Schooled

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 31 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. How is Cap Anderson’s life at Garland Farm different from the lives of most kids his age, and what do those differences help you understand about him?
2. When Rain gets hurt, Cap has to leave the only home he knows. What problems does this create for him right away?
3. How does Mrs. Donnelly try to help Cap, and why do you think she feels connected to him and Garland Farm?
4. Sophie does not want Cap in her home at first. What does her reaction show about her personality and her point of view?
5. At school, Cap stands out right away. What are some things he does not understand about regular middle school life?
6. Zach sees Cap as a good target for a prank. What does this show about Zach and the way he uses popularity?
7. Hugh notices that people are paying more attention to Cap than to him. How does Hugh feel about this, and why are his feelings complicated?
8. Cap is elected eighth-grade president as a joke, but he takes the job seriously. What does this tell you about Cap’s character?
9. What are some school rules or customs that confuse Cap, and how do his reactions make the story funny or interesting?
10. Cap tries to treat people kindly, even when they are not kind to him. How does this connect to the theme of being true to yourself?
11. Choose one word that describes Cap in this chapter, such as innocent, brave, confused, or honest. Why is that word a good fit?
12. How do Naomi and the other students begin to see Cap differently as they spend more time around him?
13. Cap often misunderstands what other students mean, but he still tries to help. How can misunderstanding sometimes lead to both problems and good surprises?
14. What does Hugh learn from watching the way Cap handles teasing or bullying?
15. Darryl and Zach make choices that hurt Cap. Why do you think some characters follow along with mean behavior even when they know it is wrong?
16. Cap’s ideas for being class president are very different from what the students expect. Which idea seems most surprising, and why?
17. How does Cap’s calm way of dealing with problems affect the people around him?
18. When Cap helps during a surprising emergency, how does it change what some people think about him?
19. Sophie’s feelings about Cap start to change over time. What events or actions help her see him in a new way?
20. What does the word popularity mean in this part of the story, and how is Cap’s kind of popularity different from Zach’s?
21. Naomi begins to question Zach’s plan. What does this show about her growing sense of right and wrong?
22. Cap tries to include everyone instead of leaving people out. Why is inclusion an important idea in this book?
23. How does Zach react when Cap becomes more liked by other students, and what does that reaction reveal about him?
24. What does Cap miss about Garland Farm, and what might he also miss about school if he had to leave?
25. How do the students show that Cap has made a difference at C Average Middle School? Use details from the chapter.
26. Rain has strong ideas about the outside world. Do you agree with the way she has protected Cap? Why or why not?
27. What prediction can you make about Cap’s future after the big changes in this part of the story? Explain your thinking.
28. How does the school community respond when Cap is gone, and what does their response show about friendship?
29. What lesson do you think Zach needs to learn by the end of the novel? Support your answer with examples from the story.
30. How has Cap changed from the beginning of the book to this chapter, and how has he stayed the same?
31. What do you think is the most important message of Schooled, and how does the final chapter help show that message?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

Cap is elected eighth-grade president as a joke, but he takes the job seriously. What does this tell you about Cap’s character?

I think this shows that Cap is honest and responsible. He does not understand that the other kids are trying to make fun of him, so he just does the job the best he can. Instead of being lazy or angry, he tries to help people and make the school better. That makes me respect him.

How does Zach react when Cap becomes more liked by other students, and what does that reaction reveal about him?

Zach gets jealous and upset when Cap starts becoming popular. He is used to being the one everyone listens to, so he does not like losing attention. This shows that Zach cares a lot about power and what other people think of him. It also shows that he is not very secure inside.

What do you think is the most important message of Schooled, and how does the final chapter help show that message?

I think the most important message is that kindness can change people. Cap does not try to be cool or popular, but he treats people with respect, and that makes a big difference. By the end, many students understand that he was a real friend. The final chapter shows that being yourself can be more powerful than trying to fit in.