The second story in our Celebrating Traditions Unit is called
"Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope."
This is the story of a family's tradition of Mexican rodeo roping and riding. Anthony and his family work hard and practice their skills for their exhibitions. Because of their hours of practice, they are now expert performers!
* * * * *
Please share about a skill you have worked hard to learn.
What steps did you take to master the skill?
What steps did you take to master the skill?
Was it difficult at first?
Did anyone help you achieve your goal?
Dear Mrs. Yollis' Class,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up, I used to ski every winter. Five years ago, I decided to learn how to snowboard. Because it was completely new to me, I signed up for a class with an expert. The teacher instructed me to always wear a helmet, to put my weight on my front foot when I wanted to go, and to bring my arms around and point in the direction I wanted to turn. Pointing in a direction helped turn my body in that direction. It took a lot of concentration to get my body in the correct position, and I fell and fell and fell and fell. After hours of falling, I really felt like quitting. I told myself that everything is hard at the beginning, but if I would keep trying, I would succeed. After several days of focused practice, I was able go down a hill and make several turns without falling. Learning to snowboard was exciting for me. I am still a novice, but I am getting better.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Yollis
Dear Mrs. Yollis' Class,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in fourth grade, our music teacher was looking for volunteers to join the school orchestra. She specifically needed a bass player. I had been studying the piano for two years and loved music, so I immediately raised my hand. The next thing I knew, Mrs. Cohen packed the bass in her car and drove me home! My mother was surprised when we arrived, but she was excited for me. The bass was a challenging instrument to learn. I had to learn to bow and pluck with my right hand and to find the notes on the strings with my left. With determination, I practiced daily for about 15 to 20 minutes. This was all my fingers could endure! By the time the orchestra concert date arrived, I was able to perform. My mother was a great supporter in helping me to achieve this goal. She encouraged me in my practice, played the piano along with me, and drove my bass and me everywhere we needed to go. Thank goodness we had a station wagon!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ranney
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I rode my bike with training wheels on the sidewalk. As I got older and my dad thought I could try without the training wheels. The next day my dad took off the training wheels and the pedals so I could pratice keeping my balance. My mom would help me keep my balance,but as I got better I could do it by myself. One day my parents bought me a pearl pink bike with white hawaiian flowers on it. Next thing you know I am riding on the street with my family,I was so proud of myself! Now I am learning how to ride down hill.
Your student,
Kendall
@Kendall,
ReplyDeleteWow! You are a great blogger! I didn't even notify the class about this post, and you have already commented! Well done Kendall!
You shared about how you learned to ride your pearl pink bike with the white Hawaiian flowers. (Great use of adjectives. I could really picture your bike in my mind!) What steps are you taking to learn how to go downhill?
Great comment!
Mrs. Yollis
We are enjoying using your blog to keep up with our grandson, Caleb Regan. It looks like he is lucky to have landed in your class.
ReplyDeletePat and Ray Greenwald, Sykesville, Maryland
Dear Mrs.Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was seven years old
I used to take swimming lessons.I had a girl teacher to help me float on my back,hold my breath under the water, and keeping my legs straight underneath the water.Also my teacher wanted my sister and I to get on a floating pad and kick our legs all the way to the deep end,and then we got off the pad and got on the cement. We then jumped to our teacher in the deep end.We also had to throw rings in the pool and we had to get under the water and try to get the rings.Finally, it was time to go home.Ilove to swim!
Do you like to swim?
Your student,
Aaliyah
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was about four I learned to roller blade. When I was learning how to roller blade I fell and fell and fell. I was learning it on my wood floor in my old house. I started off with breaks on the back of my skates. Now I am an expert at roller blading.
From your student,
Nick
Dear Mrs. Yollis
ReplyDeleteWhen I was six I learned how to ski. At snoqualmie pass the ski lesson place was called Powder pigs. My insturctor's name was nathan. He taught me how to turn, stop, and fall without getting hurt. I had a great expierience learning how to ski.
Your student,
Caleb
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteJust two days ago I learned how to juggle a soccer ball. I learned to juggle when I went outside with my dad. First we were passing the ball, second we were kicking with our weak leg, third we were juggling. I tried and tried and my dad told me to point my foot down a little more and I was juggling. So I knew how to juggle all along I just needed to point my foot down a little more.
Your student
Caleb
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am an expert at roller blading. At first I was a novice, but now I am an expert. Nick and I used to play roller hockey together, but now he's in the Squirts Division of our hockey league and I'm in the Mites Division. One of my favorite teams in the professional hockey league is the Detriot Redwings. One of my tricks I can do is moon walking on roller blades. Nick and I did that at Casey's birthday.
