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Separate Fountains Guided Reading Plan
Words to look for: *Predict the meaning of these words and define them as you come across them in the reading.
Quintessential Jodhpurs Unassuming Antebellum Cordwood Ambiance Rationing Mausoleum Creosote Entrepreneur Synagogue Tedious Disorientation Galvanized Camaraderie Monotonous Repercussion Vortex Jovially Demeanor Feigning Lethargic Gaunt Guffawed Gait
Pre-reading
1. From the title, what do you think the book will be about? ( I ) 2. Predict who the two people on the cover are. ( I ) 3. Describe your thinking process for the previous question. ( P )
Prologue
1. What was the decision of Brown Vs. Board of Education? ( L ) 2. Predict how you would react to the uproar if you were Charlayne or Hamilton. ( I ) 3. What makes you think you would react this way? (past experiences, similar situations, etc.) ( P ) 4. Do you recall any other situations that have occurred in history that are similar to this one? ( A )
Chapter 1
1. Katie Jane hides behind her mom when she fist meets Ardella. Do you recall any childhood situations when you met someone new and how you reacted? ( A ) 2. Considering the times, with racial tension being highly prevalent, predict how you would react. Remember, as you make your prediction that this person is someone that you have heard people say is different and not equal to you. ( A ) 3. Explain your thinking as you made the previous prediction. ( P ) 4. Do you feel that the acceptance Katie Jane's parents expressed toward Ardella had any influence on her accepting Ardella? ( I ) 5. Katie Jane asks Ardella if she lives in a house. Why would she ask such a question? ( I ) 6. On page 8 Katie Jane mentions her favorite family story. Do you have a favorite family story? Share it! ( A ) 7. How does Ardella react to sitting in the back of the car? ( L )
Chapter 2
1. What goes through your mind as you read "blacks could be arrested if they set foot on the white elementary or high school grounds?" ( P ) 2. What is a poll tax? ( L ) 3. What do you think about having "dead people on the voter registration list?" Does this make sense to you? Why or why not? ( I ) 4. What are the five finger rules? ( L ) 5. Use the information on page 21 to figure out the average annual salary in Jonesboro in 1952? ( A ) 6. How did you get the answer to the previous question? Explain. ( P ) 7. Could you imagine living off such a low income? Describe the thoughts you had as your read this portion. ( A/P )
Chapter 3
1. Based on what you know about the annual wages for this time period, do you think Mr. Taylor is being reasonable, generous or selfish by paying Ardella two dollars for a day's work? Explain your opinion and how you formulated it. ( A/I/P ) 2. What were you thinking when you read that Georgia Power wouldn't run electrical lines to "colored town?" Use as many descriptive words as possible. ( P ) 3. What is "rationing?" ( L ) 4. Katie Jane mentions that knowing the right people could help you get the building supplies you need. Can you relate this to any situation you have experienced, read or heard about lately? ( A ) 5. The phrase "the ox was in the ditch" was mentioned. What do you think this means? ( I ) 6. On pages 27 and 28 we learn that several things are given to the Taylor's to help them build their home. Do you think this would happen today? Why or why not? ( I ) 7. What information allowed you to answer the previous question? ( P )
Chapter 4
1. Katie Jane asks Ardella, "Why didn't Jesus let us keep her?" referring to Alice. How would you answer this question? 2. What information/ beliefs did you consider to answer this question? ( P ) 3. Why do you think it is traditional to wear black to funerals? ( I ) 4. What was Mrs. Taylor's diagnosis by Dr. Green? Explain the condition. ( L ) 5. What would you do for your mom or anyone else close to you that was in a situation similar to Mrs. Taylor? ( A ) 6. Do you think Mrs. Taylor became pregnant for the wrong reasons or was it justified? ( I ) 7. Explain how you came to this conclusion. ( P ) 8. Do you think Mrs. Taylor is being fair to Josh since she can't get around alone? Why or why not? ( I )
Chapter 5
1. Why doesn't Ardella want Josh and Katie Jane going to Cletus Jones' drug store? ( L ) 2. Katie Jane wonders about Ardella's singing and poses some questions concerning it on pages 40-41. Why do you think Ardella sings so much? Does it have an affect on the Taylor household? Explain. ( I ) 3. From what you have read thus far what descriptive words come to mind when Ardella's name is mentioned? What do you think influences you to think of these specific terms? ( I/P ) 4. Ardella is explaining to Katie Jane how life gets "tedious", but you have to "keep-a-goin." If Ardella can have such a positive attitude in a time when almost everyone is against her what does it tell you that you can and should do if and when things get "tedious"? ( A ) 5. Predict what could be wrong with Ardella when she answers "Nutin' white folks would understand" to Katie Jane's question of what was bothering her. ( I ) 6. Why do you think this way? ( P ) 7. On page 45 Ardella says that "a watched pot don't boil." Can you think of any other old sayings like this? ( A) 8. Katie Jane mentions that she has a feeling of exhilaration and freedom when she passes through the gate. Do you ever feel this way? When? Where? ( A )
Chapter 6
1. "Because all the kids cut the blue horses off and collect them to try to win prizes for the classroom..." Can you think of any programs today that are similar to this? Explain. ( A ) 2. Do you think the Taylor's could have gotten by without Ardella? Why or why not? ( I ) 3. How did Ardella learn to read? ( L ) 4. If you had a loved one who could not read, what would you do? ( A ) 5. How did the people of Jonesboro get the Klan to leave the Solomon's alone? ( L ) 6. Why do you think it worked? ( I ) 7. How would you react if you found out a friend's parents were in an organization such as the Klan like Katie Jane learns about Julie? ( A ) 8. What personal feelings/ thoughts helped you to predict what your reaction might be? ( P ) 9. Josh and Katie Jane visit the library quite frequently. Do you have any memories of visiting the library? Do you think this influenced how you feel about reading now?
