Article posted February 26, 2007 at 11:40 AM • comment (54) • Reads 944 • Return to Blog List

What questions would you like answered about your reading? Would you like the book better if you knew those answers now? Why?
I have a question about the the end of the story. Why didn't Brangienne and Dinadan end up together? I think that the ending of the book would be better because it wouldn't have a sad ending.
Comment Posted on March 14, 2007 at 06:04 PM by SilviaF.


Ms Swiryn

I had a very hard time puting the bok down when it started to get to a point when it says who
the killer was.




Comment Posted on March 14, 2007 at 02:43 PM by Jose g


What do you think that Iseult thought when Tristram died? I think she thought her life was over, so she decided to suicide by jumping off the highest tower of the castle she lived in.

Why do you think Tristram stole Dinadan's lyre, twice? I think he did this because he wanted to impress Iseult by playing a romantic instrument in her court. Maybe he thought that by doing this she would leave king Mark and live with him, Tristram.
Comment Posted on March 13, 2007 at 08:21 PM by Carlos Leon


What in the story upsets you or bothers you? Why?

What upsets me in the storry is that Sal´s dad never told her that her mother died. It upsets me because he made her go all the way to Lewinston, Idaho just to see her mothers tumb! If he didn´t wanted to tell her the truth, he could just have at least accompany her on the trip and not just stay there with Margaret while Sal is sad knowing what happened.
Comment Posted on March 13, 2007 at 03:57 PM by Sofia G.


What is the mood of what you are reading?
SERIOUS
Comment Posted on March 13, 2007 at 03:09 PM by MariamaliaA.


Write a journal entry as if you were a certain character from your reading.
Dear Journal,
Oh my, I was so scared today! When I found out that Mama had broken her ankle, I helped her back to the house. But when we got back, we discovered that Mr Rosen had accidentally dropped the important packet that Peter had given him! I packed it in a picnic basket to pretend that I was going to give the lunch to Uncle Henrik so that the Nazis wouldn't find out. I started running to his boat but I was stopped by the Nazis! They went through the basket but when they opened the important packet, it only contained a hankerchief! When they went away, I gave the basket to Uncle Henrik, told him about the Nazis, and ran back home. What a day!!
Annemarie
Comment Posted on March 13, 2007 at 02:17 PM by Andrea L


Write a journal entry as if you were a certain character from your reading.
Dear Journal,
I almost got fool by Isluet but I didn't fall into her inocent words. In the way to Tintagel, the guards of Isuelt were following me but this time I got them lost. Then I heard that my brother Tristram and Isuelt had escape, then I found them but I knew I will be a distraction. Finally I got to Tintagel and saw the love of my live and had a great time with her.
Sir Dinadan.
Comment Posted on March 12, 2007 at 08:54 PM by SilviaF.


How would you feel if you were stolen by your brother like Tristram is stealling from Dinadan? I would feel angry and find a way to make my brother understand that taking stuff is not good.
Comment Posted on March 12, 2007 at 06:26 PM by Pedro Cabrera


Ms. Swiryn,

He is polite to people because he has grown up in a place where only people of his kind are. He tries to not show it but i think he is really angry at the people that treat him in a mean way. He is also polite so he could find friend knight that show him what a real knights.
p.s. Can this also count as a blog or do i have to write another one?
Comment Posted on March 12, 2007 at 06:21 PM by Pedro Cabrera


What is your favorite part of the story? My favorite part of the story is when Sir Dinadan plays the lyre and the other people in the court think that Tristram or Tramtris,as he disguised himself, competed .However, since"Tramtris" already played, they did not let him play because he was bad.

