Curricular Response – Describe some of the challenges you faced reading your book club book and describe how you overcame those challenges.

When reading “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” for our book club, “I encountered a few challenges that made the experience difficult, but other than that, it was a really fun and exciting book that I got to read with three other classmates.”

The first big challenge was getting used to the unique way the story is told. It’s written from the perspective of Christopher, a 15-year-old with autism. He sees the world very literally and struggles to understand social cues, which made it hard to fully catch the meaning of some situations he described. To overcome this, I had to constantly remind myself to see things the way Christopher does and not rely on usual social expectations. Another significant challenge was the way the book wasn’t told in a straight, orderly way. Christopher’s story often shifts to side topics like mathematics, space, or his personal observations. These side tracks, while true to how Christopher thinks, at first made the story feel harder to follow. I got past this by seeing these parts as important glimpses into Christopher’s mind rather than interruptions to the main story. The book’s use of visuals, like diagrams, maps, and math equations, was also a challenge. These weren’t just pictures but key parts of the story. To fully understand it, I had to focus closely on these details and think about how they showed Christopher’s way of seeing things and connected to the main story.

Emotionally, the book was hard because of the blunt way Christopher talked about tough family issues. His straightforward tone when describing emotional events felt shocking at times. To handle this, I found it helpful to take a moment to think about these parts, considering what they meant for all the characters, not just Christopher.

Finally, the book’s deep ideas like trust, truth, and independence through the perspective of someone who thinks differently was mentally challenging. To really engage with these ideas, I had to question my own beliefs and try to see the world through Christopher’s unique way of thinking.

To tackle these challenges, I used several methods. I read the book slowly and often went back to reread parts to make sure I understood Christopher’s point of view. I took notes and marked sections that stood out or confused me. Discussing the book with my book club members also helped a lot, as their thoughts often pointed out things I had missed or misunderstood.

In the end, working through these challenges made me appreciate and enjoy the book even more.

Core Competency Self-Assessment

Strength: I listened to others’ ideas, considered their points of view and offered constructive suggestions.

I am excellent when it comes to listening to others’ ideas, carefully considering different perspectives, and offering constructive suggestions. My approach involves active listening, where I maintain eye contact, nod to show engagement, and restate key points to guarantee understanding. I often ask clarifying questions like “Can you elaborate on that?” or “How does that relate to our project?” to deepen my comprehension. When giving feedback, I start with a positive observation, followed by a constructive suggestion, and ending with an encouraging note. This approach helps maintain a positive group dynamic while moving the work forward productively.

Area for Improvement: I was able to focus on what we needed to do throughout the process of our task and kept working even when I found something challenging.

To improve my ability of staying focused during difficult group projects, I’ll take a more proactive approach. I recognize that I sometimes struggle to maintain focus when tasks become difficult or boring. Moving forward, I plan to break down larger projects into smaller, more manageable sections that feel less overwhelming. I’ll be more transparent with my group or teacher about my challenges, asking for support or help when I feel stuck. By communicating openly and creating a clear plan with my group, I hope to stay motivated and committed to seeing our project competed. I’ll also try to remind myself of the end goal and the importance of our shared effort.