Alone in His
Teacher's House
Novel Study
Name: __________________________
1
Before Reading:
Predict: Look at the cover and the illustrations
throughout the book. Make a prediction of what you
believe this book is about. How do you suppose Marvin
gets to be alone in his teacher's house?
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After Chapter 1: Teacher's Pet
Narrative Elements: Fill in the narrative elements.
Setting
Characters
2
Read for Details: Answer the Chapter 1 questions.
1) How old do you believe Marvin is? ______________
2) What grade is Marvin in? ______________________
3) What is Marvin's teacher's name?
a) Mrs. South
b) Mrs. North
c) Mrs. West
4) What are the names of Marvin's two best friends?
1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
Vocabulary - Prefix: "'And if any of you misbehave, I will
know about it.'"
Underline the base word and circle the prefix in:
What does the circled prefix mean? ____________________
Write two additional words that properly use the circled
prefix:
1) ________________________________________
2) ________________________________________
3
Infer/Connect: How did Nick feel when he heard Mrs.
North was going to be out for a week?
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How would you feel if your teacher told you he/she was
going to be absent for a week? Why?
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Reread to Clarify: Why did Mrs. North want to talk to
Marvin?
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Read for Details: What is the name of Mrs. North's dog?
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How much did Mrs. North offer Marvin?
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4
Connect: If your teacher asked you to pet sit her dog,
would you choose to do it?
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Infer: How did Marvin's friends react to the news of him
watching Mrs. North's dog?
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Reflect: The chapter is titled "Teacher's Pet." Would you
consider Marvin a teacher's pet? Why or why not?
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Vocabulary - Context Clues: Define the vocabulary words
from Chapter 1 using context clues and/or a dictionary.
"'I was going to put him in a kennel,' said Mrs. North."
kennel - _____________________________________________
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5
After Chapter 2: The Key
Mood: What was Marvin's mood at the start of the
chapter? Why?
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Create Mental Images: Good readers form images in
their minds as they read. Draw the image you created in
your mind of Mrs. North's car.
Infer: How did Marvin feel when Mrs. North told him
that she had homework to do?
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6
Vocabulary - Synonym and Antonym: Write a synonym
and an antonym of the underlined word.
"'The seat is very comfortable.'"
Synonym of comfortable: ______________________________
Antonym of comfortable: ______________________________
Figurative Language: Write the type of figurative
language used in the Chapter 2 excerpt.
alliteration hyperbole
onomatopoeia simile
"He waddled like a walrus when he walked."
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Math Challenge: Mrs. North told Marvin that Waldo
is seventeen years old. She also mentioned
seventeen years is one hundred and nineteen dog
years.
How many dog years equal one 'human' year?
Be sure to show your work.
7
Analyze: Analyze the Chapter 2 excerpt. "Marvin
couldn't believe it. Mrs. North was almost like a real
person." Why did Marvin think Mrs. North was not a real
person?
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Read for Details: Why did Mrs. North choose Marvin to
watch Waldo for the week?
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Connect: Would you consider yourself mature and
responsible? Why or why not? Explain your thinking.
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8
Predict: Do you predict Marvin will have a problem with
Waldo or do you think everything will be alright?
Explain your prediction.
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Vocabulary - Context Clues: Define the vocabulary words
from Chapter 2 using context clues and/or a dictionary.
"Waldo made a whining noise. It was almost like singing."
whining - ____________________________________________
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"'I think you are mature and responsible."
mature - _____________________________________________
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Write a synonym of mature: ___________________________
Write an antonym of mature: __________________________
9
After Chapter 3: Mature and
Responsible
Mood: What was Marvin's mood at the start of the
chapter?
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Read for Details: Marvin has two siblings. What are
their names and ages?
1) Name: ___________________________________________
Age: ______________________________
2) Name: ___________________________________________
Age: ______________________________
Connect: "Marvin has always looked up to Jacob." Who is
someone you look up to? Why do you look up to this
person?
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10
Vocabulary - Prefix: "He unlocked the door, then carefully
opened it so the dog couldn't run out."
Underline the base word and circle the prefix in:
What does the circled prefix mean? ____________________
Write two additional words that properly use the circled
prefix:
1) ________________________________________
2) ________________________________________
Infer: In your own words, how do you think Marvin feels
about Waldo?
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Reflect: After reading Chapter 3, why do you believe the
author titled this chapter, "Mature and Responsible"?
Explain your thinking.
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11
Vocabulary - Context Clues: Define the vocabulary words
from Chapter 3 using context clues and/or a dictionary.
"Every time Marvin stopped, Waldo whined and nuzzled
Marvin for more."
nuzzled - ____________________________________________
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After Chapter 4: The Substitute
Connect: If your teacher gave you a key to his/her house,
where would be the first place you would look? Why?
