One of my favorites is by Dan Gutman called Let's Go to the Videotape. In this story, Gutman tells the tale of himself, the skinniest, most unathletic kid in his school playing kickball. Through shear anger and luck he manages to kick a homerun and be a hero for the day. This moment of glory has stuck with him throughout his lifetime.
He says:
But sometimes, when I'm lying in bed at night before I fall asleep, I roll this mental videotape I have of the time I kicked a basket in gym class. In my mind, I watch myself kick that basket over and over again.
I'll bet every kid has at least one of those moments in his life when he did something really, really great, something really unexpected.
Close your eyes and think of that moment from time to time. Remember it just the way it happened. Never let that video fade away. Someday, forty years from now, when you're lying in bed at night, you might want to replay it.
What about it Reading Workshop students? Your assignment for today is to tell me of a time when you had a great moment. Tell me of a time when things went just right.
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One time at my old school my last year there I made a bet with my friend that on the a very big test I wouldn't do that well. It that I was one of the people in the 4th grade with the highest scores. I was so proud of myself and I still think about that up till this day.
The time I had that great moment is when I shot my first deer. I was six and sitting in the blistering cold all day with my dad in our double tree stand. Then I saw the button buck waling in and I told my dad that there was a deer. I started to get buck fever and I was shaking like crazy. I tried to stop shaking. Then I aimed my dad's crossbow at him, still shaking. Then I waited then I shot... dad then said I think you hit him.
I was really excited then we spent two hours following the blood trail and then we found him he jumped up and took off. Then we followed him the best we could. Then there he was I ran up to him and kicked him to make sure he was dead.
I will always remember that moment it is still crystal clear in my mind, and I am sure it will always be there.
The time I will always remember is when I shot my first deer. I was with my dad on his property I was using his muzzle loader with a big body buck walked out and dad said don't move and the deer walked right about forty yards and turned broad side and dad said "okay shoot right behind the shoulder". When I shot smoke covered our site with at least thirty yards and the big deer walked right in sight and stared at us and within a minute he just fell over. My dad said every thing went rite for me and he was rite
The best moment I have ever had was when me and my brother would have races in the the pool. We would see how many times we could swim from one side to another without coming up for air. He would always beat me because he could swim to one side to the other and no come up for air. Then it happened I swam as fast as I could. My heart was beating and then my hand hit the side of the pool and I swam back to the other side. Then I could not believe it I swam from one side and back to the other side and then back over to the other side. I could not believe it I beat my brother and from this day on I will remember it because he still beats me sometimes.
That is a amazing story and in 5th grade I remember Molly C. did the exact same thing. Plus time to time I do thing of an amazing moment I will never forget. It was when my mom saved my life. Well me and her were riding a 4 wheeler and it flipped it was about to come down on me but my mom shoved it with one hand and I am really thankful for that. I love just to type, talk or think about it. I also know what it fells like to not belong in a group. I have groups that just talk about me behind my back so me and him have stuff in common.
One great moment that I had is, I was at my first basketball game of the season we were getting ready to start and then I seen this tallest 6th grade kid I've ever seen then I remembered that I had to do tip off. So we get ready and me and the tall kid go to do tip off and I knew I was going to lose it but then I jumped as high as I can and then I got it. I couldn't believe it I actually got it. What made this my greatest moment is that I thought that I couldn't do it but then I actually did it. Then we went on to win the game 54 to 9.
That is a amazing story and in 5th grade I remember Molly C. did the exact same thing. Plus time to time I do thing of an amazing moment I will never forget. It was when my mom saved my life. Well mom and I were riding a 4 wheeler and it flipped it was about to come down on me but my mom shoved it with one hand and I am really thankful for that. I love just to type, talk or think about it. I also know what it fells like to not belong in a group. I have groups that just talk about me behind my back, so me and him have stuff in common.
