Terry the Talker By Isabel Root, Alayna Merrell, and Elizabeth Ziola

Terry the Talker By Isabel Root, Alayna Merrell, and Elizabeth Ziola

Terry was a curious young turtle. He liked to swim, play with his friends and go to school.

Terry’s favorite time at school was recess because he got to be as loud as he wanted. Everyday before recess Terry always had more energy and was louder because he could not wait to play.

One day Terry was talking to his friends before class. When class started the teacher asked Terry to sit quietly in his seat and he agreed.

Soon after, he began talking over the teacher to speak to his friend. Terry’s teacher asked him to quiet down. In Terry’s class each student gets 3 warnings before they get in trouble, this was Terry's first.

Terry continued talking, unaware of the consequences. He quickly got two more warnings and in the process his friend got in trouble too.

That day both Terry and his friend had to sit by the teacher at recess. Terry was very upset since recess was his favorite activity at school.

After recess Terry’s teacher moved his seat, so he could not talk to his friend. Terry's friend was sad because he had to sit alone even though he had not done anything wrong. Terry had been the one talking.

For the rest of the day Terry thought about what he had done. He still did not understand why talking to his friend was wrong.

Terry asked his teacher if he would be able to go back to his original seat the next day. She told him to talk it over with his parents then ask her again.

A little while later Terry arrived at home. His parents noticed that he seemed upset and asked what was wrong.

Terry told his parents that he got in trouble at school. His parents asked what he did. Terry told them that he was talking to his friend during class.

Terry asked his parents what was wrong with talking during class. His parents told him that there were many things wrong with it.

His parents explained that it affects him, his friend, and the teacher. Interrupting the teacher is a distraction to the teacher and himself. It affects his and his friends' learning ability.

Terry began to understand why interrupting is not okay. However, he struggled to figure out how to fix it.

Terry’s parents suggested not talking while the teacher is. They told Terry that sometimes it is better to sit away from your friends because it encourages you to pay attention and it is harder to get distracted.

Terry thanked his parents for helping him understand. He said goodnight and went to his room for the night. Terry fell asleep thinking about how he was going to improve the following days at school.

The next day, Terry went back to school. He was very sad because he had to sit away from his friends.

Terry realized that it was not fair of him to have gotten his friend punished. He apologized to his friend. His friend said that he was upset, but forgave Terry.

Terry apologized to his teacher next. He said that he talked to his parents and realized why talking over her was wrong. He asked if he could move back to his seat, and his teacher said that he could move back at the end of the week, if he proved he could listen.

Terry promised that he was going to do better, and not talk over other people. He said that he realized what he did was rude and wrong.

Terry kept his promise, and did not talk over his teacher again. To his surprise, class got a lot easier when he started paying attention, and he started getting better grades.

At the end of the week, his teacher told him that he did well at not talking to the people around him, so he could move back to his original seat.

That night, he went home and told his parents about his grades improving and his teacher moving him back to his seat. They said that they were proud of him for learning his lesson.

Terry went back to school the next week and sat next to his friend. He did not talk to his friend at all while the teacher was talking, and they were able to play and enjoy recess together.