If I could, I’d build a time machine to go back to fifth grade. On one condition, though: I’d want to have Mr. Terupt for a teacher.
Remember back when you were in school and there was that one “cool” teacher that everyone liked? And when you saw that teacher in the hallways or out at recess, you’d say to yourself, “Please let me be in that class next year!” Remember that?
Mr. Terupt is that teacher at Snow Hill School in Connecticut. From the first day of school, his students know that Mr. Terupt is different from all the other teachers they have known.
He puts a stop to Peter’s constant trips to the bathroom with a simple line: “My grandpa used to tell me to tie a knot in it.” He grabs Luke the brainiac’s attention with the “Dollar Word” project. He eases shy Anna into becoming a part of the classroom community—something she has never done before. Jeffrey, the self-proclaimed slacker, says it best: “Our hard work mattered to Terupt—even mine. I owed him now. I had to try, even if only a little.”
If you visited Snow Hill School and stepped into Mr. Terupt’s classroom, you might find the students busy figuring out the best way to make a plant grow. There might be an explosion, but there might also be a quiet girl who figures out just the right combination of ingredients to make an effective fertilizer. Or you might want to venture out to the football field, where the students are counting blades of grass—in order to learn how to estimate. Or you might even want to peek into the Collaborative Classroom, where Mr. Terupt’s students are working with students with special needs and learning the importance of looking below the surface to find out what really matters.
Rob Buyea’s Because of Mr. Terupt is the story Mr. Terupt’s first year of teaching experience. If you are a teacher, then you will recognize the students in his class: the shy girl, the drama queen, the prankster, and the overachiever. And even though it is his first year teaching, Mr. Terupt seems to know just the right thing to say to every student, just the right way to handle every situation.
Except for one.
Amid all of the inquiry, collaboration, and community building, Mr. Terupt and the class plan a celebration to mark an important accomplishment. Among the plans: time to play outside in the snow. It all starts innocently, but then the situation quickly turns dramatic when a simple prank escalates. And suddenly, for the students in Mr. Terupt’s class, the world stops.
Because of Mr. Terupt is a book for everyone. Kids will love the story, the way Mr. Terupt adds a fun twist to everything in the classroom, and the moment when the principal’s underwear is exposed. Teachers will love the inspiring ideas to take back to their classrooms. (Oh, and by the way—this book is an absolute gem if you are looking for a text to teach foreshadowing.) But everyone will love the intensity of this emotional journey over one school year. Get the tissues ready. This one will bring on the tears. Thank you, Rob Buyea, for an amazing first novel.
Liz Bridges is a Literacy Specialist with Rock Hill Schools in Rock Hill, South Carolina. When she’s not teaching students, working with teachers, reading, cooking, or teaching Zumba classes, you might find her blogging. Follow Liz on Twitter @CouchPotatoLiz, or read her blogs, Outgrowing Myself and Confessions of a Former Couch Potato.
This sounds great! Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree with your review of Because of Mr. Terupt. Last year I read the first section (September) to a 6th grade class, then had to stop, as I only see them for 35 minutes a week for library. Their teacher picked up where I left off. She was as enthralled with the book as the kids were. By the end, some of the boys (YES, the boys, the ones who actually didn’t like to read) found out that there would be a sequel coming out in October 2012. They asked the teacher if the class could meet at the township library (since they’d be leaving the school to move on to middle school) for a book reading – where she could read the sequel. If that isn’t a rave review, I don’t know what is!
I read this book as our first read aloud. Another sixth grade teacher did too. We still refer back to it in our lessons at least weekly. The sequal is good but not as good. We even had a reception when both classes finished the second one. The kids were so excited to listen every day. A true gem!
It is a beautiful & inspiring story. I’m glad you did this review of it for all who missed it the first time! I had quite a few teachers using it as a read aloud last year.
I have a group of 5th graders reading this right now. Each has a character that they practice and read, so we are doing it in a Readers’ Theater style. They are LOVING it. I was out sick three days last week and they only had a sub for me one day. We were at the pivotal section of the book which they read with the sub (I was so disappointed not to be able to be there for them). When we had our next meeting this Monday they all flew down to my room to be the first to tell me what happened to Mr. Terupt, as though I didn’t know. It has been so rewarding to see them so invested in the book. I only wish I didn’t have a copy of the sequel Mr. Terupt Falls Again on my shelf, because it’s a tell-tale clue that he comes out ok, but still, they all want to be the first to read that when we are done. Guess I’ll have to get additional copies.
I read this to my class at the beginning of 2011, we loved it so much we skyped Rob Buyea, from New Zealand. We were excited to have him read the first paragraph of the follow up book. In October last year I read aloud the follow up book as I was still teaching many who had been in the class the year before. It was popular, but not as popular as this one was.
January 2013: I just finished reading Because of Mr. Terupt to my 5th grade class; they loved it and so did I! It kept them asking to hear more. A wonderful read aloud!
January 2013: I just finished reading Because of Mr. Terupt to my 5th grade class; they loved it and so did I! It kept them asking to hear more. A wonderful read aloud! Thank you Nerdy Book Club for bringing it to my attention.