Blog 21: Making Connections

For the past two days, your class has viewed the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings film and responded to teacher-constructed questions during your viewing; all participating students received credit for these worksheets.

Now it is your turn to develop questions and make connections between the film and book! With a partner or individually, post five questions you realized you had about Marguerite's story from viewing the film--a question can be formed from something you were wondering about. After you have developed your questions, find the answers in the book! Challenge: Cite quotations to support your answers. Include page number.

Ex. 1. Q: Why does Uncle Willie walk with a limp and what's with his stutter?

A: He had been crippled since he was a child.

2. Q:Why doesn't Maya talk to her mother and father?

A: She doesn't feel comfortable around them as much as Bailey.

3. Q: Why does Bailey automatically love his mother?

A: Because he feels a connection to her.

4. Q:How does Maya feel about Lily?

A:She feels embarrassed that her dad is dating her.

5. Q:Why doesn't Bailey feel sad about leaving stamps?

A: He doesn't mind because then he could start over in a new place and he didn't like Stamps that much.

If you were absent from class during the film days, choose one of the themes listed, and in one paragraph explain how this theme has surfaced at least three times in your reading. Possible themes: "Family," "Generations," "Race, Ethnicity, and Culture," "Challenges and Triumphs," or "The Individual vs. Society."

Blog 20: Segregation Presented in Chapter 8

There was such a huge dividing line between the African-American community of Stamps, AK, and the Caucasian community that even the Depression affected them differently. The Caucasian people were richer, and spent their money very freely. The African-American people were already desperately poor, and barely had the resources to keep themselves alive, let alone buy luxury items. So, when the Depression hit, the Caucasian community was affected first, then slowly, it drizzled down to the African-American community.

Answer the five questions from the handout distributed in class.

Then, share in this post whether you would have preferred to be an African-American or Caucasian during the Depression in Stamp, AK, as described in the book.

[10 Class Points; Questions on Worksheet distributed 2.08.10; POSTED BY END OF CLASS PERIOD]

1. They weren't wealthy and they didn't have a lot of money during it.

2. It didn't change them that much, but it did impact their lives.

3. It did alter their view on life because they realized that not only whites were effected by it.

4. Maya's family had more money than the whites.

5. The Blacks will recover faster.

I would rather be an African American at this time because they were not as effected as badly as whites.

Blog 14: Angelou's Life, Time, & Message

During our class today, many facts were shared about Maya Angelou: her life, time period, and overall message of her works. Additionally, a definition of racism was shared as well as past and present instances of racism in United States society.

For each category, share one fact you learned from the informative groups' presentations today:

1: Time Period: African-American Experience in U.S., 1930s & 1940s

2: Maya Angelou: Biography

3: Racism: What is it? How has it occurred in the U.S.?

4: Maya Angelou: Works & Publications

5: Racism: Where does it still exist in the U.S.?

One fact should be shared for each category. Five facts should be in complete sentences. Feel free to share more than one fact that caught your attention. If you were absent today, Tues., 2.03.10, research this information on your own to complete this blog posting.

1. The bombing of Pearl Harbor December 7th 1941. Japan attacked a US military base.

2. She had a hard childhood and was a dancer and traveled all around the world for it.

3. Racism is prejudice against someone who does not look or share the same beliefs as you.

4. She published more than 30 books.