125. 1st Grade SSR: Time to Train

Each weekend is the same for Shawn. He gets up at dawn and jumps out of bed. He dashes down the hall to eat with his dad. His dad serves him food like eggs, toast with jam or peanut butter, and milk.

“Thanks, Dad. That was good,” Shawn always says when he is done. He dresses, and he grabs his bag and water bottle.

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“It’s time to train!” Shawn says as he and his dad hop in the car and drive into town. When he gets there, Shawn knows where to go. He sees many people he knows there. They are all training.

One woman works out with a ball. Other people warm up before they work out.

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Shawn warms up, too. He bends and twists and reaches up high.

“All set?” his coach asks. “Let’s start with the high bar.”

Shawn puts chalk on his hands. He claps his hands and rubs them together. Chalk helps him get a good grip on the bar so he will not slip and fall off it.

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Shawn jumps up and grabs the high bar. He swings his feet. He bends at the waist. He swings higher and higher, and then all the way around the bar. He flips and grabs the bar. He makes big swings and then lets go, twists, and lands on his feet.

“Nice job!” his coach calls to him.

“Thanks, Coach!” Shawn says.

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Shawn is done on the high bar for now, so he walks over to the rings. The rings hang on long straps.

Shawn grips the rings. He pulls himself up and lifts his legs, keeping them together. He is trying to bend only at the waist. He turns upside down, holding his arms taut. It is hard to hold still like this.

The vault is the last thing Shawn will work on today. He takes long strides as he runs up to what is called a horse. He launches himself in a solid jump. His hands slap the horse. He pushes off, and he is in the air! He flips, twirls, and lands on his feet.

“Well done, Shawn,” says Coach. “That was a good vault! You worked hard today!”

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