The story so far is about an African American family who lives in Flint, Michigan. The mother and father do not seem to get a long as they fight in the first chapter about the mother being angry about moving to this freezing state instead of staying in Alabama where she is from. After finding out they can stay at their aunts warm house for the night, the dad send the two boy Byron and Kenny out to scrap the car windows. Soon Byron's lips get stuck to the car mirror and Kenny begins to think what his brother would do if the roles were reversed. Byron is a juvenile delinquent and bullies his brother around. Knowing that his brother would do something mean to him he still ran inside to get help from his parents.
You then get to see what their life at school is like for Kenny. Kenny is a very smart kid in school and often gets teased by others and does not have any friends. By on the other hand has been held back a couple of times, making him the oldest and biggest kid in the school. Kenny refers to him as "god" because he is the school bully and everyone looks up to him. Kenny one day thinks a "savor" is sent to him and as a southern boy comes to school. Everyone straight away is mean to him, giving Kenny less harssment from others. Soon the two become friends and Kenny begins enjoying his time with his new friend. In the story it is evident his friend does not have a lot of money, because of his ragged clothes and he never brings lunch to school. Kenny notices this and tried helping his friend out as much as possible.
In the last pages I read, Byron had been lighting things on fire after his mom specifically told him numerous times not to. This time she held to her promise and got out matches to burn her son. Joetta, their younger sister, frightened by the whole thing jumped in front of her brother trying to save him. Before I stopped reading, it did not seem their mother was too keen on the idea.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Week 3 Book Club
I'm a little confused about the last portion of the book. I understand that a bomb was thrown at the church, but I'm confused about what exactly happened with Joey and Kenneth. I think Joey claims that she saw Kenneth outside of the church, so she waved and ran after him. This essentially saved her life because she left before the bomb went off. But, when hearing Kenneth's perspective, it sounded to me like he didnt get to church until the bomb went off. Once he got there, he went outside and grabbed Joey's shoe, but then ran away? Both versions of the story aren't lining up for me. Didn't the story say that Joey had both of her black shoes on after the incident? If so, whos shoe did Kenneth have? And when exactly did Kenneth get to the church the day of the incident?
Another small aspect that confused me was the "Wooh Pooh". I know this was supposed to just be a whirlpool, but why does Kenneth keep saying that he actually saw something in the water? Was he just imagining things at the time of the accident because of the state he was in? Also, why did he claim to see the Wooh Pooh again when he was at the church? Is this supposed to represent something specific?
Another small aspect that confused me was the "Wooh Pooh". I know this was supposed to just be a whirlpool, but why does Kenneth keep saying that he actually saw something in the water? Was he just imagining things at the time of the accident because of the state he was in? Also, why did he claim to see the Wooh Pooh again when he was at the church? Is this supposed to represent something specific?
Monday, April 1, 2013
4/2 Post
Tier 1: run, closed, pants, touch
Tier 2: frozen, gap, snatched, leather
Tier 3: snatched, blizzard, frostbite, whine
I think that the most important words to focus on are the words in Tier 2 and 3. I think that these words are most important because the students do not use these words as much in everyday language as they do Tier 1 words. Since the Tier 2 words are words that they may know the meaning of, but cannot recognize in a book or be able to spell or write it, it would be good for them to study the words so they can recognize them in the text. Learning to recognize these words and be able to match the definitions of these words when reading the book will help students to comprehend the book at a deeper level. The students will be able to visualize the text while reading these words based on their definitions that they are now able to match as a part of studying these words. The Tier 3 words are important to touch on so they do not confuse the students. They may not be used in other contexts for students, but are crucial to the book. These words will help them to understand what is going on in the book, but it would be a waste of time to spend a majority of the time on them because they will not likely be used again elsewhere.
I would have students create a word web for the Tier 2 words. They will create a word web for each of the words. In the middle they will put the vocabulary word (ex: frozen). Then they will put words around it that help them remember what the word means. They can add a bubble with the definition, examples, non-examples, synonyms, etc. For example for frozen, they will put, cold, hard, ice, snow, solid state of matter, and not liquid. They will be asked to look up each word in the dictionary, but also draw a picture on the web that helps them to remember what the word is. They will also write the sentence that this word is included in the book along with 3 sentences where they use the word. This will help them to add this to their vocabulary so they can use it in writing and speech daily.
