A Picture Says a Thousand Words

TKM Discussion Notes Ch. 4-5 (sample)

To Kill a Mockingbird

Discussion Notes

Black text=concrete detail/summary

Purple text=commentary/analysis

Ch. 4
Scout endures a curriculum that moves too slowly. She is frustrated.
After school Scout encounters tinfoil sticking out of a knothole in one of the Radley’s oak trees. She finds chewing gum (a rare treat).

I’m wondering what the tree is showing. Does it have any significance. Perhaps it represents something to do with Boo and his mystery since it is found in his yard.

Jem’s reaction is one of protector and nervous brother.

This shows the kind of brother or person Jem truly is. He may tease and leave Scout out a lot, but in his heart he has many good qualities.

It’s the last day of school…yahoo! Jem and Scout find two Indian head pennies in the same knot hole of the Radley tree.

It’s the tree again! Who is leaving these items? Is it a coincidence? It is in the Radley place, so one can infer that it is one of the Radleys! If it is Boo, is he truly a monster?

Summer means Dill is coming back to Macomb!
They are up to their usual antics and accidentally roll Scout into the Radley’s yard in a tire. This gives them the idea to play “Boo Radley”.
Atticus catches them and asks if their game has anything do do with the Radleys. Jem lies. Atticus goes back into the house.

Even though it is one line where Jem lies, this is a main point in the book because we are seeing that good and bad is not black and white. Jem is good, but why does he lie to Atticus? Perhaps he is just a child growing up and learning for himself.

Ch. 5
Jem and Dill grow closer and Scout feels left out.

This shows they are growing up. Getting older.

Because of this she starts spending more time with Maudie Atkinson

The kids seem to be in charge of themselves. This shows that times have indeed changed.

Maudie is a gardener and a baker and knows Atticus well. She tells Scout about Boo…how he had a tyrannical father and how must that feel like to be a victim of a harsh father…a “foot washing Baptist” who believed most people were going to hell.

Maudie seems to be a “voice of reason”. She brings a whole other perspective about Boo into the story. We definitely think about him in a different way. He is becoming more human to us. Who do we make out to be a monster in our world? Do we need another POV to change our thoughts?

She says Boo was a very polite child and that most of the rumors are false; that he wasn’t crazy as a child, but he probably is now.

This information just confirms that Boo is like everybody else.

Jem and Dill are planning on giving Boo a note inviting him out to get ice cream. They try to stick the note in a window of the Radley Place with a fishing pole, but Atticus catches them and says “stop tormenting that man”!

The Big Ideas/ Themes….the message

CHANGE - from monster to human. Boo’s character.
CHANGE – Dill and Jem are growing up
CHANGE- Scout is starting to see people in different ways…learning POV from Miss Maudie.
BOO’s CHARACTER – we feel him in the tree, and we feel him as Miss Maudie offers insight …a sympathetic perspective. You be the judge.
JUSTICE – Atticus is always standing up and saying not to play the Radley game….why?

PREVIEW: Look for these themes in Ch. 6-7

INNOCENCE
SUFFERING
SYMPATHY
GROWING UP/CHANGE

Scuppernogs..mmm

Accept v. Except

Accept means to acknowledge, allow, recognize, or approve; except means to exclude.

Except also means “with the exception of…”

a. I accepted his candidacy for the job.
b. I love all of the food on my plate except the peas.

TKM Survival Guide

Here is the link to To Kill a Mockingbird survival guide. It has great help for vocabulary and allusions.

Another Writing Contest

The last writing contest posted is actually over. But on that website I did find another one that looks kind of fun. It's for poems. The website is: http://www.youngvoicesfoundation.org/images/YVA_Speak_Their_Muse.doc
Have fun!
-Reagan

...And Don't Forget It

"It isn't where you come from, it's where you're going that counts." — Ella Fitzgerald

I Feel Like Lane Cake

Check out what other people have to say about TKM:

This one talks about the famous lane cake (ch. 5)

This one is someone's opinion on our characters.

This one is very interactive....but be careful where you snoop. We don't want the ending to be ruined!

Reagan Says 'Hi'.

Hello, fellow 9th graders! I am way excited for all of the writing contests you have posted, Ms. Lafortune. Thanks for all of your hard work, I think it's really neat. Well, I have to go, so have a nice night/day.
Sincerely,
Reagan

From the Principal's Desk

I am excited about being part of your conversations! As you know, writing is an important part of our school. I want all of you to become great writers. It doesn't matter what profession or career you choose, you will need to know how to write.Writing can and will open many doors in your future!Write, write, write....

OMG Another Writing Contest!

A call for all short stories! Check it out here!

Affect v. Effect

This commonly confused word set stumps a lot of people. Here are some ways to remember how to use it correctly.

All information and cartoons below taken from Grammar Girl.

Affect

Affect with an a means "to influence," as in, "The arrows affected Ardvark," or "The rain affected Amy's hairdo." Affect can also mean, roughly, "to act in a way that you don't feel," as in, "She affected an air of superiority."

Effect

Effect with an e has a lot of subtle meanings as a noun, but to me the meaning "a result" seems to be at the core of all the definitions. For example, you can say, "The effect was eye-popping," or "The sound effects were amazing," or "The rain had no effect on Amy's hairdo."

Click here for a more complete explanation.

Shout Out to "Mandy"

If you want some cool quotes, check out one of HJH's own...Mandy's blog.

Another Writing Contest!

DEADLINE COMING SOON.....SEPT. 30th!

This one is a great one. It is a local contest. Here is what KSL has to say about it, "Choose the local leader you'd like to "follow" for a day, and get writing! The winning essay will spend the day and attend an honorary luncheon with their chosen mentor, a $1,000 Savings Bond, essay printed in the newspaper and the overall winning essay gets $5,000 for their school! Deadline for entries is Tuesday, September 30th! See entry form brochure for more details.

Entry forms can be picked up at Macey's.

Writing Contest!

Here is a great opportunity and chance to let your voice be heard with an invitation for a national reading-writing contest. Readers (that means you!) will write a personal letter to an author explaining how the author changed your way of thinking in some way (about you, and or your world).

To find out more, read samples, and how to apply click here.

p.s. extra credit will be given for entering. :)

Rachel's Challenge

Yesterday our school had the opportunity to here about Rachel Scott and her challenge. Her influence and writing is inspiring! Read more about Rachel here. To read what our own Hillcrest students had to say, visit us here and click on our student blogs. These are our five goals and challenges. Here it is...written... so we will always remember.

1. Eliminate Prejudice -looking for the best in others

2. Dare to Dream - set goals - keep a journal

3. Choose your Influences - input determines output

4. Kind Words - Small acts of kindess= HUGE impact

5. Start a Chain Reaction- with family and friends

Let the Book Come to Life

Here is an artist who really knows the meaning of reading! Her artwork is orignal and communicates a wonderful idea in an artistic form. The irony is, she is representing words, text, and books without any writing involved. Take a look at Jennifer Khoshbin's work. Here are few samples below. Jennifer says it is addressing memory and imagination. Enjoy!