Weekly Blog Post

Week of October 27.

This week I honestly feel like I didn't accomplish much. I mainly just covered my civics standard by writing an essay and got the Leos starter kit. To get my civics standard I did write an essay because I felt like it was hard to tie in any more standards into my project. I focused on how the media influences politics and how it could influence the Lions Club. I also got the Leos Starter kit on Tuesday but haven't really had a chance to go through and study it. Next week will be more successful because I will be able to go to the Lions meeting since this weeks was cancelled.

English Standards:

• RI 5  Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
• RI 7  Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
• W 7  Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

I can tie in these standards because while writing my civics paper I did have to do research and understand what the media did to influence politics. I was reading off of the internet and also using what Mrs. Cervantes told me in order to support what I was saying. I gave peoples opinions, how politicians utilized the media and also how the Lions Club could benefit if they told the media about their financial situation.

Fresno State Trip

On Monday we went to Fresno State to pitch our project ideas to a class of future entrepreneurs. Then we split up into groups and they gave us creative and useful ideas on how to further our projects.
My group gave me some ideas that I hadn't really thought of. For example, they told me that I should start off by trying to get someone to sponsor us for food. So, every meeting we have we can feed the Leo's without breaking our bank. They also told me that me and David should team up with each other. Reason being, I would get his support so more people want to join and then when they start building the skate park the Leo's could volunteer their time in constructing it and keeping it clean. Then they told me that I should ask the schools to send out letters to the parents and let them know what I'm doing, because it would get their kids out doing something but they would be staying out o trouble.
Finally they told me that I should reach out to big time members in the community. They said that if I make them aware of my project then they would more than likely be willing to sponsor and support it.

Common core standards:

• SL 6  Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

I can use this standard because in my opinion I needed to be formal and very direct for people to understand what my project was about. When I was up presenting I was very formal because I felt that it was appropriate,  BUT when I was talking to my group I was a lot more relaxed and natural. I felt as if adapting my speech was very useful that way they understood that I was serious about it, but not just because I'm being graded on what I'm doing. To show them that this club is something that I really do want.

Weekly Blog Post

Week of October 20 to October 24

This week we went to Fresno State to pitch our ideas in front of one of their classes. If you would like to know more about it then you can look into it by clicking my previous blog post. I have also had to write a reflection on what I have achieved so that Ms. Pilcher can have a better idea. The teachers have recently asked us to continue writing reflections just so they have more evidence on what we have been doing with our projects. I have been fairly busy this week with sports, studying for my ACTs and just other every day stuff. So, its obvious that not much was accomplished.

Common Core Standards:

• SL 1d  Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible; and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.

I can tie in this standard because at Fresno State we split up into groups after we all presented and they gave us different ideas from their perspective of things. They gave me some ideas in which I do think that I should really look into. Such as, finding sponsors for my club, teaming up with David, and different activities I should hold to keep people interested.

Weekly Post

This week I had to write the agenda for the Lions Meeting which happened on Wednesday, October 15. We mainly talked about the amount of people I actually had interested in the program. They were very excited about how well I did with the amount of students I had interested. We also decided that we wouldn't join together with the school. They figured it would end up better if we mainly go community based, because we could expand our reach to other students who don't go to Laton High, but would be beneficial to the group.

English Standards:

• SL 1b.  Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed.
• SL 2.  Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.

Weekly Update

This week I finalized my proposal to join the Laton Lions Club with the Laton Unified School District, to start a new club. I have mentioned it before but we are in the process of starting a Leos Club and we are fairly close to actually getting the ball rolling with it actually happening. With finishing up the list of potential Leos and asking if they would be interested in the club is really getting it moving. After the list is done with a rough amount of people interested we will have an open meeting with an application handed out which the Lions members will then select the Leos. I am very excited!


Civic Standards:
12.3.1    Explain how civil society provides opportunities for individuals to associate for social, cultural, religious, economic, and political purposes.
I tied in this standard because when I explained to the potential Leo's what everything in the program was about, I though that this standard would work.

Weekly blog post

This week I did not have much contact with the Lions Club, due to having a volleyball game on the day of the meeting. I will be finishing up the Leos by next week. I did finish my proposal this week because I had nothing better to do. I will let it sit and go back a few times at the beginning and end of next week to finish up anything that I feel like I left out or need to change. I also helped Mathew a little in the shop and do plan on continuing that if he needs my help. I have also been reading the book The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. It is seriously such an amazing book! I read over 60 pages in one day. Pretty sure I have an obsession with his books.

English Standards:

• RL 3: Analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama.
• W 6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.
• W 10: Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

I can tie in these standards because I am reading a book on my own time, and I always look into the way an author will say something. Like if it has a lot of impact or ties into something else. I also have been writing my proposal and have been using the internet a lot to find information and rewrite it so it wont be considered as plagiarism. I don't know why I haven't used writing standard 10 before because I write weekly blog posts obviously! 


Civics Standards:

• 12.2.2  Explain how economic rights are secured and their importance to the individual and to society.

I can tie this standard in because the students will have an option to join the Leos club, so I basically compared that on having the righ to join or not join a labor union