What matters to me is the most important part of my life, and will be for the rest of it too.

Friends: I have six friends that I am closer to, then anyone in the whole world, Niki, Molly, Lauren, Saxony, Ellen and Sheanne. Without them I would have no support system, nothing. I have an unbreakable bond with these girls; I see them more then I do my own family. We have endless talks, cry on eachothers shoulders and can talk to each other about anything, or everything. We have been through a lot of tough times, nasty break-ups, being stabbed in the back, boy troubles and going to different schools. We don't have the humor of "you had to be there" but more like "even if you were there you wouldn't have gotten it because your brain doesn't function in weird ways like ours". Niki and I like to go to the pool and yell with our mouths half way under the water and half way out, it makes a funny noise, Molly and me like to sing and dance around to Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. Saxony and I make each other laugh endlessly, Lauren and I like to take crazy videos. Sheanne and I have very deep onversations. Ellen and I like to make eachother laugh on the bus. I trust them with my life. I would do anything for them, and I know they would do the same for me.




Family: My family is amazing very loving. I have two dogs, Abby and Rufus


ufus. Abby likes to come in in the morning and jump on me and lick me until i get up. Rufus is my baby. I love him more then I think I have ever loved a dog, probably because i have had him since he was a puppy. I call him baby. My mom is probably my hero. She has been through so many tough times, I don't know how she did it. We hardly ever fight, and we like to go to my sister, Maggie's soccer games. Maggie is really funny. We like to go on long plane and car rides together, she calls me a nerd, and I can't say I disagree. My dad is a funny guy, we fight a lot. But when we're not fighting, we're laughing together.

Our pictures may fade, but our memories will last forever.

What Matters

Faith- This is something that plays a humongous role in my life. God gave me all the things in my life that matter so without him I wouldn't have anything. I try to go to church as much as possible and I'm just constantly trying to surround myself with people to help move towards God.

Family- I'm not very close to many of my relatives such as aunts, uncles, grandparents and so on, but I couldn't be closer to my little family of three. My Mom(Christy), My sister(Katy), and I. My mom is my biggest role model and she has taught me so many valuable lessons in life. She's the bravest, most kindest person I am so fortunate to know and to have. Then, my sister Katy, is also a huge influence in my life. We actually get along most of the time and when we do argue we usually end up laughing about whatever dumb thing we were fighting about in the first place. She has helped me through a lot of things both good and bad and has just always been there to have a good laugh.

Friends- I have a wide variety of friends and I love that! My Friends are the ones who support me, help me, grow with me, and most importantly just have fun with me! Without my friends I have no idea where I would be today they are what helps make me, me.

Pets- All my life I have always lived with some kind of pet. Usually a cat but I have had my dog Shelby since I was about 6. My pets are very important to me because they have showed me love and compassion and taught me to be responsible. I'm going to be getting a puppy soon named Lucy/Lucy Loo very shortly so I'm very excited for that!

Sports- I have always been an athletic girl. It's just something I grew up with. I love soccer that's my favorite sport but also enjoy swimming, basketball, and almost any other sport! Sports help me relax and stay in shape.

Family- Family is the most important thing in my life. I have a mom, dad, and brother. All three of them mean the world to me and i would give up anything just to stay with them forever.
My mom is my best friend, i can always count on going to her for anything. It's fun talking to her because she gives me better advice than my friends would and i can trust her. I know that she wouldn't go tell everyone my secrets and won't start rumors about me. My mom and I do disagree with a lot of things though but it brings us closer together. It only brings us closer together because we learn more each other that way and we get to understand where we both are coming from. No matter what though i will always love my mom and not just because i have to but because i want. She means a lot to me and i love her more than the world.
My dad is different than my mom though. Because he is a man he can't really help me out with the girl drama thing. On the other hand he is good at supporting me and keeping me focused on things i really want to achieve and do in my life. He is amazing and i love him more than anything.
My brother is one of the best brothers you can ask for. We fight a lot but in the end we work things out. He also supports me in the things i do but mostly sports. Unlike my dad my brother can help me in tough situations like the silly drama. He can help me with things like that because he has seen it with his friends and knows what it feels like to be a teenager. Without him life would be 10 times harder and im about to face that hard life because in one more year he will be in college. I love him with my heart.

