March 2011 Theme: Bullying This month, we are reading Drowning Anna by Sue Mayfield and/or Breaking Point by Alex Flinn. Drowning Anna is about girl-to-girl bullying and Breaking Point is about boy-to-boy bullying.
Sue Mayfield is a British author and Drowning Anna is a story about teens in a British school. She uses several slang terms that may not be familiar to students in the US. Mrs. Horisk developed this reading guide to the main characters and slang terms:
Names: Sioban - (pronounced Sha-bon) lacky friend of Hayley Francis - Anna's mom David - Anna's dad Tom - Anna's brother Melanie - friend of Anna's who would like Hayley's approval and is sometimes the narrator of the story.
British Slang: Vol-au-vent (pg 42) a light pastry filled with a savory filling Loo - toilet Sun bed - tanning bed Knickers - undies Brill, brilliant - great, fantastic Keen - eager, sharp Hoovered - vacuumed Biscuits - cookies, crackers Crisps - potato chips Boots - a department store in England Sainsbury - a chain of grocery stores in England Snogging - kissing Rug - blanket
Question: If you were writing a guide to U.S. teen slang for British teens, what words would you include? Post your suggestions.
1. How does Hayley gain Anna's trust? 2. How does Hayley's treatment of Anna change? 3. Why are Hayley's actions considered bullying? 4. Whole group discussion question: Compare Anna and Paul (the main character in Breaking Point.)
March 21 Discussion Questions for Breaking Point. 1. What is a breaking point? Have you ever experienced a time when you had a breaking point with someone or something? What was it? 2. How does Charlie Good gain Paul's trust? Are they effective techniques of manipulation? Would they work on you, or anybody you know? 3. At this point in the story (p. 74, end of chapter 10), can Charlie's actions be considered bullying? 4. Whole group discussion question: Compare Paul and Anna (the main character in Drowning Anna.)
April Discussion Questions for Breaking Point 1. What would you do if you found yourself in Paul's situation? 2. How can you tell the difference between teenagers just blowing off steam and real threats to be taken seriously? 3. Predict the future for Paul. 4. Predict the future for Charlie.
This month, we are reading Drowning Anna by Sue Mayfield and/or Breaking Point by Alex Flinn. Drowning Anna is
about girl-to-girl bullying and Breaking Point is about boy-to-boy bullying.
Here are links to the author's websites: http://www.alexflinn.com/ http://www.suemayfield.com/
Sue Mayfield is a British author and Drowning Anna is a story about teens in a British school. She uses several slang terms that may not be familiar to students in the US. Mrs. Horisk developed this reading guide to the main characters and slang terms:
Names:
Sioban - (pronounced Sha-bon) lacky friend of Hayley
Francis - Anna's mom
David - Anna's dad
Tom - Anna's brother
Melanie - friend of Anna's who would like Hayley's approval and is sometimes the narrator of the story.
British Slang:
Vol-au-vent (pg 42) a light pastry filled with a savory filling
Loo - toilet
Sun bed - tanning bed
Knickers - undies
Brill, brilliant - great, fantastic
Keen - eager, sharp
Hoovered - vacuumed
Biscuits - cookies, crackers
Crisps - potato chips
Boots - a department store in England
Sainsbury - a chain of grocery stores in England
Snogging - kissing
Rug - blanket
Question: If you were writing a guide to U.S. teen slang for British teens, what words would you include? Post your suggestions.
Here's a video clip from "Hating Tami", a film about female bullying: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-66060
March 21 Discussion Questions for Drowning Anna.
1. How does Hayley gain Anna's trust?
2. How does Hayley's treatment of Anna change?
3. Why are Hayley's actions considered bullying?
4. Whole group discussion question: Compare Anna and Paul (the main character in Breaking Point.)
March 21 Discussion Questions for Breaking Point.
1. What is a breaking point? Have you ever experienced a time when you had a breaking point with someone or something? What was it?
2. How does Charlie Good gain Paul's trust? Are they effective techniques of manipulation? Would they work on you, or anybody you know?
3. At this point in the story (p. 74, end of chapter 10), can Charlie's actions be considered bullying?
4. Whole group discussion question: Compare Paul and Anna (the main character in Drowning Anna.)
April Discussion Questions for Breaking Point
1. What would you do if you found yourself in Paul's situation?
2. How can you tell the difference between teenagers just blowing off steam and real threats to be taken seriously?
3. Predict the future for Paul.
4. Predict the future for Charlie.