Welcome to the Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key blog.
You will be blogging 3 times a week during this novel unit. Every week I will post 3 questions. You will respond to 2 of the 3 questions that I post. Your third entry for the week will be a response to another student's entry. Remember that when you are responding to another student's blog you are commenting positively and appropriately.
Blogging rules -
- Use appropriate language.
- You may only blog about the book. Nothing personal!
- You will not post any personal information (use first names only).
- Use proper grammar and spelling.
- Use evidence from the novel to support your answers.
You must respond to 2 of the 3 following questions or thoughts -
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Pages 1-40 Oct. 4 - Oct. 11
1.) Do you know anyone who acts like Joey or do you ever feel like Joey? What is it like being around them? What does it feel like?
2.)How do the teachers at school try to help Joey?
3.)How do you think Joey feels?
Yes, I have met people that act like Joey, but I have never felt like Joey myself. My mom works with kids who have disorders like Joey and I have gotten to meet her students. At first I was uncomfortable being around them because I didn't know if I should be treating them differently then I treat everyone else. After being around them for awhile I started to be more comfortable and it was easier to talk to them. Mostly they are like regular kids, but they have times when they start acting differently. Their feelings and attitudes changed within a matter of minutes. It was easier to talk to them with my mom around because she was trained to help them and understand them. I was scared at first too because they could get rough at times, but my mom was trained on how to restrain them and calm them down.
ReplyDeleteI do know someone who who is like Joey in the book and he went to my old school. He was really smart, but he seemed to always be moving or doing something. Because of this, he got to chew gum in school. I always felt uncomfortable because it felt like he was always in my face. He wouldn't raise his hand, he would blurt things. Sometimes he would be fine, and then the next minute he would get a really bad attitude. I know he didn't have a lot of friends and I think it's because people didn't understand him and his problems. I always felt kind of sorry for him because he couldn't help it.
ReplyDeleteJoey seems really misunderstood. Sometimes I feel misunderstood too. Joey reminds me how important it is to be kind to each other.
ReplyDeleteGreat postings! Keep up the good work, Mrs. Mahoney
The teachers at his school try to help him in a lot of ways. Like they say their going to send him to special ed. For help with his problems. They give him a chance to improve though. Cause they know that he dosen't want to go to special ed. Evan though they know it would help him. Another way they try to help him is giving him errands that will help him get rid of his extra energy. I think that is very consideret of the teachers.
ReplyDeleteI think Joey feels misunderstood. He doesn't understand why the teachers think he is a pain. On page 17 he says he's not in the classroom most of the time because he is in the pricipals office or the nurse's office. I think Joey feels like what he does is ok. Joey can't control his actions when his meds wear off so he has a lot of accidents. Joey trys to do what's right, but he doesn't think about his actions before he does something. Joey doesn't think he's a bad kid and I agree. I think Joey feels like he can change.
ReplyDeletethe teachers at the school try to help Joey by telling him to "calm down" and to "stay on task". Truthfully, that we get VERY annoying if my teachers kept telling me not to do this and never eat that. I really think Joey is a good kid, but nobody really understands and sees his world like he can. His mother is really the only one that gets him. It's kind of funny when he swallows his house key, and pulls it back up. The author does a really good job at discribing what is going on. It felt like the key was in my throat! I thought it was really funny when Joey shouts "I swallowed my key!" and then Mrs. Moxy goes nuts. But anyway yeah, I think the teachers are trying to help. i would be pretty disappointed if I was in the special-ed room, just like Joey was. I felt bad for him when he had to put on those silly lookin' slippers. thanks for reading,
ReplyDeleteco1003
Dear MaHoney,
ReplyDeleteIf I were misunderstood, I would be crushed. I think I would Probably just give up on everything! I'm really enjoying the book!
from,
co1003
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have met people like Joey. Also, when I see people like them out and about, I always smile at them. It doesn't matter to me. People like that need people to smile at them sometimes, instead of just nevously wave and then walk away. When your around them, it feels a little awkward at first, but when you really get to know them, they seem completely normal. Just every once and a while they go a little off the handle. You need to accept that though, and see the really good parts about them. Once that happens, you will find out what really makes them special.
ReplyDeleteThe teachers would try to help Joey by leave the class room and doing other things. I think they sent him out to get him out of their hair. He would close their car windows,kill spiders,carry books,and do lots of busy work. Later his teacher gave him a list of rules for him to follow. When he got antsy,instead of doing social studies,he sharpened pencils. He liked it,and I don't know if it was suppose to be a good thing or a bad thing? They also tried to help him with a counselor.He followed Joey around and gave him lots of test. Nothing is helping Joey because he is flunking his grade.
ReplyDeleteI am responding to mc0817. I think the way you talked about treating people with disabilities is a great way to look at things. I was nervous at first too. I think that a smile is just what they need. I wonder if it makes them less uncomfortable when we treat them like we treat everyone else or like they are different. I know that if I was them I would feel better if they treated like they treat everyone else. I think sometimes people don't look past their disability, and they don't care if they are nice or not. I think more people should treat them the same way you said they should.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe teachers at Joey's school try to help him by directing his energy towards something positive. Even though it may occupy him for a while, it doesn't always turn out right. For example, on page 23 the teacher had Joey sharpening pencils. Then he got carried away and sharpened his finger. I'm not so sure that Joey's teachers understand him as much as they think they do. He is not always fully aware of what the consequences of his actions will be. Yet, they still give him jobs where he can hurt himself. I do think that they have the best intentions and don't necessarily want him to have to go to Special Ed full time.