Tier 2: frozen, gap, snatched, leather
Tier 3: snatched, blizzard, frostbite, whine
I think that the most important words to focus on are the words in Tier 2 and 3. I think that these words are most important because the students do not use these words as much in everyday language as they do Tier 1 words. Since the Tier 2 words are words that they may know the meaning of, but cannot recognize in a book or be able to spell or write it, it would be good for them to study the words so they can recognize them in the text. Learning to recognize these words and be able to match the definitions of these words when reading the book will help students to comprehend the book at a deeper level. The students will be able to visualize the text while reading these words based on their definitions that they are now able to match as a part of studying these words. The Tier 3 words are important to touch on so they do not confuse the students. They may not be used in other contexts for students, but are crucial to the book. These words will help them to understand what is going on in the book, but it would be a waste of time to spend a majority of the time on them because they will not likely be used again elsewhere.
I would have students create a word web for the Tier 2 words. They will create a word web for each of the words. In the middle they will put the vocabulary word (ex: frozen). Then they will put words around it that help them remember what the word means. They can add a bubble with the definition, examples, non-examples, synonyms, etc. For example for frozen, they will put, cold, hard, ice, snow, solid state of matter, and not liquid. They will be asked to look up each word in the dictionary, but also draw a picture on the web that helps them to remember what the word is. They will also write the sentence that this word is included in the book along with 3 sentences where they use the word. This will help them to add this to their vocabulary so they can use it in writing and speech daily.
Week 2 Book Club
Now that I've described all the characters in my first Book Club blog post, I'll summarize what has happened in the story so far. Basically in the beginning, readers take a look at the Watsons' every day life. Most of the time the story takes place at school and it describes how Kenneth and Rufus' friendship evolves, the constant troubles Byron is always getting into, and the sibling rivalry between Kenneth and Byron. It is obvious that Kenneth wants Byron's approval more than anything, but Byron is very mean to Kenneth most of the time. After about 1/3 of the way through, the book takes a drastic turn. Byron comes home and has attempted to straighten his hair without his parents permission. Because of this being "the last straw" for Byron, his parents decide that he is going to have to live with his grandma for the summer in Birmingham Alabama. When the father talks to Kenneth about this decision, he explains that Byron needs to see the "real world" so he realizes all that is happening and isn't constantly getting into trouble. His father fears that as he is getting older, his troubles are only going to get worse and he is going to end up down the wrong path. He thinks sending Byron to South where there is more action happening will be a nice wake-up call for him. So, the part of the story I'm at right now is when the family has just left to begin their road trip. They plan on it taking 3 days to get to Alabama because they decide to make stops along the way. The mom is very organized and has the entire trip planned to the detail in her notebook. She figured out all financial aspects, looked up facts about each place they were going, and found games and puzzles to keep the kids entertained on the road.
Week 1 Book Club
After reading the first 5 chapters of The Watson's go to Birmingham, I have began to get basis of what the book is about and the characters. It takes place in 1963 in Flint, MI. A fourth grade boy, Kenneth, and his family (older brother, little sister, mother and father.) They are living in what seams like a predominately African American community and seem to be making ends meet and are not struggling financially, unlike some of there neighbors and friends. The mother is from Birmingham, Alabama and is not used to the brutal Michigan winters and bundles up the kids excessively when they leave for school. Kenneth is always afraid of getting bullied and is often picked on in school. He is very smart, unlike his older brother Byron, who is the tough popular boy. I was surprised in the book when a new student in the school, moving here from a southern state, is immediately outcasted because of his southern accent and ratty clothing. This boy, Rufus, becomes friends with Kenneth, and he often offers Rufus with food at lunch and mittens at recess because he does not have any.
As I read these first few chapters, I began to make predictions of what will happen in the book. Through the title I know that the Watson's are going to take a trip to Birminham, Alabama. I know that during this time there was a major civil rights movement, especially in the south and I predict they will encounter a lot regarding those issues. I predict that the character Rufus will help give Kenneth some insight on what he is likely to encounter in the south. Many times Rufus is the butt of many southern jokes because of his accent. I predict that the prejudice against him, will be similar to the prejudice that all african americans suffered from in the south. I predict that Kenneth and his family will fall victim to these prejudices on their trip and be able to see first hand what life is like in Birmingham.
As I read these first few chapters, I began to make predictions of what will happen in the book. Through the title I know that the Watson's are going to take a trip to Birminham, Alabama. I know that during this time there was a major civil rights movement, especially in the south and I predict they will encounter a lot regarding those issues. I predict that the character Rufus will help give Kenneth some insight on what he is likely to encounter in the south. Many times Rufus is the butt of many southern jokes because of his accent. I predict that the prejudice against him, will be similar to the prejudice that all african americans suffered from in the south. I predict that Kenneth and his family will fall victim to these prejudices on their trip and be able to see first hand what life is like in Birmingham.
