It seems I'm back at it. You know, rewriting classic stories.
So, this time, I thought I would have yet another go at another Dr. Seuss classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Why, you might be asking. One, because I can. Two, because it's fun. And, three, it seemed like a great idea to couple it with my first grade students' artwork and showcase it with our crazy door design for the classroom door contest!
So, without any further adieu, I present to you How the Haworth Found Christmas.
liked Christmas a lot!
But the Haworth, who taught there
in first grade, did NOT!
The Haworth despised Christmas
for no discernible reason.
And not just Christmas Day,
but the whole darn season!
No one knows why
he hated Christmas so much.
Rumors abounded about
no fishing, and such.
While that may be possible,
the real reason might be
that Mister Haworth’s heart
was too small! Yes sirree!!
Whatever the reason,
his heart or the trout,
old Haworth grumbled at
the students all about
who went about their days
with smiles on their faces,
dreaming of holiday break
and happier places.
For he knew every student
in his room AND in the school
were crazy excited
like insane little fools!
“And they’re ignoring mathematics,”
he mumbly grumbled,
“and reading, writing and science,”
he grumbly mumbled!
He tapped on his teacher desk,
a staccato song in his ear.
“I MUST stop Christmas
from making it’s way here!”
For, next week, he knew…
All the Charles England kids
would come in to his class
begging to see Christmas vids!
And they’d run. And they’d play.
And they’d play, play, play, play!
And they’d get so full of candy,
they’d be horrible all day!
Then the kids, first through fifth,
would refuse to sit down,
and they’d hustle and bustle
and keep moving around!
And THEN they’d do something
that made Haworth quite crazy.
They’d all go beserk
as they’re brains became hazy!
Any manners they had
would all fly away.
No one would know where
they’d disappear to that day.
And they’d talk! And they’d talk!
And they’d TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK!
Something Haworth liked the least -
all the TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK!
Haworth stewed and he thought,
“Gotta stop the entire thing!
I’m 53 years old!
I can’t wait until Spring!”
Then Haworth had a thought.
A light bulb went off!
He had an idea
how to pull this whole thing off!
“Field Trip!” he yelled.
Students scrambled and scurried.
He watched as they hustled
and bustled and hurried
to all get lined up
to get on the buses,
while other teachers watched,
Wondering what all the fuss is.
As the last student loaded on
and the door was closed tight,
each bus cranked up
for an epic filled flight.
“Be ready for a field trip
of epic proportions!
A solid two weeks of
educational absorption!”
The vehicle turned right
and the engine started to pull.
A small voice called out
while still in sight of the school.
“Mr. Haworth,” she cried out,
“I DO like to learn…
But I prefer math
on MobyMax, IXL and Zearn.”
“I’d like to go back,”
said Carter McNook.
“I just want to
get lost deep inside a good book!”
The Haworth just stopped.
Stopped dead in his tracks.
Unable to go forward and
unwilling to turn back.
“We need our classrooms
“and teachers, Mr. Haworth, please!
“Can we go back now?
“Please, Mr. Haworth. Please!”
These children wanted to learn!
Why, they hadn’t lost their manners!
In fact, they begged Mr. Haworth
to help them find answers!
It’s been said in that bus
on that fateful day,
that Mr. Haworth finally
discovered his way
back to the reason
he first started to teach -
to help all those children
who needed someone to reach
out to them. Someone
to tell them they matter,
to say “It’s really okay,”
when they anxiously chatter.
So they turned the bus round
and headed back to the school.
But Mr. Haworth yelled out,
“I have but one great big rule!”
“As you go back
“to your classrooms today,
“enjoy yourselves! Have fun learning!
“That’s simply the best way!”
