Exploring Attention Deficit Disorder with Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Mrs. Keller8th Grade ReadingSemester 2

Unit Roadmap

Big Idea (Theme): Responsibility Requires Action

Definition: Responsibility is the active side of morality: doing what I should do; doing what I said I would do; doing what is best for everybody; especially doing the one thing I should be doing right now.

Focus and Goals: Our goal for this unit is to write an expository essay in which we share what we have learned about Attention Deficit Disorder.

About the Novel

Written by Jack Gantos Published in 1998 It is the first of four books about Joey

Pigza and his shenanigans. It is a National Book Award finalist,

an ALA Notable Book, and a School Library Journal Best Book

About Joey Pigza

Middle Schooler Gets in trouble at school…a lot… Diagnosed with Attention

Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Faces severe challenges at home, like a sometimes abusive grandmother, an alcoholic mother who has only recently returned home, and an absent father

About the Author

http://www.jackgantos.com/bio-photos/

About ADHD

First, time out for the KWL! http://www.chadd.org/ Now that we’ve learned more about

ADHD, return to your KWL and fill in the last column.