9th Grade Transitional Presentation of Learning
Baylee L. Beals
Searching
I searched and searched and found nothing
I found no gold I found no treasures
I searched deserts and oceans
Still no jewls or riches
I tried something different
I fell so many times I had to sew the skin back together
I wanted to lay down and never get up
I was tired and more importantly I was done
I closed my eyes and started to fall
I was scared
And the more I fell the darker it became
Then when I had hit the bottom
I was then in a black well
The impact had bruised my sides and hands
I was scratched from head to toe
My chest felt as if it was about to cave in
I couldn't move
I knew I was Unable to crawl out
But I realized that I couldn't quit
I wasn't going to let pain stop me
Not now not ever
I was going to get out of this dark hole
I looked around and I saw vines going up the side
As I clung to the thorned vines on the wall
I could feel the thorns digging into my hands
Drawing blood with every grab
I struggled to the top of the well
And as I came to the top a bright light blinded me
I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face once again
As I climbed out onto the edge
I could feel the green grass in between my toes
And the cool wind blowing through my hair
Falling in that black pit
It changed me
It made me realize that
Even the simple joys in life can make anyone happy
And we shouldn't take these things for granted
And if you have to fall into a black hole to realize that
Just remember the feeling of that warm embrace and comfort
You feel when you lay under a shady tree
Over the feeling of thorns digging into your hands
Drawing blood
Searching
I searched and searched and found nothing
I found no gold I found no treasures
I searched deserts and oceans
Still no jewls or riches
I tried something different
I fell so many times I had to sew the skin back together
I wanted to lay down and never get up
I was tired and more importantly I was done
I closed my eyes and started to fall
I was scared
And the more I fell the darker it became
Then when I had hit the bottom
I was then in a black well
The impact had bruised my sides and hands
I was scratched from head to toe
My chest felt as if it was about to cave in
I couldn't move
I knew I was Unable to crawl out
But I realized that I couldn't quit
I wasn't going to let pain stop me
Not now not ever
I was going to get out of this dark hole
I looked around and I saw vines going up the side
As I clung to the thorned vines on the wall
I could feel the thorns digging into my hands
Drawing blood with every grab
I struggled to the top of the well
And as I came to the top a bright light blinded me
I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face once again
As I climbed out onto the edge
I could feel the green grass in between my toes
And the cool wind blowing through my hair
Falling in that black pit
It changed me
It made me realize that
Even the simple joys in life can make anyone happy
And we shouldn't take these things for granted
And if you have to fall into a black hole to realize that
Just remember the feeling of that warm embrace and comfort
You feel when you lay under a shady tree
Over the feeling of thorns digging into your hands
Drawing blood
- 20 Questions/Answers
Which project did you have the most personal connection with this year/ Why?- Happiness & Meaning Project
- People take happiness for granted
- Helped me realize that I shouldn't take things for granted because I never know when I might lose it.
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- What have you learned (skill, lesson, or knowledge) this year that will be most helpful for you in the future?
- Documentary Project
- Interviewing skills
- Prepared me for the real world
- Documentary Project
- What project or projects have you done this year that have inspired you to want to learn more? Explain how you were inspired.
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- Inspired me to learn more about the journey of meaning
- Inspired to not take happiness for granted
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- How has your attitude toward learning changed this year?
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- Helped me figure out what I wanted in life
- I shouldn't take it for granted
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- What connections have you made this year between what you have learned in your classes and your own personal experiences outside of school.
- Responsibilities
- School Taking Responsibilities
- Home Taking Responsibilities
- Responsibilities
- How have your learning and experiences at AHS this year changed the way you see the world?
- Prepared me for what's after High School
- Prepared me for what's after High School
- What work from this year would you like to look back on and remember when you are a graduating senior?
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- What is the most important change that you have made as a learner this year?
- Collaborator
- Collaborator
- How have you taken an active role in your education this year?
- Advocating with Teachers
- Advocating with Teachers
- What piece of work that you’ve done this year are you proudest of? Why?
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- Art Piece
- Happiness & Meaning Project
- If you could go back and refine one piece of work this year, what piece of work would you refine and how would you refine it?
- Digital Arts Design your own Art Project
- Spent more time than 15 minutes
- Digital Arts Design your own Art Project
- If you were the teacher, what comments would your teacher make about your work habits?
- My habits needed to change
- To become a better student
- My habits needed to change
- What might you want next year’s teacher to know about your work habits?
- I am sometimes a procrastinator
- I am sometimes a procrastinator
- What is the most difficult thing you have done this year? Why was it difficult, and how did you deal with that difficulty?
- Documentary Project
- Stress about whether getting it finished or not
- Documentary Project
- How has group collaboration helped you as a student?
- Become a better leader/communicator
- Committee work grade
- Become a better leader/communicator
- What would you say to an incoming 9th grader about how to succeed in project based learning?
- Don't procrastinate
- Do all your work on POWs and even go the extra mile to get full points
- Turn in your POWs
- Don't procrastinate
- How have any of the habits of heart and mind helped you be successful as a student or person?
- Collaboration/Advocacy
- Collaboration/Advocacy
- How has a relationship with a faculty member helped you be more successful in school this year?
- Sara Price
- Guided me with my projects
- Helped me understand how to deal with my stress
- Sara Price
- How has the work in Advisory helped you grow or change as a student, as a friend, and as a citizen?
- I seem to be more willing when it comes to my responsibilities
- I seem to be more willing when it comes to my responsibilities
- Project based learning is a different model than traditional models of education. Explain how project based learning and your production of work.
- Happiness & Meaning project
- Influenced me to learn more about what I was being taught
- Also influenced me to better my work so my message is clear
- Happiness & Meaning project