Director - develop questions and lead the discussion
Objective: Have the literary circle group of students write out specific
and/or interesting passages, particular quotes, or interesting facts from reading
the story to use for an open discussion.
Preparation Examples:
“Real
friends understand,” Mom said on the ride home. (Chapter 1, p. 6) -- PASSAGE
“How will he learn to be independent if
everyone lets him behave and speak the wrong way?” (Chapter 1, p. 9)--PASSAGE
“Looking closer can make something
beautiful” (Chapter 2, p. 19) -- QUOTE
“…Mom doesn’t understand how not
everyone is on David’s side.” (Chapter 3, p. 31) –INTERESTING THOUGHT
“It is
different and here’s how: Everyone expects a tiny bit from him and a huge lot
from me.” (Chapter 5, p. 61) –INTERESTING THOUGHT
When students write their
detail of examples, have them ask themselves why they chose it. Does it give them something to think about?
Is it something they may have experienced or witnessed? Whatever their reason, it will be good since
the student had some sort of reason for choosing it.
Discussion
Have each student write 2-3 of their examples on individual slips
of paper and placed into a box. Each
student will randomly select a slip of paper, read the passage aloud and offer a
reason why it may have been selected.
Keep discussion going by circulating answer where each student has an
opportunity to elaborate on the passage and give different perspectives. Engage student agreement or disagreement, and
why.
Cindy, you chose almost every passage I did! I think that is significant, for us to be moved and provoked by the same passages. Don't you?
ReplyDeleteOne passage I did not write in my blog, but I did have underlined was, "...Mom doesn't understand how not everyone's on David's side" (Lord, 2006, p.31). I would love to hear what students have to say about this particular quotation, because they would not have the perspective of the mother.
I personally think the quotation is interesting for a couple of reasons. I think it is interesting because Catherine see more of David than her mother, whether she wants that role or not. Catherine's mother of course would disagree with this, and she would also disagree with this quotation; mothers with differently-abled children try SO hard ALL THE TIME. It would be very difficult for David's mom to think there were people in her world trying to make David's life even more difficult than it already is, as she is desperate for friendly faces and community support. We all know it takes a village to raise a child, especially one like David. Catherine and David's mom just wants to be able to breathe a little easier by thinking the people around her are supportive, so she doesn't have to be "mama lion" all of the time. Catherine, who feels like she carries an equal but unappreciated burden, is not at a point where she can appreciate the burden her mother carries each day trying to broaden David's world to make the one he lives in more and more accessible to him.
The interesting thing about this is that both Catherine and her mother are on the same team: they both want what's best for David. They just are not communicating that very well to one another because they care for David in very different ways.
SaraH:
ReplyDeleteYes, it is very significant that we chose similar passages! Great minds think alike as the old saying goes? I watch kids and adults alike look at our special education students in the same manner. When I'm out in public, I can see others looking as if not to look at people of a different ability. I can only imagine what these people go through. Similarly, I had shaved my head bald in 2014 Kids for Cancer at Gilette Stadium (which was an amazing and most liberating experience I had since giving birth to my girls). I was able to have the opportunity to experience how it felt to have no hair, to get those stares of what happened to her kind of look, and my children observed these same behaviors when out in public with me where they would stare people back. You don't really know what it's like unless you can walk in their shoes somehow. Granted this was nothing in comparison to those who do have cancer (such as my father did), but it gave a whole new perspective. Anyway, there were so many passages that were heartfelt by Catherine that I could have a sense of what she was feeling.
The final two chapters actually choked me up as Catherine realizes her brother is a pretty special guy. Enjoying those little moments in life is what Catherine understands now in being there fore David, which are truly big moments for him in his world.
Great RULES to live by.
Cindy
WOW! What a powerful experience to be able to talk about. I have mentioned how courageous I find you on several occasions, and I didn't even know you shaved your head! I had a feeling...that is really amazing. So are you!
ReplyDelete