Extra! Informational Text

  Do you want to know how basketball became a sport? Or do you want to know how to be a basketball player? Basketball has a long history since 1891.  There are many rules that you need to know and many skills to be a basketball player.  There are many remarkable player that are famouse for how they play the game. Basketball is a fun sport to play.

Basketball was invented in 1891 in Spring, Massachusetts by Canadian physical education instructor, James Naismith.  He did it  to condition young athletes during the cold season. The game consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball.  He published 13 rules for the new game.  The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 11, 1892.  The first basketball game was December 21, 1891.  James Naismith published rules for a new game using five basic ideas and thirteen rules.  The original 13 rules are found here, from www.hooptactics.com. 

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

Comment: Still current today. The ball can be passed or thrown in any direction with the exception that once the ball crosses the midcourt line, it cannot be passed back behind the midcourt line.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist.)

Comment: Ball can still be batted or tipped in any direction with one or both hands but never with a closed fist. Ball also cannot be kicked.

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

Comment: A player still cannot run with the ball. If they do it’s a violation. They must pass or dribble the ball with one hand. No allowance made when receiving a pass.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.

Comment: Players still cannot hold the ball against their body when moving. Results in a traveling violation.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.

Comment: These infractions or player fouls still apply. Players are disqualifed from the game after committing five or six fouls. Flagrant fouls may result in automatic ejections along with suspensions.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4, and such as described in Rule 5.

Comment: True today. The ball cannot be struck with a closed fist or kicked.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul.

Comment: This rule has been replaced by bonus free throws after a certain number of team fouls.

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

Comment: Ball now goes through the basket. Defensive basket interference and offensive goaltending rules still apply. However, FIBA rules allow touching the ball by either team once it hits the rim.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.

Comment: This out of bounds rule has been changed in that ball possession goes to the opposite team of the last player touching the ball. The inbounds five second count is still in effect and shot clocks have replaced the delay of game fouls.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

Comment: The umpire has been replaced with two or three person officiating crews. Player disqualifications have been modified to five or six personal fouls.

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

Comment: The referee has essentially been replaced by official scorers and timers. Out of bounds and goal decisions are made by the on court officials.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes’ rest between.

Comment: Game formats including length and the number of periods played along with halftime periods vary according to level.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

            In basketball, players must be able to pass the ball, know how to catch the ball, dribble the ball up the court and back, cut and pivot so you can trick the person that is defending you, and to pass the ball.  The players must also be able to shoot to get points for your team so you can win and screen so you can help your partner to get a shot and also to cut off the other player.  Finally you should know the setup of  the court which is the baseline, wings, and key.  As a basketball player you will have one of five position which is point guard, center , shooting guard, power forward, and small forward. Defense and offense are the main thing of basketball because defense is when the other team have the ball and your team trying to defend the other team from shooting. Offense is when your team has the ball and is trying to shoot the ball to get points. That’s some information you should know to play basketball.  ‘

            Lebron James play for the cavalers .  he has won two Olympic gold medial and two NBA championships.  So people believe he is the best NBA player.  Stephen Curry play for the golden state warriors.  He is the considered to be the greadtest shooter. He lead the Warriors to win there first championship since 1975. 

      Basketball is a sport with a rich history and an exciting future.  The game is going to grow and change but it will allways be that James Naismith invented 125 years ago.

Sister and Brother Authors, Week of April 11

Tutor Posts, Week of April 11

Gusts of snow

Blow across the sand

Like uncertain ghosts

Racing through a world

That justice has abandoned

I turn into the wind

And frozen bits of sleet

Pummel my face

As I return to work

In the darkness

We come home late

Cook slop from the freezer

And joke about processed food

Lack of exercise

We go to bed bored

But overstimulated

High on media

Election opinion

Crisp discourse

Overextended

Part of a caucus that exists nowhere

But in space

Across the world

Civil war

Destroys archaeological treasures

Entire cities

Homes

Families

Leaves children in an alley

To sort breadcrumbs from

Garbage and rocks

To make a soup

For their dinner

They are the children

The world has forgotten

Tutor Posts, Week of April 4

Sister and Brother Authors, Week of April 4

Informational Text REVISED

Audience: Middle School Students

Kendall- Gymnastics

Have you ever wanted to know how to do certain tricks in gymnastics? Flips, handstands, splits, and handsprings? They make me feel like I can fly. Let me tell you about some skills that make you feel like you can fly and more!

