My Brother Made Me Do Itby Peg Kehret

(Pages 1-13) - September 12, September 16, September 28, October 2, October 6

Pre-reading: Look at the cover of the book. What do you see?Glance through the book. Do you notice anything unusual? Will it make it

harder to understand what is going on in the story?

Genre: Realistic Fiction – a made up story that could have

really happened to the characters in a believable

setting

Vocabulary (Pages 1-13)

1. atone – to make up; to make amends

2. transgressions – things you have done wrong (example: broken laws, lies,

etc.)

3. understatement – a statement that expresses a fact too weakly or less

emphatically than it should

Write a summary about what you have read so far. Be sure to include the names of characters, setting, and plot.

Somebody Wanted But So Then

Frankie and Julie Wanted to play a prank on their mom and Dad. Frankie talked Julie into created a dummy to look like Julie. They thought their parents would think it was “hysterical.”

However, Mom and Dad thought it was really Julie falling from the two-story bedroom and Mom called 911. The 911 medic did not think it was funny. Neither did Mom and Dad.

So, now Frankie and Julie are in time out. They had their computer privileges taken away and their allowance cancelled.

Pages 14-25 (Oct. 20, Nov. 1 & 8

Vocabulary:

4. mortified – humiliated, made to feel ashamed

5. platform – plan an action or statement of principles, especially one adopted by someone running for office

6. imperative – urgent, necessary

Read to find out how Julie and Frankie get in trouble with pancakes

Somebody Wanted But So Then

Frankie and Julie wanted to play a prank on their mom and Dad. Frankie talked Julie into creating a dummy to look like Julie and pushing it out the window. They thought their parents would think it was “hysterical.”

However, Mom and Dad thought it was really Julie falling from the two-story bedroom and Mom called 911. The 911 medic did not think it was funny. Neither did Mom and Dad.

So, now Frankie and Julie are in time out. They had their computer privileges taken away and their allowance cancelled.

Frankie and Julie Wanted to win the pancake toss and the church breakfast because of the great prizes. Frankie had the “great” idea to freeze the pancakes that they would go farther. Both of them won their division.

However, one of the parents discovered the truth and told the judges. Their mom was “mortified” because they cheated at church.

So, now Julie and Frankie are in time out again and their allowance was cancelled for two weeks. Frankie is almost through the “B” in the encyclopedia headings.

Post-reading:

Write a summary about the pancake adventure

Pages 26-34 (Nov. 9, 11, 13, 17)

Recap previous readings

Vocabulary

7. ordeal – an unpleasant experience8. essential – very important, necessary

9. juvenile – young, immature10. sympathetic – having or showing kind feelings

toward others

Predict what you think is wrong with Julie.

Was your prediction correct? Look back to identify clues that Julie has arthritis.

Pages 35-42November 22

11. exotic – foreign, strange12. critical – full of danger or difficulty

13. fatal – causing death14. chronic – lasting a long time

Read to find out what Julie tells her friends about her disease.

Idiom: An expression that doesn’t mean what it literally says.

It’s raining cats and dogs means it’s raining really hard.

Post-reading: Begin characterization web on Julie and Frankie.

Puns: A play on words in which a humorous effect is produced

Proverb: Popular sayings which contain advice or state a generally accepted truth.

Foreshadowing – a technique in which the author gives a hint about what is to come.

Purpose: Read to find out what characteristics (features) Julie and

Frankie have.

Write a response to Julie’s lying to her friends. Do they agree or disagree? Why?

November 25, 28December 2,10

15. non-verbal – not speaking16. principle – honor, uprightness – (i.e., a

person of principle)

Read to find out if Julie has new symptoms

December 11, 13, 19, 24

Vocabulary17. automatic – manual, routine

18. pride – self-importance19. representative – delegate, member

Read to find out who will win the electionRead to find out what new trouble Frankie

causes for JulieRead to find proverbs and puns

January 6, 14, 20, 30, Feb. 4, 8

20. faulty – having faults, wrongs, containing errors21. infinite – without limits, endless

Read to find out who Fanny Crosby is

Read to find out what Dad says. Explain it.

February 20, 27, March 4, 10, 13

22. exceptional – out of the ordinary; unusual23. betray – to be disloyal or unfaithful; disclose or

reveal secrets24. former – earlier in time, the first mentioned of the

two25. tone – the attitude that an author reveals in a particular work. (serious, angry, light hearted, etc)

Read to find out why Julie becomes angry with Mrs. KaplanDo you disagree or agree with Mrs. Kaplan?

How does Julie’s tone change?

March 18, 20, 29

Vocabulary26. culprit – person guilty of a crime

27. fret – worry28. prophecy – prediction, foretelling

Read to find out about the root beer dilemma (problem).

How does the tone change gain? Which letter?

April 2, 4, 5, 6

29. sponsor – person or group that supports something or someone

30. accomplice – person who knowingly aids in committing a crime or other wrong act

Read to find out why Julie is on crutches.What new sayings does Dad say? What do

they mean?

April 8, 11, 14

31. intermission – a time between periods of activity

32. miraculous – supernatural, constituting a miracle

Predict what will happen in the talent show?

Read to find out if Julie and Gabby win the talent show.

April 16

33. astonishment – a great surprise, sudden wonder, amazement

34. hyperactive – overactive; to an abnormal degree

35. fatigue – weariness caused by hard work or effort

Have you ever participated in an activity while injured?

Predict what will happen in the race.Read to find out if Julie is able to finish the race.