I am seven years old, living the most happy and content life that god could ever give me. My parents are my best friends, and I do not know what I would ever do without their continuous love and support for everything that I accomplish in life. I am lying on my bed staring at the off-white popcorn ceiling in my room, while smelling the sweet smell of dinner cooking downstairs. I can't help but be grateful for this amazing life that I have been given. It feels as though I do not have a single worry in the world. However, in a split second my mind returns to reality, and I realize that it is the most dreadful day of the week. I have the "Sunday Scaries..."
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"I hate school, how am I ever going to survive first grade?!" I thought to myself as I lay on my bed waiting for dinner to be ready.
"Kayla! Come downstairs please, dinner is ready," my mother exclaimed from the kitchen.
I sprinted downstairs faster than a cheetah; my stomach was practically eating itself. As I slid into the cold seat at my kitchen table, my mother could tell that I was feeling upset. "Are you sad about going to school again Kayla? It has been a month! Get over it already, you are in first grade and will learn to read one day!" It was the beginning of first grade, and I still could not read like the rest of my classmates...
My mother scolded me, but comforted me soon after. I think she could tell that she upset me. But i understand; having a child who can't read must be devastating...
"Kayla! Come downstairs please, dinner is ready," my mother exclaimed from the kitchen.
I sprinted downstairs faster than a cheetah; my stomach was practically eating itself. As I slid into the cold seat at my kitchen table, my mother could tell that I was feeling upset. "Are you sad about going to school again Kayla? It has been a month! Get over it already, you are in first grade and will learn to read one day!" It was the beginning of first grade, and I still could not read like the rest of my classmates...
My mother scolded me, but comforted me soon after. I think she could tell that she upset me. But i understand; having a child who can't read must be devastating...
Monday morning... My face was soaking wet when I woke up, drenched with watery tears. My fear of attending school was so monstrous that it was practically eating me alive. I was so far behind in reading compared to the rest of my classmates. Whether I was reading alone, reading aloud, or learning in a guided reading group, I would receive the nastiest looks when I would stumble on my words.
Sometimes... I would dream about the school catching on fire overnight, not hurting a soul.
Crackling, sizzling, down to the ground.. taking all of the reading material with it.
My life would be so much simpler. I would never have to go back and experience the horrors that I felt in that building ever again.
Sometimes... I would dream about the school catching on fire overnight, not hurting a soul.
Crackling, sizzling, down to the ground.. taking all of the reading material with it.
My life would be so much simpler. I would never have to go back and experience the horrors that I felt in that building ever again.
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Bullying...
I walked into school on Monday morning with a frown stretched across my face, hesitating to open the heavy swinging doors. Ever since Kindergarten, I was known as the girl who didn't know how to read...
"Haha! You're pathetic Kayla."
"Oh look! It's the girl who stinks at reading!"
I ran to the bathroom, my face was as red as a tomato. I locked myself in the stall and cried. I could write a book about all the mean words my classmates used to hurt me.
I walked into school on Monday morning with a frown stretched across my face, hesitating to open the heavy swinging doors. Ever since Kindergarten, I was known as the girl who didn't know how to read...
"Haha! You're pathetic Kayla."
"Oh look! It's the girl who stinks at reading!"
I ran to the bathroom, my face was as red as a tomato. I locked myself in the stall and cried. I could write a book about all the mean words my classmates used to hurt me.
The year was 2003 at the time that I was in first grade. I was six years old. Globalization of technology was booming. School districts were quickly adapting to the new technology that was being created throughout the entire world and incorporating it in the classroom learning environment.
I had finally made it through Monday. "Phew," I thought to myself as I busted out of the double doors and into the crisp, cool air. The day was finally over, and the only time I was bullied was in the morning when I first arrived to school. Better than being bullied all day long!
However, I noticed something different about school today. When I walked into homeroom this morning, we had gotten something new for our classroom called a smart board. This was basically like a normal white board, but it had more of a digital aspect toward it. It seemed really cool! Lots of new technology has been coming out lately. I love it! It makes me feel more comfortable when I am learning in the classroom.
I had finally made it through Monday. "Phew," I thought to myself as I busted out of the double doors and into the crisp, cool air. The day was finally over, and the only time I was bullied was in the morning when I first arrived to school. Better than being bullied all day long!
