<p style="text-align: left"><em><strong>Here are some of the letters from students in Ms. Clement's 4th grade class to the preschoolers at Ray. They were asked to write about when they were young children. </strong> (I did some light editing, including spelling and punctuation changes, to make it easier to read - apologies to the authors - JA) </em></p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Rameez</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Hello! My name is Rameez. I am in fourth grade. I am going to tell you a story about when I was 6 years old. I was in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</p>
<p style="text-align: left"></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Every summer I go to my grandparents’ house. They live in Vermont. So they have a big hourse and a pond. It had hundreds of frogs in it. The pond also had some crayfish and salamanders. There was also an otter who lived in a pipe. It ate fish.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Over there there was a tradition. The tradition was that my brother would get thrown in the pond. My uncle Willy would grab the arms. My cousin Josh would grab the legs. They would swing you back and forth to gather some momentum then they would throw you in the air and then splat! You would fall in the pond.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">This summer it was my turn to get thrown in the pond. When they were about to pick me up I ran. I kept on running around the pond. I tripped on a few rocks, but I didn’t stop. Soon they had me surrounded so they picked me up and then I said, “Noooo!” and then plop! I fell in the pond.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Shalena</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Hi. My name is Shalena and I want to tell you about an event that happened to me. It all started when I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade. It was Halloween. I was the devil’s braid. It was so fun.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I could tell you so much about when I was little especially since the picture is right above the paragraph. I love it when Halloween comes by the fall, but now it is almost here and it is not here now.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I love to celebrate young child appreciation week because you get to tell about when you were little. I also remember Nooooo! I tried to whistle. I practice and practice until I finally got it. That was a moment I wouldn’t forget.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Well bye, and thank you for reading my letter. I felt like a bird learning how to fly writing this letter.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Leslye</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">A memory that I have in my mind is that I walked by myself when I was 1 year old. Now if you want to know about my story you need to read this. I hope you enjoy my story.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Now I am going to tell you about my memory. When I was one year old I didn’t think about anything. I just walked and that’s all. I walked all by myself with no one holding me. I climbed a chair and walked on the table. WEIRD!!!!! Now that I am ten years old I think WOW!!!! If now I would of climbed a table and walked on it I would have broken it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Now that I am ten years old and when I talked to my mom about where I was little and did all the disasters we just laugh. But now I know that getting up on a table, jumping, dancing, and walking is not good anymore. It can be dangerous. All the time I just think about how I could of done that. I think that all the babies do that.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong> Aida</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">I remember when I was a little girl and went to Puerto Rico with my family. We had about a thirty minute drive to O’Hare. Once we got on the plane it felt like a 40 hour flight! I was so bored I finally fell asleep. When I woke up we were finally here, Puerto Rico!</p>
<p style="text-align: left">It was so fun there. Also we stayed in this beautiful house. And when we went to the beach my older sister, Monica, told my older brother to pick up a jellyfish! (Monica thought it was a bag.) William got stung by the jellyfish and wasn’t too happy about it! Once William was climbing a tree a swarm of red ants came from the tree and started to bite William everywhere.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">On our last day I felt sad for two reasons. 1 I had to ride another boring flight. 2 I was really going to miss having so much fun. So on our last day we said goodbye to family members and took another swim in the pool. Now I really miss Puerto  Rico and can’t wait to go back!</p>
<p style="text-align: center">***********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Katia</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>Young Child</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Hello. My name is Katia.  I’m in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I come from Russia which is located in Asia and Europe. When I was a little girl I was very lucky because I got to go to India, Italy and Turkey. The story I will tell takes place in a beautiful country named Turkey.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Turkey is a fun place because there are a lot of kids to play with. Also because there are cool art and karate camps. There are also fun water slides that are as slippery as a white soap in a golden goblet. There are even fun shows and festivals every night. Sometimes people from the art camp get to make shows. But the best things in Turkey are the caged-free peacocks.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">My story begins with the beautiful peacocks. Every day I went to the spot where the peacocks roamed. Every day I tried to catch a peacock but almost every day I failed. The reason why I wanted to catch a peacock is to fly on it. I wanted to soar through the sky with the peacocks. At the age of 4 I didn’t know that peacocks couldn’t fly. My best luck in catching a peacock was touching its shiny feathers. Unfortunately my parents didn’t understand that I wanted to fly. But I was always happy even though I never catched a peacock.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">The picture you see is of me being happy because I finally at least touched a peacock. I felt as happy as a person who won the Olympics. Behind me there are 2 peacocks roaming freely. One of the peacocks is in the shadows and the other one in the sun. Please take a moment to observe my picture. Aren’t the peacocks beautiful?</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a title="Direct link to file" href="http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG" alt="katia.JPG" width="171" height="114" /> </a></p>
