"My brain woke up again."--Said by a 6 year old with attentional weaknesses when she noted the difference in her attention.

            The Misfit                  

By: Hunter    

"Hi, my name is Kyle Dump. Yeah, I am not too big on the last name either. My family and I just moved from California to Annapolis. I am fourteen and in the eighth grade at the public school down the road. The past six months haven't been to easy adjusting to a new school. I mean, so bad that right now I'm lying on the ground with six or seven kids on top of me. I had a rubber band and was shooting kids with pebbles. So, now that you understand, I bet you can guess where I was next, yup, the principal'soffice. Our principal isn't too nice. I couldn't imagine where this was going."

     Our principal isn't too nice. Bet you can imagine where this is going. That's right,the principal called me into his office, "Kyle Dump," he said. When I got in I took a seat and he started talking. "Kyle, I am very disappointed in you. I mean shooting kids with pebbles, come on." He kept on talking. I zoned out and started thinking what I was going to tell my parents. Then when I heard the words, "one week of detention," I knew theywouldn't be happy with me.            

     The rest of the day seemed really long after my experience at recess. I had to make it through Algebra, History, Science, and Spanish; after that I had detention. Our detention teacher's name was Mr. Pigg. I was really bored just staring at the ceiling; it was a pale yellow. I should have been doing my homework but instead I began playing with my pen. I started staring at the clock. Detention would be over in fifteen minutes. I thought about pulling out my history book to study for my test. I started reading and then the teacher said, "Class dismissed." I ran out the door and to the bus. I walked up the steep stairs and walked to the back of the bus. I sat down next to Colin my best friend. Hesaid, "What's up Kyle?" I said, "I just got out of detention. Were you in study hall?" "Yeah," he said.            

     He asked, "Why did you get in trouble? Was it for shooting kids with pebbles during recess? Why did you do that," he asked? "I don't know. I just didn't have anything to do. I was bored!" "Well, you need to stop getting in trouble", he said. "I'll try," I said, and the bus started moving. I live really close to the school so I could have walked home.            

     When I got to my bus stop I started walking up my driveway. As I went through the door my mom asked, "How was your day?" I said, "Normal. But, I got a B on my science test." "Wow, good job honey." I said, "I think I am going to go to my room.""Okay," she said.            

     Mom is nice, her real name is Amanda. She can be pretty embarrassing though. I turned on my X-box and started playing Halo2. My sister Jesse came into the room. She always tries to bug me. Jesse is 16 and just got a car. She has a red mustang. She is such a brat and always thinks about herself first. She said, "Move I want to watch TV." I said, "No, it's my T.V!" "Fine, I'll go watch down stairs you brat." After I beat two levels on my X-box I did my homework. I didn't have a lot to do today. Then my mom called my name. I ran downstairs. Dinner was ready and we were having spaghetti. My dad was sitting at the table. His name is David. He's nice and he works for some building company. I gobbled down my food and my dad asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?" "I'm going over to Collin's house."            

     I started walking down to his house. When I got there I rang the door bell and Colin opened the door. He said, "Come in." We went downstairs and started watching a movie. He asked, "Why do you cause so much trouble at school?" I said, "I don't know.""Well, you can't keep getting in trouble, Collin said." "Okay, I'll try not to." We kept on watching the movie. When it was over I walked home. I thought about what he said. I said I would stop getting in trouble at school, but I don't really want to. I have fun at school. When I got to my house I ran up the stairs and went to bed. I had some trouble falling asleep that night because I couldn't get my mind off of what Colin said.             That morning when I got up for school, I started to get dressed when I saw my pocket knife. I dropped it in my pocket with a match and firecrackers. I darted downstairs and for some breakfast and then I ran out the door. I sprinted down to the bus stop because I got up late. I made it to the bus in time. I got on the bus and sat next to Colin. I started talking about lighting the firecrackers and throwing them at the bus driver. He said, "What!" You'll get us all killed!" He asked, "Can you give me them?" So I gave the fire crackers to him. He threw them out the window. I said, "Hey, why did you do that? It would have been so funny." Colin said, "You need to stay out of trouble." "Okay," I said. He kept talking when someone caught my eye. It was a girl. Colin saw me staring at her and he said, "Go ask her to hang out with you. Her name is Jessica." I said, "That's my sister's name." I started to walk over to her. I said, "Hi, my name is Kyle." She said, "I'm Jessica." I asked her if she wanted to hang out. She said, "Sure." I walked away and Colin asked what happened. I said, "We are going to hang out." He said, "That's cool."The bus driver said, "Everyone sit down I'm going to start the bus." We started driving and shortly after we were at school.            

