Jake Drake, Class Clown

Name: Jake Drake, Class Clown
ISBN: 9781417739905

by Andrew Clements

Second-grader Jake Drake loves making people laugh, especially his new, serious student teacher, Miss Bruce. But when his jokes go too far, Jake learns that not everyone appreciates a clown, leading t

About This Book

In "Jake Drake, Class Clown," second-grader Jake is determined to make his perpetually unsmiling student teacher, Miss Bruce, laugh. What starts as a well-intentioned campaign quickly escalates as Jake's antics become disruptive, leading him to realize that being a class clown isn't always appreciated. This humorous yet thoughtful early chapter book explores themes of empathy, social boundaries, and understanding the impact of one's actions. It's an excellent read for children aged 6-9, offering a gentle way to discuss appropriate behavior in school and the difference between funny and disruptive.

For use in schools and libraries only. After noticing that Miss Bruce, the new student teacher, never smiles, Jake launches a campaign to make her laugh, but soon things get out of hand and the second-grader learns that not everybody loves a clown.

Concepts

Empathy & Kindness Self-Confidence & Identity Resilience & Perseverance Anger & Frustration Shame & Guilt Honesty & Integrity Justice & Fairness Friendship & Loyalty Creativity & Imagination Making Friends Peer Pressure Growing Up Sibling Rivalry School Life Humor

Heads up, parents

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anger_frustration

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Discussion Prompts

What makes something funny? Is it always okay to be funny?

How do you think Miss Bruce felt when Jake was trying to make her laugh?

What did Jake learn about being a class clown?

Have you ever tried to make someone laugh and it didn't go as planned? What happened?

What are some good ways to show kindness to a new teacher or classmate?