<p style="text-align: left">I still remember the funny things I did when I was little. Either if it is thinking that an airplane is a train or chasing peacocks, I will always remember those moments. I think being a small child is fun. I hope that any young child reads this is glad that they are still young children. Bye bye and have a wonderful <em>Week of the Young Child</em> .</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Chandler</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>Chandler’s Sharp Fangs Bite</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Dear Mom and Dad,</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I remember when I was young. I used to bite people with my Sharp Fangs (vampire teeth). I thought it was fun to bite people. The Sharp Fangs were white teeth that I used to put in my mouth. They made me look like a vampire.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I would run around the house and look into the mirror to see what my Sharp Fangs looked like. I looked like I had two carrots in my mouth. I tried eating food and drinking water with them. My Sharp would sometimes fall out of my mouth into the cup of water. I used to try to scare people with them.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I still enjoy playing with vampire teeth today. I would like you to buy me some Sharp Fangs from Walgreens. I would try  to scare some people again. I think they come in different colors now. I think red Sharp Fangs would be stain for blood and would scare people. The vampire teeth only cost one dollar. I can do my chores to earn money to pay for my Sharp Fangs. Thank you Mom and Dad for my Sharp Fangs.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Todd</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">My name is Todd. This is a picture of me on Halloween when I was in the 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I was wearing a Spiderman costume. I was in my room climbing the book shelves pretending to be Spiderman at my Grandma’s house.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I wore the Spiderman costume at school and we had a parade and marched around. I felt happy that day. There were other people in Spiderman costumes, too. We had a Halloween party in the class room.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">The day was fun. The party was awesome. I will always remember that Halloween.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>David</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>Young Child Report</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left">One day when I was five years old in kindergarten in the middle of the year we had a sub. He was a nice sub. A really nice sub! He almost let us do anything we wanted, unless it is dangerous. We had free time early in the day. I had a great time. He was wonderful.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">He let us stay out longer. When we were supposed to write for a long time he cut it short and let people go up on the big rug and sing songs. I really didn’t like how the people (sang). They sing very bad! I still  thought it was kind of fun. I think the teacher liked me singing.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I was Thursday, my favorite day back then because we had gym. I love gym. It is my second favorite subject. I kind of remember what we did. I think we had free time. We had a lot of fun.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">At the end of the (day) we had our second free time in the class. I played basketball (there was a little hoop there). After that we had a snack. Mmmmm! That day with the sub was a great day. That is all that I can remember. One more thing that I can remember is that I had fun.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Zekayla</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">This is me when I was “3.” My name is Kayla. I was born in “June 1998.” Do ya think I’m pink with a white doll?</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I was “5” months on this day sleeping in my bed, my grandma said that I was a doll so she picked me up and wake me up.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">This is my first birthday party. We were at a Chuckie Cheese pizza place. That’s my dad. He’s so cool to me except when he say No. He feel sad and I feel sad.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">This is my brother. His name is Michael. The on the top is when we were going to a wedding. He made such a mess for me. And this is him when we were at my cousin’s house. I’m 3 years older than him, and the girl in the background is my cousin, Lili. She’s one year older than him.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">This is me in preschool. My graduation “wow” at the YMCA. My teacher said to pick what you want to be when you grown up and I said I want to be a doctor.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">This is me on my graduation from preschool. This is me taking a picture. I’m in 1<sup>st</sup> grade. Who is that? Is that me? OH NO!</p>
<p style="text-align: left">And this is my birthday when I’m 7. On the bottom is Cousin Makiya. On the left is Cousin TT. Right is Cousin Ta. On top is me. I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade when I made this book, and I said: “I am in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at Ray  School. My favorite subject is art. My heart told me to write this book… My name is Kayla. I know some of you who was in Ms. Sheridan’s class read or saw this book.  THE END</p>
