3 Lesson 1 - Reading
I went through some of my mom's old textbooks on programming, and they looked awfully difficult. P
I never knew that it was so complicated to make a simple program! P
I couldn't recognize any of the words in that book. P
There were all these technical terms which I couldn't understand. P
The book also had a chapter on designing websites on the internet, and I couldn't understand a word in that chapter either! P
My older brother has his own homepage on the internet. P
He puts different pictures of himself on the web and shares messages with his friends. P
I guess the homepage that my brother makes is completely different from what my mom studied when she was in college. P
I wonder if I can really be as good as mom. I'd better study really hard! P
3 Lesson 2 - Conversation
What are you reading? P
Well, I wouldn't really call what I am doing reading. P
What are you doing, then? P
Well, I'm trying to figure out this programming book but it is just too complicated for me. P
Oh, I have tried to read programming books before too. It is pretty impossible. P
That's for sure. You know, I have an idea. P
Yeah? What is it? P
I was thinking. What if someone wrote a programming book that children could read. You know with pictures? P
Well, that sounds like a good idea. Maybe. P
What's wrong with my idea? P
I think maybe computer programming is too complicated for us. No matter how easy the book is. P
You might be right. P
3 Lesson 3 - Reading
Yesterday, I had to submit a short paper on Helen Keller. P
Helen Keller was an advocate of women's rights. She became blind and deaf when she was just a baby. P
I read in her biography that she used to throw wild tantrums because nobody could understand what she was saying. P
It wasn't until she met her great teacher, Anne Sullivan, that Helen began to learn how to read, write, and speak using sign language. P
I wonder how difficult it must have been for Helen Keller to learn to read and write. P
I'm just grateful that I'm able to see and read as much as I want. P
Helen Keller even attended Radcliffe College and became the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college! P
There's a book called The Story of My Life. It's an autobiography by Helen Keller. P
It's on my personal summer reading list, so I'm very much looking forward to learning more about her through this book. P
3 Lesson 4 - Conversation
Hi. I see you are reading about Helen Keller. P
Yes I am. It is so interesting to read about her. P
Yes, she was a fascinating woman. Have you ever seen the movie The Miracle Worker? P
No, but I heard that it is a movie actually from a play by the same name. It is about a young Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan. P
Really? When does it begin? P
It starts before Anne comes to help Helen's family. P
So you get to see how hard it was for Helen to learn? P
Yes. And you see how hard it was for Helen and her family to live together before Helen could communicate. P
Does it explain how Anne was able to first communicate with Helen? P
Yes. That is the subject of the story. It is all about how patient and smart Anne was when it came to Helen. P
Anne Sullivan devoted her whole life to Helen, didn't she? P
Yes. She was a generous person and loving person who opened up the world to Helen Keller. P
3 Lesson 6 - Reading
Earlier in class, we learned about George Washington. P
He was our very first president, and he's the one always smiling at us on the one dollar bills. P
He was actually a general before he became a politician. P
He fought in the Revolutionary War against the British to gain our independence as a nation. P
My history teacher explained that he was as great a strategist as he was a great leader. P
That's why many historians call him the "Father" of our nation. P
Without George Washington, our country would have looked very different. P
According to my parents, who helped me with my homework, George Washington is regarded as one of the best presidents. P
Many young politicians look up to him and respect his legacy. P
3 Lesson 7 - Conversation
What are you doing? P
I am reading about our first president. P
Oh yeah. I like to read about George Washington too. P
He was a very good president who established several important ideas about the presidency that we still have today. P
Oh really? Like what? P
Well, the one I am reading about right now is the number of terms that a president can serve. P
What happened? P
Well, he said that more time would make him more like a king. So he said he wouldn't serve any longer. P
I bet that convinced the people. Everybody knows the early Americans were finished with kings. P
That's for sure. P
3 Lesson 8 - Reading
For homework, I need to write a short poem about myself. P
My teacher taught us how to use rhymes in different verses. P
We are supposed to refer to each line of the poem as a verse. It was all so confusing! P
I'm thinking about how to make my poem rhyme. I'm writing down all the words that rhyme with each other. P
Then I can just use these words to create my own poem. P
So far I have written down: tag and bag, toy and soy, down and gown, had and sad, and jade and made. P
But how am I supposed to make all these words into a poem? P
"When I was playing tag, I saw a little bag." P
This is all I have written down so far! I have so many more verses to write! P
3 Lesson 9 - Conversation
I guess not. What can we do? P
Well, I made a list of rhyming words, but I am having a hard time making them connect into any kind of story about myself. P
I started the opposite way. I wrote a story about myself, and now I am trying to find some rhyming words that will tell my story. P
It sounds like we should get together. P
That sounds like a good idea. If you help me write my poem, I will help you write your story. P
That sounds like a great idea too. Should I come to your house, or will you come to mine? P
