Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker
December is the perfect time to get students thinking about giving (or receiving) with this delightful series. Take them back to this first book in the series, where Clementine is having "not so good of a week." Problems at school and at home plague her.
Activity: Discussion and Quick Write
Remind students that Clementine begins her personal narrative with "I have had not so good of a week." The rest of the book is certainly proof of that. Lead students to retell/review the sequence of events that landed Clementine in the principal's office once again.
Writing Prompt: What was your worst week in recent memory? Do a quick write, describing one of the awful things that happened to you and how you dealt with it.