James Shields School Poetry

New Shields Blog!

2008-09-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

As the 2008-2009 school year begins, The Poetry Center has made some exciting changes. One major change is the re-launch of our web site. From there, you may access Shields' blog of student writing for the new year, and beyond.

Go here for direct access to the new blog! It's now easier than ever to find terrific poetry.

If there's no student work posted yet, be patient...we're just getting underway. Check back soon -- check back often -- and feel free to tell anyone who might be interested all about the Hands on Stanzas program.

Here's looking forward to another productive year with Shields students!

Last Day of Classes

2008-05-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day of classes at Shields for the 2007-2008 school year. I want to thank the teachers and students who made it such an enjoyable experience!

Ms. Hughesdon, Room 407

Ms. Michel, Room 403

Ms. Fielkowski, Room 402

Ms. Montoya, Room 405

Ms. Graefen, Room 404

Mr. Heredia, Room 414

Last day!

2008-05-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

For my last class of the year (!) at Shields, I decided to review some of the forms and poems from the course of the year. From those that we reviewed, I let students choose their favorite form and try writing another poem in that form, and since I wouldn't be coming back, I allowed students to keep their work for this day. So, instead of poems, I have pictures to document the work we did today!

It's hard to believe the year has come to an end, but there will be much, much more amazing poetry at Shields next year!!

I Used to Be... Poems

2008-04-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

This week, we read Ted Berrigan's "I Used to Be but Now I Am." In this short poem, he appears to be experimenting with opposites, but as students looked more closely they found some unusual relationships between the words Berrigan chose to compare in his poem. They were then asked to write their own poems, using a structure similar to Berrigan's. Once they began writing, and got into the rhythm of the idea, it was difficult for students to stop!

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

I used to be a car
But now I am an old car

I used to be a dinosaur
But now I am a bunch of bones

I used to be a pencil
But now I am a pen

I used to be nice
But now I am mean

I used to be a Diet Pepsi
But now I am regular Pepsi

I used to be a crayon box
But now I am a broken crayon box

I used to be a frog
But now I am a tadpole

I used to be a cop
But now I am FBI

Edgar A.

I used to be dark
But now I am light

I used to be pants
But now I am shorts

I used to be pencil
But now I am pen

I used to be short
But now I am tall

I used to be think
But now I am thick

I used to be shoes
But now I am boots

I used to be slow
But now I am fast

I used to be water
But now I am pop

I used to be a dog
But now I am a cat

I used to be a bush
But now I am a tree

I used to be you
But now I am me

I used to be left
But now I am right

I used to be bright
But now I am shine

I used to think
But now I believe

Ezequiel A.

I used to be a hamburger,
But now I am a cheeseburger.

I used to be an elephant,
But now I am a mouse.

I used to be a little seed,
But now I am a giant tree.

I used to be delightful,
But now I am mad.

I used to say yes,
But now I say no!

I used to be a dog,
But now I am a cat.

I used to be a pencil,
But now I am an eraser!

Virginia B.

I used to be a hero,
But now I am a villain

I used to be a cat,
But now I am a dog

I used to be a story,
But now I am a book

I used to be a lion,
But now I am a dragon

I used to be a ghost,
But now I am a person

I used to be a dime
But now I am a buck

I used to be a hero to my family,
But now I am a hero

Jose D.

I used to be small now I am
big. I used to be a flower now
I am grass. I used to be Mickey
now I am Daisy. I used to be
naughty but now I am nice.

Daisy F.

I used to be pizza
but now I am spaghetti.

I used to be crayon
but now I am marker.

I used to be folder
but now I am book.

I used to be sweater
but now I am jacket.

I used to be pencil
but now I am sharpener.

I used to be smart
and now I am smart.

I used to be mustard
But now I am ketchup.

Angel H.

I used to be a playful child
But now I am a busy child

I used to be a Pepsi
But now I am a Diet Pepsi

I used to be a soccer ball
But now I am a dodge ball

I used to be a tiger
But now I am a lion

I used to be a door
But now I am a closet

I used to be a VCR
But now I am a DVD

I used to be water
But now I am lemonade

I used to be lemon
But now I am lime

I used to be a soccer player
But now I am a football player

I used to be 7-Up
But now I am Mountain Dew

I used to be a house
But now I am a school

I used to be an apple
But now I am a pear

I used to be a car
But now I am a race car

I used to be a star
But now I am a sun

I used to be a radio
But now I am a T.V.

Crecesio P.

I used to be Sprite,
But now I am Pepsi,

I used to be early,
But now I am late,

I used to be February,
But now I am December,

I used to be Valentine's,
But now I am Christmas,

I used to be mean,
But now I am nice,

I used to be dirty,
But now I am clean,

I used to be wrong,
But now I am right,

I used to be no,
But now I am yes,

I used to be party,
But now I am school,

I used to be pen,
But now I am pencil,

I used to be boring,
But now I am cool,

I used to be hotels,
But now I am houses,

I used to be cars,
But now I am walking,

I used to be Mexico,
But now I am America,

I used to be magazines,
But now I am books,

I used to be playing,
But now I am homework,

I used to be me
But now I am you!

Katy R.

I used to be bright
but now I am shine

I used to glide
but now I fly

I used to be shiny
but now I am a jewel

I used to be simple
but now I am sweet

I used to be petals
but now I am a flower

I used to be you
But now I am me

Marbella R.

I used to be $1,000,000
but now I am $5.00.
I used to be a chalkboard
but now I am a notebook.
I used to be kittens but now I am
a cat.
I used to be mean and rowdy
but now I am nice and
sweet.
I used to be a jungle cat
but now I am a house cat.
I used to be water but now
I am Gatorade.
I used to be a tape
but now I am a CD.

Samantha T.

I used to be small,
But now I am tall.

I used to be quiet,
But now I am loud.

I used to have long hair,
But now I have short hair.

I used to like soccer,
But now I like baseball.

I used to have $102
But now I have $93.

Damian V.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

I used to be the baseball
But now I am the winning home run.

I used to be the puppy
But now I am the mutt.

I used to be the problem
But now I bring people into the problem.

I used to be the Sox fan hater
But now I am the Cubs fan lover.

I used to be something
But now I believe we are all nothing.

Daniel A.

I used to be mean
But now I am friendly

I used to be lazy
But now I am helpful

I used to be water
But now I am ice

I used to be a gym teacher
But now I am a gymnast

I used to be a dreamer
But now I am a believer

I used to be unfavorable
But now I am lovable

I used to be a different
person
But now I am the real me

Griselda A.

I used to be cold,
But now I am hot.

I used to be winter,
But now I am fall.

I used to be nothing,
But now I am something.

I used to be corn flakes,
But now I am frosted flakes.

I used to taste bad,
But now I taste good.

I used to do my homework,
But now I don't.

Angel G.

I used to be socks
now I am a shoe

I used to be water
now I am a fish

I used to be a driver
now I am a sock

I used to be a house
now I am a floor

I used to be ice cubes
now I am water

I used to be a t-shirt
now I am pants.

Jose M.

I used to be an eagle
but now I am a bird

I used to be a folder
but now I am a notebook

I used to be a pen
but now I am a pencil

I used to be good
but now I am bad

I used to be a calculator
but now I am a T.V.

I used to be a fish
but now I am a boat

I used to be a helicopter
but now I am an air plane

Servando O.

I used to be smart
now I'm smarter

I used to be Cubs
now I'm Sox

I used to be the
problem but now my
neighbor is the problem.

I used to be a ball
now I'm a balloon

I used to be a kid
now I'm a teenager

I used to be a cub
now I'm a bear

Alex R.

I used to be snow
But now I am water

I used to be salt
But now I am sugar

I used to be a washer
But now I am a drier

I used to be an office
But now I am a Post Office

I used to be a student
But now I am a teacher

I used to be a book
But now I am paper

I used to be socks
But now I am shoes

I used to be a soccer ball
But now I am a baseball

I used to be an ice cream
But now I am a cone

I used to be a T.V.
But now I am a DVD

Magdalena R.

I used to be a dog
but now I am a cat.

I used to be an ice cube
but now I am ice cream.

I used to be a baseball
but now I am a bat.

I used to be a square
but now I am a triangle.

I used to be a hit
but now I am a home run,
wow, look at me fly.

Jeremy S.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

I used to be a snake
But now I am a lion

I used to be a villain
But now I am a hero

I used to be a circle
But now I am a square

I used to be a contract
But now I am an oath

I used to be a house
But now I am a building

I used to be a Care Bear
But now I am a bear

Claudia A.

I used to be a player
now I'm a benchwarmer
I used to be heavy
now I'm heavier
I used to be rated R
now I'm PG-13
I used to be a man
now I'm a boy
I used to be Narnia
now I'm Spiderwick

Diego B.

I used to be wanted
but now I am unwanted.

I used to be a time waster
but now I am not.

I used to be nice
but now I am hateful.

I used to be a girly girl
but now I am a tomboy.

I used to be jogging pants
but now I am Capris.

I used to be sausage
but now I am pepperoni.

I used to be spinach
but now I am goat cheese.

I used to be wood
but now I am a desk.

I used to be eyes
but now I am a mask.

Salena C.

I used to be a tree
but now I am a leaf.

I used to be alive
but now I am dead.

I used to be a human
but now I am a skeleton.

I used to be melted
but now I am frozen.

I used to be poor
but now I am rich.

I used to be a cloud
but now I am the sky.

Marlene C.

I used to be an angel,
but now I am a devil.

I used to be a student,
but now I am a teacher.

I used to be a pencil,
but now I'm a pen.

I used to be a daisy,
But now I'm a rose.

I used to be young
but now I'm old.

I used to be day,
but now I'm night.

I used to be famous,
but now I'm poor.

I used to be a pizza party,
but now I'm a pajama party.

I used to be something,
But now I'm nothing.

I used to be a right,
but now I'm a left.

Maria M.

I used to be a board now I am a teacher

I used to be a pencil now I am lead

I used to be the game now I am the player

I used to be a basketball now I am Michael Jordan

I used to be Larry now I am vocabulary

I used to be hair now I am body

Everardo P.

I used to be a dreamer
But now I am the dream

I used to be French
But now I am fries

I used to be
But now I am

I used to be invisible
But now I am visible

I used to be top dog
But now I am top cat

I used to be a boy
But now I am a man

I used to be Pizza Hut
But now I am Pasta Hut

Gustavo R.

I used to be you
but now I'm I
I used to say bye
but now I say hi
I used to be up
but now I'm down
I used to be serious
but now I'm furious
I used to lie
but now I'm shy
I used to be the one and only
but now I'm lonely
I used to dream
but now I believe

Jessica Z.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

I used to be a board
now I am a skateboard

I used to be mean now
I am nice

I used to be a computer
now I am technology

I used to be full
now I am empty

I used to be a girl
now I am a woman

Ana C.

I used to be Japan
But now I am Japanese

I used to be school
But now I am a scholar

I used to be fold
But now I am a folder

I used to be a pen
But now I am a pencil

I used to be
But now I am

I used to be class
But now I am classy

I used to be a copy
But now I am a computer

I used to be sweet
But now I am evil

Yadid G.

I used to be a fish and
now I'm a dolphin.

I used to be a baby girl
now I'm a girl.

I used to be a student
now I'm a teacher.

I used to be a shoe now
I'm a sock.

I used to be
But now I am

I used to be a flower
now I am a cup of water.

I used to be a bee
now I am a letter b.

I used to be a computer
now I'm a calculator.

I used to be a pencil
now I'm a paper.

I used to be a book
now I'm a suit.

I used to be a pop
now I'm an empty
can.

I used to be tea
now I'm a letter T.

Linet L.

I used to be nobody,
but now I am somebody

I used to be numbers,
but now I am math

I used to be letters
but now I am words

I used to be a folder,
but now I am a notebook

I used to be alive,
but now I am a life

I used to be flexible,
but now I am mixable

I used to be Santa Ana,
but now I am Santa

I used to be having a lot of hair,
now I have extra hair.

Alexis R.

I used to be washable
but now I'm permanent

I used to be a paper
but now I'm a book

I used to be a jewel
now I am a diamond

I used to be dim
now I am bright

I used to be the pencil
now I am the eraser

I used to be the smart one
now I am intelligent

I used to be full
now I am empty

I used to be nice
now I am mean

I used to be a circle
now I am a triangle

I used to be alone
now I'm in the collection

I used to be a month
now I am a year

I used to be away
but now I'm close

Diana R.

I used to be crazy
But now I'm annoyed

I used to be a spider
But now I'm a spy

I used to be a lamp
But now I'm a lamb

I used to be a boy
But now I'm a toy

I used to be 0
But now I'm 100

I used to be a wall
But now I'm a ball

I used to be a cat
But now I'm a rat

I used to be a bat
But now I'm a hat

I used to be soggy
But now I'm dry

I used to be hot
But now I'm warm

I used to be a car
But now I'm a bar

I used to be smart
But now I'm stupid

I used to be A
But now I'm b

I used to be Louis Z.
But now I'm Louis Z., Jr.

I used to start
But now I'm finished

Louis Z.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

I used to be a dog
But now I am a cat

I used to be cheap
But now I am a cow

I used to be a pen
But now I am a pencil

I used to be hot
But now I am cool

I used to be a box
But now I am a folder

I used to be a sharpener
But now I am a highlighter

I used to be a notebook
But now I am the moon

Diana G.

I used to be mean
now I have meaning

I used to be the fish
now I'm the hook

I used to be a quarter
now I am a quarter of a quarter

I used to be a dance
now I am the feet

I used to be letters in this poem
now I am the poem

I used to be done
now I am finished

Isaac G.

I used to be a seed but
now I am a flower.

I used to be a caterpillar
now I am a cat.

I used to be a baby
now I am a kid.

I used to be water
now I am soda.

I am Eli. I will
always be Eli.

Eli L.

I used to be a tree
but now I am paper

I used to be earth
but now I am junk

I used to be dead
but now I am a ghost

I used to be green
but now I am brown

I used to be air
but now I am pollution

I used to be water
but now I am dirt

Maggie M.

I used to be so girly
Now I am not that girly

I used to be a cupcake
Now I am a cake

I used to be Rocio
Now I am Rose

I used to be a paper
Now I am a book

I used to be a star
Now I am the sun

I used to be a flower
Now I am a tree

I used to be a bag
Now I am a basket

I used to be a heart
Now I am a star

I used to be lead
Now I am ink.

Rocio M.

I used to be the water now I am wind.

I used to be the sun that shines
bright but now I am the moon in the
sky that has dim light.

I was the past now I am the
future.

I used to be a someone but now
I am a star that shines at night.

I used to be sour but now I
am sweet.

Silvia R.

I used to be the bun
now I am a hamburger

I used to be lead
but now I am the ink

I used to be a hotdog
now I am a hot dog

I used to be the paper
but now I am a pencil

I used to be a page
but now I am the book

I used to be playful
but now I am boring

I used to hate reading
but now I love reading

I used to be the writer
but now I am the reader

Anthony S.

I used to be a baby
But now I am a kid

I used to be shorty
But now I am a youngster

I used to be 5 years old
But now I am 11 years old

I used to be old
But now I am dead

Jose Z.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

I used to be a puppy
But now I am a dog

I used to be a lake
But now I am an ocean

I used to be a fraction
But now I am a whole number

I used to be a picture book
But now I am a novel

I used to be a store
But now I am a mall

Amanda H.

I used to be a turtle but now
I'm a shell.

I used to be black but now
I'm white.

I used to be smart but
now I'm intelligent.

I used to be unstoppable
but now I'm stoppable.

I used to be thunder but now
I'm rain.

Stephanie M.

I used to be ice cream
But now I scream.

I used to see
But now I'm the sea.

I used to go
But now I go.

I used to be
But I'm the bee.

I used to play
But now I play.

I used to be 5
But now I'm 10.

I used to be a kitten
But now I'm a cat.

I used to be a planet
But now I'm the solar system.

Cristian M.

I used to be Diet Coke.
But now I am Coca Cola.

I used to be a jacket.
But now I am a sweater.

I used to be a cake.
But now I am a piece of cake.

I used to be Earth.
But now I am the moon.

I used to be a star.
But now I am the sun.

I used to be Math.
But now I am Science.

I used to be a boot.
But now I am a shoe.

I used to be Hershey's.
But now I am Reese's.

Edwin O.

I used to be indescribable
But now I am unpredictable

I used to be unknown
But now I am unanimous

I used to be hope
But now I am faith

I used to be uncomfortable
But now I am believable

I used to be oblique
But now I am on an angle

Jasmine R.

I used to be intense,
But now I am feeble.

I used to be loud,
But now I am pensive.

I used to be a roadrunner,
But now I am a bird.

I used to be a monkey,
But now I am a giraffe.

I used to not care,
But now I am amused by how
much I've grown.

I used to be a pencil,
But now I am a pen.

I used to be seven,
But now I am eleven.

Leslie S.

I used to be an eye,
but now I am a nose.

I used to be a student,
but now I am a teacher.

I used to be an America fan,
but now I am a Chivas fan.

I used to be a clock,
but now I am a watch.

I used to be a Mexican,
but now I am an American.

Mayra S.

Lies, All Lies!!

2008-04-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

For this week's class, I brought in one of my favorite poems, "Lies" by Eva Skrande:

I was a baby born in the arms of a tree.
I had no grandmother, not even
a father or mother.
The few caps I wore, I threw
into a headless river.

I was a boat born without food or wine.
I swam amongst the flotsam of stars.
I had only four fingers

to hold the moon.

I was a window, a church,
an old pair of shoes, an owl in martyrdom
of night.

I became a flower.
I had one ear to listen for enemies.

I became a song.
I became a heart, lucky and green.

I became a liar.
I rewrote my past.
On the last page of my life
I lulled the wind to sleep
in my arms.

...

We talked about why a poet might decide to lie in a poem, and in particular, why this poet decided to let us know that she was lying. Sometimes it's more fun and interesting to lie, and of course, we want to catch our readers' interest with our poems. But, more importantly, a poem is a safe place in which to make up outrageous lies - we can't get in trouble for lying in a poem, especially if we disclose that we're lying! So, taking a cue from the last stanza of the poem, I asked my students to re-write their life stories in lies. This was an exercise they just dove into - all their poems were awesome!

Mr. K, Rm. 204
3rd Grade

Anthony P.

I was born in Edgar's eyes and I was touching
Edgar's eye and when I was 9 I moved to Angel's
head, it was big! I was cooking in Angel's head
and Angel's head was on fire! And I moved because
Angel's head was on fire and I moved to David
and David's head had a lot of smart things
and I moved outside and see my mom.

Lies, Lies and Liars
Asil P.

I was born in France with no
hands or mother. I was the ugliest
person. No one liked me. I was trash
that was thrown away. I was a dime,
people spent me. I was a deer, I
was shot and eaten. I became
a flower, I got splat. I became
the maddest person in the world.
I became to start dying.

Alone
David C.

I was born in a forest. I only had
myself to care about. I was a tree at
night, wolves howled and tigers growled and
fought all night leaving me freezing alone. I
was the moon looking over my home.
I was dirt, ugly. I became a liar
but lucky too. I let the wind make
me sleep forever.

I am a Liar!
Reymundo

I was born in a lollipop
I licked my way out. The lollipop
tasted like cotton candy. When
I came out I was in candy land
I ate the mayor of candy land, he
tasted like a burned cookie. And
I became mayor of candy land
I ate all the candy except black
licorice - I don't like it. I ate all
the gingerbread houses and all ice cream
and the grass tasted like gum
the real bunnies tasted like chocolate
and I ate the gingerbread man
called Gingy. He was tasty. Then I ate
a snowman made of strawberry ice cream
until I saw an ocean of
hot chocolate then I saw
the biggest ice cream ever
with chocolate, strawberry and
all the different flavors of ice
cream in the world, when I
finished, I blew up

Michael D.

I was born in heaven.
I was an angel
Then I turned into a planet
I was candy
I was a liar
I was an alien
I was the solar system
Then I was a snake
I was a bumblebee
I was an ant
I was a list of names
Then I was a math book
I was a double decker bus
I was Tony when I was 3

Lies of my Life
Jossaira S.

I was born in Mexico.
I was born without a grandmother.

I was a leaf born without chlorophyll.
I was flying around the tree.

...

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Lies
Luis P.

I was born in the hands of Captain Underpants
and all he fed me was underpants
I had no grandmother, no grandfather, and
no mother and father
I was born with 4 eyes and 70 fingers
and 100 toes
I was born with 100 mouths
I was born so small that Danny stepped
on me
I was a gun so I shot Danny because
he stepped on me
I was Danny and beat me up so
Danny could feel the pain
I was Shawn and I stayed there forever
That's the
true story
of me...
Psyche!!!

The Liar
Alejandra I.

I was born with Santa Claus.
I was born with 25 toes and
11 fingers, I used those for people.
I was born with 3 noses.
I became a chipmunk chewing
houses.
I became a cupcake, but a
person ate me.
I became a monkey in a zoo.
I became a sun and I burned
people.
I became a bug and got
squished.
I was a famous Hannah
Montana singer.

I Lie to my Parents
Giselle S.

I was born in a beehive
I became honey and I was
becoming very juicy and they
sold me, I got scared. So they
didn't sell me. I got squished but a
dog came and ate me.

My Story About Lies
Roayma M.

I was born in outer space. I got burned by the sun.
I became Pluto in a barn. I became a book someone
ate me up. I became a robot and then I exploded.
I became a nerd, everyone laughed at me. I
became appetite, I couldn't stop eating. I became
a car, I ran over myself. I ate myself.
I became a monster, I ate myself. I became a
mom, I had a baby and it was a monster.

My Life Lies
Cesar N.

