Author：Ming-Ling Tsay
Curriculum Team
Chinese: Ming-Ling Tsay, Yu-Wen Kuan, Wen-Xuan Huang
English Editor: Doug Mitchell
illustrator: Jeehye Choi
M.L.Tsay Publishing
ISBN：978-1-927980-08-8
Preface
The main purpose for writing this story was to improve the academic circumstances for a Grade three boy named Victor. Victor is having difficulties with academics due to being dyslexic and the ‘X’ symbol that is commonly visible on his tests and assignments has made learning for him to be quite a negative experience. Of course, the ‘X’ symbol represents a wrong answer or incorrect statement. As a result, Victor has become quite sensitive to a symbol that makes him feel like a failure.
One incident that brought this issue to light happened with a hired caregiver. One of the caregiver’s responsibilities was to supervise Victor while he was doing homework and provide feedback (such as marking an assignment). While reviewing one of his assignments, the caregiver made Victor aware of a mistake by using a ‘X’ symbol. She did so, even when asked not to. This triggered Victor into tearing his homework apart with tears because he could not bear the sight of that symbol.
Victor’s mom came to Ms. Tsay for help. In response, she created this personification story aimed at changing Victor’s perception of the ‘X’ symbol and inspiring him on how three specific markers, the ‘X’, the circle, and the checkmark, each have their own contributions. The story emphasizes how each marker is valued, like comparing one’s own strengths.
The Story Begins
There are three families who live side by side within the town of Baxter: the Circle, the Cross, and the Check.
The three families are good neighbors of each other.
They spend time together and take care of each other.
Mrs. Circle is exceptional at making noodles, steamed buns, stuffed buns, and dumplings.
As well, she likes to share what she has made with the other families as often as she can.
From her efforts, she shows how much she cares for her neighbors.
In addition, Mrs. Cross is a skilled baker. She does a very good job with pizza, bread, cookies, and cakes. Every weekend, she invites the other families to her place so that they can try out a new recipe.
She even likes to be creative in decorating birthday cakes for children; such as…
Star Shapes
Bunnies
Teddy Bears
Her efforts are aimed at bringing joy to those children for whom the cakes are designed for.
Mrs. Check has skills as well. As an expert on plants, she grows many kinds of flowers depending on the season.
She grows daffodils and bluebells during the spring, sunflowers and fragrant jasmine during the summer, chrysanthemums and laurels within the autumn months, and plums and azaleas for the winter season.
Bluebells
Daffodils
Sunflower
Jasmine
Chrysanthemums
Laurels
Azaleas
Plum
She loves to have Mrs. Circle and Mrs. Cross over to her place for flower tea.
And while they are there, she allows them to pick whatever flower they desire to decorate their homes.
A Conflict
On a given day, Little Check noticed that she looked just like the checkmarks that were written on her exam paper.
Since the checkmarks symbolized doing well, she felt very proud for her success.
However, her pride resulted in her also showing off in front of Little Circle and Little Cross.
"Hey guys, I look like the checkmark that the teacher makes on our assignments.
Unlike you two, I can’t tell what strengths you have, especially you Little Cross.
Whenever anyone of the students make a mistake, the teacher writes a big cross on the paper.
Hahaha, your appearance is just a sign of failure and bad luck" Little Check laughing out loud.
In response, Little Cross became dejected and was trying to hold back any tears.
Little Circle was very critical of Little Check’s statement and replied.
Little Check, there is no need to be so arrogant.
During break time...
Let us play a game in which the little check is never used
He then drew a lattice of nine squares and started to play X’s and O’s with Little Cross.
As a result, Little Check felt rejected.
She still continued with her rude and arrogant demeanor and replied.
Who cares about this boring game. I am going home.
Unfortunately, the support given to by Little Circle was not enough to improve Little Cross’s moral.
Little Check’s negative comments dug too deep.
The Advice from Papa Cross and Mama Cross
Little Cross returned home and started crying.
Upon seeing this, Papa Cross and Mama Cross became worried which prompted Mama Cross to give Little Cross a hug and ask him.
What happened?
Let us know why you are crying.
Little Cross told his parents about how Little Check commented on how cross marks represent failure and are negative.
Look around the house and see what objects in the house have the shape of a cross. Said Mrs. Cross.
Little Cross found that many objects within the house had the shape of a cross, including: the clothes hanger, the scissors, the arrows decoration hanging on the wall, and the screw cap.
There are many things in our lives that have the shape of a cross if you look carefully enough.
