MG21's Gift

Thank you to the talented Leadership Team from MG21 in Monona, Wisconsin.

To MG21: Thank you for your Gifts and your Amazing Collaboration!

Manitoulin Secondary School's ENG 1P class made Ms. Bauer deliver the package to the classroom without peeking. We were excited to see what the students from Monona sent us.  We thank you for the wonderful and thoughtful gifts: an Original Painting and a book about the First Nations of Wisconsin. We want to tell you how much we appreciate the gesture.

Also, we want to thank you for working with us over the past month.  You rocked.  It was great playing the Video Mystery game and then meeting a group of you on Skype.  We also learned so much from collaborating on the Slideshow.  You really raised the bar for us with your design ability and your research skills.  Finally, your thought provoking comments about The Fault in our Stars both on the blog and on the discussion board made the book even more memorable.

We wish you luck as you continue the rest of your school year! You now have a group of Green Bay Packers fans on Manitoulin Island!

Your gifts have arrived! Thank You!

Your gifts have arrived.  We've learned that many people on Manitoulin Island speak Ojibwe, so we want to say chi-miigwech (thank you very much, correct?).  We really love the dream catcher!  What materials are used to make the dream catcher? Buffalo hide?  Do the colors represent anything specific?

After we've had a chance to read through the books and newspapers, all of the items will be in our school display case to commemorate this GRA classroom connection!

Here are some photos of us with your gifts.  We hope some mail from Monona arrives in M'Chigeeng soon!

MG21 Reacts to Chapters 17 - 21

If you’ve become connected to the characters in this story, then Chapters 17 - 21 were packed with an emotional punch.  On Friday, we spent some time analyzing, interpreting and discussing some of the "poignant moments" and powerful quotes from the previous days' reading. Here are some of our reactions.

“This is all you get.  You get me, and your family, and this world.  This is your life.  I’m sorry if it sucks.  But you’re not going to be the first man on Mars, and you’re not going to be an NBA star, and you’re not going to hunt Nazis.  I mean, look at yourself, Gus.”  (p. 241)

Marissa says...Hazel is talking to Augustus in his basement after he "pissed the bed." Augustus shouldn't assume that leading a meaningful life means doing heroic things. He needs to look at the realistic side of things and learn to accept what's right in front of him.

Deandra says...Hazel just wants Gus to know that he has what he has and it's not going to change. He doesn't have to be famous to have a meaningful life. Hazel is using "tough love"

“This is it.  I can’t even not smoke anymore.” (p. 245)

Nyjelika says...Augustus feels weak and unpowerful because now he can't do things on his own.

Zami says...Gus always wants to be in control. The cancer has taken control, now he can't even not smoke. Without his cigarettes, he's not himself.

Marissa says...Gus is talking to Hazel at the gas station. The metaphor has lost its power and the killing thing now resides in his body and consumes him. He has nearly given up.

“I can’t talk about our love story, so I will talk about math.” (p. 260)

Rosa says...Hazel is talking to Gus at the pre-funeral. What belongs to she and Gus is theirs alone. They said that their love dies with them. So she honored that and kept it for her.

Amanda says...Hazel is saying this as her eulogy at the pre-funeral. Hazel isn't mushy and she is responding in a way that makes sense to her.

Anna says...Hazel said that their love stayed between her and Gus so she used other ways to describe how her loss felt.

“I called it a nine because I was saving my ten.” (p.263)

Aleeyia says...Hazel was thinking back to when she went to the hospital and could barely breathe and couldn't talk but she only rated her pain a nine when the doctors asked. At this point in the book, Hazel has finally reached a 10 on the pain scale because Gus died. She finally found her love and he passes away. I feel pretty bad for her.

Colin says...this shows the division of emotional pain versus physical pain.

“When the scientists of the future show up at my house with robot eyes and they tell me to try them on, I will tell the scientists to screw off…” (p. 258).  

Deandra says...This is Isaac talking at the fake funeral. Isaac speaks of the future without Gus. If in the future robot eyes are invented and he had the chance to see, he wouldn't want to see a world without his "smart ass" best friend. It would break his heart.

