The students built poems out of a list based on their answers to these instructions:
Write down the proper name of a place; write down something you overheard recently; write an example of cause & effect; write a nickname someone has for you; give an example of personification; give an example of simile or metaphor; write down a moment from American history.
They were told that the poem must begin with the simile or metaphor and end with the moment from American history and that they "glue" the elements together with "time words" (first, then, next, before, &c) or any other connective linguistic tissue...
Here are some results:
Mrs. Van Zytvfeld's class
Untitled
Madeline G.
Before Nelson Mandela was released from prison
a monkey said, “give me my banana”
a monkey’s hand is like a human’s hand just hairier
I thought when I mixed baking soda with vinegar
and it foamed up and my mom said “clean up”
rags we live in Chicago not a jungle
The Tornado Of Words And Time
Keven T.
Before the old crane
said “come here kitty” I mixed
two things then they blow up.
The crane can fly like a crow
because of the fight for woman’s
rights. Keven 11, something
Eric. I went to Devil’s tower.
Untitled
Anjaiae A.
The moon said “clean up your
mess from breakfast” then I
mixed up colors and I
had paint all over me
A dinosaur gave me a
tap on my head. The
love of my parents like a flower.
Mrs. Garay's class
A Crazy Day
Jasmine H.
When I moved to Chicago
and went to school my hot dog
ate my homework because I
said the sun is like a gold coin.
When the Boston Tea Party started
I ate too much candy. In
the morning I had a stomach ache.
My mom calls me Jas when
she wants some water.
Collage
Kayla A.
Since Mars ate too many brownies,
I got a tummy ache.
La La “What!”
First a puma cooked my arm and
slapped it.
Then the milk tasted rotten.
Therefore, the Boston Tea Party
happened.
Amazing Collage
Leilani D.
First I went to New York because
I saw
the sign “stop talking” lay lay
because I
saw it
I got hit and I cried
then the book hit
me
then the book was like paper
that’s why the
underground railroad
happened
Ms. Otero's class
Collage
Caitlin C-B
In the city London
My mom says “Not right now!”
Smokey had her first bath and smelled nice.
my friends call me “Katie”.
The paper flew in my mouth.
When this flower looked like a triffid
Sally Ride took off into space.
Hollywood
Kierra R.
Hollywood…
Hollywood…
Hollywood…
Hollywood…
“TEACHERS Talking about the
Day Of The Child”…
“I almost tripped”…
“Kiki”…
“The airhead blew me up to a balloon”…
“I like being me all the time”…
“Civil War”…
“With swords, horses, and bombs”…
“With swords, horses, and bombs”…
“With swords, horses, and bombs”…
Since I Heard
Yaritza M.
Since I heard Florida is a beautiful
place, my family came to see
the beauty.
Ritz told me a toy tried to bribe her.
The hot sun that feels like an
oven at
1,200, 500, 600, 496, 821, 294ºF
led to the Cold War.
Mars
Miguel C.
On Mars I heard some body
yelled “Get a LIFE!!!” I saw
lots of aliens beating up the Easter
Bunny. When it got up it fell on the
ground. “Slappy.” I looked around.
The dummy tried to kill me. It looked
like a shark. A man trying to step foot
on the moon.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
When My Words Were...
I borrowed this exercise from Rachel Javellana, who presented it at the lesson plan potluck. Some of the students who have been struggling all year really dug into this prompt and wrote some great poems.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's class, 4th grade
What My Words Were
Niko M.
When my words were blood
I was dead
When my words were words
I was a life
When my words were breath
I was ugly
When my words were lost
I was find
When my words were a boy
I was a boy
but when my words became a bunny,
he was funny with his voice.
When my words were…
Madeline G.
When my words were black
I was mean.
When my words were stereos
I was loud.
When my words were intelligent
I was smart.
When my words were paper
I was able to write.
When my words were crazy
I was weird.
But when my words were funny
I didn’t want then to be
funny anymore.
Crazy Story
Kyle S.
When my words were lights
I wasn’t thinking.
When my words were nice
I was mean.
When my words were mean
I was nice.
When my words were gold
I was poor.
When my words were a web
I was an insect.
But when my words
became cows…
I ate people…
“I was…when my”
Karina S.
When my words were HOT!
I was ice and cold.
When my words were beautiful
I was ugly.
When my words were helpful
I was thoughtful.
When my words were April
I was capable.
When my words were painful
I was thankful.
But when my words became
hurtful and
brave, there was a war.
My Words
Kyra C.
When my words were cake
I was playing
When my words were cold
I was hot
When my words were ABC
I was saying my 123s
When my words were DaDa
I was saying MaMa
But when my words were “I want ice cream”
I was getting brain freeze
What My Words Were
Cassie R.
When my words were
deaf
I was blind.
When my words were
video games
I was the Sears Tower
When my words were
sun
I was moon.
When my words were
expensive
I was cheap.
When my words were
sky
I was a graveyard
But when my words became
optimistic, dead bodies grew out
of the grave yard.
When My Words Were
Xavier R.
When my words were hot
I was cold.
When my words were fat
I was skinny.
When my words were colorful
I was black and white.
When my words were angry
I was happy.
When my words were good
I was bad.
But when my words became
crazy they were running around
my dog.
Weird Things
Cleophus J.
When my words were donuts
I was hungry.
When my words were weird
I was normal.
When my words were pencils
I was pens.
When my words were tables
I was chairs.
When my words were books
I was drawing.
But when my words were ice cream
I was covered with little kids.
Ms. Otero's class, 4th grade
I Have Spoken
Yaritza M.
When my words were sad
I was playing “Moonlight.”
When my words were singing
I was metaphorically speaking.
When my words were scary
I was reading a book.
When my words were sour
I was sweet.
When my words were rebellion
I was spanked.
But when my words were sorry
I just grounded me for two months!
Feelings of the Heart
When my words
were tears
I was water
When my words
were angry
I was fire
When my words
were glad
I was wind
When my words
were hurt
I was earth
When my words
were hush
I was the trees
All these are
feelings of my
heart
When my words were…
Isabel H.
When my words were strong
I was weak
When my words were books
I was chalk
When my words were invisible
I was dust
When my words were light
I was dark
When my words were numbers
I was words
But when my words were high
the light was low
in the earth’s core
untitled
Miguel C.
When my words were mean
I was looking at the clock.
When my words were a book
I was looking down.
When my words were big
I was red.
When my words were paper
I was wood.
When my words were plastic
I was steel.
But when my words
became boards
chalks were writing.
What Have I Done to Myself! What Have I Become! What Am I!
Alex O.
When my words were blank
I was full of words
When my words were a black out
I was out and asleep
When my words were chocolate
I was as bitter as a grapefruit
When my words were rocks
I was as dirty as a garbage truck
When my words were stars
I was burned on fire by the stars
But when I was a chocolate bunny…
I melted away…
My Word
Ebene A.
When my words
were sweet
I was at the restaurant.
When my words
were out of clothes
I was shopping.
When my words
were water
I was taking a bath.
When my words
were underwater
I was at the moon.
When my words
were riding a horse
I was riding a pig.
But when my words
were kids
my lips were jumping.
untitled
Sherry Y.
When my words were fruit
I was a grandmother
When my words were cool
I was snakebit
When my words were on fire
I was fishbits
When my words were water
I was set on fire
When My Words…
Luisana P.
When my words were sad
I was happy.
When my words were mean
I was purple.
When my words were dreamy
I was sleepy.
When my words were dumb
I was smart.
When my words were green
I was Frankenstein’s monster.
But when my words became flowers
bees covered my lips.
Emotions
Sabrina V.
When my words were clear
I was gone.
When my words were sweet
I was candy.
When my words were huge
I was the sky.
When my words were cute
I was a pet.
When my words were fruit
I was delicious.
When my words were amazing
I was a marker.
But, when my words were
on fire…
it really burned me.
Strange or Real
Jackie C.
When my words were blank
I was white
When my words were horrible
I was relaxed
When my words were rainy
I was perky
When my words were trees
I was unknown
When my words were wacky yacky
I was Jackie
I woke up, I was feeling
weird, strange, and something happened.
Mrs. Garay's class, 4th grade
When My Words Were
Paul M.
When my words were bright
I was dark
When my words were running
I was tired
When my words were wet
I was thirsty
When my words were welcome
I was not coming
When my words were Paulie
I was eiluaP
But when my words became wet
fish covered my body
untitled
Jesus R.
When my words were school
I was homework
When my words were hairy
I was bald
When my words were # numbers
I was old
When my words were “You can’t see me”
I was gone
But when my words became
kind
the world ended
untitled
Natalie T.
When my words
were blue
I was a teardrop
When my words
were pink
I was embarrassed
When my words
were green
I was money
When my words
were Spanish
I was in my Ecuadorian homeland
When my words
were red
I was a heart
But when my words
were orange
I turned into a popsicle
Hoo Loo
Xochitl Z.
When my words were
bottle I was water
When my words were
a princess I was a flower
Numbers and Money
Xavier M.
When my words were cash
I was money
When my words were math
I was numbers
When my words were water
I was an earthquake
When my words were wind
I was a tornado
When my words were punch
I was fighting
But when my words became
a calculator
the numbers multiplied
The Weird Place
Gina C.
When my words were money
I was a money tree.
When my words were a map
I was 50 states.
When my words were shapes
I was a pyramid.
When my words were Sox Rock
I was a stinky sock
When my words were 3xeach
I was 3 words.
When I was a leaf
I was a huge plant.
Strangeness
Jordan A.
When my words were mountains
I was a pebble
When my words were Sun
I was a flashlight
When my words were Earth
I was a ball
When my words were an octopus
I was seafood
When my words were Cubs Rock!
I was attacked by smelly socks
but when my words became
loopy, I was in a big pool
of soupy
Bunny Words
Justin O.
When my words
were money
I was a bank
When my words
were tests
I was a D
When my words
were glasses
I was wearing them
When my words
were happy
I was mad
When my words
were biting me
I was a snake
But when my words
became oil
cars needed oil changes!
Mrs. Van Zytveld's class, 4th grade
What My Words Were
Niko M.
When my words were blood
I was dead
When my words were words
I was a life
When my words were breath
I was ugly
When my words were lost
I was find
When my words were a boy
I was a boy
but when my words became a bunny,
he was funny with his voice.
When my words were…
Madeline G.
When my words were black
I was mean.
When my words were stereos
I was loud.
When my words were intelligent
I was smart.
When my words were paper
I was able to write.
When my words were crazy
I was weird.
But when my words were funny
I didn’t want then to be
funny anymore.
Crazy Story
Kyle S.
When my words were lights
I wasn’t thinking.
When my words were nice
I was mean.
When my words were mean
I was nice.
