Ursula Unger, Obviously

By Kimberly Boyd

Ursula Unger arrives late to her first day of school, kicks off her shoes and runs out to recess, leaving her teacher and classmates in stunned confusion. So begins first grade, and Ursula's introduction to the routines and conventions of elementary school. While Ursula learns to adjust, wear shoes, and wait until recess time, her teacher and classmates adjust as well, and discover the genius of atypical thinking in the process.
Ursula Unger, Obviously introduces readers to the exhausting and brilliant mind of a young girl with high-functioning autism. Geared toward a 9-12 year-old audience, this story will remind young readers of the quirky and indecipherable children they have met, and delight them with insight. Teachers will recognize the frustruations of Mrs. B as she tries to teach the "unteachable" child and marvel at her creativity. Parents will relate to the bewilderment of Ursula's mom and dad, faced with the demands of Ursula's stubborn curiosity. From the dinosaur fossils to historical dramatizations, all readers will celebrate Ursula's inexhaustible pursuit of her own truth.
This book is a labor of love after 20 years of working with the special needs population. It reflects the author's fascination and admiration of students who see the world differently, and grab hold with unusual vigor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kimberly Boyd
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463697719

Kimberly Boyd

Kimberly Boyd has been teaching Special Education students for twenty years. She lives in Vista, California and currently works for the Oceanside Unified School District. She loves her job, as well as her time off when she gardens, knits, raises chickens, and bodysurfs with her merman husband, Keith, in the beautiful Pacific. She also enjoys the company of her two amazing girls, Mali and Lily, and her mutt, Pearl.

Book preview

Ursula Unger, Obviously.

Copyright 2018 Kimberly Boyd

Published by Kimberly Boyd at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

About Kimberly Boyd

Acknowledgements

If I could thank by name all the students I have had over these last twenty years, I would. It may sound quaint, but I believe they have taught me much more than I have taught them. They have taught me to listen with compassion. They have taught me to laugh when my plans fall to pieces and to rejoice in the surprise of success. They have taught me to stop being a teacher and be honest. I hope this book honors all they have taught me.

I also want to thank my friends who have encouraged me to keep writing: my co-workers, my drama mammas, my neighbors.

Special thanks go to my cousin Amy Tupper, who paved the ebook path for me and provided valuable editing advice.

Most thanks go to my husband and girls, Keith, Mali, and Lily, who told me to do this, for real.

Chapter One

Ursula Unger, the Meteorologist

It was the first day of school.  Teachers savored the Lysol smell of a clean classroom, and the smoothness of the scotch-tape holding new nametags on desktops.  Students filled their brand-new backpacks with the unopened packages of school supplies and crisp lunch sacks filled with sandwiches, snacks, and Have a Great Day! notes  They ran out to meet their friends on the playground to show off their cartwheels and brag about the video games they mastered.

Ursula Unger sat on her bed at home.  She had her own feelings about school.  Generally speaking, she did things her own way, and she was very hard to convince otherwise.  Her mom called her again to come out and join the world of first grade. Ursula hit her bed with the flat of her hand. The subject of school was going to take some