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by Avi

1994

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Seventh Grade

Seventh Grade

Gary Soto

In Gary Soto's short story "Seventh Grade," a boy tries to impress a girl on his first day of seventh grade.

Pair “Seventh Grade” with “Teacher Tamer” and ask students to compare Victor and Gregory. What makes both boys change their minds about their teachers? Compare the impact the teachers made on the boys. What does the reader learn about Victor’s teacher, and how can that be compared to what Mrs. Wessex tells her mother? Were you surprised by the revelations the teachers made? Why or why not?

6th Grade Short Story 620L
Master Jacob

Master Jacob

Howard Pyle

In this humorous old folktale, a man must deal with the desires of three tricky rogues. However, he overcomes their tricks with a plan of his own.

Pair “Master Jacob” with “Teacher Tamer” and ask students to discuss how both stories explore the theme of revenge. How do Master Jacob’s reasons for seeking revenge compare to Gregory’s? Do students think that Master Jacob or Gregory are justified in their revenge? Why or why not?

6th Grade Folktale 970L
What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?

What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?

Avi

In Avi's short story "What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?", a boy hopes to learn the cure to unhappiness from a beggar he meets.

Pair “What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?” with “Teacher Tamer” and ask students to compare the themes of these two stories by Avi. How do both stories show characters reaching out to someone struggling during a difficult time? How does the beggar respond to Willie’s kindness? How does this compare to Mrs. Wessex’s response to Gregory’s kindness? What do you think Avi is suggesting about treating others?

5th Grade Short Story 590L
The Bone Wars

The Bone Wars

T.J. Resler

In "Bone Wars," T.J. Resler explains how a rivalry between two paleontologists led to new discoveries but ruined reputations.

Pair “Teacher Tamer” with “Bone Wars” and ask students to think about how the characters in each text try to get revenge. Why did Gregory want to get revenge on Mrs. Wessex in “Teacher Tamer”? What was Gregory’s plan for revenge? How did Cope and Marsh get revenge on one another in “Bone Wars”? How is Gregory different from Marsh and Cope?

5th Grade Informational Text 1090L
Muddy Kid Comes Home

Muddy Kid Comes Home

Sandra Cisneros

In "Muddy Kid Comes Home," a speaker describes their Mama's unfair rule about mud.

Pair “Teacher Tamer” with “Muddy Kid Comes Home” and have students think about how we might not know the whole story behind an action we think is unfair. What does Gregory learn about the truth behind Mrs. Wessex’s actions in “Teacher Tamer”? Do you think that Mama from “Muddy Kid Comes Home” might also have a hidden truth behind her actions? Why or why not?

3rd Grade Poem