When my words were gold
I was poor.
When my words were a web
I was an insect.
But when my words
became cows…
I ate people…
“I was…when my”
Karina S.
When my words were HOT!
I was ice and cold.
When my words were beautiful
I was ugly.
When my words were helpful
I was thoughtful.
When my words were April
I was capable.
When my words were painful
I was thankful.
But when my words became
hurtful and
brave, there was a war.
My Words
Kyra C.
When my words were cake
I was playing
When my words were cold
I was hot
When my words were ABC
I was saying my 123s
When my words were DaDa
I was saying MaMa
But when my words were “I want ice cream”
I was getting brain freeze
What My Words Were
Cassie R.
When my words were
deaf
I was blind.
When my words were
video games
I was the Sears Tower
When my words were
sun
I was moon.
When my words were
expensive
I was cheap.
When my words were
sky
I was a graveyard
But when my words became
optimistic, dead bodies grew out
of the grave yard.
When My Words Were
Xavier R.
When my words were hot
I was cold.
When my words were fat
I was skinny.
When my words were colorful
I was black and white.
When my words were angry
I was happy.
When my words were good
I was bad.
But when my words became
crazy they were running around
my dog.
Weird Things
Cleophus J.
When my words were donuts
I was hungry.
When my words were weird
I was normal.
When my words were pencils
I was pens.
When my words were tables
I was chairs.
When my words were books
I was drawing.
But when my words were ice cream
I was covered with little kids.
Ms. Otero's class, 4th grade
I Have Spoken
Yaritza M.
When my words were sad
I was playing “Moonlight.”
When my words were singing
I was metaphorically speaking.
When my words were scary
I was reading a book.
When my words were sour
I was sweet.
When my words were rebellion
I was spanked.
But when my words were sorry
I just grounded me for two months!
Feelings of the Heart
When my words
were tears
I was water
When my words
were angry
I was fire
When my words
were glad
I was wind
When my words
were hurt
I was earth
When my words
were hush
I was the trees
All these are
feelings of my
heart
When my words were…
Isabel H.
When my words were strong
I was weak
When my words were books
I was chalk
When my words were invisible
I was dust
When my words were light
I was dark
When my words were numbers
I was words
But when my words were high
the light was low
in the earth’s core
untitled
Miguel C.
When my words were mean
I was looking at the clock.
When my words were a book
I was looking down.
When my words were big
I was red.
When my words were paper
I was wood.
When my words were plastic
I was steel.
But when my words
became boards
chalks were writing.
What Have I Done to Myself! What Have I Become! What Am I!
Alex O.
When my words were blank
I was full of words
When my words were a black out
I was out and asleep
When my words were chocolate
I was as bitter as a grapefruit
When my words were rocks
I was as dirty as a garbage truck
When my words were stars
I was burned on fire by the stars
But when I was a chocolate bunny…
I melted away…
My Word
Ebene A.
When my words
were sweet
I was at the restaurant.
When my words
were out of clothes
I was shopping.
When my words
were water
I was taking a bath.
When my words
were underwater
I was at the moon.
When my words
were riding a horse
I was riding a pig.
But when my words
were kids
my lips were jumping.
untitled
Sherry Y.
When my words were fruit
I was a grandmother
When my words were cool
I was snakebit
When my words were on fire
I was fishbits
When my words were water
I was set on fire
When My Words…
Luisana P.
When my words were sad
I was happy.
When my words were mean
I was purple.
When my words were dreamy
I was sleepy.
When my words were dumb
I was smart.
When my words were green
I was Frankenstein’s monster.
But when my words became flowers
bees covered my lips.
Emotions
Sabrina V.
When my words were clear
I was gone.
When my words were sweet
I was candy.
When my words were huge
I was the sky.
When my words were cute
I was a pet.
When my words were fruit
I was delicious.
When my words were amazing
I was a marker.
But, when my words were
on fire…
it really burned me.
Strange or Real
Jackie C.
When my words were blank
I was white
When my words were horrible
I was relaxed
When my words were rainy
I was perky
When my words were trees
I was unknown
When my words were wacky yacky
I was Jackie
I woke up, I was feeling
weird, strange, and something happened.
Mrs. Garay's class, 4th grade
When My Words Were
Paul M.
When my words were bright
I was dark
When my words were running
I was tired
When my words were wet
I was thirsty
When my words were welcome
I was not coming
When my words were Paulie
I was eiluaP
But when my words became wet
fish covered my body
untitled
Jesus R.
When my words were school
I was homework
When my words were hairy
I was bald
When my words were # numbers
I was old
When my words were “You can’t see me”
I was gone
But when my words became
kind
the world ended
untitled
Natalie T.
When my words
were blue
I was a teardrop
When my words
were pink
I was embarrassed
When my words
were green
I was money
When my words
were Spanish
I was in my Ecuadorian homeland
When my words
were red
I was a heart
But when my words
were orange
I turned into a popsicle
Hoo Loo
Xochitl Z.
When my words were
bottle I was water
When my words were
a princess I was a flower
Numbers and Money
Xavier M.
When my words were cash
I was money
When my words were math
I was numbers
When my words were water
I was an earthquake
When my words were wind
I was a tornado
When my words were punch
I was fighting
But when my words became
a calculator
the numbers multiplied
The Weird Place
Gina C.
When my words were money
I was a money tree.
When my words were a map
I was 50 states.
When my words were shapes
I was a pyramid.
When my words were Sox Rock
I was a stinky sock
When my words were 3xeach
I was 3 words.
When I was a leaf
I was a huge plant.
Strangeness
Jordan A.
When my words were mountains
I was a pebble
When my words were Sun
I was a flashlight
When my words were Earth
I was a ball
When my words were an octopus
I was seafood
When my words were Cubs Rock!
I was attacked by smelly socks
but when my words became
loopy, I was in a big pool
of soupy
Bunny Words
Justin O.
When my words
were money
I was a bank
When my words
were tests
I was a D
When my words
were glasses
I was wearing them
When my words
were happy
I was mad
When my words
were biting me
I was a snake
But when my words
became oil
cars needed oil changes!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Spells
The students read the "bubble bubble toil and trouble" witches' section from Macbeth and wrote their own spells.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's class, 4th grade
Report Card
Carlos D.
Once my parents told me if I ever get
a bad report card I will have no birthday
party so one day I went into my closet
and said “Remix! Throw some As on dat!”
I just got my report card…
My Spell
Cassie R.
A frog of the color of white…
Mixed in poison inside a cauldron.
With a mouth of silence…
& an ear of no fear.
A drop of time & an ice cream
bar. What does this all equal?
To stop time, make everyone freeze
(except me) & hear no one or nothing
except the TV.
Spell to Get Rid of Homework
Sam S.
“Flashcards in, journal in, but all that will be left
is the encyclopedia. Next the words, here they
come O mighty homework vacuum for
the poor kids being tortured with homework having
no video games is like being tortured with boredom:
RISE RISE RISE and break this
horrible curse!!!”
Spell
Kyra C.
Take this girl from a serving bench
and turn her to a serving wench
Every girl in this room
must speak their mind
Give me a dragon ear
so I can hear and hear
“onomatopoeia”
I have honey
with my money.
Mrs. Garay's class, 4th grade
I Wish
Frederick T.
No more teachers alive
No homework and only kids
No parents
First, do the spell
I need four virgin hearts
and a box of Luck Charms
Spell
Idalia H.
round and round
you’ll see a blur
to make this person disappear
double, double chicken trumble
make this chicken have a bubble
prid and pride
have a soda make it come
right through the person if you
say their name from time to time
they’ll be blind
double, double chicken trumble
make this chicken have a bubble
Frankenstone
Jaques C.
Put it on the casket
boil and groil
flame my creation flame
Flame, man, flame
I have to give you a name
Now lift it up
Let me see
Our creation is finished
Let’s make three
Flame, man, flame
I have a cool name
Spell
Ashley H.
You will see stuff go round and round
then after that you will fall to the ground.
You will be hexed
for the rest of your life,
then after that,
something will happen to your wife.
I will need
a snake’s head
a part of your bed
a fish’s eye
and then a fly.
You will be hexed
for the rest of your life,
then after that,
something will happen to your wife.
Summer Come Everly
Jordan A.
Get the fiery pot of doom
throw in a flower that never bloomed
dump half a cup of socks that have mold
with a half-eaten sandwich that old
because it was sitting out for forty days
it smelled like going through a maze
Then I would say “loopy Suppy
Sunny bunny”
The put one beam of light
and it was bright
Add a bowl of water
my soul shook like Harry Potter
Add some toys and fun
A roller coaster
A nice warm day
A No School sign
Then I would say “loopy Suppy
Sunny bunny”
When I say “lunar”
Summer will come sooner.
Ms. Otero's class, 4th grade
Spell
Cristian B.
A star from the sky, a minotaur’s
horns, children’s sweat, dog’s breath,
monster’s blood, a girl’s hair,
a woman’s beard, a wolf’s howl.
Yell this chant to spawn a…
Spell
Jordan L.
Thou puppy shall not stop
peeing on your acefay. On thou
birthday you’ll get run over
by a rucktay. The ollercoasteray
will explode. Ouyay will have explosive
children. Everything you touch’ll turn
to skittles. Prilay oolfays!
My Magical Poem
Isabel H.
Pumpkin, pumpkin twist and turn
bake in an oven and then burn.
I found a pumpkin
in the yard I am
going to be powerful.
I did my spell
to become queen.
Pumpkin, pumpkin twist and turn
bake in an oven and then burn.
It turned out
I didn’t become powerful
I just became weaker
and lamer and sadder.
Spell
Sabrina V.
Put things above our pot
those things are goo or not.
Also put that near the cool stone
it helps the spell al go to one.
Wait here! Get the snake.
What? No? I have to wait?
Oh, the spell is ready now,
this will happen so be wowed.
You see you will be uncool
in case you want to be a fool.
Be gone see how you’ll be
not for us including me.
Now you’re missing? That’s not it!
You’re really supposed to include a mitt!
Oh, the snake?
I was really supposed to wait.
Now it’s gone
I’ll want now one…
Bye-bye
and enjoy the spell.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's class, 4th grade
Report Card
Carlos D.
Once my parents told me if I ever get
a bad report card I will have no birthday
party so one day I went into my closet
and said “Remix! Throw some As on dat!”
I just got my report card…
My Spell
Cassie R.
A frog of the color of white…
Mixed in poison inside a cauldron.
With a mouth of silence…
& an ear of no fear.
A drop of time & an ice cream
bar. What does this all equal?
To stop time, make everyone freeze
(except me) & hear no one or nothing
except the TV.
Spell to Get Rid of Homework
Sam S.
