Isla & The World's Best Teacher 👩‍🏫👧🏾 Rewind Bedtime Story

00:00:10

Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome back to Kuala Moon, a podcast of




00:00:14

Speaker 1: original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtime




00:00:19

Speaker 1: a tree. We're celebrating World Teacher's Day here at sleep




00:00:24

Speaker 1: he Q. Many of our friends, family and listeners are teachers,




00:00:29

Speaker 1: and this time of year is especially busy for them,




00:00:32

Speaker 1: so we all decided we wanted to pay tribute to




00:00:36

Speaker 1: them and their wonderful work with a special story. We've




00:00:41

Speaker 1: all got fond memories of our most favorite teacher. As




00:00:45

Speaker 1: you lie there, close your eyes and bring yours to mind.




00:00:51

Speaker 1: When I was six years old, I had to leave




00:00:53

Speaker 1: my school and start another one, and the person I




00:00:56

Speaker 1: knew i'd miss most was missus Miller. She had gray




00:01:01

Speaker 1: hair and wore a brown checked skirt, and she was




00:01:06

Speaker 1: the most friendly, most patient, kind and funny person, a




00:01:12

Speaker 1: little bit like the teacher in to Night's story, Miss Fudge,




00:01:17

Speaker 1: who meets nervous little Islah on her first day at




00:01:20

Speaker 1: a new school. So, with a big sleepy smile and




00:01:26

Speaker 1: quiet thank you to all the teachers, Cocoa and I




00:01:30

Speaker 1: would like you now to snuggle down as I read




00:01:33

Speaker 1: Isla and the World's Best Teacher by Alicia Ainslie. It




00:01:48

Speaker 1: was the first day of September, and a new school




00:01:52

Speaker 1: year was about to begin. The sun was shining, the




00:01:57

Speaker 1: sky was cloudless and clear, and all over town children




00:02:01

Speaker 1: were preparing to return to school after a long summer




00:02:05

Speaker 1: of rest. For seven year old Isler, it was an




00:02:09

Speaker 1: especially big day. Today was Eiler's first day at a




00:02:14

Speaker 1: new school. During the summer holidays, Eiler and her family




00:02:19

Speaker 1: moved to a new house in a new town, which




00:02:22

Speaker 1: meant that Eiler had to move schools all summer long.




00:02:27

Speaker 1: Eiler had been excited about starting at her new school.




00:02:31

Speaker 1: She couldn't wait to meet her new teacher and meet




00:02:34

Speaker 1: lots of new friends. But now that the day to




00:02:39

Speaker 1: start was upon her, Eila felt a little bit nervous.




00:02:43

Speaker 1: She woke up with butterflies fluttering around her stomach and




00:02:47

Speaker 1: doubts running through her head. Ela hadn't seen her new




00:02:52

Speaker 1: school yet. What if it was really big and she




00:02:56

Speaker 1: got lost in the halls, or what if it was




00:02:59

Speaker 1: so teeny tiny that there was no space for her




00:03:02

Speaker 1: to sit at a desk and she had to sit




00:03:05

Speaker 1: on the floor all day. What if playtime was only




00:03:09

Speaker 1: ten minutes long, or what if they only served mushy




00:03:12

Speaker 1: peas and smelly fish at lunchtime. What if she didn't




00:03:17

Speaker 1: make any new friends. What if she didn't like her




00:03:22

Speaker 1: new teacher. Those were the biggest worries dashing through Eila's




00:03:27

Speaker 1: brain as she woke up for her first day at




00:03:29

Speaker 1: her new school. Isla's mummy had laid out her school




00:03:35

Speaker 1: uniform on her bed, ready for her to put on




00:03:37

Speaker 1: after breakfast. Eila hadn't seen her uniform until now. She




00:03:43

Speaker 1: gazed at it in awe It was a very smart uniform.




00:03:50

Speaker 1: A navy blue jumper and a checkered, pale blue dress




00:03:53

Speaker 1: were laid out for her at the foot of the bed.




