Not in Room 204: A Story About Sexual Abuse - Hardcover

Riggs, Shannon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807557641 ISBN 13: 9780807557648

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2007

Synopsis

At a report card conference, Mrs. Salvador informs Regina's mom that Regina is doing a great job, but she is very quiet. Regina thinks of the secret she keeps so quiet—the one even her mom doesn't know. Will Regina find the courage to tell Mrs. Salvador her terrible secret? This helpful book provides a tool for adults to gently discuss sexual abuse with young children.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

At a report card conference, Mrs. Salvador tells Regina's mom that Regina is doing a great job, but that she is very quiet. Regina thinks of the secret she keeps so quiet--the one even her mom doesn't know, about the secret things her father does.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Not in Room 204

By Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars

ALBERT WHITMAN & Company

Copyright © 2007 Shannon Riggs
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8075-5764-8

CHAPTER 1

On the first day of school, Mrs. Salvador said, "At home, when your parents tell you to clean your rooms, you might shove dirty socks under the bed and heap toys in the closet, and you might get away with it."

The children in Room 204 smiled secret smiles.

"But not in Room 204. Here we keep our desks neat."

Some of the children fidgeted, but Regina Lillian Hadwig sat up straight.

"In other places, you might get away with less than your best work," Mrs. Salvador said. "But not in Room 204."

Jack Galvin and Trevor Jensen smirked.

"In Room 204, if you turn in work that isn't your best, I'll give it right back to you and you'll have to do it over."

Jack whispered, "I think I'll move my desk into the hall."

Mrs. Salvador heard. "Mr. Galvin, you might get away with whispering wisecracks to your neighbor in other classrooms, but not in Room 204."

"In other places," she continued, "you might get away with name-calling. You might even call someone 'stupid' or 'dumb.' Not in Room 204. In Room 204, no one is stupid. I've seen your report card from last year. I know."

Mrs. Salvador folded her hands neatly behind her back.

In October, in Room 204, Amanda Zadatowski ate Brenda Levitt's Halloween candy without asking.

Mrs. Salvador sent a note home to Amanda's mother.

In November, the class went on a field trip to the aquarium. Just loud enough for everyone to hear, Melanie Dickson said that the tour guide looked like a whale. Regina Lillian Hadwig shook her head with disapproval.

Mrs. Salvador said, "Miss Dickson, children in other classes might get away with making rude remarks, but not the students of Room 204. The students of Room 204 show respect. Please apologize, and then you will be my partner for the rest of the day."

Mrs. Salvador led Melanie to the front of the line.

Report-card conferences were at the end of the term. Regina Lillian Hadwig took a seat beside her mother.

"Regina, I am very pleased with all of your written work. You always do your best. You are a very bright girl," Mrs. Salvador said.

She cocked her head to one side and pursed her lips the way she did when she was grading papers at her desk and thought no one was looking. Regina Lillian Hadwig was always looking.

"Are you quiet at home like you are in school?" Mrs. Salvador asked.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Not in Room 204 by Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars. Copyright © 2007 Shannon Riggs. Excerpted by permission of ALBERT WHITMAN & Company.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0807557641
• ISBN 13: 9780807557648
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32