Joey and Eddie - Story PDF

**[Joey and Eddie ]** I\'m sure you\'ve heard rumors about what happened on the playground last week, but I\'m here to set the record straight. Eddie did in fact stand up to the bully. However, instead of using his fists, Eddie used his voice. It was the last inning of the kickball game when Joey...

**[Joey and Eddie ]** I\'m sure you\'ve heard rumors about what happened on the playground last week, but I\'m here to set the record straight. Eddie did in fact stand up to the bully. However, instead of using his fists, Eddie used his voice. It was the last inning of the kickball game when Joey Sanders, a gigantic eighth grader who is as tall as a house, stepped up to the plate. He kicked the ball deep into the outfield and rounded the bases a lot faster than I would have given a kid his size credit for. However, the catcher caught the ball and tagged Joey out by a mile before he crossed home plate. \"I\'m safe,\" Joey growled at us. He looked each of us in the eye, daring someone to stand up to him. Like I said, Joey Sanders is enormous, **so** you can\'t blame us when no one said a word. None of us wanted to argue with Joey Sanders, so we all turned away to go home\... everyone, that is, except for Eddie. Eddie isn\'t just the shortest kid in our class. He\'s the shortest kid in the entire school. As we all turned around to go home, Eddie walked toward Joey and told him he was out. He explained in a clear, calm voice that we had all watched the catcher tag him out before Joey reached home plate. Even some of the kids on Joey\'s team agreed that Joey was out. Joey loomed over Eddie, his eyes narrowing into slits as we all held our collective breaths. Then Joey did the unthinkable. \"You\'re right,\" he said, handing the ball to Eddie. "I was out." We all stared wide-eyed at Eddie as Joey walked away. Eddie proved that sometimes you can use words instead of actions to deal with a bully. **[Changing Horses ]** There\'s a saying that people should not change horses midstream. I think that means that once you plot your course, you should stick to it. Personally, I agree that people should stick with their original horse, or in my case, my original school. Copper Canyon Middle School in Dallas was the only school I knew, and I felt quite comfortable there. So imagine my horror when my mother informed me that Dad was getting transferred. As Mom talked about the new city, the new house, and packing up our things, my brain fogged over. Was this a dream, a nightmare? Why on Earth would I want to leave friends I\'ve known since kindergarten? When the first day of class at my new school arrived, Mom smiled as she drove me to school and said that new beginnings are fun and can be an adventure. Then she said something about how a rolling stone gathers no moss**---**another proverb I could add to my list. I walked into my first class-social studies. Although the teacher introduced me to the class**,** no one talked to me, as they busily worked on a report and whispered quietly. The next class was science. Apparently, everyone works with a partner, and I was odd man out (another saying I picked up from Mom). Mr. Wiley placed me with a tall girl named Sherry and a boy, Alex. They smiled weakly and explained that they had to design a food-chain chart of a local ecosystem. Since I love to draw, I volunteered to design the layout. The three of us worked well together, and at the end of class**,** Sherry and Alex asked if I wanted to join them for lunch. \"We are having a bake sale and could use your help,\" they said. Maybe changing horses wasn\'t going to be so bad after all. **[Vowel Sounds /ou/,oo/, /ô/, /oi/]** The /oo/ Sound Write on the board and read aloud the words below, emphasizing the /oo/ sound in each. **choosing** **scooping** **gloomy** **balloon** - The /ou/ Sound Write on the board and read aloud the words below, emphasizing the /ou/ sound in each. **mound** **counter** **spout** **ounce** - The / ô/ Sound Write on the board and read aloud the words below, emphasizing the /ô/ sound in each. **autumn** **flawless** **thoughtful** Explain that there are several spelling patterns for the /ô/ sound, such as au, - The / oi/ Sound Write on the board and read aloud the words below, emphasizing the /oi/ sound in each. **hoist** **boil** **oyster** **boyhood** Explain that the /oi/ sound can be spelled oi and oy. Underline the letters in - Slowly read each row of words above, emphasizing the difference among the vowel sounds. Point out the spelling that stands for each sound. Then guide - **[Critical Vocabulary]** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. **[Big Idea Words]** **Word** **Meaning** **Context Sentence** --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **voracious (adjective)** If you describe a person as *voracious*, you mean that the person is extremely eager about reading. A voracious reader can read two books or more a month. **discipline (noun)** *Discipline* is self-control. My cousin has the discipline to write in his journal each evening. **persevere (verb)** When you *persevere* with something, you continue to do it, even when you face difficulties. The runners persevere through the muddy conditions to finish the race. **intrepid (noun)** An *intrepid* person is fearless and adventurous. My cousin and her family are intrepid travelers who love hiking trails during any season---even winter. **[Identity Theft (realistic fiction story)]** 1 The Day After Valentine's Day Ana Hernandez arrived at school early intending to sort through her batch of cards. They read be mine, you're the most, sweetie, cutie-pie. If only they were true. No one had ever said, "Be mine," or called her "cutie-pie," an expression from her grandmother's generation. These days, the bolder sixth-grade boys would scream, "You like me, huh?" Still, Ana felt popular as she sorted through her cards, her mouth sweetened by the cinnamon candy a boy had dropped into one of the envelopes. She suspected it was from Peter, but she couldn't be sure. 2 She was still reading her valentines when her teacher entered the classroom with a new girl. The teacher's smile made Ana curious--- was it possible that Ms. Welty had received a valentine's card from another teacher? There were rumors that she and Mr. Saks, the third- grade teacher, liked each other. 