Friends- My friends are the other important thing in my life. They are my other support system.
I have 6 true best friends. They are Carly, Annie, Ashlyn, Sarah, Victoria[torie], and Kaite. They are my true best friends because they have always been on my side and holding me steady. They never have stabbed me in the backed or left me for others. I can count on them for catching me when i fall and most importantly hurt an

What Matters

Family is important. Family is always there for you, no matter what happens. In my family, I have a mom, a dad, and three siblings. I have an older brother and sister and a younger sister. My brother means a lot to me and he is such a good influence. He has been through a lot and I know that his advice is important. My sisters are also important. Having a younger sister is a great experience, it is quite a ride watching her grow up and see her excel in what she does. My mom and dad have always been there and I know they always will. Though I may not appreciate everything they have given me as much as I should now, I know that as I grow older I will realize how much they have sacrificed for me to have a good future. My grandpa is so great. He is probably the funniest person I know and joking around with him is a blast. Even though he lives in a different state we still keep in touch, and that means a lot to me.

My friends are absolutely amazing. I can’t even express how much I love them. Whenever I am with my friends there is never a dull moment. They always make me laugh and smile. Just knowing how much they care about me makes me stronger. I can go to any one of my friends for advice. Even though most of us got split up because of high school, we still keep in touch and hang out. Even some of us no longer see each other very often, I will always have the amazing memories we have shared. The memories I have had with my friends are truly unforgettable. I can always count on them to have a good time. I will always remember my friends from my previous school, and I can’t wait to make even more in high school and share more amazing memories.

School is so important. Even though school may not be my favorite thing in the world, I know that it is so important for my future. I want to get a good education so I can have a career that I love. I want to succeed and be proud of myself for accomplishing doing well in school.

what matters to me

What Matters To Me

My Family
My family is so important to me. They have been there since day number 1 and have never turned me down. Ranging from my little sis to my wonderful father my family is number one on the list of things that matters to me. They have always pushed me to do my very best and then some.
My dad has been my idol ever since when I was a toddler. People have always told me I looked like him and to me that is the biggest compliment. Not only has he taught me skills which I can use in life ranging from hunting to being the computer wiz I am now. He has taught me empathy, sincerity, and to always confront my problems face to face. Without him I would not be the person I am today.
My mom is the most wonderful human being alive. She always gives and never expects anything in return. My mom has always tried me to get to do new things and everything she got me to try I don’t regret. The one thing I can never be more thankful for is her teaching me how to read. She is such an important person to me she has taught me how to treat a lady, be polite and downright civil.
My uncle is very important to me. Even though he is not in my collage he still matters to me. He has taught me so much over the years. I remember him telling me stories of the medieval days and all the stories of hierarchies and the tales of the knight’s templar. He has introduced me to hundreds of books which have definitely increased my knowledge. He has helped inspire me to begin to write and I am so thankful for that. He always informs me of news and we always have conversations sometimes for hours.
My sister also matters to me. Though young my sister is an important person in my life. She takes care of me when I am sick and always goes out of her way to help me. She is definitely my mothers’ daughter she always tries to help other people even if it ends up hurting her self. I am happy to call her my sister.

My Pets
My dogs are such wonderful animals. They always want to sleep and never want to sleep. They get along with each other very well. They are my closest friends. They never argue with me and just want to listen and be with me. They never ask for anything except for the occasional bone.
My cat has always looked like the smartest animal in the house. He always looks like he has something on his mind. He can always warn me if someone is coming and always wants to be stroked. He is the best little cat in the world.

My Education
Education is so important to me. You can do almost anything with knowledge. It is the one lightless gift that u can always carry around. Hopefully with my knowledge I can go to a good college and then get a job I love. Knowledge is the key to any door.

My Exercise
Exercising is so important to me. It has helps me relax, opens up more doors for sports, and being fit feels so good. Without exercise I would not be the way I am today and I am thankful I have stuck with exercising over the years.

My Books
Reading has always been a very important concept to me. It opens so many doors and enlightens so many people. Books have influenced and entertained people for thousands of years. The bible is one of the most influential books in the world. I cannot be thankful enough for books they are a wonderful way to express yourself.