I was born in a clock with no tick tock.
I went to school, I was not prepared
I had no mom or dad so I grounded myself.
I turned weakling so I couldn't carry my
pencil to do my homework.
So my nose grew very tall for lying to
my cousin. So then I went to the clock
where I had no tick tock.

Lies About Me
Jasmine O.

I was born in a volcano in the arms of the
lava. I had no family or friends. The few caps I wore, I threw
into a headless river. I was a boat born without food or drinks.
I go into the shoes and back out again. I rewrote my past.
I became a liar. I told a dog all lies about me and my life.
I looked at the moon and I looked like a moon and I was
burning the moon.

Shawn

I was born in the army in Iraq. I got
shot 8 times. It was 9/11. My parents
are hippies. Then I moved to China. I
became a rat.

...

Mrs. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Life Lies
Veronica G.

I was born in Venus.
I had nobody in my family.
I could turn into a vampire.
I threw fireballs from my hands.
I flew to Mexico.
I ran to the North Pole and helped
Santa pack his toys.
I accidentally ate one of his elves.
I hate being a vampire.

Lies
Isabel

I was born with a cow.
I had no family except the cow.
I was born in the sun.
And there were kids full of fire.
I was born in a cake.
And the cake was delicious.
I was born in a feather.
But I don't really like feathers
getting in my mouth.
I was born in a chocolate bunny...
And that was the best part.

Liar
Uriel S.

I was born from Amores
body, I came out of her
eye. I went to Shields School,
they kicked me out. I had no
name, no dad. I thought I had a
dad. I lied to Ms. Santer to not
get suspended. I stuck a middle
finger to Lily. I live in a
piece of junk. I am 1,000,000,000
years old, I was still alive.
I told my mom, how dare
you give me no name. I
thought that I had a dad
because how could i be
born?

Andres E.

I was born in a panda's hands, they raised me
I became one of them, they hunted
me down. I became a caveman
I was poor, I fought, I died, then
I became a dinosaur - the T Rex - I
lost and died. I had my girlfriend
she had no parents, neither did I,
so I lived there. All we ate
was cereal, even though we
had a mansion. She kicked me out
of the mansion. I lived, I died.
I was a seal, I saw Miguel Diaz,
we fought, I won, but then we both
died, we never knew we
would ever see each other
Miguel and I, we were
cavemen again, we were
brothers, we ate chickens.
We both became hippies.

...

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Isabel C.

I was born in the
ocean. All I had to
drink was salt water. I
ate starfish. I saw a
mermaid. I was about
to be eaten by a gray
fat shark. I saw an eel,
I got electrocuted. I saw
an octopus. He sprayed me
with this P.U. stuff. I stand
really bad. Finally, I found
a family. I love them, they
are mermaids and a starfish
who is my dad. My name
is Fishica. For a pet, I got
an eel.

I Love You Lie
Denise N.

I was born in a little kid's
desk
I would eat
his sandwich
when he brought
a sandwich

I would tell
the kid to buy
me a sundae
every Sunday
and I would
invite my friends
to play snowball
fight

I would eat
the kid's nametag
every day, whenever
I wanted to and
the teacher would get
mad at the little kid.

Then I would
go to lunch and eat all
the food.

Omar N.

I was born in a cave
I was little, I turned
100, it looked like I was
9. I ate bats, I turned
into a vampire. I saw
a person, I drank their
blood, then I was a bat
I didn't know what to do
trapped in a cage, I felt
something, I was in a cage
I was silver, I saw my dad,
he was gold, my mom
was pink, my two brothers
were blue, we turned into a
bear, instead of the three
bears, the four bears,
I told my dad, where is
Goldilocks, he said I don't
know. When Goldilocks came
we turned into a bomb, we
exploded.

Ariana C.

I was born on top of a mountain
with no family and no clothes
I became a star
I became an adult
I met a person with
old shoes, t-shirt, pants, and
clothes for me
she was so nice
to get me something
I said "get me something
because I am poor, and
I don't have money or food
so I'm poor." She gave me
some stuff and she said,
"I'll give you money so you
can buy a house." She said,
Shoo-shoo
Bye!
And so I bought a house.

...

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

House
Samuel V.

I was born on top of a house
I had no family
The roofs I had had gone
away.

I was a house without hands
and fingers.
I got torn down and never
was seen.

I was a church, a house, a farm house
made of wood.

I was a little house, I had nothing
to hear.

I had one big heart full of
love.

I was built again and was seen
again.

Vanessa F.

I was born in the water
My parents are lilies
I was sick of the water, so I went to
the zoo.
They kept me because they thought I
was a shark.

Outer Space
Sigitas A.

I was born on Glea 436B.
I was a star.
Then, I was a black hole.
But I had the heart of
a pulsar.
As you can tell, this is
a metaphor.

Lizeth H.

I was born on the bush, lived
with lots of grass and monkeys.
I was 10 feet tall and very small.
I was a girl full of trees
all over my body. That's
how I was born. I
was so smart.

...

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Lies!!!
Julie G.

I was born in Mississippi in
a pencil

I had 50 brothers and sisters
and my parents were coconuts

I wear a lion on my
body

I was a paper, Paris, an
old t-shirt, and a frog.

I did have food
a bottle of juice and
bread.

I became a beautiful
liar. I rewrote my lies and
a monkey pulls me away.

My Lies to People
Kristal R.

I was born in a
cloud with no food or
ketchup to drink. I didn't
have a family because they flew
away on a cloud. I had a
skirt on with a long-sleeved
shirt. I was half animal
and half person. Later, I
became a whole animal.

Jennifer F.

I was born in the waves of the ocean
in a really quiet place
where there was no danger
No one was with me

I wore a little ripped shirt
some old dark little shorts
I only had three fingers
After a sharked swallowed me
But he burped and spit me out

Then I suddenly lived in a castle
and my cousin too
But my cousin was a princess ape
It was not funny. (giggles)

My cousin was funny and weird
when he was outside he wore his
underwear and inside his royalty suit.

Jose V.

I was born in a math book
I am 1 and my sister and
brother are numbers
2 and 3. I am a problem
and a solution. People count
on me.

Alejandro C.

What did you
become? A bed.
I was born
in the jungle.
I look like a
bed jungle.

Elizabeth

I was born in the arms of the moon.
I had no friends, not even a brother or a sister.
The few ribbons I wore became a stringy river.
I was a star with no toys or food.
At night I'd float above the clouds.
I'd tickle the sun with my 10 fingers.

I was a TV, a house
an old pair of pants and a cat in the black dark
night.

I became the grass, I had hair to feel people
and animals.
I became a pencil.
I became a heart, red and loving.

I became a liar
I wrote all my
lies. On the last
page of my heart
I lulled the clouds
to sleep in my
arms.

Permutation / Spare Parts Poems

2008-04-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

Permutation, a variation on cut-up poetry, involves taking a set of words and rearranging them to create a new phrase or poem. Making sense is not a requirement of permutation poetry, but it is a challenge to try. As an example, we read and discussed Brion Gysin's "Rub out the Write Word." We then took Emily Dickinson's poem, "It's all I have to bring today," and created brand new permutations from its text. Students were asked to use as many words as possible, without adding or duplicating any, and/or changing verb tenses, agreeing that certain words could be left out of their final poems if necessary – thus the subtitle, Spare Parts Poems.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Untitled
Ezekiel A.

Should I bring all the bees. It's all
I have my heart the fields which in
clover dwell. Some meadows could be beside
my heart. My heart this wide all you count
sure the sum could tell one and all.

Untitled
Virginia B.

All I forget this one heart
I bring beside this clover
and in the meadows wide. Bees
dwell. Is all today my heart. Some
could tell you count the fields.

My Spare Parts Poem
Ivory G.

I have today, This, my heart,
beside my fields, wide, be sure
count, forget one, which my heart,
and dwell.

Untitled
Oscar M.

I bring this heart today.
It's my heart I should forget.
My heart and all bees.

Untitled
Crecesio P.

Today it's all I have to bring.
Beside my heart and this.
My heart and this and all the fields.
Meadows wide and all the.
Sure you count I forget.
Sum could tell the one some.
My heart and the Bees and all this.
The clover dwell which in should be.

Passion
Jonathan R.

It's my heart, my wide heart beside,
The heart in all meadows and fields,
Bring this sum, this someone
could tell, the Bees today, all to
a clover, and you should count,
I forget, I have to be sure, all and
my!

I bring the.....
Marbella R.

I bring my heart
beside all the meadows
wide.
It's all I should
tell you today
the bees which
count sum fields
this, in the clover dwell
this and my heart
be sure to have
some one and
forget all
and my heart
and this
and could
all and
the,
the...

Untitled
Johnny S.

I bring this heart today.
And all the Bees in which the clover dwell.
And all the meadows wide.

Untitled
Steven S.

I forget to bring. Clovers
and Bees at the fields. Today
this heart beside meadows could
tell this heart to count. It's
all my heart to Be dwell and
wide. I should have all the clovers
and Bees.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Untitled
Angel B.

Today beside fields I forget
to count the Bees I have.

Untitled
Giovanni F.

All the wide meadows tell my
heart clover and bees dwell.
Sum. This in which I forget all
fields. Today bring my heart beside
this. Be sure it's my heart.
Some one should count. And all
could have this.

Untitled
Eddie L.

My heart and all meadows
beside you. It's all my
heart could tell the
Bees. Be sure to bring
today my heart. Should
I forget the clover
dwell. All the fields wide
count.

Untitled
Jessica M.

Today I have my heart
to bring and beside all
the fields should I count
clover and the sum and
all this meadows one sure
my heart some all
and this the
which tell
my
Heart

Untitled
Emmanuel R.

All the wide meadows all
the Bees in the Clover
dwell to Bring today in my
heart I forget that they belong
in the field.

Untitled
Magdalena R.

The Bees clover dwell
This heart brings meadows
This heart could tell
Today It's all I have
should the fields count
I forget the sum
beside my heart which
wide the all same
The
This
This
Today
Should
I
beside
Wide

Untitled
Yulissa R.

Its all my heart clover.
One this count you.
And could fields forget
The heart which sum.
Should be sure some bees.

Untitled
Alvaro S.

All bees and meadows beside
my heart. You should count the
sum. I could tell some one
this. I bring my heart today.
Which the fields sure wide.

Untitled
Daisy V.

The heart I have to
bring today I should forget
all the Bees. Be sure
you count on the heart.
Someone could tell the
wide meadows.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

My Heart
Claudia A.

The heart goes to all
the fields. Be sure
you count all the
Bees. It's all I
have to bring today.
Beside this heart
could tell which
clover dwell. I
should forget the
meadow wide.

Untitled
Itzamari C.

Today I should count Bees
in the Clover dwell. This heart
could tell all the fields. I forget
to bring all my heart and beside
all the wide Meadows. Some you
one my heart. This Which the
sum and all the sure.

Untitled
Marlene C.

It's all to bring today
This heart beside this
heart all fields
All meadows wide
Be sure count Bees
I forget Clover dwell
Some
Heart
tell
one
This

Untitled
Brian D.

I bring my heart wide
you count one heart
one the heart
I should forget
the sum.

Untitled
Anheli D.

I bring today
My heart all wide
The Bees in the dwell, fields
I forget the meadows you could tell
This should count sum my heart
It's all Clover
Which meadows my heart.

Untitled
David F.

All the Bees and meadows
could Be in wide fields – I
forget the sum. Beside, all
could tell. Sure you count all
the Clover.

Untitled
Abel G.

clover fields and meadows I have to
bring

all the Bees beside my heart could
tell I forget.

Be sure you count this and my wide
heart.

Untitled
Maria M.

All I have today it's my heart.
All the fields you count
it's in my heart.
This clover dwell one
meadows.
I could tell the wide.
All the Bees should
forget.
Be sure I bring my heart
today in the sum.

Untitled
Jesus N.

It's today have bring
this heart beside wide
Be my heart sure
This dwell one the sum
This my heart and fields and Meadows
you count Bees which in
the clover
this and all the all
And all the some should I
forget
some tell
my heart could bring to
and all the

Untitled
Brenda R.

It's All I have to bring today
besides my heart. You count all the
Bees and clover in the fields.
Should I forget my heart.
Some of the sum could tell.

Untitled
Gustavo R.

be sure you count the Bees

and all the wide meadows

which my heart should forget

I have to bring today the clover

my heart and this heart

beside the fields

It's all one sum

Someone could tell this and all

Untitled
Yvette T.

This today bring my
heart in the fields –
The Bees forget
I tell the Clover to
dwell –
This it's my heart
beside the meadows
wide –

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Untitled
Ramiro G.

my fields and meadows
bring bring bees beside my
heart which I forget

Untitled
Cynthia G.

I forget I have this heart
It's all my heart, today my heart
could tell beside this and this
should count to bring all the fields
and my wide meadows, you and
the sum, and be sure all the
Clover dwell. Which in the
Bees all the some one, and, and.....

My heart
Juan J.

Clover dwell in my heart. My heart, should I
forget? Be sure to count all the bees in my
heart. All the fields, and all the meadows, could
tell the sum. Beside this, it's all I have to
bring today.

Untitled
Ivan M.

It's all wide, I could tell
the fields and clover dwell
My heart, this heart
I should, one forget
I bring today the heart
one count

Untitled
Eric P.

It's This be This this And some which
and all one in and sure all I you the heart
bees forget fields heart heart meadows today I
my my the have my to sum count clover
could should dwell bring tell and wide and
all the all beside I

Untitled
Diana R.

meadows bring Bees beside
my heart count some clover
fields this wide dwell
all I forget should be
one sum all I could
tell in this it's my
heart which today you
have

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Untitled
Elva C.

I have to bring my heart, my heart, my
heart. Besides the field.
All meadows wide be sure you
count, all bees clover dwell, I could tell
someone that's all.

Untitled
Alyssa D.

It's my heart. Beside
the fields – Meadows wide
Bees all dwell – which
my clover heart could tell
sum count, sure you be
all my heart could bring
today.

Something
Isaac G.

I bring Bees today
My Heart, and all the fields, sum
My Heart, it's beside
count, all the wide meadows
My Heart, could tell all I forget
In clover dwell

Untitled
Mirella H.

Today I bring my heart to my bees
the meadows the fields
that. I count the sum and my
Clover dwell in my heart.
This my heart all my wide I forget
and could tell this.

Untitled
Eliliana L.

today all I have to bring
my heart and this

my heart and the fields
the tell I have to tell

Untitled
Rocio M.

Bees could tell the clover dwell
My heart all field
Be sure the meadows and
heart I some forget.
Today beside the wide I should
sum It all.

Untitled
Roberto R.

I bring fields
to my heart.
All the bees
on meadows.
I have to forget
my heart.

Untitled
Silvia R.

It's all to bring today
Be sure some one
could tell this and
the bees. All the
fields – should my heart
forget. You count all
the meadows. This, this
and my heart.
Beside the wide
Which in my heart I
have to be sure.

Untitled
Anthony S.

I bring my heart today beside the
fields, all the Bees, should I count, sure,
could you tell the sum, it's one.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Untitled
Brenda A.

It's all I have my heart,
and all the meadows wide –
beside my heart and the fields –
should I forget to bring today –
all the Bees which in the
clover dwell.

Untitled
Samantha B.

I have bees in my heart
My heart and clover beside
Today this all bring
My heart fields wide
This meadow I forget and some
sure.

Untitled
Ana C.

I and my heart beside this

the Bees in the Clover

My heart forget Some one

the Sum Could tell this
Be sure

It's all and all the meadows
wide.

Untitled
Carina G.

My heart and the
fields
I count the Bees
It's dwell today
I bring my heart to
you
some forget my heart
All beside and one all
And this sum meadows

Untitled
Stephanie M.

I should count all my meadows
and my fields. The bees
beside my heart dwell. I forget
someone in this heart today. I
could tell it's wide.

Untitled
Cristian M.

I bring this heart, and my count today, all fields
could tell my heart. All meadows and heart and
Bees dwell in the clover. I forget the sum. Beside
you should. It's all wide, have this.

Untitled
Jesse R.

I bring my heart today.
Be someone beside this
fields. It's this all I
bring. Sure you count my heart.
This sum could tell my heart.

I and my heart beside
Adela S.

I and my heart beside –
and all the Clover dwell –
my heart and all the
Fields –
This meadows wide and all
the bees could tell I
forget –
Be sure my heart count
the sum –
It's all I have to bring
you.

All Shields Reading!

2008-04-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

This past week was the All Shields Reading. An amazing sixteen (!) classrooms participated, including both 3rd and 5th grade students from the main and branch buildings. Their classmates cheered them on, along with parents and other family who made a special trip to Shields for the reading.

Here are some pictures showing students reading their poems. Even though the microphone was sometimes cutting in and out, poets-in-residence, Mr. Dean and Ms. Bell (Ms. Javellana could not be present), used their technical expertise (banging the mic in their hands) to keep the assembly running as smoothly as possible.

Congratulations to all the students, and a big thanks to teachers and administrators for making this annual event the best All Shields Reading yet!

Sound Poems: Alliteration

2008-04-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

This week, I brought in a recording of sound poet bpNichol's "Flower Eyes" (which you can find here). We talked about how the poem doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, but there are a lot of similar consonant and vowel sounds (alliteration). We then made lists of alliterative words and for their poems, the students were to choose a set of these words (or come up with a list of their own) and build poems, letting the sounds of the words determine the course or narrative of their poems. The results were very pleasing to the ear!

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Luis P.

A snake
will sink
a star fish
will sing sharing
the shoes
superman will
be seventy in
September
I will break
Shields School
by throwing socks
at the building

Alejandra I.

I sing with a
snake and the squid plays the
drums. The star plays the guitar.
The book sunk into small bits of
paper. The snake tries to
bite me. The squid quits
the band. The star quits the
band too. The squid comes back
in 3 days and joins the band again.
And the star comes back in
5 days. The band starts playing
again.

Bernice A.

Alligators make babies and
apples in April. Alligators
heart art. Alvie thinks the
animal alligators are awesome.
Alligators are in America.
An alligator can live in the
alley or in the attic.
Alligators love Annisette very
much. Alvina can live any
where in America. Alligators
can live anywhere in
America too.

...

Mrs. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Noise
Shalynn S.

The moon harp is invisible
in the afternoon with the
steam of the cream on
coffee with the piano with
the nano ipod. With the
empty can with the pan
and the pancakes.

Slow Sally
Troy S.

Slow
Sally
slides
slithery
silently
down
silent
hill
eating
chunky
chocolate
chip
cookies
looking
at
a
streaky
stream

Ciro Q.

Pretty but strange a professional
skater but lived in a dungeon
one day she came tired from
skating in a professional
contest but it was her turn then
she got nervous and didn't
look on the ice and mice
were chasing to get the mice
and she fell and lost

...

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

The Shark
Leandro D.

The Shark
swims and
then he shakes his
little tail shot. The shark wants
to get the little fish but he needs
to be quiet shh!! then he
gets the little fish with
gray and white, yum it's
very good it tastes like chicken

The Flying Balloon!
Yenci S.

The balloon, the balloon is
flying on the noon from my
room it'll soon go through the
moon. Goodbye, goodbye here
is a broom so you can fly through
the shiny moon.

Flea
Nelly Q.

I saw a flea
that flicked to the flower
then it flossed his teeth
his fist flew to the floor
it was snowing he saw snowflakes
he decided to eat frosted flakes

Marlen N.

Yum food...moo cows said shh!
I am going to sleep moon shine on
the sky oh gosh I'm having
a bad day my spoon my food there
on the floor! Hot hot soup yuck
nothing to eat smells like fish a
kiwi of the ocean on the ocean
floor go to your room - no fair! Sister
watches TV, I hop. My room was my
house soon! My birth. Finally my
faith came back. Shhh! Cows again.
I said I hope I will smack them
in the face! Or, or hope I NEVER
was on the farm living here.
I will be a prince soon. I will
become a superstar in Hollywood or
New York. Cakes! Oh boy,
another day!

Isabel C.

I cut myself
With a cup
A cat saw me
I ran downstairs
To the store
I saw something
That stopped me
A lady opened the
Door so I was just
In time before the
Door shut closed
Then I stared to
Look around and
See I was stuck
In the store I
Was scared that
I couldn't get
Out of the store
My mom came and
got me out I
told her I don't
Remember us having
A cat.
I loved the cat
So much I started
To kiss him and
Sleep with him all
Day so I started to
Cry because the cat got
Lost in a dark alley
Full of trash and yucky
Stuff.

...

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

Tasty
Alexandra

I ate
a tasty strawberry cake
it hides in my heart
where I can't find it now

Hidden and Hide
Ryan V.

Cowards have hidden hope.
Grown up men have hidden hair.
Your heart burns your hidden hate.
You keep most things hidden because you have a horse.
And you hide your haircut under your jacket.
When robbers are chasing you where do you hide?
In the mountains where it is high.
So remember don't try to hide -
soon your hidden things will be revealed.

Cool Moon
Andrea

The cool moon sites in the dark night
as the cool moon sits in the dark night
the fool tools dance in the night
when the cool moon sits in the dark night
and the fool tools dance in the night
the cuckoo spoons spoons work
in the night.

...

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Alejandro C.

Moon monkeys jump, they
like to jump and they like to eat and they
like water and they go to sleep
and they wake up.

Strawberry
Julie

A strawberry is a strong fruit. A
strawberry will never strike. Maybe
you won't find a strawberry
in the street because it is
such a special fruit. A strawberry
doesn't have stripes.

The Poem That Starts With Oo
Celeste P.

Boo!! I could see you
I see you too
I see a moon
I have a loose tooth
In June I made stew with a
spoon I sat in the stairs in
June to watch the moon I
see a cool boy the rhymes
with Troy

Ekphrastic Poems

2008-04-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

The word ekphrasis (or, ecphrasis) comes from the Greek, literally meaning "speak out." The magnetism between literary and visual art speaks to our desire as poets to evoke the visual, as well as the painter's desire to evoke the textual. Writing an ekphrastic poem, or a poem that responds to a work of visual art (usually painting), is like having a conversation. For my part, I would ask the painting "how do you do it?!"

