2 . Hello, everyone. It’s my honor to recommend (推荐) Educator of the Year. I’m sure everyone has a favorite teacher that they will be able to _________ for years to come. There is one famous teacher that everyone wants to have in our middle school — Ms Sullivan, whose _________ you must often hear at school. Ms Sullivan does a lot of things to make herself _________.

First of all, she shows great interest in her _________. She teaches many different classes — Language Arts Enrichment, Writing for Publication and Reader’s Theater, though most teachers in middle school only teach one _________, such as math, social studies, science, etc. Ms Sullivan is also responsible for directing the school play. Every year she devotes her time to _________ an amazing school play. Luckily, I have been a part of it and _________ it so much!

In addition, Ms Sullivan always shows us that she _________ us, whether in our study or in life. Some teachers teach us the lessons in a _________ way, while Ms Sullivan shows us that she is always easy-going like a friend. In writing classes, she makes us have a group discussion first, which I think is a good way to __________ our creative ideas. Then she lets us __________ write our stories at our own speed. She __________ everything we write and gives us an honest opinion about it. We are getting more __________ writing a composition, and no longer consider it hard work. Most importantly, she makes each of her classes __________.

In a word, I think Ms Sullivan should be Educator of the Year. Even if she doesn’t get the __________, she still deserves our respect and love!

3 . In October, I said to my students, “Why not do some _________ to make some money? Then we’ll buy food for someone in need.”

Then early in that week, they came with their hard-earned money at their homes, _________ to go shopping. We soon picked what we needed. As we headed toward the checkout, someone shouted, “Flowers!” The group rushed to the flowers. However, considering practicality, I said, “You can’t send flowers.” “But please, Mrs. Sherlock,” someone begged, “we want flowers.” Defeated (被打败了), I _________ them to buy some carnations (康乃馨).

An organization had given us the information of a _________ grandmother living alone for many years. After a long drive, we _________ arrived at a small, shabby (破旧的) house. An old lady came out to _________ us. Each box was _________ quickly. But when the woman noticed the carnations, she seemed _________. “She’s wishing it were a bag of rice,” I thought. “Do you like living here?” Michael asked. Hearing this, the woman _________,“ Of course. I’m quite fond of living here.” She told the children about the birds flying to the bread she __________. “Maybe that’s why I could get the food from you,” she said.

5 . I was an avid (热衷的) list maker. I thought the lists would help me finish things more ________ so that I would have my own ________ each day. Instead, I felt tired all the time, and it was hard to fall asleep as I ________ my to-do list for the next day in my mind. I was ________ and painful.

My real turning ________ came about a few years ago. I was having the inside of our house painted. ________, I had to move all things out of the painters’ way. After the painting, I decided to think about what I would put back. I ________ many decorations because they made the rooms small and ________. And the house felt so much more open, peaceful and beautiful. When I started to hang our calendar back up, I noticed how ________ each day was. Every square was filled in. I decided to continue my ________ of the calendar.

It was near the end of July, so I ________ “clearing” August and September. I kept doctors’ appointments (预约) and family events. But I ________ extra tasks I had taken on that left me very little time to relax, read or spend time with my family. I felt a great sense of ________ after that.

I still make ________ to keep myself organized, but I am down to one page. I schedule time for myself each day — to do what I ________. The tidy beauty of our home and schedule gives me great peace and joy.

8 . Your first day anywhere can be tough. As a supply teacher, I had one such experience when I was _____ to work at a special education school.

When I received the call asking if I was available that day, a wave of _____ rushed over me. I’d never taught in a special school before, but I _____ pulled myself together and drove to the school. On the way there, I had _____ about everything I couldn’t do.

As I _____， I was greeted by the head who _____ me there was “nothing to worry about”， but I was feeling anything but! I was told I would teach Key Stage 1.

_____ by their parents, the children began to show up. I tried to _____ my anxious feelings, although a few drops of _____ were noticeable.

The whole class, a total of 8 with various special needs, arrived by 9：30. Contrary to my ______， as the day went on，my ______ levels went down. The children were expressive, unique and passionate, though there were times that left me slightly ______ by their screams.

As the day ended, I could ______ say it was one of the best experiences of my teaching career. I hope anyone will ______ working at a special school and allow the passion of the children there to ______ their love of teaching.

10 . Table Talk

As we got out of the car, our son announced, “Phones stay in the car.”

“Why do you always have to tell us that?” complained our fifteen-year-old grandson.

Our son’s wife winked at us and then explained, “We have a family _______ that no one may bring anything electronic to the table.”

We _______ our phones in the car. Even though the restaurant was filled with families, there was little noise. All I heard were a few quiet conversations and the ding of forks on plates. The _______ unnerved me. I looked around. Everyone, even the young kids, was _______ at some kind of screen.

The silence was broken when the six of us sat down, and started talking. The waitress stood patiently and waited for our orders. When our food came, we continued to chat.

An elderly couple at the next table were finishing their dinners and conversing quietly. I noticed that they shot us a few glances, and wondered if our constant chatter was annoying them.

After the dessert, my son signaled the waitress for the check. She hesitated when she brought the black folder to our table. My son opened the black folder — it was _______ . “You forgot the check,” he told her.

“There isn’t one. Someone else _______ your bill — and the tip too.” she said with a giggle (咯咯笑).

“Why?” asked our son, his wife and myself at once.

“They loved it that no one was connected.” she continued. “They loved watching you guys _______ . The old lady went on and on about how nice it was to see a family eating and talking instead of looking at ‘electric games’.”

For a moment, everyone at our table was at a loss for _______ . Then we all started talking at once. My son's voice rose above the others. “Where are they? We want to thank them.”

“They left after you ordered dessert,” the waitress replied.

We spent the next fifteen minutes discussing this goodness and camp up with a _______ . Next time we see a family eating at a restaurant ________ looking at anything electronic, we'll pay it forward, just like what happened to us.