Post your connections to the book. These may be connections to: your own life (text to life)
To happenings at school or in the neighborhood or in the newspaper (text to world)
To other books or stories (text to text)
To other writings on the same topic (text to text)
To other writings by the same author (text to author)
Please respond to one other entry regarding discussion questions
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18 comments:
test run
hello
just testing
okay..now I get it. =)
As I read about Jimmy and Ralph always going into the woods to explore, it reminded me of the times my big brother and I would go into our backyard woods. Right when we got off the bus, we would run down the driveway, drop off our backpacks and head straight into the woods. Most of the time, we would miss the snacks that our mom had ready for us! We did the same as Jimmy and Ralph. We explored all the different insects and bushes. Climbed trees and rocks. We even made a tree fort almost similar to Jimmy and Ralph's "tripod" except it wasn't as big as theirs! We used big branches that had fallen and stacked them over a large rock. It was left their for a long time.
On page 4, Ralph Fletcher described how there was a tiny stream in his backyard. We also had a stream about 20 steps from the back of our house. We would catch crayfish and water bugs. Ralph Fletcher described how the woods held magical things, and I couldn't agree more. The woods for my brother and I was a sweet escape and we found the most exciting and interesting things there that made us want to go back everyday!
My response was a text to self connection too (see above)!
In the chapter titled Rhode Island Reds on page 117 Ralph talked about a time when his dad took him and several of his siblings to the department store so that his mom and two small siblings would have a quiet house to take a nap. Well, when they walked into the store they saw a big crowd around what turned out to be chicks for sale. Dad ended up buying a chick for each child and brought them home to raise them. I made a text to self connection on this because I, myself, well, really my husband, raises chickens. Every year we get them sent to us in the mail as 2-3 day old chicks. All of them all stuffed inside one small cardboard box. And we are never quite sure if they are hens or roosters. Actually, we just found out that one of our "hens" just may possibly be a rooster. Anyway,besides this part of the memoir reminding me of caring for the chicks, watching them grow into the awkward adults, and anticipating the eggs they would provide "Fresh eggs" that is, the most important part of my connection came when Tommy realizes that his chick is sick.This part reminded me of this one chick we had. We actually named him Forest because he was a little slower than the rest in growth stages. He actually did get squished under the food tray. If you've ever seen 15 or so chicks all trying to get food at once you'd understand how it happened. He never did get a chance to grow to adulthood. He died. We tried everything to help him. Feeding him with an eye dropper, wrapping him up to keep him warm, and keeping him away from the busy chicks, but nothing helped. I completely understand how upseting it was to Tommy because it was also to me. Even thought it wasn't my fault I felt so responsible for Forest's little life.
Deanna,
As I was reading your connection I couldn't help but think about how you felt about school when you were a kid. For Jimmy the woods were where he felt the most comfortable because that world made sense to him. I don't mean for this blog to get personal but I just wondered if you felt the same way about school as Jimmy.
I loved school actually! Our woods was just a great place to go to because it was either really exciting and adventurous at times, or just quiet and peaceful. I like both feelings of adventure and peacefulness. Thinking about Jimmy and Ralph going into the words brought back great memories of my brother and I doing the same!
I can relate with you Deanna. I have an older brother also. I have many memories of us playing and exploring things/places together. I was having a text-to-self connection when Ralph and his brother went exploring through a swampy part in the woods. It reminded me of when my brother and I would explore the woods near my grandmother's house. There was actually a swampy area where we would see all sorts of interesting things. We used to collect salamanders there and bring them home.
I had a text-to-self connection when Ralph told his story about Jonathan Miller. He met Jonathan at the beach and spent the day playing with him. They had a great bond and by the end of the day they were best friends. But Ralph never saw him again. This reminded me of my family vacations at the Cape. I would make a friend at the beach that lasted a day or sometimes a week if their family was vacationing the same week. I can remember meeting a girl and making a real connection with her. We played all day together, swam in the water, made sand castles... then it was time to leave. I never saw her again. That was the end of our friendship. I felt a little sad at the end of the day when we had to leave just as Ralph did when Jonathan left. But, that was what beach/vacation friends were.
As I was reading,my text to self connection was when Flethcer talks about the friends he mad in Marshfield. Fletcher talks about his friends Steve, Larry, and Andy. They were in the same grade and played with each other all the time. He states "Everyday I knocked on Andy's back door or he knocked on mine. If he wasn't home I'd wait for him outside..."(page 86). This chapter brought back memories of me living in New York. My friends Crystal, Saidah, and Francesca were the best of friends. We were always over each others houses, having slumber parties, and going to the park together. We had good times with each other. This chapter made me want to go back to the life I had when I was living in Queens, New York. I can truly sympathize with Fletcher at the end of the story when he talks about saying good bye to not only the neighborhood in Marshfield, MA but the people he met there.
Deanna,
I can relate to you too. I remember when my father moved from New York to New Jersey. His new house was beautiful and spacious. We lived right next to a forest looking land called the orchards. My older brother and I would walk through there all the time. There was a lake through the orchards. Whenever my parents and him didn't get along, I always knew where to find him. He hated school too and was always skipping class. However, the woods wasn't a place where he loved to explore or catch things. It was a place of freedom for him, where he made his own rules and can just do as he pleased. A place where he just felt completely one with himself.
Michelle,
I have never known anyone who raises chickens. Do you have a farm of some sort in your backyard? You said they are mailed to you. How exactly do they arrive at your doorstep? I can't picture this!!! Do your kids help feed and raise them? Do you sell the eggs? Sorry to ask so many questions. I just find this so interesting!!!
I am sorry to here about Forest. From your explanation it seems like it probably happens more than we think!
meg,
actually, we only have a few acres, but we are allowed in our town to have chickens.
We use the eggs to eat. We actually give a lot away. Sometimes there are way more eggs than we could ever eat.
My husband decided about 5 years ago he'd like to have fresh eggs and try it out. With our neighbor they looked on line and got plans for a coop. They then built it and voila! We got chickens.
There is actually a business you can go to on line called McMurray Hatchery where you can buy everything and anything you would need to raise chickens. And they are the people that mail them to us.
I'm glad you asked.
It is a bit funny to me too.
Another text-to-self connection I thought about while reading the book was when Mr. Fletcher was explaining to Ralph and Jimmy that their ancestors were English bow makers (127). I remember when my father told me that my ancestors created the Gatling gun. It was the first machine gun designed by Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861 and patented in 1862.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatling_gun
Wow ladies,
What interesting stories you have. Michelle I was quite amazed about the chickens as well. And Jennifer, that's really cool that your ancestors created that gun.
Jennifer,
That is really neat to have that history in your family! Do you have pictures or an article about the gun your family created so you are able to keep and share with your family one day? My grandfather tells me many stories about him and our ancestors, and wished he had pictures to show me.
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