When Harry Gets Teased

By Matthew

The title of the story is "Harry’s Got a Girlfriend!" by Ulli Schubert. It happened in a birthday party in the present time. The characters are Harry, Steve, Tony, George, Michelle, Tanya, Nancy, Julia, and Christine.

The story started when Harry was in the locker room with his friends. They were Steve, George and Tony. George got Harry's bag. When Harry was able to chase George, George tossed Harry’s bag to Steve. After that, Steve gave back the bag when Harry stopped by the door.

The problem started when the boys saw the girls. Michelle gave an invitation to Harry. When Harry opened the invitation, there was a drawing. After that, Steve saw something at the back and there was something written on it. It said, “Dear Harry, I would like to invite you to my birthday party….” When George and Tony said that it was a girl’s birthday party, they started to tease Harry. So Harry got upset and got back the invitation and went home. When he went home, he told his mom that Michelle invited him to her birthday party. When Harry went to the toys store, he saw lots of toys like a toy monster truck and a robot warrior. When Harry saw a racing track, he saw his friends, Tony, George and Steve who were still teasing him. That night, Harry talked to his dad. His dad said that he can go to the party and leave when he wants.

The problem was solved when Harry woke up in the morning. He made a gift for Michelle. When Harry got there, he saw the girls. When they started the party, they were eating. They were played games, then, they made flew a kite. And next was they played Blind Man’s Bluff. Harry felt happy.

In the end, Harry went home but first, Michelle kissed him in the cheek. Then finally, he saw his friends. They stopped teasing him because they wanted to go to the party, too. So now, they became friends again.

Matthew likes soccer and High School Musicals 1 and 2. He doesn't have a girlfriend...yet.

Helen Keller

by TJ

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. When she was a baby, she had a fever that caused her to be blind and deaf.

Anne Sullivan was the teacher who taught her how to communicate using her hands. Before Anne Sullivan came to Helen Keller, she was an inconsolable, perverse, willful and selfish child. When Anne Sullivan came, she taught her everything has a name. She made her hold a bear and told her what it is. Helen also came to love Anne Sullivan. Helen developed the sense of love for her family and the sense of being an eager student, affectionate, caring and generous.

Her achievements were many for a blind and deaf woman. At the age of 16, she went to Radcliff College. She became a writer and lecturer for the disabled and this resulted in the creation of many more special services for the blind and deaf people.

She is a very determined person to get what she wants even though it may seem impossible.

Early Bird Registration Extended for Pan Asian LD Conference!

We are pleased to announce the extension of the early bird registration period for the Pan Asian Learning Difficulties Conference. The new cut off date is 5 October 2007. Please visit our website www.wordlabschool.edu.ph for registration information.

So What's Lurnind Dificolyt?

It's somethind mey avet on n per staup to betyer.*

(*So what's learning difficulty? It's something we have to understand together)

THEN IT'S DIFFICULT NO MORE!

This is such a great chance for us to exchange ideas, insights and learning. (There will be specialists from the Philippines, Canada, the UK, etc.) The difficulties need not be insurmountable. We just need to understand them. Tara! Let's do this together! Please check online, < http://www.wordlabschool.edu.ph> call Wordlab School, +632 724 3871 or +632 416 9285 (look for Che).

The GREAT thing about this is we get to understand the issues – like Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, ADHD, Comprehension Difficulties, etc. - in our Asian context. See You There!!!

The Twit's Tricks

by: Jakey

The Twits are very tricky. Some of their tricks were funny. First, Mrs. Twit put her glass eye in Mr. Twit’s mug. Second, Mr. Twit put a frog in Mrs. Twit’s bed. Third, Mrs. Twit put worms in the spaghetti of Mr. Twit. Finally, Mr. Twit put a little wood on Mrs. Twit’s stick to make it long. Mrs. Twit thought that she was shrinking. I like the glass-eye trick in Mr. Twit’s mug because it was funny.

Jakey had a blast reading this book. He is also fond of reading Captain Underpants Books. His favorite movie is "The Simpsons."

Sharks

By: Anton

There are different kinds of shark. The first is the Hammer head shark. The hammer head shark’s name comes from its head, which is shaped like a hammer. Hammer head also never sleeps and never stops swimming.

The second is the dwarf shark. It is no bigger than your hand.

The third is leopard shark. It grows at four feet long.

Fourth is the carpet shark. It lies like a rug at the sea floor.

Fifth is the whale shark. It has lots of teeth more than other sharks because it has 3,000 teeth. It is so big, bigger than a bus. It is so gentle to us so it won’t eat us. The food that whale sharks eat is shrimp and fish.

For me, the best shark is the whale shark.

Anton loves playing Playstation and watching National Geographic Channel.

Reading Oliver Twist

By Paolo P.

The title of the story is "Oliver Twist." It happened in the past, around 1800’s. It happened in the United Kingdom. The main character is Oliver Twist. He was a little poor boy in the story and he was an orphan. It was written by Charles Dickens. Dickens was born England in 1812 and he was considered as one of the best novelist of his time. He liked to write about hardships in the 19th century.

