Fish in a Tree

Mr. Daniels calls Ally to his desk and asks her to read a short book. Empowered by her recent positive experiences, Ally is able to read the whole book successfully.

Mr. Daniels begins a unit on persuasive writing with an exercise that asks each student to choose what they would have if they could have “an unlimited amount of any single object” (218). Shay predictably chooses money. Albert chooses antibiotics. Oliver chooses tape. Mr. Daniels explains how their answers characterize their unique personalities and abilities.

Keisha and Ally make matching T-shirts—that read “Steel” and “Magnesium”—to wear with Albert’s “Flint” shirt. They explain to Albert that flint, steel, and magnesium work together to create fire. They then shout to Shay that if she teases Albert, she teases “all of us” (224).

Ally presents a book report project—for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing—with an impressively illustrated poster that includes a lightbulb that actually lights up. Enticed by the bright light, Oliver accidentally knocks it loose, and Shay harshly teases him. Ally tells her it doesn’t matter and simply fixes the light.

Shay then attempts to undermine Ally’s poster by pointing out a picture of a soldier in the room, saying that the book didn’t include such a picture. Ally explains that the picture is a bit of imaginative visualization based on her own dad, who’s in the army. Max is impressed that Ally’s dad is in the army and goes around the room talking about this news. Mr. Daniels congratulates Ally on her amazing work.

Travis approaches Ally and asks about the activities she’s been doing with Mr. Daniels to help improve her reading skills. Travis wants to know if Mr. Daniels’ mentorship has helped her, because he is struggling greatly with school. Ally shows Travis how she learned to sound out letters and write in shaving cream. She offers to help him, but he brushes her off, claiming, “I was just wondering” (231).