For this class, I brought in William Carlos Williams' "The Great Figure," along with its inspiration, Charles Demuth's "I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold." On a side note, I wish I'd had the time to share this multimedia feast of figure fives! However, we did discuss some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the two pieces, and what was effective about both the painting and the poem.

For the students' own poems, I brought around thirty print-outs of paintings, spanning many styles and centuries, from realistic landscapes and portraits to modern works with fantastic elements and abstractions. It was quite exciting to see their reactions to the paintings! I asked them to describe what they saw, but also to go further and tell the "story" of their painting. Their reactions to this prompt were broad and imaginative - it was real pleasure to read them!

Mr. K., Rm. 205
3rd Grade

Hokusai, The Great Wave
David C.

Waves splashing in deep water,
woosh woosh, happening at
sunset. People struggling to survive.
I feel a little sad if they
die. The colors are white, blue, yellow.
The author drew this picture
to show how people traveled on
water.

Marla Olmstead, Fairy Map
Reymundo A.

The painting of
love. I would hear a whisper
of the wind and birds chirping.
It is in a magical wonderland
full of clouds, yellow rain, some hearts
and a blue person or monster,
and a snake shaped like an
S, also a firefighter hat. The
artist painted it because he
wanted people to find certain
things. It makes me feel calm.
The colors are red, black, purple,
white, dark purple, forest green,
yellow and blue.

Jackson Pollack, [Title Unknown]
Virgen S.

Fall because
of the crunchy leaves. The leaves
would make crunchy leaves. It
is in fall on the ground.
It happens in fall. They are
leaves that live on the
ground. He painted it to be
created. It makes me feel
happy. Gray, blue, red, black, orange,
yellow, tan.

***

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Jane Frank, Dorado No. 2
Alejandra I.

I see a green and black
dress blowing in the air. The
dress is blown away from
a mountain. I see a horse
And I see a small lake. The
dress has a pocket. And a sandy
place. And water.

Manet, Boating
Brenda B.

I see a man and a woman and a dog sitting in a
boat.
I see the water back and forth.
I see a dog wearing people clothes.
The old lady is crying.
The man is trying to
catch fish.
The dog is wearing
a life jacket.
The old lady's
dress looks like
a big fish.
And lady's
hat looks
like a
garbage.

Mary Cassatt, Woman with Red Zinnia
Samuel P.

A tree and a person
sad sitting
all alone
on the bench
grabbing a
flower just
her no one
in back
of her
only a lot
of trees
in the
sunny
day
nothing moves
and the
grass said
Mary Cassatt
and she is
red like
a tomato
is black
on the
other
side
and
so green
on the
other
side
she
is
looking
down
so down
way down
down
ya down
uh down

***

Mrs. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Magritte, Golconda
Myriam R.

A lot of men coming
down from space
They are coming down to work
beacuse they work at a factory
to get more money. To buy
a house. Because they need to
so they can live. And because
they lost a job. And because
they gave people days off when
the boss said not to give people
a no work day and that is why
they are coming here.

Picasso, The Bullfight
Jose C.

They will go
to Rome they will
fight and who
ever wins gets
the trust.

One day a man said
that he was better
than any other man
then along came another
man and said you want
to fight? So
they went to Rome then
the fight started.
And the men were very
scared, the fight was
on and the man
that said he's
better died.

Jean-Francois Millet, Man with a Hoe
You Are Strong
Shalynn S.

Below the sun like a bird
steaming hot like a running bath
the ground is like an almond
no green grass.
You are strong, don't give up
or else you'll feel like a
piece of dust.

***

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Jane Frank, Dorado No. 2
Isabel C.

There once was a
desert, the sand was rushing
down very fast like a flute
playing lovely music. It is
like a tree covering a little
pond of water for a man and
his horse. There is a guy
that is Japanese. The man
is lost in the desert looking
for food and water. It is in
1962. There is yellow sand
as yellow as the sun burning
on somebody. The tree is
green as a man's pants and
overalls. The red is so red
it looks like a rose
shimmering very beautiful.

Diego Rivera, The Flower Vendor
Nancy M.

Picking flowers
look like hair
decorate flowers for her house
give to friends
the black looks like night
foot looks like a hexagon.

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Marcelle Lender Dancing the Bolero in "Chilpéric"
The Dance
Nelly Q.

The lady dancing without a man,
The man just staring like he doesn't care
Music so soft like a cat
Midnight so dark and cold
Colors so dark, so sad and lonely
King and Queen looking at the lady
The man so handsome just staring there
Darkish colors black and white
The lady dancing merrily
The lady even worried, so sad.

Frida Kahlo, Roots
Kiara M.

Back in old Mexico
I love the view
I fall asleep
I find out I fell asleep for millions
of years
I'm wrapped up in leaves
They took my heart
It's gone forever
The vines are like ropes
I'm stuck
The leaves talk to me
They tell me I'm the queen
of grass, leaves, herbs, trees.
I'm the queen of nature
My nature is dying
I wonder why
I sing
They love how I sing.
My nature is alive once again.

Mary Cassatt, Woman with Red Zinnia
My Boyfriend Joe
Laura D.

I went to the park in the warm air.
My boyfriend Joe dumped me for
her. Nature is Joe, everything is Joe. I
feel sad and mad, mixed up in a blender.
I feel I'm trapped in a cube alone with
no one to share the space. My rose demands
me to go back to Joe. I feel part of me
is ripped up and thrown away.

***

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

DeMorgan, The Prisoner
Andrea T.

The young beautiful princess
wearing a blue dress
looking outside the window
in a fall afternoon. She is
sad because her prince
has not come to free her
from her dark misery.

Vermeer, The Girl with the Pearl Earring
Sigitas A.

Loneliness
a lonely girl
in a dark room
who has nothing to cheer about
she has blond hair
with hazel eyes
a brown overcoat
rests on her shoulders
I can tell
she is saying "goodbye"

Monet, Waterlillies (1914)
Ryan V.

A large lake
a giant rainbow
full of lily pads
a frog's heaven
tulips in bloom
such a cheery pond

Nakamura Daizaburo, Woman Seated by a Stream
Jacqueline M.

Of a Japanese Mona Lisa
It's nature running on her
Like 2D figures.
It's making me feel
A lot of feelings
Right! so he could let his
feelings. A Japanese lady sitting
quietly.

Bracquemond, On the Terrace
The Wedding
Alexandra

A wedding
The sound is the song for the wedding
They are orange, brown, white and rectangles
It feels sad or happy
Yes, someone from your family is getting married
So it could be nice and colorful
People, somebody is getting married.

***

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Bracquemond, On the Terrace
Diego L.

3 fancy people from the 1800s
they are making a deal
for a house the lowest it costs is
$20,001. I will take it. They are
in the backyard.

Mary Cassatt, Woman with Red Zinnia
A Guy in a Party Dress
Jocelyn M.

A boy in a dress
and a flower in her hand and he's
sitting on a bench waiting for a
bus and he's thinking if she
looks like a girl in a dancing
beauty dress in dress shoes.

Picasso, Three Musicians
Julie G.

3 musicians
2 instruments
an opening mouth
tiny hands
sounds like Mexican
music
music notes for you
and me to follow
forever

Paul Cezanne, L'Estaque
The Purple Lake
Jennifer F.

A big purple lake
is part of the big blue ocean
The lake has land lots and lots
of people travel in that purple lake.
Anyone who sails in the purple lake
never comes back to tell the story
so that's why people walk on land
to the other side
when they get there
a boat picks them up
after the sailor take them
around the purple lake
to where they want to go.

Picasso, The Old Guitarist
Jose V.

Man playing
guitar
laying down on the floor
looking straight
at his feet
man white hair
ripped shirt
with pants
old and sad
guitar

Marla Olmstead, Fairy Map
A Quilt
Cynthia M.

A quilt
with
lots
of
colors
flowers
white
necklace
green
person
white
blue
buttons
hats
watermelon
spine
birds
seahorse
eating
food
hearts
butterflies
seas

L-e-t-t-e-r P-o-e-m-s

2008-04-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

This week, we read two short letter poems: "Letter," from "Lennox Avenue Mural" by Langston Hughes, and "Dear Joanne" by Lew Welch. Students discussed what was similar, as well as different in each poem, and what makes them unique from other forms of poetry. They then wrote their own letter poems.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Dear Poetry,
Why is it so hard to write poetry? Why
is it so short? I wish Poetry was
longer. Poetry gives me ideas. I like
what to do or what to plan. I think
Poetry is he best thing to do,
I wish every day there was Poetry
instead of math, social studies. Poetry
I write and maybe never stop.
Poetry people can write about
everything.
Edgar A.

Dear room,
When you are dirty why don't
you clean yourself because
it is so much work. I get
so tired. When my mom tells
me to clean my room I
ask my room please clean
yourself even though I make
a mess.
Claudia A.

Dear Lew,
I liked your letter a lot, it was
really cool and funny. I wish
I could be a real poet to write
about someone or something, it's
really fun to be a poet, it is cool.
Just tell me so one day I could
be just like you are right now.
Jasmin C.

Dear refrigerator,
Why don't you
work for the
ice cream?
When I want
ice cream it's
all melted
and it doesn't
stay frozen.
Daisy F.

Dear friend,
I am happy because you are my
best friend and the first friend
that I had. You are nice to me.
You are like a sister to me,
you are a good first friend for me.
You are the best friend in the world.
And in the city. I don't know
what I will do.
Julissa S.

Dear Hector,
Stop crying, stop bothering me, stop trying to
wake me up, I want to sleep, I want
to rest and stay in my own bed. I
want to rest, not to play and have
a wonderful day. I don't know what
is wrong but I think it's too much
all each day, all of them.
Luis V.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Dear my dear dream,
Why did you have
to be real, why did
you have to make
my brother snore
in my ear? Dear
my dear dream, you
are so wonderful and
funny. You make me
imagine and dream
the good and bad
things. Thank you
for the good things.
But I don't thank
you because you
make my brother
snore in my ear.
Griselda A.

Dear Brain,
Of all the things I've lost –
my keys, my diary, my homework –
I miss my brain the most.
Brainless me (Alondra B.)
P.S. Please come
back I need you

Dear Heavy Metal and Rock,
Why are you so
loud and hard-
core on music?
Rock is always
hard but you
are 3x as hard
as Rock. You
Heavy Metal,
how do you
make people
love your
music? Both
Rock music
and Heavy Metal.
You make me
like your music.
Angel B.

Dear Brain,
Hello Brain
why don't you
work a lot
and why don't
you make
me think
I have to
think so
I could
do my
homework
because I
don't want
to guess.
Servando C.

Dear Airplane,
Why do you go so high and you're
scary but still put people in your big
roller coaster and why are you so huge?
Marcelo E.

Dear flower,
I like your
petals they
are so
red your
leaves are
green you
come from
dirt.
Liliana R.

Dear McDonald's,
I love your food
mostly the fries. My cousin
likes getting toys from
McDonald's, I always order the
number nine
because it
comes with ten chicken
nuggets and I
like dipping them
in barbecue, that is my
favorite food. I wish
I could go to McDonald's
every day because your
food is so good and
if I could go everyday
it would be like heaven.
Sincerely,
Yulissa R.

Dear someone,
I don't know
who I'm writing
to. Tell me when
you got this letter.
Is this a letter?
Where am I?
Who are you?
Please tell me.
I'm getting
confused.
Sincerely,
Alvaro
Or is this my name?
Please tell me.

Dear sister,
You are the best sister ever.
You are always really helpful.
Sister you can be the
best sister in the world.
You are the one that
is always with me
when I am sick.
Love
Daisy

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

My dear
deariest
golden sun, you
are so bright
and shy I
give you thanks
for all the
brightness in the
world. So shy,
bright I send you
wishes from here.
Claudia A.

Dear Brian Urlacher,
how do you hit people hard
like to make them fumble
the ball? How do you
jump high to get an
interception? How do you
sack a QB?
Jose B.

Dear Dad, I miss U.
But still thanks for still
coming to visit me, my
sister and brother. I hope that
with your other family you
have a good time. Even if
I don't like the idea that
you are with another
family.
Love, your daughter, Nancy

Dear Dad,
you should come to
our new house it's
really rad.
I'll tell my mom
to send a cab.
But my mom has
to fix the phone
because it's really
jad.
And my mom is
really mad at her
brother.
Sincerely,
Michael C.

Dear Me,
I really feel weird
not tired
I'm coming home
taking my dog
with me
we're going
back to D.F.
in Mexico
it's a small little
ranch
even with
pigs,
cats,
dogs,
even Pancho the Pony.
Sincerely,
Salena C.

Dear Feet,
why do you
trip me?
You are so clumsy
when you
move. Why can't
you be
normal like other
feet?
Well, bye, I need
to go
buy some new feet.
Sincerely,
Your master (Marlene C.)

Dear microwave,
Why do you always
burn my food when
I put my food in you
and then when I take
it out it's all burned up?
Also sometimes you leave
my food cold.
From your only friend, Abel G.

Dear Pencil,
I am writing this letter
to you because my handwriting is
getting sloppy because of you. If you
don't clean up your act, you're going
into the garbage.
From your master (Cesar M.)

Dear report card, I wish you don't
scare me like last quarter. I got a heart
attack and you're a paper.
Everardo P.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Dear Mr. Dean,
So nice, so smart in poetry. Thinking all over
the place. Just one question, how are you
doing? I'm great. I hope I see you next
year, to write more poems. I enjoy all the
poems that you have told me to write
about. I have looked on the Internet and
they're great poems you have.
Sincerely,
Omar

Dear Eric,
I like the way you think
and get all the work done.
I wish I was like you so
I could keep my grades like
you, and so I could have a
honor certificate like you do
all the time. You are so
smart and a good student.
Respectfully, Michelle

Dear Anibal in the future,
You will soon become
a soccer player probably. All you have
to do is go to High School and to College.
You will have to have good grades and try
getting a scholarship. You should do
all your homework all the time.

Also, try out for the school soccer team.
You need to be a good teammate
to everyone and respect them. But you
have to try your hardest in the soccer
games.
Sincerely, Anibal

P.S. You will someday become a
soccer player.

Dear heater,
you are no good. You don't make
me warm. I'm always cold.
I feel like I am an ice cream.
You're just no good!!
Fatima

Dear pencil,
Why don't you write by yourself? I should just
tell you what to do but you can't. Someone has to move
you around making lines and curves which tun into letters.
Pencils, you help me write and do work. You should do my
work and I get a day off writing. Thanks, pencil.
Jose

Dear Godfather,

Thanks for the PS2. I really appreciate
that. Thanks for the games too.

I'm almost finished with two of the
games. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas and Liberty
City Stories.

I appreciate the cordless controllers
too. But now I have a problem. I
can't play unless my sister plays.
Well thanks,
Eric P.

Dear Dog,
why did you run away
when I barely had chosen
you a name, Christian. You
might want to know how
I chose the name. It
was very simple.
They started calling you like
my brother. I don't know
why they bothered to disturb
you and let you get used to it, but
now everyone misses you.
We would like to know
if you're still alive since you
left that snowy day.
Please come home, Christian,
or send a sign that you're
alive so that it does
not look like I am
writing to a dead
dog, like a crazy girl.
Your owner,
Diana R.

Dear future Natalie,
I hope if you have kids, don't
give them spinach. I hope you don't
work at a night club or something
else. I hope you work as a fashion
designer. And a tip 4 U treat your
husband good.
Sincerely with love,
Natalie
P.S. Trust me, I'm
smart.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Dear mom,
I hope that when I am gone
from home you could call me
and say that you don't feel
good so I could come and help
you a lot. When you and dad
are alone I could go and
visit you and take you
to the park, to eat, or to the
store, or anywhere you
want.
With love,
your daughter,
Vanessa C.

Dear friend,
I forgot your name
but I think that
you go to another
place.
Still I miss you
but I thank you
to help me and give
me things when you
were here.
Mirella H.

Dear Luci,

Last night Susi had a dream
that we found treasure.

When we found it we were
fighting for it.

Then Susi said that you opened
it and it did not have nothing.

I hope we never fight for
something.

Silvia R.

Dear Dad,
When are you
coming
back from
Mexico? I miss you,
tell me when
you're
coming.
Julian

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Dear me,
In the future do not eat candy.
Because it's bad for you. And it's bad
for your teeth.
Your friend, Jorge A.

Dear cousin, when are you
coming? I haven't seen
you for a long time.
Some girls that I know
want to know you.
They saw a picture of
you and they say you
are cute. Please come. If
you come I would
be famous because
the girls I show
your picture, they
say you're cute.
Please come.
Ana C.

Dear Earth,

I know you can't
talk but please
hurry up, make
your revolution.

It takes you
24 hours to
orbit, that is
not hard, 365 days
is one year. Spin fast
I don't care of we
fly out.

I say this
because I
need to get
out of school.
Gosh this is
boring.

Sincerely,
Carina G.

P.S. What's the deal
with the leap year, make
up your mind. Gosh.

Dear clock,
why don't
you go fast?
I really really
want to go home.
Don't you see I'm
very very sleepy
and I have homework
to do.
Well clock, if you
go fast I'll promise
not to hate you
anymore and please please
hurry up!!
Amanda

Dear Grandpa,
I miss you,
I'm incomplete without you,
each night I think about you.
Come back.
Sincerely,
Eibar N.

Dear LEGOs,
I wish that you could
move while I watch you. So
you could look real. Because
you look very cool. So
I like you to build a soccer
stadium. I like the
way you look. I want
you to move or talk. That's
what I want.
Edwin O.

Dear pencil,
Who was the person that made
you? You make me write stuff I don't
want to. You're boring, you're out of style and
I hate the way you think. You're
so dumb. Go somewhere I'll never
see you again.
Mayra S.
P.S. If you leave you'll
make my life easier than when you
were here.

Music Poems

2008-04-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

For this week's class, we worked on one of my favorite poetry ideas. First, we read "Two Guitars" by Victor Hernández Cruz and discussed its meaning: who (or what) is talking in the poem, and what are they saying? How does music express emotions, and create images in our minds? Each class room listened to an instrumental song chosen randomly, with students individually making lists of words or phrases describing the music they heard to be used in their poems. Click on the links to hear the songs students heard while composing their poems.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “DLK” by Deluxe Leisure King

People on a rainbow
running back and
forth through the
clouds. Running from
their sadness in
their life. Jumping
from cloud to cloud.
Virginia B.

Rockstars being in a concert.
Of a TV show song.
My little brother being
silly. Being part of
a band. Makes me happy.
A person that is trying
to make people laugh.
People playing a song.
My dog barking. A
really nice person that
is happy and hearing
their favorite music.
Start to get crazy.
Makes a lot of people
happy. A nice sunny
day for people to be
happy for each other.
Jasmin C.

I see happy day.
The sun is shining bright
playing with friends and
having fun. Clouds changing to
different shapes and animals.
Playing a song.
Daisy F.

I see people playing
instruments that are making me
sleepy and singing. They are
doing it outside and getting money
for it. I feel happy and want
to dance to it and I want
to keep the song.
Angel H.

I feel happy. I feel
like if it was real.
I hear a good song like
if your friends are there. It goes
like ben ben pa pa pa pa pa. I don't see it but like if
my friends are playing and have
fun and a good time. I love it.
It reminds me of good times.
I feel like if it was so so
real. I do not have nothing
to say. I just close my eyes and
imagine. I love imagining.
Julissa S.

In the music
the day is sunny.
No wind near.
A seed planted
on ground. Water,
sun, and music
are in the seed.
It gets bigger
in days. The
flower is there.
It's a happy day.
David V.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Think” by Curtis Mayfield

A feeling inside that makes
you feel relaxed inside.
Like going on a boat
celebrating your daughter's birthday.
As you go on a
vacation to celebrate
at Hawaii, you
just lay
down watching
the sunset
as you
see the
waves so
up and down.
Samuel G.

The twinkle
of a shiny
star in the
sky. The salsa
of two people
in love. The song
the birds sing on
a silent night. The
sadness of a girl who
got cheated on by her boy
friend on a sad and rainy
day. Thinking back on all those
memories they had together
and those times they fought and
got back together, the times they
made each other gifts, and how they
surprised each other. How when they first
saw each other and fell in love, all those
wonderful times and when she felt bad
he would serenade her, and all those good
times go away and all the angels leave
and don't want anymore all of the things
they did. She came happy, left sad. The day
started out good and ended out to be bad. She
should've stayed at home like her parents
told her to, but she didn't listen. She
left to a tragedy.
Vanessa L.

The stars twinkling.
People dancing
in a slow motion.
Some people in love
and some being sad
for losing their love,
birds singing to make
them feel better and
fall in love. Like if
someone passed away
and they are remembering
his or hers good
moments and being with
them and remembering all
the good things
he or she did
for others.
Eddie L.

A sad man is seeing a star.
Kids play in the grass. A band
playing songs, people singing and
dancing, drums, flutes, and guitars
are making a beat. Then rain
is falling, kids wishing upon
a star, and people sleeping.
Luis O.

The light twinkles as
they play with the
beautiful birds
whistling. I hear
teachers telling
numbers 1, 2,
3, 4, 5 ...
People are dancing
so relaxed with
its partner. I
hear Indians
whistling to
each other.
Liliana R.

The music is a
bit sad.
Child, birds, the ocean, night sky, night
with stars, morning, sunset, children
are playing.
The world is
dancing with the
moon and the stars.
When angels are singing
like birds.
Mother, father, brother, and sister
let us sing now.
Peace to the world.
Amen.
Karen R.

