Spinning Out Chapter Worksheets
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Spinning Out
Chapter 1: Out of Control
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. Why does Joey get sent to the school office at the beginning of the book?
A. He ran out of the school building without permission.
B. He stuck his finger into the electric pencil sharpener.
C. He swallowed his house key on a dare.
2. How does Joey feel mentally when he is spinning around in circles?
A. Angry at his teacher for not giving him enough attention.
B. Terrified, sick to his stomach, and wishing he could stop.
C. Like his brain is a hyperactive, buzzing machine out of control.
3. Which relative raised Joey for a long time and also had trouble sitting still?
A. His energetic grandmother
B. His quiet uncle
C. His distant grandfather
4. When Joey says his meds wear off "like a battery dying," what does he mean?
A. He suddenly gets very tired and falls asleep at his desk.
B. His ability to focus quickly disappears, and his hyperactive behaviors return.
C. He needs to go to the nurse's office to get physical batteries.
5. What is the name of Joey's homeroom teacher at his regular school?
A. Mrs. Harold
B. Mr. Vandoy
C. Mrs. Maxy
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Chapter 2: The Good Joey
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What job does Joey's mother, Carter, work to support them?
A. She works at a beauty parlor.
B. She is a school nurse.
C. She manages a local grocery store.
2. Why did Joey's mother leave him with his grandmother in the past?
A. She had to attend college in another state.
B. She had to run away from the grandmother's chaotic and aggressive behavior.
C. She wanted to travel to find Joey's father.
3. What comfort routine does Joey's mother do to help him feel safe at bedtime?
A. She tucks him in so tight that he cannot roll out of bed.
B. She plays soft classical music on a tape recorder.
C. She leaves all the hallway and closet lights turned on.
4. How does Joey feel about his "Good Joey" and "Bad Joey" behaviors?
A. He prefers "Bad Joey" because it is more exciting and gets him out of class.
B. He wants to be good, but feels his hyperactive brain won't let him succeed.
C. He thinks his mother and teacher make up the "Bad Joey" to punish him.
5. Where does Mrs. Maxy place Joey's desk when he cannot sit still?
A. In the school hallway.
B. Right next to her podium at the front.
C. In the back corner of the classroom facing the wall.
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Chapter 3: Swallowed It
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. Why did Joey tie a piece of string to his house key before putting it in his mouth?
A. He wanted to wear it as a creative necklace.
B. He wanted to see if he could swallow it and pull it back up like a fishhook.
C. His mother told him to secure the key so he wouldn't drop it.
2. What does Joey's action of swallowing the key reveal about his impulsivity?
A. He plans his stunts carefully to ensure he stays safe.
B. He acts immediately on highly risky thoughts without considering the danger.
C. He does dangerous things primarily to upset his mother.
3. What did Joey's mom do when she found out he had swallowed the key?
A. She rushed him to the hospital emergency room.
B. She made him drink salt water to throw it up.
C. She called a locksmith to make a duplicate key.
4. How do the hospital staff treat Joey when he is acting hyperactive in the ER?
A. They are extremely angry and threaten to lock him in a room.
B. They are calm, patient, and try to make him feel comfortable.
C. They ignore him completely and focus only on his mother.
5. How does Joey eventually get the key back?
A. The ER doctor uses a long scope to pull it out of his throat.
B. It passes naturally through his body over the next few days.
C. He coughs it up on the drive back home.
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Chapter 4: Saying Goodbye
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. Why does Joey's grandmother pack up her things and leave the house?
A. She had a major, explosive argument with Joey's mother.
B. She won the lottery and bought a quiet house of her own.
C. She was offered a new job as a supervisor in Pittsburgh.
2. How does the ongoing tension between Joey's mom and grandmother affect Joey?
A. It makes him feel happy because he loves loud noises.
B. It increases his anxiety, making it even harder for him to stay calm.
C. It teaches him valuable skills about resolving family arguments.
3. Where does Joey's grandmother go when she leaves?
A. Philadelphia
B. New York City
C. Pittsburgh
4. Why does Joey feel a mixture of relief and sadness about his grandmother leaving?
A. She was wild and hyperactive like him, but her presence made home life chaotic and unsafe.
B. She was very mean to him, but she was the only one who made great food.
C. She took all of his favorite toys and video games with her when she packed.
5. What does Joey's mom promise him after his grandmother moves away?
A. That they will immediately move into a bigger house.
B. That she will never leave him alone again and will protect him.
C. That he won't have to go back to his school anymore.
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Chapter 5: The Barn Loft
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. Where does Joey's class go on their school field trip?
