Fourth Grade Rats Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
4.2 out of 5, (5 ratings on Open Library)
Fourth Grade Rats has 15 chapters · 90 pages
A fast, fun, friendship read from the Newbery-award winning author of Maniac Magee.
Free, no sign-up. Customise to reword questions or add your reader’s name.
Inside the journal: 15 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
How does Suds feel about moving from third grade to fourth grade, and what does Joey tell him about being a “fourth grade rat”?See all 15 questions ↓
About the book
A fast, fun, friendship read from the Newbery-award winning author of Maniac Magee.
Buy the book on Amazon ↗ (affiliate link)
Fourth Grade Rats questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 15 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
How does Suds feel about moving from third grade to fourth grade, and what does Joey tell him about being a “fourth grade rat”?
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Chapter 2
Why do you think Joey wants Suds to stop acting like a “third grade angel”? What does this show about Joey’s personality?
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Chapter 3
What are some ways Suds tries to act tougher in this chapter? Do his actions seem natural to him, or does he seem uncomfortable? Explain.
Example answer: I think Suds tries to act tougher because he wants Joey to think he belongs in fourth grade. He does things that do not really match his true personality. To me, he seems uncomfortable because he is not acting from his heart. He is more worried about what other people think than about what feels right.
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Chapter 4
How do Suds’s choices at home affect the way his family treats him? Use details from the chapter in your answer.
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Chapter 5
What does the word “rat” seem to mean to Joey and Suds in this story? How is it different from the animal called a rat?
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Chapter 6
How does Suds’s friendship with Joey influence the decisions he makes? Give one example from the chapter.
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Chapter 7
What problem is Suds facing inside himself? How can you tell he is not completely sure about being a rat?
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Chapter 8
Make a prediction: If Suds keeps following Joey’s advice, what might happen to his friendships or family relationships? Why?
Example answer: I predict that Suds might get into more trouble if he keeps listening to Joey. His family may feel hurt or confused because they know he is usually kinder than that. His friends might also stop trusting him if he acts mean just to look tough. I think Suds will have to decide whether being a rat is really worth it.
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Chapter 9
How does Suds act around Judy or other classmates in this chapter? What does his behavior show about what he wants people to think of him?
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Chapter 10
What lesson is Suds beginning to learn about trying to be someone he is not?
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Chapter 11
Choose one strong word from this chapter that shows a character’s feelings. What does the word mean, and why is it a good choice?
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Chapter 12
How does Suds’s opinion about being a fourth grade rat change in this chapter? What causes that change?
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Chapter 13
Compare Joey and Suds. How are they alike, and how are they different in the way they handle growing up?
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Chapter 14
What theme, or big message, do you think the author is showing through Suds’s struggles with acting tough?
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Chapter 15
At the end of the book, what do you think Suds has learned about himself? Would you have made the same choices he did? Why or why not?
Example answer: I think Suds learns that growing up does not mean you have to be mean or tough all the time. He finds out that being himself is better than pretending to be like Joey. I probably would have felt pressure too, because it is hard when a friend tells you how to act. But I hope I would choose to be kind, even if other kids called me babyish.
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How to use this Fourth Grade Rats reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 15 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Fourth Grade Rats. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
Browse: All books by Jerry Spinelli