How to be Normal
Charley’s at the old playground, sitting on the bottom of the slide and concentrating. When the bell rings, she’ll walk back to class – but first, she’ll wait till at least half the other kids have done the same.
About this resource
Series: School Journal Level 4 November 2018
Reading year level: 8
Category: Fiction
Topics: bullying, change, communication, difference, drawing, dreaming, fitting in, friendship, normality, outsiders, peer groups, school
How to be Normal
Words by Annaleese Jochems
Illustrations by Adele Jackson
She’s improving herself. This week, she’s fixing her habit of being back at her desk too soon. It’s unnecessary, and it singles her out.
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More from this series
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School Journal Level 4 November 2018
Inside this School Journal are two articles (Science on the Ice; Rise Up - The Story of the Dawn Raids and the Polynesian Pantherss) one poem (Brave Flower) one play (Much Ado) and four stories (S.O.S.; Welcome to Lullo Marnoor; How to be Normal and The Sea Devil).
1 of 8The Sea Devil
Just beyond the long arm of the wharf, the camp’s launch, Pearl, tugged at its mooring. The thought of a big fish jagging on his line quickened James’s pace, and it wasn’t until he was on the wharf that he saw he was not alone.
2 of 8Science on the Ice
Two sets of merino underwear, two fleece jackets, a windbreaker, a puffer jacket, five pairs of gloves, a hat, a balaclava, fleece pants, fleece-lined boots, and lastly – a set of extreme-cold weather gear (called ECWs by those in the know).
3 of 8Much Ado
This play introduces students to the fun of Shakespeare, as well as his conventions and characters.
4 of 8Welcome to Lullo Marnoo
When I tell people, especially Pālagi people, that my father is from Sāmoa, they usually ask, “Do you go back?” Weird, right? It’s not like I was born in Sāmoa.
5 of 8Brave Flower
The poem “Brave Flower” vividly captures the experience of those who were subjected to the dawn raids that took place in Aotearoa in the 1970's.
6 of 8Rise Up - The Story of the Dawn Raids
The article “Rise Up: The Story of the Dawn Raids and the Polynesian Panthers” recounts the story of the dawn raids that took place in Aotearoa in the 1970s.
7 of 8S.O.S.
Cursing the surround-vision, which made you feel like you were there, she shut the Holographison down. The incessant birdsong was more than she could tolerate. The disgruntled professor stared across at her sheep.
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