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"[Mrs Granger] had two skirt-and jacket outfits, her gray uniform and her blue uniform, which she always wore over a white shirt" (Ch 2)

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"[Mrs Granger] had two skirt-and jacket outfits, her gray uniform and her blue uniform, which she always wore over a white shirt" (Ch 2)

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Observe: Mrs Granger dresses formally to school every day and has
only two outfits.
Notice: Mrs Granger is the only one described to wear a uniform in the book.
Wonder:

Do students need to wear school uniform? (doesn't seem like based on the pictures)

Why does Mrs Granger expect herself to wear a uniform? (so different from our school!)

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Notice: The 3 teachers have very different expectations of students in class.

Miss Deaver seems to appreciate students having fun.

Mrs Avery wants to discipline the students (by warning them not to make the high-pitched sound), but doesn't have the strategy to find out who was behind the sound.

Mrs Granger seems to be effective in maintaining discipline in class and has the ability to see through and spoil students' plans.

Wonder:

Is the school generally strict with students, but is Miss Deaver an exception, as she is an untrained teacher?

Is Mrs Granger respected by teachers and the principal for her ability to maintain discipline or do they see her as being excessive?

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The school does not seem to give students the freedom that they want

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The school does not seem to give students the freedom that they want

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"The third-grade trip to the South Seas ended. Suddenly." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.subject
"The third-grade trip to the South Seas ended. Suddenly." (Ch 1)

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Observe: There is a short sentence that stands out from the rest of the passage.
Notice: How and why it ended is not explained
Wonder:

What does this tell me about what happened to the class?

How did the episode end?

Why is this not phrased as one sentence "The third-grade trip to the South Seas ended suddenly"?

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"After all, Mrs Granger had asked for it." (Ch 4)

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"After all, Mrs Granger had asked for it." (Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.body
Notice: Nick seems to think that his action is
justified.
Wonder:
Through this Chapter, what kind of a student
do we think Nick is?

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"For Mrs. Granger. ... Thanks to Mrs. Granger ...because Mrs. Granger... For Mrs. Granger" (Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.subject
"For Mrs. Granger. ... Thanks to Mrs. Granger ...because Mrs. Granger... For Mrs. Granger" (Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Mrs Granger's name is repeated many times.
Wonder: What do these quotes tell us about Nick's feelings toward Mrs. Granger?

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"Several kids smiled, and a few peeked at the clock." (Ch 3)

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"Several kids smiled, and a few peeked at the clock." (Ch 3)

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Observe: A number of students in class are happy about how much time is wasted.

Notice: Only "several kids smiled".

Wonder:

What about the other kids who are not smiling? Do they enjoy Nick's time-wasters?

Where do you think the rest of the class are in the tussle between Nick and Mrs. Granger?

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Relationship between Nick and Mrs Granger

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Relationship between Nick and Mrs Granger

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"And probably a little black mark next to his name on the seating chart." (Ch 3)

# data[].attributes.subject
"And probably a little black mark next to his name on the seating chart." (Ch 3)

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Observe: Nick guesses that Mrs. Granger has added him to her blacklist.
Notice: This sentence comes after a series of things that Nick does not look forward to.
Wonder:

What does this tell us about Nick's concerns?

How does this enrich our understanding of Nick as a character?

How is Mrs Granger a teacher that's unlike other teachers Nick has had?

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Nick and Mrs Granger have different views on the dictionary though they both appreciate language

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Nick and Mrs Granger have different views on the dictionary though they both appreciate language

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"the kind of book it takes two kids to carry" "sort of like the altar at the front of a church" (Ch 2)

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"the kind of book it takes two kids to carry" "sort of like the altar at the front of a church" (Ch 2)

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Observe:
The dictionary must be really big and heavy.
Notice:

It seems bigger than the children.

The classroom is compared to a church.

Wonder:

What does this make Mrs Granger? What does this make the dictionary?

How do you use your dictionary? Does your dictionary make you feel the same?

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"It was a long article, and the kids were bored to death. But no one looked bored at all." (Ch 5)

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"It was a long article, and the kids were bored to death. But no one looked bored at all." (Ch 5)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Nick's classmates were hiding their boredom as Nick was reading his report.
Notice: Nick's classmates are cooperating with Nick and allowing Nick to waste time in Mrs Granger's class.
Wonder:

What motivates them to cooperate with Nick?

If another classmate does the same thing, would the classmates be as cooperative?

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"Without question this modern.... had a hand in its making." (Ch 5)

# data[].attributes.subject
"Without question this modern.... had a hand in its making." (Ch 5)

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Observe: There is a long passage with many difficult words, written in a way that is different from the rest of the book. This is an extremely long sentence.
Notice: This is an excerpt from the dictionary. The content in this specific extract seems to be similar to what Mrs Granger says about why dog means dog later in the chapter--that people are the ones who decide the meaning of words.
Wonder:

How do you feel about reading this extract? How much of it did you understand?

