We will write children's stories to celebrate, to teach, to enjoy. Think about the children sitting in the classroom, bedroom, or library bored because they have yet found a book that excites or moves them. Let's write for them using colorful words and rich language. Help them smile, laugh, feel warm and silly, or get lost in their imaginations. We can also write to empathize with them and show them we care about their young pains.
My children's story was inspired by three things, my seven-year-old son, an academic competition that took place almost three decades ago, and the preamble from a piece of text.
Thirty three years ago as a student at Doolittle East Elementary, I was training for an academic competition in the Chicago Public Schools district 11. We had to compete against the math and science powerhouses in our district. Our coach, Mrs. W., told us that we could not afford to come in second. We had to be the best, and we were. We crushed the competition. Although others were surprised, we were not.
Often times, people confuse striving for the best as conceit or arrogance. It was just our way of thinking. The members of that academic team have gone on to serve society. My main man, DRD, now works for the federal government in Washington, D.C. after earning a law degree.
Why strive for the best? I read a preamble that contained the following words:
We live in a world where millions die from easily preventable diseases… and still more face hunger as a daily fact of life. We are locked inside a worldwide economic system that dispenses crumbs and extends privileges to a relatively small number, while forcing billions to seek desperately for work that more often than not numbs the mind, crushes the spirit and destroys the body.... We walk through our days in a world where the lives of countless children are ground up and destroyed...as victims of poverty and humiliation...their potential crushed, or their lives cut short.
I WANT TO BE...
My children's story was inspired by three things, my seven-year-old son, an academic competition that took place almost three decades ago, and the preamble from a piece of text.
Thirty three years ago as a student at Doolittle East Elementary, I was training for an academic competition in the Chicago Public Schools district 11. We had to compete against the math and science powerhouses in our district. Our coach, Mrs. W., told us that we could not afford to come in second. We had to be the best, and we were. We crushed the competition. Although others were surprised, we were not.
Often times, people confuse striving for the best as conceit or arrogance. It was just our way of thinking. The members of that academic team have gone on to serve society. My main man, DRD, now works for the federal government in Washington, D.C. after earning a law degree.
Why strive for the best? I read a preamble that contained the following words:
We live in a world where millions die from easily preventable diseases… and still more face hunger as a daily fact of life. We are locked inside a worldwide economic system that dispenses crumbs and extends privileges to a relatively small number, while forcing billions to seek desperately for work that more often than not numbs the mind, crushes the spirit and destroys the body.... We walk through our days in a world where the lives of countless children are ground up and destroyed...as victims of poverty and humiliation...their potential crushed, or their lives cut short.
I WANT TO BE...
by
Alfred W. Tatum
July 26, 2009
I want to be
the fastest
I want to be
the smartest
I want to be
the strongest
I want to be
the coolest
I want to be
the richest
I want to be
the happiest
I want to be
the healthiest
I want to be
the nicest
I want to be
the sharpest
I want to be
the neatest
I want to be
the proudest
I want to be the
the worldliest
I want to be
the awesome-est
I want to be
the best
person ever.
My seven-year-old loved it. He added the line, I want to be the awesome-est.
Let's not be apologetic for what we want for the next generation.
Alfred W. Tatum
July 26, 2009
I want to be
the fastest
I want to be
the smartest
I want to be
the strongest
I want to be
the coolest
I want to be
the richest
I want to be
the happiest
I want to be
the healthiest
I want to be
the nicest
I want to be
the sharpest
I want to be
the neatest
I want to be
the proudest
I want to be the
the worldliest
I want to be
the awesome-est
I want to be
the best
person ever.
My seven-year-old loved it. He added the line, I want to be the awesome-est.
Let's not be apologetic for what we want for the next generation.
THE STUPENDOUS BOY AND HIS GHOST FRIEND!
ReplyDeleteBy Alex A
There was a boy named Tom who is 13 years old. He has black hair and green eyes. He was looking at a YouTube video of these magicians because when he is afraid of ghosts in the dark he watches magicians. He likes to watch a man whose name was Criss Houdini and he was stupendous, splendid, terrific, outstanding, fantastic, and exceptional at his magic. He was the new Criss Angel or Collin Key. Tom idolizes Collin Key. He knows every magic trick Collin Key does.
