Love That Dog

Sweet, Endearing, Captivating, Heart-felt, Rhythmic

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Published by Scholastic Inc.

Copyright 2001

Poetry

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is a story told by Jack. Jack is a boy who tells his story through poetic responses to his teacher, Miss Strechberry. This story starts at the beginning of the school year and progresses through to the end of the school year. Jack's earliest responses are short and uninspirational. As the story progresses, Jack's teacher slowly gives him some inspiration and confidence and Jack begins to feel that he is capable of writing poetry and that he really does like it. He becomes enthralled in a poem, "Love That Boy" by Walter Dean Myers. A turning point in the story is when Jack writes the poem about his dog, Sky. Jack writes a letter to Walter Dean Myers asking him to come to his school to meet his class. Walter Dean Myers does end up visiting Jack's class and he reads Jack's poems as well as those written by the other students.

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud, Independent Read

Grade Level (Lexile): 1010L, Ages 8-12

Key Vocabulary: comet, anonymous pasture, tottery, straggly,inspired, publisher, flattered

Teaching Suggestions:

• Before Reading: Ask students what they know about poetry. Talk with them about the features of this specific genre. Discuss their experiences dealing with poetry. Have you ever read/heard a poem before? Do you have a favorite one? If so, what is it?
• During Reading: Ask students to recall that in the beginning of the story, Jack says that boys don't write poetry, girls write poetry. Ask students what they think of when they hear the word poet or who they think should write poetry. Also, discuss with students the fact that Jack is hesitant about putting his name on his work. Why do you supposed he does not want his classmates to know that the work is his? Was there ever a time when you were nervous to share your work with someone? Why?
• After Reading: Jack creates a poem that is in the shape of a dog, using words that describe the dog. Students will pick something they know well enough to write a similar poem about. Examples could include: a cat, a desk, a heart, etc.

Writing Activity: There are eight different poems at the end of the story that Sharon Creech used in writing Jack's story. In the story, Jack is inspired by Walter Dean Myers's poem "Love That Boy". Ask students to read the eight poems in the back of the book. Each student will write their own poem using one of the poems they read as inspiration. Also, at the end on their poem, students will include a short written response as to why they chose to use the poem they did and what about it inspired them.

Electronic Resources:

• Discussion Topics: This website includes discussion topics, writing activites, a short article about Sharon Creech, an interview with her, and information about all of the books she wrote. Her story Hate That Cat is also included in this site's activities which might be helpful. The activities for Hate That Cat are similar to the ones for Love That Dog but are separate, so teachers can pick and choose the resources they would like to use.
• Sharon Creech: This is Sharon's official website. It includes a biography about her, insight about her works, and some teaching suggestions and resources.

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York: HarperCollins.