“Flashcards in, journal in, but all that will be left
is the encyclopedia. Next the words, here they
come O mighty homework vacuum for
the poor kids being tortured with homework having
no video games is like being tortured with boredom:
RISE RISE RISE and break this
horrible curse!!!”
Spell
Kyra C.
Take this girl from a serving bench
and turn her to a serving wench
Every girl in this room
must speak their mind
Give me a dragon ear
so I can hear and hear
“onomatopoeia”
I have honey
with my money.
Mrs. Garay's class, 4th grade
I Wish
Frederick T.
No more teachers alive
No homework and only kids
No parents
First, do the spell
I need four virgin hearts
and a box of Luck Charms
Spell
Idalia H.
round and round
you’ll see a blur
to make this person disappear
double, double chicken trumble
make this chicken have a bubble
prid and pride
have a soda make it come
right through the person if you
say their name from time to time
they’ll be blind
double, double chicken trumble
make this chicken have a bubble
Frankenstone
Jaques C.
Put it on the casket
boil and groil
flame my creation flame
Flame, man, flame
I have to give you a name
Now lift it up
Let me see
Our creation is finished
Let’s make three
Flame, man, flame
I have a cool name
Spell
Ashley H.
You will see stuff go round and round
then after that you will fall to the ground.
You will be hexed
for the rest of your life,
then after that,
something will happen to your wife.
I will need
a snake’s head
a part of your bed
a fish’s eye
and then a fly.
You will be hexed
for the rest of your life,
then after that,
something will happen to your wife.
Summer Come Everly
Jordan A.
Get the fiery pot of doom
throw in a flower that never bloomed
dump half a cup of socks that have mold
with a half-eaten sandwich that old
because it was sitting out for forty days
it smelled like going through a maze
Then I would say “loopy Suppy
Sunny bunny”
The put one beam of light
and it was bright
Add a bowl of water
my soul shook like Harry Potter
Add some toys and fun
A roller coaster
A nice warm day
A No School sign
Then I would say “loopy Suppy
Sunny bunny”
When I say “lunar”
Summer will come sooner.
Ms. Otero's class, 4th grade
Spell
Cristian B.
A star from the sky, a minotaur’s
horns, children’s sweat, dog’s breath,
monster’s blood, a girl’s hair,
a woman’s beard, a wolf’s howl.
Yell this chant to spawn a…
Spell
Jordan L.
Thou puppy shall not stop
peeing on your acefay. On thou
birthday you’ll get run over
by a rucktay. The ollercoasteray
will explode. Ouyay will have explosive
children. Everything you touch’ll turn
to skittles. Prilay oolfays!
My Magical Poem
Isabel H.
Pumpkin, pumpkin twist and turn
bake in an oven and then burn.
I found a pumpkin
in the yard I am
going to be powerful.
I did my spell
to become queen.
Pumpkin, pumpkin twist and turn
bake in an oven and then burn.
It turned out
I didn’t become powerful
I just became weaker
and lamer and sadder.
Spell
Sabrina V.
Put things above our pot
those things are goo or not.
Also put that near the cool stone
it helps the spell al go to one.
Wait here! Get the snake.
What? No? I have to wait?
Oh, the spell is ready now,
this will happen so be wowed.
You see you will be uncool
in case you want to be a fool.
Be gone see how you’ll be
not for us including me.
Now you’re missing? That’s not it!
You’re really supposed to include a mitt!
Oh, the snake?
I was really supposed to wait.
Now it’s gone
I’ll want now one…
Bye-bye
and enjoy the spell.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sestinas
These three sestinas were written collaboratively, with each student contributing one or more lines (in Mrs. Van Zytveld's class, the students requested that each adult add a line as well, including Cassie who was on a site visit, and a student teacher...)
Mrs. Van Zytveld's Class
The Story of My Life
by Room 303
Today my mom had a bad voice
and when she turned
she said “I’m one of the biggest planets!”
Today at school my class acted like animals.
I don’t know what to do about sense.
I see a tiger that is curved
I see car that is curved.
I was screaming and I think I lost my voice.
Some people don’t have any common sense
and one day my mom was driving and was talking and made a bad turn.
My mom was yelling like a big animal.
I live on a planet.
Jupiter is my favorite planet.
I see a pig’s tail curve
and on a farm I see lots of animals.
I hear high voices.
Right now Mr. Eric skipped my turn.
I see someone’s sense
and my hearing is my strongest sense.
I see the planet
in the sky and I am uncertain which way it turns.
As strange as it may seem the world still curves
and speaks with an oceanic voice.
I see a crazy animal
that ate the T-Rex animal.
I have one for planet but not for sense.
There are too many voices.
Mercury is the first planet.
I can see Mercury around the sun curving.
I see the car twisting and turning.
I was playing on the sidewalk and I saw a car turn
and it hit an animal.
My grandma came over to my house to use the bathroom and she had to make a curve.
I don’t make sense.
Pluto is a dwarf planet
and so is my voice.
When I was in the car the car slipped and turned and now I sense
an animal and it left my big planet.
As I curve I hear a voice.
Ms. Otero's Class
The Awkward Poem
a sestina by Room 304
I heard voices
skip a turn
and sing on the planet.
I saw an animal
making sense.
I turned around a curve
and around the city it looks like a curve.
I heard brother’s sleeping voice
and his sense
when I made a turn.
There was a sleeping animal
on a planet.
It was a dark planet
that was shaped like a curve.
I saw a black animal.
Everyone has a voice.
There was a Martian that made a turn
and it made no sense
but I wish it made sense.
Crazy planets
they just turn
with a loud “curve”
and there was a loud voice.
There are lots of animals
and I hear talking animals.
Animals can use their senses.
I hear a gibbering voice.
There was a crazy, giant Martian seal bouncing the planet.
Everyone on the planet fell off the curve.
He made a wild turn,
a massive turn.
Everyone fell off the planet except for the animals.
The cats fell off the curve
and there was no sense.
Jupiter is a HUGE planet.
The mouse had a squeaky voice.
The car turned in the wrong direction and it made no sense.
The car hit an animal on another planet.
The man had a curvy voice.
Mrs. Garay's Class
Voice Turn Planet Animal Sense Curve
by Room 305
A low voice
takes a turn
around the planet.
The voice was from an animal
and it made no sense.
The animal curved
and when the animal curved
it had a swervy voice.
Then it made sense.
Then around the corner the animal turned.
But then a loud voice comes from the animal!
The big red planet
is a destroyed planet.
The red planet Mars will be one of the last to make a curve.
It’s a big and nasty animal!
It has a nasty voice
and makes a turn.
It has a weird sense,
it made nonsense.
Jupiter is a ringed planet.
Planets turn
and curve.
But it was the loud voice
of the animal
that was heard by the other animals
and it made a loud noise with sense.
A sucker-free voice
shook the planet
and made it make an immense curve
but then it decided to make a turn.
And then the immense turn
was chased by a swimming animal.
The animal liked to curve
then it used its five different senses.
Then it smelled the planet
and it got a sore voice.
It’s my turn? It makes no sense.
That animal lived on a weird planet.
I curve my voice.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's Class
The Story of My Life
by Room 303
Today my mom had a bad voice
and when she turned
she said “I’m one of the biggest planets!”
Today at school my class acted like animals.
I don’t know what to do about sense.
I see a tiger that is curved
I see car that is curved.
I was screaming and I think I lost my voice.
Some people don’t have any common sense
and one day my mom was driving and was talking and made a bad turn.
My mom was yelling like a big animal.
I live on a planet.
Jupiter is my favorite planet.
I see a pig’s tail curve
and on a farm I see lots of animals.
I hear high voices.
Right now Mr. Eric skipped my turn.
I see someone’s sense
and my hearing is my strongest sense.
I see the planet
in the sky and I am uncertain which way it turns.
As strange as it may seem the world still curves
and speaks with an oceanic voice.
I see a crazy animal
that ate the T-Rex animal.
I have one for planet but not for sense.
There are too many voices.
Mercury is the first planet.
I can see Mercury around the sun curving.
I see the car twisting and turning.
I was playing on the sidewalk and I saw a car turn
and it hit an animal.
My grandma came over to my house to use the bathroom and she had to make a curve.
I don’t make sense.
Pluto is a dwarf planet
and so is my voice.
When I was in the car the car slipped and turned and now I sense
an animal and it left my big planet.
As I curve I hear a voice.
Ms. Otero's Class
The Awkward Poem
a sestina by Room 304
I heard voices
skip a turn
and sing on the planet.
I saw an animal
making sense.
I turned around a curve
and around the city it looks like a curve.
I heard brother’s sleeping voice
and his sense
when I made a turn.
There was a sleeping animal
on a planet.
It was a dark planet
that was shaped like a curve.
I saw a black animal.
Everyone has a voice.
There was a Martian that made a turn
and it made no sense
but I wish it made sense.
Crazy planets
they just turn
with a loud “curve”
and there was a loud voice.
There are lots of animals
and I hear talking animals.
Animals can use their senses.
I hear a gibbering voice.
There was a crazy, giant Martian seal bouncing the planet.
Everyone on the planet fell off the curve.
He made a wild turn,
a massive turn.
Everyone fell off the planet except for the animals.
The cats fell off the curve
and there was no sense.
Jupiter is a HUGE planet.
The mouse had a squeaky voice.
The car turned in the wrong direction and it made no sense.
The car hit an animal on another planet.
The man had a curvy voice.
Mrs. Garay's Class
Voice Turn Planet Animal Sense Curve
by Room 305
A low voice
takes a turn
around the planet.
The voice was from an animal
and it made no sense.
The animal curved
and when the animal curved
it had a swervy voice.
Then it made sense.
Then around the corner the animal turned.
But then a loud voice comes from the animal!
The big red planet
is a destroyed planet.
The red planet Mars will be one of the last to make a curve.
It’s a big and nasty animal!
It has a nasty voice
and makes a turn.
It has a weird sense,
it made nonsense.
Jupiter is a ringed planet.
Planets turn
and curve.
But it was the loud voice
of the animal
that was heard by the other animals
and it made a loud noise with sense.
A sucker-free voice
shook the planet
and made it make an immense curve
but then it decided to make a turn.
And then the immense turn
was chased by a swimming animal.
The animal liked to curve
then it used its five different senses.
Then it smelled the planet
and it got a sore voice.
It’s my turn? It makes no sense.
That animal lived on a weird planet.
I curve my voice.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Constrained Vocabulary Poems
The students were asked to discuss the question "What is a word?" After some consternation, revelation and debate, during which it was decided--in each class--that words are sounds that mean something (the debate hinged on whether or not a scream, then, is a word) they were then asked to write down something that they're asked or told to do just about every day, e.g. "Clean your room." These words were then written on the board: voice, curve, planet, animal, turn, & sense; the students were told that their poem had to include the quote and these six words, though they might change the words slightly, e.g. "curve" could become "curvy" or "curved," &c...
