What Ted Said. By Sheree Fitch Illustrated by Laura Watson GRADE 5 STRATEGY UNIT: INFERRING SHARED READING. 4 Pages. Fiction: rhyming poem

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1 What Ted Said By Sheree Fitch Illustrated by Laura Watson GRADE 5 STRATEGY UNIT: INFERRING SHARED READING 4 Pages Fiction: rhyming poem 2008 Scholastic Canada Ltd. V001

What Ted Said By Sheree Fitch Illustrated by Laura Watson When the Tiddlywiddly family All sit down to dine, There s a mother and a father, Seven children (that makes nine).

2 What Ted Said By Sheree Fitch Illustrated by Laura Watson When the Tiddlywiddly family All sit down to dine, There s a mother and a father, Seven children (that makes nine). Plus an animated auntie, A grandad and a cat. After they have slurped dessert, The Tiddlywiddlys chat. It s a boisterous bubbling babble, They converse on many issues Controversy is allowed. They interrupt each other They re loquacious and they re loud. They argue with such certainty That room of jabberheads! They prattle, chatter, gossip, gab Except for silent Ted. Ted Tiddlywiddly Rarely ever says a word. Whenever he attempts to speak, He s barely ever heard. His voice is like a whisper Six sisters drown him out So Teddy keeps his mouth shut Holding back a shout. It s a boisterous bubbling babble UNTIL... last night! 1/4 What Ted Said

you didn t ask, But I must tell you the experience I had today in class.

My story is incredible It all began last week.

yapped Auntie, We can t be here all night.

Then, wobbly-voiced and trembling, Ted began his story. Mr. Gruntle is my teacher.

Last week our class was jabbering Gruntle yelled, That is it! He clapped his hands.

3 Ted stood up. He clanged his spoon Politely on his glass, He cleared his throat, then blurted out, I know you didn t ask, But I must tell you the experience I had today in class. If I could have your full attention I claim my right to speak. My story is incredible It all began last week. The Tiddlywiddlys nodded Trying hard to be polite Well, hurry up! yapped Auntie, We can t be here all night. I ll try my best, said Ted, I m sure you won t be sorry. Then, wobbly-voiced and trembling, Ted began his story. Mr. Gruntle is my teacher. He s a decent kind of dude But talking while he s teaching Is considered really rude. Last week our class was jabbering Gruntle yelled, That is it! He clapped his hands. He stomped his feet. Mr. Gruntle threw a fit! Class, lately I ve been noticing Your favourite thing to do Is to chatter with each other. Are you monkeys in a zoo? Chitter, chatter, burble, babble That s all I ever hear! We must finish our curriculum Before the end of year! Because you have so much to say What about... a talking celebration? An entire day of speaking! A day of recitation! 2/4 What Ted Said

4 Yes! All of you will do it. Yes! All of you will speak. Yes! All of you will have to. Your deadline is next week! Our class groaned in protest Mr. Gruntle shook his head Furthermore, the first to speak? Tiddlywiddly, Ted! Gruntle pointed at me wickedly He grinned an evil grin Ted, it is a privilege And an honour to begin. My lips began to tremble I feared that I would cry Hadn t Mr. Gruntle noticed I m extremely very shy? To think that I would have to stand And speak to everyone, out loud! I much prefer to whisper In the middle of a crowd. All week I lived in terror All week I held my breath I fretted and I worried I scared myself to death. I practised in the mirror I memorized each line I hoped I d get the chicken pox But I woke up just fine. Then there I was. Before the class. Trembling, scared, and shy Begin, said Mr. Gruntle But my shrivelled tongue was dry. My mind went blank. I stammered out, May I first please be excused? No, said Mr. Gruntle. My classmates looked confused. So... 3/4 What Ted Said

5 Then suddenly from deep inside My voice chimed strong and clear Dear Mr. Gruntle and dear classmates I m thrilled to be up here! See, my family is enormous I love them and they re great But when they get together There is one thing I hate I said that every one of you All talked in Speakennese BUT NO ONE EVER LISTENED It was a family disease. Yes, I said it was a pleasure To speak today in class I finally had an audience How Mr. Gruntle laughed! He loved my speech. I got an A. And everybody clapped. Ted Tiddlywiddly Sat down with great relief. All the members of his family Sat stunned in disbelief. Then? Three cheers for speaking up! Ted s absolutely right! After this, we ll all take turns Listening every night! There is a time for talking And a time for keeping still Should Grandad go tomorrow night? Grandad said, I will. Then the Tiddlywiddlys gabbled, Those jabberheads were back! Ted joined their boisterous babble 4/4 What Ted Said

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