Saadia Faruqi - Yasmin the Teacher

To Mariam for inspiring me, and Mubashir for helping me find the right wordsS.F.

To my sister, Eman, and her amazing girls, Jana and KenziH.A.

Yasmins Aunt Zara came over to Yasmins house for tea.

I have a present for you, ! Aunt Zara said. She handed Yasmin a package.

Yasmin ripped it open.

A box of colored pencils!

I love to color! Yasmin said.

Then Yasmin noticed a delicious smell. She held the pencils up to her nose. They were scented! Vanilla, strawberry, mango, chocolate!

! Thank you so much! Yasmin cried. Please come again with more presents!

Aunt Zara laughed.

The next day at school, Yasmin showed her present to Emma and Ali. Smell my new pencils, she said.

Ali took a big sniff. Awesome! I wish I had some.

Yasmin was about to say that Emma and Ali could both choose a pencil to keep. But then the bell rang.

In math class Ms. Alex handed out worksheets. Work quietly, please, she said.

The problems were difficult, but Yasmin could do them. Counting. Addition. Subtraction.

A knock on the door surprised the students. It was Mr. Nguyen, the principal. Ms. Alex, can I see you for a minute, please?

Ms. Alex said, Im leaving Yasmin in charge. You all must stay as quiet as little mice. And please finish your worksheets!

She stepped into the hall and closed the door.

Yasmin couldnt believe she was in charge. She wanted to make Ms. Alex proud.

Hey, everybody! yelled Ali. Watch my cool moves!

Ali started dancing on the reading mat. The other students giggled.

Emma began to color on her notepad. Im going to draw Yasmin the teacher! she said loudly.

Shh! hissed Yasmin. We have to be quiet as little mice.

But everyone just talked and laughed. And nobody did their worksheets.

The class was out of control!

Yasmin felt like crying. What could she do to make Ms. Alex proud?

Please do your worksheets! Yasmin said.

Nobody listened.

Emma was almost done with her picture. I need pink, she said. Does anyone have pink?

That gave Yasmin an idea. The scented pencils! She had plenty to share. She got out her box and waved it in the air.

How about a competition? she shouted.

Everyone stopped and looked at her.

Ill give a scented pencil as a prize to whoever completes the worksheet! she said.

The students were suddenly quiet as little mice. They sat back down and worked hard at counting, addition, and subtraction.

Ali raised his hand. He needed help. Yasmin showed him how to answer the problem.

I win! Ali said as he finished the worksheet.

Good job! Yasmin said. Which pencil would you like?

Ali chose chocolate. Thanks, Yasmin!

Next was Emma. Ill take strawberry, she said. Thank you, Yasmin!

Soon all the students had finished and were quietly drawing with their new pencils.

Ms. Alex returned. Such well-behaved children! she said. Yasmin, youve been an excellent teacher today!

Yasmin grinned. Thanks, but Im glad to be a student again!

• Yasmin feels frustrated when her classmates wont listen to her. Think about a time you felt frustrated. What did you do about it?
• Yasmin has to think creatively to convince her classmates to do their work. If Yasmin didnt have the colored pencils, can you think of other possible solutions for her problem?
• It takes courage to be a leader or to try something new. What are some ways that you give yourself courage when you need it?

Yasmins family speaks both English and Urdu. Urdu is a language from Pakistan. Maybe you already know some Urdu words!

baba (BAH-bah) father bandar (BAHN-dar) monkey hijab (HEE-jahb) scarf covering the hair (jahn) life; a sweet nickname for a loved one mama (MAH-mah) mother naan (nahn) flatbread baked in the oven nana (NAH-nah) grandfather on mothers side nani (NAH-nee) grandmother on mothers side salaam (sah-LAHM) hello (shuh-KREE-yuh) thank you

Yasmin and her family are proud of their Pakistani culture. Yasmin loves to share facts about Pakistan!

Pakistan is on the continent of Asia, with India on one side and Afghanistan on the other.

There are 51 universities and 155,000 primary schools in Pakistan.

Benazir Bhutto became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, and of any Muslim nation.