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Book Discussion Questions

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher: Required assignment in Content Literacy course and
Submission 1

1) Who were your favorite characters in this novel? Select three of your favorite characters
and describe them, supporting your description with references from the Educational
Psychology and/or Inclusion texts, other readings, class discussions, or personal
experiences where similar individuals were described.

The main character, TJ, was one of my favorites. His life was complicated beyond what
many people knew of him. He was simply judged by his appearance and his lack of school
spirit. TJ was of mixed ethnicity and race and appeared very different from his cookie cutter
Caucasian peers. He was singled out and often isolated because he looked differently. However,
he moved past the stares and judgments to become an advocate for other students who were
outcasts. He befriended all different types of people, and with them, showed a whole community
what it meant to be an athlete. Being of mixed races, TJ was isolated by his peers and thought to
be extremely different. In various courses, I have learned that one cannot judge a student, or a
person, simply by how they look. It is our responsibility to build relationships and get to know
others on a deeper level. This is what TJ did, and he found that no matter how rough the inside,
each person on the swim team was special and worth being a friend.
I also really like the character of Chris. I have worked in adult family homes and have been
exposed to young individuals who have a disability. I also taught swimming lessons to a young
man with cerebral palsy, so I know who it feels to see someone who struggles succeed. Chris is
a sweet boy to whom bad things happened. However, Chris has fought through his disadvantage
and continues to go to school and try to be a typical high school boy. His teachers and friends
saw him for the person he was, not this issues he had. In Inclusion, we talk of treating each
student as a person first; the disability is just one piece. Chris found friends and succeeded at
something for which he could be proud. He deserved the right to participate and thrive in school
and on a sports team. His character was always so positive and kind in the book.
In addition, I like Simet. This teacher was a male figure and friend to TJ, and he became the
swimming coach. Simet befriended TJ, a boy who was usually an outcast, and mentored him
through high school. Simet took the time to build a good relationship with a student which
benefitted the student. He knew when the boys were talking on the bus, that it was important not
to control every aspect of their lives and let them come to their own conclusions. As a teacher,
one must instruct the students and be a good role model, but one must also know when to let
students explore and figure life out for themselves. Educational psychology has shown that more
learning takes place out of the classroom, and this type of learning is just as important as
academics. Simet understood this and fostered an environment in which the boys could thrive
and see their value.



2) If one of these characters were in your classroom, what diverse approaches would you
use to help him/her succeed? Select one of the three favorite characters you described in
question #1 and predict how you might design and adjust instruction appropriate to
his/her learning style, strength or need.

Chris is a student that, if included in my classroom, may need alternative ways to learn the
material. In science, lecture and notes are a key component to learning. I would prepare
separate notes for Chris that are more direct and filled out. He then has the ability to follow
along in class and not worry about writing or hearing everything that is said. Also, exams,
quizzes, and labs would be modified to his level of need. Questions could be worded
differently and have a different level of difficulty. In addition, questions could be read to
him, if there was an issue with reading, and answers could be given orally, if there was a
problem with writing. In the case of Chris, one of his strengths is coloring and telling stories.
With this knowledge, I would have him participate more by drawing or coloring pictures of
concepts and materials. Moreover, he might be better at giving answers by simply telling me
the answers. There are many different adjustments that can be made in order to help Chris
succeed. It is imperative that his strengths and needs are understood as well as his specific
learning style. Nothing will benefit him more than having the subject matter delivered in a
way that he understands.

3) Did this novel have an impact on your understanding of middle or high school learners
(Standard #2), diverse approaches to learning and performance (Standards #3), or
positive learning environments (Standard #5)? Describe your personal belief regarding
diversity, cultural sensitivity and school learning environments.

The novel more cemented my understanding and knowledge of standards 2, 3, and 5. The course
work that I have completed so far prepared me well for the situations in this book. I did learn
more about the topics. The interactions between TJ and the school jocks showed more of the
high school social learner. To this point, the stress has been on academic teaching, but there is a
whole realm of social issues and topics that teachers address and instruct students on. For
standard 3, the alteration of learning approaches and performance were demonstrated when
designing workouts for the new swim team. The pool was a different learning environment and
the coaches, plus TJ, made the space safe and efficient for their needs. All of the swimmers
could be actively engaged and each found their preferred method of practice. In addition, the
pool contributed to a positive learning environment. Here, the students were not bullied or
harassed by other peers. The coaches and other swimmers truly cared about each other and
wanted each other to succeed.
Diversity is all around us and is more than just race or ethnicity. Personally, much more needs to
be taught in schools about cultural sensitivity, inclusion, and tolerance. But why just be tolerant
of others? Tolerance is still a negative sense that allows for unnecessary dislike. The school
learning environment should be positive and safe for every student. This extends beyond the
classroom and into the hallway and cafeteria. It is a teachers responsibility to show authority
and that tolerance isnt good enough. People need to be accepting of others, no matter their
background, color, or accomplishments. Diversity is something that we all are involved in and
some students need more help than others accepting that. Even in a small town with little
diversity, there should be open discussion and learning of other cultures.

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