8 favorite things about me

1.i love to draw.

 Im very good at it

2.My favorite subject in school is math

3.i like dancing and fashion

4.i like eating pe

pperoni pizza

5.i think middle school is fun 

6.Im not going to be in school for 1 months and 5 

days

7.i love buying cloths and shoes with my fr

iends

8.i love going to red lobster

Hello there - I hope you are all enjoying the new book Holes. I seem to be rather behind and am disappointed I was not able to come to see you all the last couple of weeks so we could finish up our discussions on Baseball in April.

As you are all now on a new book, perhaps you can tell me which book has been your favourite so far and why?

Who is your favourite character from all the books to date? Why?

I hope to be able to see you before the end of the semester. I am on vacation next week in Belize (do you know where that is?) so will not be able to come to see you all.

Rachel

HOLES

So read-aholics how did the book turn out? Did you like it? Why or why not? Give some evidence from the books. If you were to write a recommendation for the book, what would it look like? Can't wait to hear from you guys.

HOLES

Hey guys,

What is the book about? Who are the main characters? Do you think you are going to like this book? Why or why not? This book takes place in Texas....I wonder if you are going to find out anything about my home state. A lot of people rate it 4 1/2 stars out of 5 at www.barnesandnobles.com Go and check out other people's rating of the book....she what they think of it.

Baseball in April

What emotions were displayed by the characters in the first 5 chapters of the book?

The View From Saturday Chapter 1

1. Why does Noah's mother require him to write a B & B letter? Why doesn't he want to write the letter? Do you think that Noah is right (that his mother owes his grandparents a B & B letter, not him)? 

2. What is a B & B letter? Have you ever had to write one? Describe your experience. 

3. On the first page of the book, the group The Souls is introduced. Why might this be important? What is a soul? 

4. List the characters in the 1st chapter and describe each one with one adjective. 

5. This story takes place in two places. Describe these two places. Have you ever been sent away for the summer? Where have you been sent? With whom did you stay? Was it a good experience? Were you happy to come home?

The View from Saturday-Chapter 1 and 2

Please summarize the book....what is going on right now. What do you like about the book? What do you dislike about the book?

Chapters 14-15

Chapter 14: "Every Bird and Bug in Birmingham Stops and Wonders"

Vocabulary:
raising cain: causing trouble; making a great deal of noise (pg. 235)

Questions:

1. When Kenny holds the shiny, black shoe with the Buster Brown trademark and
believes Joetta died in the bombing, he worries about how he had been treating
her. How had he treated her earlier that day?

2. What allows Kenny to trust his senses and believe Joey was truly still alive?


3.What saved Joetta from the bombing?


Chapter 15: "The World-Famous Watson Pet Hospital

Question:

To what place does Kenny disappear more and more often and what is he
looking for there?

Chapters 12-13

Chapter 12: "The Dog Won't Hurt No More"


Vocabulary:

wilier (from wily): craftier; slyer (pg. 203)

Questions:

1. Why is Wilona upset with her mother?

2. Why does Birmingham seem to Kenny to be a serious punishment?


Chapter 13: "I Meet Winnie's Evil Twin Brother, The Wool Pooh"

Vocabulary:

whirlpool: water moving in a violent spiral at the point where
currents meet. (pg.210)

Questions:

1. Why does Kenny think Mr. Collier would put up No Trespassing signs and
make up stories about the Wool Pooh at Collier’s Landing?

2. What was Kenny after in the water?


3. How does Byron reveal his true feelings for Kenny in Chapter 13?

Ch. 10 & 11

Chapter 10: "Tangled Up in God's Beard"

1. What surprise to Kenny and Byron find at the rest stop in Ohio?

2. Describe the Buster Brown trademark Kenny sees inside Joetta's shoe.

3. What secret does Kenny know about but decides not to share with Mrs. Watson?


Chapter 11: "Bobo Brazil Meets the Sheik"

Vocabulary:

vittles: in country dialect, another word for food (pg.188)

Questions:

1. Give one reason why Mrs. Watson was angry about her husband driving straight through to Birmhingham and one reason why she was pleased.

2. Why does the chapter have the title, "Bobo Brazil Meets the Sheik" and is it a fitting title?

3.

