Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants

by Barbara Park

Grades 2-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Junie B. Jones has all the answers when it comes to cheating. It's just plain wrong! But what about homework? That's not cheating, right? 'Cause homework isn't even a test! And speaking of tests, what if a friends shares an answer that you didn't even ask for? Sharing definitely isn't cheating...is it? Uh-oh. Maybe this cheating business is more complicated than Junie B. thought. Could she be a cheater pants and not even know it?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Why didn’t Junie B. get her homework finished? She forgot to do it over the weekend and her dad wouldn’t let her stay up late to do it p.1
2. Why did May go to the office? To take the attendance sheet p.5
3. What did Junie B. do while May was gone? Copied May’s homework p.9

Chapter 2

1. What was the assigned homework over the weekend? Each student had to write a fun thing they did over the weekend p.12
2. What did Roger write about his weekend? He got a pizza with his dad, ate a whole anchovy and didn’t throw up until they were almost home p.17
3. Why did Junie B. tuck her paper into her desk? She thought she didn’t need it since she could just tell what she did p.17

Chapter 3

1. What was the problem with Junie B.’s turn when she said what she did over the weekend? She didn’t read it from her paper p.21
2. Why did Mr. Scary want to see Junie B.’s paper? Because she was acting funny p.22
3. What did Mr. Scary realize and what did he say to Junie B.? that she was cheating and that he was very disappointed in her p.24

Chapter 4

1. Summarize what Mr. Scary talked to Junie B. about during recess. That she cheated and it’s a very serious thing p.30
2. Why does Junie B. think cheating is in her blood? Her dad cheated at Old Maid and her grandpa cheated on his diet p.35
3. Why did Mr. Scary give Junie B. a note to give to her parents? To let them know she had cheated p.37

Chapter 5

1. Why did Junie B. hide in her room after giving the note to her parents? She was scared she’d get in big trouble p.41
2. Why did Junie B.’s mom and dad also need to talk to her about cheating? It’s their responsibility as parents to teach and correct their kids p.44
3. Did you think Junie B.’s parents handled the situation appropriately? Explain. Listen to your child’s answers p.45

Chapter 6

1. Explain why Junie B. thinks Herbert is good for her. Even though she made a bad choice, he still likes her and helps her know not to do it again p.49
2. Using the rules on page 55, write your own Cinquain. Help your child if needed p.55
3. What did the four friends decide their Cinquain would be about? Friends or Pallies p.60

Chapter 7

1. Use a word to describe Lucille and explain why you chose it.  Listen to your child’s answers p.63
2. What was wrong with May’s poem? It didn’t follow the rules of the Cinquain p.65

Chapter 8

1. What grade did Junie B. and her friends get on their poem? A+ p.68
2. Why was Junie B. upset after recess? Her class was taking a spelling test and she didn’t study p.69
3. Who helped Junie B. during the spelling test and why did Junie B. think it was ok? Herbert; he was only sharing the word p.74

Chapter 9

1. Why didn’t Herbert sleep well the night of the test? He felt bad for cheating during the test p.80
2. How does Junie B. know how Herbert feels? She’s also a cheater pants and feels bad too p.81
3. What was Junie B.’s and Herbert’s consequence for cheating? They got zeros on their spelling tests and their parents were called; Junie B. got in trouble p.83
4. Why does Mr. Scary trust Junie B. even though she cheated again? She told truth about it p.86