Don't Eat the Teacher

Author/Illustrator: Nick Ward

About the Author:

Nick Ward is the author and illustrator of many children's books. Ward had his first book published in 1979. He also write under the pseudonym of Charlie Small, who is the main character in one of his series. 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 1-3

Synopsis:
Don’t Eat the Teacher is about a young shark named Sammy who is starting a new school.  When Sammy gets excited he bites things.  The morning he is going to start school he gets so excited that he bites the table and his mom says don’t do that at school and be good.  When Sammy got to school all of the new things they did excited Sammy and he kept biting everything, the books, the paintings, and he almost even bit the teacher! The teacher was very understanding of Sammy’s problem though and always told him it was alright. Sammy vowed to try harder the next day and when his mom asked him what he learned that day he said a lot!

Pre Reading Activity:

Before reading explain to the students what habits are and that everyone has a habit whether it is good or not so good.  Have the children list what some of their habits are.

Post Reading Activity:

After reading have the children write about one of their habits that they want to get rid of.  Have them write why it is a bad habit and how they will try to change that habit into a good one.

Reflection:

This book has a very good moral to the story.  It is about so much more than not biting things but it is about a child that cannot get rid of a bad habit.  Everyone has a habit that they may want to get rid of or change but this books points out how extremely hard it is. I also think its shows a lot when the teacher is very understand every time he does bite something and tries to help instead of getting angry.

The Case of the Lost Temper

Author/Illustrator: Doug Peterson/John Trent and Greg Hardin

About the Author:

Doug Peterson has been an author since 1977.  He has written over 50 books and over 40 in the Veggie Tales series.  Peterson has also been a science writer for the University of Illinois.

Genre: Fiction/Character Education
Grade Level: K-3

Synopsis:
The Case of the Lost Temper is from the Veggie Tales series.  Bob and Larry are on a mission to find the Masked Door Slammer that has been running around town.  As they sit outside the house of Mrs. Carrot where the slamming is taking place Larry puts on a chicken costume as his disguise. Bob gets angry because people will notice him.  Larry also orders pizza, rides a skateboard etc, and Bob continues to be angry.  He is so angry that he yells at Larry and Larry tells him that he should not get angry because it wastes time.  Finally they heard the door slamming and they ran to Mrs. Carrots, it was only the wind slamming her doors! The case was closed and Bob and Larry made up. The end of the book stated this quote from Proverbs “A foolish person lets his anger run wild. But a wise person keeps himself under control.”

Pre Reading Activity:

Before reading ask the students if they know what it means for someone to lose their temper. Also ask them what might happen if someone does lose their temper.

Post Reading Activity:

After reading have the students write in a journal what the quote at the end of the books means to them and what people should do to achieve that.  “A foolish person lets his anger run wild. But a wise person keeps himself under control.”

Reflection:

I enjoyed this book because it teaches an important life lesson.  Kids very easily lose their tempers especially at school so this book is a great beginning of the year book. This will help set the tone for how to deal with anger before the students gets completely comfortable yelling and screaming at eachother.