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Copywork
About This Passage
This passage models direct address and high expectations. Mr. Brunner's words carry weight because he believes in Percy when no one else does — and the word 'vitally' elevates the stakes beyond a normal classroom.
Find the passage near the middle of Chapter 1 where Mr. Brunner speaks privately with Percy after the class leaves to eat lunch. He tells Percy that what he learns in this class is "vitally important"...
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell someone what happened in this chapter in order. When you get to the most important part, slow down and tell it carefully — what happened, why it mattered, and what you think about it.
Discussion Questions
- Mr. Brunner pushes Percy harder than any other student, even though Percy has dyslexia and ADHD. Is Mr. Brunner being kind or unkind by expecting so much from Percy? What in the story makes you think so?
- After Percy destroys Mrs. Dodds, everyone at school acts as if she never existed. But Grover hesitates before agreeing. Why might Grover be the only one who pauses? What in the story tells you Grover knows more than he is saying?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
Very thin and weak-looking
Item 2
Forced to leave a school because of bad behavior
Item 3
A warning period when you must follow extra rules or face punishment
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Critical Thinking
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