Summer School
“Anyone who goes to summer school is a loser,” said Martha, a grade 6 student.
“Just know that the option for summer school is there for you,” said Scott the School Teacher.
“I have better things to do with my summer,” said Martha.
“I put the option of summer school out there,” said Scott the School Teacher. “It is up to you if you want to attend. However, I believe you have potential and I am hoping we can explore that potential. With summer school, strongly believe I can help you unlock that potential.”
“Really?” asked Martha. “You really think I have potential.”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” said Scott.
“Okay,” said Martha. “Sign me up for summer school.”
Over the next few days, Martha was excited about summer school and it was all because Scott had given her that sense of encouragement and had given her the sense that she has potential.
“Good morning class,” said Scott the School Teacher, the first day of class for summer school.
“Sorry I am late,” said Martha, entering the classroom.
“Have a seat,” said Scott. “I am glad you made it. In fact, I am glad you have all made it. Our goal with this summer school course is to write an essay on your feelings about summer school.”
“But that is boring,” said Martha, disappointed.
“Let me finish,” laughed Scott. “I want all of you to take out your workbooks and a pencil and follow me.”
Scott took his students to the park beside the school and once there, he asked the students to write what they felt like being out there in the park.”
Each day, Scott took the students outside of the classroom. By the end of two weeks, the students had their workbooks half-filled with notes about how they felt going to the different places Scott took them to.
“For the remainder of this course,” said Scott. “You are going to take those notes you wrote and write your essay from the notes.”
“Just our feelings?” asked Martha.
“Yes,” said Scott.
Martha loved this assignment. She wrote page after page for her essay. She was passionate and determined about her work and when Scott read it, he was amazed. Martha had well exceeded his expectations. He gave her an A+.
“Writing about my feelings was exciting,” said Martha. “Thank you!”
“No,” said Scott. “Thank you, Martha. You did this all on your own by putting in the effort.”
“But,” said Martha. “It was so easy to do.”
“Writing an essay doesn’t have to be hard,” said Scott.
“I see that now,” said Martha.
From that moment on, Martha wrote any essay she had to write with the same passion and dedication she did with that summer school essay Scott had her write. She ended up with many A+’s and she always thought about what she had learned that summer in summer school. She valued Scott as a teacher and she excelled in her education to the point that she became a world class writer.
Moral of this Story:
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