The Last Loon: Reading Response Questions

The Last Loon by Rebecca Upjohn: Guided Reading Questions 

Due Date: Dec 11, 2017

 1) When Evan arrives at Aunt Mag’s, he views having to stay with her “in the wilderness” as a punishment.  What does he dislike “the wilderness”?  

2) Explain three differences between the city and the country. Where would you live?

3) How scary is it when you don’t know someone and you find out that you have to spend time with that person?  Have you ever had that experience? Explain.

4) What has made you feel abandoned in the past?  Can you explain an experience that  you have had?

5) Peter says on pg. 28, “Round here, jobs have no gender attached to them...” 

What does Peter mean by that? Does that explain Aunt Mag’s reaction to Evan’s question?

6) Why was Evan so thrilled to receive a gift from his new friend Cedar? Do you think he  

    has changed his mind about what he thinks about the wilderness? Explain your thinking.

7) What does the verb “hesitated” mean?  Have you every hesitated about something? 

    When and where? Was it a good choice to have hesitated? Expain what happened.

8) Why did Aunt Mag lose her temper and go to jail? Was it worth it? Please explain.

9) From your perspective, why does it matter so much to Evan that the Loon survives?

10) In chapter 10, Evan attempts to rescue the loon. Why does he try to rescue the loon by himself? Explain your thinking.

11) Evan did not consider ice safety before going on the thin ice.  How can you keep 

      yourself safe around icy ponds and lakes?

12) Why was Evan surprised to find out his Aunt Mag is actually a doctor; a scientist with a PhD.? 

Explain why Evan acted so shocked.  

13) In chapter 13, Evan says Aunt Mag looks at him like she can see inside him -   

      including both the good and the not-so-good.  Why does this make Evan feel 

      strange? Have you ever felt like someone can understand you the same way?    

14) Explain the word “ricocheted”.  Is it a verb or a noun? Please use it in a sentence.

15) Do you agree with Aunt Mag when she mentions that wildlife is all around us, we 

      just have to look for it?  Explain your thinking.

Wanting Mor: Reading Response Questions

Wanting Mor -  Reading Response Questions 

by: Rukhsana Khan

* Please write a paragraph for each of the guided reading questions below. 

Due Date: Dec 11, 2017

1) Why does Jameela’s father decide to move them to Kabul?

2) What problem does Jameela’s father have that makes it hard for Jameela to respect him?

3)  Would you feel the same way if he was your father? Explain. 

4) Jameela talks about a time when her father was different. What happened to change him? 

5) Khala Gul uses the girls in her orphanage to get money to support the orphanage. Is she a ‘good’ character or an ‘antagonistic’ character? Explain. 

6) Why do you think Soraya and Zeba don’t want Jameela to have the
operation? 

7) Why did Agha Akram’s wife refuse to let Jameela stay with them?
Was she a ‘good’ character or an antagonistic character? Explain. 

8) What does it mean when Jameela’s grandfather says “what made a pot strong was the firing” What was Jameela’s grandfather referring to in this saying? 

9) When Jameela’s mother says “If you can’t be beautiful you should at least be good” what do you think she means by that?

10) Most stories have one climax (most exciting part), but some could argue that there are two climactic scenes in this novel. Which two scenes do you think are the most climactic? 

11)  A motif is a recurring symbol that takes on a special significance in a story. Name three motifs in the novel. Explain their significance and what they symbolize. 

12)  Name one theme from the novel.  Why is this important to read about? Explain with connections to your own life.

13) Does the title Wanting Mor match the novel? Why or why not?

 14) Jameela is born a cleft lip, do you think that things would have been much better if she was born without one?

 15) Do you think Jameela made the right decision to stay at the orphanage instead of being with her dad and stepmother? Explain your thinking.

Luck of Jude: Reading Response Questions

Reading Response Questions:

TO DO:  Write a minimum 6 sentences for each chapter response.  

If you are behind a chapter, please take the book home and catch up on your reading.  Merci!

DUE DATE: Dec 11, 2017

___________________________________________________

1) In Chapter 1, Terrence and Sanjay get into a fight at school.  Have you ever been in a disagreement or conflict at school and how did it feel?  If you have never ever been in a disagreement or a conflict, what would you do if you found yourself in one?

