Thinking Question 3

Richmond players overcame their own David and Goliath moment by winning the tournament. Have you ever had one of those moments that you have overcame?

Lit Circle 3

In our third lit circle we discussed why the team was acting like a family and then doing things that was getting the team into trouble. We also discussed why Coach Carter was pushing his team so hard to become better students. Mr. Carter believed that his team should become a student before an athlete. Coach Carter thought that many of the Richmond High boys basketball players could indeed get a scholarship to some college to play basketball. Even though he believed this he still thought that his players needed an education so that if for some reason they couldn't get a scholarship they could still get an education after high school. A few questions that we discussed during our lit circle were; would you be embarrassed if one of your parents were to come into the lockeroom during halftime of a very important game? Another question was how are your parents different or alike to Coach Carter reguarding not letting Damien go out with his friends.

Thinking Question 2

When Damien first attended St.Francis he had to maintain a 3.5 GPA, when he switched to Richmond High he was required to maintain a 3.7 GPA. Do your parents expect you to do well in school? If you dont are there consequences?

Lit Circle 2

Our second reading was from pages 25-50, which this came to be our second lit circle. Chapter 3 started with Coach Carter's son Damien playing basketball in their driveway which turned into an argument about Damien wanting to transfer from St. Francis to Richmond High. One statement from the argument was this "You making me go to St. Francis doesn't feel like a choice." Damien pointed out. "Damien-" "If I've got a choice," Damien interrupted, "I choose Richmond." From there Damien turned and walked out of the kitchen, this conversation was now over. Coach Carter had a meeting for all basketball players and at least one parent. This meeting was reguarding the contract and the rules that the players must abide by. A few days later Damien comes home and has the transfer papers from Richmond High. He brings them to his dad and was able to convince his father to sign them. The following day Damien attends Richmond High and is late for his first day of basketball practice. Damien's consequence was no different than any other player on the team just because he was Coach Carters son he did not receive any special treatment.

Thinking Question 1

Coach Carter helped out his old high school by coming back and coaching a less fortunate team. Have you ever helped a group of people or someone in a big way even though you lost most your free time?

Lit. Circle 1

In our first Literature circle, we discussed pages 1-25. In those first 2 chapters, we are introduced to a former Richmond High School student and all star basketball player Ken Carter, who came back to the school after being offered a coaching spot from the head coach. Carter excepts the job after some thinking it over and disscussing the idea with his girlfriend. His son, Damien, goes to the St. Francis school and isn't sure if he likes the idea of his father coaching for a different school since Carter always coached him at home. Soon after, Damien realized that he doesn't want to be coached by someone else so he tranfered from his old school to the Richmond High School. On the first day of basketball practice, Carter proposes a contract to the players that states they must arrive on time to practice everyday, and the players have to maintain at least 2.3 grade point average. Some of the players do not like that idea and rebel against Carter. In the end of the day, the other Richmond High School basketball players start to trust Coach Carter and start to become a complete team.