Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit Read Online Free Page B

just the book report, but three math homeworks, two essays. . . . and you’ve gotten low grades on several tests. And it’s only October.”
    “Are you sure?” I ask, even though I know she’s right.
    “I’m sure.” She nods. “Amber, I know you can do the work. I’ve checked your records, spoken to your old teachers.”
    “They’re not so old,” I say, and then I put my hand over my mouth.
    I can’t believe that I said that. It just came into my brain and out of my mouth.
    She looks at me for a minute.
    It’s another very long minute, and then she smiles.
    Mrs. Holt has a very nice smile, for a person who is probably going to flunk me.
    Amber Brown. Fourth Grade Failure.
    “Amber,” she says.
    “I’m sorry,” I say.
    Amber Brown. Sorry Person.
    “As I was saying, I’ve been speaking with some of your past teachers.”
    I think . . . 
And they passed me . . . . Please pass me too
 . . . . but I don’t say it out loud.
    “You know, Amber, when I spoke to Mr. Cohen, he told me what he’d written in your ‘Passport to Fourth Grade’ . . . . how he loved your sense of humor, your sense of exploration . . . how you’re willing to try out new things even when they’re hard. I’ve been able to see some of that, but I’d love to see more of it . . . . and more of your homework assignments.”
    We smile at each other.
    “Amber, I know you can do the work. What’s wrong? Is it anything I can help you with? Is it anything anyone at the school can help you with? I know that there have been some changes in your life, and I’ll try to be understanding . . . . . but you must do your work.”
    “Everything’s okay.” I try not to cry. “I promise I’ll do the work. Don’t make me take one of those papers home.”
    She thinks for a minute.
    I sit there very quietly.
    “Okay. For now, I won’t make you take the paper home, but I do want you to make up your back work and turn in your book report tomorrow. Each day, your grade will go down one mark from what it would have been if you had turned it in on time.”
    I bite my lip. “Can I do extra credit?”
    She shakes her head. “In this case, you may not. Extra credit’s reserved for people who have tried their best and need an extraboost, or for people who are already doing their best and want to do more. YOU are not in either one of those categories.”
    She closes her marking book. “You have a chance to bring up your grade. Just make sure that you turn in all of your missing work.”
    I take the list of missing assignments that she hands me.
    She continues. “Tomorrow, the class will be given a major project. Do well on it. I can’t emphasize this highly enough. It will help bring up your grade for the marking period and will show me that you’re serious about doing well.”
    I nod.
    I, Amber Brown, may not be serious about a lot of things, but I am serious about this.

Chapter
Eleven

    “How-To” Assignment
    YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Giving Directions
    Be prepared to give directions to the class. Be logical. Be concise. You may show how to build, make, or do something (for example, you may show how to build a fort, make a dress, do karate, play an instrument). Your directions must be clear.
    In addition to giving directions,create something original concerning what you are explaining (e.g., making a poster, a film, or a computer program).
    Your presentation can take between five and fifteen minutes.
    I look at the assignment.
    I have no idea what to do.
    “Think about it,” Mrs. Holt tells the class. “Tomorrow, let me know what you will be doing.”
    “How-To” . . . . . What does she want from me? What can I do to get the best grade possible? What will impress Mrs. Holt?
    How to do . . . . . . . I look around the room to try to come up with ideas . . . .
    How to redecorate the classroom . . . How to stop Fredrich Allen from picking his nose and chewing