Tag: #sisters

( Intermediate Level )

As many twins often do, Susie and Sally grew up enjoying each other’s company. They explored and discovered the world around them, inseparable.

Mothers, always, enjoy dressing their identical twins the same. This would usually confuse others, but somehow, parents always knew who was who.

In Susie’s and Sally’s case it was rather easy. Sally is outspoken and would take risks. Sometimes doing something that her parents would not approve of.

As for Susie, she is the shy one. When it came to developing early skills, her sister was first. Sally was the first to roll over, take her first steps, and say her first words.

This concerned their parents. The doctors, always, reassured them this was normal, and comparing the girls is not a good strategy. “Both Suzie and Sally are perfectly normal, healthy little girls, and will do things at their own time,” they would tell her.

Regardless of what the doctors said, the differences between the girls concerned their mom. She would constantly say to Susie, “Why can’t you be like your sister?” Susie never really understood what her mom meant by this.

As the girls grew older and started school, the differences between the girls grew more obvious. Sally excelled at everything, whereas Suzie struggled. Suzie, eventually, would catch on. It would just take her a little longer.

The close, inseparable, relationship between the sisters faded. Suzie had always felt she was in Sally’s shadow. She never felt she was good enough.

Suzie never understood why she wasn’t like Sally. Her parents always praised Sally. She had all the friends at school and learning was easy for her.

Suzie withdrew, more and more, into her own little world she created. Where she didn’t have to listen to the criticisms from her family. She knew she was smart. Things just took her a little longer to learn.

Suzie’s teacher had noticed the change in her. She was not as focused in school as she once had been. She asked her to stay after class to see if she could find out the reason why this change has happened.

The class was over and Suzie sat quietly at her desk. She had no idea why her teacher had asked her to stay after class. She couldn’t be in trouble, or so she hoped. Her teacher approached her desk and sat down next to her at a desk beside her.

“Suzie, I asked you to stay after class, not because you are in trouble. I have noticed a change in you. You are much quieter and do not participate like you used to. Is there something I can do to help? Is someone bothering you?”

Suzie looked up at her teacher and began to speak, with sadness in her eyes, “I am not like my sister. Everything is so easy for her. She gets good grades and has lots of friends. I am not like her but I wish I was.”

Suzie’s teacher sat for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. She looked into Suzie’s face, as she spoke. She knew this was a huge burden for Suzie.

“Suzie, we are created differently. You look identical to your sister but you are unique in your own way. We learn in different ways. Your sister finds it easy to learn from books. You, on the other hand, need visual cues to learn. You need images, graphs, illustrations, and colors. I noticed this when you became my student. You are a visual learner. You are just as smart as your sister. Always remember this. Just say these words to me or any future teachers – show me –. We will understand.”

Suzie smiled and hugged her teacher. She left the classroom and headed home. Her sister had, already, headed towards home. She had heard Suzie had to stay after class to talk with her teacher.

As Suzie walked home, by herself, she continued to smile. Her teacher made her feel good about herself. She was happy her teacher had asked her to stay after class and she wasn’t in trouble.

Now, she knows she is not different and she is smart. She is just as smart as others, including her sister. She just has a unique way of learning. She began to run the rest of the way home wanting to tell her mom what her teacher had said. “Show me.” The two little words that will change everything for her.

Written by: Angel

“I, too, am visual learner, like Suzie. I had the privilege, in high school, to have teachers who used visuals aids in their everyday teaching styles. Now, as an ESL teacher, I use visual aids, in my teaching style. From facial expressions, to running around the classroom, to drawing stick figures on the whiteboard. A huge thank you to all the teachers, in the world ,who make a difference in a student’s life” – Angel

If you appreciate what I do:

https://ko-fi.com/morningangel84721345

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Vocabulary:

inseparable – adjective: always together

identical – adjective: similar or exactly alike in appearance

outspoken – adjective: direct and open opinion

reassured – verb: remove doubts or fears 

excelled – verb : exceptionally good 

catch on -phrasal verb: understand what or how

praised -verb: individuals respect or gratitude

withdrew -verb: leave a place or situation

criticism – noun: disapproval of someone or something

focused- verb: pay particular attention 

approached– verb: come near

participate -verb: take part in an action

created – verb: bring (something) into existence

unique – adjective: one of a kind

Question( s ):

Did you every have a teacher, like Suzie’s, to care and encourage you?

Did you have a unique way to help you study? (example: visuals, songs or word association)