3 "Ana," Ms. Welty called. "Ana, I want you to meet... " The teacher stalled, then smiled, a little color flushing her cheeks. "I want you to meet Ana Hernandez." 4 Confused, Ana put down a large valentine. 5 "What I mean," Ms. Welty started to explain, "is that this is Ana Hernandez. You two have the same name!" 6 The original Ana Hernandez glared at the [[imitation]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-imitation) Ana Hernandez. She didn't like it: someone else with her name. Also, she had to admit that the other Ana Hernandez was pretty, an inch or two taller, and nicely dressed. And was that a cell phone tucked in the pocket of her stylish jeans? And were those really the most on-trend shoes of the year? 7 But the original Ana quickly replaced the glare in her eyes with something like [[indifference]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-indifference). 8 "You got so many valentines," the new Ana sang. She picked one up and sniffed it, her pretty little nose wrinkling in a cute way. 9 Dang, even her voice is nicer than mine, the original Ana thought [[spitefully]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-spitefully). "These are some of them," she explained. "Most of them I had to carry home in a sack yesterday." She wished she could bite her tongue off and let it crawl away like a snake. That was such an obvious lie! 10 The new Ana smiled, and the original Ana wondered, Is she laughing at me? 11 It was a weird experience, like looking at a twin sister you had never seen before. The original Ana Hernandez [[pondered]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-pondered) her ill will toward this new girl and felt that she was being unfair. She can't help it, Ana figured, that she has my name. 12 The new Ana fit right into school life. She volunteered to be a crossing guard and helped raise the flag. She helped at a fundraising car wash and was rumored to have played her flute at an assisted- living complex across the street from school. Within a week she was chosen to say the Pledge of Allegiance on the intercom, a special honor usually assigned to students with good grades. She recited it so well that she was assigned to read the school bulletin, which always started with the menu for the day. 13 The original Ana steamed. She had recited the Pledge of Allegiance on the intercom before, but she had never been asked to read the bulletin. Boldly she approached the principal in the hallway outside the office. 14 "Mr. Ortiz," she asked, "when can I read the bulletin?" 15 "But you just did," he countered in surprise. 16 They soon discovered the error. The reader was supposed to have been the original Ana, not the new Ana. The secretary, they guessed, had made a mistake. When Mr. Ortiz offered the original Ana the chance to read the school bulletin, she grabbed the opportunity. But she felt slighted, and the bulletin she read to the entire school was unimportant. She reported two missing basketballs and a restroom that was going to be closed for the week. 17 Original Ana observed that new Ana received lots of attention. Ms. Welty would call, "Okay, who can remember when President Lincoln---" and before the teacher could finish her sentence, new Ana would fling her arm up, bracelets jangling. The new Ana didn't do this all the time, only at moments when the original Ana knew the answers. 18 One day when soccer teams were chosen during recess, Becky Ramirez, the star athlete of the school, said, "I'll take Ana Hernandez." The original Ana stepped forward, and Becky snapped, "No, not you---the other Ana. The new girl!" That day Ana was chosen last, and on the field the ball was never passed to her. 19 In a classroom spelling bee the original Ana had to sit down almost immediately, after she stumbled on rhinoceros. The spelling bee became hotly contested between the new Ana and Peter, the boy the original Ana had hoped sent her a special valentine. 20 "Spell triangular," Ms. Welty called to Peter. 21 He spelled it, wincing as he struggled to get the letters in the proper order. He clenched his fists in victory when Ms. Welty said, "That's correct." In turn, the new Ana eased through the word magnetic. 22 The battle lasted ten minutes. The boys rooted for Peter, and the girls screamed their heads off for the new Ana. In the end Peter prevailed, but the new Ana clapped for the victor and even held up his hand like a champ. 23 This made the original Ana mad. She, the newcomer, a fraud, a mere imitation---how dare she touch the hand that put the cinnamon candy in my valentine card! Ana [[fumed]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-fumed). 17 Original Ana observed that new Ana received lots of attention. Ms. Welty would call, "Okay, who can remember when President Lincoln---" and before the teacher could finish her sentence, new Ana would fling her arm up, bracelets jangling. The new Ana didn't do this all the time, only at moments when the original Ana knew the answers. 18 One day when soccer teams were chosen during recess, Becky Ramirez, the star athlete of the school, said, "I'll take Ana Hernandez." The original Ana stepped forward, and Becky snapped, "No, not you---the other Ana. The new girl!" That day Ana was chosen last, and on the field the ball was never passed to her. 19 In a classroom spelling bee the original Ana had to sit down almost immediately, after she stumbled on rhinoceros. The spelling bee became hotly contested between the new Ana and Peter, the boy the original Ana had hoped sent her a special valentine. 