Chapter 5: Making the Grade Summary and Analysis

Tony wrestles with the best way to reach his students. He hands out copies of "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. They screen the film version in class. They discuss the story in class and Tony gives them frequent quizzes on what they're reading. Howard, a big athletic kid comes to him after one class, and tells Tony that he just doesn't get the story. Tony tells him to make notes and highlight passages and re-read them. It's just like playing soccer, the more you read, the better you'll get Tony tells him. Tony learns from David that Howard is on the school's list of gifted kids. Tony thinks that perhaps he's just not getting the right material for the kids to read. The kids can all read but just don't. He needs to...