4/2 Post
Tier 1: eyes, hat, blanket, walk
Tier 2: automatically, encouraged, negative, future
Tier 3: Alabama, territory, Georgia, Christian
It would be important to understand all of these words in order to comprehend the novel; however, I agree with Tompkins in that it is most important that students focus on Tier 2. This is because in Tier 1, students already know most of the words because they are basic; therefore, it would be silly to focus a lesson on words that a majority of the students already understand. Furthermore, Tier 3 words are words that students do not see very often. They call them "specialized" because they are usually specific to the particular story students are reading at the time. This leaves Tier 2, where it is words that students do not use regularly use in conversation, but they are likely to use in a school setting. Because of this, it would make sense that students focus on Tier 2 because it expands their vocabulary one step further from Tier 1. On top of that, after focusing enough time on the Tier 2 words, they'll understand the words enough to be able to use them on their own like in writing assignments.
A Word Study activity that students could participate in in a Word Poster. When doing this, students choose a word, write it on a poster, draw a picture that represents the word, and writes a sentence including the word. This activity is very beneficial because it allows students to analyze words from many different viewpoints. By drawing a picture of the word, it ensures that students understand what it is visually. It also allows them to put it in some sort of context. For example, if a student was doing a Word Poster for "hop", they could draw a picture of a bunny hopping. Not only would this picture demonstrate that they understand the correct definition, but it also shows that they can relate it to a real-life situation. Furthermore, by putting the word in a sentence students are allowed to expand on their thinking even more. On top of that, putting the word in a sentence requires that students not only have a general idea of what the word means, but they understand it completely.
Tier 2: automatically, encouraged, negative, future
Tier 3: Alabama, territory, Georgia, Christian
It would be important to understand all of these words in order to comprehend the novel; however, I agree with Tompkins in that it is most important that students focus on Tier 2. This is because in Tier 1, students already know most of the words because they are basic; therefore, it would be silly to focus a lesson on words that a majority of the students already understand. Furthermore, Tier 3 words are words that students do not see very often. They call them "specialized" because they are usually specific to the particular story students are reading at the time. This leaves Tier 2, where it is words that students do not use regularly use in conversation, but they are likely to use in a school setting. Because of this, it would make sense that students focus on Tier 2 because it expands their vocabulary one step further from Tier 1. On top of that, after focusing enough time on the Tier 2 words, they'll understand the words enough to be able to use them on their own like in writing assignments.
A Word Study activity that students could participate in in a Word Poster. When doing this, students choose a word, write it on a poster, draw a picture that represents the word, and writes a sentence including the word. This activity is very beneficial because it allows students to analyze words from many different viewpoints. By drawing a picture of the word, it ensures that students understand what it is visually. It also allows them to put it in some sort of context. For example, if a student was doing a Word Poster for "hop", they could draw a picture of a bunny hopping. Not only would this picture demonstrate that they understand the correct definition, but it also shows that they can relate it to a real-life situation. Furthermore, by putting the word in a sentence students are allowed to expand on their thinking even more. On top of that, putting the word in a sentence requires that students not only have a general idea of what the word means, but they understand it completely.
Book Club
The story has actually been really interesting so far. I read the first 70ish pages or so in one sitting and it went by fairly quickly. It is about a family who lives in Michigan during (what sounds like) an extremely cold Michigan winter. They stated that temperatures were getting as low as -20 degrees. The main family the book is based around consists of a mom, dad, and 3 children-Byron, Kenneth, and Joetta. The family seems to be more well off compared to other families in the book because Kenneth states how he and Joetta are one of the few kids that have nice gloves on the playground. In fact, they get two pairs of gloves per year. This contrasts with the other children who either use cheaper quality gloves or do not have gloves at all. Kenneth is the middle child and seems to get picked on quite a bit. He thinks it's because he is good at reading and because he has one lazy eye. Byron is his older brother who seems unsuccessful in school, but is a "God" socially. He seems to go by his own rules and disregard what other people want him to do. He also picks on Kenneth quite a bit. Joetta is the youngest and she is in kindergarten. The only things I've really heard about her is that she gets along fairly well with both of her brothers and seems to cry a lot when any sort of "crisis" happens. Another main character we've been introduced to is Kenneth's friend Rufus. Rufus seems to be a really nice person but is also picked on because of his southern accent. Kenneth definitely likes having him around though because he was very lonely before. One factor I noticed about Rufus is I think his family might be struggling financially. This is because the book states how Rufus and his younger brother only have 2-3 shirts and have to switch off a pair of blue jeans with each other every other day. On top of that, Rufus and his brother never have lunches so Kenneth always ends up giving him some of his. Overall, it has been fun learning about all the different characters in the book. They are all very different and I'm sure can relate to individual readers in many unique ways.
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