1. CHARLES

2. Comprehension Q’s 1-5
Who is the narrator? Is the story written from 1st or 3rd person point of view? Which words from the story show that it is written from that point of view?
In what ways does the mother describe Laurie in the first paragraph? What do these descriptions reveal about her character?
List some of Laurie’s actions at the dinner table. List some of Charles’ actions in school. How are they similar? Different?
Read the dialogue between the mother and the father near the top of p. 2. With whose opinion do you agree? Why?

3. Comprehension Q’s 6-10
What is the tone of Laurie’s greeting, “Hi, Pop, y’old dust mop”? Explain your answer.
What is the connotation of the vocabulary word “fresh”?
What are the clues the author plants along the way to enable the reader to learn the identity of Charles? Begin at the opening paragraph.
What words does the author use to describe Laurie’s behavior when he is interacting with his parents? [find at least 5] Why does the author do this?
What are some examples of dramatic irony in this story? What is the effect of this literary device on the reader? Explain.

4. Timeline/Pattern of Events Write down briefly, following chronological order, all the information you get about Charles’ behavior and about his teacher’s corresponding reactions. Enter your findings in the chart.
Time
Week Day
Charles’ behavior
Teacher’s Reactions
Week Day 1 
He was fresh .
The teacher spanked him and put him in the corner.

5. Warm-Up 3
Which sentence in the story gave you the best clue to Charles’s true identity? Explain your answer with details from the story (4-5 Sentences)

6. Warm-up 4
Laurie’s mom is like an ostrich that sticks its head in the sand in that she doesn’t want to see anything wrong with her son’s behavior.
Your Turn: Can you think of another simile for Laurie’s mother?
Laurie’s mother is like ___________________ in that ___________________________________.
Now, how about a simile for kindergarten:
Kindergarten is like _____________________ in that __________________________________.

7. What is the theme of the story?
Warm-Up 5
What is the theme of the story?
Support your answer with two sentences or quotes from the story.
Theme:
The moral or lesson of the story.

8. Exit Ticket 1
What is Laurie’s attitude toward his parents as he begins kindergarten?
Find two quotes to support your “attitude” word.

9. Exit Ticket 2
What is the best character trait [adjective] for Laurie’s mother?
Find two quotes to support your choice of character trait.

10. Vocabulary Associations
Answer Key
1. According to the story, which character was most likely to look haggard?
“Charles’s” mother
2. Which word best describes how Charles walked to school the first day?
swaggering
3. Which character underwent a reformation?
Laurie
4. Which word best describes how Charles acted the first day he came home for lunch?
fresh
5. Which vocabulary word has a similar meaning to cynically?
warily
6. Which vocabulary word has a similar meaning to grimly?
solemnly
7. Which word best describes how Charles’s mom might look?
matronly
8. What vocabulary word best describes how the teacher looked at Laurie’s mom when she asked about Charles?
incredulously