Reading Response Blog #4

10/5/2014

In our independent reading books, we often get to know characters who have both similar and different views than us. Sometimes it can be comforting to read a story in which the main character has the same values and beliefs as you, along with a similar personality. Other times it can be intriguing to read a story in which the main character has very different values and beliefs as you and acts very differently than how you would act in a given situation.

This Week's Prompt:

Pick a character from your independent reading. Compare and contrast the characters values, beliefs, personality, and/or actions to your own.

Put yourself in the character's situation. Would you act the same way the character does? Is the character similar to you? Is the character different than you? How?

51 Comments

Ms. Kimball

10/5/2014 11:54:46 am

Dear Class,

A few months ago, I read a book called Hound Dog True by Linda Urban. It was about a girl named Mattie who struggled to make a friend after a miserable 4th grade year and recently moving.

I enjoyed reading about the main character Mattie because there were ways in which I could relate to her, but also ways she was very different from me.

Growing up, I was very nervous about making new friends. It was always a lot of work for me. Mattie had the same problem. There was a neighboring girl just a little older than Mattie named Quincy. Mattie secretly wanted Quincy to be her friend, but she was so worried that Quincy thought she was babyish and dorky. Before she spoke to Quincy, Mattie planned out every word she would or wouldn't say. She felt very anxious around Quincy even though Quincy just wanted to hang out with Mattie and draw. I felt this way around new friends too, as if the new friend was a bird that would fly away if I did or said something stupid enough to startle her. I could relate to Mattie's inner thoughts every time she interacted with Quincy.

However, I also found Mattie to be amusingly different from me. One way Mattie was different from me was that she was very anxious about school yet she was a very thorough learner. Over the summer, she helped her uncle at her new school where he was a custodian. She took a notebook with her everywhere to learn about the "custodial arts" that her uncle would humorously teach her. She took her tasks very seriously, calling herself a "Custodial Apprentice." She hoped that if she was good enough at fixing leaks and mopping floors, she wouldn't have to go to school and face the new students. If I were in Mattie's shoes, I wouldn't have been afraid of school or as interested in custodial duties like she was. I loved going to school. Through Mattie's eyes, I learned how scary a new school can be for other kids. I found Mattie's diligent note-taking on how to be a custodian entertaining. I would never have taken such thorough notes. Also, I gained a better appreciation of all the work that custodians do since Mattie was so impressed by it.

In conclusion, the character Mattie was easy to relate to but she also opened my eyes about what it is like being a new kid with anxieties about school and friends. I feel like I learned a lot about shy students by reading about Mattie. Thanks Mattie!

I hope some of you will read "Hound Dog True" too someday!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Alec

10/6/2014 09:32:27 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
The character that I will compare and contrast with is myself and Clay. I will compare myself with Clay. Clay is a boy and I'm a boy. His personality kind of is the same personality I have.Very similar. Clay is shy-ish if that is even a word,Clay is also not really a tough kind of person, like me!
Now I will contrast Clay and me. Clay is a dragon, but I'm not, I'm a human. I have smooth skin, but Clay doesn't either. Clay's skin color is red-ish, but mines is pale brown-ish.
I have now compared and contrasted me and Clay.

Sincerely,
Alec

Ms. Kimball

10/7/2014 08:54:16 am

Hi Alec,

I am curious to learn more about you and Clay in terms of your personalities and behaviors. Can you share some similarities and differences on how you both act and think?

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Danny

10/11/2014 01:43:27 am

Dear Alec
I read wings of fire and It is a great series I think that clay is kind of the leader. What do you think?

Danny

10/11/2014 09:07:08 am

Dear ms. Kimball
I am going to compare and contrast me and Kate . Kate is a tall girl with dirty blond hair she is a orphan with a thirst for adventure. I am a boy with dirty blond hair the average hight for a ten year old boy and I have two dads.
as you can see there are some differences and similarities such as we both have dirty blond hair she is a orphan and I have parents. As I said Kate has a thirst for adventure like when Constance almost fell into a fifty foot hole as soon as she dropped kate took her hand and pulled her self up then kate said "that was awesome. When I was in costa rica my family and I went on a zip line below us was a rain forrest and the trees were a thousand feet off the ground after the ride I thought it was awesome my dad thought it was horrible.

Danny

10/11/2014 01:50:15 am

Dear ms. Kimball
I will contrast star flight and tsunami from the book Wings Of Fire. Star Flight is kind of has all the smarts he loves to read.
Tsunami on the other hand is aggressive loves all types combat

Sam

10/14/2014 12:25:35 pm

Dear Danny,
I kinda was wondering what Wings of Fire meant for a book title, was is some cool bird that flamingly soared the skies or a dragon that howled terror or was it just some rare strange flying thing that was made up by the author?

