[Sidenote: Coaching]
Miss Curtis, who taught in the country, had noticed that Rena Brewer was
an especially self-conscious child and was very reluctant to recite,
especially when she had to put work on the blackboard in the presence of
all the pupils. So she asked her to come to school a little early in the
morning. While she and Rena were alone together she gave her an
arithmetic problem to put on the blackboard, commended the straight rows
of numbers, pointed out the well-made figures and said, “Now, today I
shall ask you to put this same problem on the board at recitation time.
I’m sure you can do it well.”
A few morning drills like this gave Rena self-confidence and she worked
with ease and pleasure in the presence of others.