Student Comments About The Watsons Go to Birmingham

Archive: December 2, 1997 - January 9, 1998

The messages in this archive were received during the Fall 1997 online discussion of The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963. To view student comments for a specific date, click on that date.

December 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19

January 5 6 7 8 9

If you're not sure about the date but want to see the student comments for a specific chapter, scroll through the following chart to find that chapter and click on the corresponding date. (The chart also lists some questions for each chapter.) To see the form that students used to submit their comments, click here.

DATE CHAPTER(S) QUESTIONS

Tuesday,
December 2 Chap. 1-2 What are the Watsons like? Do you think they're "weird"?
Describe Kenny's relationship with Byron. Do real brothers act this way?
Do you predict that the new kid at school will "save" Kenny? Why?

Wednesday,
December 3 Chap. 3 Did any of the events in Chapter 3 make you laugh? Which ones? Why were they funny?
What do you think of the way Rufus and Cody are treated at Kenny's school?
Would Rufus and Cody fit in at your school? Why?
What do you think Momma said to Rufus?

Thursday,
December 4 Chap. 4 Make character maps for Kenny and Byron.
Do you think it was good for Byron to tell Joey the story about the "froze-up Southern folks"? Why?
What do you think of Byron's beating up Larry? Did Larry deserve it? Why?

Friday,
December 5 Chap. 5-6 What do you think of Momma's way of punishing Byron for playing with matches?
Compare and contrast Byron and Momma.
Why is Byron angry with Momma over the welfare food? Is this fair of him?
Why does Byron get sick after hitting the bird?

Monday,
December 8 Chap. 7 Why are Momma and Dad so angry about Byron's hair?
Do you think that Dad's punishment of Byron is fair? Why?
How does Kenny feel about what happens to Byron? How do you think Byron feels about it?
What do you predict will happen as a result of "Byron's Latest Adventure"?

Tuesday,
December 9 Chap. 8 Would you like to join the Watsons' conversation about the Ultra-Glide? Why?
How do you think Momma really feels about the Ultra-Glide?
Were you surprised by Momma and Dad's plan for Byron? Do you think it will work? Why?

Wednesday,
December 10 Chap. 9 What do Momma and Dad want Byron to learn in Alabama?
Do you understand Joey's reaction to the angel? Would you have reacted the same way?
Why do you think Momma planned the trip so carefully?
Do you think that Kenny will like the South? Why?

Thursday,
December 11 Chap. 10 What do Kenny and Byron think of the places in the South that they've seen so far?
Have you ever felt scared the way Kenny and By feel at the Tennessee rest stop? Describe the situation you were in.
Do you think it was a good idea for Dad to ignore Momma's plan and keep driving? Why?

Friday,
December 12 Chap. 11 Draw a character map for Grandma Sands.
Have you ever met someone who was nothing like what you expected? Describe the situation.
Were you surprised at the way Byron acted when he met Grandma Sands? Why?
Do you think Byron will change permanently as a result of spending time with Grandma Sands? Why?

Monday,
December 15 Chap. 12-13 How has Byron changed? What do you think caused him to change?
Why do you think Kenny insists on going to Collier's Landing?
Why does Byron cry over Kenny? What does this tell you about By?

Tuesday,
December 16 Chap. 14 Draw a picture of the Wool Pooh.
Why does Joetta think that Kenny has changed his clothes?
If you were seeing a member of your family for the last time, what would you want to say to him or her?
How did the events of Chapter 14 make you feel? Why?

Wednesday,
December 17 Chap. 15,
Epilogue Has Kenny changed at the end of the story? If so, how?
Has Byron changed? If so, how?
Why does talking to Byron make Kenny feel better?
What kinds of magic powers does Kenny believe in?
Why do you think Christopher Paul Curtis wrote this book?

Thursday,
December 18 none What were your favorite and least favorite parts of this book?
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why?

DATE	CHAPTER(S)	QUESTIONS
Tuesday, December 2	Chap. 1-2	What are the Watsons like? Do you think they're "weird"? Describe Kenny's relationship with Byron. Do real brothers act this way? Do you predict that the new kid at school will "save" Kenny? Why?
Wednesday, December 3	Chap. 3	Did any of the events in Chapter 3 make you laugh? Which ones? Why were they funny? What do you think of the way Rufus and Cody are treated at Kenny's school? Would Rufus and Cody fit in at your school? Why? What do you think Momma said to Rufus?
Thursday, December 4	Chap. 4	Make character maps for Kenny and Byron. Do you think it was good for Byron to tell Joey the story about the "froze-up Southern folks"? Why? What do you think of Byron's beating up Larry? Did Larry deserve it? Why?
Friday, December 5	Chap. 5-6	What do you think of Momma's way of punishing Byron for playing with matches? Compare and contrast Byron and Momma. Why is Byron angry with Momma over the welfare food? Is this fair of him? Why does Byron get sick after hitting the bird?
Monday, December 8	Chap. 7	Why are Momma and Dad so angry about Byron's hair? Do you think that Dad's punishment of Byron is fair? Why? How does Kenny feel about what happens to Byron? How do you think Byron feels about it? What do you predict will happen as a result of "Byron's Latest Adventure"?
Tuesday, December 9	Chap. 8	Would you like to join the Watsons' conversation about the Ultra-Glide? Why? How do you think Momma really feels about the Ultra-Glide? Were you surprised by Momma and Dad's plan for Byron? Do you think it will work? Why?
Wednesday, December 10	Chap. 9	What do Momma and Dad want Byron to learn in Alabama? Do you understand Joey's reaction to the angel? Would you have reacted the same way? Why do you think Momma planned the trip so carefully? Do you think that Kenny will like the South? Why?
Thursday, December 11	Chap. 10	What do Kenny and Byron think of the places in the South that they've seen so far? Have you ever felt scared the way Kenny and By feel at the Tennessee rest stop? Describe the situation you were in. Do you think it was a good idea for Dad to ignore Momma's plan and keep driving? Why?
Friday, December 12	Chap. 11	Draw a character map for Grandma Sands. Have you ever met someone who was nothing like what you expected? Describe the situation. Were you surprised at the way Byron acted when he met Grandma Sands? Why? Do you think Byron will change permanently as a result of spending time with Grandma Sands? Why?
Monday, December 15	Chap. 12-13	How has Byron changed? What do you think caused him to change? Why do you think Kenny insists on going to Collier's Landing? Why does Byron cry over Kenny? What does this tell you about By?
Tuesday, December 16	Chap. 14	Draw a picture of the Wool Pooh. Why does Joetta think that Kenny has changed his clothes? If you were seeing a member of your family for the last time, what would you want to say to him or her? How did the events of Chapter 14 make you feel? Why?
Wednesday, December 17	Chap. 15, Epilogue	Has Kenny changed at the end of the story? If so, how? Has Byron changed? If so, how? Why does talking to Byron make Kenny feel better? What kinds of magic powers does Kenny believe in? Why do you think Christopher Paul Curtis wrote this book?
Thursday, December 18	none	What were your favorite and least favorite parts of this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why?