Introduction
To Kill?  Or Not to Kill?
Euthanasia:
Pronunciation: "youth-an-asia"
killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured persons or animals with as little pain as possible out of kindness or mercy -- called also mercy killing

Euthanasia. It's a big word with big consequences. For as long as I can remember, there has been a debate on the killing of humans who are hopelessly sick and too feeble to end their own lives. Is this type of killing an act of mercy? Or is it a crime? There's no doubt about it--the killing of people in the US, for ANY reason, is a criminal act, whether it is done out of mercy or not. The story we are about to read addresses euthanasia and its consequences. Before we dive into the book, I would like you to view the following video and post a comment of your first impressions.


What are your first impressions on euthanasia? Should it be illegal? Should people go to jail for mercy killing? Or should it be considered an act of mercy?

Now watch a book trailer on Stuck In Neutral, the book we will be working with in class. You're going to love it!



Vocabulary
Stuck In Neutral vocab: Use the following list of vocabulary words to create flashcards in the "trading cards" app.  Fill out the picture, meaning, part of speech, synonym, word clue, and sentence.  Be creative with the pictures!
1. Euthanasia
2. Burden
3. Conceited
4. Cerebral Palsy
5. Pulitzer Prize
6. Intolerable
7. Resentment
8. Voluntary
9. Scurry
10. Armistice



**At the end of this novel, you will be writing a persuasive essay about euthanasia.  More info on that to come!






Discussion Questions
Directions: Read the first five chapters of Stuck In Neutral.  If you'd like, you can click on the links below and listen to the audio as you read!  (Just be sure to wear your headphones.)  After you read each chapter, please CHOOSE TWO discussion questions to answer, in complete sentences (of course).  At the end of each chapter, after you have answered your questions, you will share your responses with your group.

Chapter 1
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
1. After reading only pages 1-3, how would you say that Shawn feels about his life? 
2. He sure seems to have a lot of “good news.”  What are some things about Shawn’s life that he loves?
3. In what ways is Shawn misunderstood?
4. Why do you suppose the author chooses to use the word “retard” in this book?  How does Shawn feel about the word?

Chapter 2
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
  1. How does Shawn’s condition affect him?
  2. How does Shawn communicate with the people around him?
  3. In what ways does Shawn misunderstand the world around him?
  4. What one last piece of bad news does Shawn reveal at the end of the chapter?  What do you think is going on here?

Chapter 3
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
  1. Most 12 year olds have had some type of experience with death.  The scene described in this chapter is Shawn’s ONLY death-related experience.  Describe the scene.
  2. Why do you think he fears death so much?
  3. Do most people have the negative perspective on death that Shawn has?

Chapter 4
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
  1. How many times has Shawn been alone with his dad?  How many times has he heard him say his name?  Why does Shawn choose to point these numbers out to us as the readers?
  2. How do you think that Shawn’s dad feels about him?  Pull a specific line from the text.
  3. What is the event that triggers his dad’s anger in this chapter?  Why does he become so angry? 
  4. What does the crow represent?
  5. In the second to the last paragraph, Shawn mentions a lot of “opposite” aspects of his dad’s personality.  What does he mean?  Why does he choose to portray his father in this way?
  6. What is his dad famous for?

Chapter 5
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
  1. What is happening in this first stanza of Shawn’s dad’s poem?  How does Shawn’s dad feel during the moment that is being described?
  2. What is a “veg?”  How does Shawn misunderstand this?
  3. There were many reasons why Shawn felt self-conscious at the poetry reading.  Name 5.
  4. Shawn reveals something about himself in the last paragraph of this chapter.  What is it?  What is a seizure?  Why do you think Shawn might love having seizures?
Chapter 6
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
  1. In verse 2 of the poem, what strange movement does Lindy notice in the baby’s eyes?  What was “unraveling?”
  2. On page 33 Shawn says, “Imagine a world where, every time you laughed, everyone else looked sad.” What is he referring to?  How can he laugh?  Why do people look sad?
  3. Describe the sensation that Shawn has when he’s having a seizure.  Specifically, what happens to his “spirit?”
  4. Most people hate having seizures.  Why does Shawn love them so much?
  5. If you could fly anywhere, or see anything like Shawn does during his seizures, where would you go?  What would you want to experience?

Chapter 7
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
  1. Verse 3 of Shawn says, “His arms and legs/ are overcooked spaghetti/ laced with the bones of dead birds.”  What is the author saying?
  2. How is Shawn just like a “normal” teenager? What did he have in common with you? How is Shawn misunderstood in the same and different ways than other people?
  3. Shawn analyzes the word “retard” in this chapter.  What does HE think of the word?  Why do you think that the author addresses using the word “retard” in this book?
  4. The issue of educating the uneducable comes up in this chapter.  How do you feel about this issue?  Should we spend money working with children who can’t be taught?  Why do you think this law exists?
  5. After listening to his dad with the camera crew, Shawn is more convinced than ever that his dad is thinking about killing him.  Why would a father kill his own son?  If you were Shawn, would you be worried or relieved?

