Speak Notes

Second Marking Period (pp. 49-92)

Go __________ (Fill in the Blank)

    No longer The Tigers – ecologically insensitive Choices
      Bees, Icebergs, Hilltoppers, Wombats

Closet Space

    Parents tell her to stay after school for extra help à hangs in closet
      Covers mirror with poster of Maya Angelou Brings books
    Getting harder to talk – sore throat, raw lips Wakes in morning with clenched jaws Wants to confess everything à hand guilt to someone else “There’s a beast in my gut” Closet – quiet place where she can hold thoughts inside head

All Together Now

    Spanish teacher threatens them with detentions à M does homework
      Chooses five verbs: translate, flunk, hide, escape, forget

Job Day

    Starts with test: determines desires and dreams Results: forestry, firefighting, communications, mortuary science Heather à nurse – she’s thrilled – has next ten years planned

First Amendment

    Mr. Neck –
      complains that his son can’t get a job – blames it on reverse discrimination says we should close borders to immigration students argue à Mr. Neck says he doesn’t want to hear any more about it David Petrakis stands up and says the discussion is racist, intolerant, and xenophobic à Mr. Neck threatens him with going to principal à David walks out

Giving Thanks

    Mother is stressed with preparing for Thanksgiving Turkey is too frozen – tries bathing in hot water, microwaving, nothing works Family ends up eating pizza

Wishbone

НЕ нашли? Не то? Что вы ищете?
    Melinda digs bones out of garbage – wants to make memorial – brings them to art Finally arranges bones in skeleton, has knives and forks attacking bones, puts Barbie head inside and Lego tree outside à can’t explain it to teacher when asked He says: a girl caught in remains of holiday gone bad, with her flesh picked off day by day; palm tree is broken dreams à Melinda laughs and then puts piece of tape over Barbie’s mouth Mr. Freeman – says this has meaning = pain

Peeled and Cored

    Biology class: talking about reproduction Students dissect apples – some lose points for sword fighting with knives M fondly remembers picking apples with family M bites her apple; her lab partner David freaks out She dissects the rest and finds a seed just starting to grow à shows teacher à gets extra credit

First Amendment, Second Verse

    One week before Winter Break – rebellion in air Mr. Neck (Social Studies) lecturing – David is tape recording the lesson Mr. Neck lectures perfectly while murderously glaring at David David’s parents have hired lawyer; next day, there’s a video camera in class

Wombat’s Rule

    Heather convinces M to go to the Winter Assembly – Marthas haven’t invited Heather School has decided on Wombats for school mascot

Winter Break

    Melinda’s mom tells her to put up tree if she wants Thinks of past Christmases – feels sad about loss of magical aspect of Xmas Calls Heather – not home à goes out in snow, acting like heather Makes a snow angel – wants to make a wish but doesn’t know what for Gets holly and pine branches and decorates house – smells nice Gets sketch pad with charcoal pencils from parents à almosts TELLS them right then and there – is touched that they noticed that she has been drawing Remembers when she snuck home “that night” they weren’t expecting her; she showered with hot water until water was gone – parents got home late – mom at 2; dad at dawn – not together – she didn’t talk with them

Hard Labor

    After two days home at Xmas, parents have her go to work with them
      Mom – M works hard folding shirts – mother is gray with exhaustion Dad – he is relaxed, goes to lunch; she is angry She cuts her tongue on an envelope à IT pops into her mind à anger is gone (dissipated)

Foul

    Gym is inside – basketball
      Melinda shoots foul shot after foul shot into the hoop – coach wants her on the team but she isn’t eligible because of her grades Melinda does what coach asks but knows she wouldn’t play on the team Coach says if she can teach the Basketball Pole how to shoot a foul shot, she’ll have an A in gym à Melinda thinks she just won’t show up

Coloring Outside the Lines

    Art room is blooming – Mr. Freeman is Vogue Teacher of the Moment His room is Cool Central – full of students all the time He is working on a painting – the newspapers are writing about him M is struggling with making her trees look real – keeps working Principal Principal came in, looking for problems – found none

Poster Child

    Heather is upset – not meeting Marthas standards à Melinda isn’t listening to details à suddenly she realizes that Heather has volunteered to have her help make posters Melinda agrees – “How could I say no?”

Dead Frogs

    Biology – dissecting frogs à David is thrilled As Melinda starts to cut, “a scream starts in her gut – I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair.” à she passes out, hitting her head on the table Melinda just wants the memory to go away, but it won’t –says she needs surgery to cut it out

Model Citizen

    Heather has modeling job at the department store à now Marthas want her to be their New Best Friend. Asks Melinda to go with her for the photo shoot à photographer says, “sexy, sexy, very cute – think boys.” à creeps Melinda out – throat is killing her Nails are bitten to bleeding point à buys Black Death nail polish

Death by Algebra

    Math teacher makes effort to connect math with real life

Word Work

    Hairwoman is torturing students with essays
      “Why America is Great” – 500 words “The Best Lost Homework Excuse Ever” Using topics kids are actually interested in Grammar Passive vs active voice

Naming the Monster

    Works on Heather’s posters in art room IT creeps in, whispering, “Freshmeat” Melinda says she can smell him à drops everything and runs

Rent Round 3

    Guidance counselor calls to warn parents about M’s grades Parents are furious – ask what’s wrong à ground her M scratches her wrist with a paperclip à mother sees it and says suicide is for losers – leaves a book for M to read

Can It

    All of Marthas are dressed alike – no one told Heather Marthas criticize Heather for not collecting the right things and for making ridiculous posters Andy Evans is mentioned – M says he is IT – says his name is short and stabby Andy stands behind M – twirls her hair à M runs to bathroom and throws up

Dark Art

    Mr. Freeman is in trouble
      Gave all students As – in trouble with administration Stopped working on his painting
    M working on linoleum block – cuts her finger purposefully Mr. Freeman takes chisel and slashes his painting

My Report Card

    A – Art B – Biology C – Lunch, Clothes, English, Spanish, Algebra, Gym D – Attitude