Ellen Tebbits
About
Ellen Tebbits is eight years old and is lonely now that her best friend has moved. She becomes best friends with the new girl in town, Austine and together they share a secret that no one else knows about.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
Tell me about Ellen Tebbits.
Page 7 — 8 years old, ballet dancer, had a secret, only child, best friend moved away
7
Who was at the ballet school when Ellen arrived?
Page 10 — Austine Allen
10
What was Ellen’s big secret?
Page 14 — She had to wear woolen underwear
14
Tell me about Otis?
Page 24 — The dance teacher’s (Mrs. Spoffard) son, boy who’s Ellen’s age, a big tease
24
What did Ellen and Austine share that helped them become fast friends?
Page 32 — They both wore woolen underwear
32
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why did Ellen like her third grade teacher?
Page 42 — She wore pretty clothes and red heels, nicest teacher at school
42
Why did Ellen feel like Mrs. Joyce didn’t like her?
Page 43 — Miss. Joyce never picked her to clap erasers
43
Why did Ellen want to bring in the beet so badly to Miss. Joyce?
Page 51 — To please her so she would choose Ellen to clap erasers
51
What did Ellen look like when she got to school after pulling up the beet?
Page 60 — A mess, muddy, dirty, dress ripped
60
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What did Austine use to mend the tear in Ellen’s dress?
Page 63 — Scotch tape
63
Why is Austine a good friend?
Page 64 — She defends and protects Ellen, helpful and thoughtful, always kind to her
64
What did Otis have at school that caught everyone’s attention?
Page 69 — Mexican Jumping Beans
69
Why didn’t Miss Joyce ever ask Ellen to clap the erasers?
Page 77 — Clapping erasers is dirty work and Ellen always keeps her dresses so clean
77
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
How had Ellen misled Austine about riding horses?
Page 83 — She made Austine think she had ridden horses a lot since she exaggerated
83
How does Austine know so much about horses and how to ride them?
Page 87 — Read horse books
87
How was Ellen feeling when she was riding Brownie and she didn’t know how to guide him?
Page 102 — Embarrassed
102
What did Ellen decide to do so she could learn more about horses?
Page 103 — Go to the library and read books on horses
103
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
How were the girls going to be twins for the first day of school?
Page 106 — wear the same dresses
106
How could Austine’s mother not being able to sew be a problem for what the girls wanted?
Page 107 — Austine’s dress might not get done, the dress might not look the same or very nice
107
What were some differences between Ellen’s and Austine’s dresses?
Page 113 — Austine’s didn’t have a sash, her skirt sagged, snaps instead of buttons
113
What problem arose when the girls’ dresses weren’t the same, like they had hoped and planned?
Page 117 — Austine felt bad hers wasn’t as nice, Austine was jealous, Austine continued to untie Ellen’s sash
117
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why did Ellen think Austine should apologize to her first?
Page 121 — Austine had started the quarrel by untying Ellen’s dress
121
How did Austine treat Ellen after Ellen slapped her?
Page 123 — ignored her, didn’t look at her or speak to her
123
Why did Ellen want to be in the play for the open house?
Page 126 — So she could be near Austine
126
Why was Ellen able to be in the play?
Page 134 — Someone was not able to attend so she was able to substitute in for them
134
Why did Austine help Ellen when she got stuck on stage during the play?
Page 146 — Austine didn’t know who was in the rat costume
146
Who had actually undone Ellen’s sash that day she slapped Austine?
Page 146 — Otis
146
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
How did Ellen feel about being around Austine now that she knew Otis had untied her sash?
Page 148 — She avoided her
148
Why was it good for Mrs. Gitler to choose both Ellen and Austine to go outside and clap erasers?
Page 157 — It made them talk to each other
157
After the girls became friends what secret did they share again?
Page 158 — They both had on their woolen underwear
158
Why was it important for the girls to know about each other’s secret?
Page 158 — They didn’t feel alone/ helped them have a connection to being best friends again
158
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Worksheets
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