Friday, January 20, 2012

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman


Please read the first posting.....
     This is a lovely story about a young African-American girl wanting a part in her school's play.  The author also has another book called "Boundless Grace."
     This story is part of Unit 1, Let's Learn, in the California Treasures collection by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.

Reading comprehension questions for this book:

1.     Who was Grace? __________________________________________________________
2.     What would Grace do after hearing or reading a story? ________________________________________________________________________
3.     What’s the name of the play Grace’s class is going to do? (p. 46) _______________________________________________________________________
4.     Why did Raj say Grace couldn’t play Peter Pan? (p. 46)  _______________________________________________________________________
5.     Why did Natalie say that Grace couldn’t play Peter Pan? (p. 47) _______________________________________________________________________
6.     What did the teacher do to solve the problem? (p. 47) _________________________________
7.     How do you think Grace’s mother felt when Grace told her what her classmates said? (p. 48-49) ______________________________________________________________________________
8.     Where did Nana and Grace go on Saturday? (p. 50) ____________________________________
9.     What play did they go and see? (p. 50) ______________________________________________
10.  From what country is Nana? (p. 52) _________________________________________________
11.  Who did the class vote for to be Captain Hook? (p. 54) _________________________________
12.  Who did the class vote for to be Wendy? (p. 54) _______________________________________
13.  Who was voted to be Peter Pan? (p. 54) ______________________________________________

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

Please read the first posting.....
Main Directory
For Answer Key Click Link

     This is a cute story for your third grader to read.  I was pleasantly surprised by this story.  I can't write more without giving it away, so I will stop writing.  The author also has another book called "First year Letters."
     This story is part of Unit 1, Let's Learn, in the California Treasures collection by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.


1.     Who was trying to wake up Sarah? ____________________________________________
2.     Why didn’t Sarah want to go to school? ________________________________________
3.     What did Mr. Hartwell hand her? (p. 21) _______________________________________
4.     Who drove Sarah to school? (p. 21) ___________________________________________
5.     Who approached the car that morning? (p. 24) __________________________________
6.     Who is Mrs. Burton? (p. 24) _________________________________________________
Is Sarah a student or a teacher? (p. 27) ________________________________________



Friday, January 13, 2012

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

PLEASE READ INTRODUCTION FIRST
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For Answer Key Click Link

     This is a great holiday story.  Read this story during Christmas and loved it.  The reading level is perfect for your 8-11 year old.  The story takes place in Paris.  The author does a great job with the characters and the meaning of Christmas.  I will read this story every Christmas.
     The following are reading comprehension questions for this book:


Chapter 1

1. Where does the story take place? ________________________
2. What is the name of the hobo? _________________________
3. Armand had no worries of what? __________________________
4. What month is mentioned in the story? ______________________
5. What is the season? ______________________________________________
6. What did Armand push by the Notre Dame cathedral? ______________________________________________________
7. What was the name of the lady that owns the flower-stand? ____________________________________________________
8. Anabel was happy to see Armand.  True or False
9. Armand trundled his buggy toward the _________________.
10. Who stopped Armand as he headed towards the far branch of the __________________________? __________________________________________
11. What was the name of the gypsy woman? ____________________________________
12. Mireli told Armand that he is afraid of children because _______________________________.
13. What do you think are “street urchins”? ___________________________________________
14. What is loitering? ____________________________________________
15. What di one “street urchin” say as Armand walked by? _____________________________________________
16. Who is Father Christmas? ___________________________________
17. Father Christmas rides __________________________________________________________.
18. What did one “street urchin” offer Armand? _______________________________
19. Did the older boy believe in Father Christmas? ________________________________
20. Who was Father Christmas at the Louvre store? _________________________________
21. How long is lunchtime in Paris? ___________________________________
22. Who or what did Armand find at his usual resting spot? ______________________________

Chapter 2

1. What barked at Armand? _________________________________
2. What was the dog’s name? _____________________________
3. As Armand studied the children, he concluded they were rich.  True or False
4. What were the names of the children? _____________________
5. Armand told the children that they have put him out of his home, just like the landlady did with them.  True or False
6. The little girl offered Armand to stay.  Did Armand accept the invitation? Y N
7. What did Armand do with the branches and the dead leaves? __________________
8. What did Armand drop into the big can over the fire? ____________________________________
9. Armand told the children that in the old days bells would be rung in the market places.  What was the reason for ringing the bells? __________________________________________________
10. At what time did the children’s mother arrive to their camp? _______________________________________
11. The woman regarded the bridges in Paris as the last free shelter.  T or F
12. Armand thinks the woman’s trouble is ______________________________.
13. Were the children still there in the morning when Armand woke up? Y or N
14. Did Armand go to school when he was a child?  Yes or No
15. What does Suzy want to be when she grows up?  Yes or No
16. What’s the children’s last name? ________________________________
17. Does Armand remember his last name? Yes or No
18. What does Armand think his last name is? _______________________________________
19. Where does Armand decide to take the children? ____________________________________________________

