Anticipation: Jason Reynolds’ 2018 Lesley University Speech

What subject did Mr. Williams teach?

• Math

• Science

• History

• English

What was the class pet's name?

• Socrates

• Confucious

• Plato

• William

What was the consequence for touching the fish?

• A warning

• Extra homework

• Suspension for two days

• Detention

Why does Reynolds include that Mr. Williams "dressed in neon Oxford shirts and knitted ties and dingy Nikes"?

• Reynolds' description brings Mr. Williams to life and adds believability to the story

• Reynolds' description is nice, but it doesn't add anything to the story

• He likely had a time requirement he had to meet

• Reynolds' description characterizes Mr. Williams as a crazy man who we shouldn't listen to

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who promoted social and personal morality. How does the fish's name act as foreshadowing?

• The goldfish was from China

• The fish is used to teach the class about moral choices, even when there's a high price to pay

• The fish is used to teach about Chinese thought and values

• The fish is used as a mascot for the class's social change project

As Confucius, the fish, suffers on the floor, two girls pick it up "like a live grenade" and return it to the tank of water. Which of these IS NOT a reason why Reynolds used this metaphor?

• In this moment, the fish is an actual weapon.

• Mr. Williams' lesson has created an explosive lesson and the students don't know how to handle it.

• A grenade is delicate, and in this moment so is the fish.

• The students are probably afraid.

Reynolds concludes his speech by imploring graduates to not only spread their wings, but also to stay close to the ground and "ask if anyone could use a feather or two." What does he mean by this?

• We should stay where we are

• We should help our friends in need

• Staying close to the ground keeps us from growing as people

• Flying above the problems of the world doesn't help us fix those problems

Is Mr. Williams an amazing teacher or an irrational tyrant? Explain your answer.

Do you think Reynolds' story about Mr. Williams and the fish really happened or did Reynolds invent the story to support his larger point? Give a piece of evidence to support that it is true and another piece of evidence to support that it might be fiction.