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Today's discussion went really well. Everyone came to the discussion, and everyone finished the reading, and completed their jobs. We exchanged many ideas, including how Cole helped Peter, and the theme of the book. We think that the theme is that life is what you make of it, because this book is mainly about Cole messing up his life, therefore making his life worsen. He had to help Peter, risk jail, and go to an island for a year. He even gets mauled by a bear. The other idea we discussed, about Cole trying to help Peter heal, was one of the main events in this section. I, as summarizer, stated that and we discussed more about that. Nothing went wrong in today's discussion except for that for a minute or two, we went off topic a little. If there would be another discussion, then the only thing to improve would to be trying to stay on task.
5/25/10
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pages 185-240
Question #42
I would compare Cole Matthews and Peter Driscal from Touching Spirit Bear. They are similar in that they both have had a really bad injury. Cole's injury is the injuries inflicted by the Spirit Bear when he tried to kill it, and Peter's injury is from Cole beating him up. They both end up recovering from the injuries, Cole recovering at the hospital and Peter recovering also at a hospital. Also, they both have a spiritual trauma. Cole's is after him being mauled, when he could not move or do anything, when he was lying on the ground in the storm where the sparrows died. Peter's is when Cole smashed his head against the sidewalk when Cole beat him up. This is a spiritual injury because in this act, Peter got the idea from Cole that his life was not important. Therefore, later in the book, he tries to commit suicide. Peter's injury is repaired at the island where Cole helps him understand that his life is very important. Cole's spiritual injury was not repairable though.
5/19/2010
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pgs. 125-184
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today's discussion went really well. Everyone came to the discussion, and everyone finished the reading, and completed their jobs. We exchanged many ideas, including how Cole went back to the island. We think that the true meaning of that event is that Cole should be able to fix his anger back at the island and fix his mistake of beating Peter up; he should be able to stay longer at the island this time since he had the experience of not obeying the rules. We also discussed why Edwin brought Cole to the pond. We think that Edwin's purpose was to tell him how to fix his anger. Surprisingly, right after Edwin told Cole about the pond and what its purpose is for, Cole said that no one's supposed to tell him what to do. This time, my job was the character sketcher. The only thing that didn't go well in today's discussion was Richard distracting me from listening attentively to the discussion. Hopefully, next time there will not be anyone distracting anyone else so that we can all listen more to the discussion.
5/18/10
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pages 125-184
Question #40
The main idea of this book, in my opinion, is that no matter how much you messed up your life, you can still repair it. Nothing is beyond repair. I think this is the main idea because Cole really ruined his life by beating up Peter Driscal, but he is now able to slowly progress in correcting his mistake. In the beginning of the book, If I were in the book, Cole's attitude would be enough to show me that he would never become a normal nice person. Then, he hurt Peter, and that was like a ticket to a bad life in jail. Still, as the book progresses, he is able to turn his life around and become a good person that tries to repair the bad deeds he had done. This clearly shows that a bad mistake can still be slowly corrected. Even though some mistakes cannot be fully undone, they still can be repaired.
5/12/2010
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pgs. 65-124
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today's discussion was not as good as the last discussion. Everyone came to the discussion, but the summarizer left because of the track and field team. Still, everyone finished the reading, and completed their jobs. To work around not having our summarizer present, we read aloud his notes to the rest of the group. That worked out well. We exchanged many ideas, including the meaning of Cole being mauled by the Spirit Bear. We think that the true meaning of that event is that Cole should watch out more for people that are stronger and better than him; no one is truly perfect. This time, my job was the conflict connector. The only thing that didn't go well in today's discussion was the summarizer not being present. Hopefully, next time there will not be any interferences and we could have our discussion without anyone not being present.
5/11/10
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pages 65-124
Question #32
If the book, which takes place in about a few years ago from now, happened 200 years ago, then the main change made to the book would have been that Cole probably died right after the bear mauling him. Another change would be that there wouldn’t be modern technology like motorboats. These changes would happen since these events require more modern things, like better doctors and technology. The Circle Justice should be still available because it was probably possible 200 years ago that a group of people can get together and conference about a criminal’s trial. The result may also be still possible because Native Americans did do the banishing punishment. This part of the book describes Cole being mauled by a Spirit Bear because he attacked it when he lost his temper against it. Then, Cole was sent back to the mainland to have his injuries cured. After that, he was tried again by Circle Justice. In conclusion, this part of the book has events that would have been impossible to be true 200 years ago.
