How to Learn English…Quickly

                Do you know how to learn English quickly? I do, and here are the instructions:

1.       Always listen to your teachers.

2.       Do your best on your homework and class work.

3.       Speak only English (my advice is to hang-out with American kids (if you’re a kid) and make them your best friends).

4.       Try to be like American person.

5.       Use a dictionary if you need it.

6.       Try to stay away from your country-mates. That way you won’t speak your home language.

7.       SMILE and HAVE FUN!

I am in ESL Writing

On March 19-23, 2012, at Ojai Valley School we learned about poetry. I loved it, because I used to try to write it with my mom. In fact, we learned a lot of new vocabulary in ESL Writing with Mrs. Cassidy and Mrs. Andrews. For example, I never knew that poetry is just another way of writing that been written in a more fancy way. However there is one thing that I hate to; do- group work. It is important to do, but I never got along with other people and I probably won’t. but because I like to write poetry, it’s fine. In addition I will show you one of my poems. It is a cinquane. I hope you enjoy it!

Desert

Sunny, sandy

Dying, hardly-living, drying

In the middle of nowhere

Emptiness

Class Hikes

On January 27, 2012, the OVS seventh graders went to Rose Valley for a hike. It has been a tradition at Ojai Valley School for 100 years,-since the school was built. In the morning, we got on the bus. We all had to squish in there because two other classes went with us. However, it was a great ride, a great hike, and an amazing trip back home; even though we had to wait for about 30 minutes for the bus to come.

          When Mrs. Scott awoke all the dormers, I just got up rapidly to brush my teeth and do my crew job, so I could check everything in my daypack and fill up two water bottles. After breakfast, I took my stuff to make a lunch. In about 8:30 we got on the bus and left the school. During the ride, we made silly jokes and sang some songs. When we went through some tunnels, some little kids screamed. Soon, the Sevies got to Rose Valley around 9:00 o’clock.

          After we took a picture, we went up the hill. Mr. Gatrell warned us about a bug that can stick its head in your skin and drink your blood. Luckily, I was wearing long pants and jacket, so I didn’t got any. We saw many beautiful views on our way, like mountains ranges, lakes, and even Ventura when we were on the big hill. It was very windy up there! When we traveled farther, we took a little break and during this break, I had very fun time putting little rocks on my friend’s head and in his shirt. Unfortunately when he stood up, all the rocks fell out. By the end of the hike, we saw a lot of avocado trees. Finally, we got to the road where the bus was supposed to come. The Sevies waited for 30 minutes for the bus, and during this time, we threw tiny rocks at each other.

          It was a terrible 30 minutes because I wanted to go to the bathroom so badly and there was nowhere to go. When the bus arrived, we shoved our “tickets” (two empty water bottles) and exhaustedly dropped ourselves on the soft seat. Unfortunately, we had to squish again because the bus was too small. We were so happy to be there. At the end, we had cold soda, but I didn’t drink it until I took a shower. After I did everything, I just lay on my bed and slept. The next day I found out that my legs and my back hurt, and it’s not the best feeling when there is play practice.

          My favorite part was putting rocks on friend’s head. It was very fun, and even Mr. Gatrell took a picture of it. Also I had a good time listening to the kids on the first ride, having a challenging hike, and a nice ride home. Even though my body was hurting for a couple of days, I still liked this hike because it’s just nice to be outside. Honestly, I liked any trips we can go. Hiking is a very good activity.

Shrovetide

At the end of the February till beginning of March, Russians celebrate, the Shrovetide. It’s the Slavic holyday a week before Lent. We cook pancakes and crops, we ride sledges, and lastly, we burn a scarecrow.

            First of all, we cook pancakes and crops that symbolize the Sun. this part is actually about the Lent. The monks and people who believed in Gog so much eat those pancakes with syrup, sugars or whatever for a week and after that, they stop eating any kind of animal products for the whole forty days! That’s a lot isn’t?

            During the Shrovetide, children enjoy the last days of winter by riding the Sledges downhill. All kids love doing that together, but as you may know, I am not a friendly person and my family does not do that sort of thing. But once, we went somewhere and I rode my sledge all day. I remember that it was fun until you fell down and hurt yourself. But it’s okay. Most kids who fell went up the hill and rode again. Some of them rode without any sledges.

            Finally, at the end of the party we burn the scarecrow that is dressed up as an old woman. This ‘woman’ symbolizes winter. When all the people come and watch, the lucky person carefully puts a little fire to burn it. During the time when the ‘winter’ is burning, people sing. Some children go to ride the sledges again. When it finally burns, people slowly go home.