This exercise leads to a wide variety of responses, structurally and thematically.
Mrs. van Zytveld's 4th grade class
untitled
Julian V.
“Go to bed now” I like to
stay up late and turn the
channels back and forth
and my animals lay down with
me and sometimes I hear voices
and sometimes they don’t make sense
and I go peek out on a curve of a wall
in the hallway sometimes I wonder
what is out of the planet.
“Clean Up”
Madeline G.
My mom’s voice is always saying “Clean up.”
Whenever I sense she’s going to turn around I clean
real fast. When she is doing something I curve
around and so somewhere else to rest.
She’s like an animal who will
kill me if I don’t clean.
I mean it’s like she came from planet
“Clean up.” That is all she ever says,
“clean up” “clean up” “clean up.”
But yet I deal with her making me
“Clean up.”
“Make your bed”
Max O.
This comes from my
mom’s voice it turns or
curves in my head I
sense I have to do it
like an animal I live
on this
crazy
planet
“I Don’t Know”
Araceli C.
“DO YOUR BED”
Voices everywhere
Turning around
Animals in motion
Sensing flowers
Curve on the road
Pluto is a small planet
C.J.
by Cleophus J.
“Study the planet Jupiter CJ”
“Study the animal jaguar, CJ”
“I can’t hear your voice CJ”
“Turn the channel CJ”
“Curve your body around CJ”
“Use your senses because Kendall is coming CJ”
“CJ come help me make the bed”
“CJ do your homework”
“Listen”
Keven T.
Listen to your
animal try to
hear his voice
and turn around
then use your
sense to eat
the planet and
curve around.
“Walk the Dog”
Madeline N.
I hear voices in the park
I sense a turn on the corner
I curve around the tree
I see an animal inside
Mars is a planet I see
through a telescope
“What do you want to eat?”
Cassie R.
I can hear my mom’s voice saying
“What do you want to eat?”
I turn and sense waffles.
While I eat I think of animals and planets.
When I am in a car I see
a curved dog.
When getting to school I remember
my dream about the cheap people
who sold me a tiger.
When I get to class I go
and do the math.
After math is science lab.
Then I write this poem.
Getting Dressed
Xavier R.
In the morning my mom said
“Wake up” her voice was beautiful
then she went to the kitchen
then I turned around and sensed
donuts. In a few minutes I
was done getting dressed.
On the floor I saw an animal,
it was my dog Ralphy. Then
I went to the living room—there
was this big planet…
Mrs. Garay's 4th grade class
The Curve
Gustavo C.
I sense a voice.
It said “Turn right
when u hit
the curve
on the
highway.”
When I got
to the curve
I saw a
planet and animals.
And it was
okay.
Nightmare
Kayla A.
I hear voices in the dark.
I sense that I’m not alone.
The light turns on.
The door curves open.
Someone walks into my room.
I’m not sure if it’s a person.
I feel like I’m on a different planet.
Now I see that the thing is an animal.
Now the animal speaks.
“Make the baby a bottle,”
says my little nightmare.
untitled
Xochitl Z.
My dad’s voice sounds like a lion!
My back turns toward my dad!
My imaginary dog lives on a planet
called Jasmine.
“Listen to the Teacher”
Ilene M.
I use my voice
to talk to animals
I tell them to eat planets
I tell them to turn around
I tell them to listen
to the teacher I tell them
to curve on the highway
I tell them to sense
their hands.
Voices
Ashley H.
There are a lot
of voices in this planet.
I use my voice a lot.
My mom used her voice
to tell me “clean your
room.” My brother
has a deep voice. Mrs. Garay
has a big voice.
The Unusual Sea
Natalie T.
“I see the curved sea”
“It looks like a planet full of water”
“Its voice (or waves) sounds like
a frightening animal”
“It senses trouble when people
throw nasty garbage in it”
“It turns and twists to get free”
The Creepy Feeling and Movement
Idalia H.
Here are some six creepy words:
I hear voices very loud and right beside me
I sense a feeling in my body
I see a scary turn in my house
I see a car curve right down my house
I see another planet beside me
I feel a creepy animal by me
but them everything dies beside me.
“Go to School”
Justin O.
I hear a voice saying “GO TO SCHOOL!”
I used my common sense and turned over
I saw an animal eating a cannibal
I met Janet, then I saw a planet
We hit a curve then we swerved
I saw a flag then I wanted to tag
Then I heard a sounds then I got pounded
Then I saw a bird
“Do not eat”
Jesus R.
When I woke up my voice was hard,
so I went to school.
When the teacher said “What is 5x5”
I said “20” but she thought I said “money.”
Then my throat got bad.
The I said, “No, 20” and the teacher
said “No! I am not an ATM machine
you know.”
So now it was time to go.
When I got home, I said “My throat hurts!”
“Did you eat?” “No, do not eat” I said.
“ ”
Virshauna B.
“Today we’re going to read
about the planets”
“Why does the orbit curve
around the sun?”
“Make a right turn on Caccavale
Road.”
“Why do you think animals
are part of the economy?”
“Your voice is very soft
and you talk a lot.”
“Do you ever use common
sense?”
“Pluto isn’t a planet
it’s a big, gray paint ball.”
“Oh, take out your homework.”
“What are you?”
Jaques C.
“I could sense your blood.”
“I turn around the boat.”
“Your voice seems scared.”
“I’m the most feared thing on the planet.”
“Don’t throw curve balls at me, and I’m
not an animal.”
“Don’t get twisted again.”
“Clean your room.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
Ms. Otero's 4th grade class
Lazy Sleepy Head
Alex O.
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! time for school
it is your turn to brush your teeth first. 30 more
minutes.
Mom’s tone of voice has animal noises
in her sentences it made no sense because I was
sleeping.
Will the planet curve like a curve ball
in baseball?
Wake up! Don’t make me get your dad with
the belt.
Oh! fine but I’m not getting up they will need
the military and the army combined.
I am thinking this but not saying this.
They don’t know this.
When dad steps into the room I jump
up I’m up! I’m up!
Then dash to the bathroom. I say, “Will this
always go on?”
“Clean Up Your Room!”
Miguel C.
My mom said turn off your
TV. Lower your voice down
right now. You have a curve
of paper in your room. Take
care of your animal or I’m
going to give it to your friend.
I see a planet of non-
sense.
Weird and Crazy
Rodrigo R.
“Do your homework”
“Some kids don’t lower their voice”
“The planets curve around Earth”
“I sense something”
“I turn around so the bad breath won’t get me”
“The animals hate me”
“I see a girl act like a cat”
“Some weird things happened”
“My chocolate tastes weird”
“My dad eats my homework”
unititled
Isabel H.
I went to a different planet
I heard a voice
It was an animal
He will always turn around
I always tell him “Take a bath”
because I can sense his smell
but the weirdest thing about
him is that he looks like
a big curve.
Weird Stuff
Jordan L.
“Eat animal food. Eat planet
food. Help your dad turn
a car. Help your dad curve
a car. Help your dad sense food. Eat
your sense. Do your voice homework
and curve. Curve your food. Help your
animal fix a car. Sense your homework.”
Do Your Homework
Luisana P.
I always hear my mom’s voice
saying “Do your homework.”
My mom always turns around to
say “Go do your homework.”
My mom always says “Go feed
the dog after doing your homework.”
I always sense when my mom
is going to say “Go do your homework.”
My mom curves me over to say
“Do your homework.”
Sometimes I wish I was on another
planet and not hear my mom say
“Do your homework.”
Sometimes when I am at school
I can still hear her say “Go
do your homework.”
Sometimes I wish she could
stop saying “Go do your homework.”
I am sometimes tired of her voice
saying “Go do your homework.”
untitled
Ronnie B.
My mom told me “Don’t raise
your voice.” “Turn on the TV.”
At the zoo mom told the animal
“Go away.”
At the scary house dad yelled
“Go around the curve.”
The planets were spectacular
at the planetarium.
My sense told me to run
away from the crazy man.
I ran away like a maniac.
What I Do
Jackie C.
“Did you do your homework?”
My parents say to use a low voice
then I cut my animal’s food in a curve.
After that I could turn on the TV.
We watch Spiderman
he says “My spider sense is tingling.”
Now I turn off the TV
I eat dinner
then watch a planet show
I take a bath
I use the shampoo from a curved bottle
I go to bed
My voice goes to bed
I have a dream I have spider sense.
“Do Your Work”
Leo S.
Wash that animal of yours.
Turn that radio off now.
You don’t make sense at all.
The city made the worst curve ever.
Your voice is weak you can’t talk.
There is a planet in another galaxy.
What happened in the emergency?
There was a shooting somewhere.
This exercise leads to a wide variety of responses, structurally and thematically.
Mrs. van Zytveld's 4th grade class
untitled
Julian V.
“Go to bed now” I like to
stay up late and turn the
channels back and forth
and my animals lay down with
me and sometimes I hear voices
and sometimes they don’t make sense
and I go peek out on a curve of a wall
in the hallway sometimes I wonder
what is out of the planet.
“Clean Up”
Madeline G.
My mom’s voice is always saying “Clean up.”
Whenever I sense she’s going to turn around I clean
real fast. When she is doing something I curve
around and so somewhere else to rest.
She’s like an animal who will
kill me if I don’t clean.
I mean it’s like she came from planet
“Clean up.” That is all she ever says,
“clean up” “clean up” “clean up.”
But yet I deal with her making me
“Clean up.”
“Make your bed”
Max O.
This comes from my
mom’s voice it turns or
curves in my head I
sense I have to do it
like an animal I live
on this
crazy
planet
“I Don’t Know”
Araceli C.
“DO YOUR BED”
Voices everywhere
Turning around
Animals in motion
Sensing flowers
Curve on the road
Pluto is a small planet
C.J.
by Cleophus J.
“Study the planet Jupiter CJ”
“Study the animal jaguar, CJ”
“I can’t hear your voice CJ”
“Turn the channel CJ”
“Curve your body around CJ”
“Use your senses because Kendall is coming CJ”
“CJ come help me make the bed”
“CJ do your homework”
“Listen”
Keven T.
Listen to your
animal try to
hear his voice
and turn around
then use your
sense to eat
the planet and
curve around.
“Walk the Dog”
Madeline N.
I hear voices in the park
I sense a turn on the corner
I curve around the tree
I see an animal inside
Mars is a planet I see
through a telescope
“What do you want to eat?”
Cassie R.
I can hear my mom’s voice saying
“What do you want to eat?”
I turn and sense waffles.
While I eat I think of animals and planets.
