Text Leveling System

Junie B. Jones Boss of Lunch

RDQ:	764	Max Word/Sent	21	Total Words	3145		Diff Words	696
Lex	690	Ave Word/.Sent	5	Hi Freq occurs	2283	72.6%	Hi freq	304	43.7%
AR	3.2	Long Sentences	0.2	Low Freq occurs	112	3.6%	Low freq	55	7.9%

Not Normal
Thursday
Dear First grade journal,
Hurray! Hurray! It came! It finally came!
Yesterday the delivery man brought it right to my house. And today I carried it to school for the very first time. Right now it is sitting under my desk. I keep sneaking down]]
there to see it closer. But my teacher just said to please stop doing that. Only guess what? He is not even watching me right now. So I think I will sneak down there one more time. And that will be it. possibly. from, junie b first grader.
I put down my pencil and looked all around. Room one was still writing in their journals.]]
I smiled very sneaky.
Then I bent over in my chair real slow.
And I reached way down. And I lifted
up the lid of my brand-new, shiny-
"LUNCH BOX!" hollered out May.
"JUNIE JONES JUST OPENED HER
LUNCH BOX AGAIN, MR. SCARY! AND
YOU TOLD HER NOT TO DO
THAT ANYMORE! REMEMBER?"
May is the tattletale girl who sits next
to me.
I do not actually care for her.
My heart pounded very hard. I bent over
even more. And I hid my head so my
teacher couldn't see me.
Only I didn't do a good job of hiding, I
guess. Because just then, I heard Mr. Scary's
shoes walking toward me.
"Junie B.? Why is your lunch box open]]
again?" asked Mr. Scary. "Didn't I just
speak to you about this a few minutes
ago?"
I kept my head down and I looked at the
floor. One of Mr. Scary' s shoes started
tapping at me.
Tappy shoes are not happy shoes, I
think.
"Junie B.?" said Mr. Scary again. "Do
you have a good reason for opening your
lunch box again?"
I quick closed my eyes and tried to think
of a good reason.
Mr. Scary's shoe tapped louder.
I opened my eyes and peeked at it.
And then, BINGO!
All of a sudden, a miracle happened!
One of my eyes saw my napkin in the
corner of my lunch box . . . and a bright]]
idea popped right into my head!
I quick . grabbed the napkin. And I
started shining Mr. Scary's shoes!
"Look, Mr. Scary! Look! Here is my]]
good reason!" I said. "See me? Huh? I am
shining your shoes with my napkin. See?"
I shined and shined.
"This is the smartest reason I ever came
up with," I said very proud.
I smiled up at him. "Would you like some
spit on the napkin?" I asked real nice. "A
little spit makes shoes look extra gleamy."
Mr. Scary quick pulled his shoe away.
"No, Junie B. No spit. Please. Just sit
up," he said.
I sat up.
Mr. Scary stared and stared at me.
I wiggled in my seat very uncomfortable.
'Cause staring teachers make me squirmy,
of course.
Finally, Mr. Scary talked again.
"I want you to stay out of your lunch
box, Junie B.," he said. "We have a rule in]]
Room One. Lunch boxes are to be opened
only in the cafeteria."
I did a sad sigh.
"Yes," I said. "I know the rule, Mr.
Scary. But I waited a real long time to get
this lunch box. And yesterday it finally
came to my house. And so today is my first
day of not carrying a plain brown sack to
school. And so every time I look at that
new lunch box, I feel happy inside."
I picked it up to show him.
"See how cute it is?" I said. "My mother
ordered it from a nature store. It has
pictures of baby birds on it. See all of
them?"
I pointed. "This one is my favorite," I
said.  "It is called an owlet. Owlet is the
name for a baby owl. My grampa Frank
Miller told me that."]]
I pointed at a different bird. "That one is
an eaglet," I said. "An eaglet is a baby -
eagle."
After that, I held my lunch box way high
in the air so all of Room One could see it.
"See all the birdlets, children? There
are owlets and eaglets and ducklets and
chicklets," I explained.
I put my lunch box on my desk. And I
took out the thermos.
"And see this thermos, people? This
thermos has pictures of bird nests on it.
Isn't that cute?"]]
May made a face.
"lck," she said. "Who wants to drink
out of a stinky, pooey bird's nest?"
I made a face at her. "I do, that's who,
May!" I said. "I love drinking out of stinky,
pooey birds' nests."
May reached into her desk and pulled
out a lunch ticket.
"Well, I buy my lunch, Junie Jones," she
said. "Bought lunches are much better than
brought lunches. Bought lunches don't sit
around all morning and get soggy."
I crossed my arms at that girl.
"That's the dumbest thing I ever heard
of, May," I said right back. "Brought
