Stress

Mr. Freeman believes the answer to all problems is art. Melinda draws her tree with lightening striking it. This is symbolic. Something awful has happened to Melinda. She will use art to help her. We will see her tree grow and develop, and we will see Melinda grow and develop. What is a stress reliever for you? What helps you work thru problems?

Rachael

Rachael is Melinda's "ex-best friend." Melinda says if there is one person she wants to tell her secret to, it is Rachael. But Rachael doesn't seem to want to talk to Melinda. Are there some things that a friend could do that would make you "hate them'? Is it OK to begin to dislike a friend without telling them why? Or without finding out what really happened?

Heather

Describe Heather. If Heather were a girl at this school, would you like her? Why or why not? What about Heather would you like? What about Heather would you hate?

Bedrooms

Melinda hates her bedroom. She says it is a "postcard of who I was in fifth grade." She says Heather's room "screams Heather." How might a room be a portrait of who you are? What does your bedroom say about you? What does your friend's room say about him/her? What would you want your room to look like or say about you?

Speak

Yesterday we touched momentarily on the cover of the novel. A girl is shown with no mouth. The title of the book is Speak. Melinda won't share her secret, hence a girl with no mouth. We do not know Melinda's secret yet, but we will. Do you think some secrets that are personal should be kept? What kinds?

Melinda Sordino

Melinda is desperate to be reunited with her old friends. She has become quiet and withdrawn at school. She no longer cares about her grades. At this point in the story, what advice would you give Melinda? What should she do?

Cliques

Heather is desperate to join a clique. Her Plan is to join five clubs, one for every day of the week. She hopes to break into a clique by getting to know the "right" people. How important is it to belong to a group? Do you think some people are happy not belonging?

Speak

Welcome to Ms. Clear's first ever class blog!

For the novel Speak, you will be required to respond on a class blog to several posted questions. You may choose any of the topics to respond to, but must respond to at least five postings before the end of the novel. You may choose to respond also, to something one of your classmates has posted. Only students enrolled in this class will be able to respond on this blog.

Please keep in mind, that your responses are posted on the web, and therefore, anyone who stumbles upon our webpage (pretty unlikely, but possible!), will be able to read what is written on the class blog. You may use names of characters, but certainly do not use names of friends or otherwise! Use your heads about what you post.

You will be graded on your postings. They should be related to the topic you're choosing to respond to, and should be edited for spelling and proper capitalization. Postings that are less than a full paragraph will not be graded. Various, one line reponses to other classmates is encouraged, but again, will not be considered as one of your postings.

Have fun, be professional, and don't forget to post!