<p style="text-align: center">***********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Antawun</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Hello young children. I am going to tell you a story. It is when I was in first grade. The story might be a little long. I hope you enjoy the story. So let's hop into an adventureeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!</p>
<p style="text-align: left">It all starts when my mom had a baby named Ashton Carl. Then my grandma died in March. So we took a trip to Florida. It was a sad time for my family. But I have some good memories.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Now I see family that I haven't seen before in my life. So the next day we go to the funeral. So the day after that I went to Disney World. I had so much fun there. I took a picture with PUSH the talking garbage can!!!!</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Young child, thanks for letting me read you this story. Hope you enjoy it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><a title="Direct link to file" href="http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg" alt="antawun.jpg" width="171" height="110" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center">***********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Daniel</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Hello. My name is Daniel and this is a picture of me from when I was 8 months old. I have done a lot of things when I was a young child under the age of four, such as say my first word, go to China at the age of three, go on my first trip to Florida and Disneyland and lots of other interesting adventures as a young child. But my most memorable adventure as a kid was moving to a new home.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">It was in the early morning, Saturday 7, 2003. I was 5 years old and I was about to move to a new home that I could actually own not rent. So anyway, my family and I were packing our things. Some of the things we had to give away, like my mini basketball hoop and my toy car that was as big as a 7x7 painting. I was sad because of two things: I had to leave my old home and I also had to leave one of my best friends, Ben. We had gone everywhere together including a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean factory! After we were done packing our things, my dad and I drove to Home Depot to pick out some new furniture for our home. I picked out a couch with pretty flowers all over it, but my dad said no because it was too expensive. Then my dad found a television, a metal desk, a chair, and a table. Then we paid for it and left it in a Home Depot truck.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Then my dad and I went to IKEA and Harlem Furnitures where we bought beds, stoves and a toilet for our new home. Then my dad and I went back to our hold home to stay for one last day. The next day it was moving day. First my entire family went to Home Depot to pick up our furniture. When we were driving back I got to push the window washing button! Then it was time to go to our new home. We said our goodbyes to Ben and our house and then we left for our new home.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">When my family and I got there we were amazed at what we saw there. Standing before our eyes was a gigantic house! I jumped into my room and stood there for a while, still not knowing this house was mine. I asked my dad, &quot;Is this house ours?&quot; My dad said &quot;Of course&quot; and since then we have been living in this wonderful house.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I hope you enjoyed my story and happy Week of the Young Child to you.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">*********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Tucker</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center">My Surgery</p>
<p style="text-align: left">It all started when I was in kindergarten when I got a knot in my neck. My parents tried to figure what the knot was, but they could not figure it out. The doctors did not know what it was so they put me in surgery. It was a full recovery. When I got out the hospital I had to wear a neck cast on my neck. It felt really weird.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Jason</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">When I was 6 years old, I went to Canada. I went to Niagara Falls. It was fun. I got to see Niagara Falls. I got to go on a boat tour there.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I also got to pick strawberries and eat them. I picked about 100 strawberries. It was fun, too. I got so many strawberries. Then I ate some.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Going to Canada was fun. But I don't want to go there again because they made me eat a lot of vegetables. It was a lot of fun there in Canada.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">*********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Demitria</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center">Week of the Young Child</p>
<p style="text-align: left">What I am going to write about is year of the young child. I remember one time when I was little. I always carried a doll. I love it. Then one day when I went to the store with my mom I lost it. It was very sad to me since I was very little. It was like losing a very best friend. But then I got another one. I was very happy. But don't ask me what there names were because I really don't remember.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">When I was little I always liked to hold onto stuff. That's why I was sad when I lost my doll. I loved being little. I remember my first word was &quot;no.&quot; Like even when I liked something and wanted it, I would always say &quot;No!&quot;</p>