How does this connect to real life? It connects to my real life because I am not the best at everything so sometimes people don't let me do things.
Comment Posted on March 12, 2007 at 04:05 PM by Carlos Leon


What are two emotions the main character has felt? What made the main character feel that way?
Fear- when the Nazis came into Uncle Henrik's house and slapped her mother
Sadness- when Ellen and her family had to leave Denmark for a long time.
Comment Posted on March 12, 2007 at 03:42 PM by Andrea Largent


Hi Pedro,

That's impressive. Why do you think he is so polite to people who are mean to him?
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 12, 2007 at 06:15 AM by Ms. Swiryn


Who is your favorite caracter?Why? My favorite caracter is Palomides because people make fun of hs black skin color and he just ignores them. He is always polite to all that make fun but even more to the ones that don't.
Comment Posted on March 11, 2007 at 08:22 PM by Pedro Cabrera


What are 2 emotions the main character has felt?

- Scared ...Whe he was almost going to drown.

-Excited...When he was on his way to Alabama with his family to grandama sands; house.
Comment Posted on March 11, 2007 at 06:37 PM by MariamaliaA.


If you were the author, what would you have happening next?
The next thing that will happen is that Sir Dinadan and Sir Tristam go to the castle and in the way they start fitting about the gift that Dinadan got for the peasant.
Comment Posted on March 11, 2007 at 11:42 AM by SilviaF.


Write about how one character feels. Write about a time you felt that way too.

Phoebe feels sad and desparate at the same time. She feels sad because her mother left and desparate to know how and where she is and when will she return. The problem is that she thinks something negative happened to her mother, like if they murdered or kidnapped her.
I have felt that way too when my mother went to Hong-Kong for about a month! I felt sad because she wasn't going to be here for a few weeks and desperate to know the exact day she was coming back. I also thought negative things happened to her like for example the plane fell or she was caught by the police and was sent to the Hong-Kong jail! :P

Comment Posted on March 9, 2007 at 07:33 PM by Sofia G.


why do you like about your story and what you dont really like ? well dont like anything but i do like some parts like at first the wolfs left her alone but now they came back but i bet you wont tell me how? when julie woke up she smelled the dogs urine and thats how she found them again. i hope she dosent loose them again
Comment Posted on March 8, 2007 at 07:01 PM by carlos elias


What you are reading is going to be made into a movie.

The location I would choose is Florida, but in like a little neighborhood because when the author describes flint, i imagine it like a little neigborhood in florida.:D


Comment Posted on March 8, 2007 at 05:55 PM by MariamaliaA.


How does this connect to your life? This connects to my life by me doing things that I need and not doing what others tell me to do. For example, defending myself from my sister.

What was your favorite part about this story? My favorite part was when Dinadan, the main character, pushed an evil king and himself down the tower and they both landed in tha river. The bad guy died in the hit of the water but Dinadan survivednthanks to his armor and landing ontop of his enemy.
Comment Posted on March 8, 2007 at 02:12 PM by Carlos L


Describe the major conflict. What side are you on? Why?
The major conflict is the Nazis against the Jews. I'm with the Jew because the Nazis are killing the Jews but the Jews didn't do anything wrong.
(There are other little confics but this is the major one)
Comment Posted on March 8, 2007 at 01:31 PM by Andrea L


Thanks Pedro,

I can see what you mean! I'm glad you are enjoying the book.
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 8, 2007 at 05:13 AM by Ms. Swiryn


What do you like about the stroy and what don't you like?Why? I like that Dinadan is always in a case where fighting is going on, I like this because the writer describes the fightng alot and the details grab me to keep on reading I like books like that. I don't like how people call the more names and look him alot because he is different skin color, I think people shouldn't be calling him like that because he is more oplite then they are and he is a person like all them.
Comment Posted on March 7, 2007 at 07:03 PM by Pedro Cabrera


Which characters specifically are you talking about?
Culloch, Dinadan, Trsitam. What risky things do they do? They have to fight with other knights and they have to keep their social live and work apart becuase if they caught one of them they will lose their kinghthood.
Comment Posted on March 7, 2007 at 05:56 PM by SilviaF.


