Recently, the "to be honest" game has really kicked back up on Facebook. I'm a curious soul, so when some one I know posts it, I cannot help but like it. Some times I am flattered, but most of the time I am frustrated. I realize that I read a lot and books are a big part of who I am. Asking me if I have a book within arm's reach is like asking me if my hair is brown. It has an obvious positive answer.
But I do not spend all my time reading. I don't even spend the majority time reading. In fact, I rarely spend an hour a day reading. For example, yesterday, I spent probably five minutes reading a bit of Sherlock of my Kindle. It's already one today, and I haven't so much as touched a book or my Kindle. In fact, all I've done today is watch Cartoon Network, and eat a PB&J,
I'm a bit more than the girl behind the book. I talk, you know, and I like to think I'm a pretty good listener. My grades will show that I'm pretty intelligent. It's a bit of a pain for the only thing people notice about me is my books. Uh, hello, there's a person behind the glasses on my face, and it sure does drive that person insane when people don't realize that.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
On Being "Smarter"
I don't know why, but I've always been smarter. It sounds arrogant when I say, write, or think it, but it is true. It isn't something I can control. It's just a fact. I'm not a genius by any means, but I'm pretty quick. I don't know when I noticed it, but I figure that it has always been that way
In Kindergarten and first grade, no one really made attention to who was smart and who was a bit slower. As we got older, it became clear. In first grade, I remember learning how to add double digits first in my class, and learning multiplication by the "doubles" (4+4, 6+6) posted on the wall. I worked out that if 4+4 was the same as 4x2. After that, I figured out that 4+4+4+4 was the same as 8+8, so that meant that 4x4 was 16. I don't know why, I didn't share my independent learning with any one else. In second grade, I used to complain about the homework my teacher gave. Mrs. B gave more than any other teacher in the 2nd grade, but I don't think I hated homework because it was homework. I hated it because it was a repeat of what I had learned that day. Why should I waste time on what I already knew?
I don't remember being too far ahead or bored throughout the rest of my time at Caywood Elementary. I was always in the "smart classes" and I never made a B, but nothing super impressive. Once I started my time at LMS though, even I knew I was smarter. School frustrated me, because of my classmates. My middle school was especially bad about not sorting out our classes.according to our skill level. It drove me insane to hear the same questions asked by every other student during math, science, and English. In 8th grade, I was given the chance to take Algebra I, a freshmen course, online for credit. Hal. le. lu. jah. Finally, something that challenged me a bit. It was a lot of work, and I hated it a lot of times, but it was better than sitting through a painful Music class, or listening to the kid in the front row ask the same question about polynomials again and again.
It didn't last long though, and the high school guidance counselor persuaded a few of us that we would be better of not completing the course with our EOC. So a couple of us didn't, myself included. My Algebra I this past year was painful. I knew all but a few lessons worth of what the teacher was teaching. I will admit that I learned some neat tricks with my calculator, but I spent most of the class trying to find more effective ways to work the problems and refraining from yelling at the students who just didn't get it.
It sounds awful, I know. I understand that I'm quicker than some people at grasping new concepts, and they might need more time. My patience and understanding disappear in the classroom. I can't handle it when people don't understand at my rate a lot of the times.
Being smarter isn't as easy as it sounds, I assure you. I may not stress over the work, but I do struggle in the classroom. Even in honours, I have to struggle to be patient with my classmates. I have to struggle not to get angry at those who resent me. In Biology, I had friends who would make comments like "I bet you're doing fine in here." or "It's not like you're going to struggle with it." and "It's not like you're going to get extra work."
I'm quick, okay? I don't automatically know everything, I have to learn, but it doesn't take as long. I don't mean to make others feel stupid when I'm impatient. I don't mean to snap. I'm just frustrated that I can't keep moving.
In Kindergarten and first grade, no one really made attention to who was smart and who was a bit slower. As we got older, it became clear. In first grade, I remember learning how to add double digits first in my class, and learning multiplication by the "doubles" (4+4, 6+6) posted on the wall. I worked out that if 4+4 was the same as 4x2. After that, I figured out that 4+4+4+4 was the same as 8+8, so that meant that 4x4 was 16. I don't know why, I didn't share my independent learning with any one else. In second grade, I used to complain about the homework my teacher gave. Mrs. B gave more than any other teacher in the 2nd grade, but I don't think I hated homework because it was homework. I hated it because it was a repeat of what I had learned that day. Why should I waste time on what I already knew?
I don't remember being too far ahead or bored throughout the rest of my time at Caywood Elementary. I was always in the "smart classes" and I never made a B, but nothing super impressive. Once I started my time at LMS though, even I knew I was smarter. School frustrated me, because of my classmates. My middle school was especially bad about not sorting out our classes.according to our skill level. It drove me insane to hear the same questions asked by every other student during math, science, and English. In 8th grade, I was given the chance to take Algebra I, a freshmen course, online for credit. Hal. le. lu. jah. Finally, something that challenged me a bit. It was a lot of work, and I hated it a lot of times, but it was better than sitting through a painful Music class, or listening to the kid in the front row ask the same question about polynomials again and again.
