Teaching Companion · Chapter 30 · Holes

This chapter's big question

Mr. Pendanski says to teach the bully a lesson, the Warden says holes teach a lesson, and Stanley is teaching Zero to read. Who is really teaching, and who is really learning, in this chapter?

The tension The adults call their orders lessons while mocking the one real lesson going on, and Stanley, who teaches Zero, gives way to the boys and to the counselors.

Today's focus

Notice who calls what a lesson, and who is actually learning something.

Two core ideas

Adults in this chapter say they are teaching lessons: "teach the bully a lesson" and "it teaches you a lesson."
The one lesson that is going well, Stanley's reading lessons for Zero, is the one the Warden ends.

The shape at a glance

On Zigzag's birthday, Stanley counts his forty-fifth hole. At lunch Zigzag and the others goad him until a fight breaks out. Mr. Pendanski tells Stanley to hit back, Zigzag beats him, and Zero chokes Zigzag. The Warden ends the reading lessons and the hole-swapping. Zero swings a shovel at Mr. Pendanski and walks out onto the lake, and the Warden orders him watched.

A way in

Start with Mr. Pendanski's words, "Teach the bully a lesson." Ask what kind of lesson he means, and what the student thinks Stanley would learn from it.

Lesson plan

Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the birthday, the line, the cookie, the fight, the Warden's questions, the spelling test and the shovel.

Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern, starting with "If": what someone would see if they only thought about it.

Debate Take sides: in this chapter, who is doing the most real teaching, Stanley, Mr. Pendanski or the Warden? Each side uses at least one quote.

Purpose Close by asking why the author puts the spelling test between the fight and the shovel.

Easier Read the spelling scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 4 and 5 only.

On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence from the chapter.

Harder Ask the student to find one more place where an adult uses the word lesson, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.

Discussion

Mr. Pendanski tells Stanley, “Hit him back. You’re bigger.” Was that good advice from a counselor? What makes you say so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to judge advice given by an adult in charge, weighing what Stanley has put up with against what the advice leads to.
One reading

It was fair advice: Zigzag had pushed and shoved Stanley again and again, and Stanley had done nothing.
- Zigzag kept after him. He shoved Stanley and said, “Quit pushing!”
- Zigzag pushed him hard. “Eat my cookie,” he said.
Another reading

It was poor advice: a counselor should stop a fight, not start one, and Stanley ended up pounded into the dirt.
- “I don’t want any trouble,” Stanley said.
- Stanley made a feeble attempt to punch Zigzag, then he felt a flurry of fists against his head and neck.
Listen for
- Uses what Zigzag did, and what Stanley said he wanted.
- Says what a counselor could have done instead.
If stuck
- What has Zigzag been doing to Stanley before Mr. Pendanski speaks?
- What does Stanley say he wants?
- What happens right after Stanley tries to punch?
A strong answer Zigzag has pushed Stanley over and over, so the advice to hit back can sound fair. But Stanley said he did not want trouble, and Mr. Pendanski had seen everything and could have stopped it himself. After the advice Stanley is pounded into the dirt. A strong answer takes a side and says what the counselor could have done.
Stanley says, “That’s okay,” yet moves to the front of the line when X-Ray insists. Why does he give in?Character
What it asks It asks why Stanley, who says no, then does what the boys want, and what he is trying to protect.
One reading

He gives in to avoid trouble: X-Ray will not let it drop, and Stanley wants to be left alone.
- “No, it’s not okay,” said X-Ray. “Get up here.”
- Stanley hesitated, then moved to the front of the line.
Another reading

He gives in because he has no good way to say no; all morning he has smiled along or ignored them.
- Stanley tried his best to ignore them.
- Stanley smiled, as if it were all a big joke.
Listen for
- Names what Stanley wants at that moment.
- Notices that he says no and does not hold to it.
If stuck
- What does Stanley say, and what does X-Ray say back?
- What does Stanley do when the other boys tease him earlier?
- How does Stanley feel when he gets away?
A strong answer Stanley turns X-Ray down twice, and each time X-Ray pushes back until he says it is not okay. Stanley hesitates and goes. That fits a boy who wants no trouble and has not found a way to say no that works. A strong answer says what Stanley is protecting and whether giving in helped him.
Stanley asks if reading builds more character than digging holes. The Warden asks, “What about your character?” Who has the better point?Theme
What it asks It asks the student to weigh two ideas about what builds a person: learning something new, or doing hard work yourself.
One reading

Stanley has the better point: the hole still gets dug, and Zero is learning something that matters.
- The hole still gets dug, so what does it matter who digs it?
- Isn’t it more important for him to learn to read?
Another reading

The Warden has the better point: the deal lets Stanley rest while another boy does his work, and he has no answer.
- “That’s his character,” said the Warden. “What about your character?”
- Stanley raised and lowered one shoulder.
Listen for
- Says what each person means by character.
- Notices that Stanley answers her question with a shrug.
If stuck
- What does Stanley say the deal is?
- What does the Warden ask him in return?
- How does Stanley feel about Zero digging his hole?
A strong answer Stanley says the hole still gets dug and that reading matters more, which is a fair point about Zero. The Warden turns the question on him: what about his own character? His shrug suggests he has no ready answer, and the chapter says he feels awkward while Zero digs. A strong answer decides, uses lines from both sides, and says what the other person gets right.
Zero reads h-a-t as “chat,” and the counselors laugh. Why might the author give us Stanley's thought about that mistake?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author lets the reader hear Stanley's private thought while the room laughs, and what it changes about the scene.
One reading

