Janet’s Comments (group member since Oct 18, 2015)

Janet’s comments from the Rain Reign group.

Good night! Thanks for sharing!

I really enjoyed the book too. I agree with Ally. I also wanted to think that they stayed together and got another dog that was definitely theirs. I am recommending this book to a friend who teaches 5th grade. I think it could make a good read aloud and encourage a lot of discussion.

Megan wrote: "Janet wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in th..."

He probably didn't know how to advocate for her. Whatever happened to his own parents? They stayed in the system until he was 18. I guess they never saw their own parents again.

Rose's dad was 10

Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I was just th..."

Good point! And they shield their younger siblings from the ugliness. I wonder, though, if her father might have been different had her mother not died.

Ally wrote: "What did everyone think about how Mrs. Kushel helped Rose?"

It may sound odd but I felt like it humanized her. Up to that point I didn't feel like she had any compassion for Rose so it helped change my mind about her.

Ashley wrote: "It's also written from the perspective of a boy with autism and an obsession with prime numbers...and a mystery about a dog...and his relationship with his dad. It received a lot of recognition whe..."

Wow! Seems so similar. Thanks for the recommendation.

Ally wrote: "I also added people who I felt were influential and supported Rose. I put Uncle Weldon, Parvani, and Mrs. Kushel. Although Parvani and Mrs. Kushel didn't develop until later in the story, I still t..."

I was glad to see that she had developed a relationship with Parvani. I felt that she had a very lonely life - teased by classmates, a distant father, etc. Thank goodness for Uncle Weldon!

Ally wrote: "I just posted my quilt square in the water cooler on blackboard. I decided to make mine without pictures because I felt words and numbers were an important aspect of the story."

I'll put mine there after we are done.

Megan wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I am curious to know if any of you have someone close to you who is "on the spectrum." I have a teenaged cousin with Aspergers and she has really struggled in her family life...to th..."

Animals don't judge. They just accept you as you are.

Megan wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Has anyone read the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon?"

I haven't... what is it about? Or do you recommend it?"

I haven't either. Should we include it on our 'want to read' lists?

Ally wrote: "Maybe we could all go to blackboard and post them in the water cooler? I would love to just see everyone's instead of having to describe it in words..."

Works for me!

Ashley wrote: "Ally wrote: "What did everyone do for their story quilt? Do you know if there is a way to upload them?"

I'm wondering the same thing. Is there a way to attach them? I did mine on Power Point."
I did mine on Powerpoint too. It said to put them into voicethread via webcam but this week's VT didn't mention them. I must admit mine is very basic because I am not artistically creative. I felt the storm was a key part of the story so I have an image of a hurricane plus a rose and a dog. I also included several quotes.

Janet wrote: "I had a student last year that I suspect has it. When I discussed his behaviors with a relative who is a SpEd teacher with a lot of experience, her first question was to ask if he is autistic. I sa..."

Not personally Ashley, just the student I mentioned. I did have a student many years ago who was twice- identified - gifted and Asperger's. He was much less social than what I perceive Rose to be.

Ashley wrote: "I believe that it is a characteristic of autism to have little voice inflection because of social disconnect/emotional intuition, so the audio reader must have done a nice job!"

I was going to say the same thing Ashley.

Megan wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I hadn't thou..."

I agree! I found myself wondering if he might be her real father. That would have been a twist!

Rain also seemed to be what helped Rose connect with her classmates and her teacher.

Ashley wrote: "Rain was the catalyst for a lot of things! She softened the edges of Rose's life and relationships, and was like a guinea pig for Rose to practice social interaction."

I felt so bad that she gave him back but at the same time I was proud of Rose for doing it. It would be incredibly hard to do something like that.

I agree with Ashley and Ally. I found the book to be well-written and honest. It held my interest the whole time yet I could see younger people also enjoying it and learning from it. So yes, I think it deserved the award!

I had a student last year that I suspect has it. When I discussed his behaviors with a relative who is a SpEd teacher with a lot of experience, her first question was to ask if he is autistic. I saw some similar behaviors - very obsessive, distant. So I think that the portrayal was honest. At times I was hoping the para and teacher would be more patient but in the end the teacher was someone Rose turned to for help so maybe there was an undertone of kindness that wasn't obvious.