Chapter 7
1. How did Cletus make his banana splits to reflect his day? ( L ) 2. Even though you may not serve ice cream, if you could choose three flavors to reflect your day what would they be? How did you decide on these flavors? ( I/P ) 3. Draw what you think the drug store looked like based on Katie Jane' description. ( I/A ) 4. On page 76 Katie Jane and Josh discuss blacks having to sit in the back of the bus. Reflect on this and tell me your thoughts, feelings, comments, and concerns. Include how personal feelings and values may have played a part in your thinking. ( P ) 5. What did Katie Jane and Josh overhear? ( L ) 6. If you heard something like that, would you tell an adult? ( A ) 7. Predict what will happen in relation to what they overheard. ( I )
Chapter 8
1. What happens when the kids try to tell Ardella what they overheard? ( L ) 2. Do you think they will be able to help Sam? ( I ) 3. If so, how? If not, why? ( I ) 4. Have you ever had a secret you could not wait to tell? ( A ) 5. Explain how you felt and what you were thinking up until the moment you were able to let it out. ( P) 6. Do you think that Katie Jane and Josh felt the same way? Consider the severity of their secret. Explain. ( I )
Chapter 9
1. After Ardella hears the news, what do you think might be going through her mind? ( I ) 2. Can you understand how so many people could be afraid of one person? Do you know anyone like this; maybe someone who makes people tense and not necessarily afraid. ( I/A ) 3. Why do you think they are scared of him? ( I ) 4. Did you easily formulate this inference? What information did you consider? ( P ) 5. Katie Jane, Josh, Ardella and Mr. Taylor are all in a scary situation when the Klan comes out. Have you ever been in a scary situation? Tell about it. Include your thoughts. ( A/P ) 6. How did Mr. Taylor teach Katie Jane to be able to tell who was in the Klan? ( L ) 7. Could you think of a different way? What made you think of this ( I/P ) 8. Do you know of any organization that is or tries to be as powerful as the Klan once was? What is it? ( A ) 9. Read page 104 and reflect on "Saturday night bottom-fishing". Explain your thoughts and feelings. ( P ) 10. Do you see anything wrong with what Sam did? Why or why not? ( A ) 11. What might have happened if he had not helped her? ( I ) 12. Where do they take Sam? ( L ) 13. What kind of lifestyle do these people have? ( L ) 14. How does Mr. Taylor persuade Mr. Rodriguez to help them? ( L )
Chapter 10
1. Predict what might happen in this chapter by looking at the title. ( I ) 2. Would you have reacted the way Mrs. Taylor did when Mr. Taylor, Katie Jane and Josh arrived home? If so, why? If not, how? ( A ) 3. "We definitely live in a society that judges people by their skin color." Do you think those things have changed? Why or why not? What experiences helped you to formulate your opinion? ( A/I/P ) 4. Predict how the Klan would react if they knew Ardella spent the night. ( I ) 5. How are Mr. Pennington and Mr. Collier planning to find Sam? ( L ) 6. Who is the Goat Man? How do they know when he was around? ( L ) 7. What does Ardella say about laughter? ( L ) 8. Do you agree or do you have your own view/ interpretation of laughter? ( A )
Chapter 11
1. Katie Jane mentions that she likes to ride to the peach packing plant with her Daddy because she feels like the only child again. Do you ever feel this way when you have the opportunity to be alone with your mom, dad or both? ( A ) 2. Do you think Mr. Taylor should have taken Katie Jane to the plant with him knowing the Klan might come? ( I ) 3. What information did you use to answer the previous question? ( P ) 4. Ardella and Mrs. Taylor discuss Mr. Bill's drinking and carrying a gun. If you could pick one word to complete the following what would be and why? ( I/A ) Gun + Alcohol = 5. Why did Katie Jane enjoy being at the plant during a thunderstorm? ( L )
Chapter 12
