Show:
Matrix
Themes and Symbols
Gifted Populations
Definitions
Story Sequence
100
She is the bully who terrorizes Jesse's little sister on the school bus. Leslie along with Jesse develops a plot to get even with her. Once done, Jesse sees that the bully has a sensitive side and she is crying in the school bathroom. Jesse and Leslie learn that the bully has an abusive father and they become more sensitive towards her. She is just barely getting through the later years of elementary school. She would not have been referred to a gifted program at her school (if one even existed).
Who is Janice Avery?
100
When we have this, we we discover new aspects about ourselves and we are free to help the other in discovering new aspects about themselves. For instance, because of it Jesse discovers that he is inventive and creative. Leslie discovers that she has a desire to become spiritual (therefore pleasing MayBelle). Together, because of this pushing each other in new directions, the two become more comfortable with who they are instead of what others may want them to be.
What is friendship?
100
Many writers define underachievement as the discrepancy between an exceptional result on testing, and actual performance, which does not compare against the expectations for students of the same age. One wonders how many children in Jesse's class were part of this group.
Who are the underachieving in the classroom?
100
Sally Reis' findings included that no relationship was found between poverty and this, divorce and this, and family size and this. Instead it began in elementary school when children were not provided with appropriate levels of challenge.
What is underachievement?
100
This was Jesse's only goal. Jesse spent the early morning hours milking his cows and practicing this. It was important to him to be known as this in the school when it started in the fall. His hopes are defeated when the new person moves in next door and she wins the title as that he sought. What is left for Jesse to aspire to in his dreaded school and family? A friendship with the champ, Leslie, develops that pushes Jesse to focus on himself and not conformity.
What is fastest runner in the school?
200
She adores her big brother Jesse. She wakes early when he begins his morning run. She later becomes the new queen of Terabithia. As she is in the early grades in Larkin Elementary School, she would probably not be noticed by her teacher and not recommended under Plan B for the school's gifted program (if the service even existed).
Who is Maybelle?
200
This is Jesse's main conflict as he is pushed to conformity by his family with everything in his life needing to be a manly pursuit. As a result, he feels trapped using running as his primary outlet. Meeting Leslie and her family, inspires Jesse to discover who he is.
What is individuality?
200
Because of the Florida Department of Education's concern that students from certain groups were significantly under-represented in the gifted population, in the early 1990's this is the rule that was passed to allow districts to adopt an alternative method for identifying some groups of students. Currently, students allowed to qualify for gifted education under this are those from families with low socio-economic status.
What is Plan B in gifted education?
200
According to Plowman, the characteristics of assertive decision making, altruism, sensitivity to others, being goal oriented , charismatic, creative and accepting of responsibility enable the gifted student to become this.
What is a leader?
200
Jesse was nervous about his family's comments when Leslie accompanied them to this observance. Jesse fretted about not have some for Leslie on this observance until he found PT and she gave him a new set of paints in support of his secretive talent.
What are family holidays (Easter and Christmas)?
300
She is the "hippie" music teacher whom Jesse adores. She encourages him by commenting on his artistic talents through his drawings. She is the reason that he tolerates school. She takes him to the Capitol to view an art museum on the day that Leslie dies. She would have been the staff member who would have referred Jesse to the the gifted program (if it existed) by completing the attached Plan B matrix forms for recommendation for placement.
Who is Miss Edmunds?
300
Jesse is expected to fit the masculine model of being responsible, stoic and strong. Leslie is expected to be feminine but others find that she is independent and not a conforming young female. Jesse is challenged when Leslie dies and his father surprisingly shows an emotional understanding.
What are gender roles?
300
One of the most challenging groups of gifted students to reach in terms of educational programming are those living in these areas. The main source of difficulty is that any one in this school contains only a few gifted students. The population is just not large enough to produce more.
What is the rural population?
300
In this method of instruction, multiple assignments are tailored to students, choices of the assignment by the student, compacting of studies, creating assignments focused on critical thinking, providing flexible groupings and providing opportunities for high interest development are part of the learning environment. If this method was used, Jesse's teacher may have seen his interests.