The time I had that great moment is when I shot my first deer. I was six and sitting in the blistering cold all day with my dad in our double tree stand. Then I saw the button buck walking in and I told my dad that there was a deer. I started to get buck fever and I was shaking like crazy. I tried to stop shaking. Then I aimed my dad's crossbow at him, still shaking. Then I waited then I shot... dad then said I think you hit him.
I was really excited then we spent two hours following the blood trail and then we found him he jumped up and took off. Then we followed him the best we could. Then there he was I ran up to him and poked him with the butt of the crossbow to make sure he was dead.
I will always remember that moment. It is still crystal clear in my mind, and I am sure it will always be there.
The time that things went right was when I finely beat my big brother joey at Call of Duty I beat him by a lot too. That time only lasted about 5 seconds because then he beat me up. When he got done beating me up he asked for a rematch and then when I won the rematch he beat me up a 2nd time. Then when he got done with my 2nd beating he gave up. After all the beatings were done I could finely tease him because I beat him at is own game.
I remember one time on New Years Eve, about 3 years ago, my sisters and I were playing the Wii. We were doing 100 pin bowling. Every time, I would get so close to rolling the perfect game, and on the last frame one would still be standing. This time I was determined to get the perfect game. I had gotten strikes on all the other frames, and there was one more left. Finally, it was my turn. I took the remote and got ready to bowl. I rolled the ball and the pins slowly started to fall. I looked at the screen and one was still standing. I was so mad! I stormed out of the room really angry! I was so close. Then, my parents yelled for me. They said that out of nowhere the pin had just fell down! I had finally done it! I was so happy. I was the first person in my family to ever have a perfect game. That was the time when everything went just right for me.
One great moment that I had is, I was at my first basketball game of the season we were getting ready to start and then I saw the tallest 6th grade kid I've ever seen. Then I remembered that I had to do tip off. So we get ready and the tall kid and I go to do tip off and I knew I was going to lose it but then I jumped as high as I can and then I got it. I couldn't believe it I actually got it. Then we went on to win the game 54 to 9.
One time at my old school my last year there I made a bet with my friends that I wouldn't do good on a big test. Well we took the test and I had one of the highest scores in the whole 4th grade. I still think about that up till now. What made it so meaningful was that I didn't think I could do what I did.
There was a time when things were like that it was when I hit a grand slam in baseball. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was up to bat and bases were loaded. The pitcher pitched the ball and I missed it. But when the pitcher pitched it again I hit it with all my might and I ran as fast as I could. When I looked back I was on third base and they were still in the outfield trying get it in and it was a definitely a Grand slam and I was kind of proud of myself because that put four more points on the score and we won the game when I got in the dug out people were telling me of how good of a hit it was and I just felt great.
One time about five years ago, I was at my grandpa's house and he just got a new dog and named it Caley.My grandpa told my parents not to let the kids play with Caley because only she would let him near her.When my parents were inside I went outside to play, I saw the dog so I went up to it and started to pet it. My dad and my grandpa came outside and my grandpa was amazed that the dog had let me pet it and did not try and bite me. So from that day on only my grandpa and me can pet Caley. When I think about it it makes me happy that I am good with animals and that I didn't get bitten!
One time about five years ago, I was at my grandpa's house and he just got a new dog and named it Caley.My grandpa told my parents not to let the kids play with Caley because only she would let him near her.When my parents were inside I went outside to play, I saw the dog so I went up to it and started to pet it. My dad and my grandpa came outside and my grandpa was amazed that the dog had let me pet it and did not try and bite me. So from that day on only my grandpa and me can pet Caley. When I think about it it makes me happy that I am good with animals and that I didn't get bitten!
One time I had a great moment was when I got my first lawnmower. It was on my birthday and my brother comes up the road with the one thing I always wanted A 1960's sears custom when we took it off I wondered what was wrong with it, but nothing was it was perfect.It was orange and the with the original wheels 2 years later we restored it it's now red I will never forget that moment.
