101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher

Name: 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher
ISBN: 9780142403310

by Lee Wardlaw

Steve "Sneeze" Wyatt, a talented inventor, faces a dilemma when his parents want him to skip eighth grade, threatening his friendships and his creative spark. Can he overcome his inventor's block and

About This Book

In this humorous and relatable chapter book, Stephen "Sneeze" Wyatt, a middle school inventor, confronts a major life change: his parents want him to skip eighth grade and go straight to high school. This decision threatens his close friendships and causes him to lose his passion for inventing. As Sneeze grapples with these challenges, he also navigates a first crush, a strict teacher, and the arrival of a new baby sister who shares his allergies. The story explores themes of self-confidence, friendship loyalty, and the pressure of growing up, all wrapped in an engaging, funny narrative.

Steve "Sneeze" Wyatt attempts to thwart his parents' plan to have him skip eighth grade, but he has bigger problems when his friends disapprove of his new list and Mrs. "Fierce" Pierce threatens to keep him from the Invention Convention.

Concepts

Self-Confidence & Identity Friendship & Loyalty Creativity & Imagination Resilience & Perseverance Love & Family Anxiety & Worry Empathy & Kindness Justice & Fairness Growing Up Making Friends Being Different Sibling Rivalry Death of a Loved One School Life Friendship & Social Family & Siblings

Heads up, parents

peril_danger

Romantic Content

mental_health_themes

Discussion Prompts

How does Steve feel about skipping eighth grade? Have you ever felt pressured to do something you weren't sure about?

What does friendship mean to Steve, Hiccup, and Hayley? How do they support each other?

What are some ways Steve tries to "bug" his teacher? Do you think his methods are effective or fair?

How does Steve overcome his inventor's block? What helps you when you feel stuck on a problem?

What role does Ms. Pierce play in the story? Is she a fair teacher?