It makes me
sad. And someone
is having a sad
day because
they are
lonely. It sounds
like a TV
show I
watch on
Sunday. It sounds
like he finds
a new friend
at the end.
It sounds like
my door bell.
It sounds like
someone is sitting
in school and
they have no
friend because
he or she is
a new kid.
Then when
he finds a new
friend he starts
to get happy
and plays with him
and he becomes
very very happy.
Jeremy S.

The ballerina is dancing
alone till the prince comes then
a ballerina dancing
with the prince and
other people dancing
with their loved ones.
This is all like a
romantic movie
with flowers and
doves flying every-
where. Every-
thing silence till
everybody is happy
and laughing, having
a great time. This
is like a wedding.
Joanna Z.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “I Knew You Would” by Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey

I felt like somebody
was running. The song
feels relaxed. At the
end it feels like
Christmas.
Diego B.

A guitar on the beach
the sunset
while a person
running through the
beach and swimming
with the dolphins
the guitar on the
person laying on the
sandy beach and
swimming with
the mermaids
while laying on
a
beach towel
drinking a Coke
with ice.
Nancy C.

I hear the angels
they sing in Hawaiian
happiness
comes
the happiness
dies
oh, I hear cries
this is a sad mess
happiness comes
again people rejoice
birds sing
everything fades behind.
Salena C.

Someone is in a field of grass and just playing
what his heart desires. I think he is happy to just be
alone in a field and playing what his mood is.
He may be running with his guitar because he is
in a field of flowers and then fades because
he is leaving the field of grass.
Belen F.

As the flow of music
goes, I can see the world.
The rhythm shows me the
gentle seas, quiet deserts
and peaceful jungles. The
sound brings life to
everything in nature from
animals to humans.
Gustavo R.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Birdman of Alcatraz” by Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra remix)

Birds are chirping
fat man in a zoo
in Japan seeing an
elephant. It's showing
but he is playing
guitar and flute he
is so funny.
Alfredo C.

Footsteps of a leopard
as it looks at a bird
chirping, thunder
overhead. Everyone
is hiding.
Ramiro G.

A little bell wiggling its tail. A trumpet
getting used. The commercial of a big theater.
A little more rhythm. Drums hitting hard
and slow, soft. Someone dancing so
beautiful. A guitar with its strings.
A little band. Someone acting out
the music. A nice big flute. A band
person dancing. A nice piano who
I used to play.
Cynthia G.

There is a girl running in the forest.
Something happens. She went running home.
She goes and tells her father. They're scared. The
bells ring. There is a dance. There's a lot
of pressure.
Michelle M.

What I hear in this sweet
song is a piano, drums, a pretty
simple guitar and the nice tone of
it makes me feel that I am in the
forest. It makes me feel that
summer a fairy tale, tears of water
dripping, walking along by the street
cold and alone in the rain in a new
neighborhood. All new people about
to take the taxi asking where are
you going? I am going to a new
town.
Vani P.

The land is overtaken
by a witch, the wizard's
challenge is, winner gets
the land.
The fairy helps the
wizard, the wizard
is winning. The wizard
has won and won the land.
The new king is in the land.
Alexis R.

As the sun rises
the birds sing around
a tree.
A horse comes
by fast as if
it was lost yet
happy.
You can hear the
hollow wind, the
man on the horse
is going over
obstacles looking for
a road to somewhere
with frustration.
Finally sees the
light and goes faster
and gets closer.
The birds chirp
when he finds
the way.
Diana R.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “An Orchestra” by Stan Kenton/Robert Graettinger

This song has many feelings I can't
explain it but I'll try.
It has drama, I mean lots of drama.
Oh my it's scary.
Scary Movie. Tn, tn, tn, tn.
No clue.
Just lost.
Mixed feeling all over.
It is all over the place.
Let's dance.
Of course.
Do you want to dance?
It's very loud! I can't hear you!
60's, 50's. It's very old style.
It's all one opinion.
Alexandra C.

Mariachi are playing music. Batman in
the sky is trying to detect a bank theft.
What am I going to do? Mexicans dancing.
Big crime just hit the news, just
silence.
Diego C.

The song makes me think
that a bunch of cars are
stuck in traffic. Cars are
trying to get through. Finally
they start moving. Beep!! That's
what I hear. The music sounds
like the car horns beeping.
There is a sunset and the
street is so chaotic. So
peaceful and chaotic, not
a perfect match.
Magdalena F.

Bom bom here I come I
am the biggest giant!
La la la I can sigh?
I feel so happy I want
to dance. The music
goes high, low, don't know
what to do!!
Laela M.

Batman & Robin.
Something suspicious.
007.
Someone kissing.
A Jackie Chan movie with
Chris Tucker.
Black man with a trumpet.
Las Vegas.
A train.
The Matrix Vol. 3.
Tom & Jerry.
Star Wars.
A Marine on duty.
A Toyota.
Roberto R.

What I hear is music.
Loud music.
Scary music.
Music is loud scary.
Makes some people dance.
Music funny and fun.
It makes me say
humm.
It is weird jumpy.
And makes me say
wow.
Makes me see people in a haunted
house and looks
happy, jumpy, and scary at the
same time. Bigfoot looking for
someone. Makes
me say WOW.
Silvia R.

I exited
a house
because
my car broke
down. I said
hello, anybody
home?
I walk around
and
exited a room.
Suddenly, flying
instruments
making music
and I ran, and ran
but I could
hear it.
Julian V.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Glue Avenue” by All Ones

It makes me think of a
sneaky cat,
a thief,
a quiet night,
a band,
a show,
a long road trip,
a bus,
a boring day.
Jacquelin A.

The sound changes.
The rhythm moves.
The band plays cool.
The sounds move.
The beat “booms.”
Javier C.

It starts normal and
spooky like Scooby-Doo.
After, it is like
someone is searching for
him. They found someone
and are chasing him. But
they lost him. Now
they start to search
again. Now it sounds like
they're getting closer.
But after a while
they lose him. And
they search and can't
find him. Lost they
leave with a surprised
face.
Daryl C.

The beat keeps getting louder
one by one instruments come
to the song
I feel like dancing
I feel like stomping my
feet to the beat
making my own lyrics
in the end the sound gets softer
and softer until it's
all over.
Amanda H.

The three spies are
in the creepy castle.
They are walking around
the castle and they
have to be super
careful not to step
on any traps or
else the ones of
the castle will get
them and they will
be busted. Also they
need to find the
mystery so they could
finish the mission and
find the mystery so
they could get out
safely from the castle.
Edgar O.

This sounds like a spooky haunted
house at the end of Death
Street.
This feels like a skeleton dancing
behind you,
like big trees falling down,
like a group working together.
Different modes (happy, excited, bored &
sad).
People dancing crazy,
a dog going up and the other
going down,
a person moving sideways,
a motor car.
Feels like calm.
Like an echo.
People playing down the street.
Adela S.

It sounds like a car
going down the street. It
goes and goes
until it sees the light.
Here now, he's
going down the street
yet again, now clapping
his hands. Down he sees
the light to greatness.
Daniel V.

The song feels as if someone is chasing
me. it is spooky, like if I was in a haunted house.
It sounds like if someone with a hat,
fancy clothes and their hands in their pocket
was walking down the street.
Carlos Z.

Last post of the year for me: "My Poems"

2008-03-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

N.B.: This will be my last posting from the 2007 - 2008 school year at Shields. Some of the other teachers may continue to post for a few more entries. Posting will resume in fall of 2008, when the new residencies begin. Thank you for reading!

--------------------------------------------------------

After reading Nita Penfold's "My Poem,"--in which she describes her poems as "not polite ladies," who "won't sit still"--we discussed Penfold's method of describing her poems as people with their own will. We also talked about her use of the title as also the first line of the poem. I then asked them to write their own poems, "My Poems," or alternately, "My Words" (which could extend into other areas of language). These entertaining poems resulted; I felt like they were integrating a lot of the various imagery and tools we've experimented with this year.

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

My Poem Speaks
Andrea P.

My poem talks to me when
I don’t have nobody to
talk with. Or when I am sad
he confesses me and he
says funny jokes and words. But
my poem is a really good
speaker. He confesses me when
I am angry. But my poem
is the best.

My Poem Speaks to Me
Daniel R.

My poem speaks to me all the time
and we always play and in the night we
talk and we go to eat. We speak to
each other and we play games and
we go to sleep. My poem wanted to
sleep with me and always be nice
to each other, and my poem is the
biggest poem in the world, and he
acts weird and dumb. And he is
a bird and his wings are too small,
and when he speaks to me and then
he always falls down the stairs
and he is nice to me, and we go to
the park. We speak to each other.

My Poems
Sergio H.

My poems speak to me when I want
to read. My poems share the stories with
other people. My poem is a paper and on top
of the paper is a bird
that flies. And shows the paper
to other people.

Loud People in the Halls
Nicole O.

Loud people are in the halls
making lots of noise. Sometimes I
say to myself to be not
loud. When there’s lots of noise
I feel when there’s lots of noise
in the hallway I say to myself,
The girls and boys are so loud
and annoying and they’re so loud. I am
not loud at all.

My Poems
Maricela E.

appear on papers how the appear
in different ways
they appear like people
they could appear the
same poem once and
again it could
appear many ways
however you write it will
appear it could
be any way you want
they tell what to do

Mrs. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

My Poems
Victor P.

Cuando escribo, siento que me voy
a ser un niño inteligente.

Cuando escribo yo siento que
el papel se siente feliz.

Untitled
Luis M.

My poems keep my secrets.
My poems tell me, Run as fast as
you can, you can’t catch me.” My poems
act like two little brothers.
My poems don’t keep secrets from me.
My poems look like a sun because
they jump like in the folder. My poems
say thank you to me.

My Poems
Andrea R.

My poems come to my brain and come with me.
The peoples the teacher bring are scary sick.
When is Valentine’s? The teacher
is really beautiful.
When the teacher comes I write a poem to babies.
The day of moms I write a poem.
The teacher is really good poems because the poems,
the poems I write are not good.
I like the poems.
The poems are my favorite. When I write.
The people are really happy when I write the poems.
When the people see, and my mom says it’s the best writing.

My Poems
Esmeralda P.

The poems inspire me and
my poems are like family.
They are nice and sometimes
mean.

But they are always going to
love me and that’s never going
to change.

And I am going to love them
forever forever.

And I’m happy. I like my life.
March 26, 2008
Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

My Poems
Angelica A.

My poems get that screaming.
They get annoying.
They get crazy.
They get nosy.
They get tired.
They get loud.
They get red.
They get heart.
They get too blue.
They get too mad.
They get too bloody.
They get blood on their hands.
They get too heart.
They get furious.
They get too much look.
They get very furious.
They get very sweaty.
They get burning.
They get drums in their head.
They get too loud.
They get too mad.
They get scared.
They get an idea.
They get too personal.
They get too sleepy.
They get too watery.
They get too much furious.
They get too softy.
They get too mad.

My Words
Sergio P.

come by my mouth
They give me answers
to make me smart and to
give me a start.
They’re not mean and they
don’t shout. They’re good
and nice.

My Poem
Moises A.

Writing poetry is like kicking a soccer ball.
But when I see it I go crazy. When I eat I think
my plate is a paper of poetry. I like dancing
with my friend Miss Poetry. I like dancing with
my friend Miss Poetry. I will have so much fun.

My Poems
Marcos B.

They’re like a man with
words all over him. Or like a
shoe but the words are shoelaces.
My poems come if I imagine
this. They come if I’m happy but
they come quiet. When I’m
sad they come to me screaming.
I like my poems and I’ll write them
all until it’s too late to play
with the words in all.

My Poems
Joel D.

My mouth is loud
My car is in the parking lot.
My mind is getting find.
My mouth is in the President’s house.
My car is far, in the Pacific Ocean.
My mouse is in the house.
My March is in the garage.
My name is in flame.
My friends are friends.
My bank is thank.

My Poems
Nestor H.

are the stars in the beautiful
night sky. How I get my
poems is like hair; when you
are a baby you start
out with little bits of hair.
Then as you get older
you get more hair. This is
how I get my thoughts.

My Poems
Jordy D.

keep making me write more
I feel my poem is going to
rip the paper if I stop
he’s not nice and he keeps
tapping me on the
shoulder,
I get mad sometimes
I tell my dad

My Poems
Jazmin N.

They way the wind blows me
and tells me something. They way the
clouds tell me what to writea dn
the way the air tells me to do.
The way in the night the soul of
me tells me to write this. The
soul of me wakes me up just
to write and write. When I go to
sleep my poems come to me
and would not let me sleep. Until
I write it.

My Poems
Giselle H.

My words come to me when I’m in a middle
of a dream. The words are like if they
jump out and say, “This is boring. I’m
leaving.” And suddenly you wake up and have
an idea. If you think it stinks don’t throw it
in the sink. They rhyme doesn’t need to
follow. They point isn’t needed. All you need is
inspiration. If at first you don’t succeed don’t
give up. And don’t fuss just try again.
If I daydream a word
stretches me back.

Work Poems

2008-03-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

Poet, essayist, editor, translator, and former tenant lawyer, Martín Espada writes from the point of view a misunderstood worker in "Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits." Students read Espada's poem, discussed its messages regarding racism, pride and human dignity, then wrote work-themed poems of their own.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

!!A Big Hair Cut!!
Erica A.

Who knows where
I'm from,
I'm from the
country of a stylist.
I've always cut hair.
There is hair on the floor.

Who can speak
my name,
I understand the
people in the salon,
looking at the chairs
like a car seat.
My name is lost
by everybody calling me.

What I do
is good,
I am good
at cutting hair,
but sometimes have
a bad attitude.
Maybe people will
some day understand why.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Claudia A.

There is my dad
working with cars
fixing them, painting
them.

I want to be
like my dad
but I do not
know how
to do that.

I always wanted
to be a model
or a singer
because I love
it so much.

Maybe I am
not going to
work on that.
I will change
my mind.

Martha the Hotel Cleaner
Jonathan R.

I have many friends,
the mop,
the vacuum,
and my hands.

I hear them talking to me
when I rest. Excited if one knows,
knows that we are kind, truthful,
and helpful.

The magic of my hands,
working until sore,
I don't get paid enough
for this, or make enough cleaning.

I'm not like the lazy lady on
the third floor. I can overcome
any job anytime.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Katy R.

When I grow up I want to be a
teacher. I want to let kids
know what I know. I want
to have a classroom, big and
clean one.

I could walk in the hall straight
to my mail box and see what
I have. I could go to lunch
and eat. I could grade work.

I could see what they're eating and
smell it, too. I could see a lot
of things in my classroom and
this is why I want to be a teacher,
to let kids know what I know.

Untitled (Work Poem)
David V.

Work is what I
do. I help
people in their
needs.

I wear a
clean suit.
Some good
shoes with
that suit. Also a tie.

I help them to
get money or I
save them. I get
a lot of
money. I had
to go to school
for that
job. It takes years
for me to have
that job. I am a
lawyer.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

My Future Job
Daniel A.

The job I want
in the
future would
be a super
hero
also I would
want to be a
super hero because
I like to help
a person in trouble.

Even if the
job is helping an
old lady cross the
street I would
like to
be there to help
the person
out.

But really
no one
will remember me
because I'll always
be out to help
people.

Then when I am
gone
I will probably
be known as
the
greatest man that lived.
And last they will
name

something after me
at least I was
a super hero.

My First Job
Alondra B.

Today is my
first day

as a kindergarten
teacher. I have
butterflies in
my tummy.

I really
hope it
goes well.

I don't
want a
noisy classroom

like mine in
kindergarten.

I hope that
they are angels.

Well that's
why I'm here.

To teach
them ABC's
and also 123's

now that
I think
about it
this won't
be quite so
bad.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Servando O.

I think that I want
to be a doctor because
I'd like to be a doctor.

I'd like to be a doctor
because I want
to be a doctor
because I want
to save lives.

I think
that's why I want
to be a doctor and
if somebody in my
house gets sick I
don't have to go
to a doctor.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

The Veterinarian Technician
Marlene C.

I wonder if they see
me for who I am
not a person who
takes care of an
ant. They call her
the vet, not by
her name. They
bring her a lion
to check his mane.

waiters
Abel G.

they bring food and take orders
when the people eat there they
leave plates the waiters pick
it up the waiters have
hard times with customers
the customers complain all
day the waiters have to bring
the food fast also they have
to get to the customers' orders
fast too. sometimes they get
little tips and sometimes a lot
they work hard.

How It Feels to Be a Baseball Player
Jesus N.

No one knows how it feels
but it feels good.

It feels like you're the
best if you made it to
the major league

with hundreds of people
around watching you.

And when you eat seeds
on the bench with other players.

But when retirement comes you feel
like a legend and All Star.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Rodolfo P.

A soccer player
I would be the
number ten.

I would
also be
a good sportsman
I
would show
sportsmanship.

I would also
make my
team Chivas
win.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Gustavo R.

Aunt Maritza
works at Blockbuster
sells movies each day
stands there as an owl would
in a tree
stays there all day
and comes back at night

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Untitled (Work Poem)
Ramiro G.

When I grow up I want to be
an astronaut because I could
explore space, find new
planets and float in a
space ship.

Soldier
Juan J.

As a soldier, life is hard. All the work
is what I hate. People disrespect me, as
a prisoner or slave. Using pistols the wrong
way or eating beans, that makes a big
beat. I shall quit, but not today. As in
a war, people in red, the gun fires, as I
watched it explode. This is the
day I shall quit. As I hide, no one
can find me. I went far away, as
I was dead. I have a great life
ahead.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Linet L.

My dad works.
My dad is a baker.
He does not like it.

You could see why
he does not like
it.
He gets home tired.
He works a lot.
You could see why.

I would like to be
a worker.
What job should I
choose?

May I be a police,
firefighter, or an
astronaut?

Could be.

Maybe I could be an
astronaut.
Could be hard
or easy.
Maybe.
May I make
friends.

I want to be
an astronaut.

It could be hard.
Seeing the stars
and searching for
more information.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Natalie T.

When I grow up I
would be a clothes designer.

My work is wonderful,
I can design a shirt, a
skirt, everything I want.
I have my store. I could
do clothes for famous
people, I could see my
art on people. There's many
things to make.

I could design a bag
with cars or flowers or
even flames. I could put
bells or dollars. I could
just use imagination
to create and sell, see
how wonderful I
can make it, any way,
it's wonderful.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Untitled (Work Poem)
Alejandro A.

The job I would like is a
soccer job, to play with
a team because
I could get
money for my
family.
Each game I play
I get at least 30 thousand
dollars or more and other
teams could buy me and
they may give me more
money, or the same.
I would like to
start with Manchester
United.

Nurse
Elva C.

Some people are
nice, some are not.

Some are sick
some are healthy.

In the hospital
everybody is
quiet. I can
barely hear the
sound of something
moving.

There's someone waiting
for me and I should
attend them.

To Work
Magdalena F.

The hardness of working.
The time you put into working.
Working so tiring.
Working so long
to work...
work, work, work,
work, work, work,
work.

My Job
Maggie M.

I don't like my job
I draw for a living
I don't like it cuz my art is like a
ghost
I draw but it's blank
Today I stop
I will draw but
not for a living

The Job I'll Have
Anthony S.

When I grow up I'm going to be an inventor.
The thing I'm going to do is invent stuff for
you. I will be working and working to put
something together. I will be drawing and
writing just to see what to do. I'm
going to like this job because I will be
drawing. I'm going to be an inventor and
invent things for you.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Untitled (Work Poem)
Samantha B.

No one does not care
what I do.
All they love is art.
I try, try and try
but once there
I wonder if the pencil
can move.

My art goes high in the sky
but no one sees it.
I wonder why, did I do
something wrong?
I will not draw any more.
Will they stop and see
that there is no more
of me?

Pete the Doorman
Stefanie M.

Standing by the door, Pete
realizes no one is passing by.
He is fatigued, so he places the
doorstop under the door.

He looks across the shallow,
hollow hallway, waiting to see
someone.

Finally someone comes, but
he's moving like a turtle.

Three hours later the lunch bell
rings. The person is barely coming
out when Pete takes the doorstop
out and slams the door, not
noticing the person.

I guess he was too hungry.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Fernando P.

People cheering in the stands
shooting round orange
balls in the
hoop.
Getting the ball, bouncing
it, thump, thump, thump.
When I shoot the
crowd goes wild
because I have the
best job in the
world.

The Teacher
Leslie S.

All I see is
white behind his back.
And his colorful clothes.

Talk, talk, talk.
This, that, this.
What is the capital
of the United States?

Sometimes sleepy.
Sometimes happy.
Sometimes cranky.

Grading papers
B's, A's, C's, D's, F's.
His pen in his hand,
nod, nod, nodding his head.
Disappointed.

Untitled (Work Poem)
Adella S.

No one knows how hard
it is to work late
at night
to cook and clean
to take care of a family
to keep a family alive
or to
take care of the loving
ones and take care
of yourself
to help one another or to
work as hard as you can to
keep the ones you love
safe and healthy

No one knows how hard it is
to work until you
try it

Collaborative Poetry

2008-03-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

For the past two sessions, we've been experimenting with collaboration - two or more poets working to write a single poem. I brought in examples from Joshua Beckman and Matthew Rohrer's Nice hat. Thanks., which consists almost entirely of very short poems (some as short as two lines) and reads very much like two friends passing a notebook back and forth. The students took well to the light, casual tone, humor, and especially the non-sequitir bits. The undoubted winner from the examples I shared was:

I knew Spanish
before it was cool.

Often it's a challenge to know where to begin with such poems, so I brought a stack of around 60 index cards, each with a word written on it (like "tiger" or "sad" or "flying") as a topical jumping-off point - to help keep the students from waffling about what to write. "The more you think, the harder it will be!" I told them. An invitation not to think? Nope! An invitation to associate freely, which, I assured them, all poets should do often and with abandon!

