Malaika- The Cat Ate My gym suit- Travel Tracer

For this meeting I was travel tracer...:
This part of the story starts at her home, it starts where her mom wakes her up telling her to get out of bed quickly to go shopping for Nancy's Party.
Next they go to the shopping mall, they have to go past the normal section into the "chubbies" area, which makes Marcy feel embarrassed. They then go to a jewelry store where Marcy buys  a necklace, a ring and earrings.
After that she goes to Nancy's house before the party. She goes back home after to get ready and practice her dancing.
The next day, the story starts at her house, she then takes Stuart to the park because her parents went out and she has to babysit him, and then back home for lunch, then her parents come home. Marcy gets ready for the party. Joel comes to pick her up. Next they go to Nancy's house for the party she talks to Joel for a while, she learns about his mother and father splitting up and what happened. She also learns that Joel likes her only as a friend and no more than that. Then Joel brings her back home,
The next morning, starts at her house, where Nancy calls her to complain that her parents found guys throwing up in her backyard. Then they went to visit her paternal grandmother.
Next day starts at her house then she goes to a shopping plaza with Joel and then she goes back home.
Next day starts at her house, then later on in the afternoon they go to the hearing of ms.finney, where she wins but decides to resign, they go back home.

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit- Paula Danziger: Discussion Director

For this Literacy Circles Meeting, I was the discussion director. Here are my questions:

1. Why do you think that the author ended the book this way?
My answer: I think that the author ended the book this way because no one's life can be perfect, not even a book character's.
Other answers: I think the author ended the book this way, because this book is mainly autobiographical, and Marcy represents the author, Paula Danizger, and this is her true story. I also think that the message of the book is not 'be thin!', and 'thin is great', but be confident in yourself, no matter your body size and shape.

2. Why do you think Ms. Finney resigned? What would you do if you were her?
My answer: I think that Ms. Finney resigned so she wouldn't create any other complications for her students and the principal. I also think she resigned because if she came back to her job, it would be really hard for her to get back to her normal life as she created a massive problem for the school, and people wouldn't accept her again.
Other answers: I think that Ms. Finney resigned so she wouldn't make any problems for Marcy, and her friends, and so she wouldn't upset the parents who argued so strongly to try and get her fired.

3. Why do you think Joel rejected Marcy?
My answer: I think Joel rejected Mary because he really didn't like her, and didn't really want to be around her.
Other answers: I think that Joel liked Marcy, but is 13 years old and doesn't want a girlfriend. I think that they will date in the future.

4. What do you think Marcy would be like in the future?
My answer: I think Marcy would grow up to try and inspire younger girls to accept their body, and not be upset that they are different to other people. I also think that she could be a writer or a teacher, inspired by Ms. Finney because she is creative, and very opinionated.
Other answers: I think Marcy will be a sad, old, homeless person because she is very ungrateful, and doesn't want to accept help from anyone, even if she desperately needs it.

The Cat ate my Gym Suit - Malaika - Summarizer

Marcy Tells her mom about the Nancy's party and her mom convinces Marcy to go shopping to get her a dress. The dad gets annoyed because he thinks Marcy is growing up to fast, but then he gets annoyed because he thinks Stuart is not growing fast enough, so then Marcy is confused. Marcy then has to go to school while she is at school she gets called into the principals office. Inside the principals office she see's that her mom and Stuart are already inside as well as Nancy's mom and two other people that she later learns are Joel's dad and Robert's mother. Mr.Stone tells them that he knows about their plot to undermine the school, and how their behavior has become unacceptable. The students defend themselves, and the parents support them, apart from Robert's mother, who agrees completely with Mr.Stone and thinks they should be punished. They end up being suspended. They all meet up at Marcy's house where they decided to try help Ms. Finney, Robert's mother ends up walking right out because she is annoyed that the other parents don't agree that the children deserve being suspended and should be punished. The children decide to use the time out of school to study. Later when her dad comes back home from work he gets mad because he thinks that Marcy should just shut up and mind her own business, He says that she deserved being suspended and is bad. Then her mom and her get mad at her dad, and Marcy cries and goes to her bed, she dreams that while she is at Nancy's party she will trip and fall and be embarrassed.

Discussion Director- Isidora

My job this six-day rotation was Discussion Director.

1. How did you feel when Joel asked Marcy to the party?I felt good, because Marcy is changing so much from the beginning of the book. She's even going to a party with Joel.

