Because of Mr. Terupt
DECEMBER
1. What is Mr. Terupt’s idea for the holiday party?
Mr. Terupt was going to have his class form small groups to work to create a center focused on a certain holiday (Christmas, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah). Each center will include a research component, a game, an arts and crafts activity, and food. (pp. 78-79)
2. Why did Jessica and the others go along with Alexia’s plan to be the manager of the group even though it was not a fair job?
Jessica and the others allowed Alexia to be the manager of the groups because it was easier not to have her involved in their tasks. (p. 80)
3. What does Mr. Terupt tell the girls to do when someone is being mean? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Mr. Terupt said if you let people get away with being mean, they’re going to keep being mean. You need to stick up for each other, and stick together. (p. 81)
Part 2 is your OPINION.
4. What prank does Peter pull on Luke? How would you react to this?
Peter puts Elmer’s glue all over the bottom of Luke’s sneakers (Luke has to wash them off in the bathroom). Then Peter got water all over the floor from the water fountain and Luke almost fell in it (Mrs. Williams did).
Part 2 is your OPINION.
5. There are several foreshadowing sentences that lead us to believe something big and terrible is going to happen soon. Write some of these sentences down along with the page number where they are found.
Page 88 Sentence “I thought for sure this event would be unequaled by any other for the rest of the year. Little did I know that something much bigger was coming.”
Page _____ Sentence ______
______
Page _____ Sentence ______
______
6. Why is it an ironic thought for Alexia to think that Mr. Terupt is being a bully to her when he pulls her into the hallway?
Mr. Terupt pulled Alexia into the hallway because she was being a bully to her classmates.
7. What do we learn about Alexia that tells us why she is a bully?
Alexia’s mom and dad used to fight all the time. Eventually her mom kicked her father out, and told Alexia to not let people push her around the way the father did.
8. What is Jeffrey’s secret?
Jeffrey’s was only born in hopes of helping his brother Michael. Michael was born with Down syndrome and had leukemia. Jeffrey donated stem cells and bone marrow to Michael, but it was too late; Michael died.
9. What does Jessica say to Jeffrey that he has never heard, but needs to hear?
Jessica told Jeffrey that it wasn’t his fault. He has never that before.
10. What does Jessica learn from her mother about her father?
Jessica learned from her mother that her father wants to get a divorce. The papers arrived in the mail.
Because of Mr. Terupt
JANUARY
1. How do you think Jessica felt when her dad called to make sure her mother received the divorce papers but didn’t ask to speak with her?
OPINION: Jessica probably felt devastated when her father called to make sure her mom received the divorce papers but didn’t ask to speak with her. It probably made her feel like she wasn’t important and that he didn’t love/care about her.
2. Why does Jessica have mixed feelings about her mother telling Anna’s mom about her father?
When Jessica’s mom told Jessica she told Anna’s mom about her father, Jessica said she felt surprised, angry, and happy all at the same time. (p.104) She probably had all those emotions because she wanted to keep her secret private, but at the same time Anna’s mom is in a similar situation- single with a child, so their mothers could relate to each other.
3. Why does Anna feel like a mistake? How do you think this makes her feel?
Anna feels like a mistake because her mom had her when she was 16 years old. This probably makes her feel bad, as if she changed/ruined her mother’s life (it would have been much different if she wasn’t around).
4. Why does Danielle really like the class meetings?
Danielle likes class meetings because everyone gets to have a voice
5. What is the class reward system?
The class reward system is a chain link. Each day the class exhibits extraordinary behavior, they earn a link for that day. When the chain hits the floor, they earn a free day.
6. Why is Peter so excited?
Peter is so excited because the class gets to go outside in the snow for part of their free day.
7. Why does Jessica think she was wrong about Luke?
Jessica thinks she was wrong about Luke because she prejudged him and though he was self-centered, but it turns out he is not. He even offered her his sister’s old snow pants.
8. Luke was wrong in his estimation of the class reward system. Why?
Luke was wrong in his estimation of the class reward system because after all his careful measurements he guessed the chain would be 26 links, when in fact it was 27 links.
9. Why does Luke get angry at the winners of the reward system estimation?
Luke got angry at both Peter and Anna because he knows they both just took a wild guess, and he did careful measurements. Also, Peter walked up to get his prize as if he was famous.
10. Jessica told Jeffrey that it was not his fault. Who else had told this to Jeffrey? Why was this important to Jeffrey?
Michael is the only other person to tell Jeffrey it wasn’t his fault. This was important because it occurred right before Michael passed away, and because neither one of his parents talk to him anymore.
Because of Mr. Terupt
FEBRUARY
1. Describe Peter’s excitement at going to play outside in the snow.
Peter is very excited about going out in the snow. He wants to go out into the snow right away, but his teacher said they will wait until later to go out into the snow so they don’t have to sit in wet clothes all day.
2. Peter thinks, “That was the last time I got to hang out with him.” Predict what you think is going to happen.
OPINION
3. Why is Luke frustrated with Peter?
Luke is frustrated with Peter because he feels Peter thinks he is so smart all of a sudden (winning the link estimation and b/c of Scattegories “babes” incident).
4. Predict what Jeffrey might have planned for Peter outside.
Jeffrey might want to throw a snowball at Peter, or knock him over in the snow.
5. Write down step by step events that lead to Peter throwing the snowball.
Anna, Danielle, and Jessica pushed Peter over when he was standing on top of the snow mound. Once he fell, Alexia kicked snow in his face. Peter tried to get up and then Jeffrey held his face in the snow. One Peter finally got up he was so angry and threw the “ice ball” he had in his pocket.
6. What are the thoughts of the students in the class after the fateful snowball thrown?
No one wanted anyone to get hurt. Everyone wished the teacher would be OK. Luke felt Mr. Terupt let it go too far.
7. Which of the students feel as though it is their fault the snowball was thrown?
Jessica feels as if it is her fault.
8. Whose fault do you think the thrown snowball is? Why?
I think it is Peter’s fault the snowball was thrown because Mr. Terupt said they were not allowed to throw snowballs.
9. Luke thinks, “Mr. Terupt should have stopped up. He let it get too far.” Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
OPINION
10. Predict what will happen in Part 2.
OPINION