They flew! The poems were wonderful and they had the most fun I've seen yet this year.

Mr. K., Rm. 205
3rd Grade

I lost my things
Edgar C. and Marco T.

I lost my PSP
I lost Bryan's big head
I lost Bryan Cruz, games
I lost my 50 dollar bill
I lost my grandma
I lost my dad's wheel

SECRET
Adrian M. and Michael G.

I have a secret Michael
That I am cool

My secret is that you are my best friend
but I am still, that I am cool

My other secret, I feel like flying
but I think we are still flying

Damien M. and Anthony P.

Everybody has two hands. We have two hands.
Hands are for writing. Hands are cool.
Goodbye hands. Hi hands. Goodbye hands.
Hands are not for slapping.

Elizabeth C. and Rocio R.

I have no one
I have the song
It is scary
It is boring
It is not fun

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Daniel and Cesar

I have an orange
and I ate it.
Your shirt is orange
my pants are blue.
The world is orange and people are too
dogs are purple
Hearts are destroyed
My friend is orange
and my parents are orange.
Tables are things to be on.
An orange is on a table and I ate it.
People are made of oranges.
How do tables and oranges dance?
They dance by couples, a table and an
orange get together to dance.
Why are oranges so good
to some people? They are good and
juicy. Why do bananas and oranges and apples fight?

Rosi P. and Roayma M.

I did a mistake
because you did not tell me.

I made a mistake
because I read your secret.

My mistake is
I eat ice cream in the
morning.

My mistake is
because I was late
for school.

My mistake is
I ride a bicycle.

My mistake is
because I didn't
know how to ride
a bicycle.

Have you made a
mistake in a
bicycle?

Yes, I have
had a mistake
because I rode
a bicycle when
I didn't know
how to ride it.

Ruben E. and Raymond C.

I saw a mouse in the house
and the mouse chased me
it ran so fast that it caught up to me
my friends came over to play with
me and the mouse chased them
because they were scared then they caught
the mouse by the mouse trap
it landed and it got caught.

Lisette and Jasmine S.

I have a dog
I love my dog

My dog loves to play
My dog loves to flip

I play with my dog
I like to play with my dog
hide seek

I take my dog out for a walk
on a cold day

My dog is very cold
because I found it in the street

My dog is cold
because it took a shower

My dog is stinky
because he doesn't take a shower

My dog is soft as
a pillow

Ms. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

David F. and Ginel G.

Trick
Magic show
Cool tricks
Women cut in half
How do you know?
Because I've been to one to see it up front
You've convinced me alright

Veronica G. and Isaac H.

The news said it was going to
rain today
For real!
Yes, didn't you hear?
No, you're the one who could hear
news.
Were you brushing your news?
What do you mean?
I mean that you were brushing your
TV so you did not hear.
You are weird, bye.
Bye, see you later.
..

Want to dance in the rain?
Ok, let's go!

Want to dance in the rain?
How do you dance in the rain?
Drink the drops and run around
like crazy.

Hands
Ciro, Jeffrey, and Ricardo

My hands I use to cook.
My hands I use to swim.
I use my hands to turn on the TV.
I use my hands to open the water.
I use my hands to open the door.
I use my hand to say goodbye.

Isabel and Karen

An old man is lonely
I was lonely in the house
My own dad is lonely and scared

My dad is lonely
An umbrella is lonely in the basement
I'm lonely in Mexico
A donkey is lonely in the zoo
Lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely, I got nobody on
my own I'm Mr. Lonely.
I have the song of Mr. Lonely.

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Nelly Q. and Denise N.

A person crying is
very sad
sad and mad
as bad
the bear is sad
because he got sick
I was sad
because I'm mean
the bear so sad - why?
because...
he got shocked
he was scared
he is so brown
and he is so
fearless and
hungry every time
he goes to sleep.

Money
Isabel C. and Crystal A.

Money is
rich stuff
that I
like
to have
or not.

I love
money
because I
like to
buy my
stuff so
I can
go to
a party
and get
all fancy
and rich.

Me and
my best
friend go
to the
bank to
go get
my money
so I
can get
rich and
fancy clean.

Me and
my friend
are thinking
of building
money at
the bank
so we
can go
to a
rich store.

Wild
Gabriel S. and Alexis R.

Wild animal wants to wait
for the waves that
he just ate, he hates the
water he needs faith.

Nicolas V. and Ms. McCormick

I walk in the sidewalk with my dad.
Having a great day laughing and joking
and hungry
Yum! hot dogs with ketchup
and mustard
while we watch the Sox game.

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

Andrea T. and Maria M.

Wild dog chasing a soft ant.
Little soft ant is very scared.
Wild dog running towards the bank.
The dog goes back home to rest.
The creep dog staring really sad.
But he finds hope with a new owner.
Then I see he found his owner.
And he will stick with his owner
for as long as he lives.
He will live with his rich owner.
And will never need anything
in his life.

Cynthia G. and Suranny D.

A lonely bird in a tree
is singing in a lonely tree
no one to see her
she is lonely and sad.

.

A girl is lonely in the park
she is playing in a lonely park
Why is she lonely?
Because her parents are not there.
She had no friends
to be able to play with.

.

Mrs. Rodriguez said goodbye
as she leaves lonely
Mrs. Rodriguez said goodbye
and she leaves in her lonely car.

.

I said goodbye now I'm lonely
I am lonely because she said goodbye
now what do we do
we should say goodbye.

Jesus and Jose

A working man is singing
in the heights, then what
happens to the working
man? He falls and breaks his
head. He comes back up
and falls again and breaks
his arm. He comes back
and the working man
lost his job and he goes
home angry.

The teacher works
the teacher works
oh why does the
teacher work? To teach,
teach the students that need
help.

Selena and Jacqueline

The planets all spin without
anger
The planets are spinning next to the
sun
The dog chasing its tail
and it fell on its bottom
The baby is spinning to get the
feet
All these things are so
bizarre, and it tells me
who you are.
All the cups are spinning outside just
to get a dog to fly to the planets.

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Oscar and Alejandro

I have shoes. When I think
of shoes I think of black shoes.
I tie my shoe.
One black and one white.
I lost my shoe.
I lost my shoelace.
I found the shoe.
I found my shoelace.
I will wear my gym shoe.
I will wear my black shoes.

Joshua M. and Jocelyn M.

The wind blows the waves,
it blows me and you.
The waves blow us through
the town. In every town the wind
blows the waves then blows us,
the waves are nice to see.

Poem
Eric V. and Juan

We made a mistake
We fix our mistake
We think about our mistake
We think we're a
bad class
We tell the teacher we're sorry
We aren't a good class

Do you fix your mistake?

Andrew and Erik G.

I have a blue chair.
I have a blue crayon.
I have a blue nametag.
I have a blue car.
I blew my nose.
I played in the hose
blue blue blue what are we
going to do.
The Earth is blue.
I play in the ocean.
The pencil is red.
It's time for bed.

Josselin G. and Veronica A.

Red is like a heart
Red is your life
Red is like blood
Our teacher's shirt is red
Red is a color
Your lips are red
An eraser is red
Red is for Valentine's Day
Red is for love
Books are red
My friend's shirt is red
A balloon is red
Red is for the US flag
That's what is red

...

In the second week, I returned with the index cards and a new challenge, which was definitely a challenge: exquisite corpse, or as I introduced, "half-blind" poems. Poet A writes two lines, folds over the paper to conceal the first; Poet B writes two lines to follow Poet A's second line, then folds over paper to conceal all but the last line, and so on and so forth. Difficult to explain to adults, let alone third graders! BUT, once we did a few examples and I demonstrated how to fold the paper, I wound up with stacks of accordioned notebook paper filled with admirable work!

Mr. K., Rm. 205
3rd Grade

[...poems to come!]

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Steve B., Oscar O., Raymond C.

It was sunny then it got rainy.
It is cold and hot.
It is summer and winter.
It is winter.
It is cold.
It got warm. Then it got hot as a
pepper.
It is fall. And it is March.
April.
It is morning.
It is night.

Yadira A. and Alejandra I.

It was cold.
There was a loud tornado
Then the tornado destroyed the houses.
The tornado ran over a car.
It was very dangerous
I ran inside the house
And then the girl ran for mommy because
of the tornado
Then the tornado went away.
Another little girl said waaa all the
way home.
The tornado was spinning very fast.
Then a girl was giving hugs
when the tornado was on.
A tornado was on when a girl fell off
the roof.

Alex N., Cesar N., Jonathan V.

He had the coolest shirt in the whole wide
world that no one could resist it.
That morning as birds singing
as dogs and cats yelling
leprechauns running
a lucky charm in the air
trying to go to the sky all over the place
that hit some one's head yesterday
the park had an earth covered
as grass
has grass on it
nasty freckle juice
that smelled the worst as
a very wet dog
as a cat wet
as a car wash

Ms. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Veronica G. and Karen S.

I lost my teddy cat
it was pink with yellow in the ears with a green bow
One day I got lost in the forest it was scary
then I got out of the forest
I think you saw
a wolf, bear, and a coyote
One day I saw a dog lost
then I took it to his owner
I know I saw it.

Mireya A. and Amores M.

I love flying
in an airplane
In the clouds
and in the sky
did you say you like
flying in the sky
really high
pretty nice
I know it is pretty
nice in the sky
in the clouds
with the birds
I know it is nice
with the birds and the clouds
with the sun
really hot

Omar R. and David F.

I knew my teacher
before she knew me
she said "Hello, who are you?"
And then, I said my name.
Then I sat in my desk
and did my work
while she talked
and I ignored it.
I work
and then I talk.

Shalynn S. and Alina C.

I had hands
before your mama
the old days before
your grandma.
I was hot
before your mom
when I was your
birthday
your mama was born on
a leap year
before the year you
were born
you're very old like
dirt.

Jose, Xavier and Raymond

My little cousin is a pest
and he tied me on a rope
so I could swing
into the water.
I fell
belly up
and he started to whack me
he hit me with a stick
because he was trying
to steal from me
my game boy
my dad worked
hard to get it.

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Kiara M., Casandra S., Alicia D.

Around and round it goes
I see a top colorful
It looks like the colors are twirling
Colors mixing together
It is a rainbow
You could see it in your house
The colors are so pretty
Children love to play with them
Children love to get wet with them too
People put swimming clothes on to get wet with them
A toy that floats
When you're swimming.

Nelly Q., Denise N., Alejandra R.

I saw something in the forest
it was a
bird that flew away
then it went to
the tree
and then it flew back
it was a wild tiger
it was about to eat me
it was a big giant animal
it had black and orange
feathers
and his feet were black
then his face was more wild
when the wild tiger saw it was
a big bird flying
it was so scared that...

Crystal, Isabel, Nancy

There was a house
with clouds painted
with colors of every color
just like a picture painted
summer is fun
cold is done
spring is on
summer is coming up
so it might be fun
let's go swimming
swimming is fun

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

Cynthia G. and Beverly A.

Hands do a lot of things
they are so cool
that they hang out with everyone
in the whole school
They have a reflection between their
open minds like a comet going to
space
People really like
dressing up for a party
Toys are so playful
There are different toys around the world
The most popular things I know are
computers, cars and flat screen TVs
The smartest class I know is
401 is very noticeable
like one whole brain.

Andrea T. and Maria M.

It is very dangerous. That big tiger it is.
He lives in the forest with pointy teeth.
Wish wish wish upon a star
that I would find a very good
friend.
He's really bad for you he could eat
in a bite.
Run little creature, run
and then we would play all day.
How could you play knowing a monster
is chasing after you?
Run little creature, run
without any worry and always have
so much fun.
But there's a big creature loving
to eat.
But run little creature, run.
At night me and my friend
would sit under the stars knowing
the monster is gone.

Ismael H. and Emmanuel M.

I looked at the sea
It was blue and deep
like the ocean
next to land
it was with people
it was filled
like a new bottle of water
from the store
we found it in books
it was as blue as the
sky
like when it is high
and saying bye.

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Oscar and Erick G.

I saw a big, large orange
I throw a big orange
and it lands in the grass
I broke in half the orange
the big orange
in the sky.

Cynthia M. and Bianca V.

A tiger is a big cat.
It has a bunch of stripes
like a zebra
or a worm
it has a long tail
it has scary teeth
like a monster
or a shark
it goes wild
but sometimes it's calm
like a bird
or a hamster
it is not small
it is huge
is it a bear
or a whale?

Julie G. and Diana A.

I wear glasses.
Do you wear
for a huge party
for dancing
in parties?
I love to dance
to music.
I love parties.
So do I.
My big party is on
the street
of Julie's house.
Who is Julie?
Do you like Julie?
Yes I do.
Do you?
Can you party?
Because I do.
Because I love to.
I love to dance and party.

Demetric and Erick R.

The sky is blue
and folders are blue
I am a blue flower
I am a blue girl and boy
I am a blue elephant
and a lovely girl with
a blue skirt

City Of... (mas y mas)

2008-03-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

More astounding city poems, inspired by Walt Whitman's "City of Ships." Some students ended up on focusing on one feature of the city (cars, or food, for instance), and others ventured into some fantastical areas. Angelica's, for example, seems to take an almost surrealistic free-associative approach.

###

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

City of Movies
Nicole O.

Some people go to the movies
or sometimes people don’t like to go to
the movies.

One day we went to the
movies and there were lots of people.

Or sometimes people just come
to get popcorn.

And when the movie started
it was so fun and my sister was
laughing at the movie and some
people in the back said, Sh sh sh sh!

The Busy City
Zamira M.

City of cars
all day traffic.
Big cars small
cars all kinds of cars.

City of schools.
The teachers are
nice, cute like
Mrs. Javellana. She
is the best teacher.

City of buildings, people, stores,
and restaurants. People buying presents.

City of families going
to the park! Having picnics.

City of Chicago that
has the best
communities.

City of Balloons
Sergio H.

The sky is full of balloons.
When I go out the balloons fall
and more balloons fall.
Even the houses are made of balloons.
The trees have balloons on top.
The streets are made of balloons.
Everything is made of balloons.
Even cars are made of balloons, in the inside have more
balloons.
And roads are made of balloons, the road is longer
with balloons.
The schools have more more balloons to study.
And the grass is made of balloons.
Even the stores are made of tons of balloons.
The water is made of balloons.
The barn has a lot of balloons, the animals
do not have balloons.
The trucks, balloons on their backs.
And carried too many balloons to the
city. So people like to buy to many
things.

City of Animals
Fernando L.

City of animals, of horses. Horses are fast and wild, horses are real
dangerous because they’re fast. When they’re wild, as you hit the
horse, go faster ways and cowboys.

O City of animals getting cold in the streets and police’s
guns and cars, cold animals and last of all our people’s
dog. O animals, so sad animals, all cold in the
City.

###

Mrs. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

City of Cats
Maricarmen J.

The cats are nice
Black cat has green eyes
They also can be busy
Cats like some people
I like the city of cats
They also have to clean their city
Big cats are mad
I think they are nie
Cats have their own city

City of Ships
Luis M.

City of ships Chicago has
animals. Chicago has a lot of
pencils. Chicago is a great city. Chicago
has a lot of papers. Chicago
has stores everywhere. There are
cats rats shrews skunks dogs snakes.
There are 60 million people in Chicago.
City of ships Chicago has a lot of
book bags.

A City of Chicago
Lisbeth S.

I see in Chicago trees.

And buildings.

And persons that are everywhere.

And I see animals.

And lights and stores.

Like K-Mart or Target Walgreens
Gorley Pelly’s Wal-Mart.

And I see schools.

City
Karina G.

City of people, black, white, teachers.
City of dogs, butterflies, bunnies.
City of stores, schools.
City of pizza, hotdogs, nachos.
Ciy of computers.
City of doctors.
City of houses.
City of toys.
City of flowers.
City of animal stores.
City of princesses.
City of poems.
City of teddy bears.

I See Something
Adeline S.

I see people in the city people

that are black and white people.

And I see school. And doctors.

And police that are nice. And
doctors that are so nice, and I see
little

children and cars passing around. And
building houses. And I see stores and
zoos.

And I see some dogs that are
big.

###

Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

The City
Angelica A.

City with a midway.
City with a highway.
City with California.
City with Colorado.
City with Africa.
City with schools.
City with Food 4 Less.
City with people who laugh.
City with people who care.
City with nice teachers.
City with learning.
City with subjects.
City with Asia.
City with North America.
City with oceans.
City with ghosts.
City with domes.
City with people.
City with stars.
City with books to read.
City with grass.
City with flowers.
City with fighting.
City with a card.
City with ships.
City with kites.
City with cups.
City with reading.
City with math.
City with Europe.
City with chips.
City with dogs.
City with cats.
City with a four-leaf clover.
City with monsters.

City of the World
Adrian D.

City of many people.

City! City with many libraries to
study.

City! City with many ships and
boats that sail the seven seas.

City! City with many skies with
clouds that look like nature.

Chicago’s Things…
Giselle H.

We are the city of BEAUTIFULNESS!
City with DRUNK people!
City of BUSY DOWNTOWN PEOPLE!
City with PARTY people!
City of screaming CRAZY people!
City with running HOLLERING kids who
can’t let you sleep!
City of ghosts who haunt you!
City with CRAZY LOCA people!
And city of FUNKY music
that ROCKS out the HOUSE!

City of Chicago
Amada G.

City towers with big
business. Chicago schools
to learn and learn!!
A lot of people in Chicago
to be friends together.
Teachers who learn and
students who go.
Chicago that has
storms to scare little
kids in the world
we live.

City of Chicago
Zalma R.

Oh City of Chicago!
People work to live,
People play to have fun,
People plant roses to have oxygen,
People eat to be healthy,
People oh people,
People build libraries to study and read,
People buy houses to live and clean,
People build schools to learn and read,
People oh people stop writing please oh
Please!!

City of Cars
Joel D.

City of cars.
cool cars
nice cars
boring cars
ugly cars
race cars
muscle cars
tuner cars
exotic cars
sports cars
80’s cars
alike cars
loop a loop cars
paper cars
40’s cars
Joel’s cars
Hamdan’s cars
leprechaun’s cars
summer cars
fixing cars
police cars
Jeff’s cars
Misterio’s cars
the Hardys’ cars
extended response cars
Patrick’s cars
Spongebob’s cars
Squarepants’ cars
Mr. Krab’s cars
Felipe’s cars
Carlos’ cars
Sebastian’s cars

City of People
Ashley A.

City of people I see people in
big restaurants.
City of people walking to the bus to
live.
City of people with babies walking
to the store.

City of people with big ships
in the lake.

City of people seeing the
animals.

City of people walking to go
shopping.

City of people singing lullabies
to their babies.

City of people driving in
trunks.

City of…
?

City of cars.
City with flowers with pollen.
City with stadiums.
City with the United Center.
City with people.

City with laughter.
City with teachers.
City with children.
City with Little Ceasar’s

City with parties.
City with birthdays.
City with countries.
City with cities.

City with libraries.
City with mirrors.
City with Chicago.

Picture Poems

2008-03-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Kenneth Patchen is an American original: poet, dramatist, fiction writer, proto-Beat, and multi-media artist. His picture poems were the subject of this week's classes. Students read a short illustrated poem, "Like I Told You," from one of Patchen's books, then looked at and discussed other picture poems in color and black & white for inspiration. They were then asked to create decorated poems on any theme they chose. Click on the images for larger views.

City of the beautifulness of the world!

2008-02-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

Using Walt Whitman's Civil War-era "City of Ships" as an inspiration (a poem that addresses and praises New York City), we discussed what Chicago is a "city of..."

###

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

The City
Lesly L.

Yo pienso cuando yo
veo que es bonito y que es
una ciudad grande. Tiene trafico y
tiene tiendas y hay zoo, hay zoologicos
en muchas partes a casas
y hay personas diferentes y ay escuela
y hay tambien muchas cosas hay
muebles hay computadoras y hay niños
y niñas y hay luz y teles y hay comida.

The Busy City
Zamira M.

City of cars all day traffic!

City of schools, the teachers are
nice, cute, like Mrs. Javellana!

City of families going to the park!

City of buildings, people, store, malls!

City of Chicago that has the best
communities!

City of Teachers
Daniel R.

O, no, our teacher gave us a lot of
homework! I tell my mom, “O
no, my teacher gave us a lot, but to
do it in the city!” And when I go
in the city all my homework
flew to the street and I could not
grab it from the city! “O no, I can’t
do my homework in the city!”
So my teacher give me a F in
my homework because I did not
do my homework in the city!
And I think in Chicago there are
a lot of teachers. In Chicago is a
city! Oho!

City
Jocelyn H.

City of computers, big and little computers
like the computer of Mrs. Vilchis.

City of animals that are wild.

City of the office buildings.

City of streets in the city.

City of industrial in some places.

City of the factories in all the world.

City of sunlight in the morning.

City of oil lamps.

City of gas lamps in the world.

City of neighborhood in all the world.

City of the community with
people who work.

City of Different People
Andrea P.

City of Different People!
(O the different people of all the states!)
Of New York people! Of Mexico people!
New York people are funny, sad, happy,
and even of Mexico people, they
are very, very, very, very kind people. They
give you toys, food, and other things
that you love so, so much, but so much!
And the part that they children
love is whenthe Mexicans and New York
people make funny tricks and
funny jokes that you laugh and laugh,
but they laugh so
much!

City of Stuff
Adriana A.

City of money. I kind of hate money
because everybody is kinda fighting.

City of flags. I hate this because when
I come to school we do the pledge
and I wanna put away my stuff.

City of George Washington. I love his
clothes. I wish I could be him, the
first President. I can imagine
myself in there.

City of Mrs. J and Mrs. Vilchis
Jaqueline M.

