Love That Dog
Sharon Creech
Love That Dog Interpretive Questions - due Friday, May 9
Include textual evidence and cite quotes from the text for ALL questions.
Jack doesn’t want to write poetry at the beginning of the book. Why doesn’t he want to?
++++++Jack doesn't want to write poetry because he can't do it, his brain is empty, its for girls, he is shy, and he cares what people think about his poem so he is afraid.
"I don't want to
because boys
don't write poetry.
Girls do." (page 1)
In Jack’s first poem, he writes:
So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down the road.
Why was the blue car important to Jack?
++++++The blue car is important to Jack since that was the first poem he had written and Miss Strechberry (teacher) put the poem in front of the class to see.
What caused Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem? Describe what Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems, especially about the blue car.
++++++The cause of Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack's first poem is that she thinks it is well-written. Miss Streechberry influences Jack to write more poems by allowing his name to be anonoymus, she puts the yellow paper as a background to make it look nicer, and she puts on the board for people to see.
"Yes
you could type up
the yellow dog poem
that looks like a dog
but this time
keep the spaces
exactly
the same
and maybe
it would look really good
on yellow paper." (page 38)
How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about a pet? Why do you think Miss Strechberry insists he write the poem despite Jack’s reaction?
++++++Jack's response toward Miss Strechberry when she asks him to write about a pet is that he can't do it since he doesn't have any pet since his old one had died. Miss Strechberry encourages Jack to write a poem since she thinks he could do better since she thinks its impressive that Jack could write a poem.
"I don't have any pets
so I can't write about one
and especially
I can't write
a POEM
about one" (page 12)
What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog
++++++Jack's feeling towards his dog Sky is sad since he saw his dog die, he loved him, and he misses Sky. Some quotes from the book are
"And I'd call him
every morning
every evening
hey there, Sky" (pg. 48)
Jack changes a great deal in the novel. Think about these changes. Then create a two- column chart with two headings: “Beginning of school year ” and “End of school year ”. Under each heading, list examples of the things Jack does, thinks and says in the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year.
Imagine Miss Strechberry has just asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person’s life. What would the essay say?
++++++The essay would have described and explained how much he had changed since the beginning of the school and the end of the school year at the beginning he was doubting himself and at the end he was more confident.
Sky’s death affected Jack deeply. If you had just lost a much-loved pet, what things could you, or other people, do to help you cope with the loss? Create a list of ideas.
++++++When somebody loses a much loved pet some things you and other people could do is try to distract the person so they won't be depressed/sad most of the time.
Miss Strechberry is able to convince Jack to write poetry and share his feelings even though he doesn’t want to. Point out the qualities Miss Strechberry has as a person, and as a teacher, that allow her to reach Jack.
++++++As a teacher teacher Miss Strechberry's job is to help the student do what they love and not let someone/ something discourage them.
Why does Jack fall in love with Walter Dean Myers’ poetry? What effect does Mr. Myers’ visit to the school have on Jack? How do you know?
++++++Jack falls in love with Walter Dean Myers' poetry because he likes the words he uses in his poetry and he likes how he describes what he writes about.
Love That Boy
By Walter Dean Myers
Love that boy,
like a rabbit love to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
"Hey there, son!"
There are many ways a poet can paint a picture in a reader’s mind with words. They include, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and more. Find examples of the techniques the poets use in Love That Dog. As a group, choose three verses from the novel that created the most vivid pictures.
" Maybe the wheelbarrow poet
was just
making a picture
with words." (pg.22)
"is about-
like the one about an apple
that was shaped like an apple
and the one about the house
that was shaped like a house (page 35)
"I tried one of those
poems that looks like
what its about." (page 36)
How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
++++++Jack's life may have been different if he didn't have Miss Srechberry as his teacher because she taught him how to write poetry and how to love it.
"My brain was pop-pop-popping
when I was looking at those poems.
I never knew a poet person
could do that funny
kind of thing." (page 35)
It’s the end of the school year, and Jack wants to thank Miss Strechberry for being such a great teacher. Compose a letter or write a poem from Jack that shows his appreciation for Miss Strechberry.
++++++The letter would have said
Thank you Miss Strechberry for being such
a great teacher and helping me write poetry better.
from,
Jack
How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer.
++++++Reading Love That Dog change my point of view about poetry because it showed how people express their feelings through writing.
At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
++++++My favorite poem out of the seven form the famous American authors is the Apple poem by S.C. Rigg because it is easy for readers to read, they could guess the shape, and the readers enjoy it.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
Choose your favorite poem at the end of Love That Dog, and tell what the narrator was trying to say in your own words.
++++++My favorite poem at the end of Love That Dog was the Apple poem because it is easy for readers to read, they could guess the shape, and the readers enjoy it.