1. What was Katie to do if and when the Klan came to the plant? 2. The Klansman claimed to be "proud" white supremacist. Do you think that wearing hoods expresses that they are proud of what they represent? ( I ) 3. What makes you think this way? Explain. ( P ) 4. How do you feel when you hear the "N" word? ( A ) 5. Look this word up and tell me if you think it is being used properly and the reasoning behind your answer? ( A/P ) 6. Mr. Bill stood up to the Klan and they left. What does this tell you? ( T ) 7. How do you feel about Mr. Bill closing the plant early? ( A ) 8. What would you have done in this situation? ( A ) 9. Why does Katie Jane say she is happy? ( L ) 10. Would you have done what Katie Jane did when they saw the Klan approaching? (Making presence known to protect them.) ( A ) 11. Katie wonders how it feels "to be colored and know the Klan is after you. What do you think? ( I )
Chapter 13
1. What does Josh begin to do in the sandbox? ( L ) 2. "I quickly realized I was the only one talking, so I, too fell silent, matching their mood." Have you ever done this? ( A ) 3. How do you handle stressful situations? Analyze the way you handle things. ( A/P ) 4. If you were Ardella would you have tried to go in the hospital despite the rules? Why or why not? 5. "The realization struck me like lightning." What type of figure of speech is this? ( A ) 6. What do you need to form a simile? ( P ) 7. Katie Jane and Josh are very close. Do you have a sibling you are very close to? Predict how you would feel in this situation. How would you comfort them? ( A ) 8. Predict what surprise Katie Jane will bring Josh. ( I ) 9. What made you choose this? ( P)
Chapter 14
1. What did Katie Jane decide to take to Josh? ( L ) 2. What good news does Dr. Green call with? ( L ) 3. Katie Jane wonders if Josh's medical bills will send them to the poor folk's home. Do you think they will? ( I ) 4. What do you think happens when someone learns they might be confined to a wheelchair? ( I ) How would they process this? ( P ) 5. How does the nurse determine the dosage Katie will get? ( L ) 6. Predict how Ardella will react when she learns that Cletus sent her a banana split too. ( I ) 7. What does Cletus send for Josh other than the banana split? ( L )
Chapter 15
1. "I noticed how lethargic Josh looked as Daddy carried him into the bathroom, then brought him back to the kitchen table where Mama, Ardella, and I joined them." What do you think lethargic means? ( I ) 2. What good news does Cletus bring? ( L ) 3. Do you think that all the effort Cletus put into helping the Taylor's will change Ardella's attitude toward him? Why or what not? What did you base your decision on? ( I/P ) 4. Considering where you live, do you think anyone, including the police, would go to so much trouble to help someone else? Explain. ( A ) 5. How do you think starting school late will affect Josh in the future or will it? Why do you think this way? ( I/P ) 6. Many times we grumble about having to attend school. How would you feel if you were like Josh and not able and allowed to? ( A ) 7. What would you do to lift Josh's spirits? Explain the processes you might go through. ( P ) 8. If you were Mrs. Taylor how would you deal with the fact that there is not much you are able to do to help your family and you have to depend on everyone else? ( A ) 9. Do you think her condition intensifies her worries for Josh, fearing that he may end up like her or worse? ( I ) 10. How does Pepe cheer Josh up? ( L ) 11. What correlation do you see between the help Mr. Taylor received from his friend and how he treats people? What information did you use to make the correlation?
Chapter 16
1. Who comes back to town in this chapter? ( L ) 2. Considering where you live, what might happen if a man and 50 goats were traveling through the middle of town? ( A/I ) 3. What influence do you think the presence of the Taylor's friends had on Josh and Mrs. Taylor being able to run? ( I ) 4. Hypothesize what changes might occur in Jonesboro due to this small miracle. Explain what information and personal feelings led to your hypothesis.
Past-Reading
1. What did you like most about the book? Explain. ( A ) 2. What did you like least? Explain. ( A ) 3. What do you think the most important thing you can take away from this book is? Share the thoughts that influenced this conclusion. ( I/P ) 4. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not? ( A ) |