Don't Eat the Teacher by Nick Ward - Teaching Ideas


Poor little Sammy has such a bad habit, when he gets excited, he eats everything. It was Sammy's first day of school and needless to say he was very excited! He chomped the breakfast table, a little fish friend, the story book, his painting and soon the TEACHER! This is such a fun read aloud, your students will love it!

This is a great beginning of school book because you can do a character lesson on how to behave in class and what are acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in the classroom.

Listed below are skills and strategy questions and ideas that can be used with this book. I have also created a story map freebie for you to use with your students.


Reading level: 2.5
Theme: School and manners and conduct
Genre: Humorous fiction

Suggested Vocabulary: unfortunate, blushed, beamed, elegantly

Reading skills and strategies:
  • asking questions - {possible questions before} Is the shark really going to eat the teacher? {possible questions during} Why doesn't Sammy's friends and teacher get mad at him for eating everything? {possible questions after} Did Sammy really eat all those things or did he just put them in his mouth then spit them out?
  • author's point of view - Third person
  • author's purpose - entertain {evidence} Sharks don't live in houses. Sharks don't drive cars and sharks don't go to school. All these things are silly and make the story entertaining.
  • beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Sammy was so excited to start his first day of school he ate the table. {most important event from middle} Sammy kept getting excited and eating the things in his classroom. {most important event from end} Sammy learned that he shouldn't eat the teacher.
  • cause and effect - Why did Sammy eat the table? because he was excited for his first day of school. Why did Sammy eat his friend? because he got excited playing tag. Why did Sammy eat the story book? because his teacher said it was a story you could sink your teeth into. Why did Sammy eat almost eat the teacher? because he got very excited as he danced around as a storm.
  • characterization - describe Sammy {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
  • classify & categorize - Life on land and life under water.
  • compare & contrast - compare and contrast Sammy's first day of school to your first day of school.
  • connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Being excited for your first day of school. Playing tag. Dancing in the classroom. Being excited about a story.  
  • drawing conclusions & inferencing - Do you think Sammy kept eating everything because he was mean? {text clues} every time Sammy ate something he blushed and said sorry. {what I know} Sometimes I do things that can hurt something or someone but I didn't do it to be mean. {my conclusion} I don't think Sammy was eating everything to be mean.
  • fact & opinion - {facts} Sharks live in the ocean. Sharks have sharp teeth. Some sharks eat other fish. Sharks don't go to school. Sharks don't drive cars. {opinions} Sharks are scary. Sharks are the coolest animal ever. Sharks can swim fast. Sharks can jump really high out of the water.
  • predict - Do you think Sammy will eat the teacher?
  • problem & solution - {problem} Sammy keeps eating everything when he gets excited. {solution} Sammy promises to be better tomorrow.
  • sequencing - Sammy is excited to go to school. Sammy eats the table. Sammy plays tag at school and eats a friend. The teacher says the story is one to sink your teeth into so Sammy eats the storybook. Sammy eats his paintbrush and painting. Sammy's class starts to dance. Sammy gets so excited dancing that he eats a lot of things in the classroom. Sammy almost eats the teacher. Sammy promises to be better tomorrow.
  • story elements - list title, author, character's, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
Here is a Story Mapping Activity Freebie for you and your students...have fun! Click on the picture to download the activity.





**Printing tip - Make sure under SIZE OPTIONS you chose "ACTUAL SIZE"**

Happy reading!

11 comments

  1. I love your blog! I have been following you for a while but have never commented. Just wanted you to know what a valuable resource your blog will be for me this year! Thanks for all you do!

    ✿Lynn
    Inside this Book

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lynn
      I am so glad to here you have been a follower. I hope you have found some useful info/activities. Thank you for leaving a comment andletting me know.
      Shawna

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  2. Shawna,

    I hadn't heard of this book, so I'm excited to use it. THANK YOU for the mapping activity.

    Mona
    First Grade Schoolhouse

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mona
      I hope you can find the book I think you will like it. Thanks for leaving g a comment and the shout out on your blog
      Shawna

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  3. Hi Shawna!

    I just wanted to let you know that I have a post on my blog about your site. I would love for you to see it.

    http://firstgradeschoolhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/organization-literature-books-and-book.html

    Mona
    First Grade Schoolhouse

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am in the midst of creating a Back to School packet for TpT about this very book! I just love it, and I think your mapping activity is really cute. My packet is going to be geared toward very young learners, as I teach preschool. You review is fantastic!

    Lora
    Mrs. Webster’s Classroom Connections

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lora
      I cant wait to see your packet! I will be keeping my open for it!
      Shawna

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  5. I love this book! Thanks for your ideas. I posted some more ideas today and gave you a little shout-out. Take care!

    ❀Barbara❀
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've never heard of this book! I'm going to have to check it out for the first day of school!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

    ReplyDelete
  7. this is new to me too.

    I found you through Manic Monday.

    Mrs.D Reading with Mrs. D

    ReplyDelete

Thoughts and comments are always welcome!