20 "Spell triangular," Ms. Welty called to Peter. 21 He spelled it, wincing as he struggled to get the letters in the proper order. He clenched his fists in victory when Ms. Welty said, "That's correct." In turn, the new Ana eased through the word magnetic. 22 The battle lasted ten minutes. The boys rooted for Peter, and the girls screamed their heads off for the new Ana. In the end Peter prevailed, but the new Ana clapped for the victor and even held up his hand like a champ. 23 This made the original Ana mad. She, the newcomer, a fraud, a mere imitation---how dare she touch the hand that put the cinnamon candy in my valentine card! Ana [[fumed]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-fumed). 32 As spring advanced, bringing flowers and freshness to the air, the original Ana drifted away from her classmates. She spent time alone, eating her sandwich, potato chips, and cookies by herself. She began to revel in this quiet time, though occasionally she would look up and see the new Ana at the center of activity. There she was playing four-square or soccer, and [[escorting]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-escorting) guests around school. She was responsible for starting a school garden---tomato and eggplant seeds were first planted in egg cartons. After they'd sprouted, mothers and fathers came to dig up the soil on a Saturday morning. That day the original Ana saw a television crew approaching the new girl. 33 "Now she's going to be on tv," the original Ana cried. She was. The new Ana was given ten seconds on camera. She posed with Peter near the garden, displaying an egg carton of tomato plants. 34 And what could the original Ana do but watch the new Ana play her flute during a talent show? She had to swallow her jealousy---yes, that was it---when Peter joined her to sing a song in French! 35 The original Ana felt like the Invisible Girl. She would walk around school, and no one seemed to see her. One day in the girls' room, she looked at the mirror over the sink, and her reflection was not there. 36 The mirror was gone, its broken shards gathered up in a dustpan and thrown away, but the symbolism was clear. 37 "She's stolen my identity," the original Ana lamented after reading an article in the newspaper about criminals stealing information about another person. She chewed a fingernail. Could this really happen to her? She was only twelve, but perhaps years from now when she got her first credit card, this new Ana would steal it. Or maybe this new Ana would get in a car wreck and say she had been at fault. Then she swallowed from fear. She imagined having a baby that was claimed by the new Ana! 32 As spring advanced, bringing flowers and freshness to the air, the original Ana drifted away from her classmates. She spent time alone, eating her sandwich, potato chips, and cookies by herself. She began to revel in this quiet time, though occasionally she would look up and see the new Ana at the center of activity. There she was playing four-square or soccer, and [[escorting]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-escorting) guests around school. She was responsible for starting a school garden---tomato and eggplant seeds were first planted in egg cartons. After they'd sprouted, mothers and fathers came to dig up the soil on a Saturday morning. That day the original Ana saw a television crew approaching the new girl. 33 "Now she's going to be on tv," the original Ana cried. She was. The new Ana was given ten seconds on camera. She posed with Peter near the garden, displaying an egg carton of tomato plants. 34 And what could the original Ana do but watch the new Ana play her flute during a talent show? She had to swallow her jealousy---yes, that was it---when Peter joined her to sing a song in French! 35 The original Ana felt like the Invisible Girl. She would walk around school, and no one seemed to see her. One day in the girls' room, she looked at the mirror over the sink, and her reflection was not there. 36 The mirror was gone, its broken shards gathered up in a dustpan and thrown away, but the symbolism was clear. 37 "She's stolen my identity," the original Ana lamented after reading an article in the newspaper about criminals stealing information about another person. She chewed a fingernail. Could this really happen to her? She was only twelve, but perhaps years from now when she got her first credit card, this new Ana would steal it. Or maybe this new Ana would get in a car wreck and say she had been at fault. Then she swallowed from fear. She imagined having a baby that was claimed by the new Ana! 46 "Here she is, Ms. Carroll," the counselor announced lightly. 47 Ana's new teacher approached. Ana liked her right away, and liked how she took her hand in hers. 48 "I hear you're a very good reader," Ms. Carroll encouraged. 49 "I guess," Ana answered simply. 50 Together they entered the classroom, Ms. Carroll prodding her gently. Another girl was hunkered down at her desk, holding a pair of large scissors. What is she cutting? Ana wondered, then [[surmised]](https://www.hmhco.com/content/reading/into_reading/g6/teacher/epub/hmh_ir6_ese02_teacher/OPS/s9ml/glossary.xhtml#key-surmised) that she was making a collage. 51 Ms. Carroll said to the girl, "Ana, I want to you to meet... " She stalled, uncertain how to continue. Then she said it: "I want you to meet Ana Hernandez, our new student. Funny, you both have the same name." 52 The girl glared at Ana, and her scissors chopped at the air. That day, the original Ana became the new Ana. The new new Ana couldn't help but falsely praise, "What a nice collage." She brought her hand to her hair, and the bracelets on her wrists jangled. The students entering the classroom asked, "Who's she? What's her name?" 53 "Me?" She turned around in a neat pirouette. "I'm Ana Hernandez."