00:03:57

Speaker 1: A pair of shiny black velcrow shoes had been placed




00:04:00

Speaker 1: on the floor, along with a pair of white, frilly




00:04:04

Speaker 1: ankle socks. Isla's mummy had also offered to style her




00:04:09

Speaker 1: hair and braids for the occasion. Eylah would look very




00:04:14

Speaker 1: smart in her new uniform for her first day at school.




00:04:20

Speaker 1: Alah hoped that she would make a good impression on




00:04:22

Speaker 1: the other children. Isla's mummy made the whole family a




00:04:28

Speaker 1: yummy breakfast of pancakes and fruit to start their special




00:04:32

Speaker 1: day together. Mummy and Daddy were starting their new jobs




00:04:36

Speaker 1: today while Islah went to her new school and her




00:04:40

Speaker 1: little brother Freddie started at his new nursery. It was




00:04:44

Speaker 1: a big day for everyone. Isler ate her breakfast, slowly




00:04:51

Speaker 1: pushing the chopped strawberries around her plate as she daydreamed.




00:04:56

Speaker 1: But Daddy noticed that she wasn't quite herself and asked,




00:05:02

Speaker 1: what's troubling you, Eilah. You look like you've got a




00:05:06

Speaker 1: lot on your mind. Isla sighed heavily and explained that




00:05:13

Speaker 1: she was nervous about starting at her new school. What




00:05:18

Speaker 1: if I don't make any friends, she sniffed. Isla's mommy




00:05:24

Speaker 1: and daddy assured her that she would make plenty of




00:05:27

Speaker 1: friends with time, once she'd gotten to know everyone in




00:05:31

Speaker 1: her class better. Isla's mummy added cheerfully, I've heard that




00:05:38

Speaker 1: you have the best teacher in school. She's called Miss Fudge,




00:05:44

Speaker 1: and apparently she's very kind. Everyone seems to love her.




00:05:50

Speaker 1: Isla perked up a little thanks to her parents encouragement,




00:05:54

Speaker 1: and gobbled up the rest of her fruit before heading




00:05:57

Speaker 1: upstairs to get ready. She dressed in her white and




00:06:01

Speaker 1: blue checkered dress and the navy blue jumper. She poured




00:06:06

Speaker 1: on her socks and folded them over at the ankle




00:06:09

Speaker 1: to perfectly bunch out the frilly lace around the hem,




00:06:13

Speaker 1: and finally she slipped her feet into her shiny new




00:06:18

Speaker 1: shoes as promised. Isla's mummy braided her tight, curly hair




00:06:23

Speaker 1: in two braids at the back of her head and




00:06:26

Speaker 1: used two bright yellow hair ties to fasten them in place.




00:06:31

Speaker 1: Aileah looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She




00:06:36

Speaker 1: looked very grown up in her new uniform. She quite




00:06:40

Speaker 1: liked it. She already felt a bit more confident about




00:06:45

Speaker 1: starting at her new school. To day, Isla's mummy drove




00:06:51

Speaker 1: her to school while her daddy took baby Freddy to




00:06:54

Speaker 1: the nursery. As they pulled up outside the school gates,




00:07:00

Speaker 1: Isla's tommy began to tickle again as the butterflies returned.




00:07:05

Speaker 1: She clutched her lunch box and her reading pack firmly




00:07:09

Speaker 1: in her hands and held them close to her body.




00:07:14

Speaker 1: Her mommy could see that she was tense and offered




00:07:17

Speaker 1: to hold her hand as they walked into school. Islah




00:07:22

Speaker 1: held her mommy's warm, supportive hand as they walked through




00:07:26

Speaker 1: the gate and into the playground full of people. There




00:07:31

Speaker 1: were parents waiting and chatting with each other, while lots




00:07:35

Speaker 1: of children chased each other around the playground or sat




00:07:39

Speaker 1: on the grass, talking and playing quietly. Everyone was happily




00:07:45

Speaker 1: settled into their morning routines while they waited for the




00:07:50

Speaker 1: school bell to ring and allow them inside. Eler hoped




00:07:56

Speaker 1: that someday soon she would be joining the children playing




00:08:00

Speaker 1: and not having to hold her mummy's hand for comfort.




