I have given them to friends all adults and we all agree that they are evocative, emotive and entertaining. Claire lyons is one or the main characters in dial l for loser and the rest of the clique books. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Because of his offbrand sense of humor and his lack of demonstrable ability in. Before you read vocabulary building comprehension questions language. About the author jerry spinelli jerry spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania. Shes probably eight years old at the end of the book. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more.
Loser by jerry spinelli by cortney and lilly r total babes. And we all know the formula eventually there will be some great dramatic event, the hero will have his moment to shine, and everyone will realize that hes not a loser at all. Jan 24, 2011 jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. Spinelli, is a kids book, aimed at 8 12 year olds, although i think you need to be a bit older to actually understand it its a very different book there almost doesnt seem to be a plot. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen. For this activity, students have to classify a series of quotations from the novel loser as simile, metaphor, personfication, and hyperbole.
And we all know the formula eventually there will be some great dramatic event, the hero will have his moment to shine, and everyone will realize that. In 1991 he won the newbery award for his novel, maniac mcgee and in 1998 wringer was named a newbery honour book. Jerry spinelli books, author biography, and reading level. His other books include smiles to go, loser, space station seventh grade, who put that hair in my toothbrush. Loser by jerry spinelli by andrew mineer on prezi next. His novel, maniac magee, had just won the 1991 newbery medal. I will be using loser this year in all my presentations as a storyreader for children from fourth through sixth grade. The collection includes manuscripts 19612003 as well as other.
Each chapter of the novel study focuses on between three and five chapters of crash and is comprised of five of the following different activities. Loser by jerry spinelli and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Donald zinkoff donald zinkoff, the main character, is beginning first grade when the novel opens, and he is in sixth grade when it ends. Free loser worksheets and literature unit for teachers. From bestselling and awardwinning author andrew clements, a quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words that will have readers inventing their own words. It is so important for children to see that failure is a very important part of life if we can learn from it. I will be using loser this year in all my presentations as a storyreader for children from fourth.
Jerry spinelli s novel, loser, chronicles the childhood of donald zinkoff. Take this quiz to find out if you understood what you read. He attended gettysburg college and john hopkins university. Loser is a coming of age young adult novel first published in 2002 by american author jerry spinelli. This gave him a difficulty to deal with the other kids. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. This study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of loser.
A novel unit and teacher guide this book unit contains several pieces of information for each chapter. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and. Originally published in 2000, stargirl was instantly embraced and has sold over one million copies. Loser themes jerry spinelli this study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of loser. You hear someone say a name, and somehow you just know thats who the name belongs to, its that kid. However, loser will remain a firm favorite with me for years to come. Take this quiz to find out if you understood what you read who is the main character of loser. Oct, 2009 from renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. Donald zinkoff, the main character, is beginning first grade when the novel opens, and he is in sixth grade when it ends. Claudia a toddler who is kept on a leash at all times. Three bffs set out to have the best summer ever in the fourth book in this addictive series told entirely in text. During those years, he changes and yet remains the same, as do all young people.
Jerry spinelli received the newbery medal for maniac magee and a newbery honor for wringer. Jerry spinelli books biography and list of works author. They become friends for a little while, but he doesnt. Features pictures, biography, overview of his books, news, schedule, and fun stuff. Loser, by jerry spinelli, follows the life throughout grade school of a boy named donald zinkoff, who has a hard time achieving success in anything he does, yet proves to be very successful at being a good person. Jerry spinelli at library of congress authorities, with 31 catalog records. Cammie oreilly lives at the hancock county prisonnot as a prisoner, shes the wardens daughter. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in. Who are the characters from loser by jerry spinelli.
It could be that jerry spinelli wrote this story to explore the idea of labels and the reasons why kids will cruelly give them to others that they dont understand. Figurative language in loser by jerry spinelli by kristin. His novels are recognized for their humor and poignancy, and his characters and situations are often drawn from his. Along the way i married another childrens writer, eileen spinelli, and from our six kids have come a number of stories. Jan 08, 2008 from renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. My weird school daze miss newman isnt human by dan gutman chapter book read aloud duration. The story mostly takes place at zinkoffs house, john w. Jeffrey and molly, who are always fighting, have been especially helpful. It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a loser by his classmates due to his clumsiness, poor performance in school and athletics, and sometimes clueless enthusiasm. This type of story, of course, has been done often before, though rarely with spinellis wit and craft. See the progress your students make while they are reading. Home jerry news events books teachers faqs email designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster.