lunches are way better than bought lunches.
'Cause brought lunches are made special by
our very own mothers!"
Mr. Scary did a frown. "Okay, okay,]]
girls ... that's enough," he said.
But May kept on arguing with me.
"For your information, Junie Jones,
mothers are not professional lunch makers,"
she said. "Mothers are just plain old
normal people."
I stamped my foot at her. 'Cause that
was my final straw!
"Do not call my mother normal, May!"
I hollered. "No one in my whole entire
family is normal! So there!"
May started to laugh.
Then some of the other children
laughed, too.
I do not know why.
Finally, Mr. Scary snapped his fingers at
them.
I put my lunch box back on the floor.
It was not my best morning.]]
Hoagies
The lunch bell rang at twelve o'clock.
Twelve o'clock is around noonish, I
believe.
I picked up my lunch box and ran to the
door. Then I lined up with my friends. And
I waited to go.
"It's almost time," I told them very
thrilled. "It's almost time for me to eat out
of my brand-new lunch box!"
I held it up for them to see again.
"Which baby bird do you guys like the
best?" I asked. "Pick one, okay?"]]
My friend named Jose looked at the
birds and shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know. I guess maybe I like the
duck best," he said. "Ducks can be funny
sometimes. One time-when we were
having a picnic at the lake-a duck chased
my sister and stole her Ho-Ho."
My friends Lennie and Herb laughed real 
hard. They looked at my lunch box, too.
"I think I like the owlet the best," said
Herb.
"Me too," said Lennie. "I saw a TV
show on owls once. And an owl swallowed
a giant rat in just one bite. He didn't even
chew or anything."
After that, I stared at Lennie a real long
time.
'Cause that disgusting story just ruined
my owlet, that's why.]]
Finally, all of Room One walked to the
cafeteria together.
The cafeteria is a big room where we
eat lunch. It has smells and noise and tables
in it.
Room One sits near the window.
I zoomed there speedy quick.
"Come, Herb!" I called. "Come, Lennie
and Jose! It's time for you to watch me eat
out of my new lunch box!"
I turned around to wait for them.
Only too bad for me. Because none of
those guys were even coming.
Instead, they were standing in the stupid
dumb lunch line.
My mouth fell open at that sight.
"Herb! Hey, Herb!" I called. "What do
you think you're doing? Why aren't you
coming to eat with me?"]]
Herb shouted back. "I'm buying my
lunch today, Junie B.!"
Jose shouted, too. "Me too. Everyone is
buying today, Junie B.!"
"Hoagies! We're having hoagies!" hollered
Lennie. "Save us a seat!"
My shoulders slumped real disappointed.
'Cause I wasn't actually expecting this
development.]]
I sat down at my table and looked all
around.
There was only one other person sitting
there.
His name is Sheldon.
I do not know him that good.
Sheldon waved his fingers at me. "We're
the only ones here," he said. "We're the
only ones who didn't buy hoagies today."]]
I did a sigh. "Yes, Sheldon. I know
that," I said.
Sheldon slid across from me.
"Hoagies are very popular. But I'm not
allowed to eat them," he said. "I'm allergic
to fake meat and cheese."
I looked at Sheldon closer.
His nose was running very much.
"Please wipe your nose," I said.
Sheldon didn't pay attention to me.
"I'm only allowed to eat food that
comes from nature," he said.
His nose ran even more. "Also, I'm allergic
to dairy," he told me.
I handed him my napkin. "Blow. And I
mean it," I said.
Sheldon did not blow.
I slid to the end of the table.
Pretty soon, my friends started coming]]
out of the kitchen. The other children
started coming, too.
They sat down and took big bites of
their hoagies.
"Mmm," said Herb. "This hoagie 1s
delicious! "
"Si," said Jose. "Muy delicioso!"
Lennie nodded. Then he opened up his
hoagie roll and looked inside.
"I think even you would like this hoagie,
Junie B.," he said. "Look. It has ham and
salami and cheese and lettuce and tomato."
Just then, May butted her big head in.
"It's good for you, too, Junie Jones,"
she said. "All school lunches have to be
delicious and nutritious. It's a law."
"So?" I said.
"So lunches brought from home can be
any old thing," she said back.]]
I did a huffy breath at her.
Then I turned my back. And I hid my
sandwich very secret. And I peeked inside
the bread.
I stared and stared for a real long time.
'Cause I didn't actually recognize the meat,
that's why.
Finally, I ate it anyway.