00:08:05

Speaker 1: Isler's mummy walked her over to the far side of




00:08:08

Speaker 1: the playground and they stopped outside the school building in




00:08:13

Speaker 1: front of a red door. The red door had two




00:08:16

Speaker 1: big windows in it, so she could see directly inside




00:08:20

Speaker 1: the cloak room, and to its side was a huge




00:08:24

Speaker 1: classroom window. The window was decorated beautifully with colorful paper decorations,




00:08:33

Speaker 1: children's paintings, and cut out letters of the alphabet. All




00:08:38

Speaker 1: of the letters of the alphabet bordered the window and




00:08:42

Speaker 1: had been colored in with an array of bright crayons.




00:08:47

Speaker 1: It was a very nice window display, and Isola smiled




00:08:51

Speaker 1: as she took it all in. All of a sudden,




00:08:56

Speaker 1: the red door opened up, and a woman behind it




00:09:00

Speaker 1: waved to Eila's mummy and beckoned her over. Eyler and




00:09:04

Speaker 1: her mummy walked up to the classroom door and were




00:09:08

Speaker 1: greeted with a huge, friendly smile from the lady on




00:09:12

Speaker 1: the other side. Good morning, Eila, the woman greeted her,




00:09:19

Speaker 1: pushing her round spectacles further up onto the bridge of




00:09:23

Speaker 1: her nose before continuing, I'm your teacher, Miss Fudge. It's




00:09:29

Speaker 1: lovely to meet you. Are you looking forward to your




00:09:33

Speaker 1: first day? Eiler didn't know what to say. She suddenly




00:09:39

Speaker 1: felt shy and the words wouldn't come to her mouth.




00:09:44

Speaker 1: Her mummy gave her hand a squeeze and tried to




00:09:47

Speaker 1: urge her to speak to her new teacher, but all




00:09:51

Speaker 1: that Eila could do was stare at Miss Fudge silently.




00:09:58

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge had eight orange hair cut into a bob,




00:10:03

Speaker 1: and she had big, friendly eyes and an even bigger smile.




00:10:08

Speaker 1: She wore a long, floaty purple dress and a long




00:10:12

Speaker 1: beaded necklace. She didn't look like a normal teacher. She




00:10:19

Speaker 1: looked like a fun one. Miss Fudge knelt down to




00:10:24

Speaker 1: Eila's level and smiled reassuringly at her. She whispered, I




00:10:31

Speaker 1: know your first day at school can be a little overwhelming,




00:10:37

Speaker 1: but don't worry. I'm going to take good care of




00:10:41

Speaker 1: you and make sure that you have a really good day.




00:10:46

Speaker 1: You'll feel settled in no time. Eiler's Tommy Butterflies seemed




00:10:53

Speaker 1: to calm down a little at Miss Fudge's encouraging words.




00:10:58

Speaker 1: She softened her grip on her mummy's hand and let




00:11:02

Speaker 1: out a little shy smile. Miss Fudge gestured inside the classroom,




00:11:09

Speaker 1: passed the big red door, and asked if Elah would




00:11:13

Speaker 1: like to take a look at her classroom before all




00:11:16

Speaker 1: the rest of the children came inside to start the day.




00:11:21

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge could show her where to hang her coat




00:11:23

Speaker 1: and lunch bag, and which tray was hers to keep




00:11:27

Speaker 1: her book bag safe in. Eileen nodded her head gratefully,




00:11:33

Speaker 1: and her mummy bent down to kiss her goodbye. She




00:11:37

Speaker 1: would pick up Ela at the end of the day,




00:11:39

Speaker 1: and she couldn't wait to hear all about Isla's first




00:11:43

Speaker 1: day at school. Miss Fudge held out her hand for




00:11:48

Speaker 1: Ela to take, and Ela gently took it. She was




00:11:53

Speaker 1: very glad that Miss Fudge was her teacher. She seemed




00:11:58

Speaker 1: very kind, and Illah felt safe in her presence. As promised,




00:12:04

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge showed Dilah where everything was and helped her




