Week 2 - The Mysterious Benedict Society

[Kerin Motsinger]

Beginning on page 1, the importance of following directions is stressed to the children throughout the book and is accompanied by the threat of dire consequences if instructions are not followed to the letter. How do the instructions play a role in helping and/or hindering the children in reaching their goal of being selected “the special gifted children?” How do they use the instructions to their advantage or disadvantage? What kind of a thinker are you? Are you one to read all the directions, or are you more likely to try something out without having all the information. Which way to do you prefer to tackle new situations? Why?

[Allison]

The instructions play a huge role in helping the children to reach their goal! For instance when the emergency bell rang, they had to run down to the landing(instruction 1.) Then they had to grab onto Milligan(instruction 2.) And finally follow more instructions to keep themselves safe(instruction 3.) Constance uses the instructions as an advantage because Mr. Benidict thinks what she does instead of following instructions is funny. For the rest of them they all follow the directions.So instructions can be a disadvantage. An example is when Milligan jumped out of the room. All the children had to follow the instructions of the kidnapers.For the question about how I think, I am most likely the kind of person to not read all of the instructions first. I think it's because I like to finish first.

[Kerin Motsinger]

Do you mean you like to finish first as in before everyone else? Or do you mean finish first as in complete something and then check the directions?

[Avinash]

I think what Allison means is she likes to be the first one done with her work.

[Billy]

You're right about the fact that one of the only reasons Mr. Benedict kept Constance was that she was funny, in a weird sort of way. I liked that. Thanks for clearing me up! (even though it wasn't on purpose.)

[Brianne]

Instructions play a huge part in this book for the children in every problem or test they take.One of the examples is when they were doing the maze.It specifically said not to step on the blue and black squares.Neither Sticky or Kate paid attention to the floor itself. Reynie was the only one who really paid attention to the floor. He noticed that the tiles were rectangles instead of suares so he could walk straight across. Or also when the emergency bell rings. The kids were told to (1) go straight to the landing,(2) wait for Milligan,(3)and use the instructions that were given before to keep themselves safe.Constance always finds a loophole in every instruction and uses it to her advantage. For the rest of them the instructions are a disadvantage because they always work through it becaus the know what's best for them. I am definitely the kind of person that half reads instructions because I like to finish as fast as I can and not take my time.

[Kerin Motsinger]

But hasn't that caused you to use MORE time because you have to go back and fix things?

[Brianne]

yes it has and I totally regret it afterwards!

[Tony]

The instructions play a role in helping Reynie because, when Rhonda dropped her pencil, Reynie couldn't give her one. He couldn't because the instructions said, "Bring only one pencil, and only one eraser." If he had brought more pencils, Rhonda would've told Number Two that Reynie didn't pass. The instructons helped Reynie in the 2nd test too. The instuctions said, "Make your way to the red circle at the other end of the room without touching the blue or black squares." Reynie walked confidently across without looking at what tiles he was touching because the tiles were rectangular! They also helped him in the 3rd test. Rhonda said, "When you get into the house, go through the rooms as fast as you can, until you come to a staircase. Climb up the staircase and ring the bell. You should be able to do this with your eyes closed." Reynie figured out what she meant when he saw a panel with arrows. There were three straight arrows, and one squiggly arrow. He closed his eyes and felt the panel. He could tell which one was the squiggly arrow. The instructions give Reynie a huge advantage.I am the kind of thinker that tries something without all of the information. Like Brianne, I rush and usually, never take my time. I tackle new situations by "translating" it so I can understand it better. This helps me be more creative with it.

[Kerin Motsinger]

So do you feel that you incorporate previous experience into new situations more than reading/following directions? Do you see connections between a past situations and new ones readily? In other words, while you are working on something new, how does it trigger a connection to another time you did something?

[Tony]

Yes I do. I usually see connections between past situations and present situations too! When I am working on ALEKS, I often come across a problem where I remember the problem from 4th and 3rd. Then, I automaticly remember how to find the answer!

[Billy]

Wow! You sure talked a lot about Reynie! But that was good. (pretty long, too) I could tell you read thorough. They're definetely different types of thinkers! Were there really three straight arrows? ( I'm not correcting you, I don't know.)

[Avinash]

When I read your comment I looked back in the book and saw that yes there were three straight arrows.