The Victorian Era

The Victorian Era was called so simply because it was during the reign of Queen Victoria of England. The era was characterized as a long period of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Britannica. Although it was a period of peace, it was temporarily interrupted by the Crimean War, when Britain was constantly at war. Victoria was on throne for approximately 63 years and 216 days. This reign made the record of Britain's longest history.

Life in the Victorian Era was very tough, depending on what you do for a living. The people were basically separated in two groups, the rich and the poor. The poor were always having ill treatment, from others who thought they were better than them. Their education was affected as well. There are young boys known as 'charity boys' whose education is paid by some charity churches who consider themselves better than those who have no education whatsoever. Them thinking so makes them give non-educational people some ill-treatment. The poor always have to earn their own living, so children as young as age five have to work. This is a very tough lifestyle for all of them. Their clothing is normally always too big, as they wear whatever they can find. Those who work in the workhouse normally have a menu of "an unlimited supply of water and a periodic supply of oatmeal. Onion twice a week and half a roll on Saturdays."

Although the Victorian era was mostly very peaceful, a lot of people struggled to survive. Ill-treated young have to fend for themselves, as no one would come to their rescue. This information might be relevant if you are planning to read the famous novel Oliver Twist. This is because the setting of the story takes place in the Victorian Era.

Night Water

Night Water

It's a starry, silent, breezy night

When the cold gets chilly, it starts to bite

The boat is in rhythm with the waves

they make pictures, like seek and hide

the moon is full, high is the tide

Alls peaceful, both parents asleep

Look around, side to side, nothing but ocean so deep.

Young boy Michael, half asleep at the wheel

A big, shaggy dog curled up at the corner

He clashes with the rest, yes he looks like a foreigner

The dog's ears prick up, suddenly alert

Barked like crazy, almost lost his dessert

Michael gets up, wondering, quite curious

As he leaves the wheel, goes by the edge

Trying to get his dog to get off the ledge

A sudden lurch gives them a scare

They crash in the water, back first then their hair

The boat leaves them, with no one in charge

They're left with nothing but water,

Nothing but dark, cold, night water

-By Ella Prado

Captain Kellers Business Letter

                                                                                            Captain Keller
                                                                                            Ivy Green
                                                                                            Tuscumbia, Alabama

                                                                                            Spring 1888

Mr. Anagnos
Perkins Institution of the Blind
Boston

Dear Mr. Anagnos,
               I must inform you that I need a teacher from your institute to help bring my blind daughter to see the light and to hear my voice. I will need an experienced teacher, one who can stand short tempers, bad manners, and tantrums, as my daughter does not know the meaning of discipline. She is both blind and deaf, so she may be a bit difficult to handle. At twelve years old, she might be a bit stubborn and difficult to handle. But I assure you, We will make the chosen teacher feel at home here in the south. To me, her blindness and deafness are her weakness, as she will not ever hear or see things around her. Your salary will be $25 per month, and thereby I expect to see results.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Captain Keller

Teach Someone Something

I taught a math skill on how to multiply by 9 to my little sister who is 8 years old because in third grade, they are learning multiplication so the trick might be very helpful. At first, the lesson didn't go too well, she always got everything mixed up and backwards, and when I gave a little mini test, she got almost everything wrong, I almost threw a fit, but then I remembered she wasn't joking around with me. In the end, she got everything correct, though she still needed some time to think over it. The trick was to take the number you will be multiplying, and subtract one from it. For example, if you are multiplying six and nine, take the number six and subtract one from it, which is five. You put the answer on the left side of the answer box.Then, you look at what you have so far for the answer. Subtract it from nine, and the answer put it on the right side of the answer box, right next to the one on the left. For example, we have a five in the answer box, so you take nine and subtract five from it. the answer will be four. Put it right next to the five in the answer box. Your equation will now look like 6x9=54. When my sister finally got the hang of it and had every single answer on the "test" I made her, I had a feeling of great achievement, as if I had just finished all my homework or that I had reached my goals.