My Friends
My friends are definitely the best things that have ever happened to me. They always have a smile on their faces and always want to help each other out. Over the years I have made very many friends including some I will know until the day I die. There is always a special place in my heart for my friends.

dennis k what matters

To me, there are many things in life that "matter". Personally, there are three significant things in my life that matter. They are as follows: my family, my education, and my friends. A family is the greatest privilege that I posses. They are not only kind and compassionate, but they excel in everything that they do. This may be caring for me, providing a home and food, etc. Whenever I am faced with a tough decision, or don't understand something in school I can always rely on my family for help. Because of the accelerated nature of my parents, I have gained a great appreciation for academics and school in general. To me, it is of up most importance that success is met in every class whether it be by achieving sufficient grades, or pleasing teachers with intellect. I understand that my future hinges on my performance in high school, and because of this, I am incredibly motivated. My friendship with others is also am important entity in my life. They, like my family, are always there to comfort me and to have a good time. These are the three most important things in my life.

Anna K

Family: My family means the world to me! They are amazing! They are always there no matter what and they only want the best for me. My family includes my mom, my dad, and my twin brother. My mom is very understanding and supportive of what I do. She has done so much for me and I couldn’t ask for a better mother. My dad is a kind, brilliant man. It is amazing to me of how knowledgeable and kind-hearted he is. My brother is three minutes older then me and I couldn’t ask for a better brother. He has always been there with me from the first day of Kindergarten to the first day of freshman year. He is one of my best friends! I couldn’t live without him! My cats name is Kesa and she is the cutest cat ever. My mom bought Kesa for me when I was five years old and I love her so much! My family is the most important thing in my life, and without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today.


Friends: My friends are the people in my life who I can always count on. They are always there for me! We have has such amazing memories together that will stay with me for the rest of my life. My friends understand me and love to have fun! I wouldn’t know what I would do with out them. They are so special to me!


School: School is a very important asset of everyone’s lives and I take school very seriously. It is necessary for us to have a great education to have the life we want. Without school, I wouldn’t have the great friends I have today or the great education I possess. School is my life. Knowledge is power!

What Matters

Family. They mean so much to me, they are always there for me and will always be too. My mom always helps me get through lots of things including school, any problems I usually I have, and pretty much anything else. My dad has always taught me so much and I know I can always apply it to my life which gets me through hard times. My sister has become my role model, we have bonded ever since I was little. We have so much fun together and we always talk; now that she is off to college I will miss her and remember all of those memories we have had. Family is something that can never be replaced and will always be held in a spot in my heart.




Friends. I really would not know what i'd do without all of my friends. Each and every single one of them are here for me, no matter what. We have had the best times and they are very supportive of me. They comfort me when i'm sad, and celebrate with me when i'm happy. They give me a push when I need it, and help me back up when I fall. I wouldn't trade my friends for anything in the world.





My faith. My faith is very important to me because I am a Christian and I want to grow stronger in my relationship with God. He has been there for me through the toughest times, and He can be life changing. I have been on the path of God since I was very little, I want to know the Lord more and grown in Him as I get older.




School. Education matters to me a lot, even though a symbol of that is not up there in the collage. All of us really do take school for granted, because alot of people in other countries don't get a education as much as they want one. School is important to me because I really want to learn a lot and work hard through it. I would like to continue on to college someday after high school, and to succeed from then on. Education is part of life and definitely matters.

Sam H - What Matters

Family-

Family is such an important aspect to my every day life. Family matters to me so much because no matter what situation you are in your family will always be there to back you up and support you. I have one sister who is a sophmore in college and plays college soccer. She has been such an amazing role model for me and a huge supporter of everything I do. I don't even know how many times my family has been there to back me up in good and bad times. Whether it is in education, in soccer, or just dealing with friends, my family is always there to push me and help me through the thick and thin. A families love is never ending.




Education-

One thing that i know we all take for granted all the time is my education. When I am sitting in a class and I'm staring at the clock, watching the time go by, I'm always just hoping that some how the school day will end sooner than it would usually, but then I think about the kids in other countries who aren't near as fortunate as I am and who don't have a school to attend because the country doesn't have enough money to build a school. Education is so important and it matter so much, but often times I think it's more or a punishment than a privileged. We will continue using our education throughout the rest of our lives, that is why education matters.



Soccer-

One of my favorite things to in the world is play soccer. Currently I play club and starting in the spring I will be playing for Arapahoe. I can't even explain how much soccer matters to me. It is my life. I would rather be playing soccer than anything. Playing is such a great escape from everything. When I am mad or am just having a hard time, I love going out onto the field and playing. When I see my team everyday at practice, it's like seeing family. I have some of my best friends on my team. Soccer matters to me so much!



Faith-

Faith is so incredibly important to me. I have grown up in the Lutheran church my entire life and all of my family is religious. God has given me everything in my life and my faith in Him is very important. How I would get through my daily life without my faith and trust in the Lord is beyond me. I can not even count the huge number of blessings that I have. Faith and blessings are two huge things that I definatly take for granted everyday, but they are so important to me.




Friends-

My friends, where do I even begin? My friends are a huge part of my life. I see my friends almost more than I see my family. Friends are such a huge support system and without them I would be nowhere. Sometimes I think of my friends more as family. I can tell them anything and I can trust them with my deepest, darkest secrets. Friends are forever.




My Team-

What an amazing group of friends i have made on my soccer team! Those girls are my life! My team is so important to me, not only for games or practices, but for life in general. They are my family away from my family, hahaha. When I am with my team I feel like I am at home. They make me feel so special and comfortable. That amazing group of girls are not only awesome athletes, but when you look beyond that, beyond the shin guards and the grass stains, you see friends and people that you can trust. My team is so important to me in every aspect of my life!

This is NOT Education as Usual

What are qualities of good teachers? What are qualities of good students? What expectations do you have of this class? What expectations do you have of me as your teacher?

What does it mean to have a professional learning environment? What does it mean to be a producer of information versus a consumer of information?

Make sure to address all parts of the questions as well as comment on one another's reactions.

What Matters 2

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What Matters? All throughout the first semester, we are going to explore the issue of what matters- what matters to you, in literature, and how does it relate to the world around us. This is one of your first assignments where you are going to create a visual of what matters to you.

What Matters to Anne Smith...

Family matters to me. Growing up and Now...
Growing up...I have always felt blessed to have grown up with my family of 3 brothers (Matt, Keith and Adam) as well as a great dad and mom. Being the only girl, nothing less was expected of me than what my brothers could accomplish. My brothers pushed me (figuratively and literally) and I really am grateful to have had three such distinctive brothers watching over me.

My Dad matters to me. My dad told me growing up a few pieces of advice: one, girls don't swear; two, girl don't smoke; and three; don't be a wussy. Somehow this advice has always stuck with me and made me into the person I am today.

My Mom matters to me. My mom's piece of advice to me whenever I would walk out the door was, " Anne, remember who you are." This has stuck with me because no matter who I was going out with whether it be friends or on a date, it reminded me that the choices I make reflect my values and beliefs.

Now... Jeff, Jackson, Emma and Will. Having a family of five, there is never a dull moment. What matters to me is teaching my kids to be the best human beings they can be....listening to others, giving to others, realizing you can never give or get enough hugs, and most importantly, realizing that competition is the essence of life! (Just kidding) Whether they want to be an artist, athlete, or rock star ( I vote rock star), I just want them to lead happy and fulfilling lives. As I said before, I have always felt so blessed growing up, that I want them to experience many of the same things I did. As for Jeff, what matters to me about him is that I feel like I can do more than I have ever done and am supported in all that I want to do.

Jerry, Nancy, Jenn, Greg and Kailey matter to me because the openly accepted Emma and I into their lives and we have been better for it! Thanks for all the hugs and laughter.

Friends matter to me. This may surprise some of you, but I have never been the best with friends. However, after moving to Colorado, I feel like I know why. I have been accepted, encouraged, supported, and loved by so many people here. I can't thank enough Jeff, Maura, Katie, Kristin, Cara, Jessie, Andrea, and all my other AHS buddies! You guys really are the best! (That sounds cheesy but I can't think of another way to say it.)

Education matters to me. I have always liked school. I have had great teachers and coaches who helped me realize school is more than just studying and regurgitating information back to them. I wanted to do the same for other kids. I wanted to be a teacher that could show students all they could become. I didn't want them to think learning ends when you are done with your class, or high school or college, but that we should want to be life long learners (continual learners). I want this to matter to my students! With education comes reading; I think it is so important that you read everyday. It is one of my favorite things to do to relax.

Working out matters to me. I think taking care of your body physically helps all areas of your life. You are more mentally prepared to handle the challenges each day brings. As I said before, competition is a important part of life to me. I think there isn't anything wrong with working hard towards a goal and achieving it. I have competed in athletics for most of my life from figure skating, golf, swimming, track, cross country, soccer, and my favorite, volleyball. All of the activities not only matter just because of the competition, but because I had great coaches, and friends I met.

Faith matters to me. Although I don't have a picture up of a cross, or God or any other symbol of my faith, believing in God has always been an important part of my life. My parents raised me to be a child of God, and I have continued on that path. He has done amazing things in my life and provided for me so often. He truly is great.