Love That Dog
by 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 does not want to write poetry at the begging of the book because he thinks it is for girls.
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?
Th blue car was important to Jack because it is his first poem because he is talking about like it is a person. (personification)
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 thing that caused Miss Strawberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem was that because she wants him to do well and she is asking why and wants him to explain. She also gets Jack to write more poems because she perswades him to keep going on and hangs it and makes it look good.
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 responds badly because he misses his pet and it might make him sad to write about one. Miss Strechberry insists because she wants him to be motivated and try.
What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog.
Jack loves, misses, and was sad when sky died. Jack plays with him, he always says "hey sky", the car accident made him feel sad, he writes poems about sky.
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?
Jack's essay about what he discovered about poetry would say that poetry wasn't that hard after all, poetry can be for boys too, and he loves to right poetry now.
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?
If I were to lose a pet I loved a lot I could write down my feelings so it's out of my head, other people can try toget me to think of something else besides that, I could just forget about it, if I really loved it that much I could never stop thinking of it I could get therapy.
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.
Miss Strechberry has confidence in Jack, and she encourages him to do it. She also tells him to at least try.
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 mister Myer's poetry because his poetry is the one that helped him do good. Mister Myers' visit to Jack's school made Jack so happy, and Jack was even more inspired and confident. I know because Jack wrote a long letter to him saying that he loves him and made a poem inspired by him.
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.
"Typed up like that on blue paper on a yellow board."(p.11) Imagery.
How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
Jack might have never started to like or write poetry without Miss Strechberry, he probably would have thought poetry is for girls the rest of his life.
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.
Dear Ms. Strechberry,
You are the best teacher ever and i would not be able to pass this school year without you. You taught me poetry and made me love poetry soo much. Thank you for being my favorite teacher.
From, Jack
How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer.
It did not really change my point of view about poetry.
At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
I liked the poem in the shape of an apple because it is cool and really creative how they put all those words together and created a shape.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
Get a collection of poems from your favorite poet. Read the collection, then select your favorite poem. Create a collage that illustrates what the poem is about.
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 does not want to write poetry at the begging of the book because he thinks it is for girls.
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?
Th blue car was important to Jack because it is his first poem because he is talking about like it is a person. (personification)
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 thing that caused Miss Strawberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem was that because she wants him to do well and she is asking why and wants him to explain. She also gets Jack to write more poems because she perswades him to keep going on and hangs it and makes it look good.
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 responds badly because he misses his pet and it might make him sad to write about one. Miss Strechberry insists because she wants him to be motivated and try.
What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog.
Jack loves, misses, and was sad when sky died. Jack plays with him, he always says "hey sky", the car accident made him feel sad, he writes poems about sky.
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?
Jack's essay about what he discovered about poetry would say that poetry wasn't that hard after all, poetry can be for boys too, and he loves to right poetry now.
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?
If I were to lose a pet I loved a lot I could write down my feelings so it's out of my head, other people can try toget me to think of something else besides that, I could just forget about it, if I really loved it that much I could never stop thinking of it I could get therapy.
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.
Miss Strechberry has confidence in Jack, and she encourages him to do it. She also tells him to at least try.
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 mister Myer's poetry because his poetry is the one that helped him do good. Mister Myers' visit to Jack's school made Jack so happy, and Jack was even more inspired and confident. I know because Jack wrote a long letter to him saying that he loves him and made a poem inspired by him.
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.
"Typed up like that on blue paper on a yellow board."(p.11) Imagery.
How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
Jack might have never started to like or write poetry without Miss Strechberry, he probably would have thought poetry is for girls the rest of his life.
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.
Dear Ms. Strechberry,
You are the best teacher ever and i would not be able to pass this school year without you. You taught me poetry and made me love poetry soo much. Thank you for being my favorite teacher.
From, Jack
How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer.
It did not really change my point of view about poetry.
At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
I liked the poem in the shape of an apple because it is cool and really creative how they put all those words together and created a shape.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
Get a collection of poems from your favorite poet. Read the collection, then select your favorite poem. Create a collage that illustrates what the poem is about.