CHAPTERS 8 & 9

Chapter 8: "The Ultra-Glide"

Vocabulary:

pinnacle: highest point; peak (pg. 131)

Walter Cronkite: a highly respected news reporter of het CBS Evening News (pg. 141)

maestro: conductor or leader of a musical performance (pg.146)

Questions

1. What are the last TWO finishing touches Mr. Watson puts on the Brown Bomber?

2. What personal care item does Mr. Watson always hide and why?

3. Where are the Watsons going and why?

Chapter 9: "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963"

Vocabulary

Lawrence Welk Show: a long-lived popular musical program which had massive appeal inhte post-World War II era. (pg. 159)

eavesdropped: listened to a conversation meant to be private (pg.161)

seniority: a right given to those with the most years of employment in a workplace to things such as overtime. (pg. 170)

Questions

1. According to Mr. Watson, why is it necessary to send Byron to Birmingham?

2. What gift does Joetta receive and why does she hide it in her socks drawer?

3. How do the chaper and book get their shared title?

CHAPTERS 6 & 7

Chapter 6: "Swedish Cremes and Welfare Cheese"

Vocabulary:
welfare: help or money given by a government agency to people who are unable to meet their own needs. (pg.100)

peon: a laborer or worker working off a debt (pg.101)

Comprehension Questions:

1. How does Byron trick Kenny into keeping the secret about the "free food"??

2. What poved to Kenny that Byron felt bad about killing the mourning dove?

Chapter 7: "Every Chihuahua in America Lines Up to Take a Bite out of Byron"

Vocabulary:

Chihuahua: a dog of the Mexican breed, small and with pointy ears.

conk: a hair style in which naturally curly hair is straightened and smoothed down close to the head

executioner: the person who carries out a convicted prisoner's death sentence

Questions:

1. On pages 118-119, how does Byron describe his relationship with Kenny as they are waiting for Mr. Watson to arrive to decide By's punishment?

2. What new physical characteristics does Byron end up with and what new nicknames do you predict for him?

Chapters 4 & 5

** DON'T FORGET TO READ MY RESPONSE YOUR WORK FROM YESTERDAY!!

Chapter 4: “Froze-Up Southern Folks”

Vocabulary:
pomade: hair ointment with perfume (pg.67)
Sugar Ray Robinson: a great welterweight and middleweight boxing champion (pg.82)

Questions:
1. According to Byron, why do garbage trucks have wide back doors?

2. What discovery does Kenny make about Larry Dunn and how does the discovery change his feelings about him?

3. Explain why you would or would not like to have Byron as your big brother.


Chapter 5: “Nazi Parachutes Attack America and Get Shot Down over the Flint
River by Captain Byron Watson and His Flamethrower of Death”

Questions:
1. Why did Kenny believe his mother should burn Byron?

2. Why was Mrs. Watson so upset about the parachute game?

CHAPTERS 2 & 3

** Please make sure you read my comments for Chapters 1 & 2. You may have to add to your answers.

** You may answer these questions together as a book club

Chapter Two: “Give My Regards to Clark, Poindexter”

Vocabulary:
hostile (pg. 37 ) unfriendly; showing ill will
intimidate (pg. 39) make afraid; frighten
emulate (pg. 39) copy or try to equal or rival

Comprehension Questions:

1. How did being Byron’s little brother help Kenny?

2. How did Byron react to Kenny’s poetry reading?

3. What does Kenny mean when he says, “I knew God had finally sent me my
personal saver!”?

4. Who or what are Clark and Poindexter?


Chapter Three: “The World’s Greatest Dinosaur War Ever”

Vocabulary:
Nazis (pg. 54) Allied (the Allies included the U.S.A.) enemy in World
War II;
followers of Hitler or members of his political party.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How did LJ win the World’s Greatest Dinosaur War Ever?

2. What were the two things about which the other kids teased Rufus?

3. What did Kenny do that made him feel “like someone had pulled all [his] teeth
out with a pair of rusty pliers”?

CHAPTERS 1 & 2

Hello Read-aholics!

We hope you are enjoying The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 and having fun with our blog!

I am really interested to read your thoughts on this great book. Please read the questions below and think really hard about them.

**Don't forget: Make a picture in your head of where the story is taking place and what the characters may look like. This will make reading the story much more exciting!!

QUESTIONS:

1. Where does the story take place?

2. Are you enjoying the book so far?

3. Is there a problem in the story yet? If so, what is the problem?

I am looking forward to reading your thoughtful answers!!!

The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963

Hey Readaholics, check out Barnes and Nobles' website to find out more about The Watsons go to Birmingham. Don't forget to read the customer reviews, it will help you get the feel of the book.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Watsons-Go-to-Birmingham-1963/Christopher-Paul-Curtis/e/9780440228004/?itm=2

HAVE FUN!