City of Mrs. J and Mrs. Vilchis all
around the world. And buying new glasses
in the mall. And buying new clothes to wear in
a party. And buy the same clothes, they look
like the same. They are twins.

###

Mrs. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

Chicago City
Cristal V.

The city of Chicago.
The sky is beautiful like my heart.
The children love to read books.
The teachers are beautiful and sweet.
There are trees all over Chicago.
In Chicago there are a lot of people.
Schools are good to kids.
People are white or black.
Elephants are fat and big.
The dogs are good because they help.
Teachers are sweet and special.
The police are helpful to you.
The computers are good.
I like to be in Chicago.

The Chicago Place
Vanessa G.

I see Chinese people.
The family eats enchiladas.
I see police.
I see dogs and cats in the street.
I see factories doing candies.
I see a lot of rats in the street.
I see libraries with a lot of books.
I see stores of El Gűero.
I see computers in school.
I see doctors and dentists.
I wash a lot of cars.
I see in the zoo elephants.
I see 20,000 houses.
I see people of Mexicano.
I see a lot of trees.

I See Something
Adeline S.

I see people in the city. People
that are black and white people.
And I see schools. And doctors.
And police that are nice. And doctors
that are so nice. And I see little
children and cars passing around and
building houses. And I see stores and zoos
and I see some dogs that are big
and I see tamales that look
good and I feel like I want to eat
some. And I see some trees all around.
I see some food food like
pozole and mole and some tamales
and some enchiladas so so much.
And I like food.

###

Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

The City Of
Judith G.

The city of pets!
The city of pumping hearts!
The city of pumpkins. The city
of holidays. The city of huge
candy! The city of Valentines. The
city of math and division! The
city of people and teachers!

City of Chicago!
Jazmin N.

City of Chicago!
City of homes!
City of store!
City of school!
City of people!
City of pets!
City of shoes!
City of ice cream!
City of popcorn!
City of night!
City of day!
City of downtown!
City of crazy people!
City of rose!
City of darkness!
City of candy!
City of food!
City of Chicago!

The City of the World
Melissa V.

The city of the world!

City with all Shedd Aquariums,
you’re my wonderful stuff and
the sound of dolphins.
City with all houses, schools.
City of the world!
City with all downtown,
with restaurants and work!
City with all best food.
City with people!
City with hospitals!

Chicago’s Things
Giselle H.

We are the city of BEAUTIFULNESS!
City with DRUNK people!
City of BUSY downtown people!
City with PARTY people who get drunk!
City of screaming CRAZY people!
City with running hollering kids who
can’t let you sleep!
City of LOVE who makes you feel!
City with EXTENDED RESPONSES!
City of CRAZY PEOPLE! Who
make you LOCA!

City Of!
Michelle

City of the beautifulness in the world!
City of many beautiful pets!
City of learning children!
City of reading monkeys!

Chicago with delicious hot dogs!
Chicago with Soldier Field!
Chicago with Navy Pier!
Chicaog with children running!

Chicago With!!
Zalma R.

Chicago with!!
Chicago with roses so beautiful!
Chicago with me so nice
and kind! Chicago with people
so nice and so mean!
Chicaog with food like my
kind! Chicago with school
to learn and learn!
Chicago with libraries to
read! Chicago with houses
so nice and clean! Chicago with
me and you and ever how.

Imagism, Minimalism, Objectivism, Haiku

2008-02-25T18:51:00.000-08:00

This week, we read three poems by 18th century Japanese poet and painter, Yosa Buson: "Coolness," "Early Summer Rain," and "Sparrow Singing." Then we looked at William Carlos Williams' classic minimalist poem, "The Red Wheelbarrow." Students were asked what these four poems had in common, and in what ways were they different? Some were familiar with haiku, but instead of sticking with the traditional haiku syllabic formula, students were encouraged to write poems that created a simple, but evocative image in the mind of the reader, in three lines with no more than five words per line.

There were many terrific responses to this idea -- here's a selection.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

The Acorn
Angel H.

The acorn falls
on a leaf then
grows.

Dark in Sky
Vanessa P.

So dark in sky
and you could see dark
anywhere with your eyes.

The Sun
Jonathan R.

The highlight of the sun
the trees of nature glowing
goodbye sun, goodbye

Waterfall
Marbella R.

Waterfall –
the water falling
the roar of water

Life
Steven S.

Life is
some thing
special

Baby Birds
Samantha T.

Beautiful baby birds
staring at their mom
wondering why she won't eat

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Forest
Daniel A.

the sound of one
bird that sounds more beautiful
than a chorus of millions

Branches
Alondra B.

Branches –
sway around
in the dark night

Rain
Gerardo C.

Rain
sometimes hard in the summer
you wonder is it gone

The Red Book
Samuel G.

The red book laying down
as the rain pours over
it the words vanish

Shells
Jessica M.

beach is a place
where shells are
next to the shore.

Rainbow
Luis O.

A big glowing rainbow outside,
two of them from
rain.

Fall
Karen R.

Fall –
is turning to
orange and yellow, and brown

The Cheetah
Yulissa R.

The cheetah runs
in the forest for its
freedom.

Orange Juice
Jeremy S.

The orange juice –
the orange juice is
sitting on the table empty

The Lonely Baseball
Javier S.

the lonely baseball
sits on the lonely
ground

Waves
Alvaro S.

crashing down
like a plate
falling and breaking.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

The Wolf
Salena C.

The Wolf –
dragging its prey
its pup playing around.

Nature
Anheli D.

The squirrels running from animals.
The crickets making sounds.
The smoke of the chimney.

Lake Michigan
David F.

Lake Michigan
boats pass by
shadows reflect.

The Dog
Belen F.

The dog is
barking at the
stranger the dog doesn't stop.

Tree
Jessica Z.

That growth of the tree
is from small
to leaves.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Fly
Daisy A.

Two big wings,
things inside,
soaring through the clouds.

Night
Janet B.

Night is time to
close your eyes
and go to sleep

Wind
Ramiro G.

Wind it blows to your
skin as you hear it
whisper in your ear.

Outside
Omar G.

Outside bird humming
for hunger at the
middle of daylight

Tigers
Anibal M.

Tigers are
dangerous
tigers eat people

Waterfall
Ivan M.

waterfall –
falling water but,
never fills up

La Rosa
Monica M.

En el campo hay una
rosa, roja, con su tallo
verde, que espera verde.

Morning
Jose P.

Waking early –
a new day,
after tired sleep.

Shark Attack
Eric P.

There's a hungry shark.
He's in the distance.
All the fish swim away.

Rain
Jesus P.

you see rain every-
where around the streets
you see your reflection

Birds
Diana R.

Birds chirping while flying, almost
look like dancing, feeding those
little beaks up that tree

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

The Lake
Magdalena F.

The lake
flowers facing the lake,
five of them.

The School
Cesar G.

The school is full in
the morning and empty and
spooky at night.

Snow
Eliliana L.

Snow is cold
soft and melts
it's like ice cream

A Pig
Rocio M.

A pig on a
tree, how weird
don't you think?

Birds
Julian V.

When I'm walking sometimes
I hear spring
birds in the sky

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

wet dogs
Deisy C.

wet dogs
that smell
horrible.

Forest
Daryl C.

A hoot and the blowing
wind. Animals are awake, and
asleep, coming in, and out.

Basketball
Keith D.

Basketball –
the sound of it
makes an echo

Rain
Fernando P.

The rain is dropping,
drip by drop down the
streets.

The Country Flag
Leslie S.

Red, white, blue
waves
on the pole

Winter
Adela S.

it's cold outside
drink hot cocoa
time to build a snowman.

I am a crazy rabbit and an ugly monster and nice people.

2008-02-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

I went a little nuts typing up many more poems than usual, because I was so thrilled about the hilarious and exciting results of our "I am/I am not" anaphora poems. I asked the students to finish the phrase "I am..." fifteen times, and "I am not" five times. I encouraged them to use metaphor (compare themselves to objects, animals, places...) or to use adjectives, or verbs. I was struck by the complexity that they expressed through these poems, throwing in semi-contradictory lines ("I am an ugly monster and nice people.") and documenting growth and change ("I am not mean to you anymore.").

###

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

I Am and I Am Not
Abel V.

I am a real hotdog.
I am a hamburger from Burger King.
I am a pencil that always writes.
I am a car that goes fast.
I am a taco from Tio Luis tacos.

I am not a nerd.
I am not a teacher.
I am not a clown.
I am not a paper.
I am not a piece of cement.

I am a computer that works.
I am a stapler that has a lot of staples.
I am a tissue paper.
I am a ramp that people use.
I am a clown that is funny.

I am not a piece of lead.
I am not a jacket that people wear.
I am not a folder that children use.
I am not a chalkboard.
I am not the worms that crawl in the dirt.

Untitled
Carlos L.

I’m an alligator, an alligator that invites people in my stomach.

I’m not a fish, a fish that swims in the water.

I’m a rat, a strong rat that could make a cat lose.

I’m not a worm that moves slow.

I’m a lion that is strong.

Untitled
Adriana A.

I am cleaning my room today.
I am helping people to earn money.
I am playing with my dog.
I am a daughter.
I am jumping around.

I am not hungry.
I am not worried.
I am not lucky; today always bad luck.
I am not happy today.
I am not cleaning my room.

Untitled
Andrea P.

In 5 de mayo I am going to dance. I am not a good dancer.
I am going to eat tamales. I am not happy.
I am a lizard. I am not a thing.
I am a balloon. I am not afraid of water.
I am a ball. I am not mean.

In 5 de mayo I am going to dance. I am going to dance.
I am going to eat tamales.
I am a lizard. I am a balloon.
I am a ball. I am a tree.

I am not a good dancer. I am not happy.
I am not mean. I am not afraid of water.
I am not a thing.

Untitled
Nicole O.

I am not a ghost.
I am a red shape and dark.
I am not mean to you anymore.
I am something that’s blue and flies.
I am not a heart.
I am the sun.
I am not the color yellow.
I am a paperclip.

I Am a Little Girl with a Big Imagination
Zamira M.

I am a little heart that don’t have nobody.
I am a little girl that is almost everything.
I am a little butterfly that flies and flies.
I am your Valentine all the time—
when you need help I will help you.
I am not a girl that steals friends.
I am not a toy you play with.
I am not a book that you laugh at all the time.
I am not a mean person that steals.
I am not a ghost.

Untitled
Daniel R.

I am a clown that makes a lot of people laugh
and I talk to people.
I am not a crazy boy. I am a nice boy
because you are not a bad boy,
you are a nice boy to play with.
I am a boy that does his work in the classroom.
I am not bringing my homework to school.
I am a tree and a train and a bike
that has two wheels.
I am not a clown.
I am not an ugly kid.
I am a crazy rabbit and an ugly monster
and nice people.

Untitled
Fernando L.

I am a can.
I am a ghost.
I am a famous singer.
I am the Earth.
I am a car.

I am not Jeff Hardy.
I am not a human.
I am not a tray.
I am not a clown.

I Am…I Am Not…
Araceli V.

I am a 3rd-grader. I am sad.
I am in Mrs. Vilchis’ classroom.
I am a student. I am my mom’s daughter.
I am not a teacher. I am not happy.
I am not a 4th-grader.
I am not a student of the month.
I am not a dog.

Untitled
Krystal R.

I am a sandwich that walks.
I am a bird.
I am a turkey.
I am a paper that talks.
I am a balloon.

I am not a book.
I am not a person.
I am not a shoe.
I am not a squirrel.
I am not a table.

###

Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

I Am, I Am Not!
Michelle B.

I am like a shining diamond!
I am not crazy!
I am a beautiful red heart!
I am not a banana with fresh peels!
I am clean and shiny!
I am not a crazy monkey!
I am a shining star in the sky!
I am not confusing!

I Am
Sebastian C.

I am a giant robot.
I am a magnet who sticks on the robot.
I am a rock--I can't move.
I am a football player.
I am a volcano who spills lava.
I am a pencil who people could write with.
I am a leaf on a tree.
I am a writer.
I am a house.
I am a candle.

I am not a pair of glasses.
I am not scissors.
I am not cool.
I am not a ruler.
I am not a clock.

Confusion
Marcos B.

I am 10 of these are us which is
you or me or these.

I am not the same as all of you.

I am always everywhere, as you
can see.

I am not afraid of fireworks or not even
chocolate but maybe of you.

I am not fat.

I am always skinny.

I Am Not
Angelica A.

I am not a boy.
I am a girl.
I am not broccoli.
I am a girl that likes to laugh.
I am not a washing machine.
I am writing a poem.
I am not a tree.
I am counting in my head.
I am not dinner.
I am reading my sentence.
I am not a cup of coffee.
I am doing work.
I am not a triangle.
I am using Andy's pencil.
I am not a cake.

I Am! I Am Not!
Jacqueline V.

I am nice.
I am a girl.
I am strong.
I am pretty.
I am a kitty.
I am great at school.
I am beautiful.
I am a dog.
I am big.
I am brave.
I am not a cylinder.
I am not mud.
I am not a rock.
I am not a leaf.
I am not a cake.
I am not a cube.
I am not a boy.
I am not a rectangle.
I am not a cone.
I am a sphere.
I am not a pyramid.
I am not a prism
because I will be a prism.

###

Mrs. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

Untitled
Victor P.

I am a house.
I am not a paper.
I am a book.
I am not a board.
I am a television.
I am not a shoe.
I am a map.
I am not a pencil.
I am a ball.
I am not a book bag.
I am short.
I am not hair.
I am an apple.
I am a person.

I Am the Things
Hazael G.

I am tiny like an ant.
I am not a computer
because I don't have letters
in my stomach.
I am a hot dog.
I am not a donkey.
I am a book.
I am a poem.
I am not water.
I am a lion.
I am not a shark.
I am not a planet.
I am a dog.
I am an angel.

I Am
Esmeralda P.

I am a frog because
I jump a lot.
I am a monkey because
I ate a lot of bananas.
I am a dog because I like
bones of meat.
I am the sun and I am bright.
I am a song I sing.
I am a book so fat.
I am a poem so long.
I am a hot dog.
I am pizza.
I am a school.
I am a donkey that does the limbo.
I am a cookie.

I Am Not Things, I Am Things
Yacsel H.

I am a butterfly in the sky.
I am a monkey, I dance and eat bananas.
I am a seahorse and I am in the water.
I am a pencil and I write with it.

I am not a car who rides.
I am not a house where they live.
I am not water to drink.
I am not a poem to read.
I am not food to eat.

Myself
Angelica V.

I am a good girl.
I am a princess.
I am my dog.
I am a girl.
I am a president.
I am a super girl.
I am Maya.
I am a D.W.
I am a woman.
I am a mom.

I am not a boy.
I am not a stranger.
I am not a dinosaur.
I am not a nice boy.

I Am
Miguel M.

I am a white tiger.
I am not Joaquin.
I am Miguel.
I am a red dragon.
I am not a shark.

Untitled
Karina G.

I am a girl.
I am not a boy.
I am in Chicago.
I am not an animal.
I am a dog.
I am not a house.
I am fabulous.
I am not a clock.
I am a princess.
I am not a number.
I am a teddy bear.
I am not a ghost.
I am a happy face.
I am not a marker.
I am a heart.
I am not a rabbit.
I am a star.
I am not teeth.
I am a popstar.
I am not a baby.
I am a butterfly.
I am not a rat.
I am a bird.
I am not a fly.
I am a rainbow.
I am not a fish.
I am a glass of water.

Cento

2008-02-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

These large poems are the results of a collaboration, in which each student contributed up to three snippets (in this case, three things that they fear), and I mixed up the results to create a poem. This kind of poetry is similar to the cento, which is a poem created from borrowed lines and words in another text (effectively, a collaboration between the writer and a borrowed text). We took the example of Denise Duhamel's poem "82 Reasons Not to Get Out of Bed," which was a collaboration between Duhamel and her MFA writing class.

They were so excited to have written these big poems, and enjoyed the chance to read other students' secret fears.

###

Our Fears
Rachel Javellana and Mrs. Vilchis’ 3rd grade class, Rm. 202

Dinosaurs because of they’re big and have large teeth.
Snakes that bite. There could be poison snakes or dangerous snakes.
My attic because the grudge is there.
The scary movies, all blood on them and dead. They really scare me.
The Devil because he could fire your body in parts.
The people coming through the streets all day long. It’s like monsters coming
through the streets.
Rocket ships. but I don’t know why.
The night.
Winter because there’s a lot of snow.
Strange people because they could kill you.
I feel kinda fear because the big balloons scared me, usually the red ones.
The dark in the forest.
Scary movies because I can’t sleep at night.
The letter B because it makes the sound boom! And it sounds like a thunder is coming.
Bees because if a bee shocks me I could die.
Clowns—it’s like they’re trying to rule the world.
The mean people who fight.
Clowns because they look strange and like they don’t dress up like a clown.
Guns and gangsters and dogs.
The dog that’s big and eats people. I really fear those dogs: the rottweilers.
Spiders because they have a web. And they have long legs.
The color red because sometimes my family wears red clothing.
Dead people.
The number 12 because it has two letters and the other ones have one. And number 100 has one hundred of three letters.
The dark in night in Halloween.
Little dogs because I step on them like Mrs. Vilchis.
Guns because they could kill you.
A text message that they sent my sister. There is a little girl in her screen and it says: My name is Lili and if you don’t send this to ten people I will sit in your bed.
Strangers outside.
Storms because they’re scary. And you can die if a storm touches you.
Scary movies of Chucky when I was 6 years old because he kills people with a knife and he scares them.
A big dog because it can eat me.
Red hens because when you try to touch their little babies, they bite you with their beak.
Clowns and big black dogs.
Snakes because when they take their tongue they can smell us. And they’re dangerous animals.
Lions because they bite hard.
The yucky green water.
The teacher giving us homework.
Airplanes because they are big.
Fire because you can burn yourself.
When I went to Six Flags in a haunted house. It was a farm and it was with blood all over the place and there was a monster with a chainsaw.
That a ghost lives with me because they could do bad things.
A big wolf because their teeth are big and sharp.
Foxes because they bite you.
The dark. I can’t sleep, I have to have the TV on.
Guns because they could kill you.
When I sleep at night and I cannot sleep.
A shark that is in the water and has lots of teeth and swims in the water and takes some people to a trip far away in the water.
Tornadoes scare me because they destroy houses and it looks scary.
When I was little I was afraid of the snow because I would fall in and somebody throw snow at me.
When I was little I was really scared of clowns. One day we went to the circus. I saw a clown and I ducked down to the floor.
The letter M because sometimes I always write sentences with M.
Poisonous snakes.
Chickens because I think they are going to peck me.
That in the future, aliens take over the world.
A dog because he bit me one day and he’s big and he is brown.
Monsters because they are something scary.
At night when storms are scary.
A big dog that is really big and is like a giant.
When I was little I was afraid of a truck because the truck was big and scary and blue.
The dark because I saw a movie and it was scary. I need nightlamps.
The number 1,000 is so big that I even cry by that big number.
Bad people like the ones who are outside and steal money and break windows and they even steal Mom.
Dead people. I don’t like dead people because they scare me.
The number 1,000 is so big that I even cry by that big number.
Rats in Mexico at my grandma’s old house where she doesn’t live anymore.

###

Scared
Rachel Javellana and Mrs. Vazzana’s 3rd grade class, Rm. 104

I am scared of blowfish because it pokes you when you grab it, it feels bad and pointy.
I am scared of the llorona because she screams, “Ay, mis hijos.” And she is scary.
I’m scared of sharks because they can eat you.
I’m scared of the water because it was ten feet tall.
I’m so scared of the big dogs. The dogs are sometimes bad.
The alligator is icky, from the mouth, their teeth. Or sharks.
I’m scared of snakes because they are ugly.
I’m scared of tornadoes. They destroy houses.
I fear the tarantula because he could bite you.
I fear alligators. Because they put an ugly face.
I’m afraid of the fish because when it’s not dead they have to cook them. The fish are nice but smell bad, and their bones are different than ours.
I fear the llorona because she could take us.
I am scared of snakes because they bite you and they have big teeth and they are mean to people.
I fear my basement because there’s spiders and it’s dark.
I’m scared of the sharks. They might eat you up.
I’m scared that a comet is coming to Earth.
I’m scared of the llorona. I was asleep and I felt something. I screamed, “Mom, Dad!!”
I fear a blowfish.
I’m scared of the sun.
I fear a tornado storm.
I was scared of climbing a mountain because it was rocky.
I am scared of sharks, because the teeth of sharks are big and too sharp.
I fear sharks because they could eat you.
I fear a blowfish because it’s ugly and icky.
I’m afraid of tarantulas because the have so much fur.
I fear Mexico, because of the llorona.
I am scared of fire.
I’m scared of the dark.
I’m afraid of hot air balloons because they can spy.
I was scared of the air balloon because it goes high in the sky.
I’m scared of spiders because they eat you.
I fear the llorona because they say that the llorona is real.
I fear shots because they hurt.
I fear going to Mexico because the llorona is going to grab me.
I fear people because they’re going to grab me.
I’m scared of rats because they are ugly and they eat some people.
I fear the dark.
I fear a shark because I am afraid of their teeth.
One morning I see something so different and new. I go by and wave my hand. I go away.
I fear sharks because they eat the people.
I’m so scared of the animal, the lion.
I fear wind that causes a tornado.
I fear the llorona—it’s scary.
I fear Chicago because of the winter.
I fear a shark.
I fear sharks because they could eat you.
One afternoon I was with my sisters in the room and they pulled me, and sisters helped me.
I’m afraid that the window might open and someone might steal me.
I fear the storm.
I am scared of tornadoes that carry houses.
I fear Mexico because there’s the llorona.
I fear the policeman because sometimes he kills people and has a gun and he’s scary by the face.
I fear going to Mexico because I fear the llorona.
I am scared of spiders because they are hairy.
I fear to see the diablo because you can die.
I was scared of la llorona because she cried.
I’m afraid of sharks because if we go to the water if there’s sharks and if we get hurt and we bleed they could eat us. Because we could get hurt a lot. And in the waves it could be dangerous.
I was scared of a storm because the noise was loud.
I was scared of the building.
I fear big bulldogs because they are going to bite me and they are not going to let me go.
I was scared of the room.
I fear when all the lights go off.