I've had a lot of great moments. But the one that I liked the most is when I was playing softball. My coach put me into pitch because the other team started catching up with us. So you know, my coach is telling me I can do it, strike them out, and all this other stuff to get me pitching good. To be honest with you, none of that helped. It just made me even more nervous. So I got out to the mound, so nervous, I just stood there. My coach and team mates are cheering me on. The next thing I knew I had struck the girl out. Then another girl, and another. I had struck three girls out in a row! My team and coach was so excited. We batted, got a few runs. But we were only winning by a few. Coach put me back into pitch. I pitched the first ball. Strike 1! Strike 2! Strike 3! I struck the girl out! I was so excited. Then the next girl came. Strike 1! Strike 2! Strike 3! I struck her out too. But then the next girl came up to bat. Oh, I was so nervous. She was a great hitter and I didn't think I could strike her out. But I had all these people cheering me on, it gave me a little confidence. So, I threw the ball. Strike 1! Strike 2! Ahhh, I was so nervous for that third ball. But I just threw it. She swung BUT she missed! We won the game. My whole team came around and crowded me. They were so happy for me! They said I had won the game for them, but it was the whole team. I was just in complete shock. I've never done that before and the coach rarely puts me into pitch, so that made my coach so proud. It was just an awesome moment. It was my chance to shine.
That is a amazing story and in 5th grade I remember Molly C. kicked a ball through the basket. Plus time to time I do thing of an amazing moment I will never forget. It was when my mom saved my life. Well mom and I were riding a 4 wheeler and it flipped it was about to come down on me but my mom shoved it with one hand and I am really thankful for that. I love just to type, talk or think about it. I also know how he feels to be left out.
I had a moment like that I was playing baseball.We were playing at the Amanda baseball field.There was a pop fly I caught it at short stop.I ran to second I got the guy out then I ran to home and got a guy out.It was the best day of my life I was so happy.At the end of the game the other teams coach came and gave me the game ball.On the ball it said unassisted triple play on it.I was also glad because my uncle Jason was there.
I rember the time I reeled in a huge 18 inch large mouth bass IN CANADA! I fought for like 45 seconds then I realized it is like 3 pounds! Biggest fish I have cought.(That is what made it so special) I got the morbidly obese fish out of the lake and put it on a stringer. Went to the cabin. Fried it up and ate it. I was so full for the rest of the night and it was great!
The best thing that happened to me in my whole entire is that when the first day of school came I thought that no one would like me this year but when this girl walked in I just stared talking to her and got to now her and she told me about her self and her name is Gabrielle Lemaster and she is a new kid and I welcomed her here because I was at Laurelville Elemtray last year in Fith grade.
well an now we have had only one fight and that only lasted about 30 minutes cause it was just a little fight but now we are B.F.F.L'S now and we are like sisters and I hope that neither of us move. well that is my story.
The time that things went right was when I finally beat my big brother Joey at Call of Duty I beat him by a lot too. That time only lasted about 5 seconds because then he beat me up. When he got done beating me up he asked for a rematch and then when I won the rematch he beat me up a 2nd time. Then when he got done with my 2nd beating he gave up. After all the beatings were done I could finally tease him because I beat him at his own game.
There was a time when I had a great moment and that moment was when my best friend Ceara came over and we had a lot of fun we tried to stay up all night but we couldn't.We watched a scary movie, and ate pizza. Ceara and I got to plan my Halloween party together. This probably dose not seem like a good moment but I think this was very important because at least I know that I have a friend who is always there for me. Ceara is a very fun person and a GREAT best friend.
Did the beating hurt?
Something that was great that happen to me was in a football game I was missing alot of tackles. But then there was a pitch to the left side and I just crushed the kid for a solo tackle when he got the ball. It felt really good when I hit him. Then when I got the tackle My coaches were saying good job. When I saw the ball land in the kids hands I was liked zoned in to get the tackle.
This would be something good to be proud of.Nice post!
