Ramona the Brave
By Beverly Cleary
Published by Avon Camelot
Copyright 1975

Accelerated Reader: 4.9

Suggested Delivery: Small Group Reading

FUN, HUMOROUS, SPUNKY, EXCTING, INTRIGUING

This rollercoaster of a chapter book follows young Ramona through multiple escapades.  Striving to be all grown up, Ramona and her friend Howie find themselves get into mischief.  From playing Brick Factory to standing up for her older sister Beezus, Ramona just doesn’t want to be seen as the youngest in her family any longer.  We read of Ramona’s adventure of sleeping all alone in the whole in the wall, dealing with Mrs. Griggs in school, apologizing to an owl stealing Susan and her biggest adventure yet, fending off a dog before school.  She doesn’t cry when she falls and skins her knee and even takes on a new route to school on her own.  Ramona finally gets recognized for her bravery by the school secretary and even gets to lead the morning meeting in Mrs. Griggs classroom.  Another Beverly Cleary masterpiece, Ramona is finally noticed as courageous. 

Website of Beverly Cleary

The world of Beverly Cleary includes information about the author, her books, fun games, a close look at the characters and much more. 

Cleary Activities

This site houses the links to several Beverly Cleary activities, lesson plans and games.  Study guides, comprehension questions and a biography of Ramona, the main character, are all present among the many interactive features of this site. 

VOCAB: Wading, Slack, Shuddering, Furious, Exasperating, Worthwhile, Unusually, Cozy

TEACHING SUGGESTIONS:

-Use this book in language arts to help students bridge from children’s books to children’s literature; picture books to chapter books. 

-Use this book to encourage kids to be brave in all situations.

-Use this book to explain to children that sometimes there hard work may be overseen but in the end it will be repaid. 

Before: Students will complete an anticipation guide which will ask them to reminisce on a time in their life that they felt brave, than they will share with the class.  This will be an easy transition to starting the novel about Ramona and her courage.    

During: One single line in a novel can affect the whole structure and meaning of a scenario in a novel.  While reading the book, have students keep track of quotes they like or they feel has significant meaning.  At the end of the chapter, it will be the student’s responsibility to analyze the quotes further.  Students will be asked to do this with each reading assignment. 

After: Students will be asked to create a mobile which will illuminate six main points which the student believes to be most important.  Students will get to use their creativity to draw out their selection of main points and exhibit them to other classmates by hanging them around the room.  A discussion of why these main points were chosen will follow. 

Writing: Have students practice their writing skills by creating a journal entry from Beezus’s point of view.  Scenes to consider include when Ramona stood up for Beezus at the playground against those older boys.  Questions which can be addressed include:

            -What do you see?

            -What do you feel?

            -What are you thinking?

            -What do you think Ramona is thinking?

            -What do you plan on doing next?

Students can also include illustrations with their work.