00:12:08

Speaker 1: get set up for the day. Miss Fudge had saved




00:12:12

Speaker 1: Ela a seat at one of the tables so that




00:12:15

Speaker 1: she knew where to sit and explained what order the




00:12:18

Speaker 1: lessons would run in. By the time the school bell




00:12:23

Speaker 1: rang and the other children started to come inside from




00:12:26

Speaker 1: the playground, Eler felt settled and had a clearer understanding




00:12:32

Speaker 1: of what to expect from the day. All of Eilah's




00:12:36

Speaker 1: classmates came inside without their parents and put their bags




00:12:41

Speaker 1: in coats away efficiently. It was the first day of




00:12:45

Speaker 1: term for everybody, so all the children were very excited




00:12:50

Speaker 1: to see each other again. They had all been apart




00:12:53

Speaker 1: for six weeks of the summer and they had lots




00:12:57

Speaker 1: of stories to tell each other. Miss Fudge helped the




00:13:01

Speaker 1: children find their new work tables and sat the class




00:13:05

Speaker 1: down to take the register. There were eight children at




00:13:10

Speaker 1: Isla's table, including herself, and she was sat between a




00:13:14

Speaker 1: boy and a girl. All of the children were very




00:13:18

Speaker 1: intrigued to discover that they had a new student in




00:13:22

Speaker 1: their class, and everyone wanted to get to know her.




00:13:27

Speaker 1: The children sitting on either side of Islah eagerly introduced themselves.




00:13:33

Speaker 1: The boy to her right was called Ezzie and the




00:13:36

Speaker 1: girl to her left was called Immany. Eessie and Imany




00:13:41

Speaker 1: wanted to ask Elah lots of questions. They were intrigued




00:13:47

Speaker 1: to learn where she had lived before. It turned out




00:13:50

Speaker 1: that Immany's auntie lived in Isla's old town. They asked




00:13:56

Speaker 1: what her favorite hobbies were, which were gymnastics an art.




00:14:01

Speaker 1: Funnily enough, these were Eessie's favorite hobbies too, and they




00:14:07

Speaker 1: asked if ela had any brothers and sisters, to which




00:14:10

Speaker 1: she replied she had a baby brother called Freddie, Imani




00:14:16

Speaker 1: had two older sisters, and Essie was an only child.




00:14:22

Speaker 1: By the time Miss Fudge took the register to begin




00:14:26

Speaker 1: the day, Eler already felt welcomed into the class by




00:14:30

Speaker 1: Essie and Imani. To celebrate returning to school after the summer,




00:14:37

Speaker 1: they were going to start with an art class. Miss




00:14:42

Speaker 1: Fudge had a very fun special task for them all.




00:14:47

Speaker 1: She instructed the students to draw a picture depicting their




00:14:52

Speaker 1: favorite memory from the summer. The students could draw a




00:14:57

Speaker 1: picture of being on holiday with their parents, or a




00:15:02

Speaker 1: trip to the funfair, or perhaps their favorite memory was




00:15:07

Speaker 1: a simple trip to Grandma's house that was very special




00:15:11

Speaker 1: to them. The students could draw whatever they wanted, so




00:15:17

Speaker 1: they set to work. Eyler decided to draw a picture




00:15:23

Speaker 1: of her old house back in her old town, and




00:15:27

Speaker 1: then an image of their new house. She drew all




00:15:31

Speaker 1: of her family standing on the lawn of her old house,




00:15:35

Speaker 1: waving goodbye to their home, before drawing them in front




00:15:39

Speaker 1: of their new house, smiling. Miss Fudge was very impressed




00:15:44

Speaker 1: with Eila's drawing and gave her a gold star sticker




00:15:48

Speaker 1: for her effort. When everyone had finished their artwork, Miss




00:15:54

Speaker 1: Fudge asked a few students to show their drawings to




00:15:57

Speaker 1: the class and described to everyone what they drew. A




00:16:02

Speaker 1: boy named Daniel stood up and showed his picture of




00:16:06

Speaker 1: the trip his family had made to a theme park.