It was tasty ... whatever it was.]]
Cookies
I was the first one done with my lunch.
That's because eating hoagies takes forever,
of course.
I put my lunch box away and looked at
Herb's plate.
He had three more foods to go.
First, he had carrot sticks. Also, he had
applesauce and a cookie. I leaned in closer.
"Mmm. I think that's a sugar cookie,
Herbert," I said. "Sugar cookies are my
favorites."]]
Herb nodded. "Me too," he said. "I like
sugar cookies, too."
I touched his cookie with my finger.
"Yes-sir-ee-bob. That's a sugar cookie all
right, Herb," I said. "I didn't get a cookie
at all today. My mother packed me a fruit
bar instead."
"Oh," said Herb. "Well, fruit bars are
good, too."
I tapped my fingers on the table. 'Cause
Herb didn't even get my hint.
"Yes, Herbert. I know fruit bars are
good," I said. "But I really wanted a cookie
today. And so I wish that you would just
share that thing with me, and that's all."
Herb looked at me and shrugged. "Why
didn't you just say so?" he said.
Then he broke his cookie in two. And he
handed me half.]]
I gushed real happy. "Oh! Thank you,
Herb! Thank you! Thank you!" I said.
After that, I stuffed the cookie right into
my mouth. And I drank a sip of Herb's
milk.]]
"Yum! That tasted just like the cookies
that Mrs. Gutzman used to bring to afternoon
kindergarten," I said.
I smiled at the thought of that woman.
"Gladys Gutzman was our snack lady
last year," I explained to Herb. "She used
to bring us cookies and milk every week."
I made my voice kind of secret.
"Only guess what, Herbert. Sometimes
Mrs. Gutzman gave me two cookies instead
of one," I said. '"Cause I was her favorite
person in Room Nine, I think."
Jose heard what I said. "Hey! That must
mean that I was her favorite in Room
Eight!" he said. "Because sometimes Mrs.
Gutzman gave me an extra one, too. ,,
After that, me and Jose did a high five.
'Cause both of us were favorites,
apparently!]]
"That woman was a gem, I tell you," I
said.
"What do you mean she was a gem,
Junie B.?" said Jose. "She still is a gem.
Mrs. Gutzman still works here, you know."
"What?" I said very surprised.
"Sure, she does," said Herb. "I met Mrs.
Gutzman this year already. She works right
there in the kitchen."
I couldn't believe my ears.
"Really?" I said. "Really? Really?
Really? Because if Mrs. Gutzman still
works at our school, how come she hasn't
brought us milk and cookies this year?"
Herb shrugged. "I don't know," he said.
"But she still works here; all right. In fact,
we saw her just now when we were getting
our hoagies."
I put my hand over my mouth. 'Cause]]
that news was too good to be true!
Jose laughed. "If you don't believe us, go
see for yourself," he said.
"I will, Jose! I will go see for myself!" I
said real joyful.
Then I jumped right out of my seat.
And I zoomed into the kitchen.
And I hollered and hollered for Mrs. -
Gutzman!]]
"Mrs. Gutzman! Mrs. Gladys Gutzman!
Where are you?" I hollered. "It's me! It's
me! It's Junie B. Jones!"
I looked all around me. There was a
long counter with children pushing trays.
"Did anyone see Mrs. Gutzman?" I
asked the children. "Does anyone know
her? My friends said she is right here in this
kitchen. But I don't even see her."
I hollered her name even louder.
"MRS. GUTZMAN! MRS. GLADYS
GUTZMAN!"]]
Then, all of a sudden, a lady came
hurrying around the corner.
And good news!!!
It was her!
It was Mrs. Gladys Gutzman!
I ran and hugged her very tight.
"Mrs. Gutzman! Mrs. Gutzman! I am so
glad to see you!" I said.
Mrs. Gutzman hugged me back.
"Junie B. Jones! I'm glad to see you,
too! " she said.
I smiled up at her.
She was wearing her same big white
apron from last year.
"Whoa! Just look at you, Mrs. Gutzman!"
I said. "You didn't change a bit!"
I patted her apron.
"You didn't even. change your clothes,
apparently," I said.]]
Mrs. Gutzman laughed.
She was wearing plastic mitts on her
hands. Plus also, she was wearing a hair
net.
"Hey, I remember those things from last
year!" I said. "You told me that you wear
plastic mitts and a hair net whenever you
touch food, remember? You said that was
called good hygiene. 'Cause mitts and a hair
net protect our food from dirty germs and
hairs."
Mrs. Gutzman made a face.
"Are you sure that's the way I put it?"
she asked.
I skipped all around her. in a circle.
"Hey, Mrs. Gutzman! Now that you
found me, you can start bringing cookies to
my room again!"
I held up one finger. "I am in Room One]]
this year," I said. "Room One comes earlier
in the alphabet than Room Nine. And so
now that you know where I am, when can
you bring the cookies, Gladys?"
Mrs. Gutzman did a chuckle.
Then she leaned down next to me.
And she patted my arm.
And she said don't call her Gladys.
After that, Mrs. Gutzman explained all
about snacks. She said that first graders
don't get snacks like kindergarten kids do.
On account of first graders get cookies with
their school lunches.
I did a frown at that news.
"Yeah, only what about the children
who bring their lunches, Mrs. Gutzman?
Where's our cookies? Huh? 'Cause today
everybody got a cookie except for me and
Sheldon."]]
Mrs. Gutzman didn't answer my
question. Instead, she raised her head and
looked behind me.
That's when I heard my teacher's voice.
"Junie B. Jones," he said kind of
loudish. "Exactly what do you think you're
doing?"
I spun around.]]
Mr. Scary's eyes looked annoyed at me.
"Why did you get up from the table,
Junie B.?" he asked. "Hmm? What's the
story here?"
Everyone was staring.
I did a big gulp. Then I squeezed my
eyes closed real tight. And I tried to think of
the story here.
"Well, um ... let's see," I said. "First,
I was eating my brought lunch ... and
everyone else was eating their bought lunch.
And so that's how come I was the first one
finished. And then I was just sitting there.
And I spotted Herb's sugar cookie. And I
really, really wanted that thing. And good
news ... Herb shared! And so then that
delicious cookie reminded me about Mrs.
Gutzman. And what do you know? Herb
and Jose said she was right here in this]]
exact kitchen. So I jumped up from the
table. And I ran in to say hello," I said.
After that, I looked up at Mrs. Gutzman
kind of nervous. And I waved my fingers.
"Hello," I said real soft.
"Hello," she said back.
Mr. Scary shook his head. "No. I'm
sorry, Junie B. I know Mrs. Gutzman has
enjoyed seeing you. But you can't just get
up from the table and run wherever you
please during lunch," he said.
Mrs. Gutzman nodded. "Mr. Scary is
right, Junie B.," she said. "I am very happy
to see you. But you do have to learn to follow school rules."
I did a sigh.
"Yeah, only I really, really wanted to
find you, Mrs. Gutzman," I said. " 'Cause I
missed you very much."]]
Mrs. Gutzman tapped on her chin.
"Hmm," she said. "Maybe I have an
idea. Maybe-if you promise to follow the
rules-you can come back tomorrow and
help me in the kitchen. Would you like that,
do you think?"
My eyes got big and wide at her. "Are
you kidding, Mrs. Gutzman?" I said. "Is 
this some kind of a joke?"
She smiled again.
"Nope," she said. "It's no joke. We let
children help us in the kitchen quite often.
If it's okay with your teacher, I'll give you
a permission slip to take home to your
parents."
I pulled on Mr. Scary's arm. "Say
it's okay! Okay? Please! Please! Please!" I
begged.
Mr. Scary didn't answer right away.]]
Instead, he ran his fingers through his
hair. And he thought and thought.
Then finally, he said it.
Mr. Scary said it's okay!
I clapped and danced and twirled.
"I can do it, Mrs. Gutzman!" I said. "I
can come and help you in the kitchen!"
"Excellent!" said Mrs. Gutzman.
Then she reached behind the counter.
And she handed me a permission slip.
And that is not all!
Because she reached back there one
more time. And she pulled out a pair of
brand-new plastic mitts!
"Here," she said. "These are for you.
You can wear them around your house
tonight and get used to them."
I did a gasp at those wonderful things.
"Thank you, Mrs. Gutzman! Thank]]

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: No support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Dialog: Broken dialogue

Vocabulary: More decoding/definition issues

Language: Many descriptive words

Sentences: Simple phrases

Text structure: Blend of written/oral

Chapters

Features

Character traits

Integral Setting

Topic

Behaviors

Food

Helping

Conflicts

*Schools & Education

Low Frequency Words

account	allergic	annoyed	apparently	birdlets
cafeteria	chicklets	delicioso	delicious	disappointed
ducklets	dumbest	eaglet	eaglets	excellent
gem	gladys	gleamy	grampa	gulp
gushed	gutzman	herb	herb's	hoagie
hoagies	hollered	hygiene	journal	journals
kindergarten	lck	lennie	loudish	lunches
miracle	muy	nature	noonish	nutritious
owlets	permission	pooey	professional	recognize
salami	scary's	shared	sheldon	shrugged
squirmy	swallowed	tappy	tattletale	thermos
uncomfortable