“Reading Circles” technology

for home reading lessons

Discussion Leader Summarizer Connector

Word Master Passage Person Culture Collector

One of the Lads

Frozen Pizza and other slices of life

Antoinette Moses

Big Dave Gerry

Mike Steve

Luke Thomas

gang

to sort out

lad

equal

to blush

to hesitate

… Swearing was so much a part of the lads’ way of speaking that none of them ever noticed it. Every remark, every description used words which had not only lost their shock value, but no longer had any meaning at all.Luke, however, had to remember not to use these words at home as they upsethis mother, so he still remained aware of them. He thought that the others no longer heard them.

“As I was saying,” said Dave, …”when football began in the Middle Ages, it was a way for men to sort out their differences…”“What do you mean?” asked Gerry cautiously.“What do you think I mean? You’re stupid, you know, you’re really thick. …I don’t know why Luke doesn’t mistake you for a bit of wood.”

“Sort out their differences – fight,” continued Dave. “Football started with men like us who just wanted a good fight. … it was always more a battle than a game.”…After a moment Luke spoke.“But didn’t anyone try to stop it?”…”Yes, they did. …Kings and politicians. They tried to ban football loads of times. But they never succeeded. And do you know why?”The lads shook their heads.“They never succeeded,” concluded Dave, “because there have always been too many of us. We decide that there’s going to be trouble and there’s nothing anyone can do.”

A young Dutchman had been passing on his bike when Dave threw the glass. He’d stopped and now turned to Luke.“What is wrong with you?” he asked. “Why do you English behave like this? Why are you always so angry?” Luke looked at him. He’d never thought about the gang like that…“Angry?” Luke asked the Dutchman. Then, before he could reply, said, “I’m not angry.”“But they are,” said the Dutchman. “Your friends. They are angry. If you don’t agree with them, you don’t have to stay with them.” It was an obvious statement. Someone could have said it to Luke years ago, but no one ever had. It was true… He didn’t have to stay with the lads. Now he realized that what the lads thought no longer mattered. They couldn’t stop him. Not really.“They’re not my friends,” Luke said to the departing Dutchman. “Not any more,” he added to himself. He turned away from the pub and started to walk away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImcD_DOoQM0

The press about bullying

punks

goths

skinheads

You have received a letter from Luke Thomas who writes:

…I wonder, what do you think of bullying at school? In my class I have to give some lads my pocket money. In return they’ve let me join their gang. Do you think I should have refused? My Mom knows nothing about it. In my place would you tell your parents or teachers anything?...

Write back to Luke answering his 3 questions. Write 100-120 words.Remember the rules of letter writing.

Thank you