Roller hockey is my 3rd favorite sport in the world right behind football and basketball. It took me a lot of hard work and lots of falling down. But I endured it and now enjoy it so much.
Have any one of you played roller hockey before?
Sincerely,
Ethan
Dear Mrs.Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was four years old I had trouble holding my first baby brother. I was told to put my hand under his neck. I was getting better every month. Three years later my next brother came and I was totally ready. I hope if I had another sibling my first brother would be able to hold him.
Sincerely,
Kayla
Dear Mrs Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am an expert at riding a two wheeler bike. I was trying and tying and trying until after minutes of falling I finally got my balance. When my dad came home I was so excited that the first words I said was were that I learned how to ride a two wheeler bike.
Your student,
Kayla
Dear Mrs. Yollis' Class,
ReplyDeleteBoth my husband and I are Korean-Americans. When I got married a little over 10 years ago, I wanted to master Korean cooking and be good at making authentic Korean dishes. Food is one of the most important aspects of our culture. You may consider it the center of our social arena. Sometimes when Koreans greet one another, they will ask "Have you eaten?" along with "How are you doing?"
My mom-in-law is an excellent cook. Whenever I had the opportunity, I would go to the Korean market with her and observe how she picked out the vegetables, fish and even the sauces. I also spent time with her in the kitchen and watched her cook. I took diligent notes on how she prepared and cooked the dishes. However, no matter how closely I followed her recipes, it just didn't quite turn out or taste the same. At times the rice was either undercooked or the noodles were overcooked. Sometimes the dishes were too salty or too bland. I was discouraged but I was determined to keep trying. With persistence, patience, time, and a lot of practice, I began to get compliments from my family. I also began to cook by memory and without looking at my recipes.
It became second nature. By no means am I a Korean master chef, but I enjoy cooking and cooking for my family with confidence now.
Sincerely,
Ethan's mom
I became interested in gymnastics when I was four years old. My Dad first noticed how I could do flips on the rings at my preschool (with the help of a nearby tree I would run up). So my parents entered me in a gymnastics class, and I’ve been going ever since.
ReplyDeleteI started out with floor exercises, like “Tuck and Rolls”, and then I moved on to the trampoline. I like to do the “Peanut Roll” on the trampoline where you land on your back and bounce back up on your feet. I also do exercises on the bars, like a “Shooting Star” where you flip backwards while holding the bar with both hands and land on your feet. And I’m still learning how to do flips the correct way on the rings.
I usually get a good workout during my gymnastic class and feel hot and tired afterwards, but it’s fun! One of the hardest things I do is climb the rope to the ceiling using only my hands with my legs in a Pike position. But I have the most fun when my instructor helps me do backflips into the foam pit!
Your Student,
Corey
Dear Mrs.Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am a novice at karate but I am getting a hang of it. I started about five weeks ago. I am still a white belt. Have you been a expert at anything before?
Sincerely
Kayla
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time with my crossovers.(On ice skates.)I started just going half-way and then falling down. I took a lesson, but it only got me a little better. I practiced a lot and by the lesson I was ready! On the day of the lesson I DID IT!
I felt so good that I did the same with stopping, worked like a charm.
From,
Ben
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteThe sport I learned is horseback riding. I first had to learn how to put the saddle on the horse. Then I had to get a step stool to get up on the horse. When I got on the horse I had to know how to make the horse walk. My teacher taught me how to hold the reigns. I have to put my feet in the stirups or I will fall off. I also control the horse by keeping my heels down and my arms forward. After I learned the basics, I learned how to trot and then post. Posting is when you go up and down in rhythm with the horses front leg that you picked. The horse that I ride is called Misty. I nicknamed her "Missy".
From, Kate :-)
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am going to tell you a story about how I learned to swim. I was four years old and I was afraid to go into the water. I thought it was impossible for me to do it. My mom signed me up for swimming lessons. At first I did not like it and I wanted too go home. After four lessons my mom my brother and I, went in the pool and I swam all by my self. Now I am an expert at swimming and I can swim like a fish.
from,
Gal
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was seven, I learned to ride a two wheeler bike. My dad was always right next to me in case I fell to hold the bike. Then I started to do it on my own.
Now I am an expert at turning by myself, riding on the end of the curb and jumping off the curb. My favorite thing to do on the bike is going into the neighbor's driveway and jumping off their curb because it's tall.
And that is my story about how I learned to ride my bike. Did you ever jump off a curb?