What in the story upsets you or bothers you? Why?
One thing that bothers me is when the Nazis want to take away the Jews. Why would they do that??
Comment Posted on March 7, 2007 at 12:54 PM by Andrea L


Hi Juan,
I agree with you about war. Does the book present the other side's point of view at all? It might be interesting to learn about the other perspective.
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 7, 2007 at 05:19 AM by Ms. Swiryn


Hi Mariamalia,
Why was Kenny so excited?
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 7, 2007 at 05:18 AM by Ms. Swiryn


Hi Silvia,
That would bother me, too! Which characters specifically are you talking about? What risky things do they do?
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 7, 2007 at 05:16 AM by Ms. Swiryn


What in the story upsets you or bothers you? Why?
The think the bother me most is that everyone has there love but they have to be marry to another person or me far away. Then like anyone wouldn´t be happy and then they would have to make there self do risky things

Comment Posted on March 6, 2007 at 08:14 PM by SilviaF.


Write about how one character feels. Write about one time you felt that way too.

When Kenny was very excited to get to Alabama I also felt excited once when I was going on a trip to Disney
Comment Posted on March 6, 2007 at 05:23 PM by MariamaliaA.


Describe the mayor conflict. On which side are you on? Why?
There is a war in Vietnam, and it has reached Saigon. The city is more and more dangerous each time.
I am on the side of Long/South Vietnam because I'd prefer a non-communist country with ownership. I also am against any war.
Comment Posted on March 6, 2007 at 04:10 PM by Juan Planas


What are two emotions the main character has felt? what made them feel that way? Cassie has felt sad and angry when Lillian Jean treat her like a slave and that surely maked Cassie feel sad and Cassie felt angry because she didn't wanted to be treated like that so it ended in a fight
Comment Posted on March 6, 2007 at 02:56 PM by HernanV


what do you think about the particular characters action? it was very dumb because she is worrying too much about her time with daniel. and she thinks he is going to find her and try to do it again
Comment Posted on March 6, 2007 at 01:07 PM by carlos elias


HI Mariamalia,

Why do you think Byron is going to do that? What clues do you have from the story?
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 6, 2007 at 05:33 AM by Ms. Swiryn


What ideas do you have about what is going to happen?
That Byron is going to escape from his grandma's house nd do something worse and they would leave him there for the nexy school year.
Comment Posted on March 5, 2007 at 04:30 PM by MariamaliaA.


What in the story upsets/bothers you? Why?
Something that upsets me in the story is that Long would have to leave his family, because it was the middle of the war and it is very, VERY hard to leave family behind while you leave for a better life elsewhere. Plus, Ba was having a horrible life already.
Comment Posted on March 5, 2007 at 03:41 PM by Juan Planas


Write about how ona character feels. Write about a time you felt that way, too.
When the sailor rats of John Paul Jones came, Amos felt triumphant because he needed them to help them fight the palace mice. I felt this way when I passed a very hard test.
Comment Posted on March 4, 2007 at 12:40 PM by Andrea L


What do you think about a particular character's actions? Was he/she right or wrong to do that?
I think Dinadan did the right thing. He went to the shop of Modron and told the second wife that if you were willing to live with a little family in the woods. But the only problem was Modron because he already lost a wife and three children and he made a vow when he open his shop and give everthing free, he will let go of his family. Then Dinadan went where Modron was and told him about the vow he made and told the people that Modron's shop is free. And the family of Modron got free and for now on they won't be hit by the father.
Comment Posted on March 4, 2007 at 11:20 AM by SilviaF.


