4 Lesson 1 - Reading
Winter vacation is over! P
I'm going to start school very soon. P
So today, I went to a department store to purchase school supplies. P
I always need lots of binder paper for doing my homework, so I got more than 5 stacks! P
My classes require that I bring at least one red pen and one black pen, so I had to buy those as well. P
Because I easily lose my papers, I had to buy dividers and a binder to keep track of all of my work. P
The best part about starting school again is that I get to have all of these fresh supplies. P
But then, they always end up dirty by the 2nd month, especially my eraser, because I have the habit of doodling on it. P
I should learn to take better care of my supplies! P
4 Lesson 2 - Conversation
Did you buy all of your school supplies yet? P
Not yet. I'm going to buy them tomorrow. P
Great, why don't we go together? I need to buy something as well. P
Sure! I'll meet you at your house. P
What time should we meet up? P
How about 5 PM? P
Where should we meet? P
Let's meet in front of your house. P
Sounds like a plan. P
See you tomorrow. P
4 Lesson 3 - Reading
My best friend, Emily, had her birthday party today. P
We wanted the party to be a surprise, so we waited in her house for hours and hours without telling her. P
My friends and I prepared all the balloons and her birthday cake. P
Emily's mom helped us to set up the tables and all the party hats. P
When Emily found out about the party, she looked so surprised! P
After we sang her "Happy Birthday", Emily blew out the candles. P
And of course, she made her birthday wish! P
It was the greatest birthday party ever! P
4 Lesson 4 - Conversation
How was Emily's party yesterday? P
It was so fun! We had a food fight at the end! P
Really? I wish I could have gone, too! P
Yeah, Emily really wanted you there, too. P
What else did you guys do? P
After the food fight, we went to the park. P
How was the park? What did you guys do? P
We played baseball. It was really fun. P
That sounds great. I'm jealous. P
We're having another party next week. P
4 Lesson 5 - Reading
Today is Valentine's Day! P
I've prepared all the cards and chocolates for each one of my friends. P
On Valentine's Day, a lot of the kids wear red T-shirts at school, and we exchange gifts and chocolates. P
It's the day you're supposed to let people know just how much you love them and care for them. P
This year, I got my dad a teddy bear with chocolates, and I got my mom a heart-shaped bracelet. P
I can't wait to exchange gifts with my friends! P
4 Lesson 6 - Conversation
Are you doing anything for Valentine's Day? P
I'm planning on buying chocolates for everyone. P
Really? That's so nice of you. P
Yeah, I didn't do anything last year, so I really wanted to do something special this year. P
What type of chocolate are you going to buy? P
I was thinking of buying dark chocolate. What about you? P
I'm making a cake for tomorrow. P
Wow, aren't you over doing it? P
No, it's part of my family tradition. P
I'm looking forward to trying out your cake. P
4 Lesson 7 - Reading
We have no school tomorrow because it's Independence Day! P
Tomorrow celebrates our independence from Great Britain. P
My friends and I are planning on going to the park to watch all the spectacular fireworks. P
It'll be so much fun! P
I'm going to bring my blanket, because it gets a bit chilly at night. P
People will be waving flags and singing the national anthem throughout the night. P
I'm grateful for the heroes who fought for our independence. P
4 Lesson 8 - Conversation
Amy, are you going to watch the fireworks tomorrow? P
I'm probably going to watch them on T.V. P
You're not going to the park to watch them? P
Not this year. My parents and I decided to have a family dinner and watch them from home. P
Watching fireworks on T.V. is not the same. P
I know, but I promised my parents. Why don't you join us for dinner? P
I'm thinking about it, since I don't have anyone to watch the fireworks with. P
We're cooking steak and hot potatoes in our backyard. P
Really? I'll be there. P
Nice, come before sunset. We'll have dinner ready by then. P
4 Lesson 9 - Reading
Trick or Treat! P
My parents and I went to the market to buy all sorts of candies for this Halloween. P
I'll be dressed as a witch this year, since I was an angel last year. P
