Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
Prediction:
1. Based off of the title, what do you think the book is about?
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2. After looking at the pictures on the cover, what can you infer?
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3. Name 2 other predictions you have about the story.
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1
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
Chapter 1—Stupid Human Tricks
1. Who are the main characters and what are their nicknames?
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2. What was the problem in the chapter?
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3. Name all 3 ways they tried to solve it. Tell me what the solution was.
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4. Mr. G, or Mr. Gore, is the principal. What did he do prior to being a principal?
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2
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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5. What were the main characters’ school punishment for their act? Do you think that
was a “fair” punishment?
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6. Tony’s parents did not punish him at home. What would your parents have done?
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7. Based off Tony’s Top 10 List, which one is your favorite and why?
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3
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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8. What are two questions you have about the chapter?
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Chapter 2—Stupid Pet Tricks
1. Based off of the title of the chapter, what do you think is going to happen in the
chapter?
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4
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
2. What is another nickname other than Mr. G that they call the principal?
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3. It seems like every student has a nickname. Do you think the nicknames are nice?
How can you use your “superpowers” to change the culture of the school/grade?
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4. What was the “big event” that Tony caused? How was he planning to fix the
“mess”?
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5
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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5. How did the school punish Tony this time? Do you think it was fair?
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6. Do you think his parents punished him this time? Why or why not?
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7. Based off Tony’s Top 10 List, which one is your favorite and why?
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6
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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8. What are two questions you have about the chapter?
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Chapter 3—World War III
1. Based off the title of the chapter and Tony’s past history, what do you think is going
to happen in the chapter?
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7
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
2. What did Tony start this time?
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3. If what happened to Mr. Gore happened to Mr. Hogan, what do you think would
happen?
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4. What was his school punishment this time?
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8
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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5. Did his parents punish him? If so, how?
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6. Based off Tony’s Top 10 List, which one is your favorite and why?
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7. What are two questions you have about the chapter?
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9
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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8. Now that we’ve finished Chapter 3, Tony has written 3 letters to David Letterman.
Do you think he is ever going to be on the Letterman show? Why or why not?
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Chapter 4—The Photocopy
1. Now that we have talked about predicting. What question did you use to predict?
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2. Did your prediction come true?
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10
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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3. What mischievous thing did Tony do this time? What does he plan to do with
them?
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4. Based on paragraph 4 on page 35, what do you think Mr. Gore was thinking and
feeling?
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11
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
5. What was their family tradition? Do you and your family have any family traditions?
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6. What was Tony’s school punishment this time? If you were the principal, what
would your punishment have been?
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7. Did his parents punish him? If so, what was the punishment?
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12
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
8. Based off of Tony’s Top Ten List, what is your favorite one and why?
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Chapter 5—Can a Boy in a Bear Suit Disrupt a Professional Football Game?
1. Predict:________________________________________________________
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2. Name two things Tony does in order to ensure he is getting his Halloween
costume.
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13
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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3. What would you do if Mr. Hogan let you go to a Football Game?
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4. Problem:
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14
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
5. What did Mr. Gore give Tony as a new nickname?
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6. SolutionS:
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7. Based off of Tony’s Top Ten List, what is your favorite one and why?
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15
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
8. What are two questions you have about this chapter?
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Chapter 6—The Phone Call
1. Predict:________________________________________________________
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2. Summarize the chapter using your own words.
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16
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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3. If you were Tony’s parents would you believe him that David Letterman called?
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17
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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4. How does Tony convince Mr. Gore to take him, Mo, and Anna to the show?
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5. What did Mr. Gore give Tony as a new nickname?
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6. Why do you think Mr. Gore regrets his decision even though they haven’t left?
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18
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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7. Oh no! Tony didn’t write a Top Ten this time! What would be one thing on his top
ten and why?
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8. What are two questions you have about this chapter?
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Chapter 7—The Big Apple
19
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
1. Predict:________________________________________________________
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2. Summarize the chapter using your own words.
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20
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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3. What does the author mean when he says, “airborne sardine can” on page 75?
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4. Now that they are in NYC, what do you think is going to happen next?
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5. Oh no! Tony didn’t write a Top Ten AGAIN! From the trip, what would his #1 be?
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21
Name: _______________________
Date: ______________
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
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6. What are two questions you have about this chapter?
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22