Components of Comprehension - Hokey Pokey

Chapter: Kiki

Title: Kiki Chapter in Hokey Pokey

I know (literal)

Wall is five spits long

Kiki bounces balls off of the wall

Kiki and Jack are friends

They are playing baseball or training or practicing

Jack is training the kid or is older

Weeds and scraggily bushes against the wall

Jack is inquisitive or wise about the game beyond the sport

Jack is thoughtful of the Kid’s feelings

Jack replaces the kid’s glove with his own

I wonder (questions)

Who is Jack?

What does Hokey Pokey mean?

How long is a spit?

Why is he listing things?

What is an evil hissing dust ripper?

What is frog-eyed terrified?

Why are they playing baseball or practicing?

What happened to the ball?

I hear (key)

Descriptive words of actions

The Kid

Minute by minute description of the scene and actions

S Alliteration

I believe (inference)

Something unexpected will happen

The kid will become a great player

I believe the kid is being pushed to be the best

Jack will make the kid cry

The “lesson” conversation between Jack and Kiki was more about Jack’s inner issues

I feel (emotions)

Lost

Dramatic

Pace

Anxiety for the kid

Antagonistic

In trouble

Younger

I see (imagery)

I see two kids playing in a large field with high grass and bushes. There is a nostalgic, tall, enormous wall along the field. I see a taller and older kid at a distance throwing a ball to a smaller, younger kid. The younger child has a brightness to their eyes and an eagerness to please in every step. The older child looks somewhat bored of the game.

Crash - Post#1 Initial thoughts

Hello everyone, I am reading Crash by Jerry Spinelli. So far, the book is about a boy named John Coogan, but everyone calls him Crash. The summer before Crash enters first grade, a boy called Penn Webb moved into his neighborhood. During their first interaction, Crash makes up his mind that he does not like Penn, and from then on bullies and torments him. Penn allows Crash to bully him and does not show any form of anger or aggression.

This is the first time that I have read a book from the perspective of a bully. I thought that reading from Crash’s point of view would allow me to understand where he is coming from and to be able to empathize with him, but that is not the case. Crash is not only a bully, but a spoiled obnoxious brat and I really dislike him. I was surprised by how malicious his thoughts were at just six years old. I teach kindergarten and my students are not like that. Crash seems to be deeply troubled. I initially thought that his home environment was the cause, but then there is his sister Abby who is very sweet and is the total opposite of Crash.

I wish this book was told from the perspective of Penn. I want to enter his brain and find out what he is thinking and why he allows Crash and Mike to do all these things to him and never speak up. I love Penn’s attitude and that it doesn't matter how much Crash tortures and humiliates him he doesn't let it get to him or bring him down.

Loser - My Initial Reaction

The title, Loser, is one that makes you wonder what the story is going to be about. The term loser often holds a negative connotation, typically referring to someone that is considered to be an outcast. I assumed that this story would correlate to the stereotypes of the term.
The book is laid out with short chapters and large font, perfect for its audience. The words on the page are often spread out and formatted in a way that will grasps the readers eye. The author does not use complex vocabulary that forces the reader to use academic resources to uncover the meaning of words within the text. However; this seems to be the case because the story is not meant for those purposes. Rather, the text is for entertainment purposes only.

Hokey Pokey - first thoughts

Immediately I am submerged in an unknown world that resembles childhood play in a careless summer, but the language of the story is poetic and hyperbolic. Every motion has an onomatopoeia that makes the sounds of childhood come to life. So far, I want to drink soda pop and eat candy while falling asleep in the grass and flowers with these characters. 

The characters are in a magical place where objects are personified and, even, have names. The problems are innocent but played out dramatically as if the world were coming to an end. There is a rivalry between boy and girl, fastest rider, normal kids vs unusual kids, and etc... So far, Hokey Pokey is a fun read that I have to decrypt its poetry in order to be engulfed its child-magic charm.