00:16:10

Speaker 1: He animatedly described to everyone what it was like riding




00:16:14

Speaker 1: a rollercoaster for the first time, and the whole class




00:16:20

Speaker 1: was captivated. Then Immanney stood up to show her picture.




00:16:27

Speaker 1: She had drawn a colorful image of her and her




00:16:30

Speaker 1: family relaxing and playing at the beach. Immanny's family had




00:16:35

Speaker 1: been on holiday to Mi Yorka, and it sounded like




00:16:39

Speaker 1: it had been a very nice time. Miss Fudge asked




00:16:44

Speaker 1: Elah if she would like to stand up and present




00:16:48

Speaker 1: her artwork to the class. Iloh was hesitant, but she




00:16:52

Speaker 1: took a deep breath and stood up. She spoke as




00:16:58

Speaker 1: loudly and clearly as she could, remembering what she had




00:17:02

Speaker 1: learned at her Saturday drama class. Ela showed the class




00:17:09

Speaker 1: her picture of the two houses and explained that she




00:17:13

Speaker 1: and her family had moved to a new town during




00:17:16

Speaker 1: the summer holidays. The students in her class were enthralled




00:17:22

Speaker 1: and had lots of questions that they wanted to ask her,




00:17:27

Speaker 1: but Miss Fudge limited the questions to just three. Everyone




00:17:31

Speaker 1: could ask Eila as many questions as they wanted at




00:17:35

Speaker 1: break time. As Eilah sat down after her little presentation,




00:17:42

Speaker 1: she felt relieved. Maybe she wouldn't struggle to make new




00:17:46

Speaker 1: friends after all, everybody seemed to be very excited about




00:17:52

Speaker 1: having a new girl in the class. When break time




00:17:58

Speaker 1: came along, the children all raced outside into the playground,




00:18:03

Speaker 1: ready to burn off some energy after sitting so obediently




00:18:07

Speaker 1: in the classroom for a couple of hours. Everyone was




00:18:12

Speaker 1: so eager to get outside into the sun that they




00:18:17

Speaker 1: all forgot about asking the new girl if she wanted




00:18:20

Speaker 1: to join them. Eiler stood at the edge of the




00:18:24

Speaker 1: playground and looked on as all of the children in




00:18:29

Speaker 1: the school pranced, ran and twirled around in the playground,




00:18:35

Speaker 1: blissfully unaware of her watching from the sidelines. Eyler sighed




00:18:42

Speaker 1: and sat down on one of the benches to eat




00:18:45

Speaker 1: her packet of grapes. She had worried that this might happen.




00:18:51

Speaker 1: She missed her friends from her old school. Everyone here




00:18:56

Speaker 1: already had their friends that they had known for years,




00:19:01

Speaker 1: so Isla felt left out. All of a sudden, someone




00:19:07

Speaker 1: sat down on the bench next to Isiler. There was




00:19:11

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge. Miss Fudge smiled at her kindly and asked




00:19:16

Speaker 1: Eyler if she was okay. Isler explained that she had




00:19:22

Speaker 1: nobody to play with and popped a grape into her




00:19:25

Speaker 1: mouth defeatedly. Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that,




00:19:33

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge said, gazing around the playground, there are so