What is differentiation?
300
This it the powerful magical place that you only get to by using the swinging rope over the brook. Once here, Jesse with much support from Leslie created a kingdom that enable Jesse to develop his communication skills and to better understand his abilities. Leslie goes to this place alone when Jesse is at the museum with Miss Edmunds and due to the rising water and the worn rope, she perishes.
What is Terabithia?
400
He sees himself as a very ordinary boy in a rural setting. He wakes early to run, as his only ambition is to be the best runner in the school. His family of all girls, except his father, expect him to do most of the farm chores. His father expects him to look at the world and behave in the traditional rural manly perspective. He has a passion for art and with Leslie's and Miss Edmunds' help, he develops the communication skills that allow him to experience his ability to imagine. By the end of the novel, he should qualify for the gifted program based on Miss Edmunds and his classroom teacher"s recommendation using Plan B eligibility matrix.
Who is Jesse?
400
This is Jesse's, Leslie's, PT's and later Maybelle's imaginary place in the woods that allow them to escape from the mundane demanding rural world that surrounds them. Jesse learns that the enchantment of this place causes him not to depend upon it but to depend upon himself and take control of his life. Jesse, because of this place, has become a man as his father had wished,just not in his father's definition.
What is Terabithia?
400
Gifted children with this, compared to gifted peers, complete less work, tend to try to hurry through it, often change topics on projects, or take inordinately long to complete simple exercises. They find it particularly difficult to work in groups, even groups of gifted children.
How are children with AD/HD represented in the gifted population?
400
Bartel's writings used this term to indicate a surrounding of the students with the works and ideas of those who have gone beyond what is known at that time. He felt that impetus and exposure lead to inspired minds and enable the bringing forth of hidden talents. When used, there is no limit to "how far this journey into creativity can be'" Leslie seems to have understood this as she pulled the best out of Jesse in Terabitihia.
What is flooding?
400
Jesse went here with Miss Edmunds on a very rainy day. He enjoyed his visit but he was embarassed that he did not bring any money to pay for his own lunch. Upon his return from here, his sister informs him that his girlfriend, Leslie, is dead and they thought he was too.
What is the Museum of Art in Washington, D.C.?
500
She is a contrast to all of the other students in the school. She moves to the area by choice with her scholarly and wealthy parents. She is an only child and has many worldly experiences. Her imagination is active and she created Terabithia as an escape from the drudgery of the rural social system. She is extremely academically talented and sees the talent within Jesse. She is the fastest runner in the school. Her fearlessness ultimately leads to her demise, thus one of her most admirable characteristics according to Jesse, proves to be not so perfect. If she could have, she would have put herself on the child study team that would discuss Jesse's placement into a gifted classroom (if one existed).
Who is Leslie?
500
When this breaks, it symbolizes that the magic of Terabithia is over.Jesse realizes soon after that the magic of Terabithia was inclusive of him and he has the power to reclaim it. His carefree days may be over, but he can pass the enchantment of childhood on to his sister by building the bridge for her.
What is the rope?
500
As defined by the University of Toronto Institute for Studies in Education ( Alex Trebek would love this Canadian reference), this is a combination of learning or other disorders, impairments, or physical disabilities that are of such a nature as to require, for an educational achievement, the services of one or more teachers holding qualifications in special education and the provision of support services appropriate for such disorders, impairments, or disabilities
What is meant by multiple exceptionalities in education?
500
This document states that by graduation, the student identified as gifted will be able to think creatively and critically to identify and solve real world problems.
What is Florida's Framework for K-12 Gifted Learners?
500
Upon learning that Leslie has died while swinging across the raging brook to Terabitihia, Jesse goes into a deep sadness. His father emotionally consoles him and upon his return to school, Jesse learns of the deep sadness of his teacher. Jesse arises out of his depression by building a bridge, and taking his new dog PT from the Perkins along with May Belle back to Terabithia. He has matured and realizes the importance of Terabithia as he does this for May Belle.
What is crown her the Queen of Terabithia?