Gooney Bird Greene

When Gooney Bird first arrives at Watchtower Elementary School, her class had an established routine, and many of the students seemed set in their habits. Malcolm, for example, was always be in his own world rather than paying attention to the lesson, but it is not long before Gooney’s stories inspire him to break out of his shell and start asking questions. The first of these is when Malcolm asks Gooney if her ears are pierced, and he announces that his own mother’s ears are pierced. It shows he is paying attention, interested in what Gooney is saying, and most importantly, he is relating to it and applying it to his own life. Students start coming to school early, eager to start the day, learn, and engage in more vibrant discussion, “even Malcolm, who had never been early before” (54). Everyone in class seems to have endless questions and tidbits of their own lives to share with Gooney Bird. Felicia Ann remains the only exception but does finally speak in the story’s conclusion. She usually stares at the ground without speaking as though she cannot pull herself out of her own thoughts. The constant dialogue in the classroom outweighs the narration tenfold, as Gooney’s stories and the many questions that the children have tend to do most of the storytelling. Gooney’s ability to engage her peers and inspire them to learn is part of What Makes a Great Teacher. When Gooney is late one day, the class becomes distraught as though this new routine is already something they depend on.

The more stories that Gooney Bird tells, the more that the class and the reader get to know about her, her past, and what makes her special. Through her story about the black poodle, the class learns that Gooney Bird is a great detective and a helpful neighbor, but in her old town, she often played alone. When Gooney tells the class she had to go through 67 gumballs to get both diamond earrings, her persistence is clear. When Gooney describes the clothing of the characters in the story, she loses their attention, so she learns something about her audience and about how to keep a story flowing. She remarks, “It doesn’t matter what clothes the prince had. The main character in this story is Gooney Bird, and it is important to tell a lot about the main character because the main character is right smack in the middle of everything” (44). Gooney’s statement might not always be true, but it is true for her and the stories she tells. Gooney also learns to guide her audience, urging them to pay attention for the word “suddenly” and reminding them that it means something surprising is around the corner. Malcolm is the first to hear it and point it out when Gooney uses the word, further showing that he is immersed in the lesson. The class’s behavior adds to the suspense of Gooney’s stories because their questions and comments frequently delay her as she tells them. Gooney’s storytelling ability helps the class learn How to Transform Real Life Into Something Creative.