According to the Webster dictionary the meaning of the word skills is to be capable of doing something that takes training, experience, or practice. In order to have these skills you need to have confidence and to work hard. You can do this by practicing gymnastics at home or in a gymnasium. You can do gymnastics anywhere SAFE!!!!!! You can do it at home, outside in a open field, and a gymnasium, etc. Just remember to be in a SAFE environment and place. For example you do not want to do gymnastics in a small area with glass vases and furniture. This will cause your parents to get mad cause they spent all this money and you broke it !!!! Also the glass will break and it will cut you.

You need special gear for gymnastics like leotard, wristband, no shoes, and hair tied up.

You need a leotard so you can actually be comfortable and not rip your pants or clothes. Leotard are used because they have this special latex so it makes the leotard stretch. But if you do not have a leotard then get some gym shorts that are not tight and a short sleeve shirt.

If you are worried or wondering if you can do gymnastics well to answer your question, you can! Anyone can do gymnastics just remember to have confidence and work hard. Gymnastics specialist recommend that kids under 5 years old should have adult supervision.

You can start gymnastics at 3years old but can start earlier. According to Jensen and Media you can start as early as 2 years old.

Kinship Poems

Tutor Posts, Week of March 28

Brother and Sister Authors, Week of March 21

Informational Text DRAFT

Audience: Middle School Students

Kendall Huff- Gymnastics

Have you ever wanted to know how to do certain tricks in gymnastics? Flips, handstands, splits, and handsprings? They make me feel like I can fly. Let me tell you about some skills that make you feel like you can fly and more!

According to the Webster dictionary the meaning of the word skills is to be capable of doing something that takes training, experience, or practice. In order to have these skills you need to have confidence and to work hard. You can do this by practicing gymnastics at home or in a gymnasium. You can do gymnastics anywhere SAFE!!!!!! You can do it at home, outside in a open field, and a gymnasium, etc. Just remember to be in a SAFE enviorment and place. For example you do not want to do gymnastics in a small area with glass vases and furniture. This will cause your parents to get mad cause they spent all this money and you broke it !!!! Also the glass will break  and it will cut you.

You need special gear for gymnastics like leotard, wristbrand, no shoes , and hair tied up.

You need a leotard so you can actually be comfortable and not rip your pants or clothes. Leotard are used because they have this special latex so it makes the leotard stretch. But if you do not have a leotard then get some gym shorts that are not tight and a short sleeve shirt.

If you are worried or wondering if you can do gymnastics well to answer your question, you can! Anyone can do gymnastics just remember to have confidence and work hard. Gymnastics specialist recommend that kids under 5 years old should have adult supervision.

You can start gymnastics at 3years old but can start earlier for fun or something.

If you cant go to a gymnastics class how can you learn? Well don’t get sad kids you can go on youtube and watch videos or ask a friend . For example if you want to know how to do a handstand just go on Youtube and search “how to do a handstand for beginners.” If you need help doing some kind of skill in gymnastics ask a friend, siblings, or a parent to help spot you.  According to gymnasticszone.com , spotting means for someone to assist you while you are doing a gymnastics skill so you wont hurt yourself.

Here are some steps I can teach you to do. The 1^st thing you need to do is stretch your legs and your arms so you won’t pull a muscle that’s not supposed to be pulled.

Cartwheels: The first thing you want to do is put your hands up and leap on the floor and kick your legs over side ways and then your feet are going to touch the ground sideways and the way you are going to know that you did the steps right is that when you flipped doing your cartwheel your body will be sideways instead of straight .

Handstand: A stand handstand is simple all you need to do is put your hands on the ground and push your self off from the ground and then kick your legs half way over then keep them in the air and then when you are done you can ethier flip all the way over or just come down.

Round off: A round off is easy if you know how to a handstand and a Cartwheel then you know how to do a round off. All you want to do is do a cartwheel but land with your feet together and not apart. So what you want to do is put your hands on the ground and then kick off from the side and the turn your waist to make your feet land straight and together.

Back Handspring:  A back handspring is a little difficult for some people. What you want to do to complete a handspring is try to practice on something bouncy first to try to get the feeling of you springing back up like a bed or a trampoline. But make sure that it is safe first cause I am pretty sure your mom does not want you to get hurt. The first is to practice doing a handstand on a trampoline or a bed and when you do the handstand add a flip over all the way with your handstand so when you do your handstand flip all the way over. Then, practice that over and over and over again until you feel secure moving into a little bit harder challenge. When you feel more secure do your handstand backwards then after that jump into your backhand spring 

and then put all of those steps together.

Front Handspring: A front hand spring is just adding a jump force into a handstand. So just run and then do a flip that goes into a handstand then just land with your feet coming together.