Little Cross smiled and he realized that the symbol, including the shape of his face, have an importance and should not be viewed as a negative thing.
He came to this conclusion upon seeing that there are many useful things that have a similar shape.
Discover Own Value
On the following day, Little Cross came across Little Circle to tell him how his parents were able to help.
Little Circle also found it very interesting in discovering what shapes looked like himself.
Let me tell you about which object looks similar to me. Said Little Circle.
I look very much like the shape of the pizzas that your mom makes.
Little Cross added, “you also look like the round plates that we place the pizzas on.”
Little Circle says “As well, there are donuts and clocks, and so on.”
Both were in good spirits and laughed joyfully.
They walked together to the park where Little Circle said in excitement, “Look Little Cross. Do you see what that is over there?” Little Cross was quite excited to see a four-person seesaw which is required to be in an ‘X’ formation
That is so the center of the device connects all four sides to make it a four-person seesaw.
They kept walking down to the pond and noticed a big windmill with four rotor blades connected in the form of an ‘X’. The ‘X’ formation is core for the activation of power by wind. They were both thrilled for what they had discovered at the park.
When they were about to leave the park, they ran into Little Check. They eagerly shared with her what they had discovered about the various ‘X’ formations within the park and how the ‘X’ had many positive contributions. Upon hearing this, Little Check became embarrassed and did not feel very confident anymore. She realized that the only time she ever discovered a checkmark was when she saw them on her exam paper. She did not see them anywhere else, therefore her face turned red and she left the park in disappointment.
Little Check's Frustration
Papa Check noticed that there was something wrong with Little Check as she returned home from the park. He asked her if there was anything wrong.
What's wrong?
Daddy, what is the purpose of using a check
Papa check replied, “You see Little Check, a checkmark is used in many situations where someone has to fill out a form. Checkmarks are used to answer questions that require a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ reply. Typically, a checkmark indicates a ‘Yes’ and a cross indicates a ‘No’. Each symbol has a purposeful meaning regardless of their differences.”
Papa Check continued to say that “a triangle ruler also has a particular side that looks very much like a check as well.”
Little Check nodded and felt reassured about the importance of the checkmark. Her father explained it well to her.
Little Check confessed, “Dad, I feel sorry for what I said to Little Cross. I was rude to him as I told him that a cross mark symbolized failure and bad luck.”
Papa Check replied, 「Then you should apologize to him for what you said.」 Papa Check and Mama Check accompanied Little Check on their way to Little Cross’s home. Little Check made up for her mistake by apologizing to Little Cross and handing him some flowers from her mother’s garden.
The chance to Bring the Kids Together for Halloween
After the parents of all three families understood the drama that happened between all the children, they decided to help their children regain their affection and friendship for each other. Halloween was around the corner on October 31. They asked the children to decorate Halloween pumpkins by cutting out shapes that included: the cross, the circle, and the check.
For Little Circle’s pumpkin, he cut two circles for the eyes, a cross for the nose, and a check for the mouth.
For Little Cross’s pumpkin, he cut two crosses for the eyes, a circle for the nose, and a check for the mouth.
For Little Check’s pumpkin, she cut a cross for the left eye, a circle for the right eye, and a check for the mouth.
Next, the three kids worked together to decorate spooky Halloween images on each of their homes and property. They placed next to the Circle family’s front door a spider web with spiders. Three tombs were placed on the Cross’s front lawn along with bats under the front windows of the Cross’s home. The Check’s home was decorated as well with a witch riding her broom and a couple of creepy skulls. Each was placed on either side of the front door.
Happy Ending
Illustration of Continued Story
Do you remember the narrative about Victor within the Foreword section of our story? He is the Grade 3 boy who suffers from dyslexia and has a strong sensitivity towards the ‘X’ symbol.
After he read this story, he not only liked it, he became motivated enough to create a continued plot for the story. With much enthusiasm, he came up with a title for the new plot, “The Missing Mystery of Little Check”. Victor added that he wishes to be a detective within the story. And since he is a very talented drawer, he was able to imitate the images created by our illustrator，a neurodivergent artist Mrs. Choi, in even more detail.
Victor's Illustration & manuscript
As an educator and a speech-language pathologist for special needs students, it is not just helping our students improve their language and communication skills that motivates us. We are encouraged to see children regain their confidence and motivation for learning and for life. They start to believe in themselves, which helps them to overcome the barriers that held them back in their academic life. It gives them hope that they can achieve more for their future life as well. This is the most rewarding aspect of our work.
