a project presented to Prof. Dwight WatsonHamline University

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for GED 7871: Literacy in the

Middle and High School by

Reina Malakoff Dave Ostrom

Kimberly StromPeter Sunnarborg

Penny Thompson- Burke Jessica White Stanley

ThemeWho is the character?

Greg “Slam” Harris

Family

Moms

Derek

Pops

Grandma

Friends

Mtiesha

Ice

Classmates

Margie

Teammates

Nick

Ducky

Coach

Goldy

School personnel

Mr. Tate

Math teacher

ThemeHow did the character develop?

Character development

Relationship with family?

Relationship with friends?

Relationship with teammates?

Relationship with school personnel?

Relationship with classmates?

ThemeWhat is the setting?

ThemeWhat is the problem?

At school•Principal insistent on tutoring•Video project; partner hard to work with•Demeaning teachers

With friends and at home

•Ice suspected of dealing drugs•Conflicting romantic interests (Mtisha vs. every other female he encounters)•Derek loses the camera

On the team•Conflict with coach and other players•Skill level of other players

Slam’s attitud

e

ThemeHow was the problem resolved?

Problems ResolutionPrincipal insistent on tutoring Slam is apprehensive of letting another

man tutor him and keen to the threat that his father might feel. Randall doesn’t tutor him but rather Mtisha tutors him minimally.

Video project; partner hard to work with Creates a video of the neighborhood that Margie calls “ghetto”, teacher wants to enter it in awards competition

Demeaning teachers Slam has a blowup at one teacher who refers to him in a derogatory manner, then gets his attitude in check.

Lots of trouble in math Mtisha tutors him minimally. Not as resolved as could be.

At school

ThemeHow was the problem resolved?

At home and with friendsProblem Resolution

Ice suspected of dealing drugs

Ignores despite Mtisha’s urging to confront him until the night of the victory party when he sees him giving someone drugs. They fight and Slam leaves

Conflicting romantic interests

Slam thinks about marrying, dating, and (Mtisha vs. every other female he encounters) mating with many girls. After he makes out with Kicky, Mtisha admits her true feelings for Slam. He realizes that she’s the one he wants despite his rampant daydreams.

Derek loses the camera

The pawn shop owner finds the camera when someone in the neighborhood tries to sell it. Mtisha delivers the good news and Slam gets it back.

Strained relationship with dad.

Dad is an alcoholic who is straight when he’s working and drunk when he’s not. Dad is unemployed by the end and not close to Slam because of lack of common interests. Not really resolved.

Moms wants him to hang with Mr Randall, the tutor

Slam never gets tutored by Randall for the sake of Pops’ ego and his own as well

ThemeHow was the problem resolved?

On the teamProblem Resolution

Conflict with coach and other players

When Slam’s attitude lightens up, the coach starts to play him more. We are just seeing the beginning of this by the book’s end. It foreshadows that Slam learns to put his attitude in check.

Slam appreciates Goldy who has been a support from the start.

Slam begins to accept Ducky for what he is and become his friend.

Begins to get along with Nick despite the fact that Nick is being scouted for college and he isn’t as wanted.

Begins to get along with Jimmy despite having received an unwelcome talk with him about Slam’s attitude. Slam begins to see the only other black player as a teammate.

Skill level of other players

Slam begins to get his ego in check by the book’s end as he tries to help Nick look good for scouts.

ThemeHow did this book relate to the other books?

Mentor relationship

Social isolation Maturation

On the sheets of paper around the room, write down a statement that relates how each book relates to the above themes.

Instructional qualityReadability Conceptual Level

Length of words in passage: ModerateLength of words in sentence: shortSize print: medium (12 pt. Font)Pictures: noneSlang: There is a fair amount of slang in the basketball scenes, but it isn’t hard to figure it out from the context:

oWedgiesoGoing for the pill/the pebbleoA little head fakeoRun him into a pickoPinned his stuff against the boards and pulled it downoBreakaway jamoThe top of the key

Themes: friendship, drug use, drug dealing, racism, romantic/sexual love, loyalty, addiction, povertyConcepts: independence, motivation, perseverance, self-controlAge of characters:

oSlam: 17o Ice: 17o Mtisha: 17o Parents: Moms and Pop: late 30s early 40s?oDerek: 9oGoldy: 50-60ish?

Moderate readability + high conceptual level =

9th grade target audience

Dynamics of circle time

Ah-ha moments• Slam’s ego and how he perceives himself: a protection mechanism?• Slam’s closeness to his family: protecting his mom’s feelings; taking to heart

his grandmother’s advice• The pride Slam takes in his video project for school.• Envisioning his future: marriage, family, and a career in the NBA• Caring for his friends.• Trying out for the team• Kicky• Coming to realize how his work on the video might be exploited by his

classmates• Goldy’s lecture

Parallels to our experience as teachers• Interacting with students talented in sports but struggling at school• Understanding Slam’s attraction to girls, dealing with friends involved with

drugs, dreaming about the future

ConclusionYeah. Okay. Maybe that was the way to work it. Maybe if I could get my

game right, all my game, on and off the court, I

would get over.