However, I noticed something different about school today. When I walked into homeroom this morning, we had gotten something new for our classroom called a smart board. This was basically like a normal white board, but it had more of a digital aspect toward it. It seemed really cool! Lots of new technology has been coming out lately. I love it! It makes me feel more comfortable when I am learning in the classroom.
Walking into my class on Tuesday morning, I noticed something different again. Sitting on the shelves in the reading center were some books, and about 20 pairs of glistening white headphones. I looked over at my teacher with the rest of my classmates in confusion.
"Good morning students, what you see on the shelves at the reading center are called audio books. You may put on the headphones and listen to a recording of any book you choose during silent reading today."
Wow... technology was advancing fast....
I immediately ran over to the audio books and plopped down on a comfy bean bag. One paragraph into listening, and oh was I hooked!!
"Good morning students, what you see on the shelves at the reading center are called audio books. You may put on the headphones and listen to a recording of any book you choose during silent reading today."
Wow... technology was advancing fast....
I immediately ran over to the audio books and plopped down on a comfy bean bag. One paragraph into listening, and oh was I hooked!!
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks became months, my love for audio books continued to skyrocket. My reading improved every day, and my parents were so proud of me! I was finally starting to enjoy what first grade was all about. The bullying had also slowed down as I became more familiar with the audio books. They helped me learn how to read in a different way. I was never distracted or disturbed by my classmates calling me names. With the audio book, I was able to put on a pair of headphones, and experience total peace and quiet. I continued to use the audio books in the classroom every single day.
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I walked into my house one day after school. Sitting on my kitchen counter, I could see a pair of white headphones glistening in the sunlight. It was an audio book! My mom had bought me one all for myself!
"Oh mom! Thank you thank you!" I squealed with delight.
I became so addicted to the audio book and everything about it. I listened to it in the morning before school, at night before bed, and at school during the day. Slowly but surely, I became a stronger reader.
The bullying stopped, and my reading began to flourish.
"Oh mom! Thank you thank you!" I squealed with delight.
I became so addicted to the audio book and everything about it. I listened to it in the morning before school, at night before bed, and at school during the day. Slowly but surely, I became a stronger reader.
The bullying stopped, and my reading began to flourish.
The school that I had once wished to burn down in the middle of the night for the sake that I would not be bullied anymore, was now my saving grace. Soon enough, I would wake up in the morning excited to go to school that day. Who would have thought the day would come!
"Amazing work Kayla!" my teacher would exclaim.
I finally felt proud of myself again. I knew that audio books had helped me on my journey to become a successful reader.
Throughout the rest of my years in elementary school, I was able to use the audio book at any appropriate time. My reading levels strengthened, and I felt as though I was on top of the world!
"Amazing work Kayla!" my teacher would exclaim.
I finally felt proud of myself again. I knew that audio books had helped me on my journey to become a successful reader.
Throughout the rest of my years in elementary school, I was able to use the audio book at any appropriate time. My reading levels strengthened, and I felt as though I was on top of the world!
Flash forward one year, and I am now 7 years old and in second grade!
I walked into my teacher, Mr. White's classroom, with a huge smile on my face the first day of school. That day, it was beautiful outside. The sun was shining through the windows of our colorful classroom and the students were chattering away about the beautiful weather outside.
"Good morning class, for reading today we are going to be going outside! It is a beautiful day out, and there is nothing like reading a great book in the sun!" my teacher announced.
Normally, I would have been terrified of independent reading. But today, in second grade, I am finally confident enough to read on my own! We went outside to read to ourselves for about twenty minutes. As I sat on a mossy stump next to the playground, I couldn't help but smile.
"I've come such a long way," I thought to myself.
I walked into my teacher, Mr. White's classroom, with a huge smile on my face the first day of school. That day, it was beautiful outside. The sun was shining through the windows of our colorful classroom and the students were chattering away about the beautiful weather outside.
"Good morning class, for reading today we are going to be going outside! It is a beautiful day out, and there is nothing like reading a great book in the sun!" my teacher announced.
Normally, I would have been terrified of independent reading. But today, in second grade, I am finally confident enough to read on my own! We went outside to read to ourselves for about twenty minutes. As I sat on a mossy stump next to the playground, I couldn't help but smile.
"I've come such a long way," I thought to myself.