Chapter 8
  1. The impact that Shawn has on his family members is highlighted in this chapter.  Shawn believes that his father left the family because of him.  Do you agree?  Why couldn’t his dad handle it when everyone else managed their emotions?
  2. How would you describe Shawn’s family? What are the similarities and differences among the men and the women of Shawn’s family? How did the parents’ divorce affect the family as individuals and as a group?
  3. What do you think Shawn’s father believes about Shawn as a person? How would you describe Shawn’s father, Sydney McDaniel? What did you think of Shawn’s father? Do you think he is using Shawn for fame? Would you describe him as selfish or selfless?
Chapter 9
Discussion Questions (choose 2)
  1. In the second paragraph on page 54, Shawn describe the way that people “see” him.  Why does he become invisible?  How would you feel if you were invisible to people?  Is this always a negative thing for Shawn?
  2. Why do you suppose people talk loudly to Shawn when they first meet him? 
  3. As Shawn is lying in his bed, he talks about the mobile that hangs above him.  What details does he tell us about it?  Why do you suppose the author had Shawn tell us these details?
  4. How did you feel when you read about the fly on Shawn’s face?  Have you ever had an experience where something really uncomfortable was happening to you and there was nothing you could do about it?
  5. Being in love with Allie makes Shawn realize something about his life.  What is it?

Chapter 10
Discussion Questions (choose 2)
  1. This verse of “Shawn” describes the relationship between Sidney and Lindy.  What is happening between them? Why is it happening?
  2. Describe how Shawn eats.
  3. Who is Earl Detreaux?  Why does talking about him get Cindy all fired up?
  4. Why do you think that Shawn’s dad is associating with Detreaux?
**These chapters only have one or two questions.  Both partners need to answer ALL of the questions and then discuss. :)

Chapter 11
Discussion Question
  1. The Alice Ponds Show introduces the topic “Parents who Kill” from a very negative perspective. How does Sydney force them to consider another perspective? What the rationale for killing your child? What is the justification presented in the chapter
Chapter 12
Discussion Questions 
  1.  As Shawn returns from his seizure, the family is discussing what? How do we know?
  2. What horrifying event occurs in this chapter? Please relate the entire event.

Chapter 13
Discussion Questions
  1. What is a “respite” worker?
  2. What is the mood in this chapter? Why?

Chapter 14
Discussion Question
  1. What happens in the dream? Why is this important?

Chapter 15
  1. What does Sydney do for Shawn in this chapter? Why is it important for the reader to hear about this event?

Chapter 16
  1. Is the timing of Shawn’s seizure in the last chapter perfect or at exactly the worst time? Justify your answer.
 
For the last week of school, we are going to be working with The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis.  We will be reading the first part of each chapter together in class, and you will read the second part independently or with a partner.  After each chapter, you will work on discussion questions.  At the end of the novel, you will be creating a project on the iPads. 


The Watsons Go to Birmingham assignments:
Chapter 1 Audio (full)
Chapter 2 Audio (half)
Chapter 3 Audio (half)
Chapter 4 Audio (half)
Chapter 5 Audio (half)
Chapter 6 Audio (half)
Chapter 7 Audio (half)
Chapter 8 Audio (half)
Chapter 9 Audio (half)
Chapter 10 Audio (half)
Chapter 11 Audio (half)
Chapter 12 Audio (half)
Chapter 13 Audio (half)
Chapter 14 Audio (half)
Chapter 15 Audio (half)
Epilogue (read on your own)

Vocabulary
Watsons Go To Birmingham Vocab: Use the following list of vocabulary words to create flashcards in the "trading cards" app.  Fill out the picture, meaning, part of speech, synonym, word clue, and sentence.  Be creative with the pictures!
1. generate
2. delinquent
3. hostile
4. numerous
5. vital
6. incapable
7. intimidate
8. emulate
9. sniggle
10. peon


Discussion Questions:
Chapter 3

1.       Why is Kenny hesitant to spend time with Rufus?

2.      How was Rufus’s life in Arkansas different than it is in Flint?

3.      Why do you think Kenny is friends with LJ, even though LJ isn’t nice to him?

4.      Why does Kenny end up thinking that Rufus is a better friend than LJ?

Chapter 4

1.      What kind of relationship does Kenny have with Joetta? Can you give examples of things that happen between them that make you think that?

2.      Why do you think Byron stops Larry Dunn from giving Kenny a “Super Maytag” when Byron often plays similar tricks on Kenny himself?

