Post 9: Ch. 13-15

Here are a few things that were mentioned that you might now know about.  You can click the links to find out more about them:

Ch. 13


1. Joe Collier and Collier's Landing (The place where Kenny almost drowned and saw the Wool Pooh)-

Click the link to see the location: http://www.satelliteviews.net/cgi-bin/g.cgi?fid=145122&state=AL&ftype=locale

2. Whirlpool (Kenny was saying it wrong by saying wool pooh.  Below is what a whirlpool looks like.)-

     

Ch. 14


1. Church Bombing Information ( Real event mentioned in a fictional book.  Listen to the recording at the top)- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431932

2. Red, red paint (Kenny was talking about a man in the church using really red paint, but he was actually referring to blood of the child)

Ch. 15

1. Buster Brown Shoes (Many people wore this brand of shoes.  Kenny found the black one in the church after the bombing)



2. Felix the Cat Cartoon (Byron wanted Kenny to watch this cartoon with him before he went back behind the couch)

Click on the link to see who Felix the Cat is: http://www.felixthecat.com/

3. Bat Fink Cartoon ( Bryon was watching this cartoon while Kenny was behind the couch)

Clink on the link to see who Bat Fink is: http://www.davemackey.com/animation/seeger/batfink/episodes1-20.html

Questions for this post: (Pick one to answer) 

1. Do you think the Wool Pooh (Man Kenny saw) was real?  Why or why not?  What do you think it might represent?

2. Do you think the church bombing was a helpful or hurtful conflict?  Explain why you chose what you chose. 

Post 8: Ch. 11-12

Here are a few words/people/shows/songs that were mentioned that you might now know about.  You can click the links to find out more about them:

Ch. 11

1. Joe Espinoza (Kenny's dad mentioned him when he spoke about driving for a long time)- http://www.markguerrero.com/32.php

2. Bobo Brazil (Kenny mentioned him when he was talking about Grandma Sands and Byron fighting)- http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/brazil.asp

3. Sheik-(Kenny mentioned him when he was talking about Grandma Sands and Byron fighting)http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/sheik.asp

4. Captain Kangaroo- (When Byron was following all of Grandma's rules, Kenny said that Byron looked like Captain Kangaroo instead of Sheik) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047718/

5. Et Tu Brute? (When Kenny woke up and asked if they were there yet, his dad responded with this statement) - http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/128900.html

6. Coon= racoons

Ch. 12

1. Joe Louis ( Mentioned when Mr. Roberts is trying to explain how his coon dog can't hunt anymore)- http://www.cmgww.com/sports/louis/bio.htm

2. Wicked Witch of the West (Kenny used her to describe Grandma Sands laugh.  She is from the movie the Wizard of Oz)




Question for post 8:

2. Why do you think Byron is acting differently now that he's in Birmingham with Grandma Sands?  

Post 7: Ch. 9-10

Here are some terms mentioned in the chapters that you may not know about:

Ch. 9

1. The Lawrence Welk Show (When Mr. Watson talked about getting a free divorce if he watched it)

Click the link to read a little bit about the show:  http://www.museum.tv/eotv/lawrencewelk.htm

2. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (When Byron was talking about how the family was going to play games in the car on the trip)

Click on the link to find out about the TV show: http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-5535

3. Tiger Stadium-  (One of the places the Watsons saw when they were in Detroit, Michigan)


Ch. 10

1. Buster Brown (This it the picture Joey had on the bottom of her shoe)




2. Appalachian Mountains (One of the places the Watsons stopped on their way to Alabama)

This is where the mountains are located:



Here is what the mountains look like:



3. Redneck/Crackers/Hillbillies (Bryon talked about them shooting negroes)

Click on the link to learn more about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck

Question for Post 7:

Why do you think Byron  doesn't keep his resolution not to talk during the whole trip to Alabama?

Post 6: Ch. 7-8

Here are a few words/people/shows/songs that were mentioned that you might not know about.  You can click the links to find out more about them:

Ch. 7
1. Conk-  Below is a picture of what a conk looked like in the 60's



2. Siam (The place that the Watson's said Byron was from after his head was shaved)

Siam is now known as Thailand.  Read more about the history by clicking the link below:

http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/siam-officially-renamed-thailand



Ch. 8

1. Yaketty Yak- http://www.last.fm/music/The+Coasters (A song by the band called The Coasters)

Click on the link to listen to a sample of the song!



2. Clutch Cargo- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124937/

3. Disc Jockey- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_jockey

4. Nat King Cole- http://www.nat-king-cole.org/

5. Dinah Washington- http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/dinahwashington/bio/

6. Yankee- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee

7. TT AB-700-(Record Player in the Brown Bomber)

   

Question for the post: 

 How do you think Byron feels about having to be sent to live in Alabama for the summer?  Explain how you know this.

Post 5: Ch. 5-6

Ch. 5

1. Smokey the Bear (mentioned when Bryon and Kenny are making fun of mom's sad sob story about her house catching on fire when she was little). 

Here's a picture of Smokey the Bear; he was a slogan used to prevent forest fires. 