Include textual evidence and cite quotes from the text for ALL questions.
Jack doesn’t want to write poetry at the beginning of the book. Why doesn’t he want to?
++++++Jack doesn't want to write poetry because he can't do it, his brain is empty, its for girls, he is shy, and he cares what people think about his poem so he is afraid.
"I don't want to
because boys
don't write poetry.
Girls do." (page 1)
In Jack’s first poem, he writes:
So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down the road.
Why was the blue car important to Jack?
++++++The blue car is important to Jack since that was the first poem he had written and Miss Strechberry (teacher) put the poem in front of the class to see.
What caused Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem? Describe what Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems, especially about the blue car.
++++++The cause of Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack's first poem is that she thinks it is well-written. Miss Streechberry influences Jack to write more poems by allowing his name to be anonoymus, she puts the yellow paper as a background to make it look nicer, and she puts on the board for people to see.
"Yes
you could type up
the yellow dog poem
that looks like a dog
but this time
keep the spaces
exactly
the same
and maybe
it would look really good
on yellow paper." (page 38)
How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about a pet? Why do you think Miss Strechberry insists he write the poem despite Jack’s reaction?
++++++Jack's response toward Miss Strechberry when she asks him to write about a pet is that he can't do it since he doesn't have any pet since his old one had died. Miss Strechberry encourages Jack to write a poem since she thinks he could do better since she thinks its impressive that Jack could write a poem.
"I don't have any pets
so I can't write about one
and especially
I can't write
a POEM
about one" (page 12)
What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog
++++++Jack's feeling towards his dog Sky is sad since he saw his dog die, he loved him, and he misses Sky. Some quotes from the book are
"And I'd call him
every morning
every evening
hey there, Sky" (pg. 48)
Jack changes a great deal in the novel. Think about these changes. Then create a two- column chart with two headings: “Beginning of school year ” and “End of school year ”. Under each heading, list examples of the things Jack does, thinks and says in the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year.
Imagine Miss Strechberry has just asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person’s life. What would the essay say?
++++++The essay would have described and explained how much he had changed since the beginning of the school and the end of the school year at the beginning he was doubting himself and at the end he was more confident.
Sky’s death affected Jack deeply. If you had just lost a much-loved pet, what things could you, or other people, do to help you cope with the loss? Create a list of ideas.
++++++When somebody loses a much loved pet some things you and other people could do is try to distract the person so they won't be depressed/sad most of the time.
Miss Strechberry is able to convince Jack to write poetry and share his feelings even though he doesn’t want to. Point out the qualities Miss Strechberry has as a person, and as a teacher, that allow her to reach Jack.
++++++As a teacher teacher Miss Strechberry's job is to help the student do what they love and not let someone/ something discourage them.
Why does Jack fall in love with Walter Dean Myers’ poetry? What effect does Mr. Myers’ visit to the school have on Jack? How do you know?
++++++Jack falls in love with Walter Dean Myers' poetry because he likes the words he uses in his poetry and he likes how he describes what he writes about.
Love That Boy
By Walter Dean Myers
Love that boy,
like a rabbit love to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
"Hey there, son!"
There are many ways a poet can paint a picture in a reader’s mind with words. They include, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and more. Find examples of the techniques the poets use in Love That Dog. As a group, choose three verses from the novel that created the most vivid pictures.
" Maybe the wheelbarrow poet
was just
making a picture
with words." (pg.22)
"is about-
like the one about an apple
that was shaped like an apple
and the one about the house
that was shaped like a house (page 35)
"I tried one of those
poems that looks like
what its about." (page 36)
How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
++++++Jack's life may have been different if he didn't have Miss Srechberry as his teacher because she taught him how to write poetry and how to love it.
"My brain was pop-pop-popping
when I was looking at those poems.
I never knew a poet person
could do that funny
kind of thing." (page 35)
It’s the end of the school year, and Jack wants to thank Miss Strechberry for being such a great teacher. Compose a letter or write a poem from Jack that shows his appreciation for Miss Strechberry.
++++++The letter would have said
Thank you Miss Strechberry for being such
a great teacher and helping me write poetry better.
from,
Jack
How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer.
++++++Reading Love That Dog change my point of view about poetry because it showed how people express their feelings through writing.
At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
++++++My favorite poem out of the seven form the famous American authors is the Apple poem by S.C. Rigg because it is easy for readers to read, they could guess the shape, and the readers enjoy it.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
Choose your favorite poem at the end of Love That Dog, and tell what the narrator was trying to say in your own words.
++++++My favorite poem at the end of Love That Dog was the Apple poem because it is easy for readers to read, they could guess the shape, and the readers enjoy it.
Beginning of the School Year
|
End of the school Year
|