Skeleton Creek Book Club Prepared to be scared!
Skeleton Creek Overview Strange things happen in the small town of Skeleton Creek - and when they do, Ryan writes them down and Sarah captures them on video. The two main characters record their experiences investigating what many think is a haunted gold mine. Ryan writes in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search out the truth. Forbidden to see each other, they send notes and video clips via email in a dangerous attempt to solve the mystery of Skeleton Creek.
http://www.sarahfincher.com/ BOOK TRAILOR--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0mgLUs6JgQ Interview with Patrick Carmen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGjEJLkev2I
Book Club Purpose Discussions with peers Share questions, connections, predictions Discuss elements of the story Challenge To have fun!
Book Club Each reading assignment you will have a job to complete related to the reading. You and your group members will decide which job you will begin with. You need to complete each job at least once ALL jobs are done in your notebook the packet is simply a guide
Discussion Director Poses higher level questions about the reading Guides the discussion Challenges the group to think in depth about the book Asks good THICK questions Keeps the group on task and focused.
Example Discussion Director Questions/Tasks Describe Ryan as he sees himself. Compare and contrast Ryan and Sarah. What text-to-text, text-to-self, text-to-world connections can you make? What questions did you have while completing the reading for this week? What predictions can you make for what will happen next?
Summarizer Ryan has been negatively effected by the events that occurred at the dredge. He recounts the accident he had, waking up in the hospital, his injury, and his parents’ reactions. He shares with the reader how that night changed him physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ryan shares his realization that something is wrong with Skeleton Creek. He details the search for information about Skeleton Creek and the dredge that he engages in with Sarah. Ryan tells about the journal he keeps to document his feelings and experiences. The reader also learns about the consequences Ryan and Sarah have suffered because of their night at the dredge. The two friends secretly communicate through emails and Sarah’s videos. Ryan and Sarah’s choices and desire to learn more about Skeleton Creek and the dredge may have a negative and lasting effect on these characters.
Summarizer Your job is to provide a good summary of the last sections of reading. You do not need to RETELL the whole section. You should highlight the important events as well as what you found interesting
Literary Luminary The Literary Luminary’s job is to find interesting, frightening, or thought-provoking passages to read aloud and interpret for the group. “I think my favorite writers are those who admitted while they were still alive that they couldn’t live without writing. John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Frost – guys who put writing up there in the same category as air and water. Write or die trying. That kind of thinking agrees with me.” I chose this because it really shows that Ryan LOVES to write! He always needs to be writing.
Literary Luminary “I know my writing has changed in the past year. The two kinds of writing – the made-up scary stories and the documenting of events in Skeleton Creek – have slowly become one. I don’t have to make up stories any longer, because I’m more certain than ever that the very town I live in is haunted.” I choose this because it creped me out a little. I wonder if the town is really haunted? Could Ryan just be paranoid?
Word Wizard Word Wizard Your job is to look for new, challenging, or interesting words in your reading. When you find words that are puzzling or unfamiliar, write them down in your notebook . You may choose to write the words on a sticky and mark the page with it. Later, you can look them up in a dictionary and write down their definitions. You may also find words in the reading that are significant to the story. Mark these words too, and be ready to point them out to the group. When your circle meets, direct members to the words and discuss them.
Character Tracker The person with this job gives us insight into a particular character by sharing his/her traits, actions, and feelings. “I don’t think I’m a coward – I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now if I was a coward – but I am the sort of person who overanalyzes, worries, frets. When I hear a noise scratching under the bed – either real or imagined – I stare at the ceiling for hours and wonder what it might be that’s trying to claw its way out. (I picture it with fangs, long bony fingers, and bulging red eyes). For a person who worries like I do and has a vivid imagination to match, Skeleton Creek is the wrong sort of place to endure childhood.” Wow Ryan really seems to be scared? Is this all in his head? I can connect to some of these feelings. I used to be very scared of what might be lying under my bed!
What’s next? We will review the book club format Group assignments and discuss the reading schedule