Friday, November 7, 2014

Breaking Free!

Today, we crafted inspiring and creative folders for all of our formal writing that we'll do this year. Prior to getting elbow deep in paper scraps, inspiring quotes, construction paper, glue sticks, and New Yorker magazine clippings, we also shared one of our four powerful quotes that you found last night.

Your writing folders are incredibly beautiful and inspiring to me! I loved watching you create with cleverness and joy.

Over this weekend, be sure to read through the end of Chapter 24 in The Absolute Value of Mike.

Our word for the day, today, was OBLITERATE, which means to destroy completely. An example of the word in a line is: Every summer, when I was growing up, my brothers and I would create the biggest sandcastle we possibly could; then the tide moved in to OBLITERATE it.

Our word for the day from yesterday was COPIOUS, which is an adjective which means very plentiful. An example of the word in a line is: You all have COPIOUS amounts of insight when we discuss our class novel.

After reading through Chapter 24 in Mike, share your insights regarding this question: What do you think enables people who are stuck--like Poppy--to break free? What inspires them to move past their walls?

57 comments:

  1. I think that something that will help somebody break free which is stuck could be that themselves are ready to get out of this depression. Another thing is that one of their loved ones could be encouraging them to get unstuck and they will finally listen to them.
    - Olivia Gomez

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  2. I think what makes people break free is that they realize what been done that has kept them inside their walls, so they accept it and move on in their life.
    -Pasha Sahin

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  3. People who are stuck like Poppy need attention and motivation to enable them to break free. Whether that encourager is a therapist, friend, family member, or any stranger it will still help you realize that the world will keep on moving and you should join in the flow. Without Mike, Poppy might've never gotten up and out of that chair. Someone just showing attention to you for your lack of movement helps.

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  4. I think seeing that the rest of your family has already moved on or are in a completely desperate situation where they really need that person helps that person to break free.
    --Emily Rypinski

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  5. I think that sometimes people will come to their senses and realize that you can't live your life in this little world of sadness and depression. You have to come out of that world and world and see what people have been doing around you like when finally Poppy comes out of his own world and start working on the boxes to try and help the effort to bring Poppy home
    ~Caroline Mara

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  6. I believe it will be very hard, but people "break free" because they have a very powerful reason that drives them, maybe someone they care about is suffering because of their temporary "dormancy". But the reason for "waking up" is a VERY powerful reason, something that could change the person's life or the way they view the world.
    --Shreya Kumar

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  7. I think what makes people "break free"'is just realizing tha they are wasting their life and putting their past behind them. Once you realize what is happening to you, maybe you will feel the need to break free.
    --Anna Shlimak

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  8. I think that there are many things that help a person break free. One is that they realize themselves that they are missing a lot and realize that it is not helping to be in your own little world of depression. Another's way is that they could realize with the help of a friend, family member, or stranger that what they are doing does not help and they need to help other people and come out of their own world. Finally, they need motivation from a loved one and someone to show them what they can be doing instead of being in your own depression.
    -- Emmalyn Mirarchi

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  9. I think that people "break free" when they see how others feel. They see that other people need them and they see that there are people that feel the same way too.

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  10. I like that people like Poppy will break free when someone almost forces them to. For example, Mike was sort-of being a jerk to Poppy and he couldn't take it anymore so he broke free. I also think that it is very very hard to brake free when you are that depressed. Someone could also motivate you and encourage you to get up. They have to be very persistent. But whatever that person said,it would have to be powerful enough to change someones brain completely.

    -Meili Stanten

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  11. I think that there was a sort of thought or click in Poppy's mind that enabled him to move past his walls. I think of it as if there is only one thing in Poppy's mind: Doug. After a while, and with Mike's help, Poppy had other thoughts than just Doug. He might have thought about moving on a few times, and the thought of Doug faded ever so slightly, and made room for Poppy to overcome his sadness.

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  12. I think that when someone sees that whatever put them in the situation they're in, in Poppy's case depression, happening over again they realize that they still have a second chance but if they don't break free and take that chance it's going to pass them by and they will be left with nothing. So they come back, or "break free".
    -Tessa

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  13. I think what helps break people free is when they see what their decision is doing/affecting others and that they realize that what is done is done and they cant do anything about it anymore
    -Clayton Hanlon

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  14. I think that sometimes people who are stuck get out when someone comes and gives them something to do. A powerful reason to get up. After waking up, it can change a person's perspective of the world.
    ~ Lwiza AitDowd

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  15. When people get "trapped", sometimes the best thing is someone who went through the same experience, and DID get over it, because they may have a stronger will than the trapped person, and may be able to share their confidence with said person.
    --Collin Burns

