Joey Pigza Loses Control
Summary
When Joey Pigza meets his dad for the first time in years, he meets a grown-up version of his old out-of-control self. Carter Pigza is as wired as Joey used to be -- before his stint in special ed, and before he got his new meds. Joey's mom reluctantly agrees that he can stay with his dad for a summer visit, which sends Joey racing with sky-high hopes that he and Carter can finally get to know each other. But as the weeks whirl by, Carter has bigger plans in mind. He decides that just as he has pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, Joey can do the same and become as normal as any kid, without the help of a doctor's prescription. Carter believes Joey can do it and Joey wants to believe him more than anything in the world.
Focus and goals for this unit: Our goal for this unit is for students to write summary reports, learn more about taking essay tests and write a book review.
Unit Roadmap
- Unit’s big idea or theme = Courage Requires Fortitude
- Definition: Courage is risk for a reason, not risk for a thrill; courage requires I moderate my impulses and emotions. Courage leads me to consider the heroic journey in which people live for purposes bigger than themselves and their want and needs.
- Ideally this would be posted in your classroom.
- Major written product: Narrative (Your Own Heroic Journey)
Write a 5 paragraph narrative. This is your personal heroic journey and should focus on one specific event or snapshot in time. The theme or focus is, “Doing the Right Thing in a Difficult Situation.”
Students will be given an opportunity during each day of the lesson to fill out a portion of the Heroic Journey Chart. Once complete students can string the elements together to form their essay by inserting details, facts, dialog, etc. to create their narrative.
The Heroic Journey Overview
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Ordinary World |
The journey begins in the Ordinary World where you are board, feeling stuck, finding your life is going nowhere, or at least where you want it to go. |
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Call to Adventure |
But then, unexpectedly, you receive a Call to Adventure. Often from a herald sometimes an invitation, a plea for help usually a disruption. |
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Reluctant, Refuse the Call |
But our hero, bored and stuck is Reluctant to answer this call and even Refuses the Call. It’s too different, too many obligations, not now. . . |
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Mentor |
This will change and the call will be answered, training will be required and for this a Mentor will enter to provide the expertise and wisdom with some tool or symbolic object necessary for the journey. |
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Cross the Threshold |
You can’t stay in school and enjoy the wisdom of the mentor forever, somewhere the journey must begin and you must enter the special world where this heroic journey will take place, you Cross the Threshold and begin the journey. |
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Test, Allies, & Enemies |
The journey is never alone, you need companions. Now the test comes, you find who will be with you and who will not. Who will be your friend, who will be enemies. This is the time of Test, Allies, &Enemies. |
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Approach the Innermost Cave |
As you set off with companions you now approach your deepest fear, longing, desire and dread. You must Approach the Innermost Cave, get even closer to what causes you the most anxiety & pain. |
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Ordeal |
You find yourself in the horrible mess you feared most. The Ordeal has come and you must summon everything heroic in yourself to get through it. The moment has come. . . |
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Reward |
You have survived and won, you celebrate victory and leave with your Reward which you can celebrate. |
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The Road Back |
The story isn’t over yet, you have to either stay in this special world or go return to the ordinary world which hero’s always do. The real proving is on The Road Back. |
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Transformation |
What has our hero learned? Has he really changed? In this journey their old self really dies and is reborn as the new hero and this is where we really see it. A real Transformation when everything depends on it. |
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Return w/ the Gain of Experience |
The heroic journey ends with what you learned out of this experience. Did you get the outcome? Return with what you take from the experience. |
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Outcome |
In the simplest terms: What was it that you learned? |
The Heroic Journey—Joey Pigza Loses Control
Blow this chart up on the wall and fill in the cells as Joey goes through each step of the journey. Students can also keep a copy for themselves.
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Ordinary World |
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Call to Adventure |
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Reluctant, Refuse the Call |
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Mentor |
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Cross the Threshold |
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Test, Allies, & Enemies |
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Approach the Innermost Cave |
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Ordeal |
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Reward |
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The Road Back |
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Transformation |
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Return w/ the Gain of Experience |
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Outcome |
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The Heroic Journey
The Wizard of Oz vs. Star Wars
This chart can be used for other films or heroic situations (Social Studies) or use it with other films Shrek, The Sandlot Kids, Raiders of the Lost Ark, or Spider Man or Harry Potter are good examples. A blank Heroic Journey Chart has been attached.
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The Ordinary World |
The Wizard of Oz |
Star Wars |
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Call to Adventure |
Dorothy is in Kansas on the farm and Toto is threatened. . .no one will listen |
Luke Skywalker is bored on this planetary farm with his aunt and uncle |
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Call to Adventure |
Toto is threatened, Dorothy begins to run, then the TORNADO |
R2D2 brings an urgent message from Princess Leia |
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Reluctant Refuse the Call |
Dorothy hides. . .she’s not in Kansas anymore |
Luke has obligations at home and must stay; this changes when the farm is blown up |
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Mentor |
The Good Witch Glenda encourages Dorothy. . .the ruby slippers |
Obi-Wan and the training tools of the Jedi Knight |
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Cross the Threshold |
Dorothy sets out on the Yellow Brick Road |
Luke leaves home with his light saber |
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Test, Allies, Enemies |
Dorothy gathers her companions. . .the Scarecrow, the Lion, and the Tin Man |
The cantina scene: Luke meets Hans Solo |
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Approach the Innermost Cave |
Dorothy meets and has to approach the Wizard of Oz |
The Death Star pulls them in |
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Ordeal |
Approaching and experiencing the Wicked Witches Castle |
The trash master scene |
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Reward |
Dorothy has the witch’s broom to give the Wizard |
They survive and launch an attack |
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The Road Back |
Deceived by the Wizard Dorothy learns he is a fake and she will still have to solve her own problems |
Darth Vadar pursues Luke |
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Transformation |
Glenda enters and tells Dorothy that she has always had the power |
Hans Solo comes back to help, Luke trusts the Force, makes the shot and destroys the Death Star |
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Return w/ the Gain of Experience |
Click the Ruby Slippers and goes home |
Award Ceremony. . .connection to the Jedi Knight |
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Outcome |
There’s No Place Like Home |
Trust the Force |
The Heroic Journey—Final Writing Product
My personal HJ
Day 1: Think of a time you had to do the right thing during a difficult situation
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Ordinary World Bored and stuck (setting) |
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Call to Adventure Plea for Help
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Reluctant, Refuse the Call Don’t want to go |
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Mentor Who helps w/ Experience |
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Cross the Threshold Begin the Journey
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Test, Allies, & Enemies Who helps, who is against, what are your challenges. |
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Approach the Innermost Cave What is the biggest fear |
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Ordeal The horrible mess |
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Reward You win/Celebrate |
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The Road Back Stay in the special world or go back |
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Transformation What was learned |
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Return w/ the Gain of Experience |
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Outcome What was learned |
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