This is my poster for the lit final.
This is my poster for the lit final.
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As the first semester comes to an end, take time to reflect on your learning and growth in this course. In a well-developed response, explain what you enjoyed most about the class, identify the project or assignment you found most engaging, and discuss which aspect of the course you connected with the most (such as poetry, fiction, writing, or discussion). Finally, reflect on one area where you feel you need additional support or improvement as we move into the spring semester.
Prompt Response: As the first semester comes to an end, I can honestly say I’ve grown a lot in this class. What I enjoyed most was getting to read different types of poems and discussions about new things related to the real worlds. The assignment I found most engaging was the cultural Mask projects because they helped me express my thoughts, become more confident in my ethnicity and get to know all my classmates more. I connected the most with the poems analyzing and writing bloggers since I liked analyzing characters. Moving into the spring semester, I think I need to work on improving my grammar and writing essays and thesis so my writing can be clearer and stronger.
How have the holidays changed as you have grown older? Compare your experiences of the holidays during childhood with how you experience them now, focusing on shifts in perspective, responsibilities, or emotional meaning.
Prompt Response: When I was a child, the holidays felt magical and full of fun. I only cared about gifts, food, and having time off from school. I didn’t think about planning or stress at all. Now that I’m older, I notice the work that comes with the holidays. The holidays now mean spending time with family, being thankful, understanding holiday responsibilities, and not just getting presents. Summary: Today I took a unit 4 vocabulary test. Reflection: I remember most of the vocabulary.
Write about something you’ve outgrown but still miss.
Prompt Response: I have outgrown that childhood fascination with dinosaurs, but I still miss it. When I was a kid I used to be so obsessed with dinosaurs. I loved how big they were and how they lived so long ago. I read books and played with dinosaur toys all the time. Now that I'm older, I like other things more, like science and technology. But I still sometimes miss how exciting and fun it was to learn about dinosaurs. It was a special part of being a kid. Summary: Today I went on a field trip. Reflection: I learned about a new program.
Post the picture of your cultural identity mask onto your blog. Write a reflection about the creation process of the mask or presenting it to the class.
Prompt Response: While making the mask, I remembered my time in Bangladesh – the land, the people, the food, all of it. By making this mask, I'm showing my culture, my background, the things I enjoy, and what makes me strong. Including My family and friends are the most important things in my life. Summary: Today in class we present our cultural mask. Reflection: I learn about my classmates ethnicity and culture.
Write about something that you can't stop thinking about.
Prompt Response: One thing I can't stop thinking about is what my future will be like. I often wonder about which colleges I'll go to and what I'll study there. Thinking about what college life will be like, and then what happens after I finish, fills my mind. It's like thinking about all the exciting things that could happen and how things might turn out. This future picture is always in my thoughts. Summary: Today in class I talked with my councilor about course selection. Reflection: I learn so many new things about my class.
After watching the short film Identity, write a blog post reflecting on how the masks in the film represent the pressure to fit in and the struggle to discover who you really are. Choose one moment from the film that stood out to you and explain why. Then, connect the film’s message to Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” and to the mask you are creating in class. What part of your identity do you want your mask to reveal?
Prompt Response: The masks in the film "Identity" show us how people feel pressured to act a certain way to fit in, and how hard it is to figure out who you really are. That scene where the girl takes off her mask and others stare like she is strange really stuck with me, showing how people can be scared of what's different. This is like Langston Hughes' poem "I, Too," where the writer stands up for himself even when others try to push him down. My mask is a great way to show my Bengali-American side, which is a special part of who I am. Both the movie and my mask remind me that it's okay to be ourselves and to show our true colors. Summary: Today in class we read and analyzed the poem. Reflection: I finished all the work and worked on vocabulary.
Write about the best gift you have received.
Prompt Response: The best gift I ever received was a handmade Nakshi Kantha from my grandma. It was the last gift she made before she passed away. This beautiful quilt is covered in colorful stitches that tell stories and make pretty pictures. It feels so special because my grandma made it with her own hands, and now it reminds me of her love every single day. Summary: Today in class we work on Lesson 4 vocabulary. Reflection: I finished my mask drowning.
In “I, Too,” the speaker expresses pride in his identity and his rightful place in America. Reflect on your own life: What aspect of your cultural identity are you most proud of, and why?
Prompt Response: I am most proud of my diverse food and language because they are fundamental to my identity, representing my first language and a culinary tradition celebrated worldwide. This pride mirrors the sentiment in Langston Hughes' "I, Too," where the speaker asserts their inherent worth and rightful place in America despite societal barriers. My languages and cuisines are delightful expressions of my heritage that I share, just as the speaker ultimately claims their essential American identity as a source of strength and belonging. Summary: Today in class we worked on the poem assignment. Reflection: I learned about a new poem.
In “We Real Cool,” the speakers make choices that seem exciting, bold, and rebellious, even though those choices lead to consequences. Write about a moment in your own life when you followed what looked cool or fun, only to realize afterwards that it wasn’t the smart or responsible path. What influenced your decision, and how did your perspective change later?
Prompt Response: I chose a party over studying, thinking it was cool because my friends were there. But my bad test grade showed me it wasn't a smart choice. I learned that having fun and being responsible need to go together. Being cool means being disciplined, not just following others. I started to care more about doing well and growing myself. Summary: Today in class I started a new assignment. Reflection: I learned about new study material.
Discuss something meaningful or memorable you experienced over the break, or reflect on what you felt most thankful for during that time.
Prompt Response: I was most thankful for spending time with my family. It was really meaningful. We got to reconnect after being busy. It reminded me how important family bonds are. Sharing experiences with them brought me a lot of joy. Summary: I wasn't in class that day. Reflection: I missed an important lesson.