TEACHER'S GUIDE TO
THE CONFE$$ION$ AND $ECRET$ OF HOWARD J. FINGERHUT by Esther Hershenhorn


Howie's original name poem says it all:

H O W I E
Hopeful   Original  Willing  Intelligent  Enthusiastic

Ask your students, "Which of these traits got Howie into trouble and why?  Which of these traits got Howie out of trouble?"

Suggest students write a name poem for Howie's last name FINGERHUT.  Have them choose nouns or verbs or adjectives.  What name  might Howie's "J" stand for?

Suggest students write a name poem for other characters in the book:  Nathan Lindeman, Spenser Baggey, Elliott Throop III, Allyson Muckley and Paige Alexander.

Ask students to choose a character from one of their favorite books (i.e. Ramona Quimby or Harry Potter or the Baudelaire Orphans or Captain Underpants), then create a name poem for that character.

Ask students to write an original name poem about themselves or each other.  Have them use first and/or middle and/or last names.

Ask your students, "Suppose Mrs. Muckley sponsored a junior businessperson contest in our classroom.  What service or product business would you start?  Choose a name for your business.  Create a slogan.  Design your business card.  Design your business stationery.  Print an advertisement.  Estimate your start-up costs."

Visit the following websites to explore entrepreneurship:

www.ja.org                                                (Junior Achievement)
www.youngbiz.com                                   (Young Biz)
www.youthbusiness.com
www.YoungEntrepreneur.com
www.youthbusiness.com
www.4HHappyfeet.com                           (Happy Feet - a 4H business)

Ask your students to solve the word problems in the April chapter.  Ask them to write word problems using facts from other books they've read.




CHICKEN SOUP BY HEART
Written by Esther Hershenhorn
Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger
Simon & Schuster ISBN:  0-689-82665-6
THE CONFE$$ION$ AND $ECRET$ OF HOWARD J. FINGERHUT
Written by Esther Hershenhorn
Holiday House ISBN:  0-8234-1642-9  
FANCY THAT
Written by Esther Hershenhorn
Illustrated by Megan Lloyd
Holiday House ISBN: 0-8234-1603-4