Miss Klute Is a Hoot!
#11 of 21 in My Weird School Series
What’s inside...
Miss Klute is a Labradoodle therapy dog hired to assist students at Ella Mentry School with their reading skills. A.J., a student, initially finds reading with Miss Klute boring but eventually learns to enjoy reading. The story unfolds as the reading scores at the school are low, prompting Mr. Macky to hire Miss Klute. Although skeptical at first, the students quickly grow fond of reading to Miss Klute. However, when they decide Miss Klute needs a break from constantly listening to stories and let her outside, chaos ensues. The My Weird School series, with over 30 million books sold, continues to encourage children to read.
Character compass
A.j.
Andrea Young
Ms. Klute
Discussion points
What did you think about the character of Miss Klute and how she handled the class pet project?
How do you think the students in the story felt when they were responsible for taking care of Miss Klute?
What lessons do you think the story teaches about teamwork and responsibility?
If you were in the story, how would you help take care of Miss Klute?
Which part of the book was your favorite and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child to summarize the book in their own words to gauge their understanding and recall.
Encourage them to express their opinions on the different characters and the decisions they made, fostering critical thinking.
Relate the book's themes to your child’s own experiences, such as taking care of a pet or working on a group project, to make the discussion more relevant.
Use follow-up questions to delve deeper into your child’s thoughts and feelings about the story's events and moral lessons.
End the discussion by asking your child how they might act differently in their daily life based on what they learned from 'Miss Klute Is a Hoot!'.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Responsibility
Explanation: In 'Miss Klute Is a Hoot!', students are tasked with taking care of the class therapy dog, demonstrating the responsibilities involved in caring for another being.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by taking on small responsibilities at home, such as caring for a pet or helping with chores, to develop a sense of duty and care.
Example Lesson: Value of Compassion
Explanation: The story highlights how the students learn to be compassionate towards the class dog, understanding its needs and emotions.
Real-World Application: Kids can practice compassion in their daily interactions with friends and family, learning to recognize and respond to the feelings of others.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: The book shows how the class works together to take care of the dog, emphasizing cooperation and working towards a common goal.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied by encouraging teamwork in group activities at school or in sports, teaching children the power of collaboration.
Example Lesson: Developing Patience
Explanation: Caring for the therapy dog teaches the children patience as they learn to accommodate the pacing and needs of the dog.
Real-World Application: Children can utilize this lesson by practicing patience in learning new skills or dealing with siblings, understanding that some things require time to master or resolve.
Example Lesson: Emotional Growth
Explanation: Interacting with the therapy dog helps students explore their own feelings and empathy, aiding their emotional development.
Real-World Application: This can be encouraged by allowing children to express themselves and discuss their emotions in family settings, fostering emotional intelligence.