###

That is Why I Am Scared
Rachel Javellana and Ms. Hamdan’s 3rd grade class, Rm. B15

I’m afraid of bad dreams.
I fear dead people like zombies.
I’m also afraid of the clown because of his sharp teeth and sharp claws and when he pops out when the children do something.
I am afraid of whales because they have big mouths.
I am scared of animals. Dogs because the bite.
I am scared of animals because some animals bite me.
I was scared when the rat came at me.
I fear the numbers.
I am afraid of the dark of my room.
I fear when I get ready to lay down somebody is knocking on the door and I’m scared.
I am scared that a robber might get me when I am going to school.
I am scared of sharks, whale sharks, because they bite.
I fear balloons when they pop.
I’m afraid of quiet places like corners.
I am afraid of jumping off a motorcycle, because a motorcycle is dangerous.
I am scared of tarantulas because they have venom.
I’m afraid of balloons because I’m afraid that the balloons can pop out blood in my face.
I’m afraid of the dark by myself and people take me.
I am afraid of Undertaker because the lights turn off.
I’m afraid of heights because I’ll get dizzy and I feel I’ll fall and die.
In my life I’m afraid of poison spiders and can die.
I’m scared of scary stories because they creep me out.
I am scared that my pants are going to fall down.
I am scared of rottweilers because they might hurt me and make me go to the hospital.
I am scared of Valentine’s Day because I think my heart is going to break.
I am afraid of fire. I am afraid of this because it burns really bad.
I am afraid of clowns because they act weird and smile weird.
I am scared of learning. I am scared of learning because it makes us smart. That is why I am scared.
I’m afraid of scary movies because they freak me out.
I fear balloons popping in my hand when it was my birthday.
I fear people with costumes with ugly faces.
I’m scared of the door in the night when it’s slamming, when it’s locked.
I fear the 7-syllable word, triskaidekaphobia (which is 13), for nothing.
I fear the clowns when they give me balloons.
I am scared of doing homework. I am scared of doing homework because we learn when we do it. That is why I am scared.
I am scared of the dark because someone could rob me.
I’m scared of dolls when they come to life.
I am afraid of broccoli because my mom makes me eat it.
I’m scared of the bunny when it hops and it might jump on me.
I’m scared when I swim in the ocean where sharks and octopus live.
I am scared of teachers. I am scared because they make us learn. They even make us study. That is why I am scared.
I am afraid of tigers because they eat flesh and we are flesh.
I am scared of devils because they are mean and scary.
I am scared when the light goes off and I got to go to the bathroom, too, in the night.
I am scared of sharks, hammerhead sharks, because they can bite your feet.
The most that I fear is a snake because they can bite me and they can smell people and they can bite me and it is called a copperhead and you can die or get sick when they bite you.
I am scared of rats because they look so nasty and horrible.
I fear the undertaker because he might put me in a casket.
I am scared of dinosaurs, T-Rex, because they could eat you.
I am afraid of lions because they like meat.
I fear spiders because some of them bite. The one that I do not like is a weaver spider that lives in the water.
And I was scared of a balloon because it popped. I was 6 years old.
I am scared of my brother because he hits me.
I fear the dog because he does not know me and can bite me and I can bleed and he will smell me and then he does not know me at all and the dog can get mad and he will chase me
when I run away.
I am only scared if I see a real scary movie because I shake when I go to sleep.
I fear balloons because I am afraid they might pop on my body.
I am scared of the dark. I am scared of the dark because I think something is going to happen to me.
I am scared of tarantulas because they are poisonous.
I fear a ghost. In the dark all alone anywhere.
I’m afraid of clowns because they freak me out and look so weird.
I fear broccoli because when I’m about to put it in my mouth I feel like I’m about to eat a grasshopper.
I fear scary stories with those witches bats and crawling spiders.
I fear clowns because their lips are red and look like blood, and they also have a weird laugh.
I am afraid of snakes. I am afraid of these because they got a big mouth and they could bite you.
I fear my room at dark because I hear stuff saying I will come back.
I am afraid of broccoli because it tastes nasty.
I am scared of spiders because some are poisonous and they bite.
I am afraid of sharks because they will eat me.
I am afraid to stay by myself in the house because I think someone is going to come out of the closet.
I fear the devil because there is a place in Mexico, they call it “la cueva del diablo.” they say there is money there. Some people tried to get it but some survived and some died.
I fear scary stories. They say in radio that someone or something surrounds some places.
I’m scared of clowns when they get too close to me.
I’m scared of the dog that lives next to my street.
I’m scared of the man in my house when he comes for me in the night.
I’m scared of the dark when I think there’s a scary ghost.
I’m scared of my house when I hear someone coming upstairs.
I fear paper because I think it will cut me.
I’m afraid of being alone in anywhere.
I’m afraid to open the door.

Haiku

2008-02-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

I brought in a hodge-podge of haiku examples, from Basho to haiku written by other HOS students in years past. I read Basho's Furuike ya in Japanese and English. The students loved hearing the poem in its original language and really got into clapping out the syllables as we discussed this traditional form. The students then got to work on writing their own Haiku. I told them not to worry about the number of syllables, but to focus on being simple, direct, and creating a single image (like taking a snapshot of a moment). I also asked them to include three things I find common to many Haiku - a when (some indication of time, like the season), a where (an indication of place, like a pond, or the forest), and a what (who or what is doing the action in the poem - like a cricket singing or some other sound). We made lists for each of these questions as a warm up. In many classes, I also had the students use their science textbooks or nature magazines to find images or words that could help them get started - I was very pleased with the results!

Mr. K (Rm. 205)
3rd Grade

In Spring and Summer
Celina S.

In spring at afternoon.
A bird is singing.
A bird is flying.

In summer at night.
A owl is howling.
I see its big owl eyes.

Haiku
Virgen S.

Spring kids wear
only sweaters
sounds like it
is almost summer.

Rocio R.

In fall
all the leaves fall
I don't hear many
birds.

Edgar C.

In the month of May
there are a lot of flowers
Bird, seabird flying up on the sky

Michael D.

A river downhill
the bird on a maple tree
you hear the sound of the bird
underwater

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson (Rm. 001)
3rd Grade

Luis P.

A penguin
sliding on
its tummy catching
fish

Arctic air
penguins
wobbling

Winter all
year long
freezing

Samuel P.

Night the forest looks dark
The forest is so far peaceful
And then fire came fffff the forest got burned

Day the color blue in the sea
The sea so warm
Fish ready to swim

Day animals wake up
In the city
They are singing and swimming

Salvador I.

Christmas Eve
picking a Christmas tree
making a blue spruce into X-Mas
tree

Ms. Marfise (Rm. 002)
3rd Grade

Elizabeth C.

Lives in the Arctic
Looking for fish to eat
White fluffy polar bear

Ricardo V.

Black and white tails
Getting bananas from the tree
Big brown-eyed lemur

David F.

In the spring
of Mexico
I hear crickets chirping in the evening

At evening
in a rainforest
alone in a good place

Mrs. Rodriguez (Rm. 401)
5th Grade

Veronica T.

En otoño
la rana verde
como las hojas

En primavera
los girasoles amarillos
como el sol

En invierno
la nieve blanca
como el cielo nublado

En primavera
el pajarito rojo
como las rosas

Jesus

In ocean
trying to get away
from a great white

In spring
in Africa
running from
a lion

Running from
a wolf
in woods
in winter

Haiku
Cynthia G.

1. In summer
A yellow sun shining
wherever I go.

2. In winter sparkles of flying
snow wherever you
and I meet.

3. In spring a bluebird
chirping whenever
the sun rises.

4. In fall red and yellow
leaves fall whenever
night is close.

Andres M.

In spring
A yellow mushroom wiggles happily
under a tree

In summer
a big waterfall
saves the world

In spring
a little worm lives under a mushroom
sings for happiness

Ms. Breen (Rm. 201)
3rd Grade

Class Poems:

In summer
I get in the pool
and get wet

In winter
it snows
cold and a little soft

A cheetah runs
after a deer
making a rawr sound

Memory Poems

2008-02-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

Memory is a powerful motivator in poetry, and Philip Levine one of poetry's most ardent proponents of remembering. Students read and discussed his lovely (and complicated) poem, "Starlight," then wrote memory poems of their own.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Ezequiel A.

I remember my first house. I left when
I was seven years old. My favorite spot to hang
out in the night was the roof. I would go
out of my window and lay to look at the
night sky, the stars. I'd just look at the
night stars. My favorite place to play
was the basement. I had no one to tell
me what to do.

Memories
Virginia B.

Those memories I had
of the muddy mud in Wisconsin. I lost
my shoes. I got a frog that
was always jumping everywhere
in the mud. People laughing that
shoes were lost with the five other
frogs! All the frogs were jumping.
Jumping everywhere!

The Memories
Jonathan R.

The desert, hot and dizzy, bright,
very bright.
My granddad on the horizon, back
from his journey.
“The danger,” he says, “with
rattlesnakes and the suffering heatwaves.”
He holds me while we see the
sun disappear into the horizon.
And the light from the
moon and the stars.
Our minds sank into the almost
unbelieving stories.
“For the gods take care of us
for the new day to come.”

Memory
David V.

I had fun at Six Flags.
We went on rides
and ate pies. The
happiness and laughter
we had
together. Now
we're
a little unhappy
and bored. We
never go to places.
I still remember
that day. All I
think
is we need
family time and
a happy trip.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Mexico
Griselda A.

I remember when we went to Mexico
and we went to a really cool water
park. But when I got in a tunnel.
I twisted my leg and it really
hurt. I also remember when me
and my family went to Michigan
and we went to parties and
to the circus. It was really fun
being there because horses were
even dancing. Also they fired
fireworks and it was very
beautiful.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Giovanni F.

I remember the time
when I was two years
old.
I was a mere
baby who went
anywhere.
This is how
it all started.
We were at the
park.
My mom
was
holding me.
I escaped when
she wasn't looking.
I tried to climb
on a rope. I
was almost
there when
I fell. I
cried as loud
as I can. My
parents took me
to the nearest
hospital. That's all I remember.

Memory
Samuel G.

I remember when I went
to the park with my
family and dog. I remember
that at first we
started to have races,
for whoever wins first.
I remember that at
the end of the race
we would start
climbing trees. It was so
much fun sitting on the
tree, hanging backwards from
the tree. Then we would
play some soccer, with
my dog as the goalie. When
we were done we would
eat in a small picnic.
When we were done
we would lay down
and pet our dog.
When we were done
we would go home so
happy.

I Remember....
Alvaro S.

I remember when I had
a snowball fight with my
friends. We each made a fort
and ammo. The snowballs were
flying everywhere. We all had
a good time. It was our best
snowball fight ever. We also
got out of our forts and
pushed each other into
the cold snow. We hit each
other a lot of times with
the hard cold snowballs.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Memory Poem
Cesar M.

It is my 6th birthday.
My family and I are getting
ready. The party is going to be
in a big restaurant. I am going
to have a clown and a
magician. Someone was
really embarrassed by the clown.
The clown put two cloths in his
pants, then he pulled and
purple underwear came out.
The party was so great.
But the worse part was when
it ended.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Everardo P.

The time was evening.
My mom was on the porch outside.
The sunset was awesome. Me
and my family like to relax
every summer evening when
the sunset was out, especially
those kind of yellow orange colors,
almost purple. The sky is
full of wonderful colors
that just make you say the sky
has never been better.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Brenda R.

I remember when I was going to
move to a new house. When I first
went to see it, it looked so
empty, the place looked sad. Then
when we were carrying things
it didn't look empty. When all
the things were in there it
looked so different, with all
the pretty things. An empty place
to a happy place.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

The Crash
Roberto A.

I remember when I had a horrible
car crash. I heard the loud crash. I see
people all around the two or three cars.
I heard ambulances coming. I was frightened
to see bad things that might have happened.
I went to the hospital. I was laying on the
stretcher, they took me out, I could only
see lights. I was at the hospital for two hours.
I only wanted to know if my family was
safe. We all came out of the hospital safe.
I'm glad we were safe.

Poetry Memory
Cynthia G.

I remember when I went to Mexico.
It was one afternoon. My
cousin's birthday. We all had
a great, great time because we
broke the piñata and I took my
cousin to meet my aunt and aunt's
daughters and aunt's store. My
cousin decided to invite them
because she thought they
were kind. We started
dancing in the rain and they
became best friends. Then
the next day my cousin and
my family needed to go back
to Chicago. Those nice
good good days.

I Remember the Times in Mexico
Juan J.

I remember the time, on a warm summer
evening, in Mexico. I was on a beach in
Oaxaca. Drinking coconut juice out of a
coconut. Eating cold fruit in a cup with
chili powder, lemons, and salt. I also remember
playing with my cousin with a ball of string.
Also the time when I was in Veracruz,
Mexico City, and other parts. I bought a dog
whistle and attracted tons of dogs. I could
soon live there and fulfill my best memories.

A Birthday Memory
Linet L.

I remember when I had my
first birthday.
It was afternoon. My father
and my brother went
to get balloons.
I was going to turn six
years old.
My mom had a surprise.
What is that?
Inside a ...
white box.
Large. Heavy.
Outside, a table. Pink cloth.
My favorite color. Surprise!
Many gifts, colors, uncles,
aunts, cousins, friends,
and my family.
Someone was missing.
My mom.

She came in and took
out a ....
....
....
....
cake.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Vani P.

I remember when
I was four years old.
I was a simple little
girl. I will always see
all of my things big.
I was innocent and I am
still. I was small
but I see things
normal now that I am
bigger. When I was small
I used to look at
big things and the
ceiling I couldn't reach.
But now since I am
tall I can pop out
of my roof.
Now that I am
grown up, now
that it's night. Well,
goodnight folks.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Alejandro A.

I remember when
I was eight years old
I was on a soccer
team. When I was
goalie they kicked
the ball. I threw
myself and I got
it but I hit myself
on the post and
they took me out
until I was better.
Then they put me
back as goalie
and we also won.
We were champions.
We won a big cup.
It was bigger than
all of the other cups.

My Memory
Magdalena F.

Walking by the lake
Waiting to go on the boat
Splish splash the water goes
Seems like forever waiting
Finally the boat comes
Air blowing in my face
The relaxing feeling
I remember, I remember

My Memories
Laela M.

I remember when I went
to Minnesota with my family
for two weeks. It was fun, we
got to go in a mall and
it had rides inside.
Then my cousin was
talking too much.
I pushed her in
the water and we all
laughed but it was fun.
When we came back
I wrote everything that
happened and was said. I had
the best time.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Mexico
Brenda A.

I remember the days in Mexico flew by just like a bird trying to find its way home.
The nights in Mexico were lonely like the stars in the sky shining in a physical way.
When I came back here it was like every memory was taken away up in the sky.
The hot sun still shining burning my eyes. I remember the high mountains in
Mexico. I had always wondered if there was any snow up there. It was where I would
like to lick up the snow so my throat would not roast. Those memories will always
float away up in the sky.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Keith D.

I remember when
I was four. It was a
sunny day. My mom
left the door open
'cause it was hot.
My mom started
to cook and like five
seconds later I ran
out the door. My mom
chased me to the
corner and caught me
right when the car
came.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Amanda H.

I remember when I went
to Mexico. I went to the pool.
My cousin broke her
tooth on the side. I remember
she kept saying, “I'm going
to look ugly!” The water
was red from the blood. She
was crying and crying.
We left, but her lip was
swollen, very, very red and very
big. She was sad,
very, very sad. She said, “I
will never ever go there again.”

Memory
Mayra S.

I remember when I was four.
My mom showed me our photo album.
Then I saw a picture of a girl
but didn't know who it was.
She was white and had brown
hair but when I was six I knew
that the weird girl with white skin and
brown hair was me.

Ideogram Poems

2008-01-31T10:49:00.000-08:00

I brought in an excerpted portion of May Swenson's "Cardinal Ideograms" - it turned out to be a great introduction to concrete poetry (treating language as material - one of my favorite exercises). I had my classes use the letters of their first name as their "ideograms" and encouraged them to look at the letters differently, as Swenson had done with cardinal numbers. The results were really fantastic!

Mr. K, Rm. 205
3rd Grade

Adrian

A A mountain. An upside down mountain
D A half-bubble. A full bubble.
R A waterslide. A waterslide upside down.
I Jail bars. A scratching post.
A Two people. Two people in love.
N A bouncing ball. Three pretzels together.

Monica C.

M looks like people holding hands with each other.
O looks like a blue bubble.
N looks like a bouncing ball.
I looks like a white window.
C looks like a horse shoe.
A looks like a slice of pizza.

Miguel

M like a mountain
i like a pencil
g like a six
u like a swing
e like a nine
l a person is standing straight

Marco T.

M Two big mountains with a lot of snow.
A A little little mountain.
R Mad Mick diving into the water.
C A big hole under the ground.
O It looks like the whole world.

Reymundo A.

r looks like a boat backwards
e looks like a bird's head
y looks like an ice cream cone
m looks like a cat's mouth
u looks like a person smiling
n looks like a person frowning
d looks like a golf club
o looks like an eye

Michael D.

M Two mountains together. Two pine trees.
I Metal bars. Jail.
C Tail moving side to side. Half bubble. Half a moon. Half circle.
H Tic-tac-toe. Door in half.
A Mountain cut off top.
E A book. W. Three people fishing.
L Like a fishing rod in water.

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Jonathan V.

J looks like a pirate plank
o looks like a face
n looks like a cave
a looks like an upside down b
t looks like a hotel
h looks like a house
a looks like a 4
n looks like mountains

Lisette

L=flying bird
I=needle of a lie detector
S=spaghetti
E=book
T=badge
T=umbrella
E=ball

Esmeralda

E like a cliff
S like a slithery snake
M two people holding hands
E a comb to brush your hair
R a walking person
A like a house
L someone sitting down
D a big belly
A a street and a line where people walk

Luis

L A half house. A right angle.
U A head
I A trampoline
S A slide with two ways to go. A rain drop with a sad face.

Oscar

O A man with joy
S A cobra snake is so slippery
C Car wheels moving
A The Paris tower
R A robot attacking the city

Alejandra

A A little tent. A house.
l A stick. And a vine.
e A baby inside a stroller. Or a helmet.
j A fisherman's hook. A person on a swing.
a A cup upside down. A person with their hair down.
n A slide. A cup.
d A hat sideways. Somebody kicking a ball.
r A bed on top. A bird singing.
a It's a rooftop A. It's a jet.

Ms. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Myriam

M Mountains
Y A bell
R A rocket ship
I A pool
A A mountain going around
M A beak

Shalynn

S A rattle snake
h An old boot
a A girl with long hair that's happy
L One big building. One small building.
y A tire swing on a branch
N A racing track
n A stool

David

D A real slippy slide that kids always like.
A A zig zag ladder with a line in the middle.
V A greater or less than sign upside down.
I A big tower with lines on top and bottom.
D A broken piece of glass with a big crack.

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Nelly

N A roller coaster and a person frightened
E An E is a pair of pants
L An open book
L A tree with flowers
Y A rein that you hold to control like Santa

Marco

M A big snowy mountain.
a Looks like a lollypop.
R A person coming out of a door.
C Looks like Pac-Man
O Looks like a spoon.

Laura

L A fluffy chair and a diving board
A A blue hut house and a volcano
U A yellow slide with a child
R A duck with one leg
a An alien with one eye

Alexis

A A yelling kid that is coming off the slide
L A kid that is shooting the basketball in the basket
E This is a kid that got a book from the bookshelf
X A pirate that found the x spot and digs it up
I This is a kid that is swinging in the swing
S This is a snake that is moving his tongue

Isabel C.

I A woman carrying a stick and jumping down and up.
S A seahorse waiting for her baby to come out.
A A mountain waiting for somebody to climb him or her.
B Two big eggs on a carton.
E A ladder that is waiting for a man to climb on her or him.
L A table that is waiting for food.

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

Ryan

R A no neck person with no arms
Y A half a stickman, a fancy champagne glass
A Candy corn
N The extreme slide

Ismael

I Pencils stacked on each other
S A slithering cobra
M Two mountains filled with ice
A Pac-Man with a stick in the middle
E A broken comb
L A store wall meeting the sidewalk

Jeremy

J President Lincoln with his hat
e An eye of a silly dog
r A candy cane
e A nest with eggs
m Bunny ears
y My conductor conducting me

Maria

M Two mountains dancing in the middle of nowhere
A Two people hugging because they just met their true love
R A big slide and stairs beside it. Kids going to slide but be careful not to fall
I A street where cars stop nearby and say hello while they kiss their brides
A A big lady walking down the street knowing she forgot to put on shoes

Samuel

S A snake sticking out its tongue and making the noise s-e-e-e...
A A person's face with a mustache and with his mouth open
M The mountains all snowy and cold with the sunrise up every day
U A horse shoe
E The cities that are always busy and have lights on all the time
L A crocodile's mouth with its sharp pointy teeth

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Luz

L A comfy chair
U A face smiling
Z A sand timer

Jesica

J A big noodle like a J.
E A door that has a little window.
S An eight like a squirrelly snake.
I Like a circle table.
C Like a gooey worm.
A Two people hugging each other.

