Chloe and the Silent H

"Class, we're going to go back to the tables for an activity. I put the name cards out so look for your name, " Mrs. Potts said.

I hopped up from the rug and thought about finding the spot for my backpack. But my tummy still rumbled with those rocks.

My new friend, Katie, waved her hands over her head. "Chloe, I think you're here at my table."

Mrs. Potts had put my name card across from Katie's at a round table. I sat down and studied the sheet in front of me. Digging into my backpack, I pulled out crayons, scissors, and stick glue. Coloring, cutting, and gluing were my favorites. I would do an especially good job and show Mrs. Potts what a good student she had gotten.

The boy on my right side nudged my arm. I knew it was my right side because I was using that hand to color and he almost made me go outside the lines.

I stopped my masterpiece and looked at him. "Please stay on your side. I'm trying to do my best work."

The boy with the black hair tilted his head and stared at me. "That your name?" He pointed to my name card.

"Of course. Chloe Ann Parker."

"Mrs. Potts just taught us about the CH sound. It says 'ch' like choo choo."

"Yes, I know about that."

"Well then why isn't your name chu - loee?"

This boy didn't know as much about letters as I did. "My teacher, Mrs. Johnson, taught me that there are silent letters. The H in my name is a silent letter."

"That's silly."

I scrunched up my face and propped my fists on my hips. "Excuse me?" I glanced at his name card. "So what's your name?"

"Bobby."

"You mean bah - buh buh - ee?"

"What?" Bobby's eyes got real big.

I pointed to his name card. "See? There's two B's together." I grinned my biggest grin. "Obviously, you have a silent letter in your name too."

Bobby made a low growling sound in his throat and rolled his eyes.

Too bad for Bobby that I was smarter about letters than he was. But ever since our neighbor at our old house would come home from Kindergarten and tell me what she had learned that day, I wondered if I really needed Kindergarten anyway. I knew all that stuff.

Daddy always said, "There's always something we can learn, Chloe Ann."

Maybe moving to a new school in the middle of the year wasn't too bad an idea after all. Mrs. Potts just might have something I could learn, and Bobby could definitely use my help.


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Chloe likes coloring, cutting, and gluing. What is your favorite? Why?

Chloe wants to do her best job for her teacher. Why do you think she wants to do an especially good job for Mrs. Potts? Do you try to do your best when you color, cut, and paste or do any kind of work at school? Why?

Chloe's daddy tells her that there is always something we can learn. We can learn from our parents, teachers, and friends. We can learn things from books we read and shows we might watch on TV. What is something you have learned today? Think hard.

Be on the look-out everyday for what you can learn that day. Make a list of things you would like to learn about. Ask your parents or teacher to help you find a book on one of your topics.

The Adventures of Chloe Ann Parker

Once a week you can read about the life of Chloe Ann Parker. Please subscribe through your email, so you won't miss any of her story. At the end of the section there will be some questions that parents can discuss to encourage comprehension and extension.

My name is Chloe Ann Parker. I have a momma and a daddy. My daddy is a preacher, and it’s his fault we have to move. I told my momma it stinks that I have to start a new school in the middle of the year. I didn’t think that was even legal.

My eyes leaked a little when I told my friend, Sabrina, goodbye. Momma said I’ll make new friends.

I looked in the mirror. My new pink dress was beautiful, but I still felt grumpy. I stuck my tongue out, and a little giggle squeaked out.

“Chloe, time to go.”

Oh, no.

My feet moved slowly down the hallway.

“Come on. You don’t want to be late.”

“Momma, my tummy feels funny. Maybe I shouldn’t go today.”

“Honey, you just have butterflies in your stomach.”

“What?” I grabbed my belly. “I have bugs inside me?”

“No, no.” Momma patted my shoulder. “It’s just an expression because that nervous feeling is like fluttery wings in your belly.”

“Nope. I don’t have butterflies. More like rocks.”

Momma smiled. “You’ll be okay. There’s no reason to be nervous.”

“But what if I puke like that time I sang in front of church?”

“Just take a deep breath. Here’s your backpack.”

I dragged my backpack by one strap to the car. After I buckled my seatbelt, I crossed my arms real tight over my chest. “If I do feel sick, what should I do? I mean, I don’t want to puke on my new teacher.”

Momma shrugged and shook her head. “Use your backpack.”

We were at the school lickety-splick. That means really fast. I didn’t put my backpack on my back since I still wasn’t sure I wouldn’t have to use it for something other than my school supplies. I tried very hard to think about anything else. But my brain thought about Sabrina back at my old school. That made my shoulders droopy.

The front door of the school buzzed and clicked. Momma pulled it open and grabbed my hand, pulling me inside. “We have to go to the office first.”

I squeezed momma’s hand a little tighter. In the office were three desks with a lady sitting at each one.

Another lady with brown hair, a dress, and spiky heel shoes smiled at us. “Welcome to our school. This must be Chloe. I’m Dr. Crum, the principal. Let me show you to Mrs. Potts’ room.”

“Chloe is a bit nervous about starting school in a new place.” Momma winked at me.

Dr. Crum stopped and looked at me. “Starting school in a new place can be hard, but you’re going to really like Mrs. Potts. I just know it.” She started walking again.

The principal stepped into a room and momma followed. I let go of her hand and stood with my toes in the classroom but my heels still in the hallway. A group of boys and girls were sitting on a rug. All of their eyes stared at me. Those rocks in my stomach rolled around.

“This is Chloe. She will be in your class now.” Dr. Crum glanced at me. “This is Mrs. Potts, your teacher.”

A lady with dark hair knelt in front of me. Her skirt looked like it would be good for twirling around. “I’m so glad you’re joining our class. Let me show you where to put your backpack.”

I pulled my backpack closer. “You might want me to keep it for a while. Momma said if I need to puke, I could use it.” I looked up at momma and did my show-my-teeth grin.

Momma smiled just a half of a smile and her face turned a little red. I wonder if she has rocks rolling in her stomach?

The kids giggled and snickered. A girl with curly black hair and a little pink bow motioned with her finger and patted the floor beside her.

I stepped one foot all the way in and then the other. I inched a little closer to the rug. My throat felt lumpy and I swallowed.

“Chloe, why don’t you sit next to Katie,” Mrs. Potts said.

I scooted in beside the girl and she cupped her hand next to her mouth. “Your dress is pretty.” She used a whisper voice.

I whispered back. “I like your bow.” I was pretty sure I wouldn’t need to puke into my backpack, but I kept it with me just in case.

  

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Have you ever had to go to a new school? How did you feel?

Have you ever felt nervous? How would you describe that feeling? 

Do you think Chloe will like her new school? Why or why not?

On a piece of paper write down how you would make Chloe feel better about coming into a new class. 

After the Book Launch is Over

Wednesday was the fabulous book launch for my third grade writing peeps.

Their desks were arranged in a u-shape, draped with a plastic table cloth. Each student had made a nice large name card - quite decorative, I might add. Each author displayed his book next to his name plate. They each had a pen poised to sign the special cards we had made for the guests.

After the autographs, there were cookies and punch for celebrating.

When all the guests had left, I read Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Suess. I then told the kids there was a big reason I had read that to them. I asked this question: "After I do a book launch, do you know what I do the next day?"

Some of them shrugged their shoulders and others tried to offer ideas.

"The next day after celebrating, I sit down at my desk and I start writing another book."

One girl said, "So that's what we can do too, right?"

"Exactly," I said. "I'll be back next week to start on a new writing adventure. What do you think?"

The excitement glinting from their eyes hinted to me that they're ready to go.

Just a hint: We're going to dissect sentences and make a crazy flip book.