英语散文：A Tour of our Classroom
今天，我们来参观一下一所美国小学里一间典型的教室。美国中学与大学的教室和中国的差不太多。差异最大的是小学的教室。下文是这个教室的主人――一个三年级班的学生――按他们老师的要求写的一篇介绍他们的教室的短文。认真读一下，看看与我们的教室有什么不同。尽管有些难词，但都是我们在生活中非常用得着的。而且，这篇文章写得流畅、生动，熟读它必能提高你的语感。
Thank you for dropping by. On behalf of our class we welcome and invite you to take a short tour of our Third Grade Class in Room 012 at Highland Elementary School.
Every journey begins with a first step. Each day ours (=our journey) begins by taking that first step off the school bus at the school gate, where we are usually greeted by either Mrs. Bodman our Principal or Mrs. Walter, the Vice Principal(副校长).
Now welcome to Room 012, our home away from home!
Our classroom is spacious! Our desks are not arranged in rows(排) and columns(列) but in small groups. These groups change very often so that we get a chance to work with everyone throughout the school year. You will also see that there are a lot of different activities and centers (中心) in the room. We have math and science centers, our own library and reading center, a computer center and other hands-on activities to challenge us and make learning fun.
Language arts(语文) skills are very important and are emphasized in everything we do. Every day, we have a fifteen to twenty minute period when we have DEAR time (Drop Everything and Read). (DEAR是Drop Everything and Read的缩写，这句话的意思是：放下手里的一切东西，拿起书本来阅读)
This is our class library where we read aloud. We have many nice books. As you can see we have our own fireplace for those chilly fall and damp spring (潮湿的春天)days. Whether we're sitting in the rocking chair or on a bean bag(豆袋椅) on the floor, our library is very cozy and feels just like home.
This is our reading center where we can gather around the table for smaller reading groups.
This is our science center where we can explore rocks (石头) and minerals, seashells(贝壳), and lots of gadgets to stimulate some scientific thought! We even have an aquarium for studying some underwater life.
We use technology in our classroom. Our students learn how to use electronic encyclopedias for projects(研究项目), as well as learn how to use office automation software for writing reports. We recently got access to the Internet from our classroom.
In the far corner a refrigerator where we safely keep our lunch food cold and a microwave for warming it. There is also a small sink for water and cleaning up.
We also have a small stereo here where we play a lot of classical music. The students are learning to recognize pieces from Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and other classical composers.
Somewhere back there next to the door is our teacher's desk. But she does not use it much as she is moving about in class all the time!
Well I hope you enjoyed your visit. Goodbye.
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