Why I Picked It Up:
Sherman Alexie. He has me captivated. The first novel I read by him was The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian which was a raw look into some of Alexie’s experiences growing up. After a while, I read his essay, Superman and Me. I am not even sure if I can explain it, but this essay has been swirling in my head since I read it four years ago. Alexie’s work is the type of work that never leaves you.
Why I Finished It:
As I expected, this is yet another Sherman Alexie book that will be churning in my head for years. The main character, Thunder Boy Jr. is clearly named for his father who he admires but is really wanting his own identity. He would love a name that celebrates his own accomplishments and a name that sounds like him. Of course, at the end, he is awarded his own name and he is happy.
Who I Would Give It To:
This is just one of those books that make my personal heart happy as well as my mom heart and teacher heart. This book offers so much! I suppose that means I would give it to everyone!
Integration Ideas:
A Whole Lesson Idea – Listening & Speaking, Writing Biography, First Week Community Building, Reading Strategies, and much more!
When I was teaching second grade, I would read aloud Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes at the beginning of the year. Then we would talk about the origin of our names and students would go home with an interview form to find out the meaning of their own names. While I still love that book and would use it, Thunder Boy Jr. is a game changer for this activity.
Before reading, ask students what makes them unique or different. Allow them time to discuss. Not every student will be able to answer this question right off the bat and that’s okay. Ask students something they like to do and something they do well. Again, allow discussion time.
Explain to students that this story is about a little boy who is named after his father, but would like his own name. Ask students to make predictions about what name he might want or what his new name might be. Begin reading. As you read, stop every so often to have students confirm or adjust their predictions.
When the book is finished, remind students that their parents chose their name for a special reason. Tell students the meaning behind your own name and share pictures of you as a young child. I usually share the meaning behind my own children’s names as well. The students love hearing about my three boys. Then give the students an interview form to ask their parents for homework (click on the form for a free download). Read through the form with students and make sure they can read each sentence. It is important that students ask their parents the questions and listen for the response instead of the parents just reading and filling it out.
The following day, have students share what they found out about their names. I will always remember a little second grader I taught who came running into class yelling, “I’m named for a rockstar!” Her name was Stevie. This will always make me smile.
Now that students have gone through this process, have them turn it into a biography of sorts. Have them write the story of the meaning of their name. This should be a fairly easy writing assignment since they have already listened to the story from their parents and told the story to their classmates.
One major reason why Thunder Boy Jr. is a game changer is because their name is special and given to them by their parents, but what if they had a name that signified something unique about them or reflects a celebration of themselves due to something cool they’ve done. My students and kids always loved Captain Underpants books, especially the page that gives them a new silly name. As students go through the month, have students keep track of cool things they did (good deeds of sorts). Students can share things they noticed about other students as well. These noticing could be things like, helped carry papers, opened the door for classmates, etc. Then everyone can be renamed by something that is cool that they have done!
Text-to-text connections
There are plenty of books about the power of a name, here are a few:
- Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
- The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
- A Perfect Name by Charlene Costanza
How might you use this book in the classroom?
Great workshop! Thank you for all the connections.