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Reread to Clarify: How did Marvin's classmates react to
hearing he was in Mrs. North's house?
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12
Create Mental Images: Good readers form images in
their minds as they read. Draw the image you created in
your mind of Casey Happleton. Be sure to include her
ponytail.
Read for Details: What was the substitute teacher's
name?
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Infer: Why do you suppose the entire classroom of
students suddenly began sneezing? How did the
substitute teacher react?
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13
Reflect: How do you suppose Miss Hillway feels about
Marvin Redpost? Explain your thinking.
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Predict: The next chapter is titled, "Nothing In-Nothing
Out." How do you believe this title fits with the story?
What do you predict happens in Chapter 5?
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After Chapter 5: Nothing In-
Nothing Out
Vocabulary: Miss Hillway called Marvin a 'hooligan.'
What is a hooligan? Why do you suppose Miss Hillway
called Marvin a 'hooligan'?
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14
Opinion: Do you believe Marvin is a 'hooligan'? Why or
why not? Explain your reasoning.
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Cause and Effect: Fill in the cause.
Cause: ________________________________________
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Effect: Marvin rode away from his friends feeling
bad for lying to them.
Opinion: Why do you suppose Waldo is not eating his
food? Explain your thinking.
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15
Vocabulary - Prefix: "'Nick and Stuart are so immature.'"
Underline the base word and circle the prefix in:
What does the circled prefix mean? ____________________
Write one additional word which properly uses the circled
prefix:
1) ________________________________________
Write an antonym of immature: _______________________
Reflect: Do you think Nick and Stuart were being cruel
to Marvin? Why or why not?
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Reflect: Why do you suppose the author chose to title this
chapter "Nothing In-Nothing Out"?
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16
After Chapter 6: Some Dog Food Is
Eaten
Vocabulary - Synonym and Antonym: Write a synonym
and an antonym of the underlined word.
"'Yum, delicious!' he said."
Synonym of delicious: _________________________________
Antonym of delicious: _________________________________
Reread to Clarify: What was Marvin's plan to get Waldo
to eat?
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Opinion: If you had the opportunity, would you have
tasted the dog food? Why or why not?
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Prediction: Do you think Marvin will be able to get
Waldo to eat?
a) Absolutely! Eventually Waldo will eat.
b) No way! Waldo does not like Marvin.
17
After Chapter 7: Liver
Read for Details: Answer the Chapter 7 questions.
1) Why did Dr. Charles believe Waldo was not eating
his daily meals?
a) Waldo does not like Marvin.
b) Waldo misses Mrs. North.
c) Waldo is sick and tired of eating the same dog
food every day.
2) What did Dr. Charles suggest to Marvin to get
Waldo to eat?
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3) Who did Marvin bring with him to Mrs. North's
house when he came back with the liver?
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4) Did Dr. Charles's advice work for Marvin?
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18
Connect: Have you ever eaten liver? If so, what did it
taste and smell like? If not, what do you suppose it tastes
and smells like?
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Analyze: Dr. Charles said, "Waldo's a funny dog. He's not
sick. Just love-sick." What do you suppose Dr. Charles
means when he says Waldo is 'love-sick'?
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Figurative Language: Write the type of figurative
language used in the Chapter 7 excerpt.
alliteration hyperbole
onomatopoeia simile
"Of course! thought Marvin. She couldn't go anywhere
without needing to go to the bathroom."
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19
Vocabulary - Context Clues: Define the vocabulary words
from Chapter 7 using context clues and/or a dictionary.
"He tried his best to sound enthusiastic."
enthusiastic - ________________________________________
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Write two sentences describing something you are
enthusiastic about and why.
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Mood: What was the mood at the conclusion of the
chapter? Why?
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20
After Chapter 8: Where's Waldo?
Mood: What was Marvin's mood at the beginning of
Chapter 8? Why?
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Main Idea: What was the main idea of Chapter 8?
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Opinion/Predict: What do you believe Marvin should do
next? Do you believe Waldo is definitely dead? Explain
your prediction.
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21
After Chapter 9: Do Something!
Reread to Clarify: What did Marvin decide to do after he
discovered Waldo?
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Opinion: Dr. Charles assured Marvin he did not cause
Waldo's death. How do you suppose this made Marvin
feel?
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Opinion: How would you feel if you were in Marvin's
situation? Explain your thoughts.
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22
Predict: How do you suppose Mrs. North is going to react
to the news of Waldo's death? Do you believe she will
blame Marvin? Do you think she should blame Marvin?
Explain your thoughts.
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After Chapter 10: Ma
Summarize: Summarize Chapter 10. Be sure to include
the central (main) idea of the chapter.
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Vocabulary - Context Clues: Define the vocabulary words
from Chapter 10 using context clues and/or a dictionary.