<p style="text-align: left">When I was a baby and I knew how to talk, would always say &quot;Hi!!!&quot; Sometimes I would say hi like I knew the person. Sometimes when I was a baby my sister would beg my mom if she could hold me. I mean I know why. Because I'm so awesome. Just kidding. Also when my mom was pregnant with me my sister would yell at my mom's stomach. &quot;WAKE UP BABY!!!&quot;</p>
<p style="text-align: center">**********</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Josh</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">One day I was going to school. Like an average day. Well I did reading, playtime, recess and lunch. But when we had Spanish I had to go home. Well I went home because ... I was standing on my chair and sticking my butt out.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I said &quot;I'm going to call your mommy.&quot; I did this because I'd had it with  Miss I cannot say the name. She's always calling moms. So when I went home Deb had a long boring talk. Then my dad cancelled one of his meetings.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I was so scared. The next day I was so tired because I couldn't sleep. I didn't say anything until I got to school. When I got there people were staring at me. I think I started to cry.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Don't do things you'll regret.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">*************</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Avan</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">I Avan was injured at birth. My shoulder was damaged by the doctor. The doctor pulled my arm and popped my scapula so my arm always sticks out. At the age of three months I started going to therapy up until the summer of 2007. My therapist suggested that I take time out. I still come home and try to stretch out my arm and my mom help me too. I had surgery twice in Texas. My first surgery I had at 6 years old and had to wear a cast during the summer for about 2 months with my arm up and out position which was really weird. People would look at me and questioned me about what kind of accident caused me to have a cast mold in the manner.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">My therapist name is Joni. Joni became my best friend. We'd exchange gifts for birthdays and other holidays. She makes the therapy exercize fun. We played games while stretching my arm and other activities. Jone is a very exciting person to work with . She has helped me with many challenging activities.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">In second grade I had my second surgery. I had to wear my cast for six weeks. My arm was in a position of a waiter's tip. When I took off my cast it was hard to straighten at first but after a moment I could straighten my arm by my side. Before I went in to surgery I got teary eyed but I did not cry. The doctors put me to sleep and when I woke up I as in a whole different room and happy to be done with it. The doctor recommended a third surgery but I did not want to do it again. I have been through enough.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">While I was in Texas for both surgeries I did spend time visiting and enjoying the sights and amusement parks  which helped calm me before surgery.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">I have experienced a great deal  with my Brachial Plexus injury. However I still manage to be the best I can be.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">***************</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>D'Andre</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">When I was four months old I did lots of stuff like playing with toys. I like throwing stuff and messing with people. I would sometimes be mean and kick people, and sometimes I would snatch stuff out of peoples' hands. I would bug my mom to get what I want and I would not share sometimes.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">************</p>
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Teshurer</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">This when I was 3 years old and was cute and pretty. And it was picture day and I had the cutest picture and so did my friends. And I had cute and small teeth and I  had lots of friends. When I was 5 I got my school picture.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">When I was 5 I went to Dixon. That's where I got my school picture. My teacher was nice. I think her name was Ms. Lee and when I was 5 she was always sweet, kind and lovely to me and my dearful friends.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">When I was 5 and I took my school I was grateful.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">*********</p>
<strong>Graciela</strong>

Today I am going to tell you about me. Let's start, Okay?

When I was little I was doing my homework and when I was done I asked my mom if we could go to my grandma's house and play with my cousins. Then my mom said, &quot;Okay. Are you done with your homework?&quot; I said, &quot;Yes, Mom.&quot; She said, &quot;Okay. Get ready for we can go&quot; (by the way I am 4 years old and in 1st grade). I said, &quot;Okay, Mom.&quot; I was putting on my shoes. Then me and my mom and my brother were in the car driving.

Once we got to my grandma's house I saw my cousins Bianca and her brother BJ. I said hi to them. My brother was playing with BJ because BJ and my brother are both boys. Anyway I told Bianca does she want to play. She said Okay but then my mom told me that I had to eat. And my brother, too. So me and my brother went inside to eat a sandwich. After we were done we could go outside so me and my brother ate our sandwich and ran out the door and outside where BJ and Bianca were sitting down.

THen I told Bianca, &quot;Come on. Let's play.&quot; Then she said Okay then me and  Bianca were playing ring-around-the-rosie. THen me and Bianca were going fast. Then I flew in the air and hit my head on the corner of the porch. I started to cry. Then my mom grabbed me and took me to the hospital and my dad, too. The doctor gave me shots and I had to go to the hospital on some of the days, but it did not feel good when they gave you the shots. But I as okay. That's the end of my story. Enjoy.
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