When I am in a car I see
a curved dog.
When getting to school I remember
my dream about the cheap people
who sold me a tiger.
When I get to class I go
and do the math.
After math is science lab.
Then I write this poem.
Getting Dressed
Xavier R.
In the morning my mom said
“Wake up” her voice was beautiful
then she went to the kitchen
then I turned around and sensed
donuts. In a few minutes I
was done getting dressed.
On the floor I saw an animal,
it was my dog Ralphy. Then
I went to the living room—there
was this big planet…
Mrs. Garay's 4th grade class
The Curve
Gustavo C.
I sense a voice.
It said “Turn right
when u hit
the curve
on the
highway.”
When I got
to the curve
I saw a
planet and animals.
And it was
okay.
Nightmare
Kayla A.
I hear voices in the dark.
I sense that I’m not alone.
The light turns on.
The door curves open.
Someone walks into my room.
I’m not sure if it’s a person.
I feel like I’m on a different planet.
Now I see that the thing is an animal.
Now the animal speaks.
“Make the baby a bottle,”
says my little nightmare.
untitled
Xochitl Z.
My dad’s voice sounds like a lion!
My back turns toward my dad!
My imaginary dog lives on a planet
called Jasmine.
“Listen to the Teacher”
Ilene M.
I use my voice
to talk to animals
I tell them to eat planets
I tell them to turn around
I tell them to listen
to the teacher I tell them
to curve on the highway
I tell them to sense
their hands.
Voices
Ashley H.
There are a lot
of voices in this planet.
I use my voice a lot.
My mom used her voice
to tell me “clean your
room.” My brother
has a deep voice. Mrs. Garay
has a big voice.
The Unusual Sea
Natalie T.
“I see the curved sea”
“It looks like a planet full of water”
“Its voice (or waves) sounds like
a frightening animal”
“It senses trouble when people
throw nasty garbage in it”
“It turns and twists to get free”
The Creepy Feeling and Movement
Idalia H.
Here are some six creepy words:
I hear voices very loud and right beside me
I sense a feeling in my body
I see a scary turn in my house
I see a car curve right down my house
I see another planet beside me
I feel a creepy animal by me
but them everything dies beside me.
“Go to School”
Justin O.
I hear a voice saying “GO TO SCHOOL!”
I used my common sense and turned over
I saw an animal eating a cannibal
I met Janet, then I saw a planet
We hit a curve then we swerved
I saw a flag then I wanted to tag
Then I heard a sounds then I got pounded
Then I saw a bird
“Do not eat”
Jesus R.
When I woke up my voice was hard,
so I went to school.
When the teacher said “What is 5x5”
I said “20” but she thought I said “money.”
Then my throat got bad.
The I said, “No, 20” and the teacher
said “No! I am not an ATM machine
you know.”
So now it was time to go.
When I got home, I said “My throat hurts!”
“Did you eat?” “No, do not eat” I said.
“ ”
Virshauna B.
“Today we’re going to read
about the planets”
“Why does the orbit curve
around the sun?”
“Make a right turn on Caccavale
Road.”
“Why do you think animals
are part of the economy?”
“Your voice is very soft
and you talk a lot.”
“Do you ever use common
sense?”
“Pluto isn’t a planet
it’s a big, gray paint ball.”
“Oh, take out your homework.”
“What are you?”
Jaques C.
“I could sense your blood.”
“I turn around the boat.”
“Your voice seems scared.”
“I’m the most feared thing on the planet.”
“Don’t throw curve balls at me, and I’m
not an animal.”
“Don’t get twisted again.”
“Clean your room.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
Ms. Otero's 4th grade class
Lazy Sleepy Head
Alex O.
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! time for school
it is your turn to brush your teeth first. 30 more
minutes.
Mom’s tone of voice has animal noises
in her sentences it made no sense because I was
sleeping.
Will the planet curve like a curve ball
in baseball?
Wake up! Don’t make me get your dad with
the belt.
Oh! fine but I’m not getting up they will need
the military and the army combined.
I am thinking this but not saying this.
They don’t know this.
When dad steps into the room I jump
up I’m up! I’m up!
Then dash to the bathroom. I say, “Will this
always go on?”
“Clean Up Your Room!”
Miguel C.
My mom said turn off your
TV. Lower your voice down
right now. You have a curve
of paper in your room. Take
care of your animal or I’m
going to give it to your friend.
I see a planet of non-
sense.
Weird and Crazy
Rodrigo R.
“Do your homework”
“Some kids don’t lower their voice”
“The planets curve around Earth”
“I sense something”
“I turn around so the bad breath won’t get me”
“The animals hate me”
“I see a girl act like a cat”
“Some weird things happened”
“My chocolate tastes weird”
“My dad eats my homework”
unititled
Isabel H.
I went to a different planet
I heard a voice
It was an animal
He will always turn around
I always tell him “Take a bath”
because I can sense his smell
but the weirdest thing about
him is that he looks like
a big curve.
Weird Stuff
Jordan L.
“Eat animal food. Eat planet
food. Help your dad turn
a car. Help your dad curve
a car. Help your dad sense food. Eat
your sense. Do your voice homework
and curve. Curve your food. Help your
animal fix a car. Sense your homework.”
Do Your Homework
Luisana P.
I always hear my mom’s voice
saying “Do your homework.”
My mom always turns around to
say “Go do your homework.”
My mom always says “Go feed
the dog after doing your homework.”
I always sense when my mom
is going to say “Go do your homework.”
My mom curves me over to say
“Do your homework.”
Sometimes I wish I was on another
planet and not hear my mom say
“Do your homework.”
Sometimes when I am at school
I can still hear her say “Go
do your homework.”
Sometimes I wish she could
stop saying “Go do your homework.”
I am sometimes tired of her voice
saying “Go do your homework.”
untitled
Ronnie B.
My mom told me “Don’t raise
your voice.” “Turn on the TV.”
At the zoo mom told the animal
“Go away.”
At the scary house dad yelled
“Go around the curve.”
The planets were spectacular
at the planetarium.
My sense told me to run
away from the crazy man.
I ran away like a maniac.
What I Do
Jackie C.
“Did you do your homework?”
My parents say to use a low voice
then I cut my animal’s food in a curve.
After that I could turn on the TV.
We watch Spiderman
he says “My spider sense is tingling.”
Now I turn off the TV
I eat dinner
then watch a planet show
I take a bath
I use the shampoo from a curved bottle
I go to bed
My voice goes to bed
I have a dream I have spider sense.
“Do Your Work”
Leo S.
Wash that animal of yours.
Turn that radio off now.
You don’t make sense at all.
The city made the worst curve ever.
Your voice is weak you can’t talk.
There is a planet in another galaxy.
What happened in the emergency?
There was a shooting somewhere.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Dream Poems
Mrs. Garay's 4th grade class
Oranges
Virshauna B.
furry black and white heart-shaped
dog
beating Michael Jackson with a pipe
Reading a book backwards
eating bowls of sugar.
Elmo getting run over
by a truck
candy
red
truck
My Fantastic Dream
Jaques C.
I saw a dog
polka-dotted
He chased me
I ran to the lake
A shark jumps out
He bites me
A dream to a nightmare
A devil angel
I wake up before I die
I am late for school
I see an angel
Don’t go there again
Fruit Loops
Kayla A.
I see Fruit Loops
sitting on the table
No one is around
so I take them
I go to the room
of my own
I hear a knock
on my door
So I walk to the door
and open it
It is the FBI
wanting back the Fruit Loops
They said if I give
them back
I can get a billion dollars
and own a Fruit Loop company
Then the dream stops
and the alarm rings
I sink in the
bowl of milk
Ms. Otero's 4th grade class
My Bad Nightmare
Ronnie B.
I dreamed I saw three ghosts
growling in my face.
I had a dream that Freddy
Kruger slashed my eyeballs.
I had a dream that I was
swimming in the ocean with 100 sharks.
I had a dream that vampires
were about to get me.
I had a dream that I was
in the Michael Jackson video surrounded by zombies.
I had a dream I failed
the ISAT.
My Dreams
Destiny S.
In my dreams
I had a white puppy with a black
nose and a crown on her head.
I had a bed
made out of flowers.
I had a pretty
pink limo that takes
me anywhere.
I had a picture of
me on my ceiling.
I had a pretty
pink jungle.
I am a princess pear in
my pretty pink kingdom.
The Weird Dreams
Leo S.
In my dreams
I play like Tiger Woods.
I speak fluent Spanish
and am a soccer star.
I go and get a dog—
a husky dog.
I see robbers stealing
they steal kids like babies.
I see snow falling,
but it is money.
I see a hobo
carrying a million dollars.
I see a baby
and it throws up blood and dies.
Sleeping on the Cloud
Trenati B.
One dark scary night
owls were hooting
The wolves were in packs
howling at the moon
The trees bumped against
the girl’s window
Then, boom… Thunder
lit across the sky
Creeek went the door
of the girl’s house
The girl stumbled
getting up
Then feet sounded in the
next room
She jumped to her feet
and grabbed a gun
Then all of a sudden
the mysterious person jumped out
She shot the gun.
The person that was there…
the world will never
know.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's 4th grade class
My Best Dream Ever
Carlos D.
My best dream ever was when I imagined my self
on a clear road. I ran really fast, so fast that
I started to fly in the air. I was like a bird.
The neighborhood kids were all looking at me.
I was like the king of the streets. Once I was
so happy, but I was starting to slow down
and thirty seconds later I stopped. The weirdest
thing happened to me: I was just floating there
in the sky, it was like a bully hanging me up
from my shirt. Next thing you know, there was
an airplane coming my way. It was two feet away
from me, but then boom!!! my mom slammed the pot
on te stove to make breakfast.
Fashion Dream
JaVonna C.
Two big white lip glosses chasing my lips,
Changing long skirts all over my hips;
I’m getting so busy about to turn the page,
I can’t because I look like a blue wave;
I like the way they lined my nails,
I called the police and they all went to jail;
So happy about them leaving,
green, blue, pink and yellow mini skirts flying around me.
Greek Myths of Me in a Dream
Sam S.
In my dream I am sun god of the universe.
I control the planets, and I control
rotation of the planets. If I get mad
I set off a volcano; if I am happy,
I can make global warming stop.
It is fun controlling the universe.
Oranges
Virshauna B.
furry black and white heart-shaped
dog
beating Michael Jackson with a pipe
Reading a book backwards
eating bowls of sugar.
Elmo getting run over
by a truck
candy
red
truck
My Fantastic Dream
Jaques C.
I saw a dog
polka-dotted
He chased me
I ran to the lake
A shark jumps out
He bites me
A dream to a nightmare
A devil angel
I wake up before I die
I am late for school
I see an angel
Don’t go there again
Fruit Loops
Kayla A.
