homework machine chapter 1

The Homework Machine

50 pages • 1 hour read

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-10

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The Homework Machine , written by acclaimed American author Dan Gutman was first published in 2007 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and is the first of a two-book series. The second book, The Return of the Homework Machine , was published in 2011. Gutman is primarily a children’s fiction writer who has been nominated for and won numerous awards, including 18 for The Homework Machine alone. Gutman is best known for his humorous series, My Weird School , in which there are more than 70 books. He lives in New York City with his family.

The paperback edition used for this study guide was published by Simon & Schuster in 2007.

Plot Summary

The Homework Machine is told from the perspectives of multiple characters in the format of tape recordings for a police report.

The four main characters are fifth-grade students who are grouped at the same classroom table because their last names start with D: Sam Dawkins (Snik), Kelsey Donnelly , Judy Douglas , and Brenton Damagatchi . Other than sharing the same last initial, the students have nothing in common. Snik is the cool class smart aleck; Kelsey is laid back and doesn’t care about school; Judy is conscientious and in the gifted program; and Brenton is a loner and genius who designs software and studies psychology in his spare time. Snik pushes people’s buttons, and one day he pushes Brenton too far—implying that Brenton spends all his free time doing homework. Brenton retorts that he doesn’t spend any time doing homework and lets slip that he has invented a homework machine.

Snik calls Brenton a liar, so Brenton invites Snik, Judy, and Kelsey to his house to see for themselves. The group are stunned when Brenton’s machine prints out perfectly completed homework in Brenton’s handwriting. Brenton agrees to let Snik, Judy, and Kelsey join him after school to “do” their homework and even rewrites the software to accommodate their handwriting. The unlikely foursome spends every afternoon together, but they insist that they are not friends and that the only reason they tolerate each other is to use the homework machine, which they name Belch. Judy feels guilty about cheating but enjoys getting A’s and uses the extra time to take up ballet. Kelsey’s vastly improved grades earn her privileges, such as a belly-button piercing, from her mother. As the weeks pass, the D Squad becomes addicted to using Belch and the boundaries between their various social identities begin to blur. Snik shows an interest in “boring” chess, which Brenton plays, and Judy tries to be complimentary about Kelsey’s piercings (while finding them disgusting). Everything seems to be going well. However, things start to rapidly fall apart halfway through the year. Judy and Kelsey’s other friends resent their new associations and “unfriend” them, and their teacher, Miss Rasmussen , suspects that they are cheating.

In addition, a strange man has been stalking the group ever since Brenton designed software to instigate a hugely successful social media-driven “red socks day” that spread across America. Miss Rasmussen springs a surprise test on the class to see whether the D Squad really knows their schoolwork. Sure enough—Kelsey and Snik fail, and Judy gets a C, confirming Miss Rasmussen’s suspicions. Before Miss Rasmussen can report them, Snik’s father, who is in the military, is killed in the Middle East. This tragic event diverts Miss Rasmussen’s attention from the cheating, which seems trivial in comparison. The bond between the D Squad strengthens as the stress of keeping Belch secret increases.

Together they decide to shut Belch down, only to discover that Belch has taken on a life of its own and will not power off. They throw Belch into the Grand Canyon and feel relief as they watch it disappear. However, when backpackers find computer pieces at the bottom of the canyon, the D Squad is called into the sheriff’s office where they confess to everything. The case is closed, but their unlikely friendships continue to strengthen and grow. The stalker turns out to be someone scouting Brenton to offer him a job as an influencer for his company. The company’s clients want to market their products to kids. Brenton simply offers him an idea he would like to influence kids with: “Do your homework” (146).

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The Homework Machine

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DOING HOMEWORK BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher’s pet, and a slacker – Brenton, Sam Snick, Judy and Kelsey, respectively, – are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of attention. And attention is exactly what you don’t want when you are keeping a secret. Before long, members of the D Squad, as they are called at school are getting strange Instant Messages from a shady guy named Milner; their teacher, Miss Rasmussen, is calling private meetings with each of them and giving them pop tests that they are failing; and someone has leaked the possibility of a homework machine to the school newspaper. Just when the D Squad thinks things can’t get any more out of control, Belch becomes much more powerful than they ever imagined. Soon the kids are in a race against their own creation, and the loser could end up in jail…or worse!