One time Tom leaves his room. When he comes back to his room his toys were all messed up like a tornado came in his bedroom. So, one outstanding day he goes and hides his camera in his room and clicked record. He came back and looked at the camera. He sees his toys moving around like the room was tilting like a big human took the house and tilted it to the right. He saw a boy playing with his toys. He looked to be about 12 years old. Tom could see through the boy.
So he writes a note. It says, “If you are nice write back to me.” The next morning he sees the note and under his note it said, “Hi I am nice let’s play.” Tom says, “Ok.” Tom says, “Why were you messing up my room?” The boy says, “Because it is fun.” So the boy and Tom played for hours. It felt like days. Tom jumped in bed and talked to the boy all night. Tom’s parents came in to his room and they saw him talking to himself. They though that he was talking to a friend online because he liked to watch magic videos on YouTube. The boy says, “Tomorrow lets play again.” Tom says, “Ok.”
The next morning Tom and the boy went outside to play. Tom and the boy went in Tom’s tree house. It had three floors, and many windows, and looked like a small apartment. Tom’s parents gave him lunch to eat in the tree house. At the end of the day Tom asked his parents if he can sleep in his tree house. They said, “Yes.” Tom and the boy went and took many things out of Tom’s bedroom into Tom’s tree house like his T.V. and some of his magic stuff too. It felt like a year when they finally fell a sleep. Maybe because it was a year? It was as if they got stuck in time.
Tom’s dad woke him up for school. Tom looked next to him. The ghost boy was gone. Now Tom will not be afraid of ghosts anymore. When Tom got dressed he saw the note that made him look out the window. The T.V. was still there. Tom read the note. Something new was there it said, “Thank you Tom.” He wondered if it was a dream.
The Boy Who Lost His Leg
ReplyDeleteBy Carlos G.
George had just finished soccer practice, and got in his mom’s gray Saturn. As they were driving, another car ran through a red light and crashed into them. He woke up the next day and he noticed he was in the hospital. The doctor told George “while you lived, you lost your leg.” George gasped and started to cry. He was in shock and thoughts ran through his mind. “How am I going to be able to do anything?” said George. He moved his leg and threw the blanket off and saw he was missing his left leg.
While driving home with his mom, he was thinking about how he couldn’t play soccer anymore. He noticed he couldn’t do anything because he had crutches. He wouldn’t be able to play sports, play with friends during recess, or even walk to his classes.
He just laid in bed and watched TV that week, feeling depressed. While he was watching TV, a commercial for people with disabilities that could play sports came on. He called his mom and his mom said, “What do you need?”
“Hurry come look, can you sign me up for soccer?” said George.
“You know you can’t play soccer anymore,” said Mom.
“Yeah I know that but there was a commercial about someone with a disability who ran at the Para Olympics,” said George.
“Ok where is this place at so I can sign you up?” said Mom.
“It’s at McKinley Park. It starts at 10 am and ends at 2 o’clock,” said George.
The next day he tried out for soccer practice. While he was signing up he saw all the kids and grown ups were playing soccer. He saw how good the kids and grown ups played and they all had disabilities similar to his. He tried to kick the soccer ball but he couldn’t. He tried multiple times and he couldn’t hit the soccer ball. Then on his 10th try he finally had hit the ball far out into the field. When he hit the ball, it hit Bea, a girl who was also trying out for the team. She had experienced the same thing he did but she lost an arm. “Hey do you need help with hitting a soccer ball?” said Bea.
“Well yeah cause I just got my crutches, and I’m having a hard time,” said George.
“All you have to do is hit the ball with your right leg. But when you hit the soccer ball, hit it with the inside of your foot,” said Bea.
While he was trying to kick the soccer ball he held on to the crutches every time.
“Ok thanks for the tips,” said George.
Later on that day he went home with his mom and he practiced hitting the soccer ball. Ever since Bea gave him the tips on how to kick the soccer ball he would hit the ball.
The next week he had a soccer game to play at McKinley Park. George felt nervous; he felt like throwing up. He thought that he was going to fail his team and lose the championship. His team was going against the Panthers. The score was 19 to 20; they were down by one point. The ball was passed to him and he used all the tips Bea gave him as he kicked the ball. The goalie missed the ball and it went right over his head and into the net. George scored the last goal for his team and won the championships. His teammates were shocked. They didn’t think they would win. “Congratulations George! You helped us win the championships!” And they all went out for pizza to celebrate their victory. George learned that day that he could do anything if he put his mind to it.
