Reading
Stretching Ourselves
Estirarnos
by Paul Fleischman
Overview
| Genre | Expository Nonfiction |
| Vocabulary Strategy | Context Clues |
| Comprehension Skill | Generalize |
| Comprehension Strategy | Predict |
Vocabulary
| abdomen (n.) | the part of the body containing the stomach, the intestines, and other important organs |
| artificial (adj.) | made by human skill or labor; not natural |
| gait (n.) | a manner of walking or running |
| handicapped (adj.) | having a physical or mental disability |
| therapist (n.) | person who specializes in the treatment of diseases, injuries, or disorders |
| wheelchair (n.) | a chair on wheels, used especially by people who are sick or cannot walk |
More Words to Know
| blender (n.) | an electric kitchen appliance for grinding, mixing, or beating |
| cerebral palsy (n.) | paralysis caused by damage to the brain before or at birth |
| stroke (n.) | a sudden attack of illness, especially one caused by a blood clot or bleeding in the brain |
Summary (English)
Emily has cerebral palsy (CP). She needs help stretching her muscles. Her leg muscles are tight, so she doesn’t move easily. She goes to a physical therapist for exercises.
At school, Emily is in a special class with Nic. He has CP too. He uses a wheelchair, and he cannot speak well. Nic uses a special computer that talks. Nic goes to swimming class.
Tanner wants to be a football player. He has mild CP. Many people do not notice that he walks with a limp. His left arm is weak, so he exercises it.
Children with CP work hard. They like to do the same things that other children do.
Summary (Spanish)
Emily tiene parálisis cerebral. Necesita ayuda para estirar sus músculos. Los músculos de sus piernas están muy tensos y no los puede mover fácilmente. Ella va a ver a un fisioterapeuta para hacer ejercicios.
En la escuela, Emily está con Nic en una clase especial. Él también tiene parálisis cerebral. Él usa una silla de ruedas, y no puede hablar bien. Nic usa una computadora especial que habla. Nic va a clases de natación.
Tanner quiere ser jugador de fútbol americano. Él tiene una parálisis moderada. Mucha gente no se da cuenta de que él cojea. Su brazo izquierdo es débil, por eso él lo ejercita.
Los niños con parálisis cerebral se esfuerzan mucho. A ellos les gusta hacer las mismas cosas que los otros niños hacen.