ReplyDeleteI think joey fells left out at some points. He doesn't hear or understand much else then what he wants to. That might be why his mom gets so afraid or sad. Joey is a strange kid he wants to be better for his mom and his teacher but he can't without the help of his medicine. Joey is scared he is not good enough to be a friend of a son so he tries to be better but it gets worse for him. That makes him feel like he has to make up a story to say it was not him but it was.I think Joey is lost in his own thoughts. His gears are all was in lock down and that might be why he doesn't like questions.
ReplyDeleteI think Joey feels confused. I mean, how could you not? He grew up with his grandma, who is the same as him, so it's not like he wasn't told not to do the things he does. When he first went to school, he probably thought that all the other kids were like him. When the teachers started getting concerned, he didn't understand then either. When the teacher finally sent him to the special-ed class, he thought that the teachers were just being mean to him. I'm happy that Joey is starting to be better, but I wish that the teachers would cut him some slack in class. Even though he's disruptive, he doesn't mean it. He shouldn't be punished like that.
ReplyDeleteI think that Joey feels confused sometimes. He tries to act good but his energy gets the best of him. He knows that sometimes what he does is an accident, but the teacher just sends him to the Special Ed room. He probably feels like he doesn't deserve to be going to Special Ed because he tries his best. He feels like he needs to help his mom and keep his act up, but his medicine wears off too quickly. Joey then goes off into his own world. When this happens he's just being himself and talking and not thinking of anyone but himself.
ReplyDeleteresponding to ag0115
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. He always is confused and doesn't know what he's doing is wrong. He probably does deserve to go to Special-Ed, but he doesn't deserve to be treated like he's a misunderstood child who doesn't know anything. He deserves better than that.
I think Joey misunderstood. It's not his fault his pills don't work in the afternoon. It's also not his fault he can't control himself. I also think he feels very sad. Like when kids pick on him and call him zippy. It's not fair that kids pick on him just because he's different. Also that his grandma left to live with his dad. He thinks it's all his fault ,but it's really not his fault though.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher try to help him in the morning when his meds are working. When it comes to the afternoon they can't cuntrole him. So they kind of let him do what ever he wonts to do. When he hurts him self they take him to the nurses office and then to the special Ed class to settle down. When he goes insane they give him something to do. I think the teachers try to help him but no one understands him. They give him little talks but they can't get his his attenchan.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know a person that acts like joey. It is hard to know what he is going to be like. If he is going to attack you, or be joking with you. He is still a fun guy to be around. I have felt like Joey Pigza in the fun care free way and I have felt alone before like Joey. My favorite feeling like Joey is when he is all jumping off the walls. When I see that in my mined I see that roadrunner the cartoon. I laugh when I read that part. (posted on server 10/7)
ReplyDeleteJoey feels like he is ok but everyone esle knows there is something wrong with him. He thinks that no one can help him. He knows that he doesn't have to go nuts as long as he trings to not go nuts. He feels that every one tries to help him but don't understands him but his mom. When he dose something that other people think are wrong but to him it is right or helping. I think he feels misunderstood because it isn't his his falt that he doesn't have much common sense. After all his grandmother has the same problem as him and he can't really look up to her. He feels that the teachers hate him because they sent his to Special Ed.
ReplyDeleteI'm responding to ag0115. The teachers don't just send him to the special ed room just like that. They know he dosen't want to go so they give him warnings. They also try many other things before sending him to special ed. They do try hard to help him. In a lot of different ways before sending him to special ed so he's happy. They do care about him and his happyness. Especely the princepal. So that's my responce to ag0115.
ReplyDeleteI am responding to ks1011 on Oct. 8. I don't think that teachers send Joey out of the room just to get rid of him. Yes, they probably get frustrated with him, but they know that they have to be nice to him, too. They gave him jobs they thought he would be good at. Then he could get rid of some energy too. I think it was a good thing that he sharpened those pencils. He was actually doing something useful for once. I also don't think that Joey is completely hopeless and is going to flunk. I think they just need to give him a little more special attention. Once they get him settled down he could probably be pretty a smart kid.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have hard about people who act like Joey. I haven't really met anyone like him, though. Some of the kids at school pick on Joey. I was wondering why they would do that, especially to him! Sending him to Special Ed, (in my opinion) was the right thing to do. I think Joey needs to calm down is all. I feel really bad when he has to wear those dumb bunny slippers! He probably feels like a kid who isn't "good" enough to wear his own shoes. Joey is just trying to make the world a better place. If you ask me, he would be a really fun person to hang around with! I hope people see he's a good kid!
ReplyDeleteI am commenting to co1003 on October 7,2009 at 6:18. I agree with you it was a great discribing part when he swallowed the key. I felt it in my throat but it realy hurt when the teacher pulled it out realy fast. I disagree because I don't think the teachers are try to give he a seconed chance. I think the are trying to get him out and into the special-ed.When he talkes about his grandma and that he misses her but talkes about how bad she was I feel bad for him because of how much easyer it us for us to learn and be safe. That I agree with I do not like the slippes. If I were sent to sit in a chair for hours I wouldn't like the special-ed room ether.I wante Joey to get better because he is trying to more then the teachers are helping him. The parts I like the best are when his meds are working and he is discribing how much he loves it. Now I am going to ask you what do you think it's like being Joey's neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI am commenting on ag115,
ReplyDeleteI am thinking the same thing! The pencil sharpener was a pretty slick idea, because then he would have something to do.I think Joey is really funny. He isn't the brightest kid, but he's pretty funny. Sometimes I feel bad for him when his meds wear off. Poor Joey just wants to be a normal kid, but when his meds wear off, he cannot! I think Joey will get out of special ed, and show everyone he can shine!