Oh, I think my mom will give me a ride to your house, if I tell her we are going to do homework together. P
See you soon. P
Hi! What are you doing? P
Oh hi. I am working on my homework. Have you done your English homework yet? P
No. I'm stuck. P
I'm having a hard time too. I guess it is not so easy to be a poet. P
3 Lesson 11 - Reading
I need to make sure that I can write a complete book report by Wednesday. P
This book report is worth more than 100 points! P
I've already decided to do my report on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. P
He's one of my favorite authors. P
In my book report, I need to include a full biography of the author and a summary for each chapter in the book. P
In addition, I need to make a list of all the new vocabulary words that I've learned. That's not the end! P
I also need to write a 2 paragraph statement on what I've learned from reading this book. P
This report is going to take me more than 3 hours to write! I better get started right away. P
I want to make sure that I get an A for this report. P
3 Lesson 12 - Conversation
What are you doing? P
Oh hi! I am working on my book report. P
Oh, my gosh. I forgot about that. When is it due? P
Tomorrow. P
You have got to be kidding me! How am I going to do that? P
How could you forget such an important assignment? P
I am clueless. What can I do? P
You should just write one about any book you read lately. P
I just finished the first Harry Potter. You think that is good enough? P
Well, that should work. P
How long have you been working on yours? P
Almost two hours, and I'm not finished. P
Oh man. How much more time do you think you need? P
I would guess at least another hour. P
I'd better go home and get started. I hope my mom will let me stay up late. P
Good luck! P
3 Lesson 13 - Reading
My dad just came back from his African safari in Kenya. P
He's a zoologist, so he travels to many different places to study all kinds of animals. P
He brought back lots of pictures so that I can see just how amazing the animal kingdom really is! P
On a safari, you ride on a car or a bus and take a tour past all the animals that live in their natural habitats. P
You can even see a lion and a zebra! P
There's a famous safari park in Canada and my dad promised to take me there next spring. P
People can drive through the park in their cars and go face to face with the wild animals. P
According to my mom, I've already been on a safari, but I can't recall anything since I was just a baby. P
Next time I go, I'll be sure to bring a camera with me so that I can share the pictures with all of my friends. P
3 Lesson 14 - Conversation
You look very interested in what you are doing. P
I am looking at the album my dad put together. P
Wow! Those pictures look great. P
Aren't they great? They are pictures my dad took when he went on safari. P
Can I see? P
Sure. I would like to share them with you. P
Everybody would like to see these great pictures. P
Oh, I am planning on taking them to school tomorrow. P
It is nice of your dad to let you bring his album to school. P
Well, I promised that I would be very careful with it. P
Is that a lion? P
Yes, I think so. My dad told me that he saw a lot of lions on his trip. P
Was he frightened? P
I asked him if he was afraid, and he said he was more excited than afraid. P
I think he was brave. P
I do too. P
3 Lesson 16 - Reading
After visiting the aquarium, our entire class headed to the dolphin show. P
Dolphins are highly intelligent mammals, and they can easily learn new tricks. P
All the dolphins jumped and twirled above water in perfect unison. P
It was truly amazing! The trainer awarded each spin and trick with the dolphins' favorite food, small fish. P
The dolphins gave strange little sounds and responded to their trainers' words. P
It really seemed like they could communicate with their trainers. P
After performing each trick, the dolphins sprung out of water and flipped their fins. P
The trainer told the audience that the dolphins were asking for a round of applause. P
The crowd looked pleased, and we all cheered and applauded until they moved on to their next set of performances. P
3 Lesson 17 - Conversation
Didn't you love the dolphin show? P
It was great. P
Did you know dolphins were so smart? P
No. I was really impressed with what they could do. P
You know I read that some specialists believe that the mermaid stories may actually be dolphin stories. P
What do you mean? P
Sailors told stories about men being rescued from drowning by mermaids. P
I don't understand. P
Well, when sailors fell overboard sometimes they would wake up on land and remember being pushed to shore by a sea creature. P
So they thought it must be a mermaid? P
Yes. But there is now proof that dolphins without any training will push a person to land if they fall into the water. P
What an exciting idea. P
3 Lesson 18 - Reading
A mall is a place with lots of stores. I go to the mall with my mom. P
My favorite mall is in the southeast corner of Smalltown. P
It's called the Green Grove Mall. P
At this mall, I buy a lot of clothes: A pair of new shoes, a pair of jeans, and a T-shirt to make the outfit complete. P
I love going to this mall, because I can buy almost everything here! P
When I'm tired from walking, I take a rest at the food court. P
They sell hamburgers and hotdogs. P
They even have my favorite junk food, chili fries! P
I'm going to the mall again this weekend. P
3 Lesson 19 - Conversation
Hey, what are you going to do tomorrow? P
Not sure. Why? P
I'm thinking about going to the mall. Do you want to join me? P
Sure! What are you planning on buying? P
I want to get a new pair of sneakers. What time do you want to go? P
How about I meet you at 1'o clock in front of your home? I'll be waiting! P
Do you mind if we go to the shopping mall in Glendale? P
No problem. It's not too far from my house. P
Great. See you tomorrow. P
Bye. P