We've been discussing the book with our table groups. Now it's time to talk with your friends from other classes that are also reading this book. Take some time to think about a part of the book that would make for a good discussion. It can be any part from the beginning to the part you read for today.
Tell about the part you read, give your thoughts about it, and invite others to share their thoughts too.
Here are some discussion stems:
I want to talk about the part where __________________. I thought _____________________. What did you think?
The part that I thought was most interesting so far was _____________________________. I think _________________________________________. What did you think?
I want to talk about the part were Joe went to see his sibblings and father.(pg. 90) When he knocked on the door his step mom answered at the begining she was not so mean, but when he asked to come in she was really mean. I don't get how an adult could be so mean, keep a child away from his father, and leave him alone in the world.
ReplyDeleteNot trying to mess with the mood, but the inviteing yourslef into a house is a little bit rude. And if you ask with a just a little bit of tone it sounds like you are trying to be a brat. But when you are the stepmom and you are probly trying to keep Joe away from his dad because, Joe might remind his dad of his last relation ship and it will make her job of being a sporting wife a lot harder.
DeleteI want to talk about the part where Joe came back to Thula's house after he had been kicked out for a while. And how nice he was to say hello to her. If you think about it he did not have to but he decided too and I think he was brave after all he has been through. She decided to do something mean and glare at hm and be mean I think it's okay to say that I don't like Thula.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, I think Joe was the bigger person and he went back not because of Thula but because of his other family. He also did not get mad when she shut the door on him and he was very mature.
DeleteYa I mean I would talk to my dad like I was ok with him but still being mad. But Thula I would have blow up on, becasue of trying to kick me out many different times.
Deletei want to talk about the part where the step mom is so mean. I thought it was crazy how mean she was. What did you think. The part that was most intresting was where the step-mom was super mean to joe.I think that nobody should be treated that way and that she might have a mental illness but they dont know that since it was such along time ago what do you think.
ReplyDeleteI disagree about you saying she may have had a mental illness. I read a lot of the parts where she was mean to Joe pretty carefully, and while it may have been a little extreme, I do think that SOME of her disagreements with having Joe around, and Joe himself, could have been warranted.
DeleteI agree with Haley, becuase she has been mean to her so many times. Also she is trying to keep her kids and husband from having a relationship with them.
DeleteI want to talk about the part where Joe's dad and stepmom practically abandoned him just so that his stepmom's kids could have a better life (51-58) I thought that this was really selfish of his stepmom to only think of her kids and not Joe and I also think that it is wrong for Joe's dad just to leave him even after knowing what he has already put Joe through in his life.
ReplyDeleteI think that this was wrong too. He was 10 and bickering at siblings is normal. Yelling at a kid because he ruined your garden that you worked hard on and then just completely getting kicked out of the house, I do not want to tell her how to parent her stepson but, I think is wrong.
DeleteWhile I'm tempted to say otherwise, I have to disagree. They were going through hard times, and people had to do what it took to keep their family safe and healthy. Of course, Joe is technically a part of that family, but Thula didn't look at it that way, and I'm thinking Harry just agreed with whatever Thula said since they were married and it was easier than getting into an argument.
DeleteI think you are right because she was selfish and mean, but I think the dad should have opened his eyes more. I also think that it was the best for Joe because he would have not learned the great lessons he did.
DeleteBella, I have to disagree with you on this. Even if you look at it the way of hard times that does not give you the right to be like, "Hmmm, if I get rid of those two kids and keep these three I will save money. Who needs kids?" Sorry I just do not agree with that.
DeleteJeremiah, I agree with you it was totally unfair of them to kick Joe out, he is apart of the family and Joe's dad should have made a different decision than to kick him out and make him live on his own he is just a kid and should not be treated like that. I get where Bella was coming from where she said they had to make decision to keep the family together but if i was the dad I would have made a decision that benefited everyone rather then taking someones side.
DeleteBecasue of the Great Drepreshion the ment that the money was not on a constant flow but still leaveing a teenager to rome the world was not smart. And she really just did it so that she could have a good life with her kids with no gulit.
DeleteI think the most interesting thing in this book is his back story. Throught the beginning of the book his backstory alone is really depressing. It is kind of amazing how he came back from that and was able to win gold at the olympics after that. I do not know how often that happened back then, but if this happened in modern day, this alone would get him on the news. His backstory and some of the trials even after that are really depressing. But happily though when they talk to him in present day he seems happy.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most interesting parts so far to me was when Joe decided to go see his dad and family. (Pgs 102 & 103) I thought it was pretty irresponsible that Harry and Thula just left the kids alone and went on trips sometimes. Of course, I definitely wouldn't have minded if I were Joe and I wanted to visit the kids, but I would still be a little put off if I heard that my step-siblings were being left alone to their own devices for days on end, even if it did mean I'd be able to see them without worrying about getting the cops called on me. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI think that letting people at home for a little bit is fine, but a decent length vacation that leaves kids alone to me just does not sound good. To sum it up I think that the whole idea was a bad one.
DeleteI wamt to talk about the part when Joe was working in his garden, and his stepmom came out of the house yelling at him. I want to know why Joe's stepmom kicked him out and was that the reason why he kicked him out? Or was their other occurrences
ReplyDeleteI thought it was because Joe yelled at Herry Jr. for pulling a carrot out. I think that Thula is just trying to do anything to get Joe out of the house.
DeleteI think that the stepmom all along was looking for a way to kick him out. It is obvious that she does not like him.
DeleteOdds were that there were definitely other occurrences, but this was probably one of the more extreme ones that the author decided would showcase Joe's and Thula's relationship best. I think that Joe probably had a lot of other issues and arguments with his step-siblings or step-mom, but as I said before, for the sake of simplicity, the author probably chose to leave the rest out. If the author had included every argument the book probably would have been a lot longer and more confusion.
DeleteI want to talk about the part Bob Green on page 95 when he kept yelling encouragement at his team.I think that if I was Joe I would tell him to stop but in a nice way no to hurt his feelings. Would you have been able to tell him to stop?
ReplyDeleteI want to talk about the part where bob Green keeps yelling at his team mates in encouragement but keeps distracting them instead. If I was Joe I would ask Green to stop in a nice way to stop yelling because he is being distracting. What would you do?
ReplyDeleteI personally disagree about telling him to stop yelling, as I think that it was probably more effective than just asking them to try their best. Then again, it could have been detrimental to the team's morale if he got too carried away, but I don't feel as though he did.
DeleteI think that I agree with Bella, becuase if somenody keeps saying you are doing good job, they will never push you to do better.
DeleteI disagree with you,Carol because. I think they always talk about finding the perfect flow in their stroke. Witch when someone keeps upsetting them it, it might mess with the whole team.
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