"Just waltz on in,' said Miss Hillway. 'We'll wait.'"
waltz - ______________________________________________
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What did Miss Hillway mean when she told Marvin to
'waltz' on in?
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Predict: Nick and Stuart promised not to tell anyone
about Waldo's death. Do you believe they will keep their
promise? Do you think the two boys will be friendly
toward Marvin again? Explain your prediction.
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24
After Chapter 11: Waiting
Opinion: Why do you suppose Marvin did not
immediately tell his family about Waldo's death?
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Infer: How did Marvin's classmates treat him when he
arrived at school? How do you suppose this made Marvin
feel?
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Vocabulary - Synonym and Antonym: Write a synonym
and an antonym of the underlined word.
"You've been a wonderful class."
Synonym of wonderful: _______________________________
Antonym of wonderful: _______________________________
25
Figurative Language: Write the type of figurative
language used in the Chapter 11 excerpt.
alliteration hyperbole
onomatopoeia simile
"Her house felt empty, like a cave."
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Opinion: Marvin left Mrs. North a note. Reread the note.
How would you describe the tone of Marvin's note to Mrs.
North?
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Opinion: Do you think Marvin did the right thing by
leaving a note for Mrs. North? Why or why not?
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Vocabulary - Context Clues: Define the vocabulary words
from Chapter 11 using context clues and/or a dictionary.
"'Do you think I'll be expelled?' he asked Jacob."
expelled - ____________________________________________
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Opinion: Marvin's friends and his brother all believe
Mrs. North will blame Marvin for the death of Waldo. Do
you agree with them? Explain your thinking.
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After Chapter 12: I'm Sorry
Vocabulary - Synonym and Antonym: Write a synonym
and an antonym of the underlined word.
"Marvin tapped the red post - for luck - then bravely walked
to school."
Synonym of bravely: __________________________________
Antonym of bravely: __________________________________
Mood: How did Marvin feel when Mrs. North was
walking around the room while the class was doing their
assigned work?
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27
Cause and Effect: Fill in the effect.
Cause: Mrs. North told Marvin they needed to
talk. She led Marvin outside.
Effect: ________________________________________
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Reread to Clarify: How did Marvin's classmates react
when he told them about the conversation with Mrs.
North?
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Mood: What was the mood at the conclusion of the story?
Why?
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28
After Finishing the Story:
Sequence of Events: Put the events in chronological
order (the order in which the events happened in the
story) using the numbers 1 through 8.
_____ Marvin goes to the vet. The vet tells Marvin to
feed Waldo boiled liver.
_____ Marvin went to Mrs. North's house to meet
Waldo. She gave him a key to her house.
_____ Mrs. North comes back from vacation. She
tells Marvin Waldo's death is not his fault.
She pays Marvin the money she promised him.
_____ Marvin leaves a note for Mrs. North. The note
informs her of Waldo's death.
_____ Mrs. North announced she would be on
vacation. She asked Marvin to take care of
her dog while she is away.
_____ Waldo eats the boiled liver.
_____ Marvin discovered Waldo is not eating. He
takes a bite of Waldo's dog food to attempt to
get Waldo to eat.
_____ Marvin goes to Mrs. North's house and finds
Waldo deceased on under the bed.
29
Connect: Does Marvin seem like someone you would be
friends with? Why or why not?
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Character Traits: Identify two character traits that
describes Marvin. Use two pieces of evidence from the
story to support your chosen trait.
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30
Author’s Purpose: What was the author’s purpose for
writing Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher's House ?
a) To persuade
b) To inform
c) To entertain
Louis Sachar
Rating: How many stars would you rate this book?
1 being terrible and 5 being awesome.
Be sure to color or shade your rating!
Theme: What is the theme (lesson learned) of the story?
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31
Alone in His Teacher's House
Word Jumble
Hidden Message:
32
Alone in His Teacher's House
Word Search
H O O L I G A N R I C C J A Z
F U D A A Y O O E I J H Q H M
W R E T U T I T S B U S T A A
W K I L I V E R P N K R R A F
M C T E F G A E O R O V Y E K
X I E W N D M R N N I G E U C
S S S R R D B X S N R B A L D
L E L S U Y S R I B S V A E O
U V L I H T M I B P E S N Z G
C O E R N I A C L B S I X E F
K L E C A Z L M E M C O Q E O
Y P V B A H Y L A K D A G N O
Y C X O M K C T W L E G C S D
R J A W K K E R A A N W B L N
T R A U T S X W D I Y D I B L
CLASSMATES MARVIN
DOG FOOD MATURE
DR. CHARLES MISS HILLWAY
FRIENDS MRS. NORTH
HOOLIGAN NICK
KEY RESPONSIBLE
LINZY SNEEZE
LIVER STUART
LOVE-SICK SUBSTITUTE
LUCKY WALDO
33
