Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
December 5– 16
Journal Entries are required to be at least ½ page in length. Students will keep their journals/grammar practice, vocabulary activity, character bookmarksand newspaper critic report together and turn in on the last day of the unit.
Day 1: Vocabulary Activity: On the vocabulary worksheet, list the words from the list below to define and identify part of speech. Use a dictionary for this activity.
hyperactive / spastic / antsy / wagging / mesmerizedfidgeting / pledge / snagged / streamlined / stern
smudge / hesitate / scalded / imp / hovering
Day 2:Distribute a copy of the Joey Pigza Notebook cover sheet to every student. Have them staple to it:
1)their vocabulary activity sheet and
2)5 sheets of blank notebook paper.
You can also allow them a few minutes to color and personalize their covers.
Read Chapters 1 & 2.
Day 3: Read Chapters 3 & 4.
Day 4: Grammar Practice: Prepositional Phrases
Journal #1: Explain this quote from p. 19: “And it wasn’t that the important stuff Mrs. Maxy had to say went in one ear and out the other. It was that it didn’t go in at all but just bounced off.”
Read Chapters 5 & 6.
Day 5: Grammar Practice: Nouns
Journal #2: Respond to this quote from p. 50: “She was crying but I didn’t know if it was because she drank too much or if it was just the everyday sadness of her life with me.”
Read Chapters 7 & 8.
Day 6: ~Quiz over Chapters 1 - 7.
Read Chapter 9, 10part of 11.
Day 7: Grammar Practice: Verbs
Journal #3: React to this quote from p. 94: “I could dive out the bus door and run away and bounce off the walls all the way to Pittsburgh like my dad, or I could pull myself together like my mom and go to special ed and get help. It was as if my life was trapped between two words: run or stay.”
Read the rest of Chapter 11 and Chapter 12.
Day 8: Grammar Practice: Adjectives
Journal #4: Respond to this quote from p. 125-126: Joey’s mom: “So why, after all I put you through, do you still love me?” Joey: “I don’t know why,” I said, “I just do. You’re my mom and I do. Anyway, you love me and I’m messed up in the head for life.”
Read Chapter13.
Day 9Read Chapters 14 & 15.
Grammar Practice: Adverbs
Journal #5: Respond to this quote from p. 148: “And as Special Ed said, ‘You gotta face the hand you’re dealt and deal with it, and make your problems be the smallest part of who you are.’ And he’s right.”
Day 10Test
Newspaper Critic- You have become the new editor of the “Arts and
Entertainment” section of the local newspaper. Your first assignment is to give a critique of the novel. Did you like it? Why or why not? Remember to critique the author’s ability to develop believable characters, the plot, and setting. Use specific examples from the novel. Also, be sure to decide if you would recommend this book to your readers.