The best thing that happened to me in my whole entire life is that when the first day of school came I thought that no one would like me this year but when this girl walked in I just stared talking to her and got to now her and she told me about her self and her name is Gabrielle Lemaster and she is a new kid and I welcomed her here because I was at Laurelville Elementary last year in Fifth grade.
well an now we have had only one fight and that only lasted about 30 minutes cause it was just a little fight but now we are okay B.F.F.L'S now and we are like sisters and I hope that neither of us move.
I've had a lot of great moments. But the one that I liked the most was when I was playing softball. My coach put me into pitch because the other team started catching up with us. So you know, my coach is telling me I can do it, strike them out, and all this other stuff to get me pitching good. To be honest with you, none of that helped. It just made me even more nervous.
So I got out to the mound, so nervous, I just stood there. My coach and team mates are cheering me on. The next thing I knew I had struck the girl out. Then another girl, and another. I had struck three girls out in a row! My team and coach was so excited.
We batted, got a few runs. But we were only winning by a few. Coach put me back into pitch. I pitched the first ball. Strike 1! Strike 2! Strike 3! I struck the girl out! I was so excited. Then the next girl came. Strike 1! Strike 2! Strike 3! I struck her out too. But then the next girl came up to bat. Oh, I was so nervous. She was a great hitter and I didn't think I could strike her out. But I had all these people cheering me on, it gave me a little confidence.
So, I threw the ball. Strike 1! Strike 2! Ahhh, I was so nervous for that third ball. But I just threw it. She swung BUT she missed!We won the game! My whole team came around and crowded me. They were so happy for me! They said I had won the game for them, but it was the whole team. I was just in complete shock. I've never done that before and the coach rarely puts me into pitch, so that made my coach so proud. It was just an awesome moment. It was my chance to shine.
I do too! It was a great time
The time when everything went right for me and I'll never forget is when I shot my very first buck. Its was muzzle loader season and my dad and I went to his property and we walked about an hour in the middle of the dark to get to this spot where dad has been seeing deer walk through and I set right beside dad and we sat all day in the snow I wasn't cold but I was saying that to get dad to take me home and he said no. I waited forever when dad said "Brylee get your gun on the gun stand" and when I did a big deer walked out only it's body was big I didn't see any antlers at the time and the deer walked at least twenty to thirty yards and dad said stand still and and stay steady so I tried to and I succeeded because the deer didn't see me and it turned broad side. My dad was shaking and he finally said " Brylee shoot right behind the shoulder" when I shot smoke was everywhere and the deer walked ten feet out of the smoke and stopped and started looking directly at me, dad and I watched him fall over then we got excited and started hugging each other and when we got to the deer it had one set of antlers he was a half rack with five points. We was so excited when I got to the house for pictures everyone was so happy for me.
My four touchdowns in one game it was this season for Logan elm and it was against Liberty union and we were running the same play they snapped the ball to me it was a wildcat and Tristan had a good block to the outside for the first touchdown. It was the first game of the real season and it was one of the first plays we ran in the game and we were excited the first time we scored on it and then we ran it three more times and I scored three more touchdowns. We won that game fifty six to fourteen and we were very happy that we won by that much and we tried to do a pass out of that play and it worked I threw it for twenty to twenty five yards and we were happy about winning that game.
One of the best things that happened to me was last year in P.E. We were playing kickball and it was my turn to kick, so (as usually) I wanted to kick it as hard as I could. Finally the pitch came and I kicked the ball and the next thing I knew, as I was watching the ball and running the bases, down, down, down it went right into the basketball hoop making a big, "Swoosh" sound! I remember looking at everybody's faces that moment and seeing their shocked faces! Every single person in there had wide eyes and mouths that looked like big O's, even Mr. Congrove was shocked because I don't think he had seen that happen before! I will remember that moment for the rest of my life!
One time that was really great for me was when I got my test scores for the OAA. It was 2011 and it was summer. My mom was at work and the babysitter was watching us. It seemed like a normal day like any other summer day except it was my birthday. July 7th.
