At the end of the book he gets invited to a birthday party ( Colleen, friends with Melinda who gave Jeff and Bradley blackeyes). He is excited and nervous because he has never been to a birthday party before so Jeff helps him out by telling him what to do and what to expect. He has more fun than he expects and helps his team win lots of points. At this point everyone realizes the changes in Bradley and that he is not so bad of a person anymore. He's a hit at the party and I expect that it won't be the last one he is invited to.
Bradley misses his chance to say goodbye to Carla, but sends her a package with a present that comes from his heart, just as Carla has given him a meaningful present.
The book does a wonderful job at documenting the transformation of Bradley. He goes from being the enemy of the school to a likable boy with friends and goals.
I really enjoyed this book because it shows how much of an influence teachers, classmates, and parents have on a young kid. It also shows how it is possible to change and that it is never too late to try. I think that kids and adults can find many themes that they can identify with in this book.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Can a monster stop being a monster?
Bradley Chalkers
Not a Monster
Homework ripper
Last seat, Last row
Gold Star
Blackeye
Bradley is now more miserable than ever and needs Carla more than ever. Carla has confidence in Bradley and believes that he can change if he wants too. One of the most moving parts of the story is the discussion about monsters they share during their visits.
Bradley: " Well how does a monster stop being a monster?"
Carla: "I think, first, he has to realize for himself that he isn't a monster. That is the first step. Until he knows he isn't a monster, how is anybody else supposed to know?"
This is the changing point in the story. Bradley then tries to do the right thing even when nobody else trusts him. He even does his homework! Although, he doesn't have anough courage to turn it in and impulsively rips it up, because he is secretly scared of failing.
Carla senses Bradleys fear and is very encouraging and patient with Bradley and lends him a book to read for his book report.
Jeff and his friends begin ganging up on Bradley when Jeff mysteriously has a blackeye, which he proclaims is from Bradley(but is really from Melinda). Bradley avoids them at all costs until he has no choice but to confront them. But instead of fighting, Bradley simply says "Hello", which Jeff automatically recipricates ( because he can't Not say "Hello" once someone has said it to him). Jeff's friends then invite Bradley to play basketball and they drop the whole situation and continue playing ball together every recess.
At this point the parents of the school have a meeting complaining about what Carla does and how she is hurting and not helping thier children. The parents get even more upset when Carla does not tell them what their kids have said and one parent even remarks, "You don't have to keep promises to children."
I think that this statement alone shows how much Carla is needed as a counselor in the school.
Because of all the complaints Carla deciedes to leave and accepts a position at a nearby school as a kindergarten teahcer. When Bradley hears of this, he gets extremely upset because he feels that things will go worng if she goes away. Carla tries to comfort him, but Bradley refuses and leaves without saying goodbye. He also rips up his book report that he worked so hard on, just to spite her.
But Carla sees through the hurt that Bradley is feeling and tapes the book report together to give to his teacher Mrs. Ebbel.
When Bradley returns to class, he realizes that he has a gold star next to his name for his book report.
Not a Monster
Homework ripper
Last seat, Last row
Gold Star
Blackeye
Bradley is now more miserable than ever and needs Carla more than ever. Carla has confidence in Bradley and believes that he can change if he wants too. One of the most moving parts of the story is the discussion about monsters they share during their visits.
Bradley: " Well how does a monster stop being a monster?"
Carla: "I think, first, he has to realize for himself that he isn't a monster. That is the first step. Until he knows he isn't a monster, how is anybody else supposed to know?"
This is the changing point in the story. Bradley then tries to do the right thing even when nobody else trusts him. He even does his homework! Although, he doesn't have anough courage to turn it in and impulsively rips it up, because he is secretly scared of failing.
Carla senses Bradleys fear and is very encouraging and patient with Bradley and lends him a book to read for his book report.
Jeff and his friends begin ganging up on Bradley when Jeff mysteriously has a blackeye, which he proclaims is from Bradley(but is really from Melinda). Bradley avoids them at all costs until he has no choice but to confront them. But instead of fighting, Bradley simply says "Hello", which Jeff automatically recipricates ( because he can't Not say "Hello" once someone has said it to him). Jeff's friends then invite Bradley to play basketball and they drop the whole situation and continue playing ball together every recess.
At this point the parents of the school have a meeting complaining about what Carla does and how she is hurting and not helping thier children. The parents get even more upset when Carla does not tell them what their kids have said and one parent even remarks, "You don't have to keep promises to children."
I think that this statement alone shows how much Carla is needed as a counselor in the school.