Jerry spinelli 1941 jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 in norristown, pennsylvania is a noted childrens author, specializing on novels written for and about early adolescence. Jerry spinelli books list of books by author jerry spinelli. Who are the characters from loser by jerry spinelli answers. Apr 21, 2010 being the first spinelli book that i read i then followed up with stargirl and wringer and feel they make the perfect reading triptych.
This type of story, of course, has been done often before, though rarely with spinelli s wit and craft. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story. Loser, by jerry spinelli, is one of my favorite fiction novels. Zinkoffs classmates call him a loser, but he does not feel that he is one. Being the first spinelli book that i read i then followed up with stargirl and wringer and feel they make the perfect reading triptych. It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a. Jerry spinellis novels are recognized for their humour and poignancy and his characters and situations are often drawn from his real life experiences as the father of six children. His novels are recognized for their humor and poignancy, and his characters and situations are often drawn from his reallife experience as a father of six children.
Asked in jerry spinelli what are the main events in the story crash by jerry spinelli. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading loser. Summary the novel is all about a young boy named donald zinkoff. The main plot of the story is that donald zinkoff has horrible handwriting, is clumsy, and is a loser to everyone else.
Crash by jerry spinelli suggestions and expectations this curriculum unit can be used in a variety of ways. Do you think that the winners in the book are always the best. The story is written with an omniscient narrator, and even though the plot could focus on the kids that teased zinkoff, it focuses on zinkoffs positive attitudes despite his peers, instead. Free loser study unit worksheets for teachers to print. But zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips. They cut the quotations apart and place them on the appropriate figurative language term. Growing up, jerry spinelli was really serious about baseball.
Unable to find any peace at school, zinkoff, he befriends an elderly lady to whom he confides. He played for the green sox little league team in his hometown of norristown, pennsylvania, and dreamed of one day playing for the major leagues, preferably as shortstop for the new york yankees. Loser a book by jerry spinelli lets talk about the characters. Stargirl here enters the consciousness of the social pariah. Read free book excerpt from loser by jerry spinelli, page 1 of 2. Loser jerry spinelli is an american author who likes writing novels for children on their adolescence and early adulthood stage. Donald,more commonly referred to as zinkoff is the. The novel is based off present day and follows zinkoff on his journey. Jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. He went to gettysburg college and johns hopkins university. I also had students then write the literal meanings of each quotati.
Once again, the unusual friendship with this woman and a few other adults who accept zinkoff for the kind soul he really is. Designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. Loser is an unusual book, because it does not just describe. Jerry spinellis novel, loser, chronicles the childhood of donald zinkoff.
Who are the main characters in loser by jerry spinelli. Spinelli has written a number of childrens books and is a winner of the newbery medal. Loser jerry spinelli paperback harpercollins publishers. Satterfield elementary school, and in zinkoffs neighborhood. With a name like loser, i really expected to hate this book and feel sorry for the main character throughout the entire story. And when zinkoff tanks in a race at field day, his fate is sealed with the nickname loser. Zinkoff the main charaters father andrew the neighbor boy cladia a little girl that zinkoff meets who absolutely loves him lets talk. Browse inside loser, by jerry spinelli, a paperback from harpercollins, an imprint of harpercollins publishers.
He and his wife, eileen have six children and several grandchildren. From newbery medalist jerry spinelli maniac magee, stargirl comes the story of a girl searching for happiness inside the walls of a prison. Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team won a big game. Important vocabulary words are listed, as well as a literal inthetext question and an inferential inyourhead question for students to answer. The main setting of the story loser by jerry spinelli is in a small, interesting town. Spinelli has made us all see that there is a loser in all of us. With its depiction of a nonconformist with a heart of gold, its lyrical writing from newbery medalist jerry spinelli, and its charming love story, stargirl quickly asserted itself as a modern classic. For this activity, students have to classify a series of quotations from the novel loser as simile, metaphor. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. Once again, newbery medalwinning author jerry spinelli uses great wit and humor to create the unique story of zinkoff as he travels from first through sixth grades.
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