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Observe

Nick is special, positive

Mrs Deaver, a new teacher, naive

Notice

She is charmed and believes Nick

Mrs Deaver is not able to control her classroom

Wonder

Is Nick really a naughty student? Or just different and needs others to tap on his uniqueness?

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"Nick Allen had plenty of ideas and he knew what to do with them."

Observe: He is creative. He turned the classroom into a tropical island. He got his classmates to make palm trees and dressed like they were on a summer vacation.

Notice: The chapter does not mention how he got those ideas or what inspired him.

Wonder:

Has Nick ever gotten himself into serious trouble for his ideas?

Does this make him a troublemaker or leader in class?

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"Nick Allen had plenty of ideas, and he knew what to do with them."

Observe: Nick is known for coming up with many ideas.
Notice: We do not yet know what these ideas are or what he has done with them.
Wonder:

What kinds of ideas has Nick had before?

Why would the other students (and maybe teachers) know about them?

What does this tell us about Nick’s personality?

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"To Nick, the whole thing was just one long – successful – science experiment"

Observe: Nick is imaginative and likes to test boundaries.

Notice: He views everyday situations, like school, as a chance to try ideas and see the results, just like a scientist would.

Wonder: Why does Nick think this way?

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Observe

1. Nick came up with a new word 'Frindle' in place on 'pen'.

2. Mrs Granger is a strict teacher. She loves dictionaries.

Notice

1. The word is coined; not in the dictionary (infuriates Mrs Granger who loves dictionaries)

2. That there is some disagreement between Nick and Mrs Granger over the use of 'Frindle'

Wonder

1. Wow! Could a student really coin a word that ends up in the dictionary?

Impactful!

2. How could teachers encourage creativity / Growth mindset / Go beyond the norms?

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'Miss Deaver clapped her hands and said 'it's so colourful'' (chapter 1, pg 1)

Observe: Ms. Deaver is so encouraging.

Notice: She sees all her students in positive light.

Wonder:

-How does she keep up the energy?

-How can she be positive and yet maintain discipline in class?

-Do students take advantage of her kindness?

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'Nick Allen had plenty of ideas and he knew what to do with them' (chp 1, pg 1).

Observe: Nick is very creative.

Notice: He can be challenging to teachers.

Wonder:

-Does he do this intentionally?

-Is he empathetic?

-Has he ever regretted for his actions?

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To Nick, the whole thing was just one-long-and-successful experiment.

Observe: Nick's POV is that the chirping he made was merely an idea he carried out as a science experiment.

Notice: Nick seems to view situations with much curiosity and sees his actions not as mischief but as experiments.

Wonder: Does Nick feel that all his actions are justified since he is merely testing out some ideas of his?

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To Nick, the whole thing was just one long-and successful-science experiment. [Chap1, pg5]

Observe

His pranks were about testing boundaries - where people's limits were and what norms could be challenged.

Notice

The use of the word 'experiment' is interesting to me because his pranks seem to be well-thought out, not just an impulsive, spur of the moment action.

Wonder

I wonder if creativity would blossom or if chaos would reign if Nick runs amok with his experiments.

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But that didn't stop Nick from trying to liven things up. [Chapter 1, pg3]

Observe

Nick doesn't give up his 'prankster lifestyle', does he?

Notice

love diction here: liven things up. Suggests that his pranks, while mischievous, makes school life more interesting and exciting! For students at least.

Wonder

I wonder if teachers would ever come to see things from a student's perspective, or if they secretly think that they would enjoy being Nick's classmate.

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"To Nick, the whole thing was just one long - and successful - science experiment." (p. 5)

Observe: Nick had successfully done an "experiment"

Notice: 'science experiment' the choice of wording here is interesting

Wonder: Why does Nick treat the reactions of people around him as 'experiments'? How does he view other people?

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"Miss Deaver was teaching the hula... tied together" (p.2)

Observe: Everyone including the teacher is having fun in the classroom, as if they are at a beach

Notice: This is not to be expected in a typical classroom based on my own experience

Wonder: What would other teachers or school leaders think?

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"Hey Janet - I'm sorry you got yelled at during reading. It was my fault. I was the one who made that sound." (Chp 1, pg 4)

Observe:

Nick admitted to pulling a prank and apologised to his classmate for getting yelled at on his behalf.

Notice:

Nick, though seemingly mischievous, has a conscience.

Wonder:

Why doesn't Nick own up and apologise to teachers?

What do rules and authority mean to Nick?

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Nick Allen had plenty of ideas and he knew what to do with them. (Chapter 1 Pg 1)

Observe

The chapter introduces Nick as someone who likes to test boundaries but is not mean or harmful. He is a smart and creative boy who often finds clever ways to avoid doing work in class.

Notice

Nick's creativity and confidence are his strong traits. Teachers seem to know about his tricks, but he still manages to catch them off guard.

Wonder

What will Nick's next idea be? Will Nick get into trouble for one of his tricks?

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"Nick said, "Hey Janet - I'm sorry you got yelled at during reading. It was my fault. I was the one who made that sound." (Chapter 1)

Observe: Nick felt bad about getting Janet into trouble and apologised to her.

Notice: Nick is honest towards his friend. He knew that it was wrong of him to causing Janet to be scolded.

Wonder:

Why did he not apologise to Mrs. Avery?

Why did he choose to make the sound and disrupt the lesson despite knowing that it was wrong to do it?

Why did he own up to Janet and not to Mrs Avery?

