The Unteachables

Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. Room 117 (Chapter 1)

2. Ms. Fountain’s mother (Chapter 4)

3. Parker (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. Kiana walks into the school and encounters the disorganized secretary who accidentally gives Kiana the wrong schedule. When Kiana enters the classroom for the first time, she finds students roasting marshmallows over a trashcan fire with pencils. Mr. Kermit, close to retirement, doesn’t react to the student’s behavior but simply puts out the fire with his coffee. (Various chapters)

2. Mr. Kermit has one more year before he can retire early. The superintendent intends to get rid of Mr. Kermit so he will not have to pay his pension. He assigns Mr. Kermit to Room 117 to teach the Unteachables—a self-contained class that is known for having various problems—with the hope Mr. Kermit will quit before he can receive his pension. (Chapter 2)

3. Aldo Braff doesn’t have anything kind to say about the students in Room 117. He doesn’t like Kiana because she interrupted him when he kicked a candy machine. He believes Mr. Kermit doesn’t like him because none of the teachers do and he dislikes the other students in the class as well.