How do you think Nick felt, reading this sentence?

Why does he compare it to reading "the ingredients on a shampoo bottle"?

What impression does it give us about dictionaries and Mrs. Granger?

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"every morning, rain or shine, snow or sleet, hail or wind. She had a perfect attendance record that stretched back farther than anyone could remember"... "it didn't matter to Mrs Granger if you weren't in fifth grade, because the way she saw it, sooner or later, you would be. All the kids at LES knew that at the end of the line--fifth grade--Mrs.Granger would be the one grading their spelling tests and their reading tests... week after week, month after month." "sooner or later Mrs Granger would find out" (Ch 2)

# data[].attributes.subject
"every morning, rain or shine, snow or sleet, hail or wind. She had a perfect attendance record that stretched back farther than anyone could remember"... "it didn't matter to Mrs Granger if you weren't in fifth grade, because the way she saw it, sooner or later, you would be. All the kids at LES knew that at the end of the line--fifth grade--Mrs.Granger would be the one grading their spelling tests and their reading tests... week after week, month after month." "sooner or later Mrs Granger would find out" (Ch 2)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: There are many mentions of time in the description of Mrs Granger (e.g. "every morning", "sooner or later", "week after week, month after month").
Notice: Mrs Granger seems very consistent in her behaviour in school. She seems to be timeless/unchanging. Nothing seems to be able to stop her.
Wonder:

How would you feel if you had her as a teacher?

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'"But someone is asking for big trouble," said Mrs Avery, looking more like a hawk every second.' (Ch 1, p.4)

# data[].attributes.subject
'"But someone is asking for big trouble," said Mrs Avery, looking more like a hawk every second.' (Ch 1, p.4)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe:
Mrs Avery is warning the class. She is compared to a hawk.

Notice:

She is quite stern, and wants to maintain discipline in class.

She looks like a hawk, and her name sounds like "aviary". Nick was also trying to mimic a bird sound.

Wonder:

Why are there so many references to birds?

If I were Nick, would I be afraid of this warning?

Why did she at first think it was Janet? Is Janet a troublemaker too?

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"Miss Deaver was teaching the hula to some kids near the front of the room, and a tall, thin, shirtless boy with chestnut hair was just spiking a Nerf volleyball over a net made from six T-shirts tied together." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.subject
"Miss Deaver was teaching the hula to some kids near the front of the room, and a tall, thin, shirtless boy with chestnut hair was just spiking a Nerf volleyball over a net made from six T-shirts tied together." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: The class seems to be having a lot of fun. They are behaving like they are at the beach. Miss Deaver is teaching something, but some students are engaged in their own activities.
Notice: In a classroom?!
Wonder:

What would the principal think?

What led up to this event?

What would have happened if this took place in my classroom?

How would my teacher respond?

Would s/he be like Miss. Deaver?

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"That's so cute!"... "It's so colorful?"... "Miss Deaver was surprised again at justhow creative her students could be." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.subject
"That's so cute!"... "It's so colorful?"... "Miss Deaver was surprised again at justhow creative her students could be." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Italicised words and the use of exclamation mark and question mark. They
seem to be praises.

Notice:

The italics is applied to adjectives.

The question mark seems to change the tone of Miss Deaver.

Wonder:

(Craft) Why the use of italics? What is being shown there?

(Craft) Why the different use of punctuation marks?

(Craft) Does this tell me something about the teacher's response?

What would have happened if this took place in my classroom? (Isn't using a screwdriver to turn up the thermostat an offence?)

How would my teacher respond?

Would s/he be like Miss. Deaver?

Why do we not have ideas like Nick's?

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"giving this report could actually be fun. He could make it into something special." (Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.subject
"giving this report could actually be fun. He could make it into something special." (Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Nick is trying to spice things up in school again. He has an idea.

Notice: Nick seems to always be able to find a way to make things "fun" and work his way.

Wonder:

What do you think he planned?

What motivates Nick?

What kinds of qualities does Nick need to have in order to pull this off?

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"This was not the way school was supposed to work. Not for Nick." vs James "I already knew how to put first things first."(Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.subject
"This was not the way school was supposed to work. Not for Nick." vs James "I already knew how to put first things first."(Ch 4)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe:
There is a comparison between Nick and his brother.

Notice:

Nick and his brother see school and their priorities very differently.

Nick does not seem to be used to doing homework for long hours.

Wonder:

How is school supposed to work for Nick?

How does Nick see school?

How is he different from his brother, James?

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"Nick was an expert at asking the delaying question--also known as the teacher-stopper, or the guaranteed timewaster"(Chapter 3)

# data[].attributes.subject
"Nick was an expert at asking the delaying question--also known as the teacher-stopper, or the guaranteed timewaster"(Chapter 3)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: There are a few names for Nick's strategy--"teacher-stopper" and "guaranteed timewaster".

