Jordan+Mason

assignment 1

One person I admire is my favorite basketball player Derrick Rose. I admire him because he is a perfect role model for someone wants to go to the NBA like me. I also admire Derrick Rose because he plays on my favorite team. The Chicago Bulls. I used to think that the Bulls didn't have a chance because Michael Jordan didn't play anymore. When Derrick rose went to the Bulls I was glad. When I watched him when he was college he was real good. He played good as soon as he came to the Nba. Derrick just won the 2011 MVP award. Derrick Rose is now a star.

Derrick Rose was born and raised in Englewood Chicago, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods on Chicago's South side. He was Brenda Rose's fourth son after Reggie, Dwayne,and Allan, but the first in seven years. All three were talented basketball players who taught Rose how to play basketball on nearby courts. As his talent for the sport grew, Rose began to attract much more outside attention in Chicago's basketball circles, leading his mother and brothers to restrict outside contact to him, fearing his road to the NBA would be messed up and destroyed by outside parties such as street agents, such as with the case with former Chicago prospect Ronnie Fields.

assignment 2

To have a safe school you need to do a few things. You need to have good students at your school. If you have good students in the school nothing should really happen. Instead of having the security check the kids for weapons, you can have a medal detecting device in the school like what they have in the airports. If they use that kids will feel more comfortable when they get checked.

Assaignment 3

If I had anyone to bring to the school to talk about drugs, it wil be Derrick Rose. I would pick Derrick Rose because he is a good influence to kids and they'll listen to him. Who wouldn't want the Nba's MVP to come and talk to them at there school. All I have to do is go to Chicago and ask Derrick Rose if he would like to volunteer to talk about being drug-free. I can also just send him an e-mail or a letter.

I think he would come to the school because he is a nice person and he grew up in a neighborhood just like this.

Assignment 4

All of my halloweens in the past were fun,but this year was funny and terrifying. I have bus loads of candy at my house. When I counted my candy I had 2,138 pieces of candy. I was Jason for halloween. I was scaring a lot of kids on halloween. I was trick or treating, but I was really trying to scare some people. I hid in some bushes and waited for some people to come. I saw some kids coming and I jumped out the bushes. I scared them so bad that about 4 kids dropped there bags of candy on the ground. I took them and then started to get more candy.

After that, I went trick or treating again. I was walking on this weird quiet street around frick park. They still had all there porch lights on. When I went to the first house, I heard something on the side of the house. I didn't really pay attention to it. I rang the doorbell and behind me was a man that looked just Freddie Krugar. His make-up artist did a little to good to on the face and skin. If it was even make-up??? He scared me. That was the best prank someone has ever did to me.

Assignment 5

The best field trip to go to is Hawaii. Hawaii is hot, sandy, and fun. I would love to go to Hawaii and if I would love it, I think the kids in the 7th and 8th grade will to. Who wouldn't want to go to Hawaii and swim, eat hawaiian food, and soak in the sun all day. I know that people think that if a black person sits in the sun, they'll get darker. It's not true. My friend Jason got a little darker when he went to Jamaica, but now his skin is the same color it was before he left to Jamaica.

Hawaii is where our president was born. We might see some of his family there or we might see him. If we do go, we would have to stay in a hotel for about 3 days. I know it will cost a lot of money, but Mr.Boll said money aint a problem. We would have to get about 16 rooms with 10 kids in each room. Some of the kids will have to sleep on the floor. At the hotel, they will need to make a big breakfast in the morning to feed about 150 kids. It sounds like a great trip to me. Let's just see what Mrs.Ayers think???

Assignment 6

"Where are you going." said Michael Jordan. "I was just going down to the basketball court," I said. "I'll come with you. Why are you going to the basketball court," Michael said. "You already know Michael. It's because I want to go to the Nba and not be like you, but be better than you," I said. You already know you won't get as many rings as me or be better than me in general," Michael said. "Whatever you say Mike. How about we play one on one and see who is better," I said. "Alright, but I still got game. Let's go," Michael said.

