Dear student,

I hope you find the following questions helpful for checking your understanding of the story. Good luck.

Part one: on her way home
• When and where does the story take place?
• Why does Geraldine stop at the corner of the street?
• How old do you think is Geraldine? What can you tell about her personality and social background?
• For how much does she mind Mrs. Watson's dog? What does that tell you about her background?
• Does she think the hotdog man will continue working in her neighborhood? Why?
• Who is making lunch for her that day?
• What does she think about high school free lunch?
• What does Geraldine do when her mother was sick before her sister came to stay with her?
• What in the text shows you that she is really hungry sometimes?
• Why is her sister Anita staying with her?

Part two: at home
• What was Geraldine feeling when she saw the items outside her building?
• Why is she going to stay with Miss Gladys?
• Why is Anita crying?

Part three: back to school
• What does Geraldine add during math class? What does she draw?
• What do Geraldine's doodles and daydreams during class reveal about her? What does she want?
• What was her understanding of the word "problem" when the teacher asked them to solve the problem as homework?
• What keeps Geraldine from concentrating on her schoolwork?
• Who is Mrs. Scott? How can you describe her?
• What does Geraldine think poems are usually like?
• How does Mrs. Scott define poetry? What has Geraldine felt and seen lately?
• What did Geraldine say to Mrs. Scott about the poem?
• How did Mrs. Scott react?
• What does that tell you about poetry and art?
• Is Geraldine a poet? Why? Why does she feel she can't write a poem?
• Think about Mrs. Scott's definition of poetry. What makes Geraldine's poem so good?
• Why do you think her work affected Mrs. Scott the way it did?
• Mrs. Scott describes poetry as “…your own special way of saying what you feel and what you see.” What is your personal definition of poetry? What relevance does poetry have in a young person’s life?