     When we got to the school I went to my locker to get my history binder. I walked down to the classroom. The teacher wasn't there. I thought about doing something bad. But, I thought about Jessica and what Colin said. I still had my pocket knife. If anyone found out I would be suspended. I walked out of the classroom and into the bathroom. I took out my pocket knife and walked over to the trash can. As I dropped it in, it slowly disappeared into the darkness. I thought about why I did it. It was a ten dollar knife. But,I would have just gotten in trouble.             

     I walked out of the bathroom and to the principal's office. I knocked on the door.The principal opened the door and said, "Come in Kyle." This surprised me because I expected him to slam the door in my face. But, I walked in. I sat down and said, "I am so sorry for what happened at recess yesterday. I'm going to make it up to you and clean up the cafeteria this afternoon. Oh wait, I can't because I have detention. Well, I can do it next week." He said, "You don't have detention." I asked him what he meant. "Well," he said. You apologized and offered to clean the cafeteria; I just don't think a kid should have to be punished so much." "Thank you so much," I said, "But, I am still cleaning the cafeteria." "Okay," he said. I started to walk out and then I turned around and said, "Thank you, and by the way, we don't have a teacher in the History room." He said, "Thank you! That is very mature of you. Most kids wouldn't bother to tell me and have afree period instead."            

     I walked back to the history room. I sat down and Jessica got up from her seat. She walked up to me. She asked, "Do you want to go out with me Saturday?" I said, "Sure." I said, "What time?" She said, "Six at my house." I said, "Okay." The History teacher walked in the room. "Everybody sit down!" I started thinking that maybe I am starting to fit in. Colin said, "So you got a date tonight?" I said, "Yeah!" I guess this school isn't so bad after all. After today it seemed like everyone was my friend.

My Journey Down the Field

By Hunter  

As we huddle up we share our game plan
a look of excitement on every fan

We run out full of energy
but first a quick cheer to get ready
we crouch down for the face and I stay steady
the ref blows his whistle
quickly I snap down on the ball
I rake it behind me and my opponent takes a fall
time for me to scoop the ball 

Roll off one guy and fake out the next
quickly I look to my crease attack man for a pass
I hit him with it and break for the goal
it comes back to me as if off a wall
one guy hits me with his stick
it feels like being crushed with a brick 

I shoot for the top corner
and it hits the back of the net
everyone cheers and the team is set
 Back to the center line for another
face off you can bet!

Dear Dr. Sandler, 

Before the first test I was confident I was going to do well.  The first test was easier than the second one.  The tests were long and unique.  The people who gave the tests were nice, funny, friendly and helpful.  I had a good time taking the tests, with the helpers and at the office.

I was nervous about what the test results would be.  I felt great about the test results because they were so good.  I was relieved after I knew what the results were and the scores were high.  

Thanks for helping me, 

Sebastian McMillan

"My mind got in a knot and I couldn't think" (7/08)

Explained to Dr. Sandler by a girl who was having difficulty with math: "I don't speak number." 

Dear Dyslectics,

Hi. My name is Jenna Moseman, and like you, I have dyslexia. Some of you may think that having dyslexia is bad. But think of it this way… you are very unique from others. Now this might get you down sometimes and things might be hard for you, but to me this just means you need some extra help. There are always people to help you, too. When I found out I had dyslexia, I didn’t know what to think. I was struggling since 3rd grade and I am now going into 8th. That’s a long time to be going on like that! When I went for testing, I actually had fun doing the different activities. On one of the activities, I had to think about how to get the puzzle to fit, and I really did well doing that. In school, you may think that others notice… but really, they don’t. You seem totally normal to them! At my school, we have a thing called Honor Roll where students who get A’s and B’s get noticed, and I have been on it each year! That just means that I worked really hard, just like you do. This year, since I was diagnosed, it was determined that I can use a laptop and listen to CDs right in the classroom—pretty neat, huh? Your dyslexia isn’t the end of the world! If you believe you can do something, then you can! Don’t let this little problem get you down! There is always someone willing to help.

Your friend,
Jenna Moseman (7/08)