Sincerely,
Jaxon
Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in my twenties, I was asked to help someone who was really sick in the hospital. They told me I was a good candidate to donate blood. I had never done it before, and was a little nervous about the needle poking in my skin. I gave blood and it didn't even hurt. I started donating blood on a regular basis and felt really good about it.
Years later, I was offered a job to help organize blood drives. For the last several years, I have set up blood drives all over L.A. County.
I've become an expert about all the blood types, who can give blood and why it is so important.
It's great to help save lives for people who really need it. Hopefully, everyone will donate blood when they become old enough (17 years old).
--"Dracula Dave"!
Friend of Jaxon
@Aaliyah,
ReplyDeleteYou sound like an expert swimmer! Yes, I do like to swim. However, I remember when I was little and I didn’t know how. My mom enrolled me in a swim class at the YMCA and I went every week. At first, I used to cry when the lessons started. The teacher was always so patient and kind and soon I was swimming like a fish!
@Mrs. Kim,
Thank you for sharing your experience about learning to cook authentic Korean food. You bring up a good point about learning something new…watch an expert and pick up their tips. Observing your mother-in-law at the market and in the kitchen was a smart strategy.
Many children think that learning is only for children at school. You help us see that we should be learning throughout our lives!
@Jaxon,
All of these stories about becoming an expert are bringing back some fond memories for me! Like you, I remember learning to ride a bike. I was so excited when I finally was riding by myself… that I forgot how to stop the bike! In a panic, I jumped off the bike! What a disaster! You asked me if I ever jumped off a curb. Yes, I did!
@”Dracula Dave,”
Thanks for sharing about becoming an expert in helping out the communities around Los Angeles! We need more people like you! ☺
Sincerely,
Mrs. Yollis
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am an expert at scootering.I started out falling and falling and falling. Then I could only ride for about two seconds. My mom helped me learn to keep my balance. After about one week I could ride for about twenty seconds. My parents kept helping me until I could ride up and down the sidewalk without falling.
From,
Charlie
Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,
ReplyDeleteOne skill that I worked hard to achieve was golf. It was my dad who taught me how to play! Every week, I learned a new skill at my lesson. It was so hard at first, but I practice every day! I think I'm getting better too!
Mrs. Yollis' old pupil,
Lexi
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am an expert at rock climbing. The first time I ever did it was at a rock wall in Mammoth. I went up one of the tallest walls, which was very easy for me. The next thing I tried was a short wall that was very difficult. The instructor helped me and I made it all the way to the top. Then I took the rock wall enrichment class at school. I defeated the hard wall at least ten times.
Now I climb rocks at the beach, in Yosemite and while we hike in Mammoth.
From your student,
Trent
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am an expert at being creative. Whenever I see a cardboard box lying around, my mind starts working harder. I ask my mom if I can keep it for my creation. Of course she lets me keep it to make something out of it. I like to make houses with doors and windows that open and close, so I can play with my dolls in it. When there are too many boxes on the floor, my mother asks me if I need all of them. Then, she gets rid of the ones I don't need anymore. She tells me that maybe one day I will become an expert architect.
Sincerely,
Ava:)
Dear Mrs.Yollis, I think one of my my talents is in swimming. I swim as fast as a dolphin. My dad and mom said am the best swimmer in the family! I hope that the weather continues to be warm so that maybe I will be able to swim longer in fall. I love to swim!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Moraiya =)
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI love sports. In the summer of 2007, when I was just to be 6 years old, my dad and mom sent me to China to learn Chinese. At the same time, I was learning Tai Quan Do. They wanted me to learn it so that I could focus better. It was not too easy to learn. I was the youngest in the group and every day I spent 2 to 3 hours learning from my master. I was tired by the end of the training each day. But I did well and got my white belt and yellow belt. I’m very proud of myself.
Sincerely,
Your student Paul
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I learned how to play soccer. I stared when I was for years old. At first I was not so good. I endured my first game of my life. I have got a little better over the years by my dads help. Now I am so much better. I can do lots of tricks like the rainbow, and he cross over. A rainbow is a trick where yo put the ball in between your legs and then you throw the ball up. A cross over is something where you go over the ball. Thats how I learned how to play soccer.
from,
Sydney
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I learned how to play soccer. I stared when I was four years old. I endured the first game of my life. I think I got a little better by my dad's help. Now I am so much better. I can do a lot of cool tricks like the rainbow,and the cross over. A rainbow is a trick where you put the ball in between your legs and throw it up. The cross over is a trick where you jump over the ball.
From,
Sydney