A. An old, historic dairy farm.
B. A large downtown science museum.
C. A nature center and state park.
2. What motivates Joey to climb high up into the rafters of the old barn?
A. He wants to prove to his classmates that he is stronger than them.
B. His hyperactive energy and desire for sensory excitement override his safety sense.
C. Another student dared him to climb up and touch the roof beam.
3. What does Joey do once he climbs high up into the barn's beams?
A. He begins throwing dusty hay bales down at his running classmates.
B. He gets terrified, freezes, and starts crying for his mom.
C. He yells out loud and jumps directly down into a deep hayloft.
4. How does Mrs. Maxy react to Joey's dangerous behavior on the field trip?
A. She is deeply frustrated, exhausted, and terrified for his physical safety.
B. She laughs and praises Joey for being so brave and creative.
C. She ignores it and continues giving the tour to the rest of the class.
5. What physical injury does Joey get from his big jump?
A. He breaks his forearm on the wooden floor.
B. He badly sprains his ankle on a hidden board in the hay.
C. He gets a deep scratch on his shoulder from a rusty nail.
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Chapter 6: The Sticker Chart
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What method does Mrs. Maxy try to use to reward and track Joey's good behavior?
A. Giving him small chocolates for every quiet hour.
B. Letting him have twenty extra minutes of afternoon recess.
C. A visual sticker chart taped directly onto his desk.
2. Why does the sticker chart fail to help Joey stay on task?
A. He cannot maintain his focus long enough to earn them, which makes him feel like a constant failure.
B. He doesn't like the types of stickers Mrs. Maxy bought.
C. He prefers getting red checks and detentions instead.
3. What does Joey's desk have placed around it to block out distractions?
A. A thick curtain hanging from the ceiling.
B. A tall, three-sided cardboard privacy screen.
C. A circle of yellow tape on the floor that he cannot cross.
4. How does Joey feel when he sits behind this privacy screen?
A. Safe, quiet, and very glad to be away from other kids.
B. Isolated, deeply embarrassed, and labeled as "bad" in front of his peers.
C. Excited to treat his screened-in desk like a secret fort.
5. Who visits Joey's classroom to observe how he acts during lessons?
A. A special education consultant from the district.
B. The superintendent of local schools.
C. Joey's mother and grandmother.
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Chapter 7: Grocery Chaos
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. Why does Joey's mom take him to the grocery store?
A. To buy special baking items for his school party.
B. To buy food for the household after a very long day of work.
C. To reward him for a rare perfect day in Mrs. Maxy's class.
2. What triggers Joey's hyperactive meltdown inside the grocery store?
A. The bright lights, loud speaker announcements, and overwhelming options overstimulate him.
B. His mother refuses to buy him the sugary cereal he wants.
C. He spots a classmate in the aisle and tries to chase them.
3. Where does Joey climb when he runs wild and escapes his mother?
A. Inside a giant display of soda cans.
B. Onto the fast-moving conveyor belt at the checkout counter.
C. Up the metal cooling racks in the back bakery room.
4. How does Joey's mom handle his behavior in the public store?
A. She yells at him angrily and leaves him with the store manager.
B. She feels embarrassed and exhausted, but stays determined to protect and calm him.
C. She leaves her grocery cart and walks out of the store alone.
5. What does Joey's mom buy him to help calm him down after they leave the store?
A. A sweet, soft bakery treat.
B. A bottle of cold, fizzy soda.
C. A small plastic toy car.
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Chapter 8: The Scissors Accident
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What is Joey's class doing right before the accident occurs?
A. Sharpening pencils at the back of the classroom.
B. Cutting out pictures from magazines for a poster project.
C. Running a race during indoor recess.
2. Why does Joey run with the pointed scissors in his hand?
A. He gets over-excited, loses focus, and completely forgets classroom safety rules.
B. He is angry and wants to scare someone on purpose.
C. He is trying to run away from Mrs. Maxy.
3. Whose nose gets accidentally cut by the scissors when Joey trips?
A. Harold's
B. Mrs. Maxy's
C. Maria's
4. What is Joey's immediate reaction right after the accident occurs?
A. He is absolutely horrified, panicked, and runs out of the school.
B. He laughs because he thinks it is a funny joke.
C. He blames another student for pushing him.
5. Where does the school principal send Joey as a result of the accident?
A. Home immediately on suspension, with a transfer to a special program.
B. To the nurse's office to wait for his grandmother.
C. Back to his desk with a promise to never use scissors again.
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Chapter 9: The New School
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What is the school called where Joey is sent after his suspension?
