Read an Excerpt
I Can Learn
If You Teach Me
By Nicole Angella Clarke, Kelli M. Brosnan AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2015 Nicole Angella Clarke
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-0269-4
CHAPTER 1
To All Students
My principal always calls her students the bright ones – and bright children we are. Other teachers think I am not smart, and I have even heard them say that. My principal never allows us to think that we aren't smart. My teacher, Ms. Clarke, also makes sure to remind me daily of how smart I am.
I always knew I was smart, but I felt bad when teachers would say that I wasn't. For a long time, I didn't believe I was smart. Then something wonderful happened to me. My mother changed my school, and I believe that was one of the best things she did for me. She sent me to a new elementary school, where I was placed in the best teacher's class. Ms. Clarke believed in me when others did not. She would tell me every day that I wouldn't fail my Standards of Learning exams if I got the work done. Ms. Clarke changed my life, and I will always remember that.
If you are a student and no one believes in you, please believe in yourself — and find a teacher who believes in you.
Maelanii
Today is my first day in my new school. Everyone is walking around talking to each other and laughing. They seem to be having a really good time in the hallway and seem excited to be at school with all their friends and teachers. I don't feel that way at all right now. I am not laughing or talking to anyone. I just need to get to my classroom to see who my teacher is and what the classroom looks like.
I wonder, will my new teacher like me? Will I be able to make new friends? Will I like this school? Will I have a good school year?
I ask myself these questions because in my old school I felt like my teacher didn't like me. The students in the class didn't like me, and I really didn't have any friends. I didn't like being at school because I frequently got in trouble. My mother would constantly be called to the school because of something I either did or was accused of but didn't do. This was not a good feeling. I really hope that having a new teacher, being in a new school, and being around different students will make for a good school year.
I quickly leave the hallway and head to class. As soon as I get to my classroom, I meet my teacher at the door. She is smiling and welcoming the students to her class. All the students in the class look very happy; they are talking and laughing and seem to be having fun. I sit in the seat closest to the teacher's desk, because I want to get to know my teacher. Maybe this will help me have a good year. At the end of the school day, I write a note and leave it on my teacher's desk.
When I get back to school the next day, my teacher writes a note back to me and leaves it on my desk. I feel super special. This is the first time a teacher has written me a note. We have written notes to each other a lot. Please continue to read and enjoy some of our notes from the school year.
September
Dear Ms. Clarke,
I would like you to know that nobody really likes me. Nobody cares, and I don't care either. I hate school so much, and wish I didn't have to be here. The only reason I am here is that I cannot tell my mom I don't want to come to school.
Maelanii
Dear Maelanii,
I want you to know that I like you and all the other students in this class. It is my pleasure to be your teacher. I care about you and all the other students and believe you will have an awesome time at school this year. School should be fun and exciting. What can I do to help you like school? What can I do to make school fun for you? You are a really smart student, and I believe that you will have a super, fantastic year.
Ms. Clarke
September
Dear Ms. Clarke,
I am not so sure I will ever enjoy school. School is really not fun for me. I wish I could stay home and teach myself and learn all on my own. Really, I don't think I need a teacher to teach me. I can teach myself.
Maelanii
Dear Maelanii,
Yes, I truly believe that there are things you can teach yourself. However, there are also a lot of cool and exciting things I can teach you. I would like for you to teach me all the cool things you know, and I will teach you all the new and exciting things in third grade. Please let us talk about it at our conference on Friday.
Ms. Clarke
September
Dear Ms. Clarke,
You seem to be a nice teacher, and I think I am going to like you. I think if you let me teach the class sometimes, I would enjoy school a little — just a little. Also, I would love to be a brick kid, because that is all everyone talks about in this school. Can you please help me?
Maelanii
(Continues...)
Excerpted from I Can Learn by Nicole Angella Clarke, Kelli M. Brosnan. Copyright © 2015 Nicole Angella Clarke. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
