Student Comments About The View from Saturday

All the dates for the View from Saturday unit are listed below. If you want to view student comments for a specific date, click on that date.

December 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 16 17 18

If you're not sure about the date but want to see the student comments for a specific reading assignment, scroll through the following chart to find that chapter and click on the corresponding date. (The chart also lists some reading log ideas for each chapter.) If you're ready to submit a comment or question now, click here.

DATE CHAPTER(S) READING LOG IDEAS

Tuesday,
December 1 Chap. 1,
pp. 1-7 Draw a detailed picture of the room as the two teams prepare to begin the academic bowl. On the back of your paper, write a paragraph describing the setting in your own words, noting at least five or six expressions or vocabulary words that the author uses to help you picture the setting. Pay careful attention to the author's description (bottom of pp. 2-4).

Wednesday,
December 2 Chap. 1,
pp. 7-20 Make a character map of Noah Gershom. This map should include physical characteristics, how he acts, what you know by what he says and thinks, how he feels, and relationships he has. Support your statements with brief examples from the text.

Thursday,
December 3 Chap. 2,
pp. 21-40 How does Noah describe Alan? How does he feel about him? How does Nadia describe Alan? How does she feel about him? (Are there any specific words or things they say about him? Why might they use these words?) How are their descriptions different? Does Nadia's description tell us something that Noah's doesn't (or vice versa)? Why do you think this is so? Support your response.

Friday,
December 4 Chap. 2,
pp. 40-57 Make a character map of Nadia Diamondstein. (Consider her relationships with Izzy and Margaret, her father, her dog, etc.)
What big decision did Nadia make regarding the turtles and turtle walks? Why did she made such a decision? How does Nadia follow through on this decision? What makes her act this way? What does this tell you about her as a person? Support your response.

Monday,
December 7 Chap. 3,
pp. 58-75 Using a Venn diagram or other graphic organizer, compare and contrast Ethan Potter and Julian Singh.

Tuesday,
December 8 Chap. 3,
pp. 75-93 Ethan says, "Had I gained something at Sillington House? Or had I lost something there? The answer was yes" (p. 89). What do you think he gained and what did he lose? (Support your response!) What would you wish to gain for yourself? What would you wish to lose?
Nadia says, "Less is more." Clearly explain what she meant. Do you agree with her? Support your argument with your own examples.

Wednesday,
December 9 Chap. 4,
pp. 94-106 As the story continues to unfold, we have learned much more about Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian. Add to your character maps and graphic organizer (compare/contrast) and put a star next to your additions.

Thursday,
December 10 Chap. 4,
pp. 106-118 Describe the situation with Julian and the biscuits. What did he need to decide and how did he handle it? How did he come to his decision? What did Julian mean when he said, "Gopal would forgive me"? Be specific. Do you think he did the right thing? Support your response.

Friday,
December 11 Chaps. 5-6 How do teachers usually choose a class team for the Academic Bowl? Who was on Mrs. Olinski's team and how did she choose them? What difficulty did she have appointing all the members of her team? Why was it difficult for her? If you were the teacher, how would you choose your class team? What criteria (standards) would you use to make the decision? Why?
What kind of disturbance did Jared and Ham make in the classroom? How did Mrs. Olinski decide to handle it? What do you think the boys were expecting? Did Mrs. Olinski use good judgement? Why or why not? If you were Mrs. Olinski, what would you have done? Why? What other things could teachers do to help students obey classroom rules and regulations?

Monday,
December 14 Chap. 7 Choose a character that you really like or dislike. Describe who the character is and what part he or she plays in the story. Give three or more solid reasons (in other words, support) for your view of this character.

Tuesday,
December 15 Chaps. 8-9 Mr. Singh and Mrs. Olinski had a very mysterious conversation. List at least three or four good questions for discussion that you would ask to help make their conversation more clear if you were listening in.

Wednesday,
December 16 Chaps. 10-12 State one theme from the text that you have discussed in class or that you have identified on your own. Describe three or more situations in the story that illustrate the theme.

