Darius' Favorite Part

My favorite part was when Percy cut off Medusa's head.

Sarah's Favorite Part (a teacher's perspective)

I really liked the description of the camp- both the fun allusions to mythology (climbing the wall with lava flowing down, water nymphs in the lake, archery practice with the centaur's etc), but also the campfires and general comfort that Percy felt there. My students, for the most part, have never experienced summer camp and they experienced it for the first time through this story.

I was super surprised how much my students enjoyed the mythology in this story! As I've blogged, we've acted out a few myths, and presented "Perseus and Medusa" twice this year for the entire school! They have really "gotten" the myths-- and I hope to do more with them next year.

My absolute favorite part, though, and the reason that I chose this story for my students is that the hero is "one of us". My students may be more learning impaired than Percy, but many of them share Percy's struggles with ADHD and dyslexia. Percy also grew up without a dad (a background also shared by my students). Percy is a kind person, a good friend, a caring kid growing up into a compassionate young adult. By examining Percy's actions, my students have learned about problem solving, conflict resolution, and also are able to relate his actions to themselves. What would we do if we were Percy? And, when confronted with problems in our own lives, what would Percy do?

Duchard's Favorite Part (a teacher's perspective)

"I liked the description of Ares."

Dawn's Favorite Part

In "The Lightning Thief," I liked that Annabeth had a cap that made her invisible. I also liked the scene where Percy fought Medusa. I liked Percy's mom because she was a nice mom.

Barbara's Favorite Part

I like the part of the book when Percy defended his mommy from Smelly Gabe. Percy's mom got hurt by Smelly Gabe. Percy gave his mom Medusa's head.







I also liked the part when Grover and Percy and Annabeth went to the restaurant and stepped up to doing a mission.

Pedro's Favorite Part

My favorite part of "The Lightning Thief" was when Grover was wearing the flying shoes. I liked the character, Grover, because he doesn't chase anyone and he is a good friend to Percy and Annabeth.

Kevin's Favorite Part

Percy and Ares fought in the water. The cops came. It looked like they were holding guns.

Percy jumped off of the arch into the water.

DeAndre's Favorite Part

"The Lightning Thief" is a wonderful book. My favorite part of the book is when Percy's mother turned Gabe into a statue.

Charles' Favorite Part

My favorite part in the story was when Percy and Medusa were fighting in the diner. My favorite part was when Medusa turned people into stone.

Daquan's Favorite Part

My favorite part was when Percy met his father, Poseidon, the god of the Sea.

Shequan's Favorite Part

"I listened to Sarah read the story, "The Lightning Thief".

We Finished "The Lightning Thief"!

Oh my gods, we finished "The Lightning Thief"! Our class patiently listened to the very last chapters of the book, and thoroughly enjoyed the very exciting conclusion. Wow!

Who really stole the lightning bolt?

Today we read chapters 18 and 19 in the book, "The Lightning Thief." Somebody stole the lightning bolt from Zeus and someone stole the Helm of Darkness from Hades.

The Underworld is a creepy place. It is not some place that we'd want to go to.

How can the big three be brothers? Did Kronos really eat them? We talked about how brothers can fight.

Percy vs Medusa

Pereus was a brave man. Nobody couid beat Medusa but he did.



by Daquan

The actors perform Perseus and Medusa

We performed our play during the Spring Fling. We did "Perseus and Medusa." And.....we were so fantastic, we have been asked to perform it for the p226 graduation ceremony!

Medusa tried to trick Percy.....

We are learning about Greek myths. Medusa turned people into stone. Her face is like the sun: If you look at the sun, you might get blind. If you look at Medusa, you would be turned into stone. It could never really happen, so the story is a "myth".

In "The Lightning Thief," she pretended to be a waitress. There were statues in her store. The statues looked like people. Some of their faces looked scared.

The food smelled really good. Percy, Annabeth and Grover were really hungry. Grover said, "I smell monster." No one gives food for free! Percy should have said, "Something's strange about this woman!"

They heard a hissing noise. She said, "That's the deep fryer!"

Then she asked them to pose for a picture. She started to take off her covering from her face. Annabeth put on her Yankee cap and disappeared.


Annabeth gave Percy a gazing ball so that he could see Medusa's reflection. Annabeth said, "You're going to have to cut her head off."

Percy cut off her head. Percy used his sword-- called "Riptide." Her blood was green. It was gross. Annabeth covered the head because if anyone looked at it, they would still be turned into a statue.

Medusa's head will be next!

We are constructing our minotaur head right now. The teachers that work in our classroom have been helping us mold the chicken wire to make a really cool minotaur complete with huge horns.

Next we'll have medusa!

We are huge "Lightning Thief" fans......

I will write this blog with my students from P226M at 15th Street.  We are a special education school belonging to district 75.  Many of the students, like Percy Jackson, have dyslexia (or serious reading difficulties) as well as ADHD.

By reading "The Lightning Thief," we have discovered a great love of reading.  We're really into it and we're only about 1/3rd through the book!  

I usually read the book out-loud to the students.  Some of them could read it with assistance, but it is very hard for most of them to get through a whole chapter.  

We read small parts of the book out-loud when we act it out.  So far, we have acted out the part of the story when Percy fights Mrs. Dodds, and we have acted out two myths associated with the story (the story of Athena and Arachne and Perseus and Medusa).  

My students are engaged- we play "Lightning Thief" bingo with pictures having to do with the chapter.  The students have to listen for the vocabulary words or character names mentioned in the chapter, and then they put a button on the picture.  The focus, is of course, paying attention, but they also have the visual cues through the pictures having to do with the story.

We are busy making a minotaur out of chicken wire- we're sculpting it with the help of the para-professionals in the room.  Then, we'll cover it with paper mache and then paint it.

We've made posters having to do with the various gods and goddesses.....

Banners with symbols of the gods for "capture the flag," 

Can I go on?  I can!

Next time, I will try to have my students add to the blog...........