who are not there to learn, because they will either be talking to their friends or they will be listening to the teacher. Conversation would be much deeper and meaning full, you wouldn't have the problem of people glancing at their phone every second why you are having a conversation.  They would be fully engaged in the phone and you would stop talking to them because you can clearly see where their priorities lie. It would be an interesting and much different world if this quote was what people were obligated to do.

Monday, February 9th

Tell me all about your weekend! I sure hope you have photos to share.

Friday I went to the play with my friend Sydney and Sarah. We had fun. except for the fact that we had to sit in the very front row. That kind of sucked. The play was pretty good, except I am quite confused by the ending. Saturday I seriously did nothing. I was inside and did homework all day. At the end of the day I made some pizza and Facetimed my friend Regan. We discussed our favorite tv series, Survivor. Sunday I woke up late because we were going to church at 2. My mom secretly set up a surprise for him. We got all fancy dressed up and my mom bought flowers and everything and we went to church like that and my parents renewed their vows (it was Marriage Day). Then we went out to eat at BurgerFi and that was yummy. 

Friday, February 6th

What's the coolest thing you've learned in this class so far this year? Now that you have a little knowledge, what do you want to learn that you don't know how to do yet?

The coolest thing I was learned so far in this class is how to make your link change color. That was like a mind blowing thing. Like wow. WHOA! It changed color!! I want to learn how to create like a survey or something so it like asks a question and you click on what you think the answer is and then it like pops something up to tell you if you were right or nah.

Monday, February 2nd

Tell me all about your Sweetheart weekend (even if you sat at home on the couch!). Include photos!

Friday I just stayed at home and watched some movies with my sister. Saturday I went to the Royal's FanFest. It was okay, it would have been better if we could have gotten somebody who actually plays baseball's signature. Instead we stood in line for like two hours, and when they guy comes out to who we get a signature from, its the Royal's announcer. Like for real? Couldn't have even gotten us a player? Whatever. After that I babysat a girl who had WAY to much energy. Sunday I go to church, then get home and take a nap. My grandpa came over as well as my neighbor, Andrea. We had a bunch of food and it was fun. We bet before the game, I bet for Patriots and beat my dad's butt!!! My cat was under the treadmill, so I took a picture of it.

Thursday, January 29th

What is a website wireframe? Explain. If you don't know what it is, look it up. Find an image online to place on your blog that represents a website wireframe and how they work.

A wireframe is a tool one would use when making a website to simply show them what their website looks like. It can be described as the blue prints to a website. It shows how the website can be navigated and clicking what brings you to what other link. People use them for their initial brainstorming, before they actually make the website.

Tuesday, January 27

Finish this sentence "10 years from now I will be...."

10 years from now I will be 26. Because that's how time works. As time goes by, you get older. Really I don't like thinking about my future because it scares me, but I guess I will have a job.

Monday, January 26th

Tell me about your weekend. Go.

I had a pretty snazzy weekend. I started with a trip to Chipotle with my besties Regan and Linnea. Next I got home and went straight to a concert at my church that my parents wanted us to go to (that part wasn't very snazzy) it was kinda lame but I mean, what ever. Saturday I went bowling with my grandpa, I don't really enjoy bowling or my grandpa so that was a bit of a downer. Then I went with Regan to the JoCo Library to finish some APEuro, that was a blast *sarcasm*, but afterwards we went to Sonic and bought some tots and a drink ans talked, and that was actually fun. Then I come home and do some more homework. Sunday I go to church. Then my family heads over to Dicks Sporting Goods to buy things for skiing. Then I head over to Josie's house. I meet up with Maddie and Sarah and we go to Winter Jam, it was super duper fun. Then I got home at 12:30 and went to bed.

Friday, January 23rd

Them little'uns can't do nothin' without their ithis and ithat. They would get a real surprise if they were snatched up and thrown back to when I was a youngster! They would be a good for nothin' lazy bum. I had to work for my wealth, all they gotta do is cry to their mama! I walked up those hills both ways YA HEAR?!

Thursday, January 22nd

What do you find the most confusing and frustrating part of web design and HTML code so far? What would make it easier? What don't you understand? What do you understand? Explain yourself.



I think the most confusing part is remembering all the codes and what everything means. I always forget what goes inside the <a> tag to make something a link and what you do to style things, like don't forget the "" and such. I would make it easier if there was like a key on the side or something of all he important tags and stuff. I understand most of it, its more of the remembering part that I struggle with. I understand how you need to put an end tag and I understand most of the stuff.

Thursday, January 20th

Tell me all about your 3 day weekend! Share photos.

This weekend started right after school on Friday. I was kind of sad because I didn't get to run on Friday and it was an AMAZING day outside. Instead I had to go to my friends Regan's house to record our spanish presentation with Juliann. Next she came over to my house once Juliann went home and she was supposed to stay over but she had to leave at 9 because of volleyball. Saturday was homework day. My cat and dog sat super close together and I got a picture of it because it was super cute. Then I got bored and did random stuff. That night I watched Saturday Night Live and then went to bed. Sunday morning I went to church at a different church because my mom wanted to go to church with my neighbor. We played outside a lot. I went to youth group that night and my friend Sarah came over. We hung out and watched 17 Again. Monday morning we went to go eat at Price Chopper. Then we came back and made some root-beer with my mom and sister. Then we painted our nails. When she left I sang happy birthday to one of my best friends Linnea. That night I watched Scorpion.