Great job with this Jordan. Keep up the good work. We talked a little about this yesterday, and it looks like you made the changes.

Assignment 7

Bullying is one thing that I don't like. Kids are getting bullied everyday and nothing is happening. Some kids are scared to tell their parents. I was scared to tell my parents when I was getting bullied, but I finally came to my senses and told them.

I was getting bullied by a kid named Avery who used to beat-up me and my friend Tyrone. He went to the same school as us, but didn't hit us in school. Only after school. I hated him. He used to pick me up, throw me in the air, and let me go. He really hurt me. When it would snow outside, he used to grab me and slide me down a hill and I could't stop. One time he layed me down when a bus was coing and I almost got hit. That's why I don't like bullying.

Assignment 8

Dear, President of the National Basketball Association

I would like the Nba lockout to be over. I hate how I have to wait forever for the Nba to start the season back up. I love to watch Nba games. My mom even paid for the Nba basketball channels. When the basketball season was on tv I watched it all the time. The games were usually on around 7 pm. I would come home from basketball practice and watch my favorite teams play. Now when I come home from practice there is nothing to watch.

The lockout needs to be over because people all around the world are waiting for the basketball season to start. Even the Nba players moved over seas. Kobe Bryant is trying to play for China, Dajuan Blair plays for Russia, and Derrick Rose wants to play for Japan. Their not going to play for those teams forever. Just until the lockout is over.

The Nba is very important to a whole lot of people, including me. I want to go to the Nba when I get older. How am I suppose to play if this lockout last a while. Those are my reason why I think the lockout should end.

Sincerly, Jordan Mason

Assignment 9

We act up We don't shut up

We are bad We make our family members sad

We don't listen We don't complete our mission

We are lazy We end up having babies

We go to jail and We don't get bail

My poem means that now days kids and teenagers don't care about things and don't want to do stuff. Teens are now having babies at 13 and 14. They also go to jail because they are doing negative things.

Assignment 10

My favorite holiday is christmas. I just love christmas. I get a lot of presents, I get to see family, and I get presents. Every year we get a big christmas tree and we decorate it until there is no more room for more decorations. I don't believe in Santa Claus though. I already know that my family buys our presents. My christmas last year was my favorite christmas yet.

Last year, me and my sister Jayla were really excited about christmas. I couldn't even go to sleep. I was up til at least 2 am and I got in bed at 8 o'clock. I finally went to sleep and had a weird dream. I had a dream I didn't get anything for christmas and I was very mad.

When I woke-up I thought the dream was real but I remembered that I can't wake up twice at the same time. I came in the dinning room and I saw all these presents. Just bus loads of presents. I was so happy. I got Dj Hero 2, video games, and a whole lot of clothes. Then my sister woke up and she was mad at me because I got like 2 more things than her.

After that, me and my sister Jayla was playing Dj Hero 2 and we were having fun. She wasn't even mad anymore. I started to open up more presents after we were done playing the game. I got in the shower and got dressed. I put on my new clothes that I got for christmas. We went over my grandmothers and me and Jayla got our stuff from them. I got money and more clothes from my grandmother and greatgrandmother.

Finally we went to my grandfathers house because he was making a christmas dinner. My grandfather gave us money and he gave me a gift card to Gamestop. About 30 minutes after we were there, the food was done. He made macoroni, turkey, ham, greens, and pies. After we were done eating, we went home and I played my game and went to sleep. That's the story of my favorite Christmas.

Assignment 11

Hello Derrick Rose. I have a few questions to ask you: How did you feel when you won your first MVP award? When you played in college, did you think you were going to be the 1 pick and tell me why? Do you want to stay on the Bulls for the rest of your career or do you plan to go to another team? Explain What did you think about Englewood Chicago when you were growing up. How do you think Englewood is different now then it was before? What do you think about the Nba lookout right now? What country are you playing for now? Did you brothers help you learn how to play basketball? Explain. When you were a kid why didn't your mom move you to a better neighborhood? Do you plan on having kids someday and settling down. Why.