Because of all the complaints Carla deciedes to leave and accepts a position at a nearby school as a kindergarten teahcer. When Bradley hears of this, he gets extremely upset because he feels that things will go worng if she goes away. Carla tries to comfort him, but Bradley refuses and leaves without saying goodbye. He also rips up his book report that he worked so hard on, just to spite her.
But Carla sees through the hurt that Bradley is feeling and tapes the book report together to give to his teacher Mrs. Ebbel.
When Bradley returns to class, he realizes that he has a gold star next to his name for his book report.
Jeff Fishkin: Friend or Foe??
Jeff Fishkin
New kid
Always says "Hello" back to anyone who says it first
Wants to fit in with other classmates
Pretends to give Bradley a blackeye
Has 2 gold stars
Jeff has settled into his friendship with Bradley, and even tries to get him to do his homework. When Jeff recieves 2 gold stars, Bradley feels proud, as if they were his. But Bradley, being the bully that he is, deciedes to beat up a group of girls (Colleen,Melinda,and Lori) for fun and takes Jeff along, since they have been bothering him and since they are best friends.However, instead of Bradley beating up the girls, one of them, Melinda, gives Bradley a blackeye and beats him up!
Bradley is so embarrased that he cries and runs home. When his mother asks who gave him the blackeye, he tells her it was a kid named Jeff Fishkin. The next day at school, everyone sees Bradleys blackeye and Jeff being called to the principals office. Jeff tells Bradley at lunch that all the girls swore they would not tell what happened, and doesn't understand why the principal thinks he did it. But as Jeff walks to the bathroom, a group of boys stop and congradulate him on giving Bradley, "the bad guy" a blackeye. They ask him to play basketball, and Jeff plays with them the entire recess, forgeting to return to Bradley and forgeting to set the story straight. Jeff understands that he can't still be friends with Bradley and shrugs because he finally feels like he has fit in.
Unfortunately, things return to "normal", with Bradley still having no friends and everyone hating him more than ever.
New kid
Always says "Hello" back to anyone who says it first
Wants to fit in with other classmates
Pretends to give Bradley a blackeye
Has 2 gold stars
Jeff has settled into his friendship with Bradley, and even tries to get him to do his homework. When Jeff recieves 2 gold stars, Bradley feels proud, as if they were his. But Bradley, being the bully that he is, deciedes to beat up a group of girls (Colleen,Melinda,and Lori) for fun and takes Jeff along, since they have been bothering him and since they are best friends.However, instead of Bradley beating up the girls, one of them, Melinda, gives Bradley a blackeye and beats him up!
Bradley is so embarrased that he cries and runs home. When his mother asks who gave him the blackeye, he tells her it was a kid named Jeff Fishkin. The next day at school, everyone sees Bradleys blackeye and Jeff being called to the principals office. Jeff tells Bradley at lunch that all the girls swore they would not tell what happened, and doesn't understand why the principal thinks he did it. But as Jeff walks to the bathroom, a group of boys stop and congradulate him on giving Bradley, "the bad guy" a blackeye. They ask him to play basketball, and Jeff plays with them the entire recess, forgeting to return to Bradley and forgeting to set the story straight. Jeff understands that he can't still be friends with Bradley and shrugs because he finally feels like he has fit in.
Unfortunately, things return to "normal", with Bradley still having no friends and everyone hating him more than ever.
Friday, November 2, 2007
The new school counselor: Carla Davis
Carla Davis
Counselor
Patient
Good listener
Believes in Bradley
Office second door to the right
Not the girls bathroom
Carla Davis is the new school counselor that begins to help Bradley. She is young, and a bit unorganized, but really listens to the needs of her students. She never tells a child what to do and always tries to get Bradley to think for himself and to understand why he acts the way he does. Carla believes Bradley's lies and is always polite, even if Bradley is not.
This shows that children can benefit from having thier words and opinions respected. Children are told what they can and can't do all day at school that I think its really helpful to have a place that they can go to and know that what they say will be confidential and valued.
At this time Bradley makes friends with the new boy in class, Jeff Fishkin, even though his first comment to him was, "Give me a dollar or I'll spit on you." Bradley is excited about having a friend at school but never shows Jeff, and doesn't treat him like real friend. Jeff also sees the new counselor, whom the students simply call "Carla", because he is still adjusting to his new school environment. Jeff wants to fit in but doesn't know how so he stays with his only friend Bradley.
Jeff also makes the mistake of walking into the girls bathroom thinking its the counselors office, hence the title of the book. This isn't the first or last time that this event occurs in the story. It makes me laugh because at all ages, walking into the wrong bathroom is embarrasing.
(FYI: The author, Louis Sachar, married a woman named Carla Jean Askew, an elementary school counselor, who was the inspiration for the counelor in the book.)
