Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots
By Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
Grades 2-4; Genre - Fantasy; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0
The third graders at Bailey School are get a new teacher. She's from Romania and is short and pretty. But the kids aren't sure what to think of her as she moves into the haunted house with a long thin box that could easily fit a human inside.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Why did Mrs. DeeDee quit teaching? She found her desk drawer filled with shaving cream p. 2
- Tell me about Howie? He’s the class bully p. 1
- Why was Melody worried about getting a wrestler for a teacher? He’d stuff them into pencil boxes if they misbehaved p. 4
Chapter 2
- Who’s going to be the third grade’s new teacher? Mrs. Jeepers p. 6
- Where does Mrs. Jeepers come from? Romania p. 10
- Why did she change her name to Jeepers? Her original name’s too hard to pronounce p. 10
Chapter 3
- What does Mrs. Jeepers keep doing with her green brooch? Rubbing it p. 12
- Why does Eddie think Mrs. Jeepers is an old fashioned softie? She never raised her voice p. 14
- Who’s moving into the haunted house or the Clancy Estate? Mrs. Jeepers p. 16
Chapter 4
- What scary person/creature is from Transylvania? Count Dracula p. 22
- What’s one thing Eddie did to try to get Mrs. Jeepers to pay attention to him? made goldfish sounds with his mouth, wadded his math paper, tapped his pencil
- What did Mrs. Jeepers do when Eddie dropped his math book to the ground? She scraped her fingernails down the chalkboard and spoke softly p. 26
Chapter 5
- Why was Eddie mad at his class? They weren’t any fun, they were all under Mrs. Jeepers goodness spell p. 27
- What did Eddie do while he sharpened his pencil? Did a dance with his hips p. 28
Chapter 6
- Why do the other kids think Eddie is scared of Mrs. Jeepers? His face went white as cotton when she touched his shoulder, he gave up trying to get her attention p. 32
- What was Eddie willing to do to show his friends he’s not scared of Mrs. Jeepers? Go into her basement and find out what’s inside the long box from Transylvania p. 33
- Why did Melody want to go with Eddie into Mrs. Jeepers’ basement? To make sure he does it p. 34
Chapter 7
- Why didn’t Melody and Eddie open the long thin box? It was locked/ it wouldn’t open p. 38
- Where did the thump come from that Melody and Eddie heard? Inside the box p. 39
- When Melody and Eddie ran from the house, who did they see come out the front door? Mrs. Jeepers p. 40
Chapter 8
- Why couldn’t Mrs. Jeepers be a vampire? She was sleeping during the night p. 43
- Where did Mrs. Jeepers get her bat bracelet? From her husband p. 45
- What happened to Mrs. Jeepers’ husband? He died p. 45
Chapter 9
- What did Mrs. Jeepers say about the prowlers that came into her home? She was tired and grouchy, but willing to forget it happened and was sure it wouldn’t happen again p. 48
- Why did the fourth grader, Ben, called Eddie a teacher’s pet? Because he was behaving for his teacher p. 49
- What did Eddie do to Ben when Ben called him a sissy? Tripped him p. 50
Chapter 10
- What did Mrs. Jeepers do to Eddie’s bubble he made with his gum? Popped it by pointing her finger at it p. 54
- What did Mrs. Jeepers’ brooch do as she rubbed it? Glowed more and more p. 57
- How did Mrs. Jeepers stop Eddie from being crazy and disrespectful? Put him under a spell using the brooch p. 57
Chapter 11
- Did Eddie believe his friends when they told him that he was frozen like a Popsicle? No p. 59
- How did Howie learn about vampires? He checked out a book from the library p. 62
- What did Howie sprinkle all over their classroom? Garlic salt p. 64
Chapter 12
- What made Mrs. Jeepers sneeze and have an allergic reaction? The garlic p. 67
Chapter 13
- What was the last prank Eddie played on Mrs. Jeepers? Spit wads thrown at her p. 74
- Where did Mrs. Jeepers take Eddie to speak with him? in the hall p. 75
- How did Eddie feel about doing pranks and giving Mrs. Jeepers a hard time after she spoke with him out in the hall? Won’t ever make her mad again p. 78