Assignment 12 I do think that would be a better way to do highschool. It would be fun, exciting, and they do all the stuff I would like to do.There are a few reasons why it would be better than a normal highschool. One reason is there isn't any 47 minute periods. Another reason why it would be better is they don't tell you to take your hat off and put your phone away.There are also a few reasons why it would be worse than normal highschools. One reason is the kids will try to run things because it doesn't really have a lot of rules. They will be playing and texting on there phone. Another reason is they won't really listen to the teachers or in there words mentors. In 9th grade I would probably go because it sounds fun and I like the stuff they do in the school.

Assignment 13 Courage Essay

Have you ever been so scared of something that you would never do it? That's how I feel when I talk in front of more than about 100 people. I had stage fright. I don't know why, but when I read something or just say something little to a big crowd of people I started to get nervous and sweat. That's how bad it was. I am over that fear now.

Last year, I went to a 2-week writing camp at a Pitt college during the summer. I had terrible stage fright. Sometimes my instructor would tell us to read what we wrote and I would be the first one to say I don't want to read. I had to go to this writing camp for two weeks. It was called the young writers institution. It was fun, but I was just scared to read. We would sometimes go outside and write what we see outside and we had to share with everyone. I read mine but I was only reading part of it because I really didn't want to. I knew I had to get rid of this stage fright.

After the first week, I was excited because there was only 5 days left. The instructor told us we had to read our stories in front of people and the kids families who were coming to the last day of camp. My story was great. It was about a man named John Hinkerman and he was a detective for Los Angelos. I thought the people would love to hear a story about a detective. The only problem was I was terribly frightened to read in front of a whole lot of people.

The day before the ceremony, this lady came and was talking to us about how not to be scared of the crowd. She was calling on people to come in front of this big room and read what they wrote. She was calling on all these people and this one girl came up and she was talking about how this boy was the love of her life. The lady told her to tell the story again, but this time she wanted her to interact with the crowd. She was talking about how she gave the love of her life a hug and interacted with the crowd by giving me a hug. She finished her story and she said she was going to pick one more person. I wasn't picked so I was glad and there was about 100 kids so there is a low chance she would pick me. Well that's what I thought. She said these exact words" I saved the best for last". She pointed at me. I was so shocked because there were all these kids just watching me. I read my story, but I didn't look at anyone. I kept my eyes only on my paper. She told me to read it again and look at everyone. I did it and I was about to sweat. I finished reading and I didn't sweat that much. They even clapped at my story. I still had to read the next day though.

The last day of camp, I was really scared. There was about 600 people and all the seats weren't even filled yet. My friend Tyler read his and he wasn't scared so I said to myself " I can do this." My instructor told us we didn't have to read our stories she could read them for us. I told her to read mine for me. I was glad I didn't have to read. I thought to myself though. I thought I should read because my mom came to see me read and do good. Right before she was about to start reading my story I told her I'll read it. She knew I had stage fright so she kept asking me if I was sure if I wanted to read. I said yes. I was horribly terrified.

As I started to read, I was swimming in sweat. I just kept reading though. When I got half way into the story I started to feel a little better and I was reading with emotion like the lady said. When I was finished reading my story everybody was clapping. Even when I was done reading the story people were asking me questions like the story shoule be published and stuff like that. It took me a lot of courage to face my fear and read in front of so many people. My stage fright is gone because of that. Going out of your comfort zone like I did is courage to me.

Assignment 13

=Notebook=

I am a notebook with 100 pages I have not been touch in ages Nobody uses me for homework or to study All they do is go to the mall with their buddies

They want to stay out at night until it's dark They don't want to learn they want to parallel park They never want to go to school because they think they're to cool

I am getting older by the minute if there's a pencil on the floor they wont get it They might use me if they get clever I will be here, dusty forever

Assignment 14 Christmas song

Today is a special day it's christmas eve and we already finished our christmas tree 12 days out of school yes it's the best I got to make sure my room isn't a mess

It's only 6 hours till my day tomorrow is the first game of the nba my grandma is cooking christmas dinner and the time until christmas is getting thinner and thinner

I can't wait till I open my presents What i'm goin to get will be real plesant now I have to wrap the stuff i got for my peeps and i have to get them good stuff so i don't look cheap

Now it's time for me to go to bed because the night is dead and a new one is born and it's called christmas I hope I get everything on my wish list

Jordan- You are a talented writer and you show this talent a lot in these creative settings. You did a really nice job with the courage essay, the "I Am" poem, and the holiday rap. I really enjoy reading your writing and I hope that you continue to challenge yourself as a writer and a thinker. You are capable of a lot. Keep working hard.

Assignment 15

In Covington Kentucky, the police are cracking down on skipping school. Kids can know get arrested for playing hookey. A few students have already been getting arrested in Covington kentucky.

A few road blocks would be that the kids will find somewhere to go were they won't get caught and the cops wont arrest them. Another road block would be the cops will be using up valuble time looking for kids. What if the cops didnt find the kids and they spent the whole day doing nothing.

It wouldnt work in wilkinsburg because there are a lot of hiding places in wilkinsburg and the people around here call it the cuts. How are they ever going to catch people who are hiding. The kids around here dont even walk out in public, they take alleyways a stuff like that.

Assignment 16

I am protesting against the violence with the people that live around me in my neighborhood. I am a passifist.Like my good friend Mr.Boll. I dont believe violence solves anything. I am walking home from the market and I know about the violence that is going on around here, but I didn't know they were going to take it this far with the tanks. I looked in the street and there was 4 tanks. I am not scared of anything. I walked in front of the tank and didn't say anything. The tanks stopped and they know why I was standing there. They wouldn't kill an innocent or maybe they would. I am standing up for what is right and not whats wrong. I have been standing there for about 10 minutes and they started to come closer and closer. I thought they were going to do it, but they didn't. they turned around and left. Everyone clapped for me and I said 5 words. " I did what was right." When I got home my wife slapped me in the back of the head because she saw me on the news and said " What were you thinking. All I wanted you to do was to go to the store and get some food. " I told her its ok i'm still here and you should be glad. e gave each other a hug and kiss. I was proud of myself and so was everybody else.

Assignment 17

On day, me and friends were going to the basketball court. It was me Allen, Donte, and Damond. I brought my basketball and we were going to play 33. When we got there Allen shot up first. I got the ball and drove to the hoop. I had 2 points. I shot the three and made it. Then I had six. I missed the next one and then Damond started putting up some points. Then I noticed a parked car infront of the basketball court. The windows were tinted black and music was playing in the car. It was real mysterious. About 4 guys came out the car and said we had some game. We said thanks. One of the guys said there name was OC. While we were talking to OC, one of the other guys tried to steal my basketball. We came up to him and tried to get the ball back. Damond started talking bad to him and he punched him in the face. Then I came and punched him in the face. Then all of the dudes pulled out guns on us. We moved back and didn't say anything. Oc said "Give me the basketball now." We all said no. I said " Why can't you get your own basketball your like 18." Thet sad they want mine. I got an idea. I said " How about we play you for it. First team to 10 wins." They said ok. We shot up for ball first. They got ball. We checked the ball and one of the guys passed the ball to Oc and I was watching him. He did a move and crossed me up and dunked the ball. We checked it again and I stole the ball off of Oc, passed it to Damond, and he made a three. That means we were winning by one. We checked the ball again and I drove to the basket and passed it to Donte and ran to the top of the three caught the ball and shot it. I made it. Now we were winning by 3. We checked the ball and I passed it to Allen and one of the dudes took it off of Allen and hit a pull up jumper. I checked the ball again and Oc passed it to a tall dude and he ht a three. When we checked the ball Donte stole and passed to Allen and he made a lay-up.we were up by one and all we needed was 3 points. One of the dudes got a rebound and made a three. They only needed one point. It was there ball. Soon as they checked the ball I stole it. I passed it to Damond and he passed it back. I took the three and swacked it. They were mad. They left in the car and we finished our game of 33.

Good job- J Mase.

Ha! Good job with this Jordan. Although, I feel badly for the kids who lost their candy.