Notice: Nick is seen as the "expert" at this which suggests that this is something he which he is known for.

Wonder:

What is it about Nick's questions that teachers will be tricked?

What is Nick's reputation in school?

What does Mrs. Granger's response to Nick's actions tell us about her?

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"Nick had no particular use for the dictionary. He liked words a lot, and was good at using them... he read all the time." (Ch 2)

# data[].attributes.subject
"Nick had no particular use for the dictionary. He liked words a lot, and was good at using them... he read all the time." (Ch 2)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Nick likes language and reading but he does not enjoy using the dictionary.

Notice: Nick delays Mrs Granger in her class not because he does not like the subject. He delays the class for some other reason.

Wonder: How are Nick and Mrs. Granger different in their opinion on how to learn language?

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Even though Nick does not seem to care about pleasing his teachers, he seems to want to remain in the good books of teachers, to maintain a certain reputation in school

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Even though Nick does not seem to care about pleasing his teachers, he seems to want to remain in the good books of teachers, to maintain a certain reputation in school

# data[].attributes.headline
Nick has some form of influence in school

# data[].attributes.subject
Nick has some form of influence in school

# data[].attributes.headline
Nick has creative ideas because he draws links between different aspects of his life, and he does not let himself be bound by school rules.

# data[].attributes.subject
Nick has creative ideas because he draws links between different aspects of his life, and he does not let himself be bound by school rules.

# data[].attributes.headline
Nick seems to care about his friends more than he cares about his teachers.

# data[].attributes.subject
Nick seems to care about his friends more than he cares about his teachers.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Hey Janet--I'm sorry you got yelled at during reading. It was my fault." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.subject
"Hey Janet--I'm sorry you got yelled at during reading. It was my fault." (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Nick is apologetic for getting Janet in trouble. He is taking responsibility by saying "it was [his] fault".

Notice: It is the first time he seems apologetic for something. He is not sorry about annoying Mrs Avery.

Wonder:

Why does he apologise to Janet when he is causing annoyance to Mrs Avery (and not Janet)?

Why does he not apologise to Mrs Avery?

What does his apology to Janet tell us about him?

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"The whole thing was just one long--and successful--science experiment." (Ch 1)

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"The whole thing was just one long--and successful--science experiment." (Ch 1)

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Observe: He manages to influence Janet to join him in this "science experiment"

Notice: There is a also a comparison made between what happens in class with science experiments. (Nick's actions were considered an "experiment").

Wonder:

How does Nick see the world around him?

How does Nick manage to influence his classmates?

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"Nick made the great blackbird discovery. One night he learned on a TV show... The next day during silent reading, Nick glanced at his teacher, and he noticed that Mrs. Avery's nose was curved--kind of like the beak of a hawk. So Nick let out a high, squeaky blackbird. 'peep!'" (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.subject
"Nick made the great blackbird discovery. One night he learned on a TV show... The next day during silent reading, Nick glanced at his teacher, and he noticed that Mrs. Avery's nose was curved--kind of like the beak of a hawk. So Nick let out a high, squeaky blackbird. 'peep!'" (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: Nick applied what he learnt on TV in class.

Notice:

Nick drew a connection between TV and his real life.

Wonder:
What do the things Nick notices and how he responds tell us abut Nick?

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"But that didn't stop Nick from trying to liven things up. ... needed a good jolt once in a while" (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.subject
"But that didn't stop Nick from trying to liven things up. ... needed a good jolt once in a while" (Ch 1)

# data[].attributes.body
Observe: the words "liven" and "needed" are used to describe the impact of Nick's actions.

Notice: Nick seems to see his actions as
positive.

Wonder:

What do these suggest about the school?

What does this suggest about Nick? Relate this to what has been said about Nick and to Nick's actions.

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A community where students know each other

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A community where students know each other

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Observe: Everyone in school knows him, and knows something about him.

Notice: Readers are not told what it is that makes Nick so special.

Wonder:

Why do they seem to all agree on what Nick is like?

What does it suggest about Nick and the community?

Are there things in my school community that everyone can agree on?

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"Nick deserved a list all his own" (Ch 1)

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"Nick deserved a list all his own" (Ch 1)

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Observe: Nick is said to be unlike others

Notice: How he is different is not told.

Wonder:

Why does he deserve a list of his own?

What sort of list could it be?

What does it say about him?

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Teacher who seems to be able to challenge Nick and his ideas

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Teacher who seems to be able to challenge Nick and his ideas

# data[].attributes.headline
Teachers who are unable to manage Nick's ideas

# data[].attributes.subject
Teachers who are unable to manage Nick's ideas

# data[].attributes.headline
Nick's behaviour in class, and how he views school

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Nick's behaviour in class, and how he views school

# data[].attributes.headline
How Nick is viewed by his schoolmates and how he is different from them

# data[].attributes.subject
How Nick is viewed by his schoolmates and how he is different from them