Based on what Ida said at the beginning of the chapter, I expected some other things to happen in this chapter; when they didn't, I was surprised. Please share any surprises you had in this chapter or share what you think surprised me.
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Chapter Thirty
Please explain in detail and in your own words what you think Ida meant when she said that "Apologizing is like spring cleaning."
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Chapter Twenty-nine
At the end of this chapter, Ida thinks that her "heart was heavier and lighter at the same time." What do you think this meant to her? Why did she feel this way?
Chapter Twenty-nine
What do you think of the way that Ida dealt with her situation with Claire? Why do you think nobody said anything to her?
Chapter Twenty-eight
Now that "everything was worse instead of better," what do you think Ida should do?
Chapter Twenty-eight
Why do you think Ida's plan failed? What do you think she should have done differently to try to make things better for herself and Claire?
Chapter Twenty-seven
Try to imagine a dialogue between Ida and Claire when Ida tries to apologize. Now write that dialogue, exactly how you think it might sound, in this format:
Ida: Yada, yada, yada.
Claire: Blah, blah, blah.
Ida: Yada, yada, yada.
Claire: Blah, blah, blah.
Chapter Twenty-six
Let's try using Katherine Hannigan's writing as a model again.
Please reread the last paragraph on page 201.
Now try remembering sometime you felt frustrated and needing to let loose with your thoughts and feelings. Try to write a a couple of sentences in the same style without using any of the same similes and metaphors.
Chapter Twenty-six
In a few places in this chapter, Ida mentions having "a better feeling" than she'd "had in a while," that her heart was "feeling warmer and a bit more crowded than it had in a long time," that "it felt like my heart was light and fee and rising up and taking me along with it," and that "a peace rolled out from that place [her heart] into every part of me."
Monday, March 21, 2011
Chapter Twenty-four
In Ida's mind, Claire was not cooperating with her expectations. What do Claire's actions in this chapter say about her? What are they saying to Ida?
Chapter Twenty-four
Page 186: "I imagined about two hundred seventy-six different things Claire might do to me and how I might protect myself from utter and complete degradation in all two hundred seventy-six cases."
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Chapter Twenty-three
On page 182, Ida thinks, "'Good job,' my heart told me. 'You won again.'" Is she right? Please make a strong effort to explain in detail how you feel about this.
Chapter Twenty-three
What did you think about Ida's parents' proposal? What did you think of the way Ida reacted to it?
Chapter Twenty-three
Please reread the first two paragraphs of this chapter on pages 171-172.
Explain how you feel and what you think about this statement: "That didn't mean I couldn't show them that there was somebody in that valley and in that house who remembered what was right and good, and her name was Ida B. Applewood."
Explain how you feel and what you think about this statement: "That didn't mean I couldn't show them that there was somebody in that valley and in that house who remembered what was right and good, and her name was Ida B. Applewood."
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Chapter Twenty-two
When Claire and he family came to look at their new house, it seemed like Ida was having an internal conflict about how to act toward Claire and her brother. How did her thoughts and actions make you feel? What do you think about her choices?
Chapter Twenty-one
Near the end of this chapter, Ida thinks to herself, "Being in the same room but talking to each other like we were on opposite sides of the ocean turned the best thing into the loneliest thing."
What do you think Ida meant by this? Please explain yourself fully.
What do you think Ida meant by this? Please explain yourself fully.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Chapter Twenty
In this chapter, Ida expresses her admiration for Ms. Washington by saying "I was like a dog that would go fetch Ms. W.'s stick, even if it was in a snake's hole under a thorn bush that had just been sprayed by a skunk." (pp. 147-148)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Chapter Nineteen
Why did Ida decide to challenge Ronnie to a running race at the end of every day that she played her multiplication game with him? Why did she want all of these races to be in private?
Chapter Eighteen
Why do you think Ida relented (click on word for definition) at the end of this chapter and agreed to help Ronnie, as if she "couldn't break the spell" of Ms. Washington and she could not say, "I'd prefer not to"?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Chapter Seventeen
From Me:
"'Great,' I said in that way I had of talking then, a way that used words but didn't tell anybody anything." (page 118)
Chapter Seventeen
From Justin:
What do you think Ida was feeling when she heard the trees ask, "Why didn't you help us, Ida B? Why didn't you protect us?" (p. 122) Be sure to elaborate.