My cat sitting super close to my dog

The picture I posted on Instagram for Linnea's birthday

Me and Regan working on our Spanish project

 

Friday, January 16th

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your life here at BVHS. What activities or clubs are you involved in? What year are you in school? What is your favorite class and/or teacher so far this year? What are you looking forward to this school year? Include some original photos from your phone if you can.

I am in sophomore year of high school. I get all A's. I'm not trying to sound pretentious, but giving you an idea of who I am. I'm that person during group work who does my fair share (and more) of the work. I am involved in Cross Country which I love. They are my family and I love 'em!! Also in the spring I am involved in Track, because I like to keep up my running. I run the two mile (8 laps) around the track. Sucks a bit more than Cross Country but its good to still get together with the team. I take Honors Algebra 2 with Mrs. Volz and I really like her personality and the way she teaches. I was really scared about APEuro because on my schedule it said I was going to have a teacher who was actually going to leave. I was kind of bummed becasue I have only heard good things about him. Then I got Mrs. Whitten and I am so happy I did. She is a wonderful person and teacher, and really keeps the class interesting.  For HELA I also got a really good teacher, Mrs. Knueven. Again she is not only a wonderful teacher, but person as well, and I was so lucky to get her. This year I really got the good end of the spectrum (teacher wise) and I have been having a nice easy year. I'm looking forward to Track season, but I'm also a bit worried about it.

Me, Sheila, Sarah, and Megan in the Blue Valley XC tent when we won state

Thursday, January 15th

Always say please and thank you
Be considerate of others
Coping doesn't help you learn
Dreams are wishes your heart makes
Eat without concern
Follow your heart
Go the distance
Hakuna matata
If you cut down a sycamore tree you will never know how high it can grow
Jokes are funny
King- be mighty and beware
Let it go
My oh my what a wonderful day (look at the positive side)
No man is worth the aggravation
Once you find your center, you are sure to win
Paint with all the colors of the wind
Quiet sleep is always pleasant
Run through the hidden pine trails of the forest
Snowman building is a fun activity to do with sisters
Tranquil as the forest, but on fire within
Under the sea is where it's better
Victoria is the best (don't ever forget it)
Wait your love will find you
X is super hard to make a word with
You've got a friend in me
Zippity Do Da

Tuesday, January 13th

What are your thoughts on this class so far? Easy? Hard? Informative? Frustrating? What have you learned so far? What do you want to learn? Explain yourself.

My thoughts on this class so far are that it is a fairly easy class, if you pay attention to the teacher and follow along it is not hard at all. Some of the codes are hard to remember, but those are just things I will need to memorize as the class moves on. It is pretty informative, explaining how websites are actually formed and such. So far I have learned how to set up a blog, how to customize my blog, how to post, and customize those posts, how to add pictures using he image's URL, and a ton of different things on Codecademy. I don't know what I really want to get from this class, just a greater knowledge of computers and how to customize websites and such. I didn't really know what this class was about until I stepped foot in it so I didn't have a predetermined want of what to learn.

Monday, January 12th

Tell me about your weekend. What did you do? Upload a photo to your Google Drive and then insert the photo (or photos!) to your blog post to show me what all you did.

This weekend started after school on Friday. I went out for a run with my friend Shelia. Afterward I went home and finished some homework. Then after dinner my other friend Linnea came over with McDonalds and we had an after dinner snack. She left and I went to bed. Next day nothing big happened. My sister and I had a makeover session (I make over her face and she gets to pick out some clothes to wear) after awhile she got a bit crazy. Sunday I went to church and we just hung around. I got a new lunchbox (Vera Bradley one that I have been wanting). We re-watched "42" (the movie) and it is really good!!! Then I went to bed early because I have to wake up early on Mondays to cross train in the fitness center.

My Sister with no body, just legs

This is a pair of PJ pants she has transformed into a dress

Friday, January 9th

Gets distracted easily: A+
Eating fooooood: A
Obsessing over things: A
Remembering: C-
Being awkward: A++

Thursday, January 8th

Read this small newspaper clipping and then write a blog post about it. What are your thoughts? How does it make you feel? Do you agree? Disagree? Explain yourself.

I, being a teenager, find this a bit like it is asking too much of us. But, thinking harder, I realize that it is very true. My feelings are a bit mixed because my teenage, immature and lazy self, is telling me he is crazy, but my mature an the productive part of me agrees with what he is saying. A lot of teenagers, especially in JoCo, expect everything to be just handed to them. They want the new iPhone 6 plus, they are going to get it, and if they don't you will hear them spit out complaint after complaint on how they didn't get the next big thing. We teenagers need a kick in he butt. We need to be told to shut up, and work for something. You're bored? Go and do something productive! It is not the job of our parents to give us fun and it's definitely not the world's job to give you everything. If you just sit there waiting for life to get better, NEWS FLASH it's not going to; you need to get up, get out, and go get it.