2. Eliot Ness from the Untouchables movie

Click on the link to read a little bit about the tv show which was filmed in the late 50's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untouchables_(1959_TV_series)

Ch. 6

1.  Here is a definition of welfare: Welfare means: aid (help) in the form of money or government programs for those in need (people who cannot provide - food, shelter, clothing and/or education - for themselves and/or their families.)

2. Mourning Dove (The bird that Bryon killed with the swedish creme):




3.  The book mentions The Magnificent Seven movie.  Here is the movie trailer and info about the movie: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/30854/The-Magnificent-Seven/overview


Here is the question for post 5: 

1. Why does byron never feel remorse about torturing kids at school, but he felt bad about killing a bird?

Post 4: Ch. 3-4

Here are some terms you heard throughout the chapters that you might not be familiar with:

Ch. 3

1. Nazis (When Kenny had Dinosaur wars it was always the Nazis against the Americans)

Click on the link to see pictures of Hitler who was leader of the Nazi Party:

http://www.nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm


2. Drawers(Larry Dunn asked if Cody and Rufus wore the same drawers on the same day they wore the jeans they shared)

Below is an example of what drawers looked like for men and women:
     


Ch. 4

1. There is a movie mentioned in this chapter that you might not know about.  Researching and learning a little bit more about the movie, might help you to better understand the book. 

The movie mentioned is The Miracle Worker (When Bryon says Larry Dunn is deaf so he has to talk to him like the women from the movie).  Please click on the link and watch the movie trailer.  You can do this by clicking View Clip on the left side.  Also, click on Overview to read what the movie is about.  Keep in mind that there are two versions of this movie.  There is the original movie created in 1962(Only a year before the setting of the book) and there is a re-make created in 2000.  The link only shows the original movie trailer.  Here is the link:   http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/32810/The-Miracle-Worker/trailers

2. This chapter also mentions someone named Sugar Ray Robinson (Kenny mentions Sugar Ray when Byron punches his stomach).  For those of you who don't know who that is and are interested in knowing, click this link: http://www.cmgww.com/sports/robinson/about/bio.html


Here is the question for today:

Why do you think Byron goes between picking on Kenny and between saving him in other situations? 

Post 3: Ch. 1-2

I'm glad we finally started reading the book today!  I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far.  I love it because it makes me laugh out loud! :)


Here are some terms that were mentioned in the story that you might not know about. 

From Ch. 1:

1. Narcissus (Joey slightly mentioned him):

Click on the link to find out more information about him:  http://thanasis.com/echo.htm

From Ch. 2:

1. Langston Hughes (Kenny was asked to read his works to Byron's 5th grade class):

Click on the link to learn more about Langston Hughes and to see a picture of him: http://www.kansasheritage.org/crossingboundaries/page6e1.html

2. Public Housing

Click on the link to learn more about what Public Housing is:  http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph



Here's an example of what the Watson's car probably looked like in the 1960's:

Answer the question below in complete sentences.  Remember, in order to receive full credit, you must also respond to at least 1 classmate.  Even if you ask them a question, one that is appropriate and fits what they are saying, that counts as a response! 

Question of the day:

How can conflict help you or hurt you?

Post 2: Ballad of Birmingham

I can't wait to start the book and see what types of discussion will occur.  Keep in mind that if you have a gmail account, you can post with your email instead of going through Name/URL.  Name/URL is just the option for those of you who do not have an email address.

On another note, in class we discussed some background information about the Civil Rights Movement.  One of the points we discussed was the church bombing that occurred and influenced the writing of "The Ballad of Birmingham" which in turn influenced Christopher Paul Curtis to write the book.  I would like you to click on the link below and then click on The Story of the Bombing.  Read the story of the church bombing and then answer the discussion questions.  Remember, these are opinion questions so there are no right or wrong answers.

Here is the link: http://balladofbirmingham.org/

Discussion Questions:

1. What effects do you think the church bombing had on members of the Civil Rights Movement? (Those who were against segregation and for equal rights of African Americans and others)

2. How would you have responded to the bombing if you were in Birmingham at the time?  (Be specific!)

Please choose one question from above to answer in complete sentences.  Make sure you explain which question you are answering.  After answering the question, you must respond to 1 classmate.  In response to a classmate, you can post that you agree with them and WHY or expand on their view; don't just post that you agree or disagree because I will not count it for credit.  If you have any questions, please ask! Happy blogging! :)

Post 1: Welcome Students

Hello students!  This six weeks we will be reading The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963.  The setting occurs during the Civil Rights Movement when segregation was still among people.

This blog was created for you to comment on the story, summarize the story, and ask questions about what you are reading.  I want you to see the different perspectives that your classmates and I have while reading.  I will also be looking for answers to questions I ask for a grade.  Please do not abuse the blog, but if for some reason you choose too, I have to approve your comment before it can be seen by others.  Make sure to check the blog daily because I will be posting new posts often.  Feel free to ask any questions about assignments or the book and I will be happy to answer.  Happy blogging! :)