Kiana
What are Kiana’s main fears at the beginning of the story?
failure, rejection, being emotional, insecure about family, trust
Who disapproves of Mr. Kermit?
The Principal
What is Parker's biggest challenge?
Reading fluently
What challenges does Aldo face in school?
finds reading and writing challenging, and is easily distracted in class. He also becomes easily frustrated, especially with schoolwork and his humor is a way to mask his frustration and low self-esteem.
List 3 main themes from the story
Resilience, Acceptance, the power of relationships, etc.
Why does Kiana end up in Room 117?
What motivates Mr. Kermit to continue teaching?
care for his students, wants to redeem himself, has a joy for teaching, and forms a strong connection with his students
How does Parker respond to conflicts with his peers at the beginning of the story?
he avoids conflict, keeps his feelings inside, seeks support from friends
Describe Aldo’s personality. What are some of his strengths and weaknesses?
funny, outgoing, confident. His strengths include his humor, charisma, loyalty to friends, and resilience. His weaknesses include distracting classmates, insecurity, avoiding serious topics, fear of failure, and being impulsive.
What themes of resilience and redemption are evident in Mr. Kermit?
Adapts to challenges, defends his students, grows as a person and educator.
How does Kiana demonstrate leadership qualities among her classmates?
takes group lead in projects, shows the desire for personal growth, includes her classmates, advocates for teamwork, good listener, sets goals, embraces challenges, owns her mistakes, and stands up for her classmates
What does Mr. Kermit teach the students to find within themselves?
Resilience
Describe Parker’s background and the role it plays in shaping his character and his experiences in school?
Comes from a lower-class household, his parents are supportive, struggles with reading; fear of judgment, feels out of place, and struggles to be accepted in school.
How does Aldo's perception of himself change throughout the story?
Aldo shifts from being just the class clown to being funny but also can be serious and responsible. His self-confidence grows as he steps out of his comfort zone and contributes in group work.
In what ways does Kiana represent the theme of "resilience"?
Her ability to adapt to challenging and unfamiliar situations, her willingness to stand up for herself and others, and her determination to make the best of her circumstances.
What role does Kiana's family background play in shaping her character and actions?
her home challenges lead her to put up a wall around her classmates; eventually has a longing for strong relationships with her peers due to her unstable home environment; and sense of resilience; empathetic
How does Mr. Kermit’s teaching style differ from that of other teachers?
He focuses on building relationships and flexible teaching methods, incorporating real-world scenarios, humorous, values mistakes, and he advocates for his students
What does his story teach us about overcoming learning obstacles?
Everyone learns differently, self-acceptance and resilience are key, support is an important part of his success
Identify a turning point for Aldo in the story.
The class field trip
What does it mean to be resilient? Give an example from the book where a character does not give up, even when things get tough.
It means to be able to bounce from difficult times, challenges, or setbacks. Parker is one example.
How does Kiana view Mr. Kermit at first, and how does that view evolve throughout the book?
a disengaged and ineffective teacher; By the end of the book, Kiana views Mr. Kermit with respect and admiration and recognizes his resilience.
In what ways does Mr. Kermit's use of humor serve as a tool for engagement and connection in the classroom
creates a comfortable atmosphere, reduces anxiety, forms connections with students, makes lessons fun, and allows students to express themselves.
How does Parker’s struggle with reading affect his confidence and behavior in school?
He often feels embarrassed, especially in situations where he’s required to read aloud or complete assignments that involve a lot of reading. This embarrassment leads to frustration and low self-esteem
What lessons does Aldo learn throughout the story? How do these lessons contribute to his character development?
It's okay to be vulnerable, the importance of teamwork, how to handle conflict appropriately, and what true friendship looks like. With these lessons, Aldo forms stronger friendships, develops leadership skills within a team, and gains confidence.
What lessons do the characters learn about acceptance and understanding by the end of the book?
Parker and Kiana learn about self-acceptance; all the Unteachables learn to accept each others differences and backgrounds; learn to view mistakes as opportunities to grow