I wonder! humph?
Sincerely sam

Talia

10/11/2014 06:53:20 am

What book is clay from?

Julia

10/7/2014 06:27:21 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I am reading the Divergent series. I am going to use the main character Tris to write about. In the books Tris has to make very hard choices. I think I would make some of the same choices Tris makes but not all of them.

For example, in the first book Tris has to choose what faction to be in. She chooses Dauntless. It's hard to say what faction I would choose. I probably would pick Dauntless as well. I think I would fit best in Dauntless than any other faction.

Another similarity between Tris and I is what she does for her family. When her brother betrays her and everyone she loves, they were going to execute him. Tris wants to save him for her parents who are dead. In the book Tris remembers what her parents always taught her when she was in Abnegation. To forgive. Tris doesn't necessarily forgive her brother but she still saves him, for her parents. I agree with everything Tris does in this situation and would also do it if I were in her place.

Something that is different between Tris and I, is when she turns her back on Tobias to work with his father, Marcus. If I were Tris I would not have helped Marcus. She helped him because she was determined to find out the truth and let everybody know the truth. I probably would not have that same determination, therefore I would fight against the Erudite with Tobias, the factionlesss and all the other Dauntless.

Sincerely,
Julia

Ms. Kimball

10/7/2014 08:52:47 am

Dear Julia,

Wow! What a detailed, organized, and clear piece of writing. I could clearly see how you and Tris were the same yet different. Isn't it funny how an author will often make the main character act the way you would act in a similar situation for the first part of the story, then suddenly the author has the character make a decision or behave in a way that makes you cringe in outrage? I think authors do it purposefully! It sounds like you want to make the right decisions that would help your family, but you're also a bit of a risk taker too. That's a good way to live life!

Congrats on finishing Insurgent! I hope Allegiant is just as thrilling!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Alec

10/7/2014 12:30:48 pm

I really like how you added lots of detail in your response. You added lots of evidence from the story to prove you were different from Tris, or to prove that you both are the same. I wish I could improve my responses. You are a good role model for me! The Divergent series must be pretty good, because you typed a lot about it. Keep up the good work Julia!

Sincerely,
Alec

Rheona

10/7/2014 02:09:07 pm

Hi Julia,
I liked how you organized your paragraphs.
How many book are there in the series?

Julia

10/9/2014 12:25:25 am

Dear Rheona,
There are three books in the series.

Yours Truly,
Julia

Marc

10/12/2014 02:24:23 am

Dear Julia,
Why do you think you would pick dauntless?

From,
Marc

Yubin

10/12/2014 09:01:55 am

Dear Julia,
l especially liked how you contrasted yourself and Tris.

Sincerely,
Yubin

Amy

10/16/2014 11:36:12 am

Dear Julia,
Really neat and detailed description. I like how you contrasted you and tris to show your differences!

Your's truly,
Amy

Amy

10/7/2014 09:59:15 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
I'm contrasting myself from Ida. Ida is a character in the book The Lost Children.

I am different from Ida because Ida says whatever she's thinking But I have to think over every single word.I am also different from because she speaks up when she thinks somethings wrong and i usually keep it to myself. I am also like Ida because we both are girls and we both are brave! We also both are really great friends that we stick up for.

Sincerely,
Amy

Ms. Kimball

10/8/2014 11:56:42 am

Dear Amy,

Thank you for sharing about you and Ida! It sounds like Ida is a very strong character --just like you are a strong person! When you say you are, "really great friends that we stick up for," what do you mean?

Also, I would love to hear more about what your book is about.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Layla

10/7/2014 12:11:19 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I'm reading Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. I think that Hattie is different than me, but also a little bit like me. I can compare us and contrast us. One way that we are different is because that I don't have to support myself financially and emotionally. I also don't have to work on a farm, and do all the hard work she has to do for such a young age.
One more reason we are different is that I haven't been bounced relatives. I think that would be really hard. I would be like Hattie, because we are similar too, and want a place that I knew I could stay there and enjoy it.
If I were Hattie I would, like Hattie, be lonely a lot. Living by myself would be lonely, and I would be sad a lot. If I were Hattie I would also be homesick. Those are also reasons why we are the same.
From, Layla

Julia

10/8/2014 09:55:33 am

Dear Layla,

You used a lot of good examples to tell how you and Hattie are both alike and different. Nice job using evidence from the story!

From,
Julia

Sage W.

