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. My students are required by my school to read loser by jerry spinelli, but because of cut funding, we do not currently have enough books for our overcrowded classroom. 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. 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. She did carry a large canvas bag with a lifesize sunflower painted on it. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. So loser is basically about donald zinkoff, which is an exceptional and special kid. I got this book as a present a couple years ago and didnt even know that it was by jerry spinelli jake and lily 2012. Extend the timeline out to the future and guess what you think.
Literature circle guide to loser by jerry spinelli. At the age of 16, his love of sports inspired him to compose a poem about a recent football victory, which his father published in the local newspaper without his knowledge. You can never go wrong with a jerry spinelli kids book. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday be replaced with hero. Jul 29, 2003 jerry spinelli received the newbery medal for maniac magee and a newbery honor for wringer. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure, and how any name can someday. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Loser is a touching book about the human spirit, the importance of failure. It is so important for children to see that failure is a very important part of life if we can learn from it. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling.
Instead of a book report, i assigned a book project to be completed in a co. She stopped at an empty table, laid down her bag, slung the. Jerry spinelli booklist jerry spinelli message board. Jerry spinelli books biography and list of works author. This classic book is perfect for fans of gordon korman and carl hiaasen. Loser is a coming of age young adult novel first published in 2002 by american author jerry spinelli.
Each creative project has a description of what needs to be included. Jerry spinelli books list of books by author jerry spinelli. Hes a newbery medalist whos written more than two dozen novels for kids. It was at this time he realized that he would not become a major league baseball shortstop, so he decided to become a. Everything you need to use jerry spinellis award winning novel, loser effectively in your classroom. A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker.
See more ideas about novels, maniac magee and activities. Loser is a tender story about donald zinkoss, a young character who demonstrates great selfacceptance and who is not afraid to fail. Timetoasts free timeline maker lets you create timelines online. Make a timeline of events in zinkoffs life in the book. This is a two page document that includes end of the story reading enrichment projects designed for the book loser by jerry spinelli. Free loser study unit worksheets for teachers to print. Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team won a big game.
The kids have their own word to describe him, but zinkoff is too busy to hear it. Six years ago, i happened across the novel wringer, written by jerry spinelli. Engage your students during remote learning with video readalouds. Spinelli is best known for his 1990 newbery award winning childrens book, maniac magee. Extend the timeline out to the future and guess what you think will happen to him in high school and beyond. Jerry spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania. Jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. He is best known for maniac magee, stargirl and wringer. Donald has always dreamed of becoming a mailman like his father and finally in second grade he gets his chance to. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. We will begin using this reading response notebook by utilizing it throughout our discussion and study of loser by jerry spinelli.
Stargirl by jerry spinelli timeline created by andiereber. 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. Please answer these in a reading response notebook of your choice that you will use throughout the course of this year. Loser by jerry spinelli chapters 15 summary and analysis. Jan 24, 2011 jerry spinelli still remembers the sunday night when he was awakened by a phone call. Jerry spinelli novel study bundle, plus author study four complete novel studies. Teachers could place students in small groups to work on this project to promote. The book is about a young boy who struggles with peer pressure and wanting to fit in with the in crowd.
His other books include smiles to go, loser, space station seventh grade, who put that hair in my toothbrush. This paperback was delivered to me in perfect conditions and in a timely manner. Make educational timelines or create a timeline for your company website. Once again, the unusual friendship with this woman and a few other adults who accept zinkoff for the kind soul he really is. I was so excited about the potential life lessons that my students might learn from this novel that i bought a class set. But zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips. The themes of loser include education, societal indifference toward kindness, and the nobility of maintaining ones vision of life. It details the growth of donald zinkoff, who is branded a. Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood. Loser by jerry spinelli and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. With the encouragement of his family, he learns to approach life with a positive spirit and to enjoy all that it has to offer. Books similar to loser meet your next favorite book.
The book is unique among spinellis work in that it is. 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. Author jerry spinelli is pretty darn famous for his stories of childhood and adolescence. 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. Spinelli was born in norristown, pennsylvania, and currently resides in phoenixville, pennsylvania. Donald zinkoff has always been the nerd of the school. The main plot of the story is that donald zinkoff has horrible handwriting, is clumsy, and is a loser to everyone else. 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.
Donald has always dreamed of becoming a mailman like his father and finally in second grade he gets his chance to be one. My students need 65 copies two class sets of loser, by jerry spinelli. Spinelli, jerry 1941personalborn february 1, 1941, in norristown, pa. Donald zinkoff from loser by jerry spinelli book clubs, book club books, teaching tools. Loser 2002, by american author jerry spinelli, is a coming of age novel for young adults. Micah area high school description everyone at mica tries to fit in.
Novel, loser by jerry spinelli bullying commercials. Stargirl jerry spinelli henry county public schools. The main setting of the story loser by jerry spinelli is in a small, interesting town. Madison skelly charcterization summary donald zinkoffs story lived on as everybody around the school heard about what he had did. Jerry spinelli received the newbery medal for maniac magee and a newbery honor for wringer.
His novel, maniac magee, had just won the 1991 newbery medal. Satterfield elementary school, and in zinkoffs neighborhood. Mark twain award missouri new york public librarys one hundred titles for reading and sharing publishers weekly best book. His novels are recognized for their humor and poignancy, and his characters and situations are often drawn from his. Class set of jerry spinellis wringer donorschoose project. Three bffs set out to have the best summer ever in the fourth book in this addictive series told entirely in text messages. Middle grades realistic fiction is always a hit with children age 912it will pack a good emotional punch and resonate with most of them. Loser by jerry spinelli focuses on donald zinkoff and his travels through school. Spinelli has made us all see that there is a loser in all of us. Just like other kids, zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. The back of the book says he wrote crash, which was published in 1996, to show the world a little bit of what jocks are made of. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on loser by jerry spinelli. I will be using loser this year in all my presentations as a storyreader for children from fourth.
Miss meeks, loves school, loves life, wins soccer tournament. From renowned newberywinning author jerry spinelli comes a powerful story. Jerry spenelli writes for children and juveniles, actuallyhis target audience are those in middle gradeyet teenagers, young adults, and adults could totally enjoy reading his books. A noprep standards based interactive notebook literature. Loser by jerry spinelli meet your next favorite book. Donald faces the familiar challenges of elementaryaged children disagreeable teachers, peer pressure, social conformity, and. Loser novel study project activities by wise guys tpt.
Who in the book do you think believes that zinkoff is a loser. My summer reading book report on loser powtoon gives you everything you need to easily make professional videos and presentations that your clients, colleagues, and friends will love. And when zinkoff tanks in a race at field day, his fate is sealed with the nickname loser. Stargirl by jerry spinelli timeline timetoast timelines. Loser, by jerry spinelli, is one of my favorite fiction novels. The real life of ivan timeline with comparison to story ivancommon core. Growing up, jerry spinelli was really serious about baseball. Donald is tagged a loser after failing a field day challenge for his fourth grade class, but his unique and inspiring view of life keeps his spirits afloat. No design or tech skills are necessary its free, easy, and awesome. The story mostly takes place at zinkoffs house, john w. Wayne parr is popular precisely because he does not stand out and there is nothing special about him. There is also a student and teacher evaluation rubric that is easy to use.