Our Class Reads {opinionated students blogging} 

The fictional story of the The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch was our read-aloud last week.  I want you to compare and contrast (that means to find how two things are alike and different) the two main characters, Prince Ronald and Princess Elizabeth, to the stereotypical princes and princesses that you may be familiar with, regardless of where that prior knowledge came from. 

 Part A: How do Ronald and Elizabeth act the same or different from the princes and princesses that you’ve read about or seen in a typical fairy tale book or movie?  Use text based evidence and/or quotes to support your response.  

Part B: Write a one paragraph summary of The Paper Bag Princess. Write it as if you are telling someone what the books is about who hasn’t read it. Don’t forget to include essential elements of the story (setting, characters, problem, and solution.)

When responding please indicate if you are responding to Part A or Part B so the reader of your comments knows what you are responding to…and please remember to follow the Rules of Critical Thinking when responding.

Today, the read-aloud was The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. Think about the story, the characters and the message the author intended for this story.  Think about the characters actions and feelings. Then,  read the questions below and answer them thoughtfully and completely.   When answering the questions, please know that there is no right or wrong answer, only your opinions backed by justifications from your own life and/or evidence from the book. Please remember to use proper netiquette…if you are going to agree or disagree with someone, that’s ok, just do it respectfully as if you are talking to them face to face. 

Compose your thoughts and responses in a paragraph with at least five sentences.  Remember to justify your opinions with evidence from the text, other texts, your life or events in the world. 

Response Questions

How do you think Annie was feeling when she asked if she could play? Clover says that “I don’t know what Iwould have said. Maybe yes. Maybe no.” How do you think you might have answered Annie?

What other characters do you know who are different and who are friends? How do Piglet and Winnie the Pooh overcome their differences? Frog and Toad? Etc…

Author Jacqueline Woodson says on her website that she wrote The Other Side because, “I wanted to write about how powerful kids can be.” How do you think that Clover and Annie demonstrate their power? What about Sandra and Clover’s other friends? How about Clover’s mother? How do you think that you are powerful?