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My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights
Last updated Monday, April 19, 2021
Author: Brooks Benjamin
Date of Publication: 2016
ISBN: 0553512501
Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2021
Synopsis:
All Dillon wants is to be a real dancer. And if he wins a summer scholarship at Dance-Splosion, he's on his way. The problem? His dad wants him to play football. And Dillon's freestyle crew, the Dizzee Freekz, says that dance studios are for sellouts. His friends want Dillon to kill it at the audition so he can turn around and tell the studio just how wrong their rules and creativity-strangling ways are.
At first, Dillon's willing to go along with his crew's plan, even convincing one of the snobbiest girls at school to work with him on his technique. But as Dillon's dancing improves, he wonders: what if studios aren't the enemy? And what if he actually has a shot at winning the scholarship?
Dillon's life is about to get crazy . . . on and off the dance floor in this kid-friendly humorous debut by Brooks Benjamin.
| Note to readers: |
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This is a long, picture-free, chapter book. If it's going too slowly and the kids are restless, try skipping ahead a few pages. We will not be able to finish the book today, so if you want to skip chapters 3, 4 and 5 (pages 21 through 48), you can probably do that without missing the set up for chapters 6 and 7.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What different kinds of dance are you familiar with?
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What kind of dance is your favorite?
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Do you associate any particular dance styles with boys or girls? If so, why?
Vocabulary
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roundoff (p.6) - A move similar to a cartwheel but ending with the legs together and the gymnast facing in the opposite direction.
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hermit (p.24) - a person living in solitude (usually as as a religious discipline.) Loner.
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choreography (p.46) - the art of composing ballets and other dances and planning and arranging the movements, steps, and patterns of dancers.
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developpe (p.62) - A D'velopp' is a movement where the dancer's working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and extended to an open position (pronounced dih-vel-uh-pey)
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plie (Plee-ey) (p.62) - a movement in which a dancer bends the knees and straightens them again, usually with the feet turned out and heels firmly on the ground
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jete (zhet-ey) (p.177) - a jump in which a dancer springs from one foot to land on the other with one leg extended outward from the body while in the air
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Dance is often thought of as a "girl thing". Dillon and his crew obviously don't think this is true. Why don't they consider dance "girly"?
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Throughout the book, Kassie is very strongly against dance studios and it makes Dillon uncomfortable. How does Dillon deal with this discomfort?
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Who is DeMarcus? How does he help Dillon see that dancers are athletes (and that athletes can be creative)?
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Dillon starts to learn new moves. Why does he do this? Why is it important for him to feel like he fits in at the studio? Is there more than one reason?
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Carson has a crush on DeMarcus but there is a lot of miscommunication between the two of them. Why do you think they have a hard time communicating their feelings? What obstacles stand in their way?
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Discuss the courage it takes for Dillon to admit that he prefers dance. Why is it hard for him to admit it to both himself and others?
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The characters in the book use YouTube and text each other. How does technology change the way we communicate? Does it make communication more challenging in any way? How can putting yourself on the Internet change the way people see you? How can we control how people see us on the Internet?
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What kind of clothing do you wear for special activities, like different kinds of dance outfits? Karate or tae kwon do? Playing football? tennis?
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What dance groups or dancers can you name?
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| Special activities: |
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The Lucky Band created a special video for Reading to Kids to share at our March 13, 2021 reading clubs! Volunteers for those clubs will receive the link to that YouTube video in their email reminder on Friday, March 12, 2021, along with directions on how to share a YouTube video on Zoom.
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Have the kids write down any myths or misconceptions they have experienced or know about regarding gender stereotypes ("what boys do" and "what girls do").
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Have the kids discuss choosing to pursue a hobby or interest not considered "typical" for their gender
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Jimmy Fallon, Sesame Street & The Roots Sing "Sesame Street" Theme (w/ Classroom Instruments): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHogg7pJI_M
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Ringo Starr, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots Sing "Yellow Submarine" (Classroom Instruments): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIg3kxeOZMA
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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