EllRay Jakes Is a Rock Star!
#2 of 9 in EllRay Jakes Series
What’s inside...
Everyone has something to brag about in EllRay's third-grade class. Corey's on the swim team, Kevin is super tall, Jared's dad has an ATV (with flames!). But what about EllRay? He isn't about to gloat about how his geologist dad collects rocks. Boring! Or is it? The crystals in his dad's office are really cool looking. And if EllRay just 'borrows' them to show his classmates, he knows they'd be impressed. He'll be a rock star-literally! And his dad will never have to know. It's a fail-safe plan . . . until everything doesn't go according to plan.
Character compass
Ellray Jakes
Dr. Jakes
Ms. Sanchez
Jared Matthews
Discussion points
Why do you think EllRay wanted to be considered a rock star among his classmates?
How did EllRay's actions affect his relationships with his friends and family?
What would you have done differently if you were in EllRay's situation?
How do you think EllRay felt when things didn't go as planned?
What did EllRay learn about friendship and honesty by the end of the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Ask your child to summarize the main points of the story before diving into deeper discussion questions. This helps set the context.
Encourage your child to relate personal experiences similar to EllRay’s, fostering empathy and deeper understanding.
Discuss the outcomes of EllRay’s decisions and actions, guiding your child to consider the consequences of their own actions.
Highlight moments in the book where characters show growth or learning, encouraging your child to think about how they can learn from their own experiences.
Reinforce the values of honesty and friendship discussed in the book, connecting them to real-life applications.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Self-acceptance and confidence
Explanation: EllRay Jakes, the protagonist, learns to embrace his unique qualities and talents throughout the story, overcoming self-doubt.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to their own experiences by learning to appreciate their individuality and being confident in expressing themselves.
Example Lesson: Respecting differences
Explanation: The book highlights interactions between EllRay and his diverse classmates, teaching the value of accepting and respecting others' differences.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to be open-minded and respectful towards peers who may come from different backgrounds or have different abilities.
Example Lesson: Dealing with peer pressure
Explanation: EllRay faces various situations where he must decide whether to follow the crowd or stand by his own decisions.
Real-World Application: This helps children understand the importance of making their own choices and not succumbing to peer pressure in everyday situations.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: Throughout the book, EllRay learns that his actions, whether good or bad, have consequences which affect himself and others around him.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of thinking before acting and considering the impact their actions may have on others.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: EllRay is often put in situations where he must find creative solutions to challenges he faces at school and at home.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset, applying creativity and critical thinking in their daily lives.