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The Creative Behind the Book

Dan Gutman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Genius Files series; the Baseball Card Adventure series, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies around the world; and the My Weird School series, which has sold more than 12 million copies. Thanks to his many fans who voted in their classrooms, Dan has received nineteen state book awards and ninety-two state book award nominations. He lives in New York City with his wife, Nina. You can visit him online at www.dangutman.com.

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The Homework Machine Paperback – June 26, 2007

• Book 1 of 2 The Homework Machine
• Print length 176 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Lexile measure 680L
• Dimensions 5.13 x 0.5 x 7.63 inches
• Publisher Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date June 26, 2007
• ISBN-10 9780689876790
• ISBN-13 978-0689876790
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., the homework machine, aladdin paperbacks.

Continues... Excerpted from The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman Copyright © 2007 by Dan Gutman. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0689876793
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (June 26, 2007)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780689876790
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0689876790
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 11 years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 680L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.99 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 0.5 x 7.63 inches
• #377 in Children's Values Books
• #931 in Children's School Issues
• #1,845 in Children's Friendship Books

About the author

I was born in a log cabin in Illinois and used to write by candlelight with a piece of chalk on a shovel. Oh, wait a minute. That was Abraham Lincoln.

Actually, I’m a children's book author. I’ve written more than 170 books for kids from kindergarten up to middle school.

For the little ones, I write picture books like "Rappy the Raptor," about a rapping raptor named Rappy, who raps.

For beginning readers, I write "My Weird School," about some kids who go to a school in which all the grownups are crazy. Thirty-one million copies have been sold. I also write “Wait! WHAT?” a series of biographies that focus on the unusual aspects of people like Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, and Teddy Roosevelt.

For middle-graders, I write the baseball card adventure series, about a boy who has the power to travel through time using a baseball card like a time machine. He goes on adventures with players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and others.

For advanced readers, I write "The Genius Files," "Flashback Four,” “Houdini and Me” and others.

If you’d like to find out more, visit my web site (www.dangutman.com), my Facebook fan page, and follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dangutmanbooks.

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 77% 12% 6% 3% 2% 2%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

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Customers say

Customers find the storyline entertaining, cool, and great. They also say the book style is easy to read, as it's written in short.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the storyline entertaining, fun, and bring happiness to readers. They also say the book has mystery and excitement, and is a great book that kids could relate to. Readers also mention that the book teaches a valuable lesson and has a really great ending.

"...Beyond the central plotline of this fun and thought-provoking story , Dan Gutman has also folded into the mix a whole series of kid-relevant issues..." Read more

"Nice read for my grandson's 5th grade class. The book kept the reader's attention . It was fun and memorable...." Read more

"...He liked the book and found it interesting , but disliked the fact that so many people got away with wrongdoing...." Read more

"I loved the book it was fun and interesting I especially liked the suspense peaple who gave it a one two and three stars review are crazy I liked..." Read more

Customers find the book style easy to read, and set up perfectly for team reading. They also like the format, saying it's written at the police.

"...How cool is that. The book style is easy to read since it is written in short snippets from each of the 4 students involved in this diabolical..." Read more

"Read this with my son. Great and easy read ." Read more

"My sixth graders loved this book! It was a quick read aloud ." Read more

"...This book is set up perfectly for team reading with different characters "titled" above their thoughts.Great book!" Read more

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The Homework Machine

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Table of Contents

About the book, about the author.

Dan Gutman hated to read when he was a kid. Then he grew up. Now he writes cool books like The Kid Who Ran for President ; Honus & Me ; The Million Dollar Shot ; Race for the Sky ; and The Edison Mystery: Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time . If you want to learn more about Dan or his books, stop by his website at DanGutman.com.

