The Best School Year Ever
Barbara Robinson
Preface – The Herdmans… Back Again!
1. Can you think of any famous Cowboys, Indian Chiefs or Outlaw Families
besides the one mentioned? Why were they famous? What did they do?
2. What is meant by, the only teacher who could put up with 2 Herdmans in one
class would be, Miss King Kong?
3. What is your impression of the Herdmans so far?
4. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 1
1. Do you agree with the first paragraph? Why or why not?
2. Which of the characteristics of the Herdmans do you find the most
unlikeable? funny? unbelieveable? Tell why.
3. Do you think that the year’s assignment is interesting?
“Complimenting your Classmates” how might that be easy/hard?
4. Why do you think the teacher wanted the compliments to be about personal
qualities rather than nice physical descriptions like Alice suggested? Why
might this be more difficult?
5. Any predictions on whose name the story teller draws for extra
compliments?
6. Why do you think Louella got in trouble? Did she deserve it? Why or why
not?
7. What is the story teller’s name?
8. Why does she get in trouble?
9. Can you relate to getting in trouble when you didn’t think you should?
10.
Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 2
1. What did Miss Farley mean when she said she would put roller skates on the Herdmans
and run them out of town so fast their wheels would smoke?
2. Why wouldn’t the Herdmans ever go to jail according to Beth?
3. What is a Sunoco station? Use the clues in the reading.
4. What is ironic about the Herdmans' pictures on the Post Office WANTED board?
Why did nobody seem to notice?
5. Why is the cat a good representation of the Herdmans? (How are they alike?)
6. Does it seem to you that the Herdmans cause all these problems on purpose? Give
examples.
7. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 3
1. What does “mopping up the floor with Charlie” mean?
2. What is your opinion of Mrs. Wendleken?
3. Have you ever known someone like Alice? Do you think she is like that because of her
mother or she’s just that way?
4. What was humorous about what happened when Immogene screamed that she didn’t want
what Alice had on the playground?
5. Why do you think the Herdmans never get sick? Do you think by biting Leroy a snake
would die?
6. What is your opinion of what Leroy did with his dead snake in the teachers’ supply closet
and all the following events?
7. Was all that occurred planned by Leroy? Give reasons why or why not to support your
decision.
8. How did what Mrs. Wendleken say about Leroy backfire on her? Do you think she
deserved it?
9. How did Charlie pay for following his mother’s directions?
10. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 4
1. Why did the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School get rid of their trash masher? What
would happen if they didn’t?
2. What were the things Leroy had smashed in the masher?
3. Why did Beth’s mother decide to have refreshments after the Talent Show?
4. What surprising talent did Gladys have according to the Art teacher?
5. How did Eugene feel about being a living sculpture? Did this help Eugene?
6. What did Eugene’s talent turn out to be? Do you think it was a talent?
7. How did Eugene’s performance change his outlook on life?
8. Gladys was the one who “forced” Eugene to perform and she got credit for it. What was
Gladys’ real motive? Did this work out to be good for Eugene in the end?
9. What was Eugene’s new nickname?
10. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 5
1. How did Alice get to be “important” early in school life?
2. What was funny about what Charlie saw in the Teacher’s room when he stood on Boomer’s
shoulders to peek in?
3. Why do you think the teachers had the signs – “Thank God it’s Friday” and “thank God it’s
June” in the Teacher’s room?
4. What was the difference between what Beth’s mother said and what Immogene said
about what the teachers do in the teacher’s room?
5. What was funny about the “password” to get into the teacher’s room? How did Immogene
come up with what it was? Was that quick thinking on her part?
6. Going along with the password, what about the Kenneth Weaver is “missing” that
Immogene came up with?
7. Louella says she doesn’t believe Immogene about kids disappearing in the teacher’s room,
but she didn’t want to test it out either. Have you ever had a similar experience where
you don’t believe something, but at the same time you don’t want to prove it either?
8. How does Immogene get credit for doing something great? Did she do it to get the
praise? If not, why did she do it according to her?
9. How did the teachers benefit from the door getting stuck episode?
What good rumor did Immogene start about the new plant in the teacher’s room? Do you think
that’s how rumors get started many times? Can you think of an example?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 6
1. Have you ever taken an end of the year test? What was it like?
2. Have you ever been nervous about going to the eye doctor and that you might not be able
to see or read the eye chart? How did it turn out?
3. Have you ever had problems with someone on the bus? Did it get solved? Explain.
4. Have you ever wanted something like glasses or braces just because someone else had
them even though you didn’t really need them? Explain.
5. How do the Herdmans get everybody going without really doing a whole lot?
6. Have you ever had someone else do something crazy to you, kind of like Lester had Gladys
put braces on him made from paperclips?
7. The Herdmans were told they couldn’t ride the bus. That seemed to make them want to
ride the bus. Can you relate to that situation, where someone said you can’t and you
immediately wanted to do it?
8. In the end Lester’s teeth come in and he really needs braces and heavy duty ones at that.
Do you think he might wish he didn’t need them now?
9. Write at least one question to discuss with the group about the chapter.
10. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 7
1. By what is said on the first page of Chapter 7, do you have any predictions about what
might happen in this part of the story? Give them.
2. When the baby sitter quit, do you think it is realistic that Louella brought her baby
brother to school? Why or why not?
3. How would you have voted about Howard being a pain in the neck and whether he should
be on a leash or not? Yes or no? What are your reasons?
4. What are your thoughts on the Herdmans having a leash on Claude because they didn’t
have a dog?
5. If you were in charge of the Animal Rescue, would you give the Herdmans a dog? Why or
why not?
6. Do you agree with Louella about Howard being too little to be dumb? State you case.
7. Was Alice being practical about trying to teach Howard to read? Why?
8. Were you surprised by Immogene’s reaction to Howard’s blanket being taken away to see
what he would do?
9. What is surprising about the blanket turning up? What is your theory about its return?
10. Write at least one question to discuss with the group about the chapter.
11. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 8
11. Did anyone seem to miss the Herdmans when they were absent from school? Why?
12. Why do you think the fire chief said he’d better get back to the firehouse and be ready
for anything?
13. What was funny (ironic) about how the stuffed bear was found the morning after it was
brought to school?
14. Have you ever heard something over the intercom that wasn’t supposed to be heard
because someone did not get it turned off in the office? What was said?
15. What are your thoughts about the Herdmans’ gum chewing?
16. In the newspaper the Herdmans all looked the same except for their size. Do you look
like your brothers and/or sisters or do you know a family who does? Tell.
17. What is seersucker?
18. What do you think occurred with the Herdmans and their chicken pox? Did they infect
everyone? What is your theory?
19. Write at least two questions to discuss with the group about the chapter.
20. Any unknown words?
The Best School Year Ever
Chapter 9
1. Can you think of anyone whose desk is so messy that a gerbil could die in it and no one
would know?
2. What would you do if you were king of the world?
3. What do you think of Immogene’s collection? Would you like to see that?
4. What words do you think people would use to describe you? Would they have good things
to say or would they have trouble coming up with something like many did for Immogene?
5. Come up with two words for everyone in this group using the rules Beth had to use.
6. Do you think it is harder to give or receive compliments? Why?
7. What do you think Immogene will grow up to be? Give your reasons why you think this.
8. Write at least two questions to discuss with the group about the chapter.
9. Any unknown words?