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  16. I think what inspires someone who is "stuck" to "break free" is when they realized how they are affecting others, loved ones. For instance, Poppy say what was happening but never really registered it, but after Moo found out she was blind and everything else happened, he finally registered what was happening. His feelings came bubbling up and he went in the tree, a memory of Doug, he needed someone to help him get through his sizzling feelings. That is what I think takes someone to "break free."
    --Brianna

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  17. I think what enables people like Poppy to move past their 'walls' is some sort of motivation. Whether it be motivation by themselves or someone else, they need to see all the good in the world- not the bad. Once they realize that their lives are worth something and they can make a difference, I think that's when they can move on.

    Nick Joe Lewis

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  18. I think what inspires people to get past their emotional walls is someone to tell them that they cant do it so that the person wants to prove them wrong by doing it.

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  19. When someone is trapped, i think the best thing to do is have someone else to motivate them and show that their life is not over. they need to refresh their minds and start them up again.

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  20. When someone is trapped, i think the best thing to do is have someone else to motivate them and show that their life is not over. they need to refresh their minds and start them up again.

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  21. What enables people like Poppy, that are in grief, is entitlement. They need to be given the right time. Someone needs to show you the right to get up and keep going. Until someone is powerful enough to sway your decision, whether it is a stranger or friend, and give you the courage and motivation to break free and start over, you are going to stay still in time, and all you will think of is, is the death or tragedy. In other words, to move past your walls, you need to be given the unwritten right to forget and see the future, not dwell on the past.
    --Raiya Suliman, November 8, 2014

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  22. I think what inspires people who are "stuck" to "break free" is when another person says or does something to make them realize that what they are doing is not right and that they need to change their attitude. When Mike told Poppy about Tyrone, I think it made Poppy realize that him just sitting there is hurting other people and that he needs to do something about it.
    -Angela Xing

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  23. I think that "stuck" people need someone else there to help them out and show that whatever made them "stuck" happened in the past and can not be changed; they need to overcome there fear or whatever was holding them back.

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  24. I think to enable people who are stuck like poppy you have to get there mind of the thing there thinking so much about. also maybe some motivation and say everything's ok.

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  25. I think what inspires people to "break free" when they are "stuck" is when someone makes them realize that they need to stop for their own good and other peoples good. They have to realize that even that when they are "stuck" the world keeps on going without you. Also I think that when you realize that you are hurting other people, you do not want to keep on doing what you are doing, you want to "break free."
    - Rachel Shrives

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  26. I think people are inspired to "break free" when they realize what they're doing to the people who matter to them. When Poppy realized that Moo really needs his help, that was part of what inspired him to break free.
    -Liza Toll

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  27. I think that the biggest thing that enables people like poppy to break free is anger. When people like poppy are depressed and stuck they are angry, mostly because they believe that whatever happened was their fault. So what people do is that people remind the stuck person of what happened so they get even more angry. Over time that burden gets so big that they have to break free.
    -Magnus Miller

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  28. I think what enables someone "stuck" to "break free" is when they realize that it is ok to be sad and angry but they need to let go enough to continue with their life. This does not mean that they must let go entirely and forget about that experience, but to move on in life and not dwell on things in the past. -Fiona Morrison

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  29. What enables people like poppy that are stuck(depressed) to break free you have to make them see what they should or could be doing.

    David Sampson

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  30. I think what enables people like Poppy to move past their sad places is the fact that they need to help Someone that is friends with that person.

    --Sean McNamara

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  31. I think people break free when they finally realize how they are affecting the people around them. They realize how the people;e around them like Moo, feel, They might feel pressured, stressed, mad, or even angry.

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  32. I think what inspires people to break free is when someone else really pushes them into getting out of that stuck phase. Sometimes the person gives negative energy or positive energy into pushing them. Like Mike used a little bit of both, but when you use negative energy it doesn't mean that they don't love them, it just means they do care. An example of negative energy is when you get angry at them and that pushes them to be their best.
    --Lucy Bodtman

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  33. I think somebody like Poppy can "break free" by thinking about something other than their own grief. They need to get involved with something important again or think about someone else's struggle.
    -- Grace Acton

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  34. I think what helps people break free from being trapped is someone motivating you and getting you mad enough that you will get up.

