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Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw
Kaethe Zemach's latest adorable offering is both a sweet school story AND a lesson for little fingers on how to draw! Dudley Ellington tries, but he's just no good at school. Luckily, he has Ms. McCaw as a teacher. She's patient and she never lets other students pick on Dudley. Also, she knows wonderful things -- why stars shine, how plants grow. Dudley thinks Ms. McCaw knows everything. Then one day, Ms. McCaw tries to draw a simple face on the chalkboard -- and she can't do it! The other kids start to snicker, but Dudley jumps to the rescue and gives his favorite teacher a drawing lesson. With Kaethe Zemach's cheery illustrations showing the way, all little fingers will itch to take up a pencil!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Kaethe Zemach
11 booksHas also written as Kaethe Zemach-Bersin, but per call to pub. Oct. 2004, correct name used is Kaethe Zemach.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 10, 2013
Audience: Primer ages: 4-8
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Pre-Reading Strategy: Pre-Reading Plan (PreP)
I chose the Pre-Reading Strategy (PreP) because it allows students to make connections using their prior knowledge and experiences with the text before reading the book.
How it works: I would ask a question or make a statement about the main concept of the book. Example: Have you ever felt like you would not be good at something? Then, I would have the students break into predetermined groups and come up with a list of words that answer the questions or relate to the main idea of the story. In this story, students lists could include: I wish was good at reading, math, playing the piano, soccer, singing, drawing, etc... I would have the class then share their words and give a reason for picking that word to go on the list. I would ask questions such as: "What made you think of this association? and How is the specific word related to the general concept?"(Pre-Reading Plan, 2013) After the discussion, students can decide if they want to add or remove words from the list before we begin reading the book.
Resource: Pre-reading plan. (2013, July 6). Retrieved from http://www.readingeducator.com/strate...
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Pre-Reading Strategy: Pre-Reading Plan (PreP)
I chose the Pre-Reading Strategy (PreP) because it allows students to make connections using their prior knowledge and experiences with the text before reading the book.
How it works: I would ask a question or make a statement about the main concept of the book. Example: Have you ever felt like you would not be good at something? Then, I would have the students break into predetermined groups and come up with a list of words that answer the questions or relate to the main idea of the story. In this story, students lists could include: I wish was good at reading, math, playing the piano, soccer, singing, drawing, etc... I would have the class then share their words and give a reason for picking that word to go on the list. I would ask questions such as: "What made you think of this association? and How is the specific word related to the general concept?"(Pre-Reading Plan, 2013) After the discussion, students can decide if they want to add or remove words from the list before we begin reading the book.
Resource: Pre-reading plan. (2013, July 6). Retrieved from http://www.readingeducator.com/strate...
June 3, 2012
Audience: Primary grades, reluctant readers
Appeal: Illustrations, role-reversal, easy-to-imitate line drawings: readers can learn to draw faces along with Ms. McCaw.
Golden Sower List 2011-2012 Primary nominee
Appeal: Illustrations, role-reversal, easy-to-imitate line drawings: readers can learn to draw faces along with Ms. McCaw.
Golden Sower List 2011-2012 Primary nominee
September 6, 2018
Enjoyable read aloud that easily gets across its intended moral. My class got a kick out of seeing the various ways Dudley would draw the character profiles and most of the students let out an audible sigh when the whole white board was shown.
September 1, 2021
3.5 Cute!
February 6, 2012
This is a story about a boy who does not do very well in school. He has a difficult time paying attention and feels like he cannot understand the material. He has a teacher who knows absolutely everything. She is a wonderful teacher who teaches them a lot. One day, she tries to draw a face on the board, but is not able to. The boy decides to help her out, even though he does not know how either. He discovers that he is very good at it and teaches her and the class how to do it.
I love this story because it teaches that everyone is great at something. I would use it to help reach the students in my class who might not be very good at the typical "school activities." Hopefully they would begin to see their value in the classroom. I would then try to get students to name a few of their strengths for me so that I might be able to incorporate some activities in the classroom that play to those strengths.
I love this story because it teaches that everyone is great at something. I would use it to help reach the students in my class who might not be very good at the typical "school activities." Hopefully they would begin to see their value in the classroom. I would then try to get students to name a few of their strengths for me so that I might be able to incorporate some activities in the classroom that play to those strengths.
June 20, 2012
Summary ¬–
Dudley Ellington is a young man who has a difficult time concentrating and learning things at school. His teacher Ms. McCaw is both patient and protective of Dudley. The other students in class think Ms. McCaw knows everything until… One day, Ms. McCaw acknowledges that she cannot draw a profile of a face. Dudley comes to her rescue and not only draws one face, but multiple faces. He then demonstrates the patience shown him by Ms. McCaw as he teaches her how to draw a profile.
This is a sweet book that really demonstrates the concept that everyone has something worth celebrating, and we can all learn from one another. I appreciate how Dudley reciprocated the patience shown him by his teacher.
Dudley Ellington is a young man who has a difficult time concentrating and learning things at school. His teacher Ms. McCaw is both patient and protective of Dudley. The other students in class think Ms. McCaw knows everything until… One day, Ms. McCaw acknowledges that she cannot draw a profile of a face. Dudley comes to her rescue and not only draws one face, but multiple faces. He then demonstrates the patience shown him by Ms. McCaw as he teaches her how to draw a profile.
This is a sweet book that really demonstrates the concept that everyone has something worth celebrating, and we can all learn from one another. I appreciate how Dudley reciprocated the patience shown him by his teacher.
