English Arts Festival

Discussion Board: The Pigman

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 08:47:05 Author: Spurr, Dawn <ff_dspurr@seovec.org> Subject: OK..we have something due tom. What do we do?  Any ideas? I am really stuck. There are about 5 of us working here at Fort Frye and we all are stuck.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 16:31:50 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: OK..we have something due tom. What do we do?  According to my colleague, we are supposed to pick our group roles. I guess we just go with the discussion then. But here's where I'm confused. Are we supposed to be discussing the book as if we were in a literature circle? Or how we would guide a student literature circle if THEY were reading the book. I'm going with the former for now. Jane

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 20:17:33 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: OK..we have something due tom. What do we do?  Don"t feel bad there are four at Marietta who are a little confused. My question is do we do virtual chat tomorrow or answer the question that Elaine is suppose to post. Also where are we to look for the posted question?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 15:25:24 Author: Spurr, Dawn <ff_dspurr@seovec.org> Subject: I would like to be the....  In this book, I would like to be the word master. I will be posting a set of words, their definitions, and a web site that will show you how you can use those words in your teachings.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 15:44:58 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: I would like to be the....  For The Pigman, I would like to be the connector.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 20:20:25 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: I would like to be the....  Sounds fine to me

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 20:18:40 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: I would like to be the....  Where are you going to post these words?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 13:42:54 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Re: I would like to be the....  I'll be the discussion director!

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 08:40:22 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: I would like to be the....  Hello, everyone! Sorry I missed all of the discussion from last week. I was out of school for fair break and had no way to communicate with everyone. I guess I will be the illustrator for this book. I will be getting my illustration to you sometime today or tomorrow.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 09:01:09 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: I would like to be the....  I am sorry. I did not see that Connie had signed up for illustrator. I will be the summarizer. Again, I will post this sometime today.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 16:17:34 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: What does this book remind me of?  (1) Just how easily kids parties spin out of control Just today, in the cafeteria, during 8th grade lunch, I picked up a flier about a party. The student whose name was on the flier is a 7th grader. I wondered aloud if her parents knew that the whole school, essentially, was being invited to this party. The nearest student heard me and said "But everyone IS invited." Clearly a difference of perspective. As an adult, I know how easily things can spin out of control, especially parties. I remember high school parties that got well out of control of the students who were hosting them. I always, even as a teen, wondered about the parents who left their kids alone to host a party. Sure, that is what the kids say they want, and probably IS what they want, until the party gets out of hand. But once the party gets out of hand, the kids don't have the tools to stop the runaway train. That takes an adult. Even if the adults were hiding in the back, ignoring the drinking, they were there to stop the worst of the destruction. Of course, nowadays they'd be held liable for all the drinking, any DUI, etc.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 16:28:05 Author: Rauschenberg, Jane <jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: What does this book remind me of? #2  I remember when I was a kid and the old man next door died. His wife was so sad and alone. His roses stopped getting the TLC and weren't nearly as nice. I remember thinking it seemed like his wife was sad for a long time. Now I think of how time flows differently for kids. As my parents age, and develop more "eccentricities" I worry. I remember how senile my grandmother was before she died. So when my dad gets "wierd" it worries me. How often I have seen older people who lived for forty years or more with a spouse, and seem so very alone after the death of that spouse. I have also seen people happily married 25 years who have a new "significant other" within months of the death of the spouse. Hard for the adult children to adjust to, but understandable. Who better than one who was happily married to appreciate how much better life can be as half of a couple than it is alone?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 10-Oct-2002 23:33:53 Author: Spurr, Dawn <ff_dspurr@seovec.org> Subject: Re: What does this book remind me of?  Yes, things have changed a lot since I was a teen. In fact, while reading this book I had to remember that it was written in 1968. I "bleeped" out many parts this week as I read it to my class. I didn't think that "bombing" the bathroom would go over very well in our current society. This book reminds me of my teenage years. Paul Zindel was one of my favorite authors. Through his work I was able to escape some difficult times. As for the parties....forget it..there isn't any way that I will EVER have the entire class to my house with my son. I am sure that the walls would come down.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 08:44:33 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: What does this book remind me of?  I also worry about the parents that tend to allow their children this type of freedom as well. I see it happen a lot with students who strive so hard to be "popular" at any cost. These parties lead to life altering situations for the kids and their families.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 18:23:53 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: What does this book remind me of?  Question: Is the parents are giving them the fredom or our they the ones who do not take the responsibility of parenting. Inohterwords out of sight out of mine.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 13:44:59 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Discussion  What motive is there for John and Loraine to spend time with the Pigman?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 16:37:01 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion  The motives I see for John and Loraine to spend time with the Pigman is an adult who is stable and cares about tehm and treat them like a person. Unlike John's fther who he is constantly fighting with or his mother is a compulsive clean. For Loraine it her mother is consistantly belittle her and loweres her self esteem by telling she is ugly and does nothing right.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 08:47:56 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Discussion  I very much agree with you. I was wondering if there was more to it throughout the book, but I think they genuinly cared about him. He might have been like the father they didn't have at home. I could see kids who did not have the nurturing at home needing this attention, even though it could have been dangerous.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 13:54:06 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Discussion  Loraine's mother questions Loraine about her visitations with Mr. Pignati and continually defaces men throughout the story. Why do you think she is so negative towards men and questions Mr. Pignati's motive?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 16:44:21 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion  Loraines mother dislike or mistrust of the male population probleem stems from her own personal experiences with men. I think Loraines father had several affairs or at least one and that she was deeply hurt by thiis. Als she may have been taken advantage by other men or boys she had date.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 13:57:05 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Discussion  What is your opinion of the relationship between Mr. Pignati, John, and Loraine? Do you agree or disagree?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 16:46:55 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion  I think that the relationship between the three of them filled a void for each of them.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 16:48:35 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion  I think that the relationship between the three of them filled a void for each of them. I agreeto theri relationship because in their own way it help each one of them through the stagesof their life they were dealing with.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 08:51:44 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Discussion  At first I was leary of the relationship due to the state of our society these days, but I agree that it filled a void that they each needed filled. Would you want your child going behind your back to have this type of relationship? Would you have questioned Mr. P's motives if you were Loraine's mother? There are sick people out there.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 18:22:11 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion  If my two sons went behind my back I would be concerned. Also I would look into the persons background that they were seeing. True there are scary people out there but not all people are in that category.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 14:02:01 Author: Hendricks, Jeni <fh_jpierson@seovec.org> Subject: Discussion  How do you think John and Loraine's life has changed since the death of Mr. Pignati?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 16:54:32 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Discussion  John and Loraine lives have changed to having to grow up and deal with the death of the pigman. The book seems to be a process for them to work through the greiving process while telling their story about the Pigman.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 11-Oct-2002 20:29:20 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  ILLUSTRATOR NAME CONNIE FRAZIER DRAWING FROM PAGE 98

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 08:58:47 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  I am unable to open your illustration to view it. Is there something special I need to do? I am not great on the computer thing.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 18:27:12 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  I don't know. I have never done this before either

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 15-Oct-2002 14:17:47 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  I was in this last year. I never did the illustrator because I was not sure how to do it either. What if we e-mailed our illustrations to the group? Would that work better? I will try to do the illustrator this year if we can figure out a technique to use to share them.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 15-Oct-2002 19:07:15 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  I'll try again both ways

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 16-Oct-2002 09:15:58 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  I was able to open it! I think I just need a computer 101 class. I don't know what I was doing yesterday. It looks great. Nice picture. Did you scan the picture onto your computer? I might try illustrator one of these times when I buff up on my computer skills a little.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 17-Oct-2002 07:33:17 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  Yes I scaned the picture and save it on a disc. The first posting was from the disc. The second posting I saved as a web page so that is why you were able to opened it the second time. Also if the program you use to scan will allow you to save as a jpeg it will use up less computer space and is easier to open. However, the scanner I used did not have that option. If you have any trouble with uploading your picture, let me know.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 22-Oct-2002 10:07:40 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: ILLUSTRATION SEE SHARE FILE FOR ILLUSTRATION  Thanks for the info.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 13-Oct-2002 18:57:21 Author: Spurr, Dawn <ff_dspurr@seovec.org> Subject: Problems using the book with your class  I posted this elsewhere, but i have yet to get a response. I love this book. In fact, the reason that I took this class was because he was one of my favorite authors. However, I am orally reading and "SKIPPING" a lot of this book with my classroom. I teach 6th grade. Overall, my class has a lot of great readers, but I feel as though some of the content (such as the bombings) could get me in trouble if I let my class read it together. Some of the other books will not be a problem, but....I just didn't want to chance this. How do you feel? What grades do you teach?

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 08:56:54 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Problems using the book with your class  I also felt this book to be a little controversial in the respect that I teach in a very conservative town. We have to be very careful of what we teach to the group. We can get a lot of flack from parents for the content of our books. I have chosen not to use this one in my class, even though I love the book myself. I think the message the book sends would be good for them, but there are too many other issues that I would have to ommit. I teach 7th grade.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 18:19:06 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Problems using the book with your class  This is Connie and I teach 7th and 8th grade. The issue of the bombings I would explains as firecrackers in the bathrooms at the time the book was written there was not the sensitive issue of threats to schools. Explain it in terms of the time. Like a history lesson.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 15-Oct-2002 14:15:50 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Problems using the book with your class  It is not necessarily that part of the book that I would worry about. Your technique of explaining is very goog, but I am not sure about the issues of the drinking and smoking. It is so hard to find good books for the kids without something controversial in them.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 15-Oct-2002 19:11:22 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: Problems using the book with your class  Good point. I didn;t think of that issue. Oh course you could bring in the health and science issues. Also we have a police office who is at our school as an educational resource. You could always bring someone like that or some other field about the cons to cigarette smoking and drinking

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 14-Oct-2002 09:36:40 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: summarizer  This book is mainly about a unique relationship between two troubled children and an elderly gentleman, Mr. Pignati. The relationship begins as a prank and grows throughout the book to the point that everyone is volnerable to getting hurt. The three individuals have an eccentric relationship that works well for each of their needs. The kids get a parental (grand-parental) figure in their lives that is missing at home with no strings attached, and Mr. Pignati gets companionship that he desperataly needs. The three individuals grow to love one another in many different ways. The book is touching and the events throughout the story will touch your heart. Mr. Pignati, the Pigman, is a very interesting character. How do you think he got his name? Is is merely from his name, did he grow up on a farm raising hogs, does he collect pigs, or is it a nickname the children gave him as their friend? Read on to find out.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 16-Oct-2002 09:25:25 Author: Sharp-Arnett, Robin <robins@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: books  Hello groupies! I was just wondering everyone's opinions about which book to omit from this quarter. My co-workers and I are working on our reader response paper cooperatively, so I will not be doing a paper over The Effects of Gamma Ray... (sorry, don't know how to underline) Are we going to do literature circle assignments with every book or do I just sit out on that one? I am working on The Pigman and Me right now.

Current Forum: The Pigman Date: 17-Oct-2002 07:35:45 Author: Frazier, Connie <frazier30@juno.com> Subject: Re: books  Hello, I have read Pigman and Me and am reading Gamma Rays. I do not care which book we do for the literature circle. I am also working with co-workers and doing the response. So it really does not matter to me.