• Ask students if they have ever wished summer vacation could go on forever.  Turn to page 2 and read the song Nora Jean made up about going back to school. Ask students if they have ever felt the way Nora Jean feels.  Invite them to read the book to find out what else they have in common with Nora Jean.
• Ask students to contribute to a chalkboard discussion outlining subjects and activities they like in and outside of school.
• Discuss the ways classmates behave toward one another, such as teasing one another, forming friendships, and so forth.
• Invite students to discuss how they felt when they first entered fourth grade.

• How does Nora Jean feel about her best friend, Thomasina?
• How does Nora Jean feel about herself?

• How do you know that Nora Jean's feelings are changing? 

• How does Jimmy Lee act toward Nora Jean when his little brother gets scared in the Spook House? 
• How does Nora Jean respond to Jimmy Lee? 
• How do you feel about Jimmy Lee?  Do you agree that he is a bully?  Why or why not? 

• How does Nora Jean react when Thomasina asks her to carry her soap dog for her?  Why? 
• What does this behavior tell you about Nora Jean? 

• How do Nora Jean and Jimmy Lee really feel about each other? Why do they feel that way? 
• What does Nora Jean realize about Thomasina and Rosalie during the course of the school year?

• Discuss:  How do Nora Jean, Rosalie, Thomasina, and Jimmy Lee feel about going back to school?  Have partners share what their own feelings were about starting school and how they feel now.
• Write:  Ask group members to write several adjectives describing each of these characters.  Create a group list.

• Discuss:  How did the different characters look in their costumes?  Where the costumes appropriate for each character?  Vote for the best one.
• Write:  Have the group draw a labeled mural of the Spook House.

• Discuss:  What makes Nora Jean feel good about herself?
• Write:  Create a group chart called "We Feel Good."  In one column, write "Nora Jean."  In the other, write "Our Group."  Work together to fill in the chart.  Circle things that make both Nora Jean and group members feel good about themselves.

• Discuss:  Have your group discuss how Nora Jean really feels when Thomasina makes fun of her. Then brainstorm about what Nora Jean might have done in this situation.
• Write:  Have your group write sentences describing the character of Jimmy Lee.  Make a group character web for Jimmy Lee based on everyone's ideas.

• Discuss:  Ask group members how they feel about Nora Jean, Rosalie, Thomasina, and Jimmy Lee at the end of the book. How have they changed their opinions about these characters?
• Write:  As a group, write a song for Nora Jean that tells how she feels about school at the end of the year.

September 
She did... 
She said... 
She felt... 

November 
She did... 
She said... 
She felt... 

December 
She did... 
She said... 
She felt... 

May 
She did... 
She said... 
She felt...