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Belle Teal / by Ann M. Martin
(discussion 9/2 - 9/30/2003)
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Hello, and welcome to a discussion of the book Belle Teal written
by Ann M. Martin.
Belle Teal Harper is entering fifth grade. She lives with her mother and
grandmother, her father and grandfather being dead. Gran is a very positive
person, "she can always see the good in people and situations".
Belle Teal has not had much, her mother tries the best she can, working two
to three jobs at a time to make ends meet. Belle Teal must wear the same
dress she wore on the last day of fourth grade to her first day of fifth
grade, but still doesn't feel sorry for herself. She also has a positive
attitude about most people and situations.
Think about how you are when school begins; new clothes, new school
supplies, new shoes, and compare yourself with Belle Teal.
posted by shadowkitty 1:05 PM
Thursday, September 04, 2003
I think if I compared myself with Belle Teal, I would feel very lucky to
have all the things I have.
posted by K9 6:23 PM
Friday, September 05, 2003
I really like the way the author tells us about Belle Teal. She never says,
"Belle Teal was poor." Instead, we learn in little snippets that
she had to wear last year's dress on the first day of school, that her
boots were tight, and that she was "plump." All this information
is just the way the author describing Belle Teal's appearance,
none of it seems important to Belle Teal, herself. What the author
emphasizes is Belle Teal's character. We learn that by
how she gets along with, or doesn't get along with, the other characters in
the story, especially Vanessa and Darryl.
What did you think of Vanessa? Do you know anyone like her? How do you
relate to people like that?
posted by shadowpuppy 8:53 AM
Monday, September 08, 2003
The Baker family is very accepting of Belle Teal. Her best friend is thier
second daughter, Clarice. Mr. Baker considers Belle Teal an "honorary
Baker and his third daughter." Since Belle Teal has no father, her
friendship with this family is important to her. How does Mr. Baker's views
on the negro children to be bused to Belle Teal's and Clarice's school fit
with the attitude of Belle Teal's mother? Remember this story takes place
in the south, probably during the 1960's. This is was a time when
integration was a new concept in schools across the country.
How do the children in Miss. Casey's classroom view the new students in
thier class?
posted by shadowkitty 11:36 AM
Friday, September 12, 2003
Belle Teal is a "back-to-school" story.
How is your back to school experience going?
What's it like this year, going back to Waterbury, Roselle Middle, Trinity,
St. Walter…wherever you happen to be going? Are there new kids in your
class? Do you like your teacher? Are you going to a new school?
Let's just chat about school!
posted by shadowpuppy 9:31 AM
Sunday, September 14, 2003
I did not go to a new school this year.I have 2 new kids in my class. And
everything is pretty easy so far exept for getting up early!!
:)
posted by K9 1:35 PM
Monday, September 15, 2003
K9 - how are the other kids reacting to the two new kids in your class? In Belle
Teal the new kids are accepted, or not accepted, for different
reasons. How should classmates treat new classmates? What would you advise
Belle Teal to do about the new girl in her class who is being nasty to her?
posted by shadowkitty 1:26 PM
Thursday, September 18, 2003
I haven't had a chance to read the new book that we are discussing now. Can
anyone tell me if it's good and why I should read it?
posted by shadowsmom 5:44 PM
The kids are reacting well to the new kids in my class. Classmates
should treat new classmates like they have always been going to your
school, like being kind to them. You should always make them feel welcome
because the school may be very different and scary to them and you want the
new student to feel good at the new school. Belle should try to be nice to
the new girl even though the new girl is being mean to her. Also I like my
teacher. She was born in Japan.
The neat thing is that her husband teaches the other class, so we switch
teachers for math and social studies.
posted by K9 8:39 PM
Friday, September 19, 2003
K9 - Your feelings about the new kids and how they should be treated are
really kind and fair. In Belle Teal it is not only the other kids
who are mean, some parents and other adults make it difficult for some of
the new students to even walk into the school. How do you think Belle Teal
felt about that? How would it make you feel to have to walk a gauntlet of
screaming, jeering adults just to walk in the school? I know I wouldn't
feel comfortable in that circumstance. I might not want to return to school
if that happened. How about you?
posted by shadowkitty 12:48 PM
I would feel embarased and scared if there were screaming and yelling
adults outside my school. Adults are not supposed to act like that. They
are supposed to make a good example for children.
In the book Belle Teal also felt embarased, but she then she felt more
relieved when Miss Casey closed the shades and didn't open the window like
Vanessa wanted.
posted by K9 5:47 PM
Saturday, September 20, 2003
shadowsmom, you should read Belle Teal! You can tell from K9's and
shadowkitty's comments that it is a good story. Even though it is set in a
different place and time, the characters feel the same kind of emotions
that we all feel whether we are starting a new school year or doing
something for the first time. You can identify with Belle Teal, Darryl, and
Vanessa. You should get this book.
posted by shadowpuppy 12:07 AM
Monday, September 22, 2003
It seems like Miss Casey is a really fine teacher. She's taking the
feelings of her students, old and new, into consideration. Have any of you
had teachers who do this too?
Belle Teal is keeping a journal. She is going through various difficulties
- at school, with her grandmother and with her friends. Do you keep a
journal and is it helpful when you are in, or observe, difficult
situations?
posted by shadowkitty 1:37 PM
I really like the teacher Miss Casey. She seems to be able to keep and
eye on everything. My favorite part is when she shut the blinds and turned
on the fan. I know I would not be able to pay attention if all those
parents were outside.
I think that keeping a journal is a very good thing. It seems when so many
things happen in a day that writing them down would be a way of sorting
them out. I find it helps to keep the ideas from being scrambled in my
head.
posted by daisymaisy 2:18 PM
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Does Belle Teal's journal help her sort out what is going on at her school?
Does it help with the situation she is experiencing with Vanessa? Why do
you think Vanessa is so mean to Belle Teal?
Friendships are important in life. Belle Teal seems to be a giving and
caring person. Will the kindness shown by Belle Teal and Clarice help the
new boy in the class Darryl Craig feel more comfortable, more like he might
fit in at this school?
posted by shadowkitty 3:56 PM
I think that Belle Teal's journal helps with everything actually!
Whenever something happens ( good or bad ) she can write out her feelings
instead of cramming everything in her head. Belle Teal has alot of new
things going on in her life, so a journal is a great way to put her
thoughts on paper. :)
posted by K9 8:12 PM
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
There are many new things happening in Belle Teal's life! She is also
learning many new lessons - How to get along with people who are different
than she is used to and how to accept changes within her own family. Belle
Teal is close to her grandmother, but things are changing there too, and
she must learn to be more patient. Will the journal help her learn those
lessons?
posted by shadowkitty 11:08 AM
Monday, September 29, 2003
I think it will help her learn those lessons because when she writes things
down she usually thinks about them, ALOT!!! And I think that helps her
understand things better.
:) K9
posted by K9 8:09 PM
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