By Bill Conley
Moral to the Story:
Learning is a gift that helps us grow, and every day is a chance to get smarter
and stronger. We show respect by listening to our teachers, doing our homework,
and being kind to our classmates. When we study hard and try our best, great
things can happen. And when our parents try to help, it’s because they love us
and want to see us shine.
Penny the Panda lived in a cozy
bamboo house with her mom and dad at the edge of a sunny forest. She had black
and white fur, a pink backpack, and big curious eyes that loved to explore.
Penny loved to build things with
blocks, read picture books, and play with her friends. But when it came to
school, Penny sometimes got distracted. She liked fun more than focus and games
more than homework.
One morning, Penny’s mom said,
“Penny, it’s time to get ready for school!”
Penny yawned. “Do I have to go
today? I’d rather stay home and play.”
Her mom smiled gently. “School is
important. You get to learn new things every day.”
Penny sighed but packed her backpack
and gave her mom a hug.
At school, her classroom was bright
and full of colors. Her teacher, Ms. Owl, stood by the chalkboard with a kind
smile and glasses on her beak.
“Good morning, class!” said Ms. Owl.
“Today we’ll be learning about numbers and how to be good listeners.”
Penny sat between her friends Toby
the Tiger and Lily the Llama. Ms. Owl began her lesson, but Penny wasn’t paying
attention. She was too busy doodling in her notebook and whispering to Toby.
“Penny,” said Ms. Owl, “can you tell
us what number comes after seven?”
“Uh… twelve?” Penny guessed.
Ms. Owl gently shook her head. “Try
to listen carefully, sweetie. It’s important to focus.”
After school, Penny groaned, “Ugh! I
don’t like math.”
“Maybe you’d like it more if you
listened,” said Lily kindly.
When Penny got home, her dad asked,
“Do you have any homework?”
Penny frowned. “Just a little. But I
don’t want to do it.”
Her dad sat down beside her. “I can
help. Let’s look at it together.”
Penny crossed her arms. “But I
already did school all day!”
Her dad nodded. “I understand, but
homework helps you remember what you learned. It’s like practice—it makes your
brain strong.”
Penny grumbled, but she sat down and
opened her book. Her dad read the questions slowly, helping her think through
each one.
“This is too hard!” she whined.
“You can do it,” her dad said. “I’ll
help—but you have to try.”
They worked together, and soon the
math problems didn’t seem so scary.
The next day, Penny tried harder in
class. She looked at Ms. Owl when she talked. She raised her paw when she had a
question. She didn’t interrupt or whisper. And she did her best on the spelling
test.
At lunch, Toby said, “You were
really paying attention today!”
“I want to learn,” said Penny. “And
Ms. Owl works hard. I should too.”
Ms. Owl walked by and smiled. “I’m
proud of you, Penny. Good listening makes great learning!”
Later that week, Ms. Owl gave out a
group project. “You’ll work with a partner to make a poster about the
rainforest,” she said.
Penny was paired with Toby.
“We should start right away!” Toby
said.
But Penny wasn’t sure. “Can’t we
just do it at the last minute?”
Toby shook his head. “If we rush, it
won’t be very good. Let’s work a little bit each day.”
Penny agreed, and each afternoon
they colored, cut out leaves, glued pictures of frogs and monkeys, and wrote
fun facts.
At the end of the week, their poster
was bright, neat, and full of great information.
“This is the best one yet!” said Ms.
Owl.
Penny smiled wide. “We worked really
hard!”
That night at dinner, Penny said,
“Mom, Dad, I like school more now.”
Her mom smiled. “That’s wonderful.
What changed?”
“I started listening better, and I
try harder with my homework. And when you help me, it’s not because you’re
being mean—it’s because you care.”
Her parents gave her a big hug.
The next morning, Penny got ready
early. She brushed her fur, packed her bag, and even brought her homework
folder without being reminded.
At school, Ms. Owl gave each student
a little award for something they did well. “Toby,” she said, “for being
helpful to others. Lily, for always being polite. And Penny… for working hard,
listening well, and doing her best in class.”
Penny’s eyes sparkled. She held up
her award for everyone to see.
“I used to think school was just
boring,” she told her friends. “But I was wrong. When you pay attention, do
your work, and respect your teacher, learning is really fun!”
That night, Penny snuggled in her
bed and thought about all the things she’d learned—not just math and spelling,
but how to be a better student, a better friend, and a better listener.
She whispered a quiet promise to
herself: “Tomorrow, I’ll keep trying hard, because I’m growing smarter every
day.”
And with that, she drifted off to
sleep, dreaming of pencils, books, and stars on her homework.
Moral to the Story Poem:
When you listen and try your best,
And study hard like all the rest,
You’ll grow up smart and kind and strong—
And in your heart, you’ll know you belong.
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