Friday, September 25, 2009

Dear Greg Mortenson

I see you was talking about humanity , racism and kids.
The humanity is what people can give to another.
Like you gave to all the people in Korphe.
The school is a place where all the people can learn.
You heart is full of humanity.
You also found out the racisim from the
people in the USA. They did bad things like put the trash can
over his head and slapped it because he came from Africa.
You always help the kids to teach them in math.
When they were sick he geve medicine. You took good
of them.
I think You are a very nice person . I want to tell you
thank you for sharing this wonderful story with all
the people , and you experience.

Dear, Mr. Greg Mortenson


I thought your book was very knowledgeable. And more people so follow that almost infant way of thinking, not say your an infant. But I mean that simple way of thought. You don't care about what race, religion, or creed someone is for you to befriend them , you like or dislike someone on the way they treat you. And I can respect that. I'm sorry for the lose of your sister and father. I could not imagine what pain you went through, and are still going through and losing them both in such a short time frame, my condolences. OK let's move on to a happier note. You are doing a great thing not just for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan but for mankind
and the world , who knows you could have given an education to the doctor who will create the cure for Cancer, who knows. so keep it up and hear from you soon.
Your friend:Virgil
P.s. : Don't Screw Up ! , lol, jk.

Things from the past that make me happy today.

I am Native American Indian. Sioux (Lakota, Hunkpapa, and Asinaboin.) Also I am Cherokee. My family and I have many things that represent our heritage. For example, my E-Nah(mom) has the family crystal that has Indian carvings in it. It's covered with a little blanket with our family tree on it. Me, I have a dream catcher that my little cousin River gave me, and a choker that my grandma Fawn gave me before she died. When my little cousin River was eleven years old, he made me this dream catcher for my fifteenth birthday present. It is a beautiful one at that. It is made out of leather(brown) and beads(blue, green, yellow, and red) the colors of the Medicine Wheel. At the end it has a feather from a hawk, and in the middle it has buffalo skin to hold the whole entire thing together. I keep my dream catcher above my head so that when I sleep, I'll have incredible dreams instead of nightmares. It works!!!! When I look at it, it makes me smile because of who it came from, also because it makes me feel safe.The choker that my grandma Fawn gave me doesn't do anything but remind me of our past before she had died. My favorite memory about my grandma is, she would always take me to the bead store when we had lived in Manitu Springs. She then always took me to my favorite restaurant called "The Loop" for lunch. We did this every Thursday and Saturday. They were the happiest moments in a granddaughter's life.(Well mine anyway). My choker is beautiful. It has creamy white beads along with dark brown beads and golden beads. The charms on it are golden feathers. I don't wear it a lot, only when my family and I go to the reservations in Montana. I keep it hanging on my wall with my first teddy bear which is a angel grizzly bear. I call him Mr. Jingles. I am grateful for my heritage symbolized belongings. I miss my grandma and I love my little cousin. These two things are from the past, but still make me happy to this day.

Keyonna Todd

Dear Greg Mortenson...

After I read your book-Three Cups of Tea-actually not finish yet...
I was amazed many ways. First is your courage, second is your humanity, and third is your life.
When I read this book, sometimes I imagine "If I were Greg...". But my answer is always "No,I can't!". If I belonged to your parents...that could be. Because your parents were great...like you.
You didn't command about your religion, but I could guess. They might be a Christian-kind of
ministry of Africa. And their humanity could influence you. Your parents challenge to me.
I want to be a great parents who has a good influence to my children, friends, and neighbors.
By the way, when did you marry? and when did you have your children?
I supposed you are single. Because you are always busy. Come and go,here and there...
Love is great! and you are great,too! Haha~~
I remind how powerful the American-especially English. By you building school in Korphe,they
can learn about America and speak English. How amazing! Pakistanis can speak English...
Near future, the English will become a common language all over the world!
Lots of American are proud of you. And many Pakistanis thank you.

To Mr. Greg Mortenson

Dear Mr. Greg Mortenson:

My name is Song. I am so glad to meet you through the book. The book's title is Three Cups of Tea that book you wrote. When I started to read this book, I thought just one of 3rd world countries stories, so I kind of ignored it, but I was wrong. It brings my attention and challenge to me. When I was young, my dream to go out there helping people who need my help, but I did not have chance to do it. By the way, I am so proud of you and your family. Even though you want to help the Pakistan people or their children, without your family support that is impossible. However, I am glad because we have people like you, so we can change our lives better and we can teach our next generation. Also, when you went out there (West Side Elementary School) and gave them one hour speech that was really a success. Those children brought over six hundred pennies. you must have done a great speech, so those children opened their minds for other countries children. In my opinion, you did a great job; therefore, you and those who helped you in the very beginning of your mission, you are a hero for all of us. You're getting a big hand from all of us and thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!


Sincerely

Song Hilyard

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Three Cups of Tea - Writing Assignment for Chapter 9: Hunting Ibex

Please choose one of these topics.

1. Twaha gave Greg a tomar to protect him on the glacier during the hunt. Do you have anything like a tomar? What is it? Where did you get it? Where do you keep it? What does it mean for you?

Write about it. Explain as many details about it as you can.


2. Greg said that his life would have been less interesting if he hadn’t taken the wrong turn and ended up in Korphe. Have you ever taken a “wrong turn”, or perhaps had something happen to you that was bad at first, but turned out to make your life more interesting?

Write about what it is you did, or what happened to you, and explain how it has made your life more interesting.


3. Write a letter to Greg Mortenson. You can share with him your thoughts about the book, about his life, or whatever. You can also ask him any questions that you may have.


I look forward to reading your posts over the next couple of weeks!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Wow!!!!

While searching the Internet, I found some amazing videos!

Try this one!

And this one!

There's even a music video!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Chapter 6 - Hard Way Home

In order to practice the art of FLUENCY while reading, I gave you all a section from Chapter 6 in Three Cups of Tea to practice, and then read aloud to the class. I was so absolutely impressed with your expression and pronunciation! I enjoyed listening to you, instead of you listening to me! :)

Let me know if you would like to do this activity again. This also looks interesting. Hmmm....what do you think?

In addition to FLUENCY, we also practiced VOCABULARY. Before reading Chapter 6, each group discovered the words they did not know in their text, and then had to figure out a way to teach them to the class. Here are some photos from that day!













Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Three Cups of Tea

We have been reading Three Cups of Tea in our class. Here is a picture of one of the schools that is being built, thanks to Greg Mortenson. Click on the photo to see it even bigger!

If you would like some more information about the book, you can go to Greg Mortenson's website and look around. There are also some great photos!

He even has a blog!

When browsing through a blog or a website, make sure you take time to really look and read.

I was wondering what your feelings were about the book so far, or about any thoughts you have from looking at the links above.

Leave your thoughts or feelings in the comments!