If You Give A Dog Pizza
ReplyDeleteBy: Jeremiah E
If you give a dog pizza,
he would like a glass of pop.
When he get a glass of pop,
He will ask for a napkin.
When you give him the napkin,
He will think about paper.
When you give him the paper,
He will want to make a paper airplane.
When he make the plan,
he will want to play like he is a pilot.
When he plays like pilot,
He will want to take a trip.
When he buys the ticket,
He will see an advertisement about flying pig.
Then he will want to go to a farm.
When he gets to the farm,
he will go to cows.
When he goes to the cows,
he will see a picture of a horse on the cow’s spots.
And when he sees the horse,
It will remind him to say hey to a friend.
Then he will go to his friend cat’s house,
When he get there it will remind him that he hate cats.
He will chase him around the house.
Soon he will get tired and will want to go home,
When he gets home he will take a nap.
When he wakes up, he will be thirsty,
and he will ask for a glass of pop.
And when he drinks the pop he will ask for a slice of pizza.
If You Give A Turtle a Strawberry
ReplyDeleteBy: Christian C
If you give a turtle a strawberry, he’ll ask for some whipped cream.
When you give him the whipped cream, he’ll probably ask for chocolate syrup.
When he’s finished, he’ll ask for a napkin.
Then he want to throw it away him self.
He will realize he needs a garbage bag.
He then goes into the garage to get a bag.
He finds a blue begat.
When he gets inside the car, he’ll want to take it for a joy ride.
While he’s out, he gets lost.
He spots a bill board advertising “call 1-800-lost turtle if you’re a lost turtle.
Then he will pick up his phone and realize he has a text message from his best friend Sheldon saying “party at my place! Bring your shell!”
On his way to Sheldon’s house, he finds his way back home.
When he gets home, he’ll be hungry.
He then will ask you for some spaghetti meatballs.
When he’s done, he’ll obviously ask for some dessert.
And for dessert he’ll ask for some whipped cream.
And of course he’ll want some strawberries with whipped cream.
Gustavo The Grumpy Goat - Part I
ReplyDeleteBy: Molly O.
Gustavo was a grumpy goat. He rarely giggled. Some might say that Gustavo woke up on the wrong side of the bed every single day.
Each morning it was the same. Gustavo would hear the birds chirping, and he would see the sun shining. He thought the birds were too loud. He thought the sun was too bright. When afternoon would arrive, with the sun straight above him in the sky, Gustavo would find a cold, dark room in the barn to sit in, alone. When other goats would approach Gustavo and ask him how he was doing, Gustavo always replied the same way - with his head hung low, and in a soft voice: “I’m grumpy.”
All the other goats nearby enjoyed their mornings and afternoons together - in the fields, eating grass, and giggling with their friends. Each evening, the goats played a game of ghost in the graveyard. Usually, the goats refrained from asking Gustavo to play because they already knew the answer, but this day was different.
In his corner in the barn, Gustavo sat on the ground in his grumpy state of mind and waited for the sun to go away. He listened to the kids gathering outside. He grimaced at their giggles. Then, he growled at their joy. He grumbled about their game, too. He was just plain grumpy.
Today, Christof thought he’d invite Gustavo to play again. Christof asked Gustavo to play many times before, as had the other goats, but today, Christof was optimistic.
Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. The barn door slowly opened. Rays of light jumped off of the walls as the sun climbed in. Christof walked through the door and crept to the back corner, where Gustavo sat.
“Hey dude,” said Christof.
“Hi,” replied Gustavo. “Why aren’t you outside playing with your friends?”
“I have a hard time playing with the others when you’re sitting in here alone.”
“Wow,” Gustavo thought to himself, “I didn’t know anyone ever noticed me in here.”
“I don’t want to play,” Gustavo grumpily said.
“I don’t understand why,” replied Christoff.
Gustavo mumbled back, “It’s silly and embarrassing really. When I was a young goat, I played with the others every day, but one day, I slipped in the mud and fell. I broke my front leg, and now, I have a bad limp.”