The Unteachables

Mr. Kermit and the students are apathetic about attending Greenwich Middle School in Room 117. Consider the novel’s theme Our Decisions Affect Those Around Us as you analyze and discuss how their opinions and attitudes change in the story. Consider these points as you formulate a response.

• How are the students’ attitudes toward their classroom influenced by other teachers and students?
• How is Mr. Kermit’s attitude toward the classroom influenced by external factors?
• How do the students begin to change their minds about school?
• How do the students’ attitude toward school eventually impact Mr. Kermit?
• What is the significance of the novel’s theme Our Decisions Affect Those Around Us?

Teaching Suggestion: A large portion of the novel explores the impact of other people on self-image. Consider encouraging students to explore the reasons behind the self-image of Mr. Kermit and the students in Room 117. It may be helpful to analyze the prompt chronologically as Mr. Kermit and the students’ understanding of their place in Greenwich Middle School slowly changes as events in the novel happen.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who may benefit from strategies for abstract thinking, it may be useful to provide students with a cause-and-effect graphic organizer that allows them to examine the reason for Room 117’s changed behavior.