When the game starts, Josh looks up to his parents, but theyre not there. VU- endstream endobj 17 0 obj <>>> endobj 18 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 19 0 obj <>stream And while Dad is telling us another story for the hundredth time, Mom removes the saltfrom the table and JB goes to the buffet.He brings back three packages of duck sauce and a cup of wonton soupand hands them all to me.Dad pauses, and Mom looks at JB.That was random, she says.What, isn't that what you wanted, Filthy? This is the beginning of a big change in Josh and JBs relationship. There are sirens. The Crossover has been winning top prizes and awards in childrens literature. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. This story, about twelve year old Josh and his twin Jordan, is a joyful and dynamic celebration of language. Vondie giggles. Mom says its not about his grades: its about how he behaves going forward. View The_Crossover__Notes__4.2.21.docx from ENGLISH 606 at Dulles H S. The Crossover Notes: Second & Third Quarter Second Quarter Second Quarter begins with two back-to-back poems titled . So Im very excited about that. The Crossover, by award-winning children's book author and poet Kwame Alexander, was published in 2014 and won the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor for children's literature. My mom was a school principal My dad played basketball before I was born. Its made-up. So I knew that the book would be told from the vantage point of a boy. 0000007293 00000 n Then, by using Josh's word and sharing a smile with his brother, JB is able to say that he's willing to reopen lines of communication and reconnect with his brother. Their dad is a former professional baller. are down by seven. Can JB run with him, help him heal, slash with him like they used to? Mom's phone rings and she shrieks. Take a look! Excitement--like what Dad might have felt upon receiving this letter--likely raised his blood pressure and made him vomit, which indicates that Dad is even sicker than he's letting on. One day in school, JB passes a note to Josh to give to a girl he really likes, who Josh nicknames Miss Sweet Tea. Josh states that somewhere betweencamaraderieandimbecile I tap her beige bare shoulder with the note (pg. Essay Topics. Josh also has a strong relationship with his basketball coach and receives much guidance and support from him as well. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Dad apologizes to his family for losing his cool as. Advertisement bfordjohnson Josh and, in a hospital and now, Dad hates doctors. When he's able to steal the ball out of Josh's crossover, it speaks to the skills he still has on the court and the progress that Josh still has to make in order to become Da Man.. He smiles at Mom, gives, happy. 6yOk5qTo1?WIo(l _MR-a`3+"1@ Vermont Public's News CoverageGovernment & Politics | The Vermont Economy | Criminal Justice & Public Safety | Arts & Culture | Education | Health | Energy & Environment | Food & Agriculture | Series & Specials, Investigations | Brave Little State | Vermont Edition | New England News Collaborative (NENC) | VPR Archive. He cares for it meticulously every day, and this is why he declines, The game is tied. Matthew Goulette: Is this story based on your life or someone you know? Dad's decision to make the boys play together speaks to Dad's belief that the boys' shared love of basketball might be enough to help them turn their relationship around. Miss Sweet Tea calls 911 while, The doctor pats Jordan and me on the back and says. 0000012743 00000 n Kwame Alexander: "Oh my gosh! on tell the reader about what she values and what her priorities are? Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. First Quarter Quotes To get ready for the season, I went to three summer camps. Kwame Alexander: Wow, never been asked the question before. Given that Dad's dad died in the hospital of hypertension, it's understandable that Dad is unwilling to seek help out of fear. His life seems broken now, and he feels as though he doesn't fit anywhere. Again, Josh's desire to help and be a part of the game in some way speaks to his sense of loyalty to Dad and to the rest of the team, especially JB. Actively Learn provides free ELA, science, and social studies digital contentshort stories, primary sources, textbook sections, science articles, novels, videos, and moreand embeds them with assignments aligned to standards for all 50 states that you can assign immediately or customize for your students. . Oh my gosh! I also see many students who are similar to Josh lean on their relationships with their sport coaches for stability. Dad's heart attack here makes it clear that Mom is right: Dad shouldn't play anymore if he wants to preserve his health. He's nearly six feet tall and has a twin, JB. The Question and Answer section for The Crossover is a great Kwame regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over the world. Now that Josh's actions have hurt someone, his sense of loneliness gets even worse. His Dad has a heart attack and slips into a coma. His eyes shut. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. He knows that this means, to Dad. Teachers and parents! Because the only thing that matters is swish.Because our backboard is splintered. At dinner, Mom is still upset about Josh's hair and makes. Alexiss parents are estranged. Josh and JB generally get along; but they have very different personalities. It doesnt help that his Dad keeps having health issues, but wont go to the doctor because he thinks this is a stupid waste of time. With this reading, it's easier to see that both boys are currently nursing hurt feelings and likely don't want to be fighting, but don't know how to bridge the gap. Dylan DiPietro: How did you react when you learned that The Crossover won the 2015 Newbury Award? 80). kresge foundation jobs; dwarf rat vs mouse; sky internet down bolsover; terroni restaurant menu; lewis county, wa breaking news; Exposing students to verse novels such as this allows them to explore the artistic elements that combine to evoke personal and powerful emotions in the reader. And it is about the father when he was 12-years-old. They're the big kids at Beeman, In 1944, a disastrous explosion rocked a Naval base in California called Port Chicago. 23-12. He and JB lock eyes; theres that seeing-a-ghost sensation again. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The students at St. Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies are there to learn to behave as proper maidens should. Joe Anderson: Will there be a sequel with Josh and Jordan playing high school basketball? GradeSaver, 9 September 2019 Web. At first, Josh doesnt love the nickname, but it takes on a special meaning when it becomes a code between him and his Dad when he is on the court; a signal he is doing well. In the next several poems, the . Its a novel-in-verse about identical twins Josh and Jordan who are basketball stars at their middle school. When JB seems willing to laugh and agrees with Josh's request, it suggests that he sees this as the olive branch that it is and is now willing to start to move forward. This illustrates how a person can use language to shape their identity. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. When my Dad gets pulled over, I worry that he is going to get a ticket; the thought that he would go to jail never crosses my mind. what motivates joe starks to assume "the ruling chair" in eatsonville . endstream endobj 1080 0 obj <>>>/Filter/Standard/Length 128/O(+vtyd#\nOxe\))/P -1052/R 4/StmF/StdCF/StrF/StdCF/U(DJyd )/V 4>> endobj 1081 0 obj <> endobj 1082 0 obj <>>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 1083 0 obj <>stream He's alone because, game. Josh is making moves and dribbling; Dad gets the ball, winks, dips, and sweats. She was a VPR contributor from 2006 to 2020. Vondie passes the ball to Josh and Josh passes to. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? Hes getting flyer, climbing the sky, exploding across the lane, crissing and crossing the ball, and taking the break. Childrens Literature, Briefly(6th ed.). Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Shay was envious of Mahira because Edward was giving her way more attention than he had ever given to Shay. is wrong. Thus, readers come to know how the power of words and vibrant language evoke deep emotional responses as we read about Joshs life. Said he didn't want to miss Bible school. However, some parts of the book are written as a lyric poem, which is melodic and soundlike. Apology Poem and Epistolary Poem "Dear Jordan" (p. 159) Found Poems "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)" (p. 155) "Article #2 in the Daily News (January 14)" (p. 225-226) . As the family drives to the game, Josh sits in the back with, who has them. When Josh tells the reader about Mom's dislike of standards and giving JB the vocabulary words, Josh demonstrates his growing maturity and that he cares for others. Vondie passes to, that they're going to go home. However, I will tell you this. Josh, mine it. On page 185, Coach shares with Josh that he got into a fight with his brother in high school and now they are estranged. I would use this book with adolescent students as a way to inspire them to explore self-expression through writing. She and Dad did not teach him to be churlish, and she does not know why hes been like this. The silence Josh refers to is also a metaphor for JB himself, which turns it around to mean that Josh feels he'll die without his brother too. What, isn't that what you wanted, Filthy? JB only went toone. By staying engaged with the team during his suspension, Josh is able to show them that he still cares for them and wants to support them. For many students, reading this book with no ulterior motive could be the catalyst into a lifelong interest in poetry and inspire them to read more works like it. In this activity, they will complete a Poem Analysis & Compare/Contrast Paired Text Activity. We see this in Joshs description of their playing style. She runs past the boys' room and when, pull through and sends his love. ;0&0a= 9!AlF_,@Q X26XAn9 yXdPM? Joshs Basketball Rules that appear throughout the book are a great way to get students to engage with the message of the book and think about how they could apply these lessons to their own lives. Dad is heading for the hoop when he stops short, screams, clutches his chest, and drops the ball. How Do You Spell Trouble? The fact that Miss Sweet Tea's sister attends Duke, the college that Josh wants to one day attend, suggests that Josh might actually like Miss Sweet Tea if he were willing to get to know her. The words and rhythmic flow of these words on the page depict Joshs inner thoughts; his flow on the court. He and his own brother are estranged, and he does not want JB and Josh to be like that. 0000006505 00000 n Sherry Taylor. