Teachers, if you are looking for some new book titles to add to your read aloud collection then you have to check out the book Not Norman. We love this sweet story about a boy and his pet goldfish. This book is great for teaching reading strategies and narrative writing. The book lends itself to social emotional learning topics because teachers can use it to talk to students about how our feelings can change over time. We know that elementary students and teachers alike are going to fall in love with this cute book. - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
The main character in this book is a young boy who wanted a pet for his birthday. He is disappointed to find that his parents got him a goldfish instead of a cat or dog like he wanted. The boy names his goldfish Norman, but plans on taking him back to the pet store to trade for another pet.
However, as time goes on the boy realizes there are many things about Norman that he likes. At school, Norman is the only one listening to his story during Show and Tell. Norman likes listening to the boy play his tuba during his music lesson and even makes the boy laugh. When the boy is scared in the middle of the night, Norman is there for him. When it is time to pick a new pet at the store, the boy realizes that none of the pets there are like Norman. He decides to keep his goldfish after all.
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Not Norman is one of our Starts With a Story book companions. Like all of our resources, this book comes with reading comprehension questions, writing prompts, grammar lessons and social emotional learning discussion ideas. Check out some of the topics addressed in the lesson for this book:
- Practice making predictions as you read. Stop every so often and ask students discussion questions where they must predict what will happen next.
- Encourage students to make text to self connections after reading the book. This will strengthen their understanding of the story.
- Encourage students to write their own narrative stories about a birthday.
- Integrate how to writing by asking students to tell how to take care of a pet.
- Teach a lesson on nouns and action verbs using examples from the book.
- Introduce students to irregular verbs using this book.
- Discuss how feelings can change overtime.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This resource is all you will need when it comes to planning your read aloud for the book Not Norman. Gone are the days when you have to brainstorm discussion questions, look online for student activities, and spend hours gathering resources. Now everything you need is included in this book companion allowing you to make choices on what you want to use with your students.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will also love these similar books:
- Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian
- Alfie by Thyra Heder
- Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