5/6/10
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pgs. 1-64
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today's discussion went very well. Everyone came to the discussion, finished the reading, and completed their jobs. We learned many new things from each other. For example, I learned from the summarizer that Cole's flashbacks at the island show how he feels inside. I learned from the character sketcher that the personality of Cole is rash and impulsive. I learned from the conflict connector that Garvey may not really understand Cole's situation. I did the job of The Basics. One thing that did not go well in our discussion is that if we had made copies of our jobs, then it would have been much easier understanding each other's points. Another thing is that we had too less time. Therefore, next time, we should not delay our discussion too much and we should make copies of our job for everyone else in the group before the discussion.
5/4/10
Touching Spirit Bear - By Ben Mikaelsen
Pgs. 1-64
Question #26
In this section, a very big problem is that Cole never will trust anyone because his experience with his mean parents told his instincts to not trust anyone anymore. Because of this problem, Cole beat up a kid at his high school. If I were Cole and I faced this problem, I would probably try to stand up against it and actually not be so mean to others. Cole already knows what it feels to be mean to since he is beaten and has been mean to by his dad. If I were Cole, I would use that experience to know that if I were mean to others, they would probably feel the same way. Therefore, I would not treat others that way since I know how they will feel. I think Cole has made a very wrong choice and should correct himself as soon as possible. His experience is probably the same as Peter's, the person Cole beat up, feelings and that it would really hurt Peter in what Cole did to him.
Have you read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown? It's actually better than the Da Vinci Code
3/26/10
Chasing Vermeer By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 188-254
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today in class, we discussed about my jobs, the Word Watcher and Illustrator, and the Summarizer and the Illuminator. This time, everyone was here. Still, our discussion did not go too well since someone did the wrong job. Everyone else did a good job. I learned many new things including pages 190 and 209 were very funny parts. I did realize this a little, but the Illuminator did a good job describing the pages. This was a really good discussion even though someone didn't do the right job. If we had another discussion, the day before the discussion in class, we should make clear what jobs we have to do.
3/23/10
Connecter Reading Response
Chasing Vermeer - By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 187-254
Question # 3
I can compare this part to the book The Da Vinci Code I read for my book project in that this part and The Da Vinci Code both are mysteries that are solved by weird coincidences. In this part, Petra and Calder solve the mystery through some atypical coincidences, like Mrs. Sharpe saying words that later were used to solve the mystery of the stolen painting and the twelves. The same thing happens in The Da Vinci Code except with a different mystery, different coincidences, and different people. In The Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu solve the mystery of Jacques Sauinère's death by some coincidences about the Holy Grail and the Priory of Sion.
Review, Retell, Reflect
In these pages, Calder and Petra solve the mystery of the missing painting. They find more hidden patterns, such as the twelves. The painting was hidden in a secret compartment on the twelfth step of the University School, and Petra and Calder are both turning twelve on December 12. These coincidences/patterns are really intriguing, and the author made it even more interesting.
3/18/10
Chasing Vermeer By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 127-187
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today in class, we discussed about my job, the Discussion Director, and also the Word Watcher, Illustrator, and the Summarizer. The person who was the Illuminator was absent. Our discussion did not go too well since someone was absent again. Everyone else did a good job. I learned some facts about Mrs. Sharpe like she admitting that she received the letter was the most important event. This was a really good discussion; I learned a lot of new facts even without the Illuminator. Doing the missing person's work in class didn't work too well, so next time if someone is absent, we can tell him to e-mail his part to us.
3/16/10
Chasing Vermeer - By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 127-187
Question #8
This section relates to those before it in that it is closely related to the section of pages 60-126. It is related because it is just a continued part of the mystery that starts in the section of pages 60-126. In the section of pages 60-126, we have the start of the mystery of who stole the Vermeer painting. In this section, we can almost guess who stole the painting and more details are given about the crime. Some important details about the crime are that we now know that Mrs. Sharpe got one of the letters and can guess that Ms. Hussey also received the letter too. We do not know the third person though, and we still have no evidence on who he or she is. This part is mainly a continuation of the part that came before it.
Prediction
Evidence
I think that The painting is in the University hidden somewhere.
Calder's pentomino said that the painting should be hidden in the University school, and we know that the painting is hidden under wood. The University school has lots of wood storage places, so it is the only likely place the painting should be hidden.