It shows the mistake is smart, not stupid, so the laughing looks unfair.
- it was very logical for Zero to think that the letter “h” made the “ch” sound
- He’s so stupid, he doesn’t even know he’s stupid.
Another reading

It shows Zero is guessing a sound Stanley has not yet taught him, so the mistake belongs to the lesson, not only to Zero.
- Stanley hadn’t taught him the “h” sound either.
- Zero concentrated hard, then said, “Chat.”
Listen for
- Separates what the counselors say from what Stanley thinks.
- Notices that Zero concentrates before he answers.
If stuck
- What does Zero do before he says "chat"?
- What has Stanley taught Zero so far, and what has he not?
- Who says Stanley's thought aloud in the scene?
A strong answer The counselors laugh and Mr. Pendanski calls Zero stupid, but Stanley thinks the mistake is very logical. The author lets us hear that thought, so we see the answer as reasoning and not a failure. The chapter also says Stanley had not taught the h sound yet. A strong answer says what the thought changes about the scene and who it makes us trust.
Mr. Pendanski hands Zero the shovel and says, “It’s all you’ll ever be good for.” What leads Zero to swing it?Plot structure
What it asks It asks the student to trace what builds up to Zero's swing, and whether the last insult or the whole day is behind it.
One reading

The last insult is the cause: he is told digging is all he is good for, right after his lessons are taken away.
- “And no more reading lessons.”
- Here, take it, Zero. It’s all you’ll ever be good for.
Another reading

The whole scene is the cause: he has been mocked in front of everyone and has already said he is done digging.
- You might as well try to teach this shovel to read!
- “I’m not digging another hole,” said Zero.
Listen for
- Puts the steps in order, from the mocking to the swing.
- Says what Zero loses just before he swings.
If stuck
- What does the Warden say about the reading lessons?
- What does Mr. Pendanski say about the shovel and Zero?
- What does Zero say twice about digging?
A strong answer Zero says he is done digging, and he has just heard the Warden end the reading lessons. Then Mr. Pendanski hands him the shovel and says it is all he will ever be good for. The swing follows at once, but the chapter has been building to it through the mocking in front of everyone. A strong answer puts the steps in order and says which one tipped it.

Critical thinking

Zigzag keeps saying, “Don’t push me!” while he pushes Stanley. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Zigzag is trying to do.
What it asks It asks the student to read what Zigzag's words and actions are for: to start a fight, or to put on a show.
One reading

He wants a fight he can blame on Stanley, so he says Stanley is the one pushing.
- Zigzag pushed him back. “Don’t push me!”
- “Teach me a lesson,” he challenged.
Another reading

He is playing to the other boys, who laugh and join in.
- Squid laughed.
- “Why should he?” snapped X-Ray.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains why Zigzag says what he says.
If stuck
- Who is pushing, and who says "Don't push me"?
- Who laughs while Zigzag is pushing?
A strong answer Zigzag pushes Stanley and then shouts that Stanley is pushing him, which sounds like a way to start a fight and blame it on someone else. He also has an audience: Squid laughs and X-Ray speaks up for him. A strong answer picks one purpose and uses two different pieces of evidence.
The Warden asks what happened. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how the boys answer her.
What it asks It asks the student to compare the boys' answers and say whether they cover for each other or tell it straight.
One reading

Most of them cover it up: they say it was only the heat.
- “They just got a little hot, that’s all,” said X-Ray.
- “Yeah,” said Zigzag. “Like X-Ray said.
Another reading

Some of them tell it straight: Armpit says what happened, and Stanley will not blame anyone.
- “Ziggy was beating up the Caveman,” said Armpit.
- “Nothing. It wasn’t a riot.”
Listen for
- Evidence from at least two different boys.
- Says why the boys might not want to say more.
If stuck
- What does X-Ray say happened to Zigzag?
- What does Armpit say about Stanley?
A strong answer X-Ray says the boys just got hot in the sun, and Zigzag repeats it, so they are working together. But Armpit says Zigzag was beating up Stanley, and Stanley says it was not a riot. A strong answer says whether the boys are covering up or telling the truth in different ways, and uses two pieces of evidence.
The Warden gives her orders when Zero walks out onto the lake. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what she seems to care about most.
What it asks It asks what the Warden's orders show about what she wants: to punish Zero, to protect herself, or both.
One reading

She cares most about keeping control of the camp and avoiding outside attention.
- The last thing we need is an investigation.
- she still expected seven holes
Another reading

She cares most about making Zero pay for what he did.
- They were not to let Zero drink any water.
- When he returned, he was to be brought directly to her.
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that ties her orders to what she wants.
If stuck
- Why does the Warden say not to shoot Zero?
- What does she say about holes before she leaves?
A strong answer The Warden stops the counselors from shooting Zero because she does not want an investigation, and she still expects seven holes. She also orders that Zero get no water and be brought straight to her. A strong answer picks what she cares about most, control or revenge, and gives two different pieces of evidence.