Laura Driscoll - I Want to Be a Teacher

My sister Stella
is learning to talk!
I am teaching her
some words.

Can you say Mama? I ask her.
Ma ma, says Stella.

Can you say Dada?
I ask Stella.
Da da, Stella says.
Dad smiles.
You are a good teacher,
Dad says to me.

I have taught Stella to say bye bye.
I have taught Stella to say no.
She can even say
our sisters name Lucy.
Ooo see, says Stella.

I point to myself.
Can you say Noah? I ask.
Stella stuffs cereal
into her mouth.
I try again.
No. Aaah. Noah. I say.

Stella is done talking.
I want Stella to learn my name!
We will try again later, I tell her.

It is time for me
to go see my own teachers.
I know a lot of teachers.

Miss Finch is my school teacher.

In our classroom,
Miss Finch teaches us
to read new words.

Miss Finch teaches us
about important people.

Miss Finch teaches us
how to be a good friend.

Some days,
I go down the hall
to Ms. Foys room.
She is my speech teacher.

I repeat after Ms. Foy.
The rabbit is out in the rain, I say.
My R sounds are getting better!

On other days,
our class goes to the art room.
Mr. Case is teaching us
about the color wheel.

Did you know that
red and yellow makes orange?

Our gym teacher, Ms. Finn,
shows us how to play blob tag
at recess.

It is so tiring.
And so fun!
You have to use teamwork
for this game! Ms. Finn tells us.

At home, I get a snack.
My sister is at the table
with her math tutor, Jen.

Jen knows lots of cool tricks
for adding big numbers.

In the living room,
Mom is having her tuba lesson.
Her tuba teacher comes once a week.
How do I sound? Mom asks.

I give Mom a thumbs- up.
She is not perfect.
But she is way better
than when she started!

After dinner,
Dad takes me to my swim lesson.
My swim teacher, Tim, teaches me
arm strokes and bubble blowing.

At the end of the lesson,
I swim across the whole pool.
I knew you could do it! Tim says.

The next day is Saturday.
Mom takes Stella, Lucy,
Rocket, and me
to meet another teacher.

Dan is a dog trainer.
A teacher for Rocket!
I say.
Dan nods and adds,
I will also teach you
how to teach Rocket.

One thing Dan teaches us
is not to let Rocket
eat off the table.

Hear that, Stella? I say.
You have to say
No, Rocket.
No, says Stella.
She shakes her head.

Then Stella grins
and points at me.
No, Stella says, aaah.
No aaah.
NOAH!