1. MISS WATSON’S CLASSROOM READING MATERIAL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS Spring 2012 - present

2. Book List  Out of the Night That Covers Me – Pat Cunningham Devoto Out of the Night That Covers Me – Pat Cunningham Devoto  Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson  Lockdown – Walter Dean Myers Lockdown – Walter Dean Myers  Zel – Donna Jo Napoli Zel – Donna Jo Napoli

3. Out of the Night That Covers Me – Pat Cunningham Devoto  Character List Character List  Outline Outline  Literary Elements Literary Elements  Projects to Choose From Projects to Choose From  Essay questions Essay questions

4. Character List  John: page 3, 6, 408  Uncle Luther: page 53  Aunt Nelda: page 13  Judge Vance: page 407  Mrs. Vance: page 21  Ella: page 158  Mama Tuway: page 18  Obadiah: page 26, 36  Tuway: page 95, 157  Shell: page 62  Little Luther: page 47  These electronic note cards will help you develop the characters and distinguish if the character lives in POVERTY or PRIVILEDGE.electronic note cards

5. John’s Life 1. From Tennessee to Alabama a. Train ride b. Lower Peach Tree 2. Working in the Field a. Sun burn 3. Going into Town a. Getting to know Judge Vance 4. When his belongings arrived in LPT a. Talking to the preacher b. Uncle Luther selling the furniture 5. Miss Belva comes to the house a. checking on John b. working for Judge Vance 6. John meets Tuway a. Tuway is very reserved b. Delivers mail with Cal 7. School a. Smarter than the other children 8. Encounters L.B. and Debo a. Sees the corruption 9. Develops a relationship with Judge and Mrs. Vance a. Supper b. Spending the Night 10. John gets a glance at Tuway’s book a. Begins to devise an escape b. Meets Tuway at the graveyard 11. Escaping to The Bend a. Meeting Mama Tuway b. Meeting Ella 12. Jumping on the train a.Difficult 13. Frog Gigging a.Getting in Trouble b.Working on Claude’s farm 14. Attack on The Bend a.Crossing the River b.Ella is hurt 15. Conculsion

6. Connecting Fiction to History  This presentation connects The Bend to the actual town of Gee’s Bend Alabama. You will take a look at the women of Gee’s Bend and their quilts.presentation  This presentation will show you the facts about poverty in Alabama.presentation

7. Essay Questions  These following questions are for you to think about as you read the book. Two of these questions will be on your final test. Be prepared to answer them in a well formed paragraph.  In the long run was it best for John that he was not spared his struggles? Do you think children today are too sheltered? Not sheltered enough?  Was Aunt Nelda trapped in her way of life any more so than women today?  If you were spirited back in time to live in the story, which character would you most want to be?  The book did not end with everyone living "happily ever after." Were you satisfied with this ending? Do you think it was realistic?  What elements in the story point out the good and bad sides of small town life?  Did John's transition match, in any way, the transformation that was taking place in the South as it was drawn kicking and screaming into a new era?

8. Projects to Choose from  Book Jacket  Reporting the News  Write a Script  Character Portrait

9. Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson  Character List Character List  Outline Outline  Literary Elements Literary Elements  Essay Questions Essay Questions  Projects to Choose From Projects to Choose From

10. Melinda’s Life  What caused Melinda to act the way she does?  How is she coping?  What was she like before the incident?

11. Character List  Melinda  Heather  Mr. Freeman  IT  Mom  Dad  Nicole  Mr. Neck  Rachel

12. Literary Elements  Man vs. Man  Man vs. Self  Man vs. Society

13. Essay Question  Discuss the novel and its significance. What roles do silence and truth play in the story.  Is there a relationship between speaking and listening? Can one exist without the other?  Why does Melinda isolate herself? Is she justified in doing so?  In what places is Melinda able to find her sanctuary at school? How do the characters of these places provide a window into her character?

14. Projects to Choose From  Book Jacket  Reporting the News  Write a Script  Character Portrait

15. Lockdown – Walter Dean Myers  Character List Character List  Outline Outline  Connecting Fiction to Real Facts Connecting Fiction to Real Facts  Essay Questions Essay Questions  Projects to Choose From Projects to Choose From

16. Character List

17. Outline

18. Connecting Fiction to Facts

19. Essay Questions

20. Projects to Choose From

21. Zel – Donna Jo Napoli  Character List Character List  Outline Outline  Literary Elements Literary Elements  Essay Questions Essay Questions  Projects to Choose From Projects to Choose From

22. Character List

23. Outline

24. Literary Elements

25. Essay Questions

26. Projects to Choose From