Alannah: I felt bad because I think Joel doesn't really like her.
Malaika: Me too, because I think Joel only wants to go as friends but Marcy obviously doesn't. She's going to be heartbroken.
Jelena: I agree
Mia: Me too. She's going to be so heartbroken!
2.Why do you think the children like Ms. Finney  so much? She's different than the other teachers and has a different approach to students. She teaches them in an interesting way they are not used to.
Alannah: She's different than any other teacher they ever had. She's all about expressing yourself and communicating through writing.
Jelena: Ms. Finney is always saying things like: "Express yourself through the paper! Write what you feel deep inside!"
Malaika: Yeah, that's true!
Me: I do think it sounds a bit weird, but I think this is going to help a lot in Marcy's situation.
Mia: She's just so caring and teaches in a different way that the kids like.
3.  What would your parents say if you were boycotting against firing your teacher? My parents would most probably support me. I asked my mom and she said that, if it's a good teacher and the students want he to teach them, she would support me and let me stand up to the principal.
Malaika: My mom would really be shocked and my dad would just laugh and tell me it's okay, I can get on with it.
Mia: Same here. My parents would just laugh and tell me it's okay.
Jelena: My parents too.
Alannah: They'd probably laugh and not believe me but at the end, they'd support me.
4. If you were a kid in Marcy's school, what would you think of her? I'd think she's a bit too quiet,  but nice overall.
Alannah: I do not find her nice. I'd think she's mean to everybody.
me: No, she's not.
Alannah: She ignores people only because she thinks they won't like her! If somebody walks up to he and says "Hi!" she's going to ignore them.
Mia: I don't like her at all. She really has too many problems and doesn't know how to solve them. She thinks she's fat and ugly and won't even do anything about it! And she's fat, so her dad yells at her, so her mom gives her ice cream which makes her even more fat. It's a repeating cycle which Marcy has to learn how to stop.
Jelena and Malaika: I agree. 

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger - Connector

Literature Circles-Connector
Alannah Thornley

1. Ms. Finney is like Ms. Edmunds in Bridge to Terabithia, they are both kind, caring, free spirited, and each have their own creative and innovative ways of teaching. They both help their students to try their hardest and teachers like them really help the students start to enjoy school. They are also extremely young ( very early 20's ) and very pretty.

2. When Joel asks Marcy to the dance to the dance it reminded me of when our school held a dance in the Black Box, and many different people asked other to that dance. Marcy states in the book that when Joel asked her out she felt "uneasy, and confused as to whether Joel actually liked her or it was a dare, or he just means it as friends". Malaika said that this is how everybody feels when people they really really really really like asks them out.

3. In the book Marcy is very insecure about her body and the way she believes people perceive the way she dresses, the way she acts, and her family. There are many different people everywhere that believe that no one will ever like them if they have imperfections, which is a complete lie. People like others regardless of their clothing, looks, and family. 

Malaika-illustrator-the cat ate my gym suit.

For this meeting I was the illustrator and I drew this image. This picture is of Marcy, Joel, Nancy and Robert, when they are at Nancy's house and they decide to make a plan off things they could do to help save Ms. Finney, I think this is an important scene in the book because it shows how much they really care about Ms. Finney and the things they would all do for her. It also shows that they don't care how risky their plan is or what the consequences might be, and that their main goal is to help Ms. Finney win, and come back to teach them. 

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger - Literary Luminary

Literary Luminary - Literature Circles
Alannah Thornley

I was Literary Luminary for last week's Literature Circles and these are the paragraphs I chose:

1. Pg. 26 paragraph 2: I chose this paragraph because I think it show why Marcy is so insecure about her body, and it shows why she feels the need to push everyone away ( she believes they will hurt her feeling ). I think this paragraph is really important to the story, as it helps develop Marcy's character, and shows what is going on in her house.

2. Pg. 30 paragraph 2-3: I think this shows how Marcy is really stubborn and how she will never back down from what she believes. This also shows how much her mother genuinely cares about her and how she is willing to stand up to an abusive husband just for Marcy. This paragraph also shows you that Marcy's brother, Stuart and Marcy's Mother are the glue that keep the family together, and helps make amends after a big fight.

3. Pg. 38 paragraph 5: I chose this paragraph because I think this paragraph is crucial to the story because it is the paragraph that Ms. Finney gets fired in. This is very important to the story because this makes Marcy upset because she doesn't believe that Ms. Finney should have lost her job, so Marcy decides ( with her friends ) that she should stand up for Ms. Finney and get her back her job in the school where the students think she belongs.

4. Pg. 45 paragraph 1: I chose this paragraph because I believe it shows more about Marcy's character. She is really mean to the people around her, even her own Mother like it is shown in this paragraph. I think she is mean because she is really hurt by what her Father shouts at her every single day and it breaks her heart.

5. Pg. 52 only paragraph: I think this paragraph is very important to the story because it shows that family loves each other no matter how much messed-up stuff happens between them.

Travel Tracer 


The chapter starts at Marcy's home in her bedroom where she gets ready for school. She goes downstairs to the kitchen to eat her breakfast and then she sees Ms.Finney in the newspaper s she goes to school to discuss it with her friends. After a while she goes to homeroom, but then she gets called to see Mr. Stone in his office. In the office were Marcy, Joel, Nancy, Robert and their families.They go back to their class and afterwards they go to Nancy's home where they make a plan of how are they going to get Ms. Finney back. The chapter continues and ends at Nancy's house.

The Cat Ate My Gym Suit-Vocabulary Enricher-Malaika

Page 26 Paragraph 3: Tranquilizer: Medicinal drug, taken to reduce tension or anxiety.
Page 38 Paragraph 2: Derivation: Action of obtaining something from a source or origin.
Page 38 Paragraph 2: Loquacious: Tending to talk a great deal, talkative.
Page 38 Paragraph 2: Erudite: Having or showing great knowledge or learning
Page 37 Paragraph 12:Pigsty: Very untidy, dirty, disgusting room.
Page 33 Paragraph 2:Propaganda: Information especially of a biased or misleading nature used to promote a political cause or a point of view.
Page 42 Paragraph 1:syndicate: A group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest.

