Student Journal

Code Talker
By Joseph Bruuchac
Name: ____________________________________________________________________

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 Code Talker

Reading Log

Keep track of what chapters must be read by what dates and what assignments
must be completed by when. This “Reading Log” will help to keep all important
information and dates organized.

Code Talker

By Joseph Bruchac

Code Talker Must be read Assignments: Must be completed by:

by:

Introduction & Chapter 1

Chapter 2 & Chapter 3

Chapter 4 & Chapter 5

Chapter 6 & Chapter 7

Chapter 8 & Chapter 9

Chapter 10 & Chapter 11

Chapter 12 & Chapter 13

Chapter 14 & Chapter 15

Chapter 16 & Chapter 17

Chapter 18 & Chapter 19

Chapter 20 & Chapter 21

Chapter 22 & Chapter 23

Chapter 24 & Chapter 25

Chapter 26 & Chapter 27

Chapter 28 & Chapter 29

Author’s Note

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Getting Started

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Introduction

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Introduction: Key Concepts

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 Introduction: Key Concepts

Personal Experience Charts

Key Concept: _____________________

Define/ Rename:
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Specific Examples:

Personal Connection:
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Key Concept: _____________________

Define/ Rename:
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Specific Examples:

Personal Connection:
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Key Concept: _____________________

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Define/ Rename:
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Specific Examples:

Personal Connection:
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Key Concept: _____________________

Define/ Rename:
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___________________________________________________________________________________
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Specific Examples:

Personal Connection:
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Key Concept: _____________________

Define/ Rename:
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Specific Examples:

Personal Connection: _________________________________________________________

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 Chapter Response Questions

Introduction to Chapter 9

As you finish reading each Chapter, answer the following Questions. Make sure
that your answers are writing in complete sentences and that you use details from
your reading to support your answers.

Introduction

1. What question would you ask the author about why he narrated the story,
calling the readers, “grandchildren” ?
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2. What connections and information do you have about your own family’s
veterans (awards, medals, recognition) as they relate to this story? (These
connections may increase as you read the story). What military involvement, if
any, does your family have?
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Chapter 1

1. What was The Long Walk?

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2. How is the wood sliver, tipped with his blood that he leaves behind, symbolic?
Identify the effect of literary devices (e.g., figurative language, allusion, diction,
dialogue, description, imagery).
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Chapter 3

1. What were the physical and emotional responses Ned experienced when his hair
was cut? How does he know how the other girls and boys feel in the story? Why is
the act of getting a haircut painful to the Navajo students of this story?
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2. Summarize why so many Navajo families have the last name of Begay according
to the story?
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___________________________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 4

1. **** Before you read, predict what the title of this chapter, “Tradition is the
Enemy of Progress” might mean? Why do you think the author titled this chapter
this way?
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2. Name supporting details that refer to how Ned found comfort after being
punished for
speaking Navajo? Why do you think his great-grandfather's words might have
come back to him on the day he left home ?
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3. What are some of the other forms of punishment students received for speaking
Navajo? Can you infer or find other evidence that this may have happened to
Montana Indian students for speaking their Native language at boarding schools?
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4. In this chapter, the author uses the analogy, “of how teachers tried to erase
(Navajo) – the way you wipe words from a blackboard.” Create your own possible
analogy for how the teachers tried to erase (Navajo).
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___________________________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 5

1. Name two good things that were available in Ned's high school; name several
challenges Ned had that made him choose only one?
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Chapter 6

1. Name or write specific word phrases of the Navajo Tribal Council resolution on
Americanism of 1940 that Ned might have underlined (page 34, hardcover); why
did he
like their words?
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2. What does the word “Americanism” means. What does it mean to you? How
might your meaning differ from Ned’s?
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3. What events happened in Ned's world on December 5 and December 7, 1941?

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Chapter 7

1. List several reasons why Navajo men did not know how far away Pearl Harbor
was?
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2. Name the Axis powers – why are they called this?

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3. Which paragraph/page supports initial discrimination against Indians by the U.S.

Armed Forces? When did this change for Navajos? Was it equal for all? Why did it
change?
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Chapter 8

1. Compare what a Navajo already knew how to do - with what a Marine recruit
needed to learn.
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2. What does Ned see himself being and doing at the end of this chapter? Is it
realistic?
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Chapter 9

1. What three things did Ned learn that were different from what he learned in
boarding school?
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Reading Check: Chapters 1- 9

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 Chapter Response Questions

Chapter 10 to Chapter 14

As you finish reading each Chapter, answer the following Questions. Make sure
that your answers are writing in complete sentences and that you use details from
your reading to support your answers.

Chapter 10

1. Compare and Contrast the Navajo men's trip to Fort Defiance with the Navajo
people on the Navajo Long Walk.
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2. What are some aspects that you might like or dislike in boot camp, using the
likes and dislikes of Ned and his fellow Marines?
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Chapter 11 & 12

1. List a reason or belief Ned has to support how tough and determined the Navajo
Marines were? What did their Navajo elders teach them about the ways of
warriors?
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2. What new experience was so amazing to Ned after years of boarding school
memories of NOT using Navajo language?
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3. Name the qualities Ned displayed toward the pride he had in becoming a code
talker. Name specific things Ned and his fellow Navajo code talkers remembered.
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4. Describe the difference between having pride and being self-important,
according to the narrator.
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Chapter 13 & 14

1. What can you, the reader infer about the impression (on Ned) from the
statement from Sam, "When we saw them, we realized that our enemies were just
human beings,” might have made?
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Reading Check: Chapters 10 – 16

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Chapter Response Questions

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 Chapter 16 to Chapter 18

As you finish reading each Chapter, answer the following Questions. Make sure
that your answers are writing in complete sentences and that you use details from
your reading to support your answers.

Chapters 16 -18

1. What are some of the things Ned changed his mind about and things he learned
as he went. Name specific skills he needed to survive and do his job as a code
talker?
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2. In Chapter 18: Bougainville, after reading his letter from home, what significant
act does Ned do in place of not being able to go home? Name the event that will
take place and why Ned wants to do this?
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Chapter 19

1. What is the description grandfather uses to tell about the effects of war on the
Navajo code talkers? What act does Ned perform to balance the worry of war with
the Navajo Way?
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Chapter Review: Chapters 17 - 21

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 Chapter Response Questions

Chapter 28 to Chapter 29

As you finish reading each Chapter, answer the following Questions. Make sure
that your answers are writing in complete sentences and that you use details from
your reading to support your answers.

Chapter 28 -29

1. Paul and Rex sent messages about what they saw after the two atomic bombs
had fallen; describe what they saw. What did Ned do after receiving those
messages?
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2. What does it mean to be prejudiced against someone and or have stereotypes

of a culture of people? List some reasons the bartender was prejudiced and if this
could/could not happen today?
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3. From 1943-1969, Navajo Code Talkers (over 400) were not allowed by the
military to speak of their role and pride as Code Talkers in the Marines; it was top
secret. What inferences can be made about how things might have been different
for them, their families and communities if they had been allowed to gain the pride
and honor and speak about their duties, training, and responsibilities?
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4. After 1969, when the work of the code talkers was declassified and they were
finally given recognition, what did Ned believe was more important than any
praise?
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Chapter Review: Chapters 22 – Author’s Note

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