June 4, 2012
Audience: Primary grades, Children that enjoy drawing
Appeal: This book will especially appeal to children who normally enjoy the how to draw books. This gives them a great quick lesson on how to draw faces, but it adds in the reading and story element that the how to draw books are missing. Also, everyone likes to see that everyone has a talent and they can teach others their talent. Even though they thought his teacher knew everything, it was exciting to see that even Dudley, who wasn't very good at many things, was able to teach her something.
Golden Sower List 2011-2012 Primary nominee
Appeal: This book will especially appeal to children who normally enjoy the how to draw books. This gives them a great quick lesson on how to draw faces, but it adds in the reading and story element that the how to draw books are missing. Also, everyone likes to see that everyone has a talent and they can teach others their talent. Even though they thought his teacher knew everything, it was exciting to see that even Dudley, who wasn't very good at many things, was able to teach her something.
Golden Sower List 2011-2012 Primary nominee
July 7, 2008
Ms. McCaw, the teacher of room 10, can't draw. Dudley Ellington, a student in room 10, can't pay attention. Ms. McCaw is always patient when it takes Dudley a long time to learn something new, so Dudley decides to help Ms. McCaw and teach her how to draw faces from the side--and he does. She learns so well that she cancels the math test she was planning and dedicates the rest of the class to drawing.
The picture drawing portion is cute, but I'm just not exactly sure what the point is. Maybe that everyone can learn something from everyone else? Eh.
The picture drawing portion is cute, but I'm just not exactly sure what the point is. Maybe that everyone can learn something from everyone else? Eh.
January 22, 2015
I liked the idea of this story- kid has a hard time in school, teacher is patient and wonderful and does so much for him. The class realizes she can't draw, but then the challenging student teachers her. I wish the book would have been a few pages longer, bringing it back to that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, how we can all help each other, that kids see this kid differently, or the teacher ties in his skills in more ways... I just felt it started so great, but ended when it could have brought it back around to the bigger picture.
May 14, 2010
3.5 stars
A teacher is very patient with a student who has a hard time in class. She repeats things over and over for him until he gets it. (If only teachers had time to truly do this). Then one day, she tries to draw a picture of a face on the board and can't do it. The whole class is shocked that she cannot do something. They don't know what to do. Then the student shows her, over and over, until she gets it.
Very sweet, fun illustrations. Lovely principle.
A teacher is very patient with a student who has a hard time in class. She repeats things over and over for him until he gets it. (If only teachers had time to truly do this). Then one day, she tries to draw a picture of a face on the board and can't do it. The whole class is shocked that she cannot do something. They don't know what to do. Then the student shows her, over and over, until she gets it.
Very sweet, fun illustrations. Lovely principle.
June 4, 2012
Audience: This book would be a great read for k-3rd grade.
Appeal: This book helps teach children the meaning of accomplishment. It is a story of a young man who is not good at a lot of things, but when the time comes he can show how great he is at teaching his teacher how to draw! Good story to share when teaching children if they try hard enough they will succeed in whatever it is they want to.
Golden Sower Nominee 2011-2012
1st Primary Book for week 1
Appeal: This book helps teach children the meaning of accomplishment. It is a story of a young man who is not good at a lot of things, but when the time comes he can show how great he is at teaching his teacher how to draw! Good story to share when teaching children if they try hard enough they will succeed in whatever it is they want to.
Golden Sower Nominee 2011-2012
1st Primary Book for week 1
July 3, 2012
I liked the way this book portrayed the relationship between a student with a learning disability and his teacher. It went through what the teacher did to help him and then he got the opportunity to help her. It shows readers that every student is good at something and everyone struggles with something as well.
July 22, 2016
I wanted to record this here on my "teaching" shelf so I don't forget the title! Great book about a student struggling in school, then being able to show his artistic talents to the class. Also a great book to tie in to an art lesson because it shows many easy ways to draw a face in profile.
My kids loved it!
My kids loved it!
March 2, 2008
Great for discussing different gifts in children. A student with learning difficulties gets to share his talent for drawing with the class as he tries to teach his teacher how to draw. Fun story with colorful illustrations.
October 23, 2008
This is a fun story about a school teacher who patiently helps one of her students overcome his challenge of staying focused in class. In return, the student teaches Ms. McCaw and the entire class how to draw. Cute book.
May 12, 2009
Great for discussing different gifts in children. A student with learning difficulties gets to share his talent for drawing with the class as he tries to teach his teacher how to draw. Fun story with colorful illustrations. Good way to start kids drawing profiles too!
August 28, 2009
Great book for reinforcing what creates a good teacher-student relationship. Ms McCaw has patience and gives support and is not too old to learn from her own students including the one student who has unpredictably a special talent for instruction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2010
A boy who has trouble focusing in school gets to shine when his teacher needs help learning how to draw a person from the side. Ostensibly a children's book, this one has a great message for parents and teachers. It has useful tips for kids who want to draw profiles, too.
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February 7, 2013Audience: primary grades
Appeal: You get to see Dudley, a young student helping his teacher (who the children believe is smart and knows everything).
Application: We can learn something from everyone we meet.
Award: 2011-2012 Nominee for the Nebraska Golden Sower
Appeal: You get to see Dudley, a young student helping his teacher (who the children believe is smart and knows everything).
Application: We can learn something from everyone we meet.
Award: 2011-2012 Nominee for the Nebraska Golden Sower
December 10, 2009
"drawing, profile, learning difficulties, student teaches teacher how to draw a profile"
March 1, 2012
we drew the faces while we read this. it was fun. especially to see how they came out as we read along. lol
October 18, 2011
Children's Golden Sower Nominee 2011-2012 Good message! Nice pictures!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews