Name: Class:
As Good as You
By Dawn Malone
2019
Taekwondo is a type of martial art form from Korea that involves quick kicking, punching, and
spinning motions. Students learning taekwondo earn different color belts that show their
progress. In this story, a young girl and her friend take taekwondo lessons. As you read, take
notes on how Jenna’s feelings toward Marti change throughout the story.
[1] “Class, please line up!” said Ms. Baroni, Jenna’s
taekwondo instructor.1
Jenna snapped to attention.2 Ms. Baroni was
about to introduce3 everyone to Marti, Jenna’s
best friend. Jenna was excited that Marti
would be taking lessons too.
“Let’s welcome Marti,” said Ms. Baroni.
Everyone mumbled “hi.” Marti blushed4 and
fidgeted5 with the hem of her shirt.
[5] “You don’t need to be shy here,” Jenna "Untitled" by Christina Brown is used with
whispered to Marti. “Everyone’s really nice.” permission.
After warm-up exercises, Ms. Baroni divided everyone into color-belt groups. Even though
Jenna was a yellow belt and a level above Marti, Ms. Baroni told the friends to work together.
“Jenna, why don’t you show Marti some basic6 kicks?”
“Sure!” Jenna said. She turned to Marti. “Watch me.” She demonstrated a front kick.
Marti copied it. Her kick was as high as Jenna’s shoulder.
1. someone who teaches
2. Attention (noun) standing straight, with legs and feet together and eyes looking forward
3. Introduce (verb) to present another person
4. Blush (verb) to become red in the face
5. to move in a fearful way
6. need to know first; simple
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“Great job, Marti!” said Ms. Baroni, who had walked up behind them. “Let me show you
something.”
[10] Ms. Baroni stood next to Marti. “Bend your knee, like this,” she said. She then spent the next
five minutes working with Marti.
Jenna slumped7 against the wall and watched Marti copy everything Ms. Baroni did. The more
Marti did, the more compliments she earned from Ms. Baroni.
“Wonderful!”
“You really put a lot of power behind that kick!”
Jenna practiced her form halfheartedly.8 What if Marti became better than her? What if Marti
became Ms. Baroni’s favorite student?
[15] “Watch your form!”
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Who is Ms. Baroni scolding? Jenna wondered. She turned and saw Ms. Baroni looking directly at
her. Nothing could have been worse.
“Jenna, your side kick could be better than that,” said Ms. Baroni with an encouraging10 nod.
“You’ve memorized11 your form perfectly, but your moves are sloppy. Try again.”
At the end of class, Jenna grabbed her bag and hurried outside to find her mom. She had
planned to wait and say good-bye to Marti, but now she wanted to be alone.
For the next several weeks, Marti continued to impress12 their teacher with her skills. And as
Marti turned into a star student, Jenna became less and less excited about taekwondo.
[20] “Ms. Baroni thinks I’m ready to test for my new belt,” Marti said as they walked down the
hallway at school one day.
Jenna stopped in her tracks. “It’s harder than you think. Two judges other than Ms. Baroni give
you points,” said Jenna.
7. to sink down or fall
8. done with little interest
9. Scold (verb) to speak in an angry way
10. Encouraging (adjective) giving help or hope
11. to learn completely
12. to make someone like or respect you more
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Marti looked disappointed. “You don’t think I’m good enough to test yet?”
Jenna felt her face get hot. “I didn’t say that.” She didn’t like feeling jealous,13 but she couldn’t
help it. She wasn’t ready to test for her next belt because she hadn’t been practicing every day.
A week later, at the belt testing, Jenna saw Marti stretching. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m really
nervous,”14 said Marti.
[25] “You’ll do fine,” Jenna said, even though she secretly knew she’d feel better if Marti made a
mistake or two.
But when Marti finished her form, Jenna thought it looked perfect. If Marti had made a mistake,
Jenna had missed it.
Parents and students clapped. Master Lee, one of the judges, asked Marti to come forward.
“Great job,” he said.
Marti beamed.15 “Thank you, sir,” she said.
“How often do you practice, Marti?” asked Master Lee.
[30] “About 45 minutes every day,” Marti said.
I don’t practice that much in a week! Jenna thought. Maybe five minutes, tops, on the days I
remember. No wonder Marti was getting so good.
While another judge continued asking Marti questions, Jenna remembered how she had treated
Marti since she’d joined the academy. I haven’t been a very good friend, Jenna thought sadly.
Later, Jenna approached Marti to congratulate her. “That was awesome,” she said.
“You think so?” Marti asked.
[35] Jenna nodded. “Maybe we could start practicing together.”
“I could use some tips on how to memorize the form as fast as you do,” Marti said. “Then I
might have a chance at becoming as good as you.”
Jenna laughed. “Funny, I was hoping I might become as good as you.”
13. Jealous (adjective) wanting what another person has or can do
14. Nervous (adjective) having a fearful or worried feeling
15. Beam (verb) to smile widely or happily
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Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete
sentences.
1. What is the central message of the story?
A. Working hard does not always pay off.
B. It is easy to share new activities with friends.
C. Friendship is more important than being the best.
D. Learning how to do something new is scary and difficult.
2. What detail from the text best supports the idea that Marti is good at taekwondo?
A. "Marti blushed and fidgeted with the hem of her shirt." (Paragraph 4)
B. "She then spent the next five minutes working with Marti." (Paragraph 10)
C. "She turned and saw Ms. Baroni looking directly at her. Nothing could have
been worse." (Paragraph 16)
D. "But when Marti finished her form, Jenna thought it looked perfect. If Marti
had made a mistake, Jenna had missed it." (Paragraph 26)
3. Ms. Baroni can best be described as —
A. foolish.
B. angry.
C. helpful.
D. gentle.
4. What is the meaning of "demonstrated" as used in Paragraph 7?
A. imagined
B. jumped
C. showed
D. helped
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5. How do Jenna's feelings towards Marti change from the beginning to the end of the
story?
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Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be
prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion.
1. In the story, Marti practices taekwondo every day. Do you play a sport or do an
activity where you practice every day? What is it? What do you like about that sport or
activity? What is hard about practicing? If not, is there a sport or activity that you
would like to do? What is it? Why would you like to do it?
2. In the text, Jenna wants to be as good as Marti at taekwondo. Can you think of
something your friend does that you wish you could do as well as them? What is it?
How could you ask them for help?
3. In Paragraph 17, Ms. Baroni says, "'Jenna, your side kick could be better than that,'
said Ms. Baroni with an encouraging nod. 'You've memorized your form perfectly, but
your moves are sloppy. Try again.'" Do you think that Ms. Baroni is a good teacher?
Why or why not? In your opinion, what makes a teacher good?