My mom came home and gave me a early party gift. Then she pulled out my test scores and her eyes got big and said Matthew your a genius! Then I said why what did I get? I looked at my test scores and I saw that I got above state average in every test! I was so happy it must have been luck because it was my birthday. That was my great moment.
One time that was great for me. When I go hunting I see a lot of deer but they are so far away. I can never get a shot on one of then it really suck because I am siting there and wishing that I will get one. But when they start getting closer I pule up my gun getting ready to shot the deer walks away I was so made.
A time when everything went right for me was when I was at school in Mr. McGuire's room and he told us he picked two people in the classroom to be in the laurelville Links. What was going on in my mind was " Molly and some other great writer would win"( I've read molly's blog before and she writes really great stuff so I just guessed she would win),but when Mr. McGuire said my name I was so surprised that he picked me. Out of all the kids in the classroom he picked Molly and I. I am thankful and shocked Mr. McGuire picked me. It was an AMAZING day for me that I will never forget!
One time I was racing my dirt bike and I came in first place my dad said he was proud me and I was proud of my self. every time I go racing my dad says have fun out there and smoke them. when I came in first it was the best thing that ever happened to me on a dirt bike. I love when I get up on the podium it is awesome.
My four touchdowns in one game it was this season for Logan Elm and it was against Liberty Union and we were running the same play they snapped the ball to me it was a wildcat and Tristan had a good block to the outside for the first touchdown. It was the first game of the real season and it was one of the first plays we ran in the game. we were excited the first time we scored on it and then we ran it three more times and I scored three more touchdowns.
We won that game fifty six to fourteen and we were very happy that we won by that much and we tried to do a pass out of that play and it worked I threw it for twenty to twenty five yards and we were happy about winning that game.
Last week I was at my cousins house they had these two dogs chained up out back, their names were, Pup and Redmen. I asked if I could go back and my little cousin said '' They will jump up on you and Redmen might bite you.'' But I went back there. And my little cousin came with me. She was amazed that neither one of the dogs jumped up on me or tryed to bite me. Then when Ashleigh came out I showed her and she asked me how I made them not bite or jump up on me. And I told her '' You have to be jentle with them and let them know that you are not going to hurt them.
The time when things went right was when my cousin Landen was born. Uncle Jason called us and he sayed while crying of happiness "come to the hospital it is time. Mistee is about to have the baby."
We drove to the hospital. There Grandpa sam was at the door to the room. Grandpa said "That you need to be quite. Landen just woke up" Aunt mistee asked me if I wanted to hold him. I got to hold Landen. He looked just like a baby angel.He was too cute. Landen looked at me an smiled and then he held my finger with his litttle hand.
It was the last 1:00 left in the the fourth quarter. I was the quarterback and we all was ready for it to end then I throw a touchdown pass in the back of the in zone they all went up the ball and touchdown for us. We need this so our defense to do this and they got a fumble.Then I chucked the ball up for a touchdown. We win smacking pads and Helmets after the game.
The greatest moment in my life was when I was on the Chillicothe Soccer team. We were two points behind and I had the ball, so I started to go to the other side. I passed it to my teammate on my right, he got it and was going for a goal but he was being blocked by two other people.
He passed it to me and I instantly knew what to do. I went up a little bit further and kicked the ball. It went about 20 feet and it went right through the goalies legs. It was the best game ever!
The time I beat my brother Levi at Black-ops he didn't get a point at all it was fun because I won and he lost. Ever since we got the game he only won once, but when he won it was a very close game! It was still fun. Levi doesn't play against me anymore.
I have had some moments like what Dan Gutman said. But there is one that really stands out. I had a football game against Circleville and if we won this game we would go to the championship. It was a tough game all the way. We were trying so hard not to let them score.
The game was nearing the end and it was now dark out. We were up by six. Circleville had the ball and got a big run and they get down to the one yard line. The clock was down to seconds when they ran their last play. The clock ran out and we tackled the running back before he gets to the end zone. We won!
The time when things went right was when my cousin Landen was born. Uncle Jason called us and he sayed while crying of happiness "come to the hospital it is time. Mistee is about to have the baby!"