Review, Retell, Reflect
In these pages, Calder and Petra continue to try to recover A Lady Writing. They have gotten some major hints, like the painting is hidden in somewhere where there's wood, and that the painting is in the University school. They continue to gather more clues on where the painting is hidden.
+43/45
3/11/10
Chasing Vermeer By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 60-126
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today in class, we discussed about my job, the Illuminator, and also the Word Watcher, Illustrator, and the Summarizer. The person who was the Discussion Director was absent. Our discussion did not go too well since the person with the job of Discussion Director was absent and the Illustrator gave away the drawing before we had time to guess since he did not read the directions before telling us what the drawing was. He still did a good job as the Illustrator and as the Word Watcher. The summarizer also did a good job. He gave us the most important event in this part - Calder and Petra going to Mrs. Sharpe's house for tea. This was a really good discussion; I learned a lot of new facts even without the Discussion Director. Next time if someone is absent, we can do his job together in class. :o)
3/9/10
Chasing Vermeer - By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 60-126
Question #6
The most interesting connection for me is that I can connect this part to the mystery shorts we did in class. This mystery is as hard and unsolvable as most of the mysteries, especially "The Callous Classmate" by Ben Goheen. Like Ben Goheen's composition, this part does not give me any valid conclusions for who stole the painting at my first time reading through. It is really suspenseful and I enjoyed reading this part.
charp5- I think this makes a lot of sense, and i too realized that the mystery shorts were much like the book. I also couldn't find a valid conclusion to who stole the painting in these pages. Good Job!
Prediction
Evidence
I think that Calder and Petra will recover the painting.
Calder and Petra both are really good puzzle solvers. Also, both of them are really interested in Vermeer and his art. Another piece of evidence is that they are keeping lots of information on Vermeer and the lost painting.
Review, Retell, Reflect
In these pages, a painting painted by the artist Johannes Vermeer is stolen. The thief writes a letter saying that he is giving a gift in stealing the painting. Calder and Petra start to solve the mystery, and they start to gather clues on where the painting may be hidden.
Missing the reflection part of the discussion response. What do you think about the discussion. How can it be improved for next week? -2
3/4/10
Chasing Vermeer By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 1-60
Reflection of Today's Discussion
Today in class, we discussed about my job, the summarizer, and also the Discussion Director and Illuminator. The person who was the Word Watcher and the Illustrator was absent. Our discussion did not go too well since the person with two jobs did not come and the Discussion Directer did not do much. I still learned some new things like the biggest change starting to talk to each other. Overall, this is still a good experience. I'm glad you feel that way. What could your group do to make this a better experience, regardless of missing work?
3/3/10
Chasing Vermeer - By Blue Balliett
Pgs. 1-60
A connection that only I can discover is the secret connection between Petra and Calder. Every time either one of them gets in trouble, the other one seems to stumble into the one in trouble and help him/her. For example, when Petra got lost in the art museum and cannot be found, Calder seemed to just stumble into her in the storage room and find her. And how does this connect to you and your life?
Prediction
Evidence
I think Calder and Petra will become friends.
Every time they meet, they talk and try to have a conversation together, but are separated before a conversation is possible.
Review, Retell, Reflect
In these pages, we are introduced to the situation of Calder and Petra's lives. They have a caring and nice teacher named Mrs. Hussey. She took them to an art museum for a field trip to find out about "dead letters." So far, we do not know what the "dead letters" are. Toward the end of this part, this book becomes more suspenseful and I really do not want to stop reading it.
The Da Vinci Code --by Dan Brown
Type of book: Mystery-detective fiction
(2) The book starts with the American Robert Langdon arriving in France, and Jacques Sauinère, the grandfather of Sophie Neveu, getting murdered.
(3) The main problem is that Sophie needs to know how her grandfather Jacques died and about Jacques’s life as the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.
(4) Getting chased by the police, Sophie and Langdon solve the problem by slowly deciphering Jacques’s last words and the Priory keystone. They takerefuge at a English historian, Leigh Teabing’s, home and try to decipher the keystone with him. Later they are betrayed.
(5) The climax is when Sophie and Robert are at Isaac Newton’s tomb and Teabing holds them at gunpoint.
(6) Robert Langdon secretly removes the contents of the keystone, then fools Teabing by breaking it and making him dive for the keystone.
(7) The end is that Sophie and Langdon find out the truth about Sophie’s family and they fall in love.
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