Mrs. Carol LaRow's 7th Grade English Classes

Student Reactions to an "All Class" Novel

As students read and discuss the novel, they write discussion questions. Students write questions as they read each chapter. Questions must be "discussion" not "recall." The students are encouraged to write questions they would like to see discussed in class. They may include ideas or content they have true queries about and address any topic that will help them arrive at the meaning of the novel.

In this blog, students have written their thoughts about particular chapters. Other students are invited to react to any of the reflections students have posted.

The class blog can be used to augment class discussions. As students discuss the novel, they come to understand characters' actions, author intent, theme, plot, etc. They arrive at the meaning of the novel as they listen to and interact with each other's opinions.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Chapter 3:

The authors devote half a page to describing nature in this chapter, page 45. They paint a picture of autumn, then early winter, by describing the geese flying overhead, the colors of the fall leaves, and the thin coats of ice on the puddles. It made me stop and picture nature, but I also wondered why the authors chose to put this into the book. The main point is whether or not Sam will return and whether the war is affecting the people of Redding. I wondered why the authors wanted the reader to picture nature as I read the description.
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2 comments:

Ron Cos Student said...

I don't think the mother said much because of the time period of the novel. In those days, the father was the head of the household. I also wondered who Tim was going to side with, Father or Sam. He really admires his brother Sam, but he respects his father too.

June 21, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Teacher Demo said...

Perhaps the authors are trying to "hint" at what is to come for Sam and the other residents of Redding. Maybe this is a form of foreshadowing - to have it rainy and stormy as Sam announces what the Rebels and Lobsterbacks are doing.

June 21, 2008 at 5:45 PM

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