Split: How to do a split: The way how you do a split is stretch your legs and your arms out so you won’t pull a muscle and then just lower legs down little by little and then keep on stretching everyday you will be able to do a split but it takes time so it probably won’t happen in 1 day.                                                                                        

UIC Sister and Brother Authors, Week of March 14

Brother and Sister Authors Week of March 7

Tutor Posts for March 9, 2016

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z5FS8G6s_zWgHdDLfdzQ2bpAb2DPiWtWG3T2wBqp9WY/pub

Brother and Sister Authors, Week of February 29

Flying toward spring, and poetry

Tutors, Week of February 22

Brother and Sister Authors--Week of February 22

Brother and Sister Authors--Illustrations

Tayshaun Young

Tutor Posts, Week of February 8

Worth My Time

Kahli was a fire-bringer, name for a queen. The Kahli I’d just met was just as impressive. She had one of those “if only I’d known then…” jobs. Her work was comprised of buying very pretty things—the loveliest and most expensive of the best—using them in photographic shoots, and then promptly returning them. She instinctively knew where to find her embellishments. Children’s clothing catalogs required craft store purchases. Food spreads meant farmers’ market goods. And jewelry catalogs demanded a combination of Oak St. salons and vintage clothing boutiques.

            Pavel had hired me as photographer’s assistant while I waited to begin graduate school. I’d decided that artist had won out to academic in my personal career battle, but Pavel was a gifted photographer and fun to work with. Besides, he paid well.

            We were working in a studio on Kingsbury, near North Avenue. It was an easy el ride from home. My work that week was mostly light metering and gluing rings to foam core boards according to an intricate layout provided by the client. Kahli then dressed them with extravagant purses, and bits of fabric or leather. Late afternoon Thursday, we began experiencing difficulty with electricity. Work in the neighborhood was causing interruptions. I followed Pavel and Kahli out a back door into an alley to bask in the bright, late afternoon light of summer. “Kahli, Grace,” Pavel began. “Do you have a minute?”

            I shrugged, uncertain what was coming next.

            Kahli didn’t care what came next. “You are always worth my time.” She smiled, and Pavel asked us to stay for another six hours to work into the evening. Her cheerful nonchalant approach to life struck me as remarkable.

            Two years later, I had gotten married and was working as a field secretary on a construction job near County Hospital, close to school as I finished my degree. John, the site foreman transferred a call to me from the front office. He’d said, “Some lady keeps askin’ for ‘ya. I think by your maiden name.”

            I took the call. It was Kahli. She was in County Hospital. Pavel had told her I was nearby. She gave me her room number and simply said, “Please visit me.”

            It took eight minutes for me to reach the women’s ward from the construction trailer. Kahli’s former bright spirit appeared diminished, shrunken by a lack of privacy and faded gray gown and bedding.

            I hugged her awkwardly.

            “Thank you for coming,” she said. “Have you talked to Pavel?”

            I blushed, “I’m so sorry, I’ve been mostly out of touch with—“

            She smiled wearily. “No problem. I just thought he might have said something. I’ve been out of it for a couple months. It’s pretty bad.”

            Shocked, I stepped toward her, “What’s wrong? Why are you here?”

            She sighed, “Nobody’s sure yet. Lots of things. Fibromyalgia probably. Possibly MS.”

            “What? I mean, why are you—here?” I asked, confused, looking around the women’s ward. Down the hall was the infant nursery.

            Kahli studied her feet, bare and resting on the floor as she sat on her bed. “I had an ectopic pregnancy. They got the tube yesterday. But now, they want me to sign a form.”

            My ears began ringing in anger. I knew what was coming next. “Hysterectomy.”

            “Sterilization. Yes.” She said. “If I do end up having MS—“

            “You can still have children, Kahli.” I was winging it, but had never before known someone to whom this suggestion was made. Not in this city. Certainly not in this decade. I resolved to speak to my midwife friend and get back to her. “Until then,” I said as I left, “Do not sign anything but your discharge papers.”

            I phoned her the next day after speaking with a doctor. He confirmed my instincts.

            That was the last time I saw her. Until last week. A decade had passed between our encounters. I was at Target, buying craft supplies of all things, when I heard that familiar refrain, “You are always worth my time.”

            There was Kahli, holding a small boy by the hand. They were testing gel pens in the adjacent aisle. As I greeted her and introduced myself to her son, Kahli told me to ask him about his sister.

            “You have a sister?” I asked? “And where is she and what is her name?”

            “She’s at piano. Her name’s Annie and she’s eight. You know what Annie means?”

            I laughed at this talkative cherub. “No, what does Annie mean?”

            “Annie means Grace.”