4/6/2017  This is my last posting in identify key parts of a story as part of  a literary circle.  Today I will conclude with Literary Luminary and Researcher.

Literary Luminary - This position is to choose a paragraph, sentences, from the book to discuss with your group by highlight special sections of interest, that are powerful in meaning, could funny, puzzling, or important from the story text. 


Jason sneaks his hand over his cards. Speech. Woman. Stinks a big one!!! (Lord, 2006, p. 75) 

• I chose this particular sentence because it was a phrase Catherine would use when she did not like something or someone in a particular circumstance.  In this example, Jason dislikes his occupational therapist as she is always overly friendly.  Catherine made Jason a communication card with this phrase and it became a shared expression between them that they both understood.  It's like a code word amongst friends where they share a phrase, say it when something isn't what they like, and can have a unified understanding of what the other is saying.  For me, I would tickle my girls when younger until they would almost pee their pants, and the only way I would stop was with a code word of "Bippety Boppety Boo".  And it still makes me smile because we still use it today and they are 14 and 12.

I bend over to steady my breath.  When I straighten up, I see not only is everyone in the waiting room standing at the clinic windows watching us, but a family on the sidewalk is staring, shopping bags in hand.  And in several of the restaurant windows surrounding the parking lot, people have stopped eating to watch. Most of them have their mouths dropped open.  Jason waves. (Lord, 2006, p.123)

• This particular paragraph had me giggling with enjoyment.  I could literary envision Catherine pushing about a wheel chair with a boy in it, as fast as fast could be, hearing her sneakers flap against the pavement with every once of her being, to give Jason the posssible feeling of what 'running' was like where he would never experience it.  As it was quoted to be a weightless near to flying fastness.  I had the pleasure of something similar where a student I worked with had one working lung and had downs syndrome.  His favorite sport was basketball and using the scooters in the gym floor.  One day I tied a jump rope onto it and tugged him as fast as I could up and down the court wearing myself out as he would say, "More Miss Cindy! More!" and to this day, I can feel tears rush to my eyes knowing such a simple activity brought him a happiness that soared over the moon.

I let that be enough. (Lord, 2006, p. 200)

• These few words were powerful and impacting to me.  It was a final, tender moment between Catherine and David kneeling at their fishtank, their reflections in the glass.  These amongst the many other incidences she shares with David are bittersweet, more so for Catherine, as she comes to realization that this is and will forever always be her relationship with her autistic brother. It reminded me of a quote that I have hanging as a picture frame with my daughters and I in my kitchen where it reads, "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day, you'll look back and realize they were the big things", and this is just that for Catherine.  All of these little things Catherine does for David are big things that allow for her brother to function on a daily basis that he will never truly comprehend.

Researcher - This role is to dig up and/or discover background information that is relevant to the reading.

Autism is a is a brain-based disorder characterized by social-communication challenges and restricted repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. (Autism Science Foundation)

The following are a few website links, articles or general information to find out more about autism:

  

Autism Speaks
https://www.autismspeaks.org/
This is an organization in the United States that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public.

Blue 
https://www.reference.com/health/color-autism-awareness-ribbons-fd6008af0c392ed8

Autism Awareness Ribbon
http://www.autism-society.org/about-the-autism-society/history/autism-awareness-ribbon/
This puzzle, patterned ribbon composed of different shades of blue, red and yellow. 

Autism Center of Excellence
https://autism-center.ucsd.edu/autism-information/Pages/what-is-autism.aspx

US NEWS
https://www.usnews.com/topics/subjects/autism