Chapter 3

1. What did Armand wish he were so people would feed him? ____________________________________________________
2. What was the name of the street where all the vendors were? _____________________________________________________
3. What was Paul mesmerized with? _____________________________
4. Father Christmas asked the children what they wanted for Christmas.  Suzy said she wanted _____________________________.  Paul said he wanted something to _____________________ and Evelyne wanted a ___________________.
5. Who stopped Armand and the kids? _______________________________________________
6. What did the floorwalker say to Armand? ___________________________________________________________

Chapter 4

1. What did Armand persuade the children to do? _____________________________________________________________
2. What did Armand do after they finished singing? ________________________________________________________
3. What did the children have for breakfast? _______________________________________
4. Are the pancakes in Paris different than pancakes in Los Angeles? ___________________________________________________________
5. What is a Breton? __________________________________________________________
6. As the children were singing at the bus stop, who hit Armand on the back? ________________________________________________________________
7. As they walked away from the man with the monkey.  Armand says, “He’s just using the monkey to make money for himself.”  Do you think Armand is doing the same? __________________________________________________________________
8. Why did Madame Calcet get upset at Armand? _______________________________________________________________
9. Why did Armand leave the camp? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 5

1. Why was Armand happy when the fisherman reeled in a shoe? ____________________________________________________________________________
2. What happened to the city over night? ___________________________________________
3. Who was leaving the children as Armand arrived to their camp? _________________________________________________________________________
4. What did Armand do after the children told him what the ladies said? _____________________________________________________________________
5. What was the name of the central market? ____________________________________
6. Why did they call the ancient alley with its dingy shops the Court of Miracles? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Where did Armand take the children? _____________________________________________
8. What was the name of the lady leaving at the camp? _____________________________
9. What was the name of the lady’s daughter? _______________________________________

Chapter 6

1. Tinka says that every spring her family goes to ___________________________________ on the Mediterranean Sea.
2. At what time did Armand go look for the children’s mother? _______________________________________________________________________
3. Why was Madame Calcet upset that her children were with gypsies? ______________________________________________________________________
4. Tinka offered Madame Calcet pigeon stew.  True or False
5. Does Tinka go to school?  Yes or No
6. Does Tinka know how to read or write? Yes or No

Chapter 7

1. What were the Calcet children expecting from Father Christmas, the day before Christmas? __________________________________________________________________
2. Who is Saint Sara? ________________________________________________________________
3. The Calcets decided to go to a big party on Christmas Eve held under the ____________________________________________.  It was hosted by the church people of __________________________________.
4. Madame Calcet wanted to make one stop before going back to the gypsy camp.  What was the stop? ____________________________________________________
5. What did the children see when they returned to the camp? ___________________________________________________________
6. Tinka said they like to give presents because _______________________________________________________________.
7. What did Armand give the gypsies for a Christmas present? _________________________________________________________

Chapter 8

1. Why was Suzy upset? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who was the policeman looking for? _____________________________________________
3. Why did the gypsies begin to pack and tear down the camp? _________________________________________________________________
4. Who wanted to go with the gypsies? _____________________________________________
5. Who was missing when the gypsies left the camp? ______________________________
6. Where did Paul try to get a job? _________________________________________________
7. Why did the policeman return to the camp? ____________________________________
8. What did the policeman say was found at the Café of the Laughing Frog? ______________________________________________________________________
9. Where did Armand say they went? _____________________________________________
10. What did Paul say that even surprised him? ___________________________________

Chapter 9

1. Madame Calcet was reluctant to have Armand get a regular job. True or False
2. Armand took a bath because he needed to look presentable when he applied for work.  True or False
3. Jojo was given a bath, but he was still brown.  True or False
4. What type of job was Armand hoping to get? ______________________________________________________________________
5. Who is going to help him with this job? ___________________________________________
6. What was the name of the floorwalker? __________________________________________
7. Who was looking for a night watchman? __________________________________________
8. The job ended up being a caretaker position instead of a night watchman.T/F
9. The caretaker job paid a lot of money. True or False
10. Living quarters were included with the job.  True or False
11. Why did Armand’s confidence and self esteem go up at the end of the story?  ________________________________________________________________________