A. The Downtown Special Education Center.
B. The Special Education Processing Center.
C. The Harrison Charter Academy.
2. How does Joey feel when he first arrives at the new school?
A. Nervous, scared, and worried that he is permanently broken.
B. Relieved and happy that he does not have to see Mrs. Maxy.
C. Confident and ready to show off his intelligence.
3. Who is Joey's primary classroom teacher at this new school?
A. Mrs. Harold
B. Mr. Ed Vandoy
C. Mrs. Maxy
4. How does Joey's new teacher's approach differ from Mrs. Maxy's?
A. He is much stricter and uses quick physical time-outs.
B. He is patient, calm, and focuses on understanding Joey's brain instead of just punishing him.
C. He lets the kids do whatever they want without any rules.
5. What does Joey notice about the physical size of his new classroom compared to his old one?
A. It is huge and holds fifty kids.
B. It is located in the basement with no windows.
C. It is much smaller with only a few students.
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Chapter 10: Finding Calm
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What routine does Joey start every morning at his new school?
A. Running three laps around the outdoor track.
B. Checking in with the school nurse and taking his morning meds.
C. Writing a detailed apology essay about his old school.
2. Why does Joey feel more relaxed in this new school environment?
A. There is much less pressure, fewer noisy distractions, and the staff understand his physical needs.
B. He is allowed to sleep through all of his academic classes.
C. He doesn't have to do any writing or reading work.
3. What animal does Joey observe in the science corner of his new school?
A. A quiet turtle in a glass tank.
B. A busy hamster running on a plastic wheel.
C. A colorful parrot in a cage.
4. Why does Joey identify so deeply with the hamster in the wheel?
A. He thinks he is small and furry like the hamster.
B. He wishes he could live in a safe, locked cage away from the world.
C. He feels like he is always running extremely fast but going absolutely nowhere.
5. Who does Joey have daily individual meetings with to talk through his feelings?
A. The school support counselor, Mrs. Harold.
B. His old homeroom teacher, Mrs. Maxy.
C. The head principal of the new processing center.
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Chapter 11: Talking It Out
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What physical trait did Joey's biological father share with Joey?
A. He had bright red hair and green eyes.
B. He had "bad heels" and constantly needed to run and move.
C. He was extremely tall and had a loud, booming voice.
2. Why does discussing his father make Joey feel so anxious?
A. He is terrified that he is destined to run away and abandon his family just like his father did.
B. He is angry that his father took his favorite bicycle when he left.
C. He cannot remember what his father looks like.
3. What therapeutic activity does Mrs. Harold have Joey do to express his complex feelings?
A. Play complex rhythms on a set of hand drums.
B. Draw colorful, expressive pictures of his family and feelings.
C. Write a detailed rhyming poetry booklet.
4. How does Mrs. Harold help Joey look at his hyperactive behavior differently?
A. She helps him see it as a manageable medical condition, not a personal character failure.
B. She tells him it is a special superpower that makes him better than other children.
C. She promises him that he will completely grow out of it by next year.
5. How does Joey's mom react when he shares details from his counseling sessions?
A. She gets highly defensive and tells him to stop sharing family secrets.
B. She listens closely, supports his healing, and hugs him tightly.
C. She immediately calls his father on the phone to complain.
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Chapter 12: The Plan
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What medical procedure is proposed to help evaluate Joey's brain chemistry?
