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Copywork
About This Passage
Two short sentences that carry the whole chapter. Notice how the first sentence tells us WHY Opal is reading loudly, and the second sentence tells us that Gloria is listening WELL. The word 'good' at the end of the second sentence is Gloria's way of talking — 'listened to it good' instead of 'listened to it well.' DiCamillo has let Opal's voice pick up some of Gloria's rhythm, which is what happens to children who spend a lot of time with people they love. Copying these two sentences shows children how one person's speech can shape another person's voice.
I read it loud enough to keep her ghosts away. And Gloria listened to it good.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Retell the chapter. Two gifts happen in it — the candy and the reading. Which gift do you think means more to Gloria, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Gloria tastes the candy and says 'it tastes like people leaving you.' Miss Franny called the taste 'sorrow.' Compare the two descriptions. Are they the same thing or different things?
- Opal chose Gone with the Wind for Gloria — a 1,037-page novel about the Civil War. Why do you think Opal picked this particular book? What does the choice say about Opal?
+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide
Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
an unexpected event, especially a welcome one, that someone has prepared for you
Item 2
full of deep sadness — slower and heavier than simple sadness
Item 3
brought up briefly, without dwelling on the subject
+ 7 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide
Critical Thinking
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