The Open University (which, Paul muses sometimes, should probably renamed Mansion Education Institute) is entering its last week of classes before the winter break
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Given the very nature of her teachings, Carol has given her students assignments to hand in on the morning of the class. These are comprehensive literacy assignments, with reading and writing exercises, the latter giving quite a bit of leeway with creativity, because she's nice that way. Included in this assignment, for those who needed them, were some basic science and math questions.
The last day of school, though, is reserved for oral presentations. She is very lenient with topics, so long as the kids (of all ages) express themselves clearly, and in a way that is structured. She's asked them to choose an object, and to explain to the class why it's important to them.
A classic, we know. Some oldies are also goodies.
Student list: Zachry, Sophie, Jack Frost, Cal S., Lou, Sophia, Manuel, Daniel.
Carol liked the practicality of the presentation, and will say so to Lou. She keeps to herself her appreciation for the fact that it is also educational for the younger students, but will let Lou know that she appreciates a mature presentation, and that the contribution is welcome.
Her grade, though, will be dependent on the quality of her spoken expression - whether she articulated, avoided contractions, and used proper grammar.
Hope this works? We can thread if you like but it seemed like a effective way to go....
Well, Sophie showed up. At first she was very shy and hid behind Sophia and Daniel. Then she realized that Sophia's Mum (whom she's called Mrs. Sophia's Mum a few times, accidentally) wasn't mean at all, and that the other students were fun too, and she got a little more comfortable.
When asked to present for her last class, she came with a shoe (a rather large and orphaned Nike), and explained that it was something she'd found in a wardrobe "when she was little" while playing hide and seek with Mr. Carstone, and that it's been such a very long time but she remembers how she thought it was weird, and isn't it funny because now her dad wears shoes like this and she doesn't find it so odd anymore.
She explains all this, then waits (a little trepidationously) for questions.
Sophie, we think you should meet Manuel, because he used to have a little sister, and also he just needs to meet more kids because he is a big baby.
He doesn't have any questions for her. In fact, he probably wasn't even really listening to her presentation. He was zoned out for half the class, and Sophie's presentation wasn't exactly the most riveting. She was talking about a shoe, after all.
He's probably not even going to initiate conversation with her, because he feels all awkward about being in school. But she should come and talk to him after class or something. He's nice, we promise.
Well, Sophie put a lot of thought into the shoe thing, and she was a bit miffed that no-one seemed to care. Sadly, it's going to fall on Manuel, because he's always looking like he's got a splinter somewhere.
And well - having Daniel and Sophia with her in the classroom does make this one bold.
So she'll approach him, indeed.
"... why didn't you listen to my presentation? It's terribly rude," she informs him pointedly.
"No," Manuel says. "It wasn't because your presentation was bad, really." He means that. He doesn't want Sophie to feel bad. "It was just... I was just thinking about other things and I wasn't listening."
He was probably thinking about his dead sister, Sophie. There's not much that could distract him from that.
"It wasn't," he says. "It really wasn't. I was just thinking about something that was really... it was something that was hard to get distracted from."
The trembling lower lip makes him feel terrible. She's not going to cry, is she?
"Wait," Manuel says, without really thinking about it. He's not sure what he's going to say to her if she does stay, but he doesn't want to leave her this upset.
Given the very nature of her teachings, Carol has given her students assignments to hand in on the morning of the class. These are comprehensive literacy assignments, with reading and writing exercises, the latter giving quite a bit of leeway with creativity, because she's nice that way. Included in this assignment, for those who needed them, were some basic science and math questions.
The last day of school, though, is reserved for oral presentations. She is very lenient with topics, so long as the kids (of all ages) express themselves clearly, and in a way that is structured. She's asked them to choose an object, and to explain to the class why it's important to them.
A classic, we know. Some oldies are also goodies.
Student list: Zachry, Sophie, Jack Frost, Cal S., Lou, Sophia, Manuel, Daniel.
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Her grade, though, will be dependent on the quality of her spoken expression - whether she articulated, avoided contractions, and used proper grammar.
Hope this works? We can thread if you like but it seemed like a effective way to go....
Reply
When asked to present for her last class, she came with a shoe (a rather large and orphaned Nike), and explained that it was something she'd found in a wardrobe "when she was little" while playing hide and seek with Mr. Carstone, and that it's been such a very long time but she remembers how she thought it was weird, and isn't it funny because now her dad wears shoes like this and she doesn't find it so odd anymore.
She explains all this, then waits (a little trepidationously) for questions.
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He doesn't have any questions for her. In fact, he probably wasn't even really listening to her presentation. He was zoned out for half the class, and Sophie's presentation wasn't exactly the most riveting. She was talking about a shoe, after all.
He's probably not even going to initiate conversation with her, because he feels all awkward about being in school. But she should come and talk to him after class or something. He's nice, we promise.
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And well - having Daniel and Sophia with her in the classroom does make this one bold.
So she'll approach him, indeed.
"... why didn't you listen to my presentation? It's terribly rude," she informs him pointedly.
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"I'm sorry," he says. "I was just... I was distracted."
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Not getting off that easy, Manuel. This is Sophie we're talking about.
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Her lower lip trembles. (So should you, Manuel.)
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"It wasn't," he says. "It really wasn't. I was just thinking about something that was really... it was something that was hard to get distracted from."
The trembling lower lip makes him feel terrible. She's not going to cry, is she?
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And she'll turn, and go away so she can cry at someone else.
Though he can probably catch her. But at least he would not be focused on his own angst anymore?
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"WHAT?"
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Then she smiles a little.
"Really?"
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