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Always take the time to see things from anothers point of view.
Take others feelings into account before saying or doing something that could be potentially hurtful.
Show love and caring for others no matter how "normal" or "un-normal".
Be a cheerleader, support person, and friend.
Teach, guide and learn with others because we all have something more to teach someone, or learn from someone or can guide someone to grow.

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My most favorite paragraph in the entire book is acutally two. "Today I am working on Miss Gordons's autobiography project. Mrs. V has Elvira plugged into the computer. Classical music is softly seeping from her new iPod. I hear soft purple."
"This is going to take a while. So much is stuffed inside my mind. I have lots to say and just one thumb to say it with." (p. 294, Draper) She then procedes to start the beginning of the book Out of My Mind.
I love this because it shows the amazing, smart, strong and independant young lady she became.

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"TV makes lots of people look funny, maybe even you Claire." (p.195, Draper) Claire and Molly always have such mean thing to say to Melody and not very often does someone other than her family stick up for her, so I love when she is able to defend herself in a witty way.

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Explosions (p.88, Draper)
I love how she uses the word explosions throughout the book to expain her outbursts.

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I just thought the book was coming to a close when all of the sudden Penny was ran over by her mother!!! I never saw it coming!

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Was reading the comments made throughout the book by Claire and Molly. I found these sad because I know that these things really happen. I also felt Melody's saddness and hurt when her flight was cancelled and she was told about the rest of the team leaving her behind and catching an earlier flight. This made my heart break.

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"I have spastic bilateral quadriplegia, also known as cerebral palsy. It limits my body, but not my mind." This is the answer Melody gives to someone asking about her condition in a geniune manner. But being the smart cookie she is and dealing with some of the people she does, she also typed a "smart-mouthed" answer for those. "We all have disabilities. What's yours?" (p.168, Draper)

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I would and already have suggested this book to many of my friends and co-workers, highly recommending it. This is a must read for all. It puts you into the shoes of someone you may not otherwise understand. It puts things into perspective and helps open up a beautiful world of diversity to embrace and not be afraid of.

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The book Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper captures the thoughts and feelings of a young girl and struggles she faces daily. Putting into perspective the way people with disabilities should be treated. Talk TO them not through them, acknowledge them as you would your neighbor. See them as people not a disability. They have feelings recognize that, understand that a "tornado fit" is not just because but for a reason. Take time to figure out the reason.

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Came after Melody was able to confront her teammates and get the answers she deserved as to why she was left behind from the competition. She was able to use her new found confidence, to show them she no longer needed their approval or to satisfy her own hunger to be "normal. I was able to predict the new found confidence in her self but not being left behind, missing the competition or Penny being ran over right before. Those pieces of the story really through me for a loop!

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After the Whiz Kids lost the compition in Washington DC and they returned to school and Melody stood up for herself confronting her teammates about leaving her behind. She knocks the trophy to the floor unknowing if its an accident or not she says, "I don't want it! You deserve it!" then turning and leaving the room. (p. 292, Draper)

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Mom hits Penny while backing up after missing the signs Melody was trying to give her.

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Mom hits Penny while backing up after missing the signs Melody was trying to give her.

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Melody's flight gets canceled and her quizmates took an earlier flight without including her and she misses the competition.

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Melody's flight gets canceled and her quizmates took an earlier flight without including her and she misses the competition.

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The Whiz Kids win the competition! They are headed to Washington DC!

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The Whiz Kids win the competition! They are headed to Washington DC!

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Melody joins the Whiz Kids! She is the first to ever get all the answers correct.

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Melody joins the Whiz Kids! She is the first to ever get all the answers correct.

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Melody gets a Medi-talker (Elvira) - opening a new world of communication.

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Melody gets a Medi-talker (Elvira) - opening a new world of communication.

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Melody begining inclusion classes - empowering her to break that barrier. 

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Melody begining inclusion classes - empowering her to break that barrier. 

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Melody in classroom H5 with various teachers - barrier she is unable to break through.

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Melody in classroom H5 with various teachers - barrier she is unable to break through.

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Out of My Mind set in a different time...

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Out of My Mind set in a different time...

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People with disabilities in any form have not always been included or sometimes even looked at as people. The opportunities that Melody was given in the era she grew up is much more developed and accepted then it would have been twenty years ago and hopefully in twenty more years, times will evolve even more. Giving people with disabilities the same oppurtuinities and acceptance as those without.

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Different settings present different opportunities, moods, characters all which can change the entire plot and theme of the story. If this story would have taken place at a school other then Spaudling Street Elementary, Melody may have not had Mrs. Shannon, the teacher that gave her a chance to grow, advocated for her to have an aide of her own, Cathrine! She was able to have a supportive team with her best interests at heart.

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Growing up Melody never was able to achieve her full potiential while she was in room H5 until Mrs. Shannon came and introduced the inclusion program. In classroom H5 there was a limit to how far you could go, a barrier blocking you from continuing to grow and learn. Once Melody was able to join the inclusion program she was able to break that barrier and become more then even she could even imagine.

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The quiz team. When I meet them I would love to introduce them to this young girl that is so smart, loves to listen to music, wear cute clothes and spend time hanging out with friends and has feelings just like they all do. I would read them her book so they could learn the person she is not the disablity she has.

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Melody: Young girl wishing she could be "normal" → became strong, confident young lady.

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I would choose Mrs. V! She plays a strong role in Melody's life. Mrs. Valencia always believed in Melody, guiding and showing her what she is capeable of when so many treated her as if she wasn't. She used words, actions and even tough love when nessesary to help Melody reach for the stars!

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Mrs. Violet Valencia, is an important character in the book Out of My Mind, by Sharon M Draper. Thoughout the entire book, she always believes in Melody and her abilities to accomplish anything she sets her mind to.

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Sharon M. Draper