2. a project presented to Prof. Dwight Watson Hamline University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for GED 7871: Literacy in the Middle and High School by Reina Malakoff Dave Ostrom Kimberly Strom Peter Sunnarborg Penny Thompson- Burke Jessica White Stanley

4. Theme Who is the character? Greg Slam Harris Family Moms Derek Pops Grandma Friends Mtiesha Ice Classmates Margie Teammates Nick Ducky Coach Goldy School personnel Mr. Tate Math teacher

5. Theme How did the character develop? Character development Relationship with family? Relationship with friends? Relationship with teammates? Relationship with school personnel? Relationship with classmates?

6. Theme What is the setting?

7. Theme What is the problem? At school Principal insistent on tutoring Video project; partner hard to work with Demeaning teachers With friends and at home Ice suspected of dealing drugs Conflicting romantic interests (Mtisha vs. every other female he encounters) Derek loses the camera On the team Conflict with coach and other players Skill level of other players Slams attitude

8. Theme How was the problem resolved? ProblemsResolution Principal insistent on tutoringSlam is apprehensive of letting another man tutor him and keen to the threat that his father might feel. Randall doesnt tutor him but rather Mtisha tutors him minimally. Video project; partner hard to work withCreates a video of the neighborhood that Margie calls ghetto, teacher wants to enter it in awards competition Demeaning teachersSlam has a blowup at one teacher who refers to him in a derogatory manner, then gets his attitude in check. Lots of trouble in mathMtisha tutors him minimally. Not as resolved as could be. At school

9. Theme How was the problem resolved? At home and with friends ProblemResolution Ice suspected of dealing drugs Ignores despite Mtishas urging to confront him until the night of the victory party when he sees him giving someone drugs. They fight and Slam leaves Conflicting romantic interests Slam thinks about marrying, dating, and (Mtisha vs. every other female he encounters) mating with many girls. After he makes out with Kicky, Mtisha admits her true feelings for Slam. He realizes that shes the one he wants despite his rampant daydreams. Derek loses the cameraThe pawn shop owner finds the camera when someone in the neighborhood tries to sell it. Mtisha delivers the good news and Slam gets it back. Strained relationship with dad. Dad is an alcoholic who is straight when hes working and drunk when hes not. Dad is unemployed by the end and not close to Slam because of lack of common interests. Not really resolved. Moms wants him to hang with Mr Randall, the tutor Slam never gets tutored by Randall for the sake of Pops ego and his own as well

10. Theme How was the problem resolved? On the team ProblemResolution Conflict with coach and other players When Slams attitude lightens up, the coach starts to play him more. We are just seeing the beginning of this by the books end. It foreshadows that Slam learns to put his attitude in check. Slam appreciates Goldy who has been a support from the start. Slam begins to accept Ducky for what he is and become his friend. Begins to get along with Nick despite the fact that Nick is being scouted for college and he isnt as wanted. Begins to get along with Jimmy despite having received an unwelcome talk with him about Slams attitude. Slam begins to see the only other black player as a teammate. Skill level of other players Slam begins to get his ego in check by the books end as he tries to help Nick look good for scouts.

11. Theme How did this book relate to the other books? Mentor relationshipSocial isolationMaturation On the sheets of paper around the room, write down a statement that relates how each book relates to the above themes.

12. Instructional quality ReadabilityConceptual Level Length of words in passage: Moderate Length of words in sentence: short Size print: medium (12 pt. Font) Pictures: none Slang: There is a fair amount of slang in the basketball scenes, but it isnt hard to figure it out from the context: oWedgies oGoing for the pill/the pebble oA little head fake oRun him into a pick oPinned his stuff against the boards and pulled it down oBreakaway jam oThe top of the key Themes: friendship, drug use, drug dealing, racism, romantic/sexual love, loyalty, addiction, poverty Concepts: independence, motivation, perseverance, self-control Age of characters: oSlam: 17 o Ice: 17 o Mtisha: 17 o Parents: Moms and Pop: late 30s early 40s? oDerek: 9 oGoldy: 50-60ish? Moderate readability + high conceptual level = 9 th grade target audience

13. Dynamics of circle time Ah-ha moments Slams ego and how he perceives himself: a protection mechanism? Slams closeness to his family: protecting his moms feelings; taking to heart his grandmothers advice The pride Slam takes in his video project for school. Envisioning his future: marriage, family, and a career in the NBA Caring for his friends. Trying out for the team Kicky Coming to realize how his work on the video might be exploited by his classmates Goldys lecture Parallels to our experience as teachers Interacting with students talented in sports but struggling at school Understanding Slams attraction to girls, dealing with friends involved with drugs, dreaming about the future

14. Conclusion Yeah. Okay. Maybe that was the way to work it. Maybe if I could get my game right, all my game, on and off the court, I would get over.