Lesson 41: Teamwork Works Best With a Team

Conversation

Anna: Hi. I am walking to work. Today my boss will tell me what she thinks of my work. Is it good? Or is it bad? Okay, time for work. I am going right now. Okay, okay, I’m going!

Ms. Weaver: Anna, hello.

Anna: Hello.

Ms. Weaver: Sit down. As you know, at the start of a new year we have a work review.

Anna: Yes. It’s time for mine.

Ms. Weaver: Yes. Anna, this chart shows the audience of The Time Traveling Treehouse. If you look at it, you will see something bad. Your audience is going down, down, DOWN!

Anna: Ms. Weaver, I think the chart is upside down.

Anna: Here, let’s flip that around. Now, it’s right-side up.

Ms. Weaver: Oh. If you look at this chart, you will see something good. Your audience is big.

Anna: Good!

Ms. Weaver: But not big enough.

Anna: Not good.

Ms. Weaver: I want to see these numbers go up, and up, and UP!

Anna: How?

Ms. Weaver: I have something -- idea posters!

Anna: (whispers) Idea posters.

Ms. Weaver: You really ought to think seriously about them. I like this one. Please read it.

Anna: “If at first you SUCCEED; you will be a success.” Well, it's a cute cat.

Ms. Weaver: Here’s another one. I like it.

Anna: “WORKING HARD looks hard because it really is hard.” I see. It's another cute cat.

Ms. Weaver: This is my favorite.

Anna: “TEAMWORK works best with a team.” A team of cats. Look at all those cats!

Ms. Weaver: So, Anna, do you understand what I want?

Anna: Yes, Ms. Weaver. I understand.

Anna: Okay, team. There is a problem in the Treehouse.

Amelia: Problem? What's the problem?

Anna: Our audience is big.

Bryan: But that's a good thing.

Anna: No, it is not big enough.

Anna: Please don’t worry. I know what Ms. Weaver wants. Here’s the plan. (whispers)

Bryan: Is that what she wants?

Amelia: Are you sure?

Anna: Yes. Let’s get to work!

Anna: Good job, team. This is exactly what Ms. Weaver wants!

Anna: Welcome to The Time Traveling Treehouse! Today you will learn about a very popular pet … cats!

MINDY: Anna. Did I give you enough cats?

Anna: I don’t know, MINDY. I think we need more cats!

New Words

audience - n. the people who watch, read, or listen to something

cat - n. a small animal that is related to lions and tigers and that is often kept by people as a pet

chart- n. information in the form of a table or a diagram

cute - adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance

exactly - adv. used to stress that something is accurate, complete, or correct

flip - v. to cause (something) to turn or turn over quickly

meow - v. to make a crying sound as cats do

pet - n. an animal (such as a dog, cat, bird, or fish) that people keep mainly for pleasure

poster - n. a usually large picture that is put on walls as a decoration

review - n. an act of carefully looking at or examining the quality or condition of something or someone

right-side up - noun phrase. with the top or correct side facing up

succeed - v. to do what you are trying to do or to achieve the correct or desired result

success - n. a person or thing that succeeds

teamwork - n. the work done by people who work together as a team to do something

upside down- adv. in such a way that the upper and the lower parts are reversed in position