Counselor
Patient
Good listener
Believes in Bradley
Office second door to the right
Not the girls bathroom
Carla Davis is the new school counselor that begins to help Bradley. She is young, and a bit unorganized, but really listens to the needs of her students. She never tells a child what to do and always tries to get Bradley to think for himself and to understand why he acts the way he does. Carla believes Bradley's lies and is always polite, even if Bradley is not.
This shows that children can benefit from having thier words and opinions respected. Children are told what they can and can't do all day at school that I think its really helpful to have a place that they can go to and know that what they say will be confidential and valued.
At this time Bradley makes friends with the new boy in class, Jeff Fishkin, even though his first comment to him was, "Give me a dollar or I'll spit on you." Bradley is excited about having a friend at school but never shows Jeff, and doesn't treat him like real friend. Jeff also sees the new counselor, whom the students simply call "Carla", because he is still adjusting to his new school environment. Jeff wants to fit in but doesn't know how so he stays with his only friend Bradley.
Jeff also makes the mistake of walking into the girls bathroom thinking its the counselors office, hence the title of the book. This isn't the first or last time that this event occurs in the story. It makes me laugh because at all ages, walking into the wrong bathroom is embarrasing.
(FYI: The author, Louis Sachar, married a woman named Carla Jean Askew, an elementary school counselor, who was the inspiration for the counelor in the book.)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Bradley Chalkers: The meanest baddest kid?
Bradley Chalkers
Oldest and toughest-looking kid in 5th Grade
Monster
Never gets a gold star
Mrs. Ebbel's class
Last seat, last row
Bradley Chalkers is the main character of the story, who, at a readers first glance, seems like the student from our nightmares. In the first couple of chapters, this is how Bradley is introduced:
"There are some kids-you can tell just be looking at them-who are good spitters. That is probably the best way to describe Bradley Chalkers. He looked like a good spitter."
Bradley Chalkers sits in the last seat on the last row of his teacher, Mrs. Ebbel's class. He doesn't do his homework, tells outrageous lies, doesn't have any friends, and has an overall bad attitude. Now, as future teachers, ask yourself this question, "How would I handle/help a child like that in my classroom?" Mrs. Ebbel handles Bradley the way many teachers handle problems in their classroom, they ignore them and hope that by putting the student in the back away from everyone, that the problem will go away.
But it doesn't.
At the beginning of the story, it shares that Bradley failed the 4th grade and had to repeat it which makes him a whole year older than everyone else in the 5th grade. As future teachers, we know what an enormous impact repeating a grade has on a young students self esteem. This clearly has an effect on Bradley, who doesn't try to get a gold star like everyone else in the class. He makes himself believe that he doesn't even want a goldstar and that he will proboably be doomed to repeat the 5th grade like he did the 4th. Mrs. Ebbel has given up on him, other faculty in the school has given up on him, the class has given up on him, so therefore Bradley has given up on him.
Bradley Chalkers: The meanest baddest kid?
or
The misunderstood lost boy of the 5th grade?
Oldest and toughest-looking kid in 5th Grade
Monster
Never gets a gold star
Mrs. Ebbel's class
Last seat, last row
Bradley Chalkers is the main character of the story, who, at a readers first glance, seems like the student from our nightmares. In the first couple of chapters, this is how Bradley is introduced:
"There are some kids-you can tell just be looking at them-who are good spitters. That is probably the best way to describe Bradley Chalkers. He looked like a good spitter."
Bradley Chalkers sits in the last seat on the last row of his teacher, Mrs. Ebbel's class. He doesn't do his homework, tells outrageous lies, doesn't have any friends, and has an overall bad attitude. Now, as future teachers, ask yourself this question, "How would I handle/help a child like that in my classroom?" Mrs. Ebbel handles Bradley the way many teachers handle problems in their classroom, they ignore them and hope that by putting the student in the back away from everyone, that the problem will go away.
But it doesn't.
At the beginning of the story, it shares that Bradley failed the 4th grade and had to repeat it which makes him a whole year older than everyone else in the 5th grade. As future teachers, we know what an enormous impact repeating a grade has on a young students self esteem. This clearly has an effect on Bradley, who doesn't try to get a gold star like everyone else in the class. He makes himself believe that he doesn't even want a goldstar and that he will proboably be doomed to repeat the 5th grade like he did the 4th. Mrs. Ebbel has given up on him, other faculty in the school has given up on him, the class has given up on him, so therefore Bradley has given up on him.
Bradley Chalkers: The meanest baddest kid?
or
The misunderstood lost boy of the 5th grade?
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