This fictional story covering the last nine weeks of a middle school academic year is primarily about Ms. Stacie Marston, a first year teacher who is learning some new classroom management strategies and improving her teaching style after a bad beginning. But is it too late? And there are episodes about others: A principal who, after nineteen years at this school, would like to survive a few more; an ambitious assistant principal faced with the awesome responsibility of being chief disciplinarian; students, some cherished and some difficult; and other helpful and not-so-helpful school associates. Questions you may want to discuss: 1. What is Mr. Whitehead's mantra? When does he state it? What are its implications? 2. "They (a student group) flaunted their dislike of school and showed a distinctive disdain for the other students." What could be the reason for this negativity? 3. A bitter dispute develops between the teachers and administrators after some procedural changes have been made. Comment on the fairness of these changes. 4. During the third week of the last quarter, a notoriously difficult student is enrolled in the Marston/Fornay group. Why is this student a much greater challenge than other disruptive students? 5. Ms. Marston blames herself for an incident with this same student that results in his suspension. Why? 6. A substitute teacher has a horrible experience with Ms. Marston's afternoon session. What factors contributed to this? For more discussion questions and information about the book and the author visit Thelastquarter-book.com/.