10/8/2014 11:57:07 am

Dear Layla,
I thought you did a great job comparing and contrasting you and Hattie and using evidence from the book.

Ms. Kimball

10/8/2014 12:01:51 pm

Dear Layla,

Thanks for sharing about you and Hattie! Have you ever wondered if you could live and work on a farm like Hattie? I've always loved farm animal and horses, so a secret fantasy of mine would be to run an animal farm. I don't know if I would be able to handle it though. I like being clean and smelling nice a little too much! How about you?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Sage P

10/11/2014 03:13:01 pm

Dear Layla,
In your response I liked how you thought as yourself in Hattie's shoes. I think that is something that no one else did and that was very unique.

Sam

10/8/2014 09:59:59 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I am reading the Divergent series book one. A character that I can relate to is Marcus, the current mayor of Chicago.
A reason I can relate to him is that as a leader he has to make hard well-thought-out decisions. If I were to take a math test or be a team captain for a game, I would do what Marcus does by making well thought-out-decisions.
However, Marcus is really only like me in that way. He's an adult and he's selfish. For example, he could have been nicer to his son. If I were him I would have treated his son with respect and care. I can't wait to read more.

Sincerely,
Sam

Ms. Kimball

10/8/2014 12:04:25 pm

Dear Sam,

Thank you for sharing about Marcus and yourself. I vaguely remember reading about Marcus the mayor (I only got so far in the book before I donated it to the class), but how did he treat his son? Also, what did he do that makes you feel he's selfish?

Happy reading!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Kathleen

10/14/2014 12:46:10 am

I watched the movie and it is awsome!!!

Forrest

10/14/2014 10:58:51 am

Dear Sam,

I was wondering what does Marcus do as current mayor of Chicago?
I agree I would do the same thing as you and Marcus if I were a team captain. Can you tell me more about how Marcus became current mayor of Chicago? I cant wait to hear more about it!

Your friend,

Forrest

Sage W.

10/8/2014 12:22:08 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball,

I'm reading To Kill a Mocking Bird and decided to compare and contrast Scout and I.

First I'll compare Scout and I.Scout and I are alike because we both have an older sibling who even though they sometimes bother us we both always end up listening to them.Like how Scout went along with leaving the note to the Radley's window even though she wasn't sure about it.We are also both girls.And both have brothers that annoy us sometimes.

Now I'll contrast Scout and I.We're different because I have three brothers and she has one.Also because Scout even though she is younger than me she stands up for what she believes in most of the time and so do I,but when I was younger I didn't have the courage that Scout does even now she has a little more courage than I.

Ms. Kimball

10/9/2014 02:23:03 pm

Dear Sage,

That's interesting that you and Scout listen to your younger siblings. I will be honest, it's not so interesting that you are both girls :-P

I was trying to figure out what you meant in your last paragraph. It sounds like you and Scout both stand up for what you believe in, but Scout started doing so when she was much younger than you. I'm curious, what is something that you believe in that you have stood up for? I would love to hear about it!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Nathan

10/9/2014 01:16:59 am

Dear ms.kimball

I am going to compare myself with Dashiell/Dash (he is a boy If your wondering)
One thing that is different between us is that he has a younger sister that is 6 and I have a brother that's 13. Also Dash is 12 and i'm 10. ;-; Something dash and me have alike is we like to know things, and if we have something on our mind that we need to prove, we want to prove it.

We also like technology even though he wants raised with it, he enjoys it now and then and so Do I.
Since iv'e only been ready this book about 80 pages I dont know any other traits, But soon I will

Ms. Kimball

10/9/2014 02:27:04 pm

Dear Nathan,

What book are you reading now? I see that you and Dash have siblings that are different ages and genders. I'm curious if that influences your behavior or personality in any way. When I was younger, I acted more like a tomboy because I grew up best friends with my brother. We played everything together --ninja turtles, fighting games, cars... even ninja Barbies. How are you influenced by your brother compared to how Dash is influenced by his sister?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Sage P

10/9/2014 10:35:21 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
In my book Sleep away girls there is this girl named Sam and it's her first time being a Cit for a camp she's never been to before.

Two years ago it was my first time at a sleep away camp so I know how Sam must of been feeling. When Sam got to her sleep away camp she did not know anybody and she was just kind of wondering around the camp. When I went to camp I was so scared and nervous because I didn't know anyone.

Sam also ran into a mean girl in the story, Ashley and it was not fun to have Ashley around. Ashley always plays tricks and pranks on Sam and it most not be fun. There was this not so nice girl is my bunk and it was not very nice to have her around.

