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BOOK SUMMARY
Jack doesn't care much for poetry, writing it or reading it. With the prodding of his teacher, though, he begins to write poems of his own — about a mysterious blue car, about a lovable dog. Slowly, he realizes that his brain isn't "empty" and that he can write poems. After meeting one of his favorite writers, Walter Dean Meyers, Jack writes a special poem about a painful experience in his life, the death of his dog. By the end of the book, Jack realizes that writing and reading poetry is not only pleasurable, but that writing can be a way of dealing with painful memories. Instead of trying to forget those difficult experiences, he can make something creative out of them. |
LOVE that Dog |
Meet Sharon Creech
Known for writing with a classic voice and unique style, Sharon Creech is the bestselling author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons, and the Newbery Honor Book The Wanderer. She is also the first American in history to be awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Ruby Holler. Her other works include the novels Love That Dog, Bloomability, Absolutely Normal Chaos, Chasing Redbird, and Pleasing the Ghost, and two picture books: A Fine, Fine School and Fishing in the Air. These stories are often centered around life, love, and relationships — especially family relationships. Growing up in a big family in Cleveland, Ohio, helped Ms. Creech learn to tell stories that wouldn't be forgotten in all of the commotion: "I learned to exaggerate and embellish, because if you didn't, your story was drowned out by someone else's more exciting one."
1. In the beginning of the story, Jack does NOT like poetry. Before you begin reading answer the following questions in your notebook.
1. What do you know about poetry?
2. How do you feel when you read poetry?
3. How do you feel when you write poetry?
1. What do you know about poetry?
2. How do you feel when you read poetry?
3. How do you feel when you write poetry?
Section 1 - Sept.13-Jan.31
Directions: Read Section 1. Then read each section here on the website and answer all of the questions in your notebooks.
4. Answer the question in the yellow star in your notebook.
5. What text-to-self connection can you make so far? Do you feel the same as Jack about poetry? Why or why not?
6. What text-to-world connection can you make so far? Does the time when Jack went to the Animal Protection Center remind you of anything?
7. Reread October 31 and November 6. Jack doesn't want Mrs. Stretchberry to put his name on his poems. Why? What do you know about people who want to be anonymous? What character traits would they have? What can you infer about the way Jack feels about his poetry?
6. What text-to-world connection can you make so far? Does the time when Jack went to the Animal Protection Center remind you of anything?
7. Reread October 31 and November 6. Jack doesn't want Mrs. Stretchberry to put his name on his poems. Why? What do you know about people who want to be anonymous? What character traits would they have? What can you infer about the way Jack feels about his poetry?
8-9. Answer ONLY #2 and #3 in the yellow star in your notebooks
Go back into your reader's notebook and review Tone and Mood. Then, answer this question:
10. What is the tone and mood so far of this poem?
Go back into your reader's notebook and review Tone and Mood. Then, answer this question:
10. What is the tone and mood so far of this poem?
Section 2 - February 7-April 17
1. On page 30, It seems that Jack's opinion of poetry is changing. What is his opinion now? Why has it changed?
2. On page 31-34, Notice the way Jack writes about his street. What do you see in your mind while reading Jack's poem? Which words help you visualize? Why are these words helpful?
3. On Page 37, this is an example of a concrete poem. What does this poem make you think about? How do you feel when you look at this poem? What does the poem reveal about Sky?
4. Page 38. Notice the way Jack asks Mrs. Stretchberry to type his poem. Why do you think Jack is asking her to type his poem so carefully? Jack also tells his teacher that he would like his name to be on his poem. Make an inference about the way Jack feels ab out his poetry now. How do you know?
5. Page pages 46-48, Notice the words that Jack uses to describe his dog. How does Jack's description make you feel? Which words make you feel the way you do?
2. On page 31-34, Notice the way Jack writes about his street. What do you see in your mind while reading Jack's poem? Which words help you visualize? Why are these words helpful?
3. On Page 37, this is an example of a concrete poem. What does this poem make you think about? How do you feel when you look at this poem? What does the poem reveal about Sky?
4. Page 38. Notice the way Jack asks Mrs. Stretchberry to type his poem. Why do you think Jack is asking her to type his poem so carefully? Jack also tells his teacher that he would like his name to be on his poem. Make an inference about the way Jack feels ab out his poetry now. How do you know?
5. Page pages 46-48, Notice the words that Jack uses to describe his dog. How does Jack's description make you feel? Which words make you feel the way you do?