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  35. i think what inspires people who trapped need someone to motivate them

    --Mark Goldsher

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  36. I think people who are stuck like Poppy need to have something said to them that can enable them to break free. An example of this could be in a form of someone else begging for them to get up, and move to help other people. From the book, this is seen when Mike begs Poppy to go get Tyrone when Moo was blind. A second way to break free could be when someone says something very harsh, like Mike telling Poppy to jump in the lake. The person's depression is then replaced by anger, and he becomes more focused on being angry than depressed. The anger then motivates him to get up and do something.
    - Tommy Wacek

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  37. I think that would get someone to "break free" is someone else saying something to them that really made the person that is "stuck" mad. The thing they said could be really mean and the person wants to prove them wrong and make them feel bad about saying that.

    -Natalie L'Ecuyer

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  38. i think what inspires people to break free is getting over what had happened or the actions of the other people trying to make who is ever stuck break free.
    ben hays

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  39. I think what inspires people to "break free" after being "stuck" is the people that surround you. Maybe a certain person needs you right then -- maybe not for the same reason you're sad, but they're crumbling inside too. Other times, you have someone that is getting a little impatient for your moping (kind of like Mike). Or maybe another person really cares about you, and hates seeing you act the way you're acting. Whichever way, the people that are part of your life are the key. Maybe they have different reactions and have different reasons to help you to break down your "walls," but THEY are the ones who set you free.

    -- Allie hunter

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  40. I think to inspire people who are stuck that need to break free , need someone there to encourage them to change, like a little push in a way. Also they could just need a little time to get over what has just happened , time to think. the break that these people my go through could be a short or long periods of time.

    --Anna Laursen

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  41. I think that the inspiration to "break free" comes from the problem itself being resolved, I think it happens slowly and takes time. For example Poppy was depressed about Doug, but then Mike filled the hole that was once Doug's and it took time, but Poppy became capable and function able again.
    -Fiona Nash

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  42. i think you need to wait for a little while then when the time is right you do something to piss him off/make him like you.

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  43. I think what inspires people to get moving again is when someone relates to them and helps them get throught it. Or they relize that their actions are affecting other people not in a good way. That is what I think gets people to snap out of it or break free.

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  44. I think what inspires people who are "stuck" to "break free" is when someone makes them realize that they aren't doing the right thing and when they're doing what they're doing it affects everyone not just them.

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  45. I think enables people who are stuck to break free (like Poppy) are inspired to move past their walls if they realize that there is more to life than just does bad days that something very bad happens to peoples or things. Or if other people talk them out of there problem.

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  46. I think what inspires stuck people telling them reasons to become unstuck or out of the in this case depressed felling time period. But it could be different in other ways, too.

    Lucas Castro

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  47. I think what inspires people to break free is either they get tired of themselves or someone tells them them to stop. Poppy could have felt bad for Moo or for Doug, regretting he did not spend time with him. Poppy was mad at himself.

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  48. I think what inspires people who are stuck to move on is trying to not make the same mistake twice. I think Mike being mean to Poppy trying to snap him out of it wasn't a good idea because it would just make Poppy mad.
    --George Earnest

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  49. I think what enables people to move past their walls is the thought that they owe it to themselves or somebody else to get up and move past what was holding them down

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  50. I think what makes people who are in extreme grief to break free is when they finally realize that they need to move on. We can't always think that the world revolves around us as there is people that need us too.

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  51. i think what makes people who are stuck like poppy break free is a realization of whats really going on in the world and how his atittude towards others is unaceptable. Also if they find something to motavate them and give them a reason to wake up every morning and try harder to be a better person

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  52. I think people like poppy break free by knowing something is going on that they either have to help because it is important or because it is good and maybe motivating or a sudden change in attitude

    jack hunnewell

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  53. I think that if you give a stuck person, like Poppy, enough positive motivation they will start thinking more positive thoughts and break free.

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  54. I think if people are stuck and someone else dose every thing they can to help you break free, it really brings you to realize the truth and that they need to move on.

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  55. I think what enables people like poppy and are in need to break free is a re-awakining. When i say this i mean they need someone to help them not only understand how everyone is in the same boat and is going through the same thing. Also, like in poppy's case he experienced a death, so they will need someone to tell them that is what the other person wanted. Overall they need support, I think the more support the easier it is.
    -- Kellie Sundeen

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  56. I think to inspire someone who is stuck like poppy, you have to have something of greater motivation. Poppy was just ignoring everything until Mike finally got him to snap and start to work on the boxes. That gave him something else to think abut instead of Doug.

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  57. What inspires people like poppy to break free is that they have hope. It is hard to give them hope though, Mike really had to get to poppy before he agreed to get up and start working on the project. Poppy had hope to bring home Misha and try not to make the mistake he did with his son Doug.

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