It didn't last long though, and the high school guidance counselor persuaded a few of us that we would be better of not completing the course with our EOC. So a couple of us didn't, myself included. My Algebra I this past year was painful. I knew all but a few lessons worth of what the teacher was teaching. I will admit that I learned some neat tricks with my calculator, but I spent most of the class trying to find more effective ways to work the problems and refraining from yelling at the students who just didn't get it.
It sounds awful, I know. I understand that I'm quicker than some people at grasping new concepts, and they might need more time. My patience and understanding disappear in the classroom. I can't handle it when people don't understand at my rate a lot of the times.
Being smarter isn't as easy as it sounds, I assure you. I may not stress over the work, but I do struggle in the classroom. Even in honours, I have to struggle to be patient with my classmates. I have to struggle not to get angry at those who resent me. In Biology, I had friends who would make comments like "I bet you're doing fine in here." or "It's not like you're going to struggle with it." and "It's not like you're going to get extra work."
I'm quick, okay? I don't automatically know everything, I have to learn, but it doesn't take as long. I don't mean to make others feel stupid when I'm impatient. I don't mean to snap. I'm just frustrated that I can't keep moving.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A New Blog Maybe
Now seems like the best time to start this blog.
I'm currently sitting in the computer lab of my school while the English 11 EOC is going on through out the school. This is where they happened to stick my third block class, and I'm definitely not complaining. Actually, my teacher just said that this is where we're staying for the rest of the day. Sweet.
Basically, since about noon, I've been sitting in here surrounded by the rest of my class. We're a relatively small group, there's maybe 15 of us, mostly boys. Have you ever been stuck in a room with 10 fifteen year old boys for three hours? Yeah, I don't advice it. Since noon, I've heard the word "nugget"* several hundred times, seen a violent version of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and watched three boys empty out a backpack, turn it inside out, refill it, and then pout when they got caught before they could put it back.
Some of the kids are playing a word association game, and every now and then, it turns to food. My stomach is growling and I'm stuck here for another half hour. Great.
I'm kind of tempted to start searching lunch boxes, because mine is empty. I'm ready to go home right about now, because boredom is sinking in. I've played several different games on Candystand, and am on the verge of starting a post for RMI, but I'm not creative enough to write my characters at the moment
The boys are back to flipping backpacks inside out. I've been watching mine carefully, but they insist that they can't get me because I'm innocent. I'm not arguing. I quite like my backpack the right way.
Some of the particularly brave students keeping throwing in Teacher's name as they play word association. She's taking it as a joke, and not realizing that we've all thought what they're saying. "Crazy" and "Insane Asylum" are my favorite.
I figure I'll copy an old Hayley G. Hoover thing and add senses to the end of each post.
I heard: the word nugget way too often.
I smelled: whatever was stinking in my living room.
I tasted: half-frozen strawberries during lunch. Yummm.
I saw: the first few minutes of the Eragon movie. I think it's the worst ever book-to-movie interpretation ever. Arya is just disappointing.
*No matter how hard I try, I can't figure out what it means. Basically, they're just using in every way possible. "You can't nugget the nuggeter." "Nugget pass." "You just got nuggetted!"
I'm currently sitting in the computer lab of my school while the English 11 EOC is going on through out the school. This is where they happened to stick my third block class, and I'm definitely not complaining. Actually, my teacher just said that this is where we're staying for the rest of the day. Sweet.
Basically, since about noon, I've been sitting in here surrounded by the rest of my class. We're a relatively small group, there's maybe 15 of us, mostly boys. Have you ever been stuck in a room with 10 fifteen year old boys for three hours? Yeah, I don't advice it. Since noon, I've heard the word "nugget"* several hundred times, seen a violent version of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and watched three boys empty out a backpack, turn it inside out, refill it, and then pout when they got caught before they could put it back.
Some of the kids are playing a word association game, and every now and then, it turns to food. My stomach is growling and I'm stuck here for another half hour. Great.
I'm kind of tempted to start searching lunch boxes, because mine is empty. I'm ready to go home right about now, because boredom is sinking in. I've played several different games on Candystand, and am on the verge of starting a post for RMI, but I'm not creative enough to write my characters at the moment
The boys are back to flipping backpacks inside out. I've been watching mine carefully, but they insist that they can't get me because I'm innocent. I'm not arguing. I quite like my backpack the right way.
Some of the particularly brave students keeping throwing in Teacher's name as they play word association. She's taking it as a joke, and not realizing that we've all thought what they're saying. "Crazy" and "Insane Asylum" are my favorite.
I figure I'll copy an old Hayley G. Hoover thing and add senses to the end of each post.
I heard: the word nugget way too often.
I smelled: whatever was stinking in my living room.
I tasted: half-frozen strawberries during lunch. Yummm.
I saw: the first few minutes of the Eragon movie. I think it's the worst ever book-to-movie interpretation ever. Arya is just disappointing.
*No matter how hard I try, I can't figure out what it means. Basically, they're just using in every way possible. "You can't nugget the nuggeter." "Nugget pass." "You just got nuggetted!"
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