[nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #151- The Braille Princess

[Macy McClain]

Awww! That is such a cute story which explains a lot!

Macy
 
> From: newmanrl at cox.net
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:32:12 -0600
> Subject: [nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #151- The Braille Princess
> 
> NABS
> RE: The Braille Princess
> 
> How young can blind kids learn to read Braille? If you have not read the
> PROVOKER, it follows. Recall that I collect responses and post them upon my
> web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that URL is-
> Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/> If you wish to
> receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-
> newmanrl at cox.net 
> 
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 151
> The Braille Princess
> "This is our first day of kindergarten." The faces of the small children
> grouped around the teacher all looked up with energy filled expectation. "I
> want us to talk about one very, very important skill all teachers want their
> students to learn. It is reading. First, to make sure we understand new
> words --- what is a skill?" Teacher and students shared back and forth,
> clarifying several key words.
> 
> The teacher asked, "How many of you can read?" Nearly all hands shot up. "Oh
> my, what a smart class." Testing prior to the beginning of school had shown
> the teacher each student's skill level. Nearly all of them could read, most
> only a few words and a very few could actually read beginning children's
> books.
> 
> "Why do you think being able to read is important?" Many voices and hands
> answered her question. 
> 
> Pointing to a small girl bouncing on her knees, hand pumping, the teacher
> chose, "Breanna."
> 
> "To read to your mommy and daddy."
> 
> "Good answer. Reading to your parents is an excellent reason. Thank you." 
> 
> After taking several more answers the teacher moved into the next phase of
> the day's plan. "It is also important for you children to learn from one
> another. Today, I have asked two students to bring one of their favorite
> books and read it to the class. And by the end of this school year, I expect
> that you all will have your turn." Indicating the kid-size chair at her
> side, "Michael, you are first."
> 
> Seated, the small boy nervously fingered his brightly colored book, holding
> its cover forward to show it to his audience. "My favorite book is 'Ruffles,
> The Big Red Dog." Positioning it on his lap, he began reading.
> 
> "Thank you Michael. And now, Kendra. Please come up to our reading chair."
> Tapping the chair, the teacher watched the small girl with her arching cane
> home in on the sound guide.
> 
> "Students, remember, earlier today, we learned about why Kendra uses a white
> cane when she moves around the school." 
> 
> A young voice from the audience said, "She blind." 
> 
> "Yes, she is blind." Carrying on, the teacher said, "And so now we are going
> to learn about Braille, which is how Kendra can read." 
> 
> The small girl seated, cane at her feet, the teacher asked, "Kendra, first
> please show and tell us the name of your book. Then tell the class a little
> about Braille."
> 
> Composure intact, Kendra answered, "I learned to read when I was three. You
> read print because you can see it. I read Braille, because I am blind and
> blind people read Braille with their fingers. Braille is raised dots. I can
> read as good as anybody." She raised the book up for all to see its cover.
> "My favorite book is the 'Princess and the Pea.' My daddy calls me his
> Princess." 
> 
> "Hey," exclaimed a student! "No picture! No letters!"
> 
> After the stories were read, the teacher again addressed her class. "Miss
> Young, my assistant has arranged the chairs in a circle. Each of you have
> your own chair, your name is on it. So to find your chair, you must read the
> name-tag." The classroom noise level fell, then swelled; expressions on
> faces ranged from blank wonderment, to knowing intelligence. "Reading is
> important. I know some of you cannot read yet. However, soon I expect that
> you will. So for help now, ask your neighbor or Miss Young or me to assist
> you." The noisy reading and sorting began.
> 
> "She's sitting in my chair!" The outcry of the small red-haired boy was all
> but lost in the overall noise level.
> 
> "Kendra --- Tommy, we need to check the label," intervened the frazzled
> Para. Lightly touching the petite blind girl sitting quietly on the chair in
> question, "Honey, did you feel for the Braille label on the back of the
> seat?" Leaning forward to look herself as she spoke. 
> 
> "A problem here?" The teacher walked up. 
> 
> "Oh my," Miss Young looked at her boss, "the name-tag is missing." 
> 
> "Tommy knocked it off and it fell on the seat," said the boy from the next
> chair over.
> 
> "Yes, I'm sitting on my name," said Kendra. "And Tommy, you need to learn to
> read Braille."
> 
> The eyes of the two adults met, both smiled, the teacher said, "Kendra, we
> are going to call you, our Braille Princess."
> 
> 
> 
> Robert Leslie Newman 
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/singinggirl017%40hotmail.com
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star.
http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?h=myidea?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_myidea:112009