Chapter Seventeen
From Tommie:
How well do you think Ida's plans with the posters will work? Please explain your thinking.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Chapter Sixteen
On page 111, Ida thinks about saying to her mother, "Have you seen my parents? Because mine disappeared and I'm living with two people who don't keep their word and don't care about me and are just plain mean."
Do you think this is fair of Ida to think? Please explain yourself. Why does Ida feel this way?
Chapter Fifteen
What do you think the word "tribulations" means on page 104. Try to use context clues to help you.
Chapter Fifteen
Ida continues to stick to her plan as she goes through her first day with her new class. What is your opinion of the way she is handling things? Be sure to explain why you think what you do.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Chapter Fourteen
What do you think of the way Ida B approaches her first day (since Kindergarten) of school? Please be sure to explain yourself thoroughly.
Chapter Thirteen
Based on the events of this chapter, how does Ida B try to stick to her resolution?
Chapter Twelve
In this chapter Ida B made a resolution to change herself in order to deal with all the changes that had befallen her. In your own words, please explain her new plan and what you think of it.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Similes
As we discussed yesterday, Katherine Hannigan often uses similes in her writing to help us better appreciate what she's trying to describe. As you read the five chapters that you are responsible for this weekend, post your favorite simile(s), along with page number(s), here.
Chapter Eleven
The events in this chapter turn Ida B's world upside-down, changing so much of what is familiar and important to her. How do you think she will cope with these changes?
Chapter Ten
Ida B. often goes to the trees and the brook when she feels conflicted. Why do you think she does this? Do the trees and brook really speak to her? What do you think she's hearing?
Who figured it out?
I forgot to discuss this with you yesterday. Something that Ida B. mentions near the end of chapter seven (combined with something she said at the beginning of chapter six) tells us how old she is now. Who made that inference and can explain how we know how old she is?
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Chapter Five
One of Ida B's beliefs is that "good plans are the best way to maximize fun, avoid disaster, and possibly, save the world" (page 38). What does this mean to you? What situations in the book so far illustrate that she acts on this belief?
Chapter Five
Ida B eats the same meal every day for breakfast—hot rolled oats with raisins and milk, no sugar—and for lunch—peanut butter on one slice of bread, milk, and an apple. What are her reasons for never varying her choices? What does this say about her?
Chapter Four
Daddy tells Ida B that, “We don’t own the earth. We are the earth’s caretakers.” Ida B answers his comment by saying, “I think the earth takes care of us, too” (pp. 29-32). What do you think she means by this?
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Chapter Three
What do you think of Ida so far? How would you describe her? What kind of person do you think she is? How old do you think she is? Please be sure to explain yourself fully and clearly.
Chapter Two
What do you think of the way Ida speaks with (and listens to) trees and the brook? What does this tell us about her as a person?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Chapter Eighteen
What do you think is the reason Herbert did not pass his test? And even though he did not pass, Herbert still attended the graduation ceremonies and participated in them -- why?
Chapter Seventeen
Ida seems to have done a good job in getting the other kids to care about the test. What specific examples can you find in this chapter that show that they really do care?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Chapter Sixteen
Please reread the conditions that Mr. Jordan imposed on page 132. What do they mean? Do you think they are fair? Why or why not?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Chapter Fifteen
Please make a prediction: What do you expect to happen when people show up at the school-board meeting that Mr. Jordan believes will be kept secret? What do you think the results will be?
Chapter Fourteen
Why was Herbert's motivation for finding Ida? What exactly (in your own words) did he tell her? Why would he do this?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Chapter Thirteen
Now that Mr. Jordan showed up, what do you think will happen with the school? How will the kids react? What about Ida’s and Tom’s dreams of going to high school?
Chapter Twelve
What do you think about the conditions Miss Sedgewick placed upon Ida and her students in exchange for keeping the school a secret? Are these conditions fair? Please support your thinking with detailed explanations.
Chapter Eleven
Why do you think Ida divulged to Mr. Bixler that she was the school’s teacher? Do you think this was a wise move? Why do you think Mr. Bixler was so protective of Herbert?
Chapter Ten
Ida seems to be struggling with figuring out just what her relationship with Tom should be like. She thinks to herself that “she had become more his teacher and less his friend” and that “It didn’t feel right.” What do you think Ida should do about this situation? How do you think Tom feels about it? Please explain your thinking thoroughly.
Chapter Ten
On page 79, Ida’s father asks her, “How do you wanted to be treated, like a kid or a grown-up?” Ida has trouble answering, or even knowing the answer to this question. Why do you suppose this is? Please explain your thinking.
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