Krista Ramsey

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     “We’re getting them ready for the workforce, even in third grade,” she says. “And as a third-grade teacher, I want them walking out the door ready – but I also want them walking out the door loving to read.” 

     This line is so important. It's showing that the teacher wants the students to succeed and gain life skills. She also wants them to enjoy what they're doing. Throughout the article you can tell the teacher really cares about her students and loves her job, but this statement really adds to that. Her uses of commas are showing the pauses she took. Those pauses were putting emphasis on what the teacher was saying. Her long sentences are also a good indicator she has a lot to say and that can lead to show her feelings about the students and reading. The teacher also used 'loving' to describe the feelings she wants her students to have when reading. Ramsey incorporates all of those aspects into her article.( http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/krista-ramsey/2014/03/15/krista-ramsey-third-grade-reading-guarantee/6475723/ ) 

     When looking through Ramsey's articles, I noticed a pattern. Most of them are advice or everyday living. But some thing I noticed was her endings all included what the title was saying. She had the titles as the conclusions. For example in, For better vision, kids need time outdoors, Ramsey says, "But researchers like Clark and Zadnik say balancing screen time with active time outdoors isn’t just good for young peoples’ waistlines and social skills, it’s also likely good for their eyes." This shows that part of the ending included what the title was saying. So she summarized what her article was about with evidence. In, Super Bowl QBs score points for great style, she says, "If we need inspiration, we have only to watch Wilson or Manning as they board the plane to head home from the Super Bowl. Whatever the score of the game, they’ll both look like winners." The original idea brought from the title, that the quarterbacks have great style, was brought back at the end by saying "Whatever the score of the game, they'll both look like winners."  Lastly, in, Reading teacher wants students to pass test, love books, she quotes, "And as a third-grade teacher, I want them walking out the door ready – but I also want them walking out the door loving to read.”  She brought the idea of loving books from the title and put it into the ending/conclusion of her article. All articles gave examples of how she writes.

     In my opinion; I love her articles. The ones I’ve read have meaning and aren’t random stories about celebrity drama. Her articles can give you insight or advice on what she’s talking about. Once you’ve read her columns you will surely agree.

Some questions I would ask:

What made you want to write this type of column? Have you ever wanted to branch out into other styles?

Do you just write about things you randomly hear or do people help give you ideas to write about?

What’s the best part about writing columns?

Half Missing

"A part of me is now missing. I fear its permanece. I am only half a person without Holly. Can half of a person survive?"


     I've just started reading a book called, "This Much is True". So far these twins, Tally and Holly, are complete opposites. Tally is the rebellious teenager who gets in to trouble all the time with her parents. Holly is the kind and responsible child. They both love each other dearly though they don't show it. So the time is February 14th, and you know what that means. Holly has a boyfriend whom with she just had a fall out with. But now Tally is driving her over to his house so she can confess her undying love for him. Apparently they're back together (or will be). But what happens is completely and utterly shocking. A car hits them on the highway. Tally wakes up to Holly telling her to get out. So that's what she does. A random stranger picks her disoriented body up and carries her away. She tells him to get Holly, but as you can assume, Holly is already gone. Dead.

     When I read this I started to get incredibly emotional. I have 3 older sisters and I couldn't even imagine having to deal with one of their deaths. For Tally to lose a twin, one whom with she's spent the last 17 years with, being inseparable; I can't even fathom. The quote above is Tally's thoughts after the death. She's numb. She doesn't see life without Holly. Twins have a much stronger connection with each other because they do everything together. I predict that since they were closer than the normal siblings, it'll take a lot more time for Tally to recover. She won't necessarily fully recover; but she will try. I believe she needs to start believing in herself and not wish that she had taken her sisters place.

Keep an Open Mind

     There's always that one good or bad thing in every book. Some books don't have any good things. Some don't have any bad. My book was mostly good. Think Big by Ben Carson. Throughout the story he's recalling his personal life events and putting it into a lesson. The lesson is just what the title states, Think Big. But each letter stands for a lesson you should carry on in life.

T= Talent

H= Honesty

I= Insight

N= Nice

K= Knowledge

B= Books

I= In-depth Knowledge

G= God

     Some times in life we come across struggles that make us want to give up. But this book tries to walk you through your problems and follow the simple steps shown above. Ben has been through multiple struggles, like coming from a poor area, never having what other kids do, and being underestimated. But through his issue he came up with the saying above, and it helped him. This was probably the best advice I've heard in a while; especially from some one I've never met before. I think that everyone needs to read more to become successful. Maybe if you keep this in mind, your life could change, just like Ben's.

Dive into Divergent

     Abnegation the selfless, Dauntless the brave, Erudite the intelligent, Candor the honest, and Amity the peaceful. Which would you choose? Would you stay in the one you've known your whole life? Or would you branch out to something better or possibly worse? Beatrice Prior has a huge decision to make since she’s 16 years old now. She has to decide the fate of the rest of her life. With her strange test results, she decides to pick the most surprising faction of all. Here she has to jump on trains and leap into a big hole to be initiated. People here have to fight to stay in the rankings, or they'll be faction less. But this is a whole new world for her. She can look at herself in the mirror without having to worry about being selfish. She can get tattoos and fight people without having a second thought. But what will happen when a war rises and she's in the middle of it? Will she follow through with orders? Faction over blood?  I think this book is a 9/10. It engages the reader every chapter! Especially with an added love interest no one would suspect. To learn more, read Divergent by Veronica Roth.