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"All the kids at Lincoln Elementary School knew that at the end of the line - fifth grade - Mrs Granger would be the one grading their spelling tests and their reading tests, and worst of all, their vocabulary tests - week after week, month after month." (Ch 1, pg 8)

Observe:

Mrs Granger has quite a reputation as a teacher; she is known to be one teaching and grading their work in the fifth grade.

Notice:

She seems to be the only one doing the teaching and grading for that level, and no other teacher seems to be in the picture.

Wonder:

- Is she the Head of the English department or something along those lines?

- Why are there seemingly no other teachers teaching that level? Are they really not as effective and skillful as teachers?

- Is this a recommended practice - having just one teacher being in charge of the entire cohort of students?

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Was Nick a troublemaker? Hard to say. One thing’s for sure: Nick Allen had plenty of ideas, and he knew what to do with them.

Observe:

People may have divided opinions about Nick - troublemaker or not.

Notice: The writer withholds his judgment here and only confirms that Nick has plenty of ideas and knows what to do with them, that is, he is resourceful and creative. He is likely to be an effective problem-solver.

Wonder:

Are all troublemakers associated with having plenty of ideas and intelligence?

Why do Nick's ideas and the way he plays around with them make him a troublemaker in others' eyes?

Does Nick have an unconventional way of implementing his ideas?

Who decides what ideas are constructive or disruptive?

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“Was Nick a troublemaker? Hard to say.”

Observe:

- The author posed a question about Nick.

- His personal response is unclear, “Hard to say.”

Notice:

- The author appears to want his readers to think about Nick’s behaviour and form their own opinions.

Wonder:

-  What kind of mischief will Nick get up to?

-  Would I brand him as a troublemaker?

-  Is the author trying to allude that Nick's intentions are actually pure and hence, misunderstood by others?

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Observe:

Nick makes a loud bird sound during silent reading, and his teacher can’t figure out who did it.

Notice:

He learned the sound from a nature show and used it to play a clever trick without getting caught. It was planned and based on something he knew.

Wonder:

Is Nick just having fun, or is he testing how much control he has in the classroom?

Why does he go so far to hide behind the joke instead of just telling the truth?

Does he see this as a way to make school more exciting?

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Observe:

Nick added real sand to the classroom floor to make the beach theme more realistic.

Notice:

While the students and teacher seemed to enjoy it, the custodian did not, and it led to trouble.

Wonder:

Did Nick think about the consequences before doing this?

Was his goal to impress the class or just to take the joke as far as possible?

What would I have done in that situation?

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"So first he got everyone to make small palm trees out of green and brown construction paper and tape them onto the corners of each desk." (Ch 1, p1)

Observe: Nick got his classmates to decorate the classroom.

Notice: Nick has great influence over his friends.

Wonder:

What is it about Nick's personality that endears him to the classmates/ emboldens them to do as he says?

Are his classmates aware that their actions may get them into trouble?

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"Nick Allen had plenty of ideas, and he knew what to do with them. (Ch 1, p1)

Observe: Nick is creative.

Notice: How he is creative is not explicitly mentioned.

Wonder:

What sort of ideas did Nick have and did he execute all of them?

What was the motivation behind each of Nick’s ideas?

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Observe:

Nick did not fit the mould of types of students in school.

Notice:

Nick's playful demeanour is an anti-thesis of the traditional classroom and strict Mrs Granger.

Wonder:

How would I react to Nick's antics if I was Miss Deaver?

What was the author's purpose for introducing Nick in such light in chapter 1?

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Observe: Nick is creative and has an interesting perspective of the things around him.

Notice: Despite him being different, he seems to be well liked in school.

Wonder: What is Nick like at home?

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"Miss Deaver was surprised again at just how creative her students could be"

Observe

The class did something unexpected which surprised Miss Deaver and that was not the first time it has happened. (use of the word 'again')

Notice

I think Miss Deaver did not know how to respond. (the word 'creative' is italicised)

Wonder

Does Miss Deaver do any real teaching in class since she was teaching the hula after that?

How can a new teacher like Miss Deaver balance encouraging creativity and maintain order in the classroom?

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

Observe

Nick is an enigma. He could be deceiving yet honest. He could be 'cruel' in teasing his teacher, yet compassionate to his classmate.

Notice

He played Mrs Avery for a fool when he imitated the blackbird sound. However, he felt guilty that Janet was wrongly accused and he apologised and confessed to her.

Wonder

Is Nick a devil or an angel?

How would I react if Nick played the same trick on me in class?

Why did Janet keep his secret and root for him?

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Miss Deaver was surprised again at just how creative her students could be. Observe

• Miss Deaver - is a new teacher, 6 months into her teaching journey.

Notice

• Her tolerance level of what is typically "acceptable" in a Singapore classroom setting is really really low.

Wonder

• I wonder how her colleagues perceive Miss Deaver classroom management style. Do they see her as open-minded and nurturing creativity or as lacking structure and experience?

Could her classroom practices be unintentionally straining relationships with school support staff, such as the custodian? Sweeping up sand and cleaning sand up is not an easy task. Has she considered this impact?

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"Nick would not be on any of them" Observe

• Nick is unique — unlike anyone else in school.

Notice

• He seems to be known by everyone in school, and they all seem to agree about what Nick is like, giving him some form of reputation.

Wonder

• He is said to be not “really bad”, “really smart” and “really good”, but we are not actually told what he really is like. What is he really like?

• Why does the writer not tell us directly what Nick is like?

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

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?