00:19:38

Speaker 1: many people you could play with. Let's go introduce you




00:19:43

Speaker 1: to some. Miss Fudge led Elah through the playground and




00:19:50

Speaker 1: over toward one of the flower beds. As they approached




00:19:55

Speaker 1: the plants, either noticed a girl and a boy now




00:20:00

Speaker 1: down in front of the soil. They seemed to be




00:20:04

Speaker 1: enthralled by a wooden box filled with shells of different




00:20:09

Speaker 1: textured elements. Each shelf was crammed full of different things




00:20:15

Speaker 1: you could find out in nature. There was a shelf




00:20:19

Speaker 1: packed full of sticks, one stuffed with crispy green leaves




00:20:24

Speaker 1: from the trees, a shelf of pebbles, and one of




00:20:29

Speaker 1: pine cones. Isler thought she could even see some straw




00:20:35

Speaker 1: and shreds of cardboard in there. What is that, Isler




00:20:42

Speaker 1: asked Miss Fudge, staring at the odd box. Miss Fudge




00:20:47

Speaker 1: urged her to ask the children instead, they would know




00:20:51

Speaker 1: much more about it than her. Eler took a deep




00:20:57

Speaker 1: breath and stepped closer. She peered over the shoulders of




00:21:02

Speaker 1: the boy and girl and asked, excuse me, what is




00:21:09

Speaker 1: it that you're looking at. The young boy and girl




00:21:14

Speaker 1: turned around, and Ilah recognized them immediately as two of




00:21:20

Speaker 1: the other students in her class. They smiled and ushered




00:21:26

Speaker 1: her closer, declaring that the strange box, crammed full of




00:21:31

Speaker 1: different textures was a bug hotel. Alah had never heard




00:21:37

Speaker 1: of a bug hotel before. All these shelves are little




00:21:42

Speaker 1: hidy holes for the bugs, the boy explained. The girl added,




00:21:49

Speaker 1: we made it for the bugs to live in different




00:21:52

Speaker 1: bugs like different homes, so we made lots of little




00:21:57

Speaker 1: rooms for them to choose from Isler liked the idea




00:22:03

Speaker 1: of this bug hotel and knelt down with the two




00:22:06

Speaker 1: children from her class. They showed her all of the




00:22:11

Speaker 1: bugs that were currently living there. There was a ladybird




00:22:16

Speaker 1: nestled in the leaves and a couple of wood lice




00:22:20

Speaker 1: living among the wooden twigs. Plus they had a caterpillar




00:22:25

Speaker 1: and a couple of snails taking shelter in there too.




00:22:30

Speaker 1: The bug hotel was a great way to observe and




00:22:34

Speaker 1: protect the wild life, and the two classmates submitted it




00:22:39

Speaker 1: was fun to make. Isler enjoyed discussing the bug Hotel




00:22:45

Speaker 1: with her classmates so much that breake time went by




00:22:49

Speaker 1: quickly Before she hardly knew it. The bell had rung




00:22:55

Speaker 1: for them to return to their classroom, and her two




00:23:01

Speaker 1: new friends, Kendall and Harley, returned to their classroom, chatting




00:23:07

Speaker 1: all the way. As Aila sat back down in her




00:23:11

Speaker 1: seat at her classroom table, Miss Fudge gave her a




00:23:16

Speaker 1: little nod and a comforting smile. Their next lesson was maths,




00:23:23

Speaker 1: and Miss Fudge decided to mix up the tables so




00:23:26

Speaker 1: that everyone got a chance to work with new classmates.




00:23:32

Speaker 1: Eyla was seated next to a girl called Charlie, and




00:23:36

Speaker 1: they worked together to solve the maths problems that Miss




00:23:40

Speaker 1: Fudge set out. The two girls were working really well




00:23:48

Speaker 1: together and whizzed through the first few questions, but then




00:23:53

Speaker 1: they came to a halt. They were stumped. They didn't




00:23:58

Speaker 1: know how to work the next question out. Ailah was




00:24:03

Speaker 1: a bit embarrassed that she didn't know the answer to




00:24:06

Speaker 1: the question and didn't want to ask for help, but




00:24:10

Speaker 1: Charlie insisted that they ask Miss Fudge for assistance. Ailah




00:24:16

Speaker 1: whispered to Charlie, won't miss Fudge be disappointed that we




00:24:22

Speaker 1: weren't listening hard enough. Charlie shook her head and chuckled.




00:24:29

Speaker 1: She replied, Miss Fudge will understand. We can't know everything




00:24:35

Speaker 1: straight away. Miss Fudge always says, that's why we come




00:24:41

Speaker 1: to school to learn. Charlie held up her hand and




00:24:47

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge came over to help the girls. Miss Fudge




00:24:52

Speaker 1: didn't belittle them for not knowing the answer. In fact,




00:24:56

Speaker 1: she praised them for having the courage to ask for help.