3.       How does the author make the reader sympathize with Larry Dunn?

4.      Have you ever had a problem with a bully at your school? How did you work it out?

Chapter 5

1.       Why do you think Mrs. Watson speaks “Southern-style” when she gets angry?

2.       If you were Mrs. Watson, how would you punish Byron when he plays with fire?

3.   Do you agree with Mrs. Watson’s way of punishing him? Why?

Chapter 6

1.       Why do you think Byron gets sick after he kills the mourning dove?

2.       Why does he get angry at Kenny so suddenly?

3.      How does the author show that Byron is not as tough as he pretends to be?

Chapter 7

1.      What is your first clue about Byron’s latest misdeed?

2.      Why do you think Byron keeps doing things that his parents have forbidden?

3.       When Byron misbehaves, who do you think handles the situation better, Mr. or Mrs. Watson? Why?

4.       In addition to thinking it is ugly, why does Mrs. Watson object to Byron’s new hairdo?

Chapter 8

1.      Why do you think Kenny is so eager to have a real mustache like his dad’s?

2.      Why do the Watsons think sending Byron to Alabama will help him to behave better? Do you think it will work?

Chapter 9

1.      Besides not wanting to get hooked on country music, why do you think Daddy decides to install the TT-700 in the Brown Bomber?

2.       Why do you think Joetta wants to keep the angel from Mrs. Davidson in a drawer?

3.       Why do you think Mrs. Watson is so careful with her planning of the trip, such as where the family is going to stay?

Chapter 10

1.      Why does Kenny ask for a second serving of Kool-Aid, even though it tastes bad to him?

2.      Why do you think Kenny feels scared when they’re driving through the mountains?

Chapter 11

1.       How is Birmingham like Flint? How is it different?

2.      Have you ever traveled to meet relatives who lived far away from you? How did it feel when you first met them?

3.       How does Byron behave when he meets Grandma Sands? Were you surprised by his behavior?

Chapter 12

1.       How does Mrs. Watson act differently when she is with her mother in Alabama compared with how she acts at home in Flint?

Chapter 13

1.       How does Byron change when the Watsons arrive in Alabama?

2.      Why do you think he changes so suddenly?

3.       Why does Kenny decide that it is okay to go into the water at Collier’s Landing?

4.      What did you learn about Byron’s feelings for Kenny in this chapter?

Chapter 14

1.       How does the author describe the scene at the church, after it has been bombed?

2.      Why do you think Kenny sees the Wool Pooh in the church after it has been bombed?

3.      Why does Joetta think that Kenny has changed his clothes?

Chapter 15

1.      Why does Byron spend so much time with Kenny when they come back to Flint?

2.      Why does Kenny start going to the World-Famous Watson Pet Hospital so often?

3.      How does Byron help Kenny to feel better at the end of the book?



 
Did you miss some class time?  Are you just really interested in Jackie Robinson?  I don't blame you! He was a pretty cool guy.  Follow the links below to learn about his struggles, his triumphs, and his impact on the world.
Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 1
Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 2

Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 3

Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 4

Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 5

Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 6

Jackie Robinson Sports Century Part 7
 
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Charlotte Doyle Chapter 12 - Listen to the link below to hear Chapter 12 of Charlotte Doyle!
Charlotte Doyle Chapter 12


Persuasion Vocabulary:  Check out the link below to learn about vocabulary that relates to persusion: 
Persuasion Vocab

Link to today's vocab lesson!!!

 
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Objective: Can I read an article and write a 10% summary of the main ideas?


  • Warm up: Type 1 writing - Iowa Assessment recap
  • Six Minute Solutions
  • Read Aloud: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
  • Partner Reading/10% Summary - The Iditarod

 
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Objective: Can I use strategies that will help me narrow down choices and get multiple choice questions correct?
  • Warm Up - Jumble!
  • Testing Strategies 
  • Finish with partners
  • Check and fix
  • Next passage on your own

 
1. Type 2 - Review classroom expectations
2. Creative Writing: Choice about Spring!
3. Finish stapling/hanging bloom balls

4. 6 Minute Solutions
5. Iowa Test prep (I do, you do together, you do alone)


 
Objective: Apply skills I have learned all year to the book I have just finished reading!

1. Type 1 - What does reading fluently mean? (pair-share)
2. 6 Minute Solutions
-Pass out materials
-2 minute scan
-Go over tough words
-Mrs. Vanderflute reads
-You read to partners for one minute
-Record your WPM.

 
 
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You've been working hard, reading for the entire term.  Now, it's time to demonstrate your skills! Our bloom balls will showcase your understanding of your book, as well as your knowledge of the things we have been working on all year.
Expectations:
  • It needs to be neat and pretty.  I want to be able to tell, just by looking at it, that you have worked really hard.
  • Your writing needs to be well-done and follow the Hoyt Common Writing Criteria.
  • You need to completely answer each part of the assignment.

bloom_ball_-_literature_2.docx
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