My dad is planning on buying his costume today. He's going to be Frankenstein. P
My mom has been busy decorating our front porch with pumpkins, the Jack-o-Lanterns, and spooky dolls. P
Emily and I will go trick or treating in my neighborhood. P
Last year, we got so many goodies that our parents had to take some of them away! P
4 Lesson 10 - Conversation
Trick or treat! Do you like my costume? P
What are you supposed to be? A thief ? P
No! I'm Batman. Can't you tell? P
You don't look like Batman at all. How do you expect to get any candy with this costume? P
What are you dressing up to be? P
I'm dressing up to be Spiderman. P
Your costume doesn't look anything like Spiderman. Your costume is yellow. Spiderman is red. P
But this is all I got. P
You could say you're Bruce Lee. P
Okay, I'll draw some black stripes on my yellow suit. P
4 Lesson 11 - Reading
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because we get to have turkey! P
In addition, this is the day when the settlers or the Pilgrims shared a friendly meal with the Native Americans. P
I'm sure that there's so much more meaning to this holiday than just a turkey. P
My dad's favorite part of Thanksgiving is my mom's apple pie. P
He was talking about it all morning! P
This Thanksgiving, we are going to prepare more turkey meals so that we can share the food with our neighbors. P
My parents tell me that sharing and being grateful for all the blessings we have is the true meaning of Thanksgiving. P
4 Lesson 12 - Conversation
My parents want to know if you and your parents will be coming over for Thanksgiving. P
Yeah, of course, we'll be there before 6. I think my mom is preparing her best dish for you. P
Really? I can't wait! Your mom is such a great cook. P
Yeah, especially her mashed potatoes. It tastes so good! P
My mom is preparing the turkey. P
I haven't had turkey since last Thanksgiving. I'm so excited. P
My father caught the turkey out in the wild. P
Wow, your father knows how to hunt? P
Yes, he has been hunting since he was a child. P
That's awesome. P
4 Lesson 13 - Reading
Tomorrow, we are going to buy a Christmas tree so that we can start decorating the house. P
The holidays are just around the corner, and my parents and I are going to light up our roof with all the Christmas lights! P
Christmas is the favorite time of the year for me, especially because I get to receive presents. P
I know that it's important to remember to give and not receive, but I still can't wait until Christmas Eve! P
My younger cousins truly believe in Santa Claus, so I think they're much more excited than I am. P
Whether there is a real Santa or not, I'm going to spend this Christmas with the people I love the most, my mom and dad! P
I'd better find my favorite tree ornament so that I can start decorating the tree tomorrow. P
4 Lesson 14 - Conversation
I can't believe it's going to be Christmas in just one week! P
Have you thought about what you're going to get for your parents? P
I think I'll get them matching sweaters. P
Neat! I'm sure they'll love whatever you get for them. P
Or should I get them shoes? P
I think you should get them matching sweaters. P
You think so? P
Yes, it's getting cold, so the sweater would be better. P
You're right. Getting a warm sweater is a better present. P
Let's go to the shopping mall later. P
4 Lesson 15 - Reading
Happy New Year! P
I can't believe it's already 2013! P
Last night, I stayed up till very late to watch the ball drop at Times Square. P
All of my parents' friends gathered with their kids to celebrate at our house. P
We counted from 10 to 0 and when it was finally 12:00 A.M, we all shouted, "Happy New Year!" P
I have a ton of plans for this New Year. P
My main goal is to get very good grades in all of my classes! P
I need to create a New Year's resolution and hand it in to my teacher on Monday. P
On top of my list will be "getting straight A's"! P
4 Lesson 16 - Conversation
Have you thought about your New Year's resolutions, yet? P
Oh, actually I have! P
I don't know what to write for mine, except that I want to be nicer to my younger brother. P
Hey, that's exactly what I was thinking, too! P
What else did you write? P
Well, I want to lose weight this year. P
That's a good one. I want to do better in school. P
We should all do our best to achieve our goal. P
I'm with you. P
Try your best! P