            The conclusion is I like the Shrovetide holyday! My Grandmother cooks the best crops ever every holyday. Riding the sledges is fun when you’re the kid, but not really when you grew up. For some people the burning part is the best. I don’t really understand why. Maybe it is fun for them watching the scarecrow burning.

Thank you to Granma

I am very thankful for my Grandmother. She is sixty-seven-years old now. When I was little, she taught me how to read, sing, and be an active person. Some of those activities helped me in school a lot and some of them became my hobbies.

          First of all, she taught me how to read. I remember how she wrote on a bunch of words on a piece of paper and then, asked me to read them. Some of the words I read easily, but my Granma helped me with pronunciation if I had trouble with some of them.        

Secondly, Granma taught me how to sing. Almost every evening we walked around my house and sang lots of different songs. Most of them were the baby songs. My classmates and I sang them my old school in music class. That’s why I still can remember some them.

          Lastly, my Granma said that everyone should be active. When I went to her house in Moscow, we walked to the park every day. Sometimes we walked to the supermarket. When I got tired I always said, “My toes hurt!” It makes me laugh when I remembering it!

          In conclusion, I will give a big thanks to my Granma. She never gave up on me and I became myself. I like to sing, read, and I love active sports!

My Camping Trip to Santa Cruz Island

At the end of the September, the OVS seventh graders went to Santa Cruz. We spent five days there. My group did many different activities like snorkeling, water coloring and hiking.  Most of the time it was rainy and windy, but it was an amazing trip to Santa Cruz!

            On the first day, we worked really hard to carry stuff from the science room to the car, from the car to the ground, and from the ground to the boat. On the boat we had some fun, but when we stepped on the ground, we had to carry it all over again to our camp. I got really tired. My back hurt for the next two-and-a-half days! When the teachers began to read a book called “The Island of Blue Dolphins”, I really wanted to go to my tent. Anyway, I fell asleep as I lay on the ground. I could hear the rain hitting the rooftop at night.

            In the morning, we went to the beach for our activities. I enjoyed water coloring on sunny, windy day. After lunch we went on a little hike. When it was time to go back, I decided to go with the extreme team. It was so fun! Mr. Inman said that I walked in the front of everyone, like a leader. The next day, after breakfast, we went up on the hill while it rained. I remember how some kids fell into the mud just for fun. Vaughn was the dirtiest one after all. If it weren’t for a dinner, I would have slept all day long!

            On Thursday, my group had to go snorkeling. I thought it was going to be fun, but I did not know that there was a seaweed forest! I’m scared of it and I think it’s yucky! I left the water as soon I touched it. That was NOT FUN! The next day like the first day, we carried lots of boxes, pots, backpacks, daypacks, etc., but we were more exited! We really wanted to go shower, lie on the soft bed and listen to nice music.

The teachers said that it was the first time it had rained in Santa Cruz! I thought that it would be the perfect trip with sunny days and attractive activities, but it wasn’t like I thought. Anyway, this trip was great and I got lots of experience. I learned how to do everything that you have to do, like carrying boxes. That was teaching how to be a strong person. Seventh graders are heroes!

                                                 We are the champions my friends,

                                                 And we keeping fighting to the end…   

My Embarresing moment

That was happened not too long ago- it’s my embarrassing moment.

          I have a cat. He like to go to walking somewhere for fun. There are a few cats walking around too so my cat and they fighting. My cat got scratched sometimes. One time I woke up early and let my cat inside. I gave him his breakfast and then I saw that he had a scratch. So I took some green medicine and put in a syringe ear thing. When I put some on my cat’s neck, I decided to put some more, but when I tried to stand up, I spilled all this green liquid on the red door of the cabinet. I was so scared, but it was it was early so maybe I could wash that. I tried two kinds of soap and liquid that removes nail color; nothing worked! It just got a little bit lighter. I knew that my mom would ware up soon, so I decided to go to the very top floor and wait there till my mom came down. That what I did. What I doing there from seven to eleven o’clock? There is a lot of interesting stuff like my baby drawings, mom’s cloth, books and etc… Most of the time I read, but books are not interesting for me. Soon I got hungry and I want to go to the bathroom. There is no way I can stay any longer up there. When I went downstairs I saw my mom drinking coffee. To my surprise, she was not angry! She said “Looks like you colored this into spring colors”. Then I was amazed! She said “Nice drawings!”. It’s true! On the red door of the cabinet is a picture of a cat and a prawn.

          Those pictures are still there, but I did not feel anything bad when I look at it because I don’t really care about things or actions in the past.