Mayor's Book Talk

For those who love books, “Mayor’s Book Talk” has something for everyone. Join Mayor Pam Iorio as she examines today’s literary environment.

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July's Guest Author is Dudley Clendinen

Mayor Iorio’s guest on the July episode of “Mayor’s Book Talk” is author Dudley Clendinen. The two discuss his much heralded A Place Called Canterbury, a moving and often humorous look at life from inside Tampa’s Canterbury Tower. With an average resident age of eighty-six, the book follows the day-to-day struggles of seniors determined to grow old with dignity in this vibrant retirement community.

August's Discussion Group Book: The Homework Machine by: Dan Gutman Dan Gutman started a video game magazine in 1982 called Video Games Player, which later became Computer Games. When the magazine went out of business in 1985, Dan decided to become a full-time writer. He wrote some non-fiction baseball books for adults and non-fiction sports books for children. In 1994, he decided to switch to children's fiction. In The Homework Machine, a foursome of fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together and attracting a lot of attention. And attention is exactly what you don't want when you are keeping a secret. The kids find themselves in a race against their own creation.  Dan Gutman lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey with his wife and their two children.

Discussion Questions for At-Home Participation.

1. Judy and Brenton are the “smart” kids in their class. Is it hard or easy to be the “smart” kid in class?

2. How important is it to be thought of as “cool”? Do you or other people you know sometimes do stupid things so you will be considered cool?

3. Judy, Sam, Brenton and Kelsey have been grouped together by their teacher, Miss Rasmussen, because their last names all started with “D.” Do you like or dislike doing group work at school when the teacher assigns the group instead of letting the students select who they would like to work with?

4. Kelsey admits that she copies off Brenton. Do you see students in your class cheating? What do you think of them? Have you ever copied off anyone else’s work?

5. All four kids admit that they made judgments about everyone in the group based on the way they looked, the length of their hair, etc. Can you really make an accurate judgment about anyone based on how they look? How should someone be judged?

6. Miss Rasmussen gave her class the Ten Commandments of Homework. What did you think of them? Did you pick up any good suggestions from them that you think might help you with your homework?

7. What did you think of Sam’s response to the Ten Commandments of Homework? Do you think he deserved a “B” for creativity? Did you agree with any of his arguments against homework? If so, which ones?

8. Why do you think some students like Judy and Brenton like school and homework while others like Sam and Kelsey dislike it? Do you like or dislike school? Homework? Why?

9. When Judy overhears Brenton and Sam talking about the homework machine she considers telling Miss Rasmussen. Should she have told?

10. The homework machine is discovered when Brenton tells Sam instead of keeping it to himself after Sam bugs him all day and calls him a liar. Do you have trouble keeping secrets? Should all secrets be kept secret? If not, how do you decide which ones should be told?

11. When Sam, Kelsey and Judy go home with Brenton to see his homework machine they get another glimpse of Brenton. His room is not like theirs. Do you think it is hard to really be an individual in school when so many people are trying to be just like everyone else? Do you think people who are different are often the target of bullies? Have you ever been bullied? What can we do to create a safe place where everyone can be who they really are?

12. Why did Brenton invent the homework machine? What would he rather be spending his time on instead of doing homework?

13. Brenton is obviously very smart. Is using the homework machine different for Benton than it would be for Sam, Judy or Kelsey? Is it more “OK” for Brenton because he is smart?

14. Sam’s Dad is in the military and went to school to talk to the class. Judy is upset that he wore his gun and she argued with him about war. How can we have peaceful, productive conversations with people who have very different opinions from ours? Should these conversations have the goal of convincing the other person we are right and they are wrong? What do you do when you and a close friend disagree on an important issue?

15. Sam gets Judy and Kelsey together to decide how to talk to Brenton about using his homework machine. They decide that if he will let them use the machine they will be his friend. What is Brenton’s reaction when they tell him?

16. After Brenton started using his homework machine he received a mysterious email from R. Milner. Brenton didn’t answer the email. Would you have answered? What do you think R. Milner wants from Brenton?

17. Brenton is an observer and is interested in why people do what they do. He decides to see if he can start a fad. What fads did he start and how did he start them?

18. Brenton says he doesn’t need friends? Do you think that’s true? Why or why not? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having or not having friends?

19. Sam came up with an idea to make money using homework machines. What was his idea? Would it work? Should it work?

20. How does the other students’ behavior toward Brenton change when he starts hanging out with Sam? Can you be “cool” by association?

21. Sam’s Dad is called up and sent overseas. Where is he sent? Brenton has an idea for leaders instead of starting wars and killing people. What is his idea? Would it work?

22. Who in the class becomes suspicious of the “D” group going home together every day and what does he do to confirm his suspicions? What does he do to let the rest of the school know?

23. Sam’s Dad suggests a unique way to stay in touch with Sam. What does he suggest?

24. Judy’s family has serious conversations around the dinner table each night and each person is expected to share their opinion on the topic. What topic makes her feel physically ill? Why does it make her feel that way?

25. How does Police Chief Rebecca Fish first become aware of the homework machine?

26. Miss Rasmussen asks her fellow teachers if they have ever seen an unpopular
student suddenly become popular. How do they respond?

27. Kelsey’s Dad died when he was hit by a snowmobile. What lesson or lessons did it teach Kelsey?

28. Sam and his Dad’s chess game moves to the classroom as Sam seeks advice about his next move. What does Miss Rasmussen do when she sees the chessboard? Do you play chess? Would you like to learn to play?

29. What happens to make Miss Rasmussen split up the kids in the D Squad? When she asks Sam if he every copies off of another student how does he react? When does Miss Rasmussen REALLY get suspicious? Why do you think it took her so long?

30. The school newspaper gossip column has an item that freaks the D Squad out? What did the item say? Who do you think put it in the paper?

31. What does the D Squad do to protect Belch after Brenton’s house has an attempted break in and his Mother has a strange visitor asking about their computer equipment?

32. When Sam’s Dad is killed, the students’ attitudes towards the war come up again though they are very kind and sensitive to Sam. Is it appropriate for an author to include a subject of this sort in a book written for young people? Do you have an opinion on the war in the Middle East?

33. When we learned who called in the tip to the police and put the article in the school newspaper were you surprised?

34. When the 4 students are “invited” to the principal’s office they discuss whether to admit they have been using the homework machine or deny everything. What do they decide? Was that a good decision?

35. How does the real truth come out and what do the students have to do as punishment?

36. Mr. Milner finally showed up at Brenton’s house. What did he really want and what did the students decide they wanted to do with him? Did it work out?

37. Throughout the book the 4 students learn a lot about themselves and the other students. What did YOU learn about how we judge people? How did the 4 students relationships end up?

 

*For Our Teachers

Certificate of Completion for Mayor's Book Talk