Thursday,
December 17 None After finishing the book, write a critique of it. You may focus your critique on the plot, character(s), or setting. Specify what you will critique and stay focused on that area. Be specific and support your responses with examples from the text.

DATE	CHAPTER(S)	READING LOG IDEAS
Tuesday, December 1	Chap. 1, pp. 1-7	Draw a detailed picture of the room as the two teams prepare to begin the academic bowl. On the back of your paper, write a paragraph describing the setting in your own words, noting at least five or six expressions or vocabulary words that the author uses to help you picture the setting. Pay careful attention to the author's description (bottom of pp. 2-4).
Wednesday, December 2	Chap. 1, pp. 7-20	Make a character map of Noah Gershom. This map should include physical characteristics, how he acts, what you know by what he says and thinks, how he feels, and relationships he has. Support your statements with brief examples from the text.
Thursday, December 3	Chap. 2, pp. 21-40	How does Noah describe Alan? How does he feel about him? How does Nadia describe Alan? How does she feel about him? (Are there any specific words or things they say about him? Why might they use these words?) How are their descriptions different? Does Nadia's description tell us something that Noah's doesn't (or vice versa)? Why do you think this is so? Support your response.
Friday, December 4	Chap. 2, pp. 40-57	Make a character map of Nadia Diamondstein. (Consider her relationships with Izzy and Margaret, her father, her dog, etc.) What big decision did Nadia make regarding the turtles and turtle walks? Why did she made such a decision? How does Nadia follow through on this decision? What makes her act this way? What does this tell you about her as a person? Support your response.
Monday, December 7	Chap. 3, pp. 58-75	Using a Venn diagram or other graphic organizer, compare and contrast Ethan Potter and Julian Singh.
Tuesday, December 8	Chap. 3, pp. 75-93	Ethan says, "Had I gained something at Sillington House? Or had I lost something there? The answer was yes" (p. 89). What do you think he gained and what did he lose? (Support your response!) What would you wish to gain for yourself? What would you wish to lose? Nadia says, "Less is more." Clearly explain what she meant. Do you agree with her? Support your argument with your own examples.
Wednesday, December 9	Chap. 4, pp. 94-106	As the story continues to unfold, we have learned much more about Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian. Add to your character maps and graphic organizer (compare/contrast) and put a star next to your additions.
Thursday, December 10	Chap. 4, pp. 106-118	Describe the situation with Julian and the biscuits. What did he need to decide and how did he handle it? How did he come to his decision? What did Julian mean when he said, "Gopal would forgive me"? Be specific. Do you think he did the right thing? Support your response.
Friday, December 11	Chaps. 5-6	How do teachers usually choose a class team for the Academic Bowl? Who was on Mrs. Olinski's team and how did she choose them? What difficulty did she have appointing all the members of her team? Why was it difficult for her? If you were the teacher, how would you choose your class team? What criteria (standards) would you use to make the decision? Why? What kind of disturbance did Jared and Ham make in the classroom? How did Mrs. Olinski decide to handle it? What do you think the boys were expecting? Did Mrs. Olinski use good judgement? Why or why not? If you were Mrs. Olinski, what would you have done? Why? What other things could teachers do to help students obey classroom rules and regulations?
Monday, December 14	Chap. 7	Choose a character that you really like or dislike. Describe who the character is and what part he or she plays in the story. Give three or more solid reasons (in other words, support) for your view of this character.
Tuesday, December 15	Chaps. 8-9	Mr. Singh and Mrs. Olinski had a very mysterious conversation. List at least three or four good questions for discussion that you would ask to help make their conversation more clear if you were listening in.
Wednesday, December 16	Chaps. 10-12	State one theme from the text that you have discussed in class or that you have identified on your own. Describe three or more situations in the story that illustrate the theme.
Thursday, December 17	None	After finishing the book, write a critique of it. You may focus your critique on the plot, character(s), or setting. Specify what you will critique and stay focused on that area. Be specific and support your responses with examples from the text.