We drove to the hospital. There Grandpa Sam was at the door to the room. Grandpa said "That you need to be quite. Landen just woke up." Aunt Mistee asked me if I wanted to hold him.so she could rest. I got to hold Landen. He looked just like a baby angel.He was too cute. Landen looked at me an smiled and then he held my finger with his litttle hands.
The time I had a perfect moment was when my brother and I were wrestling on the trampoline and I was being tossed around like a sack of potatoes. One time he actually picked me up and power slammed on the mat. He tried to pick me up and go again but I got tired of be tossed around like a skeleton so I started to pull on his head and as soon as I did he fell to the ground and I broke free. Shortly after that he back to his feet and I dropped kicked him in his side and he went souring off the trampoline. and he said he gave up and I was the victor.
It was about two years ago and we was playing Circleville. There was one minute on the clock and Circleville had the ball. They were on the one yard line and we had to hold them. They were about to run their last play when the clock buzzed I was so happy. If we lost we wouldn't make it to the championship game.
Last week I was at my cousin’s house they had these two dogs chained up out back, their names were, Pup and Redmen. I asked if I could go back and my little cousin said ” They will jump up on you and Redmen might bite you.” But I went back there. And my little cousin came with me. She was amazed that neither one of the dogs jumped up on me or tried to bite me. Then when Ashleigh came out I showed her and she asked me how I made them not bite or jump up on me. And I told her ” You have to be gentle with them and let them know that you are not going to hurt them.”
The day everything went right for me is when we where have a party for some reason and I was in the pool with all my friends. Then my mom came out and she told us to come in and eat. We all went in and we had hamburgers and hot dogs and we walked in and all of my friends where happy and I ask them why they where happy. My sister came up and she was happy and I ask her she said no reason. I ask my mom why everybody was happy and she said because there is some happy news. Then I went back out to the pool with my friends and there was this strange looking car and it pulled up in the driveway and this guy got out and he had something big in his hand and it was covered up. I got out of the pool and told my mom that some guy was here and so she ran out side and told me to go up in my room for fifteen minutes. I went up stairs and came back down and they where all standing around talking and i said what are you doing and they all looked at me and said we have a surprise for you. So I got so happy that i just about passed out so my sister came out of the bathroom and she told me to close my eyes and turn around and open my arms. I opened my arms and my sister put something in my arms and she said open your eyes now and I got a new puppy.
One time I was racing my dirt bike and I came in first place my dad said he was proud of me. And I was proud of my self. Every time I go racing my dad says have fun out there and smoke them. When I came in first it was the best thing that ever happened to me on a dirt bike. I love when I get up on the podium it is awesome.
The time that everything went right for me was a football game against Circleville. It was first down they had the ball we where up by one touchdown the score was 30 to 24 they where on our one yard line and they needed a touchdown to win. There was only seconds to go. They gained a little bit each time. It was forth and inches my Dad was the defensive coach he put the best people up on the line Hunter and I where in the middle Keifer and Tristan where behind us and Jordan was shooting the right side gap. When the ball was snapped we pushed their line back and crushed the runner it was the best feeling in my life. After the game my Mom toled me that the game was louder than a high school game.
The time when every thing went right that I will never forget is the time when I got my first deer. It was a six point. I was walking with my dad to get to our spot and we got sat down. It was cold the wind was blowing in my face. I heard something and then dad said look there was a deer dad shot and hit it in the leg it jumped and ran and stopped then I shot and hit it in the spine and it dropped and made a weird grunt and then I shot it in the neck.
The time when every thing went right that I will never forget is the time when I got my first deer. It was a six point. I was walking with my dad to get to our spot ,and we got sat down. It was cold the wind was blowing in my face. I heard something ,and then dad said look there was a deer dad shot ,and hit it in the leg it jumped ,and ran ,and stopped then I shot ,and hit it in the spine and it dropped ,and made a weird grunt ,and then I shot it in the neck.
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