The Giver - Response

Well, we are over half way through the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry and I feel so mean. I have stopped the reading for the next week and I am watching, with more than a bit of guilt I might add, as my students mope about resentful about the wait. I really am sorry, but we have to respond in the middle to consider some of the elements of a response midway through a novel as opposed to one done at the end of the book.

With this in mind, remember that your thoughts (good and bad) help to show me the meaning you are making from the text as we stop and discuss the themes we are finding as we plug away. I have attached my own response (just one of many possible ideas) so that you can get some ideas about responding to a longer story. Just click the link below to read it and to add your comments.

Don't hold back. Be creative and have some fun with this one. Remember that it will be as interesting as you make it. This novel is great for providing some controversial topics about controls in society. What would you accept? What wouldn't you? Back it up. Be specific. I'm anxious to read your thoughts and I hope you respond to mine as well.

Also, just to see who is actually following my blog from time to time, I have read a rumour (and it is a rumour because it is as of yet unconfirmed), that the Giver is being made into a movie starring Jeff Bridges!!!! Keep your fingers crossed people! We could all meet up at the theatre on opening night!

The Giver - A Model Society?

The Girl Effect

For those of you who missed it, here is the little video we watched and talked about on the day of the Volleyball tournament. It made me think a lot about the opportunities we have in this country that allow us (girls in particular) to reach our full potential, especially knowing that some places on this big beautiful planet have the urge to deem them less worthy than our male counterparts.

This is not to say that girls are superior, but simply to say that they are entitled to all the same praise and value and esteem as any other person. Imagine what could be accomplished in those countries if we encouraged the help and ideas of ALL its inhabitants! Hope to hear some of your thoughts on this one. You can respond to this on your own blog or comment on mine if you like. Either way, I will read it.