No Meeting This Week...

...Mr. Custis and I will both be gone Thursday (I'm going to Japan!  Woohoo!!), but I do hope you guys have hit the last page goal, and that you're ready for this one.  You've got all of spring break plus the rest of this week, so let's go to Chapter 18, page 178.  This will move us into the trial that is the centerpiece of this story.  It's really important that you guys understand what is going on, so please, ask questions if you have them!

I'll post some discussion questions tomorrow, and I expect you guys to get on and chat!  You're making me crazy (not you, Divya-- thanks for your thoughts. I'll try to respond tomorrow!

:)
Mrs. P

Discussion Questions for 2nd Goal

Hey bookies!

So I won't know if I can meet with you until the day of-- it depends on whether Mrs. Carter has to proctor any makeup TCAPs, and how busy it is in here, etc.  But why don't you guys plan on meeting in the library conference room regardless of my schedule?  That way you can move ahead with the book discussion, and I am sure I'll be able to poke my head in the room and give you my two cents.  :)

Let's start the discussion here on this thread.  I will expect you to reply here to at least a few of the questions as well as post any questions that you have about the reading.  If you have them, other people probably do, too!  So, for Thursday:

1.   What does Miss Maudie tell Scout about Boo?  How does this compare with what Scout already believes?

2.  Scout claims that “Dill could tell the biggest ones ” (lies) she ever heard. Why might Dill have told such lies? 

3.  Why does Dill’s explanation of Jem’s state of dress almost land him in trouble?

4.  When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How
     does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so? 

5.  What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it?

6.  When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize? 

7.  How well does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? Is it usual for (white) lawyers to do their best for black clients in Alabama at this time? 

8.  Does Scout learn anything from overhearing Atticus's conversation with Uncle Jack? What might this be?

9.   In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”.

10.  In chapter 11, Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?

Next Page Goal-- for during TCAP???

All right, guys, for next week (I'll check out when the veterans are here and plan around it-- is there anything else I need to plan around?), let's read to p. 99, chapter 11.  If you have questions, post them here!  We can often learn from each other's questions, you know?  I will also post some discussion questions early next week (Richelle, will you remind me please?).

Have a great weekend, everyone, and please figure out how much time daily you need to read this book to hit the goal by Wednesday (just to be safe)!

:)
Mrs. P

This Week's Page Goal = One Chapter More Than Last Week!

Meeting this Thursday!  Read to page 41, chapter 5.

Discussion Questions (please answer here on the blog, and be ready to discuss Thursday!):  

1. What do you learn in chapter 1 about Maycomb, Atticus Finch and his family?
2. What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter Cunningham? What do you think Scout learns from Walter's visit?
3. What do you learn about Dill's character?
4. What, briefly, is Boo Radley's story?  
5.  What do you think of Miss Caroline Fisher?  Is she a good teacher or a bad teacher?  What makes you think so?
6.  What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter Cunningham during his visit?  Does Scout learn anything from the visit?
**7.  Atticus says that you never really understand a person "until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."  What does this mean?  Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn?

8.  What do we learn about the Ewells in Chapter 3?
9.  What do Jem, Scout and Dill do during the Boo Radley Game?  Is this an accurate depiction of what goes on in the Radley house, do you think?  Why or why not?
10.  What or who do you think is laughing inside the Radley house?

And now, for Mrs. P's favorite book of all time... To Kill a Mockingbird!

Time to read, folks!  Let's all try to get to Chapter 4, p.32 by this Thursday.  Okay?

:)
Mrs. P

Happy St. Valentine's Day, Bookies! New Reading Goal

Okay folks, this time we're going to p. 264, Chapter 17.  An interesting twist happens in this section, so have fun reading over the long weekend!  Hopefully I'll see you guys for our meeting Thursday.

:)
Mrs. P

P.S. Questions?  Comments?  Insights?  Predictions?  Post here, and let's chat about it!

New Page Goal!

Sorry I haven't made it to the meetings lately, guys!  Blame Mr. Mehsling.  :)  Somebody comment about the book so I know what you guys think.  I want to talk about it with you!

Next page goal is to page 199, the start of chapter 14.  Hopefully I'll see you at the next meeting...

:)
Mrs. P