I knew these people were genuinely sad, and that I wasn’t really mad at them.  I was mad at the Universe.  Even so, it infuriated me:  You get all these friends just when you don’t need friends anymore.” (p. 266)

Jaden says... Hazel is looking at Gus's facebook page after he died. People say they knew Gus, when they really didn't. It is kind of disrespectful to Gus when Hazel took the time to know him.

Marissa says...We put the deceased on a pedestal, praising them for their long, hard struggle and determination. Ironically, this usually happens right after death when (some) people are filled with regret and remorse.

Ty'Keisha says...This shows that Hazel thinks no one cares until it's too late.

Anna says...People only started to appreciate him when he was gone and that they were being disrespectful.

Welcome to Amsterdam! Collaboration Project

Hey Monona and M'Chigeeng, 

We will be working together to research and share information about Hazel and Gus's destination:  Amsterdam, Netherlands.  This project is similar to your Monona/Manitoulin Island projects, except this time you'll be working in "cross-national" groups.    Click to access the Amsterdam Research Project. 

In the notes section under each slide, you'll find out who you will be working with to complete the project.  For example, Deandra from MG21 is working with Adam and Ethan from M'Chigeeng on the Arts and Culture slide.  I'd suggest you use the "Comments" feature to introduce yourselves to your "teammates" and determine how you'd like to split up tasks (Insert --> Comments or Ctrl + alt + M).   In our increasingly digital world, people work on projects with other members around the globe and we hope this will be a fun and challenging experience for you!  

MSS reaction after Chapter 10

Discussion: What did you think of Augustus’s declaration of love and Hazel’s response.

“I think his words were good because it’s what I would say, but Hazel was foolish for not saying anything.”  Ben

“If I were Augustus I would probably say it, and if I were Hazel I would have responded back to him.  I think Gus did a great thing by telling Hazel that.” ~ Megan

“I think Augustus is coming on a bit too strong, but Hazel is being a dink.” ~Eric

“I think that it was a dumb choice for Augustus to declare his love, and also at the wrong time.“ ~ Nick

“Hazel was kind of scared.” ~ Meeshen

“If I were Augustus I would have told her, and if I were Hazel I would have said something.” ~ Destiny

“Hazel doesn’t know what she feels.” ~Ethan & Niihge

“I think she secretly loves him because of the way she acts around him and talks about him every day.” ~Tianna

“It’s cute.  She didn’t have to say it back.” ~Olivia

“I like the way he said how he felt about her, but she is a dink for not saying anything to him.” ~Bryce

“She loves him.” ~ Oha

“I think that she should have said at least said, ‘Okay.’” ~ Gregory

“I think Augustus has some guts, and she’s a dink for not saying anything.” ~Brandon

“Hazel should have said she loved him back.” ~ Jeremiah 

MG21 Reactions to the end of Chapter 10

Hey Ms. Bauer's Class, 
Yesterday we finished reading Chapter 10 with Gus officially proclaiming his love for Hazel.  Before class ended, students shared their reactions to his "I love you" and her decision not to say it back.  I asked students to consider why Hazel decided not to say it back and whether or not this exchange will change their relationship.  Here is a sample of thoughts here from MG21.  

"Hazel doesn't want him to fall for her because she knows she will die.  I think she is right to not make him go through the hurt of loving someone and losing them.  I think their relationship will change because it will go from friends to serious."  -Amanda

"Hazel wasn't ready to admit it.  I feel she didn't want to ruin his moment of saying "I love you."  I think they will soon share some more romantic moments."  -Kaitlin

"Hazel didn't say it back because she feels guilty.  She doesn't want to love him because she knows she won't be around forever.  I think Gus admitting his love is a step forward in their relationship."  -Anna

"Gus saying I love you and her not responding is going to make their relationship awkward."
 -Jeremiah

"Hazel is too engrossed in the "grenade" stuff.  I think she's boneheaded." -Alexia
"Awwww.  They'll totally love each other." -Rosa

"She should have said "I love you" back because I'd want to experience love before I die." -Emily