If you were the author, what were would you have happening next?
When Long got on the plane, he was really nervous, but he had no idea what was coming. When the plane was high in the clouds, soaring over the sea, one motor exploded. There was a great shaking, and oxygen masks fell. The adults were desperate trying to give oxygen to the children. The plane was falling to land. When it crashed, Long was one of the few ones to survive, and no adults had survived. The ones that did survive had serious wounds. Long and the others limped to the nearby village. There, a woman saw them and picked them up, cleaned them, and took them to the city. There, the woman left them in an orphanage. What would have ocme of them? Nobody knew.
Comment Posted on March 4, 2007 at 07:00 AM by Juan Planas


Hi Silvia,
England would be a great place for the movie! What was England like back then? What did it look like? How did people speak, what did they eat, how did they dress....? I have lots of questions!
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 2, 2007 at 12:58 PM by Ms. Swiryn


What you are reading is going to be made into a movie. You are the movie executive that chooses the location for the filming. Where would you chose and why? I'm reading "The Ballad of Sir Dinadan" and the book has kings. And one of the kings is King Arthur. So King Arthur was a real person from England. And I pick England because King Arthur.
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 06:38 PM by SilviaF.


Which characters would you interpret to be good and which one to be bad?
Good: Kenny because he never fights and never gets in trouble with his parents.
Bad: Byron because he always fights with his brothers and sisters and is always getting in trouble with his parents and he is also a very buig bully.
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 05:38 PM by MariamaliaA.


if you were the auther, what you put to happen next? well for me i pefer to put one of the pups to die and the pups become sad and not help mijax and mijax had to remember how the pups hunted with precition, theft and all that. wouldn't it be crusial
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 03:41 PM by carlos elias


List the personality characteristics of the main character (feelings, interests,behaviors, etc.) Explain why you think the character behaves this way.
Ben is now becoming full of himself because he gets invited to many parties and everyone in France likes him.
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 02:46 PM by Andrea Largent


I think Ben did that because he was so crazy about electricity that he thought that Amos wouldn't mind... but he did.
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 02:29 PM by Andrea


6th graders,
I am very pleased to see so many of you taking advantage of using the Blog to answer your writing prompts from Ms. Swiryn. Is this not so much better than writing on paper? I have enjoyed reading your answers as well, I can see there is some good thinking going on in 6th grade Language Arts. Keep up your good work and I look forward to reading more of these.
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 08:19 AM by Mr. Dungan-ES Computers


Hi Mariamalia!
Why would would you have Byron get punished? Why do you think he deserves it? Thanks for the Blog!
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 05:01 AM by Ms. Swiryn


Hi Carlos,
Thanks for the Blog! To which question are you responding?
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on March 1, 2007 at 04:59 AM by Ms. Swiryn


i think miyax is going to be very protcted with the wolf pack because she already got caribou so she is not going to starve to death!!!
Comment Posted on February 28, 2007 at 04:54 PM by carlos elias


If you were the author, what would you have happening next?
I would have had tht Byron's dad came home and saw his hair he would punish him but the he'd find out about Byron signing at Mitchel's for the cookies and then he'd get punished worse.
Comment Posted on February 28, 2007 at 04:33 PM by MariamaliaA.


Andrea, thanks for the Blog! What were Ben's reasons for doing that?
Comment Posted on February 28, 2007 at 05:44 AM by Ms. Swiryn


Juan, you make a good point about Ba. Some people might judge him, but you clearly explain the context of the situation and the reasons for his actions!
-Ms. Swiryn
Comment Posted on February 28, 2007 at 05:42 AM by Ms. Swiryn


What do you think about a particualar character's actions? Was she/he right or wrong to do that?
Ben tricked Amos to go on the kite and that made Amos mad. Ben shouldn't have done that because then Amos wouldn't be his partner anymore.
Comment Posted on February 27, 2007 at 03:06 PM by Andrea L


What do you think about a particular character's actions? Was she/he right or wrong to do that?

I think Ba's actions, like giving Long away to the orphanage and moving to the city, were justified by the situation in what they were in. The American soldiers were leaving the country, and that caused the prices to rise. She could barely afford food for herself and for Long, and Ba wanted Long to live well. So, she had to give him to the orphanage. There, he got food, and met new firends. So, in the end, Ba was right to give Long away to the orphanage.
Comment Posted on February 26, 2007 at 02:11 PM by Juan P.


Tnis is Ms. Swiryn testing the blog!
Comment Posted on February 26, 2007 at 11:42 AM by Ms. Swiryn