Goal by Joanne Mattern illustrated by Brent Campbell HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Tammy s s am a m my Goal by Joanne Mattern illustrated by Brent Campbell Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of Houghton Mifflin Company unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Address inquiries to School Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company, 222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116. Printed in China ISBN-13: 978-0-547-02199-7 ISBN-10: 0-547-02199-2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 RRD 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08
Tammy pulled on shorts and her favorite soccer T-shirt. Today was the first day at her new school. Before she rushed downstairs, she put on her soccer watch. Everyone would know that she loved soccer! Tammy loved soccer more than anything. Her room was even filled with soccer posters. Tammy gets ready for school. 2
Tammy sees a sign for soccer tryouts. The first day of school went well. When the last bell rang, Tammy ran outside. A gigantic sign was hanging on the front door. It read: The Conner School Soccer Team needs you! Tryouts are this Thursday. Excellent! Tammy said out loud. It would be great to be on a soccer team again, just like she had been at her old school. 3
Tammy makes a goal at tryouts. On Thursday, Tammy put on her favorite necklace. It was a miniature soccer ball on a chain. Soccer tryouts were right after school. Tammy ran fast. She took a pass from a teammate and kicked the ball into the goal. Good job, Tammy! yelled Coach Lopez. Tammy grinned. She loved all the action of the game! 4
The next morning, Tammy rushed to the gym to see who had made the team. Her name was on the list! Then she saw a note on the bottom. If anyone wants to be captain, please see Coach Lopez. Tammy s heart jumped, but then she shook her head. I won t make the same mistake I did at my last school, she said quietly. As she walked home, she remembered one of the games she had played there. Tammy finds out she is on the team. 5
Tammy remembered that she had scored every goal. A teammate had called her a show-off, but Tammy had thought her teammates were just jealous. She had been team captain and felt that she needed to score as many goals as she could to win the games. After a few games, most of her teammates had stopped talking to her. 6
But that was at her old school. At her new school, after a few practices, Tammy played her first game. She played hard. She yelled for every teammate to pass the ball to her so she could score a goal. By the end of the game, Tammy was out of breath from running so much. Even though the team tried especially hard, they lost by one goal. Tammy wants everyone to pass the ball to her. 7
Tammy meets Orlando. A week later, the team lost another game. Tammy was still thinking about it the next day and sketched soccer balls in her notebook. In the hall, Tammy bumped into a tall boy. Books spilled out of her arms. Sorry! they both said at the same time. The boy bent down to help Tammy. I can see you like soccer, the boy said with a grin. He held out Tammy s notebook and pointed at her drawings. 8
I m Orlando, the boy said just as the bell was ringing for recess. I m the captain of the boys team. Do you want to kick a ball around? Tammy nodded and followed him outside. Orlando was easy to talk to. Why do you wear different-colored shoelaces? she asked. They re good luck, Orlando laughed. We always win when I wear them. Well, almost always. Orlando has lucky shoelaces. 9
One day after practice, Tammy stayed to watch Orlando s team play. The sounds of soccer could always lure her. Orlando played well, and the team won. Those shoelaces worked! Tammy told him after the game. You really shared the ball. That s the captain s job, Orlando replied. Isn t it to help win? she asked. Well, sure, Orlando said. But the captain also wants everyone to play his or her best. No one wants to play with someone who is bossy. Tammy had never thought of that. 10
Tammy and Erica talk about the game. Tammy s team played the next day. As usual, Tammy took control. Erica! I m open! she screamed. Erica frowned, but passed the ball. Tammy shot at the goal and missed. I think I could have scored, Erica said afterward. Why did you want me to pass to you? Tammy started to argue. Then she thought about what Orlando had said about teamwork. Erica had been closer to the goal. You re right, Tammy said. I m sorry. 11
The next morning, Tammy knocked on Coach Lopez s office door. I would like to be the team captain, Tammy said. Great! Coach Lopez said. You re a good player, but a good team captain works with her teammates. Tammy nodded. It s hard for me to let another player do something I think I can do. At practice that day, Coach Lopez asked Tammy to stand up. Tammy has asked to be captain, he told everyone. Let s give her a chance. 12
Tammy watched the other players during practice. She made a chart and listed every player s strengths. After practice, she talked to the team. We all have to help each other if we want to win, she said. She then went on to explain her ideas. At the next game, Tammy did not hog the ball. She passed it to a teammate who could score. The team played really well! Tammy watches the other players during practice. 13
Everyone congratulates Tammy. Way to go, Tammy! Orlando yelled after the team won the game. He was sitting with his parents and Tammy s family in the stands. You re a soccer star, Tammy s dad said proudly. No, Dad, Tammy said. I m part of the team. That s what really counts. 14
Responding TARGET SKILL Understanding Characters How do Tammy s thoughts, actions, and words show her attitude and feelings before she becomes team captain? Copy and complete the chart below. Thoughts Tammy remembers how she behaved as captain of the team at her old school. Actions? Words It s hard for me to let another player do something I think I can do. Write About It Text to Text Think of another story you ve read about sports. Imagine you are one of the characters. Write a narrative paragraph showing your feelings about something that happened in the story. 15
TARGET VOCABULARY crisp deliberately especially gigantic haze jealous lapped lure miniature vanished TARGET SKILL Understanding Characters Use details to tell more about characters. TARGET STRATEGY Question Ask questions before you read, as you read, and after you read. GENRE Realistic Fiction is a present-day story that could take place in real life. 16
Level: N DRA: 30 Genre: Realistic Fiction Strategy: Question Skill: Understanding Characters Word Count: 921 4.4.18 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN Online Leveled Books ISBN-13: 978-0-547-02199-7 ISBN-10: 0-547-02199-2 1032066