A. A brain scan (MRI) at the local hospital.
B. An ultrasound scan of his digestive system.
C. A series of physical reflex and balance tests.
2. Why is Joey's mom initially hesitant about the proposed medical scan?
A. She does not believe in modern pediatric medicine.
B. She is worried about the heavy cost and what the results might reveal about his brain.
C. She is afraid the machine will be painful for Joey.
3. Who joins Joey and his mother in the school meeting to design his new learning plan?
A. His regular school teacher, Mrs. Maxy.
B. Joey's grandmother, visiting from Pittsburgh.
C. Mr. Ed Vandoy and the counselor, Mrs. Harold.
4. What does this planning meeting reveal about Joey's current support team?
A. They are collaborative, caring, and deeply invested in Joey's long-term success.
B. They are just trying to get Joey's mom to sign paperwork to avoid responsibility.
C. They want to expedite sending Joey to a military school.
5. What does Joey promise his mother he will do during the upcoming medical scan?
A. He promises to stay absolutely, perfectly still.
B. He promises to answer all the doctor's questions in a quiet voice.
C. He promises to count backward from one hundred in his head.
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Chapter 13: Inside the Magnet
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What machine does Joey have to slide inside for his diagnostic brain test?
A. An ultrasound screening table.
B. A large, noisy MRI scanner tube.
C. A hyperbaric oxygen therapy capsule.
2. How does Joey manage to stay completely, perfectly still during the loud scan?
A. He plays a mental game pretending he is a stone statue guarding a castle.
B. He falls into a very deep sleep due to a sedative.
C. The medical doctors tie him down to the bed with physical straps.
3. What sounds does Joey hear while he is inside the running scan machine?
A. Soft classical violin music.
B. Extremely loud, rhythmic clanking and knocking noises.
C. Calming nature sounds of rain and ocean waves.
4. What does Joey's massive success in staying still during the scan prove about him?
A. He has cured his ADHD entirely on his own through mental strength.
B. He was simply too physically exhausted to run that afternoon.
C. He has incredible inner determination and can succeed when he feels safe and loved.
5. Who is waiting to embrace Joey with a massive hug when he successfully exits the scan machine?
A. Mrs. Harold
B. His grandmother
C. His mother
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Chapter 14: The Patch
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What new method of taking his medication does Joey's doctor prescribe after the scan?
A. A small skin patch that slowly releases the medicine over the day.
B. A cherry-flavored liquid medication he drinks every evening.
C. A massive capsule he must swallow with orange juice.
2. How does this new medication patch change Joey's daily experience?
A. It makes him feel extremely dizzy, sluggish, and sick.
B. It gives him endless athletic energy and hyperactive speed.
C. It provides an even, steady medication release, allowing him to feel calm and in control.
3. Where does Joey go to say goodbye and demonstrate his incredible progress?
A. His grandmother's house in Pittsburgh.
B. His old homeroom classroom at his regular school.
C. The local supermarket where he had a hyperactive meltdown.
4. How do Joey's old classmates react when they observe him acting so calm and thoughtful?
A. They are amazed, highly respectful, and treat him with quiet kindness.
B. They laugh, make fun of his medical patch, and try to get him to spin.
C. They ignore him completely because they do not recognize him at all.
5. What courageous action does Joey take when Maria looks at him during his visit?
A. He runs out of the room to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.
B. He looks her directly in the eyes and sincerely apologizes for the accident.
C. He gives her a small plastic key as a symbolic peace offering.
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Chapter 15: Good Joey Reigns
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Read each question carefully and fill in the bubble next to the correct answer choice.
1. What is Joey finally able to do in his regular classroom at the end of the book?
A. Sit quietly at his desk, maintain focus, and complete all his schoolwork.
B. Assist Mrs. Maxy in grading assignments and leading class activities.
C. Teach his peers a scientific lesson about how MRI machines operate.
2. What does the "key" symbolize in the novel's title and ultimate resolution?
A. The physical house key he swallowed to escape from his home problems.
B. Joey finding the conceptual "key" to unlocking self-control and understanding his brain.
C. The key to his grandmother's house that allows her to return to them.
3. Where does Joey sit in the regular school classroom now?
A. At a normal, central desk among his peers, without any cardboard screens.
B. At the special, isolated desk located in the quiet hallway.
C. On a small colorful rug at the front of the room near the teacher.
4. How has Joey's general outlook on his personal future changed by the end of the book?
A. He is deeply anxious that he will fail again the moment his patch is removed.
B. He feels hopeful and confident, knowing that he is a good kid who can learn and succeed.
C. He plans to leave school early to work with his mother at the beauty parlor.
5. Who does Joey feel is finally and truly in charge of his own life and actions?
A. Mrs. Maxy and her behavioral charts.
B. His grandmother, guiding him from Pittsburgh.
C. The "Good Joey" inside himself.
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