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Zeke Meeks vs the Super Stressful Talent Show
Last updated Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Author: D.L. Green
Illustrator: Josh Alves
Date of Publication: 2013
ISBN: 1404881069
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2025
Synopsis:
Zeke's teacher is at it again. This time, Mr. McNutty is making the whole class be in a talent show. Normally, Zeke wouldn't worry about having a great act, but something amazing is at stake: the winner of the talent show will get advice from reality TV star, Brassy Glass. Zeke can't sing, he can't dance, and he really can't juggle. So what can he possibly do to win a moment with his hero?
| Note to readers: |
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You are reading to FOURTH graders. This book is about a third grade boy and his classmates. See if the kids have more sophisticated ideas than those put forth in this book.
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Zeke's little sister sings some songs (not very sophisticated or good ones). Decide how you're going to handle this in the reading clubs. Are you going to decide on a melody and/or take turns singing?
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have you been in a talent show? What is your talent? Was it fun?
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What songs do you know? Can you sing them? Would you sing them in a talent show?
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Do you like watching live talent shows (do they even have school talent shows any more)? How are they different from shows on TV like "Who's Got Talent?"
Vocabulary
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Versus - against
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annoying - bugging or irritating
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applaud - clap
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embarrassment - the feeling you have after you do something dumb and people notice and call you awful names like Bread Boy
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personality - how you think and act makes up your personality
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scowled - frowned with your whole face
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sneered - said something in a really rude way
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trembling - shaking involuntarily (you can shake on purpose)
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whimper - sigh, whine, and make other sad noises
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Is there anything worse than being in a talent show? Well, bugs are worse. . . but anything else?
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Were you surprised that Brassy Glass was so mean? Why or why not?
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What famous people do you like? How would you feel if you found out they were awful people?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Make a paper bag puppet of Waggles the Wonder Dog.
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| Special activities: |
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Do the word search.
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Sing a song.
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Discuss: Tomorrow is the first day of Daylight Savings Time. Do all your clocks reset automatically, or are there some you have to re-set by hand?
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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