00:25:02

Speaker 1: Admitting your lost or struggling is the hardest part, Miss




00:25:07

Speaker 1: Fudge said. Once you ask for help, it's all easy




00:25:13

Speaker 1: from there. Miss Fudge patiently worked through the question with




00:25:18

Speaker 1: Ela and Charlie, and within a few minutes they had




00:25:22

Speaker 1: worked out the correct answer. Eiler and Charlie now felt




00:25:28

Speaker 1: confident to complete the rest of the questions on their own.




00:25:34

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge was very impressed with their teamwork and gave




00:25:38

Speaker 1: them both a gold star sticker. Eiler now had two




00:25:44

Speaker 1: stars on her jumper and beamed proudly at her achievements.




00:25:49

Speaker 1: She couldn't wait to show her mummy at the end




00:25:52

Speaker 1: of the day. As lunch time came round, Eler worried




00:25:59

Speaker 1: that she would be alone again in the playground, but




00:26:02

Speaker 1: she needn't have worried. As the children all grabbed their




00:26:07

Speaker 1: lunch bags from the cloakroom, Charlie asked Eila if she




00:26:11

Speaker 1: would like to play with her this lunchtime. Ila was




00:26:15

Speaker 1: delighted and followed Charlie out into the playground, where she




00:26:20

Speaker 1: spent the next hour getting to know Charlie and playing




00:26:24

Speaker 1: with her other friends, Jada and Cara. Ela had a




00:26:30

Speaker 1: wonderful time. When the end of the school day came,




00:26:36

Speaker 1: everyone packed up their things and put on their coats,




00:26:40

Speaker 1: ready to go home for the day. However, for Eila,




00:26:46

Speaker 1: she wouldn't be going straight home. She was booked into




00:26:50

Speaker 1: the after school club today because her mummy and daddy




00:26:53

Speaker 1: were still at work. Elah stayed seated at her table,




00:26:59

Speaker 1: wearing her and holding her bags, while Miss Fudge released




00:27:03

Speaker 1: the other students to their parents waiting outside. Once everyone




00:27:10

Speaker 1: was gone, Miss Fudge came back inside and told Eiler




00:27:15

Speaker 1: to follow her. Miss Fudge would take Eiler to the




00:27:20

Speaker 1: after school club. As they walked along the shiny wooden corridor,




00:27:27

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge asked, Eiler, did you have a nice first day?