Product Details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (June 26, 2007)
• Length: 176 pages
• ISBN13: 9780689876790
• Grades: 3 - 7
• Ages: 8 - 12
• Fountas & Pinnell™ R These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System

Browse Related Books

• Age 12 and Up
• Children's Fiction > Social Themes > Adolescence & Coming of Age
• Children's Fiction > Social Situations > Adolescence
• Children's Fiction > School & Education
• Children's Fiction > Humorous Stories

Awards and Honors

• ILA/CBC Children's Choices
• Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee (MN)
• Booklist Editors' Choice
• South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee
• Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee
• Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
• Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee (WY)
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• Book Cover Image (jpg): The Homework Machine Trade Paperback 9780689876790 (2.4 MB)

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The Homework Machine

Starting with a stern statement from the Grand Canyon, Arizona Police Chief Rebecca Fish, meet four fifth graders in big trouble. There's long-haired, rebellious, cool guy Sam Dawkins; fun-loving, unacademic, pink-haired Kelsey Donnelly, African American grind Judy Douglas, and friendless genius Brenton Damagatchi. The whole thing starts because Sam is anti-homework, especially the daily fill in-the-blank worksheets his first-year teacher Miss Rasmussen hands out. Sam is skeptical when Brenton claims he has programmed his computer to search the web and do all his homework each day, but it’s true. Soon the four seatmates are spending every afternoon in Brenton’s bedroom, printing out their daily assignments on the computer they nickname Belch. It can’t do any harm, right? The chronology and confession of their ill-fated escapade is related entirely through a series of transcripts, narrated by the four contrite kids, their parents, classmates, and Miss Rasmussen.

There are many interesting threads explored in this nimble story: keeping secrets, making friends, being popular, the morality of taking the easy way out, first crushes, the meaning of war, and even the loss of a parent. The setting of the Grand Canyon and sub-themes about playing chess, starting fads, and using a catapult will get kids looking up supporting information in books and on the Internet. Questions readers can think about as they read include: Which of the four main characters is most like or unlike you and why? Which one would or would not be your friend and why?

Reviewed by : JF.

Themes : DEATH. FRIENDSHIP. GRIEF. HUMOR.

Also available from:

• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million

CRITICS HAVE SAID

• “A dramatic and thought-provoking story with a strong message about honesty and friendship.” – Elaine E. Knight, School Library Journal
• “Booktalkers will find this a natural, particularly for those hard-to-tempt readers whose preferred method of computer disposal involves a catapult and the Grand Canyon.” – Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
• “Tucked in between the laughs are excellent messages about tolerance, honesty, and the importance of what the students’ teacher calls the “homework machine [that] already exists. It’s called your brain.” – Child Magazine
• “Short chapters of alternating voices tell the story, which is funny in some places, but is not without intense and sometimes sad moments.” – Susie Wilde, Children

IF YOU LOVE THIS BOOK, THEN TRY:

• Amato, Mary. The Word Eater. Holiday House, 2000. ISBN-13: 9780823419401
• Clements, Andrew. Frindle. Simon & Schuster, 1996. ISBN-13: 9780689818769
• Clements, Andrew. Lunch Money. Simon & Schuster, 2005. ISBN-13: 9780689866852
• Clements, Andrew. No Talking. Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN-13: 9781416909835
• Codell, Esm Raji. Sahara Special. Hyperion, 2003. ISBN-13: 9780786816118
• Fletcher, Ralph. Flying Solo. Clarion, 1998. ISBN-13: 9780395873236
• Gutman, Dan. The Get Rich Quick Club. HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN-13: 9780060534424
• Gutman, Dan. The Kid Who Ran for President. Scholastic, 1996. ISBN-13: 9780590939881
• Gutman, Dan. Qwerty Stevens Back in Time: The Edison Mystery. Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN-13: 9780590939881
• Park, Barbara. Maxie, Rosie, and Earl—Partners in Grime. Knopf, 1990. ISBN-13: 9780679806431
• Pearsall, Shelley. All of the Above. Little, Brown, 2006. ISBN-13: 9780316115261
• Rocklin, Joanne. For Your Eyes Only! Scholastic, 1997. ISBN-13: 9780142003220
• Sachar, Louis. Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Morrow, 1978. ISBN-13: 9780380698714

The Homework Machine

Sunday, september 7, 2008.

• Chapter 1- Characters

You were introduced to 4 characters in chapter 1, who have very different personalities.

• Which character is most like you? Why? Use specific sentences and page numbers from the story to explain.

This blog that earns an "A" grade will have the following:

• Correct spelling
• Correct grammar
• A character description
• Page numbers and sentences explaining your thoughts

20 comments:

The character that I am most like is Judy. I am most like Judy becuase she gets A's acording to page 51 just like me. And she is a Afircan Amarican and I am cindove Eopean,African,Amarican.