The story began when his mother died. He went to a workhouse. His problem started when he was in the workhouse. The people in the workhouse were bullying him. Next, he asked for food and the people in the workhouse got mad. Then, they sold him to an undertaker. The workmate of Oliver was beating him up and so Oliver ran away. He went to London and joined a gang of stealers. They wanted him to steal but he did not want to. His problem ended when a lot of people helped him like Mr. Brownlow, Mrs. Maylie, Rose and Nancy. The villains, Fagin went to jail while Bill Sikes died.

I think the story adapted by Kathleen Costick was fun at the start but wasn’t so thrilling in the end. Of all the people in the world, Oliver ended up in his aunt’s house. I think it is so unreal!!! I think that Costick made the story easier to read because the words were so big and story was short. However, the cover art was wrong because it showed Oliver stealing but he never stole. I think Dickens wrote the story to make people become aware of what’s happening to orphans and other poor people.

Paolo P. can play the guitar and likes playing soccer.

Your Guardian Angel

Your Guardian Angel
By: Michael

When I see your smile, tears run down my face
I can’t replace, now that I’m strong I have figured out how this world turns cold
And it breaks to my soul and I know
I’ll find deep inside me I could be the one

CHORUS:
I would never let you fall (let you fall)
I would be with you forever
I’ll stand up with you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
Seasons are changing and waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grew longer and nights grew shorter
I could show you you’ll be the one

CHORUS

‘Cause you’re my, ‘cause you’re my, my,
My true love, my whole heart
Please don’t throw that away
And ‘cause I’m here for you, for you

Use me as you will, pull my string just for a thrill
This is all for you while my sky is turning gray

CHORUS 2X

Interpretation:

This is a song about a guy telling the girl he loves that she is his guardian angel. He is telling that girl that it should be him that she chooses because the guy thinks that he is the right person for her. The chorus explains that he will take care of the girl and he will never let her fall. Another stanza explains them trying to date and realizes weird things happening like seasons are changing and waves are crashing, etc.

Playing Favorites

Playing Favorites
Composed by: Michael

This the most that I can do
Is make a call and tell you the truth
Sing the words and the melody
And hope that you’ll believe me
Here’s another song for you
So this one this one makes two
I still don’t know where to begin
I’ll just leave it at this.

CHORUS
I’m sure you always feel my eyes on you
But I wish that you will never feel unwanted
Wait for me to move out west its okay if you don’t
I hope you know you’re my favorite thing about the west coast
I wish I stayed I hope you wait so here I am counting down the days
‘till California comes.

This is the least that I can do
you know I’m bad at calling you
the best way I can extend the lonely word
“I miss you”
I’d say it but I’m sure you knew
You're what I look most forward to
I’m coming back to where I’ve been
I’ll just leave it at this.

(Back to CHORUS)

Interpretation by Michael :

This song is for a special girl whom I like and who is my classmate. The song is all about a person waiting for his chance to court the girl. The chorus explains the guy going somewhere and telling that person that he likes her so much and that she is his “Favorite Thing” but he could not say it personally. The guy tries to call her but he knows he is bad at doing that so he did it by writing her a song. My favorite line is “I hope you know you’re my favorite thing about the west coast” for the reason that I want her to know my feelings. (NAKS!!! By teacher phnas)

Michael loves to write songs. He has made 20 songs already and counting. He knows how to play a classic and bass guitar and can sing his compositions as well. :)

A Medieval Tale

By Tux

The title of the book is “The Whipping Boy." The author is Sid Fleischman. The story took place in a castle during the medieval ages. The characters in the story are Prince Horace, A.K.A Prince Brat, and Jemmy. Jemmy is a talented kid but he has a bad job as a whipping boy while Prince Brat is obviously a BRAT.

The story started when Prince Brat did a horrible mess but the king called the Whipping Boy and gave him lashes to his back. Meanwhile, Prince Brat can’t get hurt because he is a prince! The problem began when Prince Brat ran away from home because he was bored, taking Jemmy with him. Suddenly, highwaymen caught them and took them as hostages. The problem was solved when the highwaymen ran away because rats were biting and scratching them. They ran very fast and ended up in a boat heading to prison. In the end Jemmy and the Prince became good friends. The king said to them, “If you run away again, make me come with you."


I think the story is fantastic and amazing. My favorite part in the story is the part when the highwaymen found the Prince and Jemmy in the hot potato man’s cart. They thought that the Prince is Jemmy and Prince Brat was the Whipping Boy. Prince Brat was then tortured by lashes (whip hitting his back). I think the author is an imaginable man with good sense of adventure and suspense. The most valuable lesson I learned from the story is never ever be a BRAT and don’t let everyone do your work or you will suffer the consequences. BWAHAHAHA! GAW!!!

Tux is fond of reading stories about princes, adventures, and magical powers. His favorite snack is nachos with cheese dip.

Photo courtesy of T. Leslee