Tutoring Session #4 (Child): Reading 'Brian's Return' (Sequel to Hatchet) with PJ
Tuesday 03/22/17 7:30pm
For our third tutoring session PJ and I read one of the sequels to Hatchet. Whereas last time PJ did all the reading, this time we took turns reading, switching off about every other page. PJ had already read the first chapter so he filled me in on what had transpired thus far. After each turn I would ask PJ comprehension questions to make sure he understood what was going on and he answered them well. He was really hung up on a moral element of the plot so we wound discussing that a bit. The main character gets into a fight at school that another boy started. The protagonist quickly gains the upper hand and, red with rage, beats the boy senseless and continues to attack him until people physically pull him off the other boy. The protagonist is put in handcuffs and brought to his mother by a police officer and is subsequently made to go to a counselor. PJ found hard to comprehend why the protagonist was being punished even though the other boy started it so we had to discuss the moral responsibility one has even when physically defending oneself and the line at which defensive action because offense once the attacker is incapacitated. This had little to do with language comprehension but I figured it was an important topic to discuss especially since he repeatedly asked "but why is Brian in trouble? The other boy started it". As an adult, I haven't had much interaction with young people so it was interesting to witnessing a developing person grapple with the moral nuances of this plot point.
Tuesday 03/22/17 7:30pm
For our third tutoring session PJ and I read one of the sequels to Hatchet. Whereas last time PJ did all the reading, this time we took turns reading, switching off about every other page. PJ had already read the first chapter so he filled me in on what had transpired thus far. After each turn I would ask PJ comprehension questions to make sure he understood what was going on and he answered them well. He was really hung up on a moral element of the plot so we wound discussing that a bit. The main character gets into a fight at school that another boy started. The protagonist quickly gains the upper hand and, red with rage, beats the boy senseless and continues to attack him until people physically pull him off the other boy. The protagonist is put in handcuffs and brought to his mother by a police officer and is subsequently made to go to a counselor. PJ found hard to comprehend why the protagonist was being punished even though the other boy started it so we had to discuss the moral responsibility one has even when physically defending oneself and the line at which defensive action because offense once the attacker is incapacitated. This had little to do with language comprehension but I figured it was an important topic to discuss especially since he repeatedly asked "but why is Brian in trouble? The other boy started it". As an adult, I haven't had much interaction with young people so it was interesting to witnessing a developing person grapple with the moral nuances of this plot point.
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