Elizabeth

E A ping-pong ball trying to find the finish line.
L A foot going inside a shoe.
i A pink lollipop
z An accordion being squished up.
a A girl with a ponytail
b A baby with a birthday hat.
e An umbrella
t A cross
h A chair

Diego

D A loaf of bread
i The Sears Tower about to be destroyed
e A miner under the earth
g A girl in bed
o I'm playing with a soccer ball

Special Project, part 1: My Heart

2008-01-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day approaching, with its barrage of red frilly hearts, I wanted to take a different look at the heart. We did this with the help of "Little Clown, My Heart" by Sandra Cisneros. The students brainstormed images that they associate with the heart, which I wrote on the board. I then asked them to write their own "My Heart" poems, BUT with the rule that they must not use any of the words on the board (many of them stock heart imagery: red, love, family, pink, Valentine's Day, etc.). Amid groans, they wrote poems comparing their hearts to people, things, machines, etc. I think they were surprised by what they could come up with.

This is the first part of a special project that I am doing with these classes. Next week we will revise our poems, and made illustrations to go with them, which will be posted in the school hallway. Stay tuned for photos!

###

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

My Heart
Miguel C.

Little computer, my heart writes
all the time sometimes and sometimes
you don't. You broke apart and then
you come in one piece and you
work again.

Little Metal, My Heart
Sergio H.

Little metal, it does not move, and
jumps into the fire. My heart is not
burned, he goes to the water, steam comes
out of the water. My heart is black.

My Heart Different Colors
Jocelyn H.

I have different colors in my heart.

My heart is like my teeth, all
going to fall off, oh now, when,
today, Monday or Friday.

My Little Heart
Zamira M.

Little heart that shines in the
dark. And walks in the fire. Also
swims in the purple water. It's filled with
love to my family.

###

Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

My Heart is a Snowman
Maricarmen J.

Little snowman heart,
sometimes you jump a lot.
Sometimes when you are happy you
like dancing the song of Frosty.
And she said to me, if I tell her
something bad she is going to
get out from me.

The Heart that is an Angel
Hazael G.

The angel heart always
helps me and tells me not
to be afraid. And to be brave.

Untitled
Kevin C.

My heart is an eagle and
flies around my body.

My Heart
Luis M.

My heart is funny.
My heart plays the piano.
My heart is blue.
My heart rides a car.
My heart jumps around the house.
My heart goes to school.
My heart is a clock.
My heart puts 100 jackets.
My heart is a volcano.
My heart is a giant.

###

Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

Untitled
Sergio P.

My heart is fun. It also has friends:
my lungs and brain. When my
heart hates me it turns black
and kicks my lungs. My heart thinks
it's smarter than my brain.

The Heart
Joel D.

My heart fights, drives.
My heart lives. My heart
explodes when it cries. My heart
is a box of chocolate.

The Heart that Plays Soccer
Moises A.

My heart is green. When it sees a ball it
goes and kicks it. It is also filled with red stuff.
When I roast marshmallows it gets hot. My heart
does cartwheels. It also jumps around. I feel good
about many different things my heart does. It is also
fun.

My Heart Pumps Blue Blood
Judith G.

When I bleed it's red blood. When
I bleed it's red sangre, it hurts sometimes.
Mi corazon me da mis wesos sangre. Then my
blood gives my skull blood. Mostly my body
is water, when I sweat I lose a little
water, then I drink water and go to sleep
so my bones can get stronger and stronger.
That's what my heart does.

Odes

2008-01-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

"Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market" by Pablo Neruda sings the praises of a large, dead, and presumably stinky fish, by exploring the speaker's fascination with and wonder about the life the fish led and the depths it explored. I asked my students to choose something that they would normally think of as gross, strange, scary, or otherwise not something you would write an ode about, and sing its praises in a poem.

I got this writing idea from another Poet-in-Residence, Meredith Clark. Many of the students attacked the idea of praising an unexpected object with gusto, although with one classroom they only got as far as thinking of something gross (many skunks and snakes), and perhaps got too caught up in the grossness to get around to praising.

One student wrote an ode to her socks; she was unaware of the Neruda take on this one. Her piece contains some nice wordplay, too. Some students went as far as to engage in some fantastic speculation, such as inviting the object of their ode to tea, or imagining that maybe it could jump 2,000 feet.

###

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

Worms
Miguel C.

Oh worms, you go down in the ground.
You go up when it's raining.
and you stay on the floor until
the ground is dry and you go
down again.

Ode to a Snail
Araceli V.

Oh snail, you are so pretty. You came
from a little house. You look like a sphere.
I like how you swim. Then one day
one medium fish ate him.

Baby Octopus
Teresa P.

Oh, octopus, you have eight
legs. But you are pretty.
The octopus lives in the
ocean. There are some octopus that
have six legs. I wish I was
an octopus so that I had more
animal friends.

Oh Stinky Bug Come
Nicole O.

Oh, stinky bug, you are so smelly.
Oh, stinky bug, you're green and slimy.
Oh, stinky bug, you're so smelly, slimy,
and stinky. Come come stinky old bug,
come to my house for a tea party.
And the stinky bug said, "Thank you
for the tea."

###

January 23, 2007
Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

Skunk
Omar S.

Oh Skunk, you’re so smelly that
you can kill people. And with
that smell if you put it on me
I have to wash myself with
tomato juice.

Snake
Luis M.

Oh snake, you’re a bad animal.
Oh, snake, you’re a bad animal
because you kill animals. Oh cat,
you’re bad because you have sharp
nails.

Skunk
Vanessa G.

Skunk, you are stinky and
really ugly because you
smell. If you didn’t
stink and smell you
would be pretty.

###

Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

Ode to a little earthworm in the soil
Sergio P.

Oh,
Earthworm, Earthworm, with
your pink rolling eyes. You move
swirly around the dirt and sidewalk.
You got no legs but you can crawl
around. You sometimes eat grass--
that's vegetables to you--and the
soil is like a healthy soup to you.
The tip of your head is like a light
so you can see through your made-up
tunnels.

Ode to My Socks
Melissa V.

Oh,
sock oh sock
you move my feet
you can make me
warm of my feet
sole. I love my socks
and they are my
soul.

Ode to a Rat
Jordy D.

Oh rat, you are so furry, you
live in the attic where most people
are afraid of. Oh rat, you are
so small nobody else is smaller
than you, if only I could be
as small as you.

Frog
Judith G.

Oh frog I see you slimy.
Maybe you stick to ice.
Or you can stick your tongue
to a pole.
You might eat leaves.
Maybe you could jump 2,000
feet up.
Or you can count money.
You might be a red-eyed tree
frog
That's what I think you can
do.

Mood and Setting Poems

2008-01-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

For this lesson, I used fellow poet-in-residence Laura Van Prooyen's Mood and Setting lesson on "Preludes (I)" by T.S. Eliot. In many of my classes, I had the students close their eyes and try and picture their own neighborhood at a particular time of day during a particular season, then asked them to write their own poems, focusing on their senses and trying to convey to the reader a particular mood. The results were very nice!

Mr. K, Rm. 205
3rd Grade

Midnight at My Backyard
Celina S.

It is cold and it is 10 pm.
It is fall and sounds like
crickets and dogs. It smells
like pinetrees. I am alone, it
is windy. People turn on their
lights. I see a rat and mouse.
Something is with me what
could it be? Yet I'm alone, who
is there? Nobody is at home.
Yet I feel someone is with me.
I look around and nobody
is there. Until I saw someone.
There you are! I found you,
you're it! I see you there!
Catch me if you can!

The Outside
David C.

It is the middle of fall
both cold and warm. It is 10 pm
the leaves are whistling in the wind and some
are captured in the ground and some of
them are crushed in the street.
I walked around, I saw a squirrel
getting ready to feast on an acorn,
also a rabbit dancing with its own kind.

The Night
Elizabeth C.

It was 9:30 of the night
outside my house. There were
birds singing. It was winter.
My friend was outside. And she lived
outside. So I invited her in.
My house to warm up. And
then her parents found her.

They treated her bad.
So they told her to come
back with us and we adopted
her. Her name was Isa.

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Untitled
Shawn

It is winter
it is
cold
it is snowing
the streets
are slippery
It is 3:05 am.
Nobody is
out
side
but me
I am
playing
in the
park.

The Angry Sun
Raymond C.

The summer sun has begun down
come the leaves all crunchy and hard.
The sun's light bright like a light so
bright like a light so hot like a
steak. The sun is hot like a soup too
hot too bright like a light at 4 o'clock.

The Man
Salvador I.

Summer has sprung his leaf,
it was 7:00 am, an old man was
walking he was starving, he saw
Chinese buffet at the corner, he
went in, see he paid $10 for him
he ate all he wanted, even carrots.

Untitled
Ruben

The summer has begun, kids
are playing, talking, laughing,
that means summer is here.
Most hate cleaning up,
most hate playing the same
things, oh but not me
because it makes me be a
better person, also it makes
me read and study for next
year, but I'm not scared,
I don't have fear.

Ms. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Untitled
Veronica G.

The summer evening burns up
As I crawl back from school
four o'clock
I smell steak and I go down
stairs. "I finished my homework,
can I have steak?" I yelled to my
dad. We set up the pool and
filled it with water. The trees get
wet while I enter the pool. On a
hot summer day.

I.
Denise B.

The summer sun is rising
8 o'clock
Morning run, walking dogs.
Playing catch, having breakfast.

My Neighborhood
Mireya

The summer sunshine warms my face.
It is 12 pm in the scary house. A lamp
is flying. The sofa is jumping. The clock
is ticking. The bed is walking. And also
the TV is turning channels without touching
the control.

Untitled
Elizabeth C.

Spring has a beautiful sky
Sun is light
Flowers are growing
Trees are growing their green
leaves
People are getting out of their
house.

Untitled
Shalynn S.

The summer night settles
down with the moon shining
bright on the cold blue pool. The bugs
are out at 9 o'clock. I smell the
burning hot dogs on the grill
my dad makes. The night is
bright like a lightbulb that gets
changed every morning when the
sun comes out where the water
tube stands still.

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Summer
Alicia

It's summer
I love it
I picture
it like
myself
in the
pool with
my cousin
and we
jump in
the pool
and it is morning
at 6:00 and
it sounds like
the jungle because
me and my cousin
were screaming
and we had
lots of fun outside in
the pool

Spring
Casandra S.

It was a nice day and it was Saturday.
The birds were singing and it smelled
like the nature trees, also looked like a doll
house life. The sun up, the flowers were
flowering, pretty ones too. I feel like a lonely
girl. Good morning to you.

Summer
Laura

Summer morning
looks so bright as a shiny
day would. Feels so soft
and fluffy like a pillow. As you melt
stop, I say. Don't melt, but
under a shadow. Don't worry,
I'll be back. But so warm
I melt too with my carrot
nose.

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

Spring
Esteban M.

It is spring early in the morning
the streets are quiet and the air is very windy
at 10 am
It smells like a burning car that
just had a crash and I could see the
leaves of the trees turning red and yellow.
It sounds like two dogs barking
and fighting.
It tastes like people just got up in the
morning, making breakfast right
outside my house.

A Summer Morning
Lizeth

It was a summer in the
morning at 11:30 am. I went
outside, I smelled the fresh wind,
and I felt like flying on the
wind. Then my friend came and told
me let's go swim. So then we
went inside the water. I felt like swimming
all around like a mermaid.
The next day I felt like doing
the same thing.

Summer Day
Esmeralda T.

In a summer morning
the air smells fresh
10 o'clock
The sun comes up.
The birds come home
and stay on their
nest like a stone.
A mother comes with
a baby,
the baby walks to
a tree and tries to
climb it.
The mother laughs
The baby found a hat
It sounds like a bird
song.
The summer tastes
like flames of fire.
The baby looks up
at the birds on the
tree and the birds
come closer.
It's summer again.

Summer
Ryan

The summer came and it was hard.
The cement from the road is getting replaced.
The scorching heat melts us.
Inside is freezing due to the air conditioning.
The ice cream melts before we eat it.
When you reheat food
no need to use the microwave.

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Summer
Jesica G.

The neighborhood is clean
everybody is happy, people
are walking their dogs
kids are playing with their
pets and other people, birds
are flying outside.

The Hot Sun
Diego L.

Summer is good
You can have
a pool. It smells like
a cool summer breeze.
I feel hot and
I head to put on
a tan.

Sunny Days and Hot Days
Cynthia M.

In a hot sunny day
Eating ice cream
Being fresh
Being wet
Happy times
Playing
Fun
Splashing in pools
Hanging out with friends
Going to pool parks
Enjoying

This is a poem. (3rd grade)

2008-01-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

Over the winter break, I read For Love by Robert Creeley, and shared his poem, "Please," with the students today. It's a poem that refers to itself as a poem, which I find to be a curious and fun construction, and one that I thought the kids could dig into. I invited them to write a poem that could make statements like: "This poem is for..." "This poem is about..." etc. I also asked that they include a QUESTION, an ANIMAL, and the NAME of someone they know (all of which Creeley's poem does). Many of the students took a theme or idea presented by Creeley's poem (violence, loneliness, lostness), and riffed on those. I'm also seeing other lessons, like personification and metaphor, integrating into these poems. Fun!

###

Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade

You Know
Lesly L.

This is a poem for...

You know.

I know sometimes you know
and sometimes you don't know.
I know what is the animal
that has ears and four legs.
It's the donkey. What is the
animal with four legs and
is in the water?
It's the frog.

Colors Colors Everywhere
Nicole O.

This is a poem for colors.
The colors are dancing, and they're
saying, "Hello everybody, we're dancing."
The colors are going to the
movies and they're eating popcorn. Then
they go to school and they say,
"Hello everybody."

Kids
for Lesly Lopez
Andrea P.

Oh Lesly let's go.
This is a poem for Vanessa Melesio.
Everywhere I see
kids shooting. Kids kids kids kids.
This is a poem for Citlali Sanchez.
I want to go to my house to
my house. This is a poem about
a tiger that was lazy. Lazy.
Tiger. Lazy. Tiger. I want you
to go to school. Are you goofy,
mad, excited?

A Poem
Sergio H.

This is a poem for Joaquin. Tired like a turtle
that goes slow on day and night. I know
someone that is my friend and he likes
to play. He likes to play the PSP and
Playstation. My friend and me have
the same game for the PSP. Please come
to my house if you feel alone.

###

Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade

Little Girl is Lost
Alexsandra A.

A little girl that was
lost says, "I want to go home
but I do not know where is
my house," says girl to a
boy and the boy said, "Do you
know who is your mom?"
"Yes, but I don't know
where is my mom."
This poem is for my mom.

Bird
Yacsel H.

This poem is about a bird who can fly.
He was tired of flying.
He can fly because he has to
fly and fly tired and tired.

My Best Friend
Angelica V.

This poem is for Alexsandra.
A little dog that died.
Are you sad, Alexsandra?
Do you know someone?

All Kinds of Things
Hazael G.

This poem is for God.
Oh, God, where are you, I need
to talk with you. In Iraq
is shooting, shooting, and
shooting at people and dying.
People die here too.
How do you feel?

###

Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade

Untitled
Zalma R.

This poem is for puppy.
A lazy puppy. A friendly tiger.
A smart monkey. This is for
Michelle. Are you lazy, friendly, and smart?
This is for Jazmin. A horse so
sleepy. People so smart like monkeys.
Are you as friendly as a tiger?
Tell us tell us.

Hello for Ms. Hamdan
Giselle H.

The dog is trying to say hello
to the beauty queen Ms. Hamdan. Mr.
Heartman is trying to give the model Ms.
Hamdan a crown that says, "Hello, Model."
She appreciates the attention but she
wishes she was just a plain
old person. She tells them both. Mr.
Heartman and the dalmation dog dropped
their mouths open. Then along comes
the mice from Alvin and the Chipmunks.
They sing to Ms. Hamdan a song.
They she asks, "Why are you doing
this for me today? It's not my
birthday."

Untitled
Sergio P.

This is a poem for a
hammerhead shark.
Hammerhead shark hammer
head shark don't swim away.
How fast do you swim? Take
my friend for a ride while
there is no shark fight.

The Poem of People
Angel A.

This poem is for Ms. Hamdan.
My uncle is nice. Mr. Hartman
is so funny. My favorite animal
is a lion, tiger, and a leopard.
What's your favorite animal?
Who's your favorite class?
Who is smart from your class?

Color Poems

2008-01-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

Brazilian poet, Adelia Prado, writes passionately and intensely about the color "Purple," sometimes using it in unusual ways. After I read Prado's poem in English, a student read it in Portuguese; students were asked which words 'sounded' more purple to them -- "purple," "morado" or "púrpura" -- and which version of the poem they preferred, regardless of whether they understood it in Portuguese. We discussed parts of speech and personification as well. Students were then asked to write their own poems, using a favorite color in as many ways as possible.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Colors
Bella R.

Green like a beautiful garden
black the deep side inside you
yellow like a sun
the beautiful blue like the ocean
divine colors
brown is eager
the bright color pink
that Navy blue color
the passion of red
white like a construction
paper
orange the color of the
juicy orange fruit
purple the purple grapes
one by one
those beautiful colors
there and here comes and
goes
those colors
I love those colors

Pink
Katy R.

Pink feels soft
like a soft petal
of a rose blooming under
the shining sun,

pink looks bright
like the blue sky
shining in the
morning with the sun.

Pink sounds like a
quiet ant trying to
escape from the
anteater,

pink tastes like
a pink cake with
strawberry ice cream inside
with red juicy strawberries
on top.

White
Johnny S.

White is a silky web
White is creamy white milk
White is a splashing white wail
White is a big ice cream cone
White has been in Egypt
or likely France
but the reason I like
is not the big blue it is
red white and blue

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Rainbow
Vanessa L.

I am painting with pink
I love blue
I love a good shower and a hot sun
and love a curve so come out of the sky stop
hiding rain come out rainbow so
I can see the world.

Black
Magdalena R.

Black bananas.
Black hair.
Black is a TV screen when it is off.
Black coffee.
Black bags.
Black shirt or pants.
Black pens, pencils.

Blue
Daisy V.

Blue is when it is sunny
outside. Blue like the ocean.
Blue as a blue house. Blue
like my blue pen.

Blue like the blue color.

Blue sky when I went
to Mexico.

Blue as my blue socks.

Blue as my sister's gym
shoes.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Color Blue
Claudia A.

Blue sky at morning
and at dark at night.
Blue shoe that goes
and comes.

I like blue and
red likes blue
how narrow can it
be. Blue's what name, can it
flight Blue's Clues?

Blue ocean blue
morning. Oh blue
oh blue what can
you do?

Blue December
and blue planet.
Oh oh oh blue
shy blue.

Brown
Jose B.

Brown is the color of
chocolate cake, chocolate milk.
Brown is mean, a brown dog
barking, trying to bite.
Mud is mean to me too
it gets you dirty. Brown
reminds me of a football
when they throw it.

Green
Carlos M.

Green is light of the grass. Green
is a rich color because the dollars are
green. The sky in Antarctica has
a green color. I smell like fresh
trees. I taste like green Doritos.
I sound like the air blowing
the trees. Green is an interesting
color you see it all around you.
When I see it it makes me
think like dirty water. Even though
green is a very special color.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Black
Ivan M.

Black – really dark
Spooky maybe
Some people's favorite color, some not
Black like a wolf for attack
So sad
A hollow word
So mysterious
Black really ferocious
A bright color's enemy
People's nightmares
Black like enemy's attack
Black so evil
Black

Yellow
Cristian O.

yellow brings out the light
and sprouts like a blooming
flower rises from the ground
and lets us see the world
nothing like a sour lemon
but actually like a
dandelion just waiting
to sprout

Blue the Color of Life
Diana R.

Blue is the color
of life, passing
by light blue in
the morning dark
blue at night
blue like the rain
crystal like a
diamond blue
is the ocean
blue is the dolphins
blue is a violet
blue is too many
things with or
without movement
blue is to that
night when stars
were alive blue
is when the
stars are moving
through the night
or the moon
shining bright.
Blue is to
the ice age
but blue will
always be the
color of life.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Green
Magdalena F.

Green is everywhere you look.
A green sky morning and night.
Green trees and flowers
And even snow
Green rain
But one little thing is not green
The huge bright yellow sun.

Blue
Jacob S.

The sky is blue
it's blue. The ocean
is blue I see
my reflection in it
as if it were a
mirror. Splash I
hear from sea
animals when
it's raining. The
sky purples I hear
splash from blue
rain drops dropping
blue, blue, blue, blue.

Blue
Osvaldo T.

Blue, the color of the sky
added with white of the clouds.
The color of the ocean, rivers, lakes,
streams, flow, flow, flow.
Blueberries, sweet and juicy.
Blue color of the world with green.
Favorite colors of many people,
and I am one of them. Blue.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Red
Deisy C.

Red puts me in a
good mood. Red
is the color of
an ugly sweater
my aunt gave
me. Wine that
is red that
looks like blood.
A red car speeding
and passing the
red light. Red
the color of
my necklace.
Red the color I
chose to
like. The red
cheeks on
someones face
in the winter.
Red the color
of hearts
on Valentine's.
Red the color
of my favorite
team, Las
Chivas.

Gray
Carina G.

The sky is gray
oh I see a yellow
crazy man running
oh wait a minute
it's Homer Simpson.
A rose turning black.
A gray man walking
with a cane.
I see small pink children
with curly tails,
a brown reindeer without
antlers,
a brown and black fly flying
everywhere.
The clouds have danger.
A pink man shoveling.

Lavender Lilac
Stephanie M.

Lavender makes the world color.
Like a lilac.
The lilac lavenders into a flower.

A lavender lilacs into a color.

Me, lilac and lavender walking
down lilac garden.

Lavender such a rich, radiant
natural color that expresses
the fresh rivers, nature, and
style.

Me, lilac and lavender.