00:27:33

Speaker 1: Eiler admitted that she had, although she had been nervous




00:27:38

Speaker 1: that she wouldn't make any friends. Miss Fudge stopped outside




00:27:43

Speaker 1: the door and turned to Eiler. She said, sweetly, Hugh




00:27:49

Speaker 1: will always make lots of friends. Eila, You've just got




00:27:54

Speaker 1: to give it time. Did you see how many people




00:27:59

Speaker 1: wanted to talk to you today? Eila nodded, and Miss




00:28:05

Speaker 1: Fudge continued, exactly, everyone wants to make new friends, and




00:28:14

Speaker 1: now at the after school club, you'll have even more




00:28:18

Speaker 1: opportunities to meet other kids your age. I have no




00:28:23

Speaker 1: doubt that you'll have more friends than you can count




00:28:27

Speaker 1: by the end of this week. Miss Fudge opened up




00:28:32

Speaker 1: the door and peered her head inside the room. Greeting




00:28:37

Speaker 1: the teacher. Within, she introduced Either to the after school




00:28:42

Speaker 1: club leader and beckoned her inside. The after school club




00:28:48

Speaker 1: room was so colorful and inviting. There were shelves and




00:28:54

Speaker 1: shelves of books with a little reading corner set up,




00:28:59

Speaker 1: and each table was covered with activities to do. There




00:29:04

Speaker 1: were games like jigsaw puzzles, and there was an arts




00:29:08

Speaker 1: and crafts table. There was a play dough table on




00:29:13

Speaker 1: which children were sculpting shapes, and at the table where




00:29:17

Speaker 1: the leader sat, the children were singing a song. Miss




00:29:23

Speaker 1: Fudge showed Either where to leave her bags and coat




00:29:28

Speaker 1: and asked what she would like to do. Eiler liked




00:29:32

Speaker 1: the sounds of the song the children were learning and




00:29:35

Speaker 1: went to pull up a chair at their table. Miss




00:29:39

Speaker 1: Fudge stayed by Isla's side until she felt comfortable leaving




00:29:45

Speaker 1: her on her own in the after school club. I'm




00:29:50

Speaker 1: going to go back to my classroom now, Eilah. Miss




00:29:54

Speaker 1: Fudge said, your mummy will pick you up from here,




00:29:59

Speaker 1: so I'll see you tomorrow. Isiler looked to Miss Fudge gratefully.




00:30:06

Speaker 1: She had helped her settle in really well to day.




00:30:11

Speaker 1: Eiler was very happy that Miss Fudge was her teacher.




00:30:17

Speaker 1: Even if Ila had a bad day or struggled to




00:30:21

Speaker 1: make friends, she knew that if she was ever stuck,




00:30:27

Speaker 1: she would always have Miss Fudge to turn to. Miss




00:30:33

Speaker 1: Fudge said good bye and headed back to her classroom,




00:30:37

Speaker 1: leaving Eila in the capable hands of the after school club.




00:30:43

Speaker 1: Ailer had a wonderful time learning the song along with




00:30:47

Speaker 1: the other children, and afterwards she had a go at




00:30:52

Speaker 1: piecing together a jigsaw puzzle with one of the other students.




00:30:58

Speaker 1: One by one, the kids in the club were picked




00:31:02

Speaker 1: up by their parents, and Eila felt herself growing tired.




00:31:08

Speaker 1: It had been a busy first day at her new school,




00:31:12

Speaker 1: and she retreated to the reading corner to relax. Mila




00:31:19

Speaker 1: grabbed a book that she recognized off one of the




00:31:22

Speaker 1: shelves and curled up in the comfy corner. Sitting down




00:31:28

Speaker 1: in a bean bag chair, she flicked through the pages




00:31:34

Speaker 1: of the book, reading the story and admiring the delightful images.




00:31:41

Speaker 1: As she did, she felt herself growing sleepier and sleepier,




00:31:48

Speaker 1: until her eyes almost closed completely. Just as she was




00:31:56

Speaker 1: about to drift off in the reading corner, Isla heard




00:32:01

Speaker 1: the sound of her mummy's voice. She climbed up out




00:32:07

Speaker 1: of the chair and ran over to the door to




00:32:10

Speaker 1: give her mummy a big hug. They collected her coat




00:32:16

Speaker 1: and bags and walked out hand in hand to their car.




00:32:23

Speaker 1: Isla's mommy made sure Isla was fastened into her seat




00:32:28

Speaker 1: and then climbed into the driver's seat. As she drove home,




00:32:35

Speaker 1: she asked Eilah how her first day at school had been.




00:32:42

Speaker 1: Between sleepy yawns, Isla told her mummy all about the




00:32:47

Speaker 1: classmates she had met and the girls she had played




00:32:51

Speaker 1: with at lunch time. She described the Bug Hotel and




00:32:57

Speaker 1: the little creatures she had spotted within it, and how




00:33:03

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge had taught her how to solve a tough




00:33:07

Speaker 1: maths problem. She even sang the song as she had




00:33:12

Speaker 1: learnt in the after school club. Isla's mommy was amazed




00:33:18

Speaker 1: that Isla had done so much on her first day




00:33:22

Speaker 1: at her new school. She was very proud of Isla




00:33:28

Speaker 1: for being so brave. Isla relaxed into her car seat




00:33:35

Speaker 1: and rested her head against the cool car window. She




00:33:41

Speaker 1: gazed out into the new street that she now called




00:33:45

Speaker 1: home and allowed her eyes to rest. As Islah succumbed




00:33:55

Speaker 1: to her exhaustion, she yawned and drown told her mummy




00:34:03

Speaker 1: Miss Fudge helped me all day. I have the best




00:34:12

Speaker 1: teacher ever.