2) Jude’s parents are divorced, that means Jude lives with his mom and his grandmother.  Why doesn’t he get to see his dad more?  What does his dad do?  Do you think that Jude would like to spend more time with his dad? Why or why not?

3) “They say it’s good luck when a chestnut hits you on the head!” (p. 21)Tell me what is considered good luck for you, and what kind of “luck” did you receive ?

4) “Everybody would think that I was a chicken.” (p. 32) What does this expression remind you of? Do you agree that people will think badly of Sanjay if he acted like a “chicken”?  Why or why not?

5) Even though I didn’t particularly like the amount of blood and fighting, I liked how Larsen redeemed himself when Jude doesn’t resort to violence after being punched in the face. Violence is not the answer. Tell me three strategies that we need to use to solve our challenges and daily problems with others.

6) Terrence is new to the school, he has no friends and he doesn’t know   how to fit in. Is this a good  excuse to go around and pick fights with people? Why or why not?

7) “Sometimes I don’t know what I am doing until I’ve done it and then it’s too late to do anything about it.” (p. 52)  What advice whould you give Terrence to help him? Have you ever seen this happen to you or someone else?  What strategies could Terrence use or learn?

8) Jude called Terrence some not-so-nice names.  Is this a good strategy to deal with his feelings about being hit by Terrence? How would Jude be able to find a way to forgive Terrence?

9) Jude’s Nani (grandma), teaches Jude to see beyond differences and be   a friend. What important “life lessons” have you learned from your parents or grandparents?

10) Jude’s Nani is serious about winning and doesn’t just let Jude win.  Is Nani’s competitive nature a good characteristic? Would you want to play against someone who will let you win or actually be good competition? Please explain your thoughts.

11) “Who wants to be friends with someone who is always hitting people?” asks Sanjay. (p.70) Even though Terrence has a temper, do you think that Sanjay and Jude could be friends with Terrence? Why or why not?

12) Throughout the story, we learn how much Jude loves lists (as do I).    Each chapter starts with a list as visual interest and grabbing the reader’s interest. For example: Things that help me fall asleep, or Things that bug me about my dad.  Have you ever used a list? What kind of lists do you or have seen others use? Why is it important for Jude to make his lists? Please explain.

13) Jude’s mom reminds Jude about how he was the new boy when they’d first moved to their new apartment. She asks Jude to be nice to Terrence.  Is this a good idea for Jude’s mom to ask him to be nice to Terrence? Why or why not?

14)  Terrence doesn’t want to be in Toronto, he wants to be back in           England.  Does this make it a good excuse for Terrence to be mean to others?

15) In class, Jude starts to talk himself out of trouble with his teacher and then talks himself into being Terrence’s partner for their school project.  Do you think that he should have been honest and told his teacher what was really going on? Or...was this decision to officially announce that he’ll be Terrence’s partner a happy accident?  Explain why.

Dec 11th = Comprehension Test & Reading Response Due date

Salut! We've had to adjust the due date for the Reading Responses for the guided reading books.

Please note that we will be having the Comprehension Test on Dec 11th, which is also the same date that the reading responses are due.

Merci Beaucoup!

Mme :)

FYI - ROM trip forms due by Monday Nov 6

We are headed to the ROM Nov 7th for a workshop of Ancient Greece & art activity.  Please let me know if your child will not be going. I will make arrangements with another teacher and leave them work to do.
Trip forms missing: Pavel/ Nate/ Samlin

Thanks in advance to Kiran’s dad & Ryan’s mom for coming along :)
Mme :)

Dictée 9 - Dialogue "Bonjour Monsieur"

1) le joueur = player of a sport
2) le narrateur = narrator for the play
3) une raquette = racquet
4) jouer au tennis = play tennis
5) Bien sûr = For sure! Great!
6) au ventre = of the stomach
7) au genou = of the knee
8) tu peux = you can
9) m'aider! = help me!
10) d'accord = OK
11) ces pansements = these bandages / band aids
12) je ne veux pas = I don't want
13) tu as mal = you are ill/ sick
14) J'ai décidé = I've decided
15) Je n'aime pas... = I don't like...

Patterning Math Test on Monday Nov 6th

FYI - please review Patterning concepts for Monday's Test

Chapter 1 of the Gr 4 and Gr 5 texts