Connector

Week 2: Pages 57-60 Text to Self My mother has told someone off for me before like when Melody's mother told off Melody's teacher. I can relate to the discribtion that Melody gave of her mother.
 * connector ** **As the Connector, it is your job to find connections between the novel your group is reading and the outside world. Remember the types of connections are text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world. You must label the type of connection, give the example you found in the book along with the page number, and state how you made the connection. M** ** ake at least //two (2)// connections from the book. **

Pages 80-81 Text to Self I understand how stressful it is when a bunch of people are trying to work around eachother in a hurry. I have to do this everyday in my family and I could imagine having a small child and a disabled child in the mix with it would make it a lot harder. (Liz) I can relate to your seconds inference because my familys always in a hurry in the morning and were all running around trying to find things and get things together. Kaitlin Week1: "I can't talk. I can't walk. I can't feed myself or take myself to the bathroom. Big bummer." pg.3 I can make a text to self connection with this passage from the book because I have a family member who can't walk either. He has a wheelchair but he can roll himself around and talk. He knows what its like to not be unable to do certain things. (Kaitlin)

" 'Here Melody. Daddy bought you a play-pretty.' she cooed in that high-pitched voice that adults use with children." pg.10 I can make another text to self connection because my mom has a high-pitched voice when she talks to children NB-5. I have a 5-year old cusin and when my mom talks to her shes uses a high-pitched voice and it can get a little anoying at times. (Kaitlin)

I can also relate to the high pitched voice when talking to children. I have 2 aunts with babies at the moment. When I go to my grandmas to see my family that's how everybody talks to the babies. It can get a little annoying when they make up words. I also find it annoying when adults try to force a baby to play with something when they really don't want to. Babies should have freedom too. :) Anyways, I agree with your connection. Maris

I can relate to your conection as mairs said when your aunts and uncles talk in hit pitched voices. samantha

I can also connect to the high pitched voice. Since I have 7 aunts I can remember when I was around 4 or 5 and my aunts, especially, would talk to me in a kind of baby voice. I got a little annoyed with it, but i learned to live with it. I agree with both of your connections and I now find it easier to understand with the way that you explained it. (Emma)

I can relate to your second connection becuase my mother does that with small animals and little children.She never did it to me when I was a small child too! I also have a family member that is deaf so I sort of can relate to being a disabled person like your family member and Melody.(Liz)

I can relate to your second connection too! When I was little my mom used to use a baby voice when she was feeding me, or playing with me! She also talks to my dog the same way! I can't imagine what it would be like to be in Melody's shoes. She can't feed herself, or go to the bathroom! It makes you thankful for being able to do everything you can! Rachel

Week 3:

"I knew all of the definitions, but the other kids moved too fast for me." pg. 106 I can connect to this because when I was younger I knew most of the definitions of words the teacher would say but I would always be one of the last people to raise my hand because the other kids in my class were a little quicker than I was. Emma

"Welcome to Medi-Talker!" pg 133 I can make a text-to-world connection to this because I have heard of those kinds of things to help people talk. I have never actually seen one in person, but I have heard about something like that. I'm glad that Melody got this device because she defiantly wanted it. Emma

I am happy Melody got the Medi Talker too! I think she deserves it because she has never been able to talk, and now she can finally express her feelings! She can show everbody that she is as normal as any other kid. Rachel

Week 4: On page 157 when Penny wont leave Melody alone and she just wants to scream I can connect to that like when I dont want to be bothered and people just keep bothering me I just want to scream! I knew what it was like to be in that position. Samantha

On page 200 i can make a text to world connection. When Melody says that she says that she just figured out that everything on TV is fake. I actully used to think that when i was really littel it thought that it was all real too.Samantha

I can relate to your first connection too! When people are telling me a million different things at one time, and trying to all get my attention I just want to scream or punch my pillow! I can only tolerate so much commotion! Rachel

I can totally connect to your first connection. When a lot of people are telling or asking my things all at once, it annoys me so much! I also get a massive headache and need to sit down otherwise I will scream!! Emma

Week 5: pages 206-662 Type: Text to self Like Melody, I feel the excitement of going on a trip. I am going on the Boston trip. It is very nerve wracking to travel away from home. Melody felt this way when she found out she was going to Washington D.C.

Type: Text to world Melody's flight had been cancelled due to snow when she had an important event to get to. Many families with relatives far away often are in this situation on Christmas. Their flights get cancelled because of the winter weather and they are forced to spend the holiday apart.

Maris

I really related to your second connection, almost all of my family lives down south and are not able to come up and visit becuase of the weather for winter. I really liked how you didn't just make connections about yourself. (Liz)

I can relate to your second connection. My family likes to travel a lot, and I am always excited to go and explore a new place! I always have that feeling of missing home though. I get homesick pretty easily, so sometimes it's hard for me to leave to a new place. Rachel

I can't really relate to your first connection but I can understand how nerve wracking it would be. I can, however, relate to your second connection. My family hasn't traveled a lot but when we do it is usually to farther away states like Florida or New Mexico. Just like Melody was I am always excited to go somewhere new but I get easily homesick after a couple of days. Surprisingly though I would kind of like to travel the world when I get older so I may have to get used to that. If i leave my family for a while I usually like to talk to them over the phone or something that way I don't get too homesick. Emma

Week 6:

Page 276 Chapter 30 "Slowly, the big car rolled backward. I felt a soft thud. I became deadly silent." I have a connection to this part of the story because my sister has seen a kid get hit by a car. It happened at school too, so a lot of people saw it. She said that the car sped up, and the kid on the bike didn't see it. She cried for a couple of days after it happened. It stinks how you always ask the question, "What if?" What if the kid saw the car and waited till it passed. Like Penny, the kid that got hit by the car didn't die, or have any serious injuries! Rachel

Page 287 Chapter 32 "Maria comes over to my chair and gives me a big hug. "You did really good Melly Belly." "I wish I could give her a hug back and tell her how that made me feel."  I can connect to this because my aunt works at a school for disabled kids. I have met a girl with down syndrome, and she was so sweet! She gave me a hug and I don't even know her! It's weird how just one little act of kindness can brighten up your day! Rachel

I am so sorry your sister had to witness a kid get hit like that before! I would have been shocked if I would have had to see that happen. I agree with how it does stink that you always ask that question. I ask myself that same question every day and every night. One common one that I have in the time of tornado season is, "What if our house was destroyed by a tornado?" I hate to think that question but it is true, what if that happened? How would I get through it? What would I do if one of my parents or family members got killed by a tornado? I guess we all have to wonder sometimes. With your second connection, I agree too! I have walked past a girl with a disability before- not sure what- but she gave my dad a big high-five and then smiled really big. I was really glad that she smiled that big because it defiantly brightened up my day! Emma

Your first connection made me sad for your sister. That kind of stuff stays in your brain for a while. I can understand why she cried. Its really sad that things like that have to happen so I can see why this connects to Melody's situation. Maris