DANGEROUS MINDSBackground Information and Vocabulary

Background Information

Author: LouAnne Johnson Previously published as “My Posse Don’t

Do Homework” The book is based on actual incidents

involving real people, but the names of all the people and places have been changed.

Dedication: For all the kids who hate school…why?

Some characters are composed of two or more real people.

Background Information

Not presented in chronological order Each chapter is a separate “snapshot.”

Some students appear more than once.

Covers a four year period: Year 1= intern… taught two sophomore

English classes- 1 regular and 1 accelerated

Year 2= Academy program launched- taught two periods of Academy sophomore English and two periods of Non-English Proficient students 9-11.

Background Information

Academy program: School within a school Funded by U.S. government grant Reduced class sizes (max 25 students) Resource periods for teachers to provide

personal instruction and counseling Enrollment=voluntary and begins in tenth grade Must have average or above-average

standardized test scores to qualify Students stay with the same teachers and

students for their three years in the program.

Vocabulary (1-3)

1. Dawned: As soon as I saw her sad face, it dawned on me

that something was wrong Verb Definition: Realized something for the first time

2. Invariable: Mass, unlike weight, is invariable adjective Definition: always happening in the same way,

at the same time

Vocabulary (1-3) 3. Astute:

You must be an astute politician in order to win elections. Adjective Definition: able to understand situations or behavior very well and very

quickly, especially so that you can get an advantage for yourself

4. Painstakingly The old painting was painstakingly restored. Adverb Definition: very careful and thorough

5. Indignant: Liz was indignant at the way her child was put into time out. Adjective Definition: angry or surprised because you feel insulted or unfairly

treated

Vocabulary (1-3) 6. Scapegoat:

She believed she had been made a scapegoat for what happened just because she was at the scene.

Noun Definition: someone who is blamed for something bad that happens, even if

it is not their fault

7. Mesmerize: The first time I saw Mary, I was mesmerized by her beauty. Verb Definition: cannot stop watching or listening to someone or something

because they are so attractive or have such a powerful effect

8. Awry: My carefully laid plans already went awry when I showed up late. Adjective Definition: when something doesn’t happen the way it was planned.

Vocabulary (1-3) 9. Quell:

Police used live ammunition to quell the disturbances. Verb Definition: to end a situation in which people are behaving violently or

protesting, especially by using force

10. Simulate: Interviews can be simulated in the classroom. Verb Definition: to make or produce something that is not real but has the

appearance or feeling of being real

11. Transpire: Exactly what happened that day has yet to transpire. Verb Definition: to discover that something is true or happened.

Vocabulary (1-3) 12. Leverage:

The kidnapper held the man’s daughter as leverage. Verb Definition: influence that you can use to make someone do what you want

13. Demolish: The entire east wing of the building was demolished in the fire. Verb Definition: to destroy or ruin something completely

14. Exorbitant: The exorbitant rent prices made me look at other apartments. Adjective Definition: much higher than it should be

15. Stale: Other marriages might go stale, but not theirs Adjective Definition: not interesting or exciting anymore

Chapter 2

Ms. Johnson: 35 years old 9 years military experience- range of jobs

(journalist, editorial assistant, marines) Has a “firm hand”= strict, disciplined, won’t

tolerate nonsense “not too old too learn”

Inference about Miss Sheppard: that she couldn’t handle the students anymore

Chapter 2 “free reign”= you can do whatever you want Ms. Johnson experience so far:

No plans No support from the English supervisor or VP Not told the truth about the kids she is taking on Not told the truth about why the teacher left

Hal Gray = master teacher (help a new teacher)

“Outshouting kids is like trying to teach a pig how to sing.” (Hal’s advice) Simile

Chapter 2

Italicized lines = thoughts in character’s head

Miss Johnson’s rules: 1. Respect (yourself and others) 2. No racial, ethnic, and sexual slurs will

not be tolerated. 3. Everyone starts off with an A, and it is

up to the student to keep it. ▪ Personal responsibility.

Vocabulary – Ch. 4-6 1. Jaded:

The concert should satisfy even the most jaded critic. Adjective Definition: when someone is no longer interested in or excited by something,

usually because they have experienced too much of it:

2. Cynic: Even hardened cynics believe the meeting is a step towards peace. Noun Definition: someone who is not willing to believe that people have good,

honest, or sincere reasons for doing something

3. Unnerve: He was unnerved by the way Sylvia kept staring at him. Verb Definition: to upset or frighten someone so that they lose their confidence or

their ability to think clearly

Vocabulary 4. Riveted:

All eyes were riveted on her in horror. Verb Definition: being so interested or so frightened that you keep looking at

something

5. Anonymity: One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the White House

took the threat very seriously. Noun Definition: when other people do not know who you are or what your name is

6. Feign: Feigning a headache, I went upstairs to my room. Verb Definition: to pretend to have a particular feeling or to be ill, asleep etc

Vocabulary 7. Vigil:

Eva and Paul kept a constant vigil by their daughter's hospital bedside. Noun Definition: a period of time, especially during the night, when you stay awake in order to

pray, remain with someone who is ill, or watch for danger

8. Repertoire: Ex: the behavioral repertoire of infants Noun Definition: the total number of things that someone or something is able to do

9. Recoup: The movie will have to be a huge hit to recoup its cost. Verb Definition: to get back an amount of money you have lost or spent

10. Appall: The way we kill animals appalls a lot of people. Verb Definition: to make someone feel very shocked and upset

Vocabulary 1. Misconception:

Noun an idea which is wrong or untrue, but which people believe

because they do not understand the subject properly

2. Preconception Noun a belief or opinion that you have already formed before

you know the actual facts, and that may be wrong

3. Incensed: Adjective Very angry

Vocabulary 4. Inkling:

Noun A slight idea about something

5. Mutiny: Noun refuse to obey the person who is in charge of you, and

try to take control for yourself

6. Erudite: Adjective showing a lot of knowledge based on careful study

Vocabulary 7. Elucidate:

Verb to explain something that is difficult to understand by providing more

information

8. Elude: Verb to escape from someone or something, especially by tricking them

9. Diminutive: Adjective small

10. Inadvertently Adverb without realizing what you are doing

Vocabulary (9 & 10)

Despair (p.110): a feeling that you have no hope at all

Berserk (p.111): to become very

angry and violent

Intriguing (p.115): something that is intriguing is very interesting because it is strange, mysterious, or unexpected

Vocabulary (9 & 10) Untidy (p.119): not neat

Sulk (p.119): to be silently angry and refuse to be friendly or discuss what is annoying or upsetting you - used to show disapproval

Self-indulgent (p.119): allowing yourself to have or do things that you enjoy but do not need, especially if you do this too often - used to show disapproval:

Gullible (p.120): too ready to believe what other people tell you, so that you are easily tricked

Vocabulary (9 & 10) Defiant (p.122): clearly refusing to do what someone tells you

to do:

Hastened (p.123): to make something happen faster or sooner

Blunt (p.122): speaking in an honest way even if this upsets people

Retort (p.124): to reply quickly, in an angry or humorous way

Fink (p.127): someone who tells the police, a teacher, or a parent when someone else breaks a rule or a law; a person who you do not like or respect