Once upon a time, Daddy was as young as you and today was a special one for him. It was his first day at Greenwood Elementary, and his tummy buzzed with butterflies.
As he walked into the classroom, Daddy’s eyes grew wide. Desks in rows and a chalkboard like a giant's slate. Miss Hazel greeted him with a smile that felt like sunshine.
All morning, Daddy worked hard. Writing his ABC's and figuring out that 2 plus 2 equals 4. But when the bell rang for recess, Daddy hesitated. Going outside seemed daunting.
Outside, the playground was a jungle of shouts and games. Everyone had a playmate, everyone but Daddy. But then, he noticed Anna, sitting alone, her jump rope idle by her side.
Summoning all his courage, Daddy approached Anna. 'Would you like to jump rope together?' he asked gently. Anna’s face lit up, and together they found a rhythm.
Recess zoomed by, and soon it was time for group work. But trouble brewed. Sarah and Tom couldn't agree on the colors for their poster, voices rising in frustration.
Daddy listened quietly as the argument grew. Then, with a thoughtful look, he suggested, 'What if we made a rainbow? That way, we can use all our favorite colors!’
The idea was a hit! Peace restored, they worked eagerly, each stroke of their brushes painting not just a rainbow, but also a bridge between friends.
Math class came after, and with it, a tricky problem. Daddy scratched his head. 'If Mom bakes 12 cookies and we each have one, how many are left?' pondered Miss Hazel.
Dale shouted '10!', but Daddy wasn't so sure. He pictured the cookies, subtracting them one by one in his mind. 'Actually, it is 11,' Daddy corrected kindly.
The day was nearing its end, and Miss Hazel gave one last assignment. 'Write about your day,' she said. 'Share something new you learned or a challenge you faced.'
Daddy thought about his busy day—from the nerves of morning to finding a friend, solving disputes, and math mysteries. He smiled, his pencil dancing across the paper with stories to tell.
Reflection Questions