Summariser

This chapter talks about Marcy at school and home. Basically in school they did a lot of fun activities and things in Ms. Finney's class,all the kids liked her classes and the way she told them to be who they are and not someone else, to show their emotions and not hide them. Sometimes when principal comes in they try so hard to raise their hands and behave better and how the principal wants them to. At Marcy's home it was not really good, her father was really disrespectful ulted her and her brother all the time. When she got home from Smedley[the club Ms. Finney was organizing]  she had a idea to do the activity with her family at home, but her dad was not so happy about it so he started insulting her and her brother, and like every single time that happened they both ran to their rooms and started crying, the their mother heard them and told them that their father is sorry  and that they can buy whatever they want, Marcy did not care about money she wanted to be happy with her family. Next day at school she found a substitute instead of Ms.Finney, the principal came in and told them that she wouldn’t come to school anymore, they all started crying and were not so happy about it, so Marcy stood up and protested about it, principal called her mom because of her behaviour.

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit- Isidora- Connector

This 6 day rotation, my job was to make connections between Marcy and me. It wasn't very hard to do that, since we are around the same age.
1. We both have arguments with our dads. Marcy has bigger arguments and a very big problem, so that's the only difference. My dad and I have minor arguments, but I think that's normal.

2. As well as Marcy, I am not very talented at sports. But I don't try to skip P. E. with excuses. I'm more like Ms. Finney, I try very hard.
3. Just like Marcy, I have a younger brother.

Jelena-illustrator

This is the picture of Marcy talking to Joel
about Ms.Finney. Her dad is yelling at her because she got up from the table during dinner.

The Cat Ate My Gym Suit by Paula Danziger- Alannah: Travel Tracer

For this Literacy Circles meeting, I was the travel tracer, meaning that I describe the places where the book and the protagonist go to:

The book starts at Marcy's school, which is a very large school with many children. I imagine the school as a large cement institution with many wide windows with a white lining. Marcy says that there are many students in each classroom, causing chaos, as many of the students enjoy disobeying the rules. 

The book then goes to Marcy's home, which she describes as loud. She has a four year old brother who idolises her and who desperately wants to be her best friend. Her father also always shouts at her because she is overweight. This causes insecurity about her body shape.  

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit Page 1-25 Literary Luminary-Isidora

 This six day rotation we read pages 1-25. I was Literary Luminary. I picked the following passages:
 Page 1 paragraph 1:  I think it important because Marcy introduced herself to  us and we can see how pessimistic she is.
page 14 paragraph last: I chose this because it's so weird how Ms. Finney can act. She can sometimes forget what the chalk is and start smoking it! I don't have an explanation for those habits, so I'd be really scared if I was there, but Marcy isn't.
page 23 paragraph 6: Joel told Marcy she has a nice smile! This is proof she really shouldn't be insecure, but she is. She could have more friends, for instance, Joel.
page 24 paragraph 5: This paragraph makes me think. Does she really need to be insecure? I agree with Nancy. In my opinion, Marcy shouldn't be so insecure, she has no reason to be.

Malaika-Discussion Director

1. Why do the children like to give the substitute teacher a hard time?
my answer: I think this is because they find it amusing and they are tired of having substitutes and they want a real teacher for once.
other students: I think this is because the other students want a permanent teacher who will stay with them and not leaver every two days.

2. How did you feel when Marcy was on the bench during gym class?
me: I felt kind of bad for her because she had to watch all the other kids play volleyball and she couldn't participate. I also felt mad at her because she had a not very good reason to not participate and she could participate if she wanted to.
other students: I didn't really feel anything because it is her fault she doesn't participate, she could participate if she wanted to and her reason is not very good.

3. How and why do you think Marcy came up with the excuse "the cat ate my gym suit" 
me: I think she must have come up with that because she didn't want to participate and she may have come up with this excuse at the last minute and didn't really have time to think about it.
other students: She might have came up with that using the exercise "my dog ate my homework" and she just transformed it and it became "my cat ate my gym suit"

4. Why do you think Marcy is so insecure?
me: I think Marcy is so insecure because she is really fat and she has no friends so she thinks that everyone hates her and she is ugly, so she is so pessimistic about everything. Also her dad is mean to her.
other students: I think this is because her father always shouts at her.

5. What do you think will happen next?
me: I think that she might become girlfriend and boyfriends with Joel, and get some friends because of Smedley.
other students: I think she will get more confident and she will get some friends and stand up to her father. She might also start a diet and exercising and will get thinner.

My drawing represents Marcy the main character and her interests, it is a part of the book where she talks about herself and what she dislikes and likes, how she looks like and basically her personality. She said she has wire frame glasses, mouse brown hair, acne and that she is fat. She likes to read, she dislikes her dad,school,dancing and questions.Marcy is really insecure about her look and she thinks everybody hates her.