Sam and some friends thought it was time to get Ashley back. They gathered most if Ashley's clothes and put them in a canoe and sent them away.

Ms. Kimball

10/9/2014 02:30:03 pm

Dear Sage,

It's always fun to read a book about something you've done in real life! I wish I got to go to a summer camp when I was a kid. Summer camp was just my brother and I running around our backyard. I'm curious, did you ever make friends at summer camp? Also, you mentioned that Sam and her friends get revenge on the mean girl Ashley. Would you ever do something like that to a mean girl?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Olivia D.

10/10/2014 01:02:29 am

Dear Sage,

It is really cool how you can compare things that actually happened to you in real life! It must be cool to have experienced the same thing as your character did.

Olivia D.

10/10/2014 12:59:00 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I am picking Kerry from the book cherub. Kerry Is a member of a kids spying society kids all over are picked to come and work in there.
Kerry is very determined and when she knows she can do something she won't stop until it's done. I am also like that because I'm very curious and always want to know more.
I can contrast Kerry because she gets into fights with her classmates sometimes and gets herself hurt even though she is amazing at karate.

Sincerely,
Olivia

Ms. Kimball

10/12/2014 02:30:38 pm

Dear Olivia,

Kerry sounds like a very interesting character. How are you different from her exactly? You mean you don't get into fights with your classmates? Are you amazing at karate? I would love to know more.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Marc

10/10/2014 09:08:20 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
I am going to compare and contrast Tris to me. One of the things that are different about us is that she is really short for her age and I am pretty tall for my age. Another different thing about us is that she is older than me. She is about sixteen and I am only ten. One of the big differences about us is that both of her parents are dead and both of my parents are still alive.

We are also the same in many ways. For example, we are both very athletic. However she would probably be more athletic than most people because she is in dauntless. Also, we are the same by being adventurous. We are both also picky eaters which is strange because she is way older than me.

From,
Marc

Ms. Kimball

10/12/2014 02:34:12 pm

Dear Marc,

You and Tris have some interesting things in common! The qualities you don't have in common with Tris don't sound like things either of you can control. When that's the case, try to dig deeper and contrast the ways those unchangeable traits influence each of you. For example, how does the fact that Tris has lost her parents influence her as a person?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Forrest

10/10/2014 10:51:30 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I am going to write about my favorite character from the book called The Dreamer by Pam Munoz and Peter Sis. His name is Neftali. He is a boy that is my age at the beginning of the book.
Some of the ways that we are alike are we both daydream. Neftali daydreams about lots of big questions that he asks. An example is “What is the color of a minute?” One more is “what wisdom dose the eagle whisper to those who are learning to fly?”
I day Dream about things that I want to do or did. I just like to look out of the window and wonder!
Naftali reads all of the time he uses his imagination as he goes. When I read I like to take the story out of the book and make it a movie in my mind. Naftali is very heart felt for example he took care of an injured swan for days. I like to be helpful and do good things. For example I got food from the neighborhood to give to a food pantry and I organized it myself. Naftali is courageous because he stays strong when his dad is angry. He never cries he tries to deal with it. His mom died when he was young and his dad has been in a bad mood ever since. Courageous is something that I want to be.
Neftali and I are different because he is scared of his dad and I am not. Naftali is scared because his dad forces him to go in the ocean even though he can’t swim well. It scares him but he does not stick up for himself. I am lucky because I can talk to my mom and dad about anything. Neftali does not have many friends. He doesn’t have friends because he is so shy and in his own world.
I can be shy but I love being with my friends. If I were in Neftali's situation I would try to stick up for my self and be more interactive with some people. I understand how tough his life is. I would be Neftali's friend if we lived near each other.

Your student,

Forrest

Ms. Kimball

10/12/2014 02:40:34 pm

Dear Forrest,

WOW! What a fantastic job comparing and contrasting yourself to Neftali. I really enjoyed reading your post. Neftali really day dreams about some deep and thoughtful questions. I like the way he wonders, "What wisdom would the eagle whisper to those who are learning to fly?" That really makes me wonder too!

That is really amazing how you organized all of that food to donate to the local food pantry. Doing something like that shows that you are not selfish and that you really care about others in need. You inspire me to donate my efforts to a good cause just like you did. Thanks Forrest!

