41 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
This book is set in a classroom in the 1980s, and the author discusses some of the history of education globally and in America. What are some of the differences and similarities of the 1980s classroom and classrooms of today?
Tracy Kidder writes this book like a novel, giving a non-fiction account of one year in a 5th grade elementary school the feel of a fiction novel. Discuss some of the aspects of his rhetoric that make the book feel like a fiction novel. Does this style change the way you view the information presented compared to a more traditional non-fiction, fact list style?
Mrs. Zajac, the main character in the book, claims at the very end that she “belongs among schoolchildren.” Discuss the ways in which this statement is and is not accurate.
Clarence is the main antagonist in the book, and the decision to move him to Alpha school produces conflicting emotions in most other characters. Using the stories presented about Clarence and the options available in the explanation, discuss how you have handled the situation and why.
Kidder presents a largely positive view of life at Kelly School and Mrs. Zajac’s classroom, and yet he cannot ignore the likely harsh realities facing the students and teachers. Why does Kidder choose to present the hopeful and positive side of sometimes very negative stories? In what ways does this presentation affect our view of teaching and education in the 1980s?
This book is divided into sections labelled for the major event that occurs in the section instead of by month or school quarter. Why did Kidder choose to arrange the book that way? What effect does this approach and the numbered divisions within the sections have on reading the book and processing the information presented?
Racism is a prominent and powerful theme throughout the book. How does this depiction of racism compare to racism in schools today? Based on the stories in the book, would you argue that progress has been made or not? Use examples from today and from the book to explain your reasoning.
Holyoke’s history plays an important role the students’ lives and the situation at Kelly School. Discuss how history shapes Mrs. Zajac’s classroom, the students she encounters, and how she chooses to teach.
For each story of Mrs. Zajac teaching or working with a student, there are multiple perspectives. Choose one event and analyze the behaviors of each character involved and what their perspective on the event is. Discuss how their perspective affects their behavior. How might the characters overcome differences in perspective to reach a better outcome?
There are many different parents and parenting styles presented in the book. Compare and contrast two parents we meet in the book, their approach to raising their children, their approach to school, and the outcomes we see in their children. Discuss ways you would work with these parents if you were a teacher.
Plus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features: