Thinking About Your Thinking

Metacognitive Reading Worksheet

Convenience Store Woman — Section One: The Store Creature

NAME

DATE

A DAY

B DAY

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BEFORE READING: Preparing My Mind

1. Have you ever found an activity, job, or place where everything just clicked — where you felt totally at home in a way you don’t elsewhere? Describe it briefly. (If not, describe what you imagine it might feel like.)

2. As you read, you’ll notice that Keiko keeps doing things that make total logical sense to her but horrify everyone around her. What do you want to track or pay attention to as you read?

DURING READING: Monitoring My Understanding

Comprehension Check-In: Rate your understanding of each part as you read (1 = confused, 5 = clear).

Part of the reading	1	2	3	4	5
Keiko’s three childhood incidents: the dead bird, the boys fighting, the teacher’s breakdown
Keiko’s decision to stay silent and copy other people instead of acting on her own instincts
Keiko finding the store, putting on the uniform, and being trained for the first time
Opening day — “I’ve been reborn” — and the jump to eighteen years later: “This is the only way I can be a normal person”

Double-Entry Journal: Choose a passage that surprised you or stuck with you. Record it and explain why.

Passage from the text (with page number)	My thinking: why did this stand out?

Keiko’s Logic vs. Everyone Else’s: For each incident, note what Keiko actually does and what everyone else expected her to do instead.

Incident	What Keiko does	What everyone else expected
The dead bird at nursery school
Two boys fighting in the playground
The teacher having a breakdown in class

AFTER READING: Reflecting on My Understanding

3. Keiko calls the store an “aquarium” the first time she sees it. Why do you think she uses that word? What does it suggest about how she’s been feeling before she finds the store?

4. The training manual teaches Keiko how to “accomplish a normal facial expression.” Why is this such a big deal for her? What does it say about what her life has been like up to this point?

5. At the end of the section, Keiko says: “This is the only way I can be a normal person.” Do you read that as sad, okay, or something more complicated? Why?

6. Making it Personal: Keiko finally finds a place that has a rulebook she can actually follow — and for the first time, she feels like she belongs. Think about yourself: is there a place, activity, or role where you feel most like a natural version of yourself? What makes that space work for you in a way other spaces don’t?

Convenience Store Woman — Metacognitive Reading Practice Section One: The Store Creature Monitor. Question. Clarify. Connect.