Lastly, I really want to read this book, The Dreamer. I'm going to have to look it up!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Mikey

10/14/2014 08:52:04 am

Dear Forrest,
I really enjoyed reading your post! I wonder how Neftali came up with all of the things that he daydreams about! I loved all of the thought and effort you put into that response!
Sincerely,
Mikey

Arim link

10/11/2014 07:35:22 am

Dear Ms. Kimball,

I'm going to compare and contrast Alex Rider and I. One thing I'm going to say something different about us is that he works for MI6 and I don't. Another thing I'm going to contrast about us is that he always com's close to death and I don't. Something I'm going to compare about us is that he goes to school and so do I. Something else is that I and Alex are both kids. Something else I'm going to contrast about us is that Alex has no dad, no mom, and no uncle, I have all those three. This is what I compare and contrast about I and Alex.

From Arim

Ms. Kimball

10/12/2014 02:42:56 pm

Dear Arim,

Alex sure had quite a thrilling lifestyle compared to the rest of us. Some of the things you mentioned about the two of you neither one of you can change. When that's the case, try to dig deeper and explain how those unchangeable traits influence each of you using examples.

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Yubin

10/11/2014 12:22:45 pm

Dear Ms. Kimball,
I read another short story called “The Littlest Knight” written by Carol Moore. I will compare and contrast the characteristics of me and the main character, which is the little knight.
First, the similarity between us is the kindness. When the little knight found the wounded dragon, he didn’t kill it, but he cured the dragon. I would do like that, too.
Next, something different between us is the courage that the little knight had. Even though the knight was very small, he was able to try to fight the dragon. But if I were him, I couldn’t fight the scary creature.
Sincerely,
Yubin

Ms. Kimball

10/12/2014 02:44:37 pm

Dear Yubin,

Great job using specific examples in your description. You definitely are a very kind person! I bet that with a little help and encouragement, you could face something scary too. I would have your back!

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Talia

10/12/2014 02:55:42 am

Ms. Kimball,
I'm reading Mr. Terupt Falls Again. I will compare and contrast myself to Jeffrey.
A way I am the same as him that we are both sensitive. In the book when Peter calls him the teacher's pet Jeffrey tackles him and pins him down. Also both of us use memories to get new ideas. In the book Jeffrey uses the memory of when he got a video camera to get the idea to video of the kids planning for the wedding for them to see after the wedding.
A way I'm different from Jeffrey is that he is a boy and I am a girl. Also Jeffrey gets into fist fights and I don't. In the book he gets into one with a kid from another school when the kid laughs at and calls Mr. Terupt a retard.

Mikey

10/12/2014 07:20:23 am

Dear Mrs Kimball,
I am going to compare and contrast myself with Harry Potter. I don't have a very exciting life. If my life were a book , it would be titled BORING. On the other hand, Harry has SEVEN exciting books about him titled-"The Sorcerer's Stone, the Goblet of Fire, the Half-Blood Prince" etc...
Harry and I have lots of similarities, though. We both play sports. I play soccer and he plays Quidditch. We are also both daring and curious boys. And lastly, we are both loyal to our friends. I think me and harry would be good friends.
Sincerely,
Mikey

Kaela

10/14/2014 01:04:14 pm

I love Harry potter to its amazing how he lasted most of is life with such a mean family. Its not fare and just crazy how they made him believe he was a regular boy with just bad luck. you did a grate job :) see ya.

Ms. Kimball

10/12/2014 02:49:09 pm

Dear Talia,

Although you and Jeffrey can't quite change your genders, I would be interested to know how your gender influences you as a person. Also, you mentioned that Jeffrey is sensitive. How are you sensitive? I thought it was interesting that Jeffrey got into a fist fight trying to defend his teacher's reputation. To me, that says he will do anything to stick up for those he cares about, even if it's not the right way to do it. What do you think?

Sincerely,
Ms. Kimball

Kathleen

10/14/2014 12:45:08 am

Dear Ms.Kimball,
The book I am reading is A String of beads and its about a girl and her grandma.
The girl always want beads and she told about all different kinds of beads there are like the beads have spheres, shapes, beads that are flat and all kinds of beads that exists. She would also make beads for other people and her grandma tells her a story about how Native Americans use them for dresses, skirts and shirts.
Grandma always told her about story how people use them and make different types of shape and size.

kaela

10/14/2014 12:57:45 pm

Dear Ms.Kimball
I am going to compare and contrast myself to Nadie in The Trouble With Rules. I am similar to her because I would have been so sad and mad too if I lost my best friend because of one puny spelling mistake. I am different than her because in my school environment we can have friends of all kinds girl or boy.Another similarity I have to Nadie is she cares what other people think but she is OK to slip past her comfort zone for a friend. Another difference is that she kind of wants to stay out of all difference and that is NOT me.

sincerely Kaela

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Ms. Kimball's Grade 5 At Underwood, 2014-2015

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