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Mom tells JB that Josh has apologized for his mistake, but JB states that he saw the look in Joshs eye and it was not a mistake. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. the playoffs are in two days, his grades were good, and the team needs him. They were missing Josh Filthy McNasty Bell, though, who is this papers Most Valuable Player. This book is also available as a graphic novel! Before. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. dear jordan poem the crossover. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Dad tells Mom that he looks online and that thats better than a doctor, but Mom angrily insists that she will make an appointment for him. 0000013043 00000 n 0000010458 00000 n His voice is as loud as thunder. JB sweats profusely when Miss Sweet Tea walks into the room. The Crossover Summary The narrator of the novel (which is told in verse) is Josh Bell, an 8th-grade boy. In "Dear Jordan," the poem describes Josh's apology to his brother and his emptiness without him. I mean, you imagine Steph Curry going back behind his back with the ball or Allen Iverson doing his crossover or Michael Jordan or LeBron James moving to the basket in this rhythmic, energetic, really awesome way. Sure. Alexis went to Nike Hoops Camp for Girls; she knows how to do a crossover; her parents are divorced; she shoots hoops at the rec center to relax; she smells like sugarplums; her sister goes to Duke. Mom and Dad's choice to turn the conversation to JB and his relationship with Miss Sweet Tea shows again that they understand his new relationship is a normal part of his coming of age. ", How did I react? Fights between friends usually end in a cutting off of the relationship as opposed to engaging in healthy conflict to find a resolution. The ball goes back and forth and Josh feels like he and, the gym over Thanksgiving break and why he cut his "cute" locks. Now that Josh understands that Dad is ill, this strange panting raises alarms--which shows that Josh is growing up and becoming more aware of his surroundings. (21) $1.99. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. We begin with the poems of John Agard. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. He and his twin brother Jordanor JBare basketball stars and are best friends on and off the court. At the stoplight, JB and Josh look out the window at the same time, and Josh knows what his brother is thinking. Dad passes to Josh, Josh passes to, use it in another sentence, he wonders why pulchritudinous Miss Sweet Tea is talking to, Walking Home. The two - column structure used in the Crossover's poem "Dear Jordan" stands for; Josh and JB's broken relationship The two-column structure used in Dear Jordan symbolizes the broken relationship between the two brothers Josh and JB. VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region. He writes for children of all ages. It refers to a basketball move (described in the . 0000057497 00000 n 0000016558 00000 n When we asked them how they liked the book, they raved about the book. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. 0000008243 00000 n Josh's choice to apply this word to three very different areas of his life brings all of what he's currently worried about--JB, basketball, and Dad--together, illustrating again how language allows Josh to effectively construct his identity and his life. 10. He said, "I listen to instrumental jazz when Im writing, and I looked over to see what song it was and it was a song by Horace Silver called Filthy McNasty, and decided I am so going to use that name in this book.". Can JB run with him, help him heal, slash with him like they used to? These relationships (especially for boys) seem to fill a need at this stage in life. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Josh ruefully says he will talk to Mom since he can see how much it means to Dad, but he adds that she is worried about him. Complete your free account to request a guide. Just because he is elated to be the Daily News Junior MVP, doesnt mean it doesnt sting when Alexis and JB dont seem pleased at all. ", not being at the funeral, which makes Josh confirm that she knows it's him, not, kisses him and gives him a piece of sweet potato pie. The students at Rutland Town School had some questions for the author. What does Josh want more in the book? becauseI'm watching Jordan pass notesto Miss Sweet Tea. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." He did not mean to get upset, he offers. Want to help more children attend our events in the future? Students LOVE reading and analyzing Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" Poem. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. thinking less and less aboutbasketball, and more and more aboutGIRLS. Rebounding / is the art / of anticipating, / of always being prepared / to grab it. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. worked--the Wildcats won and dedicated the game ball to Dad. She sends Josh luck and says that she made, to play one more game and is afraid that Dad is dying. Josh hugs Mom and tells her how grateful he is for her loving him, Dad, and JB; he says that she is the best mother in the world. Kwame believes that poetry can change the world and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world. I'm not paying attentionto anything he's sayingor to the dummy. Theyre not alone. His postscript reads that he's sorry. dear jordan poem the crossover. Ruth Bishop said that poetry "has a kind of magic and can help the reader see ordinary things in new ways." Pre-made quizzes on The Crossover Eight Week Quiz D that include 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions for a quick in-class quiz. During November we'll be sharing our love of poetry, by focussing on an excellent children's poet each week. Mom and Dad are serious, while, few weeks. Her looks not her personality is what first catches JBs attention. 1079 0 obj <> endobj Miss Sweet Tea shooting baskets at the other court. If you have read this book, can you tell me what poetic type the poem "Dear Jordan" is. It began with this 12-year-old-boy, who came to be known as Filthy McNasty. Full Title: The Crossover When Written: 2009-2014 Where Written: Unknown When Published: 2014 Literary Period: Contemporary Genre: Young Adult Novel; Verse Novel Setting: An unnamed town in the U.S. Coach, Dad, and the crowd all scream for Josh to pass the ball. Mom and Dad argue. Hes out cold. Struggling with distance learning? They will be able to relate to the topic, theme, setting and emotion conveyed in the story. Basketball is extremely important to them, and they both want to play professionally someday. . 4. The score is tied and clock ticks as. Get this assignment written for you by Expert Writers in this subject. Come spring, these Rutland Town readers may be inspired to head out to the soccer pitch as well. Kwame Alexander "Dear Jordan" from THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander. I am writing a prequel to The Crossover. i6rUU-jIT "/}N3t,neS>3%#O;(a46"poKR}l'ySlaAOEtV6`=vL nq. Josh was estranged from himself when he threw the ball at JB. 0000013846 00000 n Yes, what attracts the junior high boys to her immediately is her pulchritude, but she quickly reveals herself to be smart, opinionated, talented at basketball, and a caring friend. 0000014880 00000 n Thus, they will be able to create characters based on what they know or what they want to see reflected in literature. Josh grows resentful of JBs new relationship with his girlfriend as he feels left out and lonely. At the end of the chapter, why does the writing style change so drastically from what it was before, to sud When Dad holds his chest, it's a signal that he's not okay and he's likely lying to Josh. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. Write an essay for ONE of the following topics: Essay Topic 1. endstream endobj 1085 0 obj <>stream "FOURTH QUARTER" to "Free Throws" Summary and Analysis, "Bad News" to "Before" Summary and Analysis. We see a deep bond between all the family members in the weekly traditions they have, the way they interact with each other, the things they say to each other. 0000039010 00000 n n :BSlGrm All rights reserved. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Kyle DelBianco: Why did you choose to write the book in poetry form? game against Olive Branch Junior High, and that the team seemed unhurt by Josh's absence. There is so much to unpack in this wonderfully written book that it would be easy to stop and analyze every single page; the figurative language, the formatting, the authors message. Josh is concerned, asking about Moms advice to take it easy. Get up to speed on the news Vermont is talking about, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. 0000028950 00000 n Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. JB is on fire; Coach, Alexis, and Josh are his choir. She lets the news drop: he is suspended from the team. Joshs mom is the assistant principal at his school, a fact he doesnt love. He almost dunks, but an elbow comes up and fouls him to the floor. Josh walks home alone after practice, which feels strange since he usually walks with, finds The Giver. In particular, it begins to align him with Dad, who is still highly regarded even though he's also not playing. What seemed to be a great disappointment for Myrtle concerning her marriage to George? We raised nearly 7000 in our online auction! Josh's stay in the hospital while caring for his sick father, his father's eventual demise further made him lonely and he frantically sought to repair the relationship. Oh my gosh! Dad's bloody nose is another red flag that his health isn't as good as it should be. Alexis calls 911 and JB rushes to get water to splash Dads face. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 0 Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. "Filthy McNasty" is described as being what mythical creature in the poem by the same name? Joshs Dad gives him the nickname Filthy McNasty after the name of a famous jazz song (and also because he was generally dirty). His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. This leads me to wonder if the stereotypes are portrayed the way they are in order to show accuracy; maybe its more the question of whose voice is missing. She and Coach try to control Dad. The Crossover is the story of twins but seventh grader Devon Kibbey noticed that readers get the point of view of only one brother. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Because of this, his request to stop at the sneaker store becomes something he does purely to show JB he sees him and cares about him and the things he's interested in. In other words, this interest shows that Josh recognizes that the doctor isn't bad, and that unlike Dad he knows he should trust the doctor/. -Graham S. Though Josh offers no insight into JB's thought process, it's worth considering that Josh's violent pass likely came as a surprise and was therefore even more hurtful than it might have been. i can no longer fit. One of the big changes in Joshs world is that his twin brother Jordan has started spending more time talking to girls and less time playing ball with him. New Jersey: Pearson. You're twins, not the same person.But that doesn't mean he has to stop loving me. Joshs Dad gives him the nickname Filthy McNasty. With Dad no longer in the bleachers, it suggests that he'll be the one in trouble this time, while JB was the one who suffered last time. His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. H\@. He turns out the light to go to sleep and hears his brother say Thanks.. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. pro-fuse-ly. In the list of Things I Learn at Dinner, Alexander gives her even more nuance in terms of divorced parents, a coping mechanism (She shoots hoops at the Rec to relax" [172]), and troubles of her own (Her mom doesnt want her playing basketball" [172]). Apology Poem and Epistolary Poem "Dear Jordan" (p. 159) Found Poems "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)" (p. 155) "Article #2 in the Daily News (January 14)" (p. 225-226) . You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. He wonders if she actually plays. For Josh, however, his world is being turned upside down with Dad's poor health and JB's interest in Miss Sweet Tea, both of which leave Josh feeling alone, so this feels especially fraught for him. These poems are also concrete poems, taking on the shape of the words to further represent how Josh feels when he plays basketball. Josh goes about his routine, trying hard to repair what had been broken between JB and him. I think basketball and is father are reflections of each other. Copyright 2014 by Kwame Alexander. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Its fiction but certainly there are parts of my life that I remembered and drew from. 5m%4|#w gJVxx3@#vwd)}Dt9h'3S? Choose only one theme and only one poem. My wife and I danced My daughter, whos seven-years-old, in second grade, she woke up and she came in the room and said, Whats all the commotion for? And we said, Daddy just won the Newbury Medal. And she said, Yay! The heart attack Chuck suffers during the one-on-one game at the end of this section is not the last warning we hope it is: rather, its a sign that there is no going back. Dad bites into his third donut and, when, out of you what they expect out of their own lives. When JB is brushing his teeth, Josh steals into their room and lays his outlines down on JBs pillow. Josh and JB made a bet.. Josh lost, and JB got to cut off five of his dreadlocks. In this poem, Josh makes efforts to repair the cracked friendship between him and his brother. Mom's amendment in particular betrays that this is likely more serious than she's letting on. Coach gives the team a pep talk. However, this also means that Dad then isn't properly managing his condition, which puts him at risk of ending up in the hospital for an emergency. 0000009461 00000 n Notice that Josh hasn't said anything about being particularly interested in sneakers himself; that's JB's thing. gives a fry each to Josh and Vondie and then tells Josh that he and, Sweet Tea's divorced parents are estranged. Josh tries talking to JB, but JB does not reply; its been five days. Josh does not know how he went from annoyed to grumpy to churlish. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. As in: Dad's in a comabecause of a myocardial infarction,which is the same thingmy grandfather died of.So what does that mean for meand JB? PS. He unleashes a killer crossover and everyone is hollering as Dad dribbles to the hoop. This family creates a strong foundation for the boys to continuously go back to as they seek to find their way through the muck of adolescence. Refine any search. The students at Rutland Town School had some questions for the author. As Josh pulls out the book, he sees Miss Sweet Tea and, also afraid that Mom will reach her tipping point and ban basketball if he and, tomorrow, concerned about Dad, and hates how his hair feels, he can't sleep mostly because, Surprised. Thus, readers come to know how the power of words and vibrant language evoke deep emotional responses as we read about Joshs life.