I am somewhat like Judy because when it comes to caring, I care about everything like her on page 15.I am not gifted like Judy but I like to learn(page5).I like homework just like Judy because it helps us learn more (page21).

In the book The Homework Machine the character I'm most like is Kelsey. I'm most like Kelsey because she said she doesn't like homework.(found on page 16)

The chapter I am most like me is Sam Dawkins because the first day of school I was a little nerveous like Sam and I don't want anyone looking at me on page 8.

The character that is most like me is Sam Dawkins because we both were the new kids in school.(page8) Also we both need time to rest our brains after school by chilling out and watching tv.(page 17)

The character that is most like me is Judy because I like homework and school and Judy does too. The sentence that describes her is "Okay, I admit it. I like homework." Pg.21. I have almost straight A's and she does too. Pg.5. The difference is she is in fifth grade and she is African American. Pg. 6.

I am most like judy. I am like judy because she likes homework and so do I.(21)

In the book homework machine I am most like Kelsey beause I do not like homework and she does not like it either.(pg.16)

The character I would choose is Kelsey, because she has most of the same personality as me. She can be a little stubborn like me Pg4. But the one thing we do not have in common and that she does not care about homework like I do. Pg.16 That is why I chose her.

The character that I am most like is Judy because she said that she will never break the law (page 5). I am like judy because I will also never break the law.

I am most like sam beacouse he dosent care who dosent belive him but he speaks the truth. I don't care if you beleve me, thats the truth. Pg 3

judy is most like me because i am nice and honest sometimes. also because she looks like she cares what she says and what she does. all that is on page 28 paragraph 4.

In the book the homework machine I am like Judy. The reasons that I believe I am like Judy are she likes homework and school ( page 21), she is not going to be dishonst (page 5), she also does not sneak (page 15), and she trys hard (page 16). She also does not make fun of others (page 16). Those are the reasons I believe that I am like Judy.

I'm just like all of the characters except for Sam. I share a little of them all in me. Judy is smart like me and I almost make straight A's.(page 5). TORI said...Brenton is weird and this is true because I think what Brenton said on (page 11) that (If everybody was cool, everybody would be the same. Nobody would be cooler that everyone else. There would be nobody to make fun of. So I suppose I serve a purpose, in a weird way.) Kelsey is like me because homework suck an I have to do it (page 16).

KAYLA said...In the book the homework machine I am like Judy. The reasons that I believe I am like Judy are she likes homework and school ( page 21), she is not going to be dishonst (page 5), she also does not sneak (page 15), and she trys hard (page 16). She also does not make fun of others (page 16). Those are the reasons I believe that I am like Judy.

I am most like bradon because I don't like making speechs or company of other people

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Blog Archive

• Who has the most to gain?
• Who has the most to lose?
• Judy's Homework Machine Addiction
• Right from Wrong
• Kelsey's Thoughts
• Setting of the Homework Machine
• FINAL BLOG PROJECT

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Capitalization

Tier one words, kg -  1st  , vowel teams, story elements, text features, 1st -  2nd  , hey, little ant, combining sentences.

The Homework Machine Chapter 1

3rd - 5th grade.

10 questions

Introducing new   Paper mode

No student devices needed.   Know more

• 1. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What grade are all the students in? third grade fourth grade fifth grade sixth grade
• 2. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is Sam Dawkins nickname? Snikwad/Snik Dawkins Fart Boy Booger Face
• 3. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What's the rumor on why Sam Dawkins got kicked out of his old school? He knocked over a statue. He was stealing. He was failing too bad. He wouldn't get his hair cut.
• 4. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What does Judy want to be when she is older? a teacher a scientist a lawyer a writer
• 5. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Who is the true genius of the group? Judy Kelsey Brenton Sam
• 6. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What do others call Judy, Kelsey, Sam, and Brenton? The Loser Squad The D Squad The Geek Squad The Odd Squad
• 7. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Why does Sam's family move often? He keeps getting kicked out of school. His dad is in the Air Force. His mom got a new job. They wanted to live in the west.
• 8. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt True or false: Each member of the D Squad hates homework. true false
• 9. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Who invented The Homework Machine? Brenton Kelsey Sam Judy
• 10. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which character trait would best describe Judy? careless intelligent weak irresponsible

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