I see Fruit Loops
sitting on the table
No one is around
so I take them
I go to the room
of my own
I hear a knock
on my door
So I walk to the door
and open it
It is the FBI
wanting back the Fruit Loops
They said if I give
them back
I can get a billion dollars
and own a Fruit Loop company
Then the dream stops
and the alarm rings
I sink in the
bowl of milk
Ms. Otero's 4th grade class
My Bad Nightmare
Ronnie B.
I dreamed I saw three ghosts
growling in my face.
I had a dream that Freddy
Kruger slashed my eyeballs.
I had a dream that I was
swimming in the ocean with 100 sharks.
I had a dream that vampires
were about to get me.
I had a dream that I was
in the Michael Jackson video surrounded by zombies.
I had a dream I failed
the ISAT.
My Dreams
Destiny S.
In my dreams
I had a white puppy with a black
nose and a crown on her head.
I had a bed
made out of flowers.
I had a pretty
pink limo that takes
me anywhere.
I had a picture of
me on my ceiling.
I had a pretty
pink jungle.
I am a princess pear in
my pretty pink kingdom.
The Weird Dreams
Leo S.
In my dreams
I play like Tiger Woods.
I speak fluent Spanish
and am a soccer star.
I go and get a dog—
a husky dog.
I see robbers stealing
they steal kids like babies.
I see snow falling,
but it is money.
I see a hobo
carrying a million dollars.
I see a baby
and it throws up blood and dies.
Sleeping on the Cloud
Trenati B.
One dark scary night
owls were hooting
The wolves were in packs
howling at the moon
The trees bumped against
the girl’s window
Then, boom… Thunder
lit across the sky
Creeek went the door
of the girl’s house
The girl stumbled
getting up
Then feet sounded in the
next room
She jumped to her feet
and grabbed a gun
Then all of a sudden
the mysterious person jumped out
She shot the gun.
The person that was there…
the world will never
know.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's 4th grade class
My Best Dream Ever
Carlos D.
My best dream ever was when I imagined my self
on a clear road. I ran really fast, so fast that
I started to fly in the air. I was like a bird.
The neighborhood kids were all looking at me.
I was like the king of the streets. Once I was
so happy, but I was starting to slow down
and thirty seconds later I stopped. The weirdest
thing happened to me: I was just floating there
in the sky, it was like a bully hanging me up
from my shirt. Next thing you know, there was
an airplane coming my way. It was two feet away
from me, but then boom!!! my mom slammed the pot
on te stove to make breakfast.
Fashion Dream
JaVonna C.
Two big white lip glosses chasing my lips,
Changing long skirts all over my hips;
I’m getting so busy about to turn the page,
I can’t because I look like a blue wave;
I like the way they lined my nails,
I called the police and they all went to jail;
So happy about them leaving,
green, blue, pink and yellow mini skirts flying around me.
Greek Myths of Me in a Dream
Sam S.
In my dream I am sun god of the universe.
I control the planets, and I control
rotation of the planets. If I get mad
I set off a volcano; if I am happy,
I can make global warming stop.
It is fun controlling the universe.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Because
Poems in response to an exercise I borrowed a couple of years back from Rick Meier. The students read Yannis Ritsos' poem "Because" and wrote their own, hopefully image-based poems of illogical explanation. I encouraged them to think about the outside world. Some of the poems turned out to be strong personal and political statements...some are just darned interesting. Check out the videos of two students reading their poems at the bottom of the post.
Mrs. Van Zytveld's class
Because
Keven T.
Because the magia se fue
Because el señor tenia una bicileta
Because his wonders made a book
Because the homework was a lot
Because the dead body came alive
Because the fire burned a house
Because they ate oatmeal
Because all of that made me think “Yes”
The World
JaVonna C.
Because the people are having children
Because school days are Monday through Friday
Because the animals are having other animals
Because the number one pop stars are singing
Because wrestlers and boxers are winning championships
Because the people are having pets
Because Martin Luther King, Jr. preached
Because of this, I love the world
The Darkness Prevails
Cassie R.
Because 8 birds fly through the dark sky
because an abandoned puppy trembles
because a black dragon looks for its prey
because the gargoyle comes alive
because the snow bunny eats until it can’t
because a cat travels looking for shelter this rainy night
because the cat eats 1 bird
because the shadow hides the night
because of this, only because of this, I told you lies.
All the Great Things
Madeline N.
Because the noise outside is work
Because people tell secrets
Because the clock goes tick tock and takes time
Because the picture is so bright from the light
Because the music is so loud it makes motion
Because of these things
I learned about agriculture.
USA is Cheap
Max O.
Because hobos sit and stare
Because condos are being built
Because they built Trump Towers
Because they are made in the USA
Because they use stuff from China
Because the building will fall
Because we are cheap
Because of all this, I lied
Mrs. Garay's class
Because
Jaques C.
Because Eric got crushed by a pink donut
because a blue cop fell
because I met an octopus
because Godzilla destroyed the city
because I saw Bigfoot
because the raging tornado picked me up
because I was swept away from the broom
because I went to the black moon
because of these things I couldn’t clean my room
Broke
Justin O.
Because Godzilla was in Tokyo
Because he went brokyo
Because the horse fell down a mountain
Because he saw a fountain on another mountain
Because Homer fell down a mountain
Because of Dunkin Doughnuts
Because of grown-ups
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I went bankrupt
Because of Weird Things
Kayla A.
Because of you I walked up the thousand foot tall building
Because I have a sticker on my desk
Because of a little boy eating Fruit Loops
Because learning is boring
Because the fairy made the dragon into a bigger dragon
Because I watch “Elmo’s World”
Because Ghost Busters is a cool movie
Because a little birdy told me
Because silver turned to green
because of the polka dot railroad
because of these, I told you weird things
Ms. Otero's class
Because the People of Chicago
Leo S.
Because the people are voting
because the buses are crowded with people
because the teachers are teaching in school
because downtown is cold
because the snow was falling
because people are going to work and school
because kids are learning in school
because stores are opening and people are buying
because of all this I see a hobo
My Because
Ebene A.
Because the cat had no eyes
because the man was riding his
bike rod into a steel pole
because Santa was in Hawaii
because the time goes slow
because the water bottle could walk
because they couldn’t cut his hair pit
because the man-woman had bear claws as teeth
because the parrot couldn’t shut his big mouth
because the tiger didn’t have a tail
because of these things I punched my pillow
Wrong Thing
Sabrina V.
Because a girl can’t see the world
because people are away from the line
because everything we see is gone
because a person was wrong to do that
because things are strange to know
because now we don’t have anything
because it was hard for people for that girl
because she couldn’t see a thing
because of all of these things, I did the wrong thing
Mrs. Van Zytveld's class
Because
Keven T.
Because the magia se fue
Because el señor tenia una bicileta
Because his wonders made a book
Because the homework was a lot
Because the dead body came alive
Because the fire burned a house
Because they ate oatmeal
Because all of that made me think “Yes”
The World
JaVonna C.
Because the people are having children
Because school days are Monday through Friday
Because the animals are having other animals
Because the number one pop stars are singing
Because wrestlers and boxers are winning championships
Because the people are having pets
Because Martin Luther King, Jr. preached
Because of this, I love the world
The Darkness Prevails
Cassie R.
Because 8 birds fly through the dark sky
because an abandoned puppy trembles
because a black dragon looks for its prey
because the gargoyle comes alive
because the snow bunny eats until it can’t
because a cat travels looking for shelter this rainy night
because the cat eats 1 bird
because the shadow hides the night
because of this, only because of this, I told you lies.
All the Great Things
Madeline N.
Because the noise outside is work
Because people tell secrets
Because the clock goes tick tock and takes time
Because the picture is so bright from the light
Because the music is so loud it makes motion
Because of these things
I learned about agriculture.
USA is Cheap
Max O.
Because hobos sit and stare
Because condos are being built
Because they built Trump Towers
Because they are made in the USA
Because they use stuff from China
Because the building will fall
Because we are cheap
Because of all this, I lied
Mrs. Garay's class
Because
Jaques C.
Because Eric got crushed by a pink donut
because a blue cop fell
because I met an octopus
because Godzilla destroyed the city
because I saw Bigfoot
because the raging tornado picked me up
because I was swept away from the broom
because I went to the black moon
because of these things I couldn’t clean my room
Broke
Justin O.
Because Godzilla was in Tokyo
Because he went brokyo
Because the horse fell down a mountain
Because he saw a fountain on another mountain
Because Homer fell down a mountain
Because of Dunkin Doughnuts
Because of grown-ups
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I went bankrupt
Because of Weird Things
Kayla A.
Because of you I walked up the thousand foot tall building
Because I have a sticker on my desk
Because of a little boy eating Fruit Loops
Because learning is boring
Because the fairy made the dragon into a bigger dragon
Because I watch “Elmo’s World”
Because Ghost Busters is a cool movie
Because a little birdy told me
Because silver turned to green
because of the polka dot railroad
because of these, I told you weird things
Ms. Otero's class
Because the People of Chicago
Leo S.
Because the people are voting
because the buses are crowded with people
because the teachers are teaching in school
because downtown is cold
because the snow was falling
because people are going to work and school
because kids are learning in school
because stores are opening and people are buying
because of all this I see a hobo
My Because
Ebene A.
Because the cat had no eyes
because the man was riding his
bike rod into a steel pole
because Santa was in Hawaii
because the time goes slow
because the water bottle could walk
because they couldn’t cut his hair pit
because the man-woman had bear claws as teeth
because the parrot couldn’t shut his big mouth
because the tiger didn’t have a tail
because of these things I punched my pillow
Wrong Thing
Sabrina V.
Because a girl can’t see the world
because people are away from the line
because everything we see is gone
because a person was wrong to do that
because things are strange to know
because now we don’t have anything
because it was hard for people for that girl
because she couldn’t see a thing
because of all of these things, I did the wrong thing
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Colors
The students read "Silver" by Walter de la Mare and had the choice of writing a poem suffused with a single color, or many colors. Here are some results:
Ms. Otero's Class
Animal Colors
Caitlin C-B.
As the animals wake under the golden sun
The rabbit’s fur is as white as snow.
Brown chipmunks scampering tree to tree
Collecting copper color acorns.
The chicks are waking up as well
And they look more yellowish than before.
The dog wakes up in his bright red doghouse
And he is as black as a dark shadow.
The cat wakes up in the big red barn
And she is as orange as sunset.
The Colorful Ocean
Ronnie B.
Going through the salty
ocean. Making a smooth
going motion. Gold and silver
make way. Thing that it does
you might not even say. The
fish is yellow and blue
looking like a blob of goo.
The whale is black as night,
as the ocean sways the light.
Green and Purple Make Blue
Matthew A.
When I see green it makes me
think of buying a big green fighting
machine.
When I see purple it makes
me think of a big jelly bean.
When I see green and purple
it makes me think of a garbage
can and it says “I love
honey”
What I See (Icy Blue)
Yaritza M.
In my house it’s nice and cold,
But my window is icy blue.
I look at my water and my shoe,
They are both icy blue.
Do my eyes deceive me,
Is icy blue all I see?
No, I can see red ‘n yellow
Also blue and green.
But under my bed,
There’s still a shade of icy blue.
When my eyes are closed—
Not again!
I see,
Icy Blue.
(note her pun: "Icy blue"="I see blue"!!!)
Mrs. Van Zytveld's Class
(many of her students LOVE to rhyme)
The Jungle
Madeline N.
The sky is as blue as the ocean
and the monkeys are as brown as a penny
and the Spider Monkey is as black as my binder
and the jaguar is as black as my car
The chameleon is as colorful as the whole world.
Baseball Game
Stephen T.
I am in the dugout chewing
red gum. It is my turn
now the bat is green, my
lucky bat.
The pitch comes. Swing miss.
Another pitch swing
and a miss the last pitch
swing a home run the blue
juice is all over coach’s
body now, we are going
to the playoffs.
Relaxing Beach
JaVonna C.
Splashing through the blue seas,
feeling the sun breeze,
laying back relaxing,
there’s no distracting;
moving my feet into the sand,
relax my eyes into the shade band;
looking at the beautiful world;
beaming and gleaming just like the beautiful twirls.
Forest Tree
Keven T.
I’m on a tree
with a blue green
sky the bug’s two feet
smell really sweet.
I climb lower to see
many big bees.
Yellow, black even blue
you could really get a good view.
The black monkeys the yellow vines,
there’re only nine.
Making Some Green
Kyle S.
You’re making green
while your boss is mean
and you’re filthy rich
even if you itch.
You go to work
and only get paid in silver.
You go to the bank
and change it into
gold and you go under
the ground to see more
gold and see some
brown.
Mrs. Garay's Class
My Bedroom
Guadalupe P.
The flag is a tag
with white stars.
Walls of pink—a color
just for me.
My bed is soft and purple,
purple shells with beautiful
Hannah Montanas.
Floor of golden brown wood.
Pink
Ashley H.
Pink is sweet.
Pink is pretty.
Pink is the color of my folder.
Pink is my favorite color.
Pink is pink.
Pink, I love.
The Jungle
Felicia K.
I see you
You see me
I see green on the tree
A monkey swings by with a blue eye
he says “hi”
I say “bye”
You see a green pond
I see blue
We are different colors
But we still think to
I’m seeing agree
But a blue
Is that you
Are you green
Or is it me
Could it be
I swing on a vine
While saying “hi”
I see an orange snake
Eating pink cake
I see green
You see blue
Ms. Otero's Class
Animal Colors
Caitlin C-B.
As the animals wake under the golden sun
The rabbit’s fur is as white as snow.
Brown chipmunks scampering tree to tree
Collecting copper color acorns.
The chicks are waking up as well
And they look more yellowish than before.
The dog wakes up in his bright red doghouse
And he is as black as a dark shadow.
The cat wakes up in the big red barn
And she is as orange as sunset.
The Colorful Ocean
Ronnie B.
Going through the salty
ocean. Making a smooth
going motion. Gold and silver
make way. Thing that it does
you might not even say. The
fish is yellow and blue
looking like a blob of goo.
The whale is black as night,
as the ocean sways the light.
Green and Purple Make Blue
Matthew A.
When I see green it makes me
think of buying a big green fighting
machine.
When I see purple it makes
me think of a big jelly bean.
When I see green and purple
it makes me think of a garbage
can and it says “I love
honey”
What I See (Icy Blue)
Yaritza M.
In my house it’s nice and cold,
But my window is icy blue.
I look at my water and my shoe,
They are both icy blue.
Do my eyes deceive me,
Is icy blue all I see?
No, I can see red ‘n yellow
Also blue and green.
But under my bed,
There’s still a shade of icy blue.
When my eyes are closed—
Not again!
I see,
Icy Blue.
(note her pun: "Icy blue"="I see blue"!!!)
Mrs. Van Zytveld's Class
(many of her students LOVE to rhyme)
The Jungle
Madeline N.
The sky is as blue as the ocean
and the monkeys are as brown as a penny
and the Spider Monkey is as black as my binder
and the jaguar is as black as my car
The chameleon is as colorful as the whole world.
Baseball Game
Stephen T.
I am in the dugout chewing
red gum. It is my turn
now the bat is green, my
lucky bat.
The pitch comes. Swing miss.
Another pitch swing
and a miss the last pitch
swing a home run the blue
juice is all over coach’s
body now, we are going
to the playoffs.
Relaxing Beach
JaVonna C.
Splashing through the blue seas,
feeling the sun breeze,
laying back relaxing,
there’s no distracting;
moving my feet into the sand,
relax my eyes into the shade band;
looking at the beautiful world;
beaming and gleaming just like the beautiful twirls.
Forest Tree
Keven T.
I’m on a tree
with a blue green
sky the bug’s two feet
smell really sweet.
I climb lower to see
many big bees.
Yellow, black even blue
you could really get a good view.
The black monkeys the yellow vines,
there’re only nine.
Making Some Green
Kyle S.
You’re making green
while your boss is mean
and you’re filthy rich
even if you itch.
You go to work
and only get paid in silver.
You go to the bank
and change it into
gold and you go under
the ground to see more
gold and see some
brown.
Mrs. Garay's Class
My Bedroom
Guadalupe P.
The flag is a tag
with white stars.
Walls of pink—a color
just for me.
My bed is soft and purple,
purple shells with beautiful
Hannah Montanas.
Floor of golden brown wood.
Pink
Ashley H.
Pink is sweet.
Pink is pretty.
Pink is the color of my folder.
Pink is my favorite color.
Pink is pink.
Pink, I love.
The Jungle
Felicia K.
I see you
You see me
I see green on the tree
A monkey swings by with a blue eye
he says “hi”
I say “bye”
You see a green pond
I see blue
We are different colors
But we still think to
I’m seeing agree
But a blue
Is that you
Are you green
Or is it me
Could it be
I swing on a vine
While saying “hi”
I see an orange snake
Eating pink cake
I see green
You see blue
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Alliteration and Consonance
Students were asked to write a poem on any subject in which they use, at least once, an example of alliteration and an example of consonance. Some kept it simple; some went Dada sound poetry on the situation; some wrote a new blues. Here are some examples:
Treats and Sweets Might Not Be Sweet
Alex O.
It was dark at night my height was not high.
It was dark at night my height was not high.
I saw a white light though my height is small
& I can not see out the window.
I cried “Mom”
I cried “Mom”
She said “It’s an alien invasion.”
I said, “Sweet.” She said
“This is not sweet.”
I wish I had a treat to make this sweet.
I wish I had a treat to make this sweet.
Mom said, “Treats may not make this sweet.”
I might see an alien invasion if I’m sweet.
I might see an alien invasion if I’m sweet.
The height is not high I can still not see.
Sweets and treats don’t go together.
Sweets and treats don’t go together.
If I have a treat I still may not be sweet.
Tools Town
Trenati B.
Trenati took Tommy’s mommy’s
tools to the train.
Tommy’s mommy took
the train to the tool house
to find the tools.
Trenati took the tools
on a tan train.
untitled
Sophia P.
The big blue sky turned
dark as night.
An eagle grabbed a beagle
and flew away.
Fancy Pancy Pants
JaVonna C.
Walking around touching the ground.
Candy in my pocket, I’m Polly Locket.
My fancy pants do it again! do it again!
Running like me, looking pretty like Ricky
My fancy pants, oh my pants.
Looking at you, you are a fool
Give me a tool, I know I’m cool!
The Birthday Blues
Xochitl Z.
I woke up this morning and I said “It’s my mom’s birthday.”
I woke up this morning and I said “It’s my mom’s birthday.”
I ran to my calendar and I saw it was Earth Day.
I went to school with the blues.
I went to school with the blues.
My teacher got me so confused.
When I went home
When I went home
I wrote a poem.
Jokey Jordan
Jordan A.
Jokey Jordan lives in the jungle.
She juggles her jokes to the jaguars.
She also juggles her jokes to the gymnasium.
She joked so much she was jalting,
jalting, jalting she can’t breathe!
One jaguar jumps on her and her
joking box came out.
She can never joke again.
Gustavo the Goose
Gustavo C.
Gustavo the Goose
goes to the Gamestop
and gets games
and goes to his greenhouse
and plays games until the gray moon
comes up.
Gustavo tattles about worms
in a bottle.
Leo the Lion
Leonardo M.
Leonardo the Lion
goes to the lake
He licks the people
he likes the people
The lion was hungry
so he looks for food
Then he licks the
dirty water
He goes to a lake
and looks for home
Treats and Sweets Might Not Be Sweet
Alex O.
It was dark at night my height was not high.
It was dark at night my height was not high.
I saw a white light though my height is small
& I can not see out the window.
I cried “Mom”
I cried “Mom”
She said “It’s an alien invasion.”
I said, “Sweet.” She said
“This is not sweet.”
I wish I had a treat to make this sweet.
I wish I had a treat to make this sweet.
Mom said, “Treats may not make this sweet.”
I might see an alien invasion if I’m sweet.
I might see an alien invasion if I’m sweet.
The height is not high I can still not see.
Sweets and treats don’t go together.
Sweets and treats don’t go together.
If I have a treat I still may not be sweet.
Tools Town
Trenati B.
Trenati took Tommy’s mommy’s
tools to the train.
Tommy’s mommy took
the train to the tool house
to find the tools.
Trenati took the tools
on a tan train.
untitled
Sophia P.
The big blue sky turned
dark as night.
An eagle grabbed a beagle
and flew away.
Fancy Pancy Pants
JaVonna C.
Walking around touching the ground.
Candy in my pocket, I’m Polly Locket.
My fancy pants do it again! do it again!
Running like me, looking pretty like Ricky
My fancy pants, oh my pants.
Looking at you, you are a fool
Give me a tool, I know I’m cool!
The Birthday Blues
Xochitl Z.
I woke up this morning and I said “It’s my mom’s birthday.”
I woke up this morning and I said “It’s my mom’s birthday.”
I ran to my calendar and I saw it was Earth Day.
I went to school with the blues.
I went to school with the blues.
My teacher got me so confused.
When I went home
When I went home
I wrote a poem.
Jokey Jordan
Jordan A.
Jokey Jordan lives in the jungle.
She juggles her jokes to the jaguars.
She also juggles her jokes to the gymnasium.
She joked so much she was jalting,
jalting, jalting she can’t breathe!
One jaguar jumps on her and her
joking box came out.
She can never joke again.
Gustavo the Goose
Gustavo C.
Gustavo the Goose
goes to the Gamestop
and gets games
and goes to his greenhouse
and plays games until the gray moon
comes up.
Gustavo tattles about worms
in a bottle.
Leo the Lion
Leonardo M.
Leonardo the Lion
goes to the lake
He licks the people
he likes the people
The lion was hungry
so he looks for food
Then he licks the
dirty water
He goes to a lake
and looks for home
Monday, January 21, 2008
Galileo's Got the Blues
Students listened to Bessie Smith's "Back-Water Blues" and wrote their own blues poems. Read some below, as well as watch video of students reading!
My Hair
Angeliqic D.
My hair is brown and I look like a clown
My hair is brown and I look like a clown
My brother’s is blue but it smells like shampoo
My sister’s hair is wheat but it smells like feet
My sister’s hair is wheat but it smells like feet
My fish is made of wheat but she doesn’t smell like feet
My hair is fluffy but it s not lovely
My hair is fluffy but it s not lovely
And now my hair is blue and fluffy, too
I’ve Got the Swimming Meet Blues
Carlos R
I’ve got the swimming meet blues
I’ve got the swimming meet blues
I forgot to take off my shoes
Got my hands on the board and I’m ready to go
Got my hands on the board and I’m ready to go
I landed on my belly and I went too low
I had a dream I was a swimming villain
I had a dream I was a swimming villain
I woke up and won a ribbon
The Bushy Hair Blues
Madeline G.
When I wake up my hair is bushy
When I wake up my hair is bushy
But when I brush it is like glass so smooth
When I go to school it stays that way
When I go to school it stays that way
I go home and I go crazy and it gets tangled every day
When it’s nighttime I take a shower and brush it
When it’s nighttime I take a shower and brush it
But when I wake up it’s bushy again, all of it.
The Backache
Cleophus J.
When my mom had a backache that very special day.
When my mom had a backache that very special day.
She went to the hospital I was getting angry.
So I wrote a letter to give to my mom.
So I wrote a letter to give to my mom.
Her husband got it and called me to tell me about it all.
She wrote back to me and said she’ll be O.K.
She wrote back to me and said she’ll be O.K.
So I stopped being mad and went out to play.
No chips. No dip.
Jaques C.
There ain’t no chips.
There ain’t no chips.
All I have is dip.
I can’t go to the store.
I can’t go to the store.
All I do is sit on the floor.
I have to go.
I have to go.
But I have to watch the show.
So I just sit here thinking about chips.
So I just sit here thinking about chips.
But now I don’t got no dip.
The Blues
Gutsavo C.
There’s no pizza on my table
There’s no pizza on my table
It was almost like a fable
There’re no video games in my living room
There’re no video games in my living room
I felt like I was doomed
There’s no food on the plate
There’s no food on the plate
It felt like everybody was fake
Cartoon
Justin O.
I got the cartoon blues
I got the cartoon blues
And Scooby-Doo can’t find any clues
Bugs Bunny is white as a kite
Bugs Bunny is white as a kite
Oh, yes, that’s right
Spider-Man is sticky
Spider-Man is sticky
And his friend’s name is Nicky
Cartoon were on TV
Cartoon were on TV
Then I had to pee pee.
I’m Worried About the First Day of School!!!
Kierra R.
People stare at you
People stare at you
People like me think it’s true
You do a lot of work
You do a lot of work
Lots of boys burp
It’s not cool
It’s not cool
But we still have to go to school
School is boring
School is boring
But it sounds like Jordan is snoring
We get out late
We get out late
It sounds like Jordan’s on a date
The Skeleton Blues
Trenati B.
a skeleton came up to me
a skeleton came up to me
oh, yesiree
he unlocked the door
he unlocked the door
he murmured, “I’m very poor”
it seems he wanted money
it seems he wanted money
he grabbed more and more
he broke his skull
he broke his skull
his bones were dull
I kick him in the shin
I kick him in the shin
suddenly he fell in a bin
I ran
I ran
all the way to heaven
Millionaire’s Blues
Yaritza M.
What if a millionaire were to knock on my door,
What if a millionaire were to knock on my door,
Should I run away if he opens the door?
The last thing I want is to be called poor,
The last thing I want is to be called poor,
He might be mean as a wild boar.
Now I got the millionaire blues,
Now I got the millionaire blues,
What should I do if he comes?
Wait a min.!
Wait a min.!
It was a pizza man!
Men Jumping Off Cliffs
Rayes W.
A man said, “I will jump off this cliff.”
A man said, “I will jump off this cliff.”
So he did a little jig and he took a big shift.
So he jumped off and he did a flip.
So he jumped off and he did a flip.
Then he did a dip.
All of a sudden I heard the ambulance.
All of a sudden I heard the ambulance.
I took a rinse.
I heard a splat.
I heard a splat.
Then I saw a man that looked like a dead rat.
The Kitty-Cat Blues
Caitlin C-B.
My 9 year old cat Smokey.
My 9 year old cat Smokey.
Does lots and lots and lots of naughty things.
She’ll bring birds in the house.
She’ll bring birds in the house.
She’ll hurt them and hurt them until they’re dead.
She won’t take a bath.
She won’t take a bath.
She’ll never ever never ever take a bath.
I want a new pet.
I want a new pet.
I want a golden lab that loves me best.
My Hair
Angeliqic D.
My hair is brown and I look like a clown
My hair is brown and I look like a clown
My brother’s is blue but it smells like shampoo
My sister’s hair is wheat but it smells like feet
My sister’s hair is wheat but it smells like feet
My fish is made of wheat but she doesn’t smell like feet
My hair is fluffy but it s not lovely
My hair is fluffy but it s not lovely
And now my hair is blue and fluffy, too
I’ve Got the Swimming Meet Blues
Carlos R
I’ve got the swimming meet blues
I’ve got the swimming meet blues
I forgot to take off my shoes
Got my hands on the board and I’m ready to go
Got my hands on the board and I’m ready to go
I landed on my belly and I went too low
I had a dream I was a swimming villain
I had a dream I was a swimming villain
I woke up and won a ribbon
The Bushy Hair Blues
Madeline G.
When I wake up my hair is bushy
When I wake up my hair is bushy
But when I brush it is like glass so smooth
When I go to school it stays that way
When I go to school it stays that way
I go home and I go crazy and it gets tangled every day
When it’s nighttime I take a shower and brush it
When it’s nighttime I take a shower and brush it
But when I wake up it’s bushy again, all of it.
The Backache
Cleophus J.
When my mom had a backache that very special day.
When my mom had a backache that very special day.
She went to the hospital I was getting angry.
So I wrote a letter to give to my mom.
So I wrote a letter to give to my mom.
Her husband got it and called me to tell me about it all.
She wrote back to me and said she’ll be O.K.
She wrote back to me and said she’ll be O.K.
So I stopped being mad and went out to play.
No chips. No dip.
Jaques C.
There ain’t no chips.
There ain’t no chips.
All I have is dip.
I can’t go to the store.
I can’t go to the store.
All I do is sit on the floor.
I have to go.
I have to go.
But I have to watch the show.
So I just sit here thinking about chips.
So I just sit here thinking about chips.
But now I don’t got no dip.
The Blues
Gutsavo C.
There’s no pizza on my table
There’s no pizza on my table
It was almost like a fable
There’re no video games in my living room
There’re no video games in my living room
I felt like I was doomed
There’s no food on the plate
There’s no food on the plate
It felt like everybody was fake
Cartoon
Justin O.
I got the cartoon blues
I got the cartoon blues
And Scooby-Doo can’t find any clues
Bugs Bunny is white as a kite
Bugs Bunny is white as a kite
Oh, yes, that’s right
Spider-Man is sticky
Spider-Man is sticky
And his friend’s name is Nicky
Cartoon were on TV
Cartoon were on TV
Then I had to pee pee.
I’m Worried About the First Day of School!!!
Kierra R.
People stare at you
People stare at you
People like me think it’s true
You do a lot of work
You do a lot of work
Lots of boys burp
It’s not cool
It’s not cool
But we still have to go to school
School is boring
School is boring
But it sounds like Jordan is snoring
We get out late
We get out late
It sounds like Jordan’s on a date
The Skeleton Blues
Trenati B.
a skeleton came up to me
a skeleton came up to me
oh, yesiree
he unlocked the door
he unlocked the door
he murmured, “I’m very poor”
it seems he wanted money
it seems he wanted money
he grabbed more and more
he broke his skull
he broke his skull
his bones were dull
I kick him in the shin
I kick him in the shin
suddenly he fell in a bin
I ran
I ran
all the way to heaven
Millionaire’s Blues
Yaritza M.
What if a millionaire were to knock on my door,
What if a millionaire were to knock on my door,
Should I run away if he opens the door?
The last thing I want is to be called poor,
The last thing I want is to be called poor,
He might be mean as a wild boar.
Now I got the millionaire blues,
Now I got the millionaire blues,
What should I do if he comes?
Wait a min.!
Wait a min.!
It was a pizza man!
Men Jumping Off Cliffs
Rayes W.
A man said, “I will jump off this cliff.”
A man said, “I will jump off this cliff.”
So he did a little jig and he took a big shift.
So he jumped off and he did a flip.
So he jumped off and he did a flip.
Then he did a dip.
All of a sudden I heard the ambulance.
All of a sudden I heard the ambulance.
I took a rinse.
I heard a splat.
I heard a splat.
Then I saw a man that looked like a dead rat.
The Kitty-Cat Blues
Caitlin C-B.
My 9 year old cat Smokey.
My 9 year old cat Smokey.
Does lots and lots and lots of naughty things.
She’ll bring birds in the house.
She’ll bring birds in the house.
She’ll hurt them and hurt them until they’re dead.
She won’t take a bath.
She won’t take a bath.
She’ll never ever never ever take a bath.
I want a new pet.
I want a new pet.
I want a golden lab that loves me best.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Rhyming Poems from November
Hairy Dog
Ronnie B.
What a hairy dog so hairy you can see.
What kind of dog can it really be?
I can see that dog is really scary.
I’ll cut off his hair, do you dare me?
His name is Jay, Jay I shall say.
But when I tried to cut his hair
he chased me away.
I ran into the house and went to bed.
When I got up I felt dog hair on my head.
Now I don’t like the dog,
so I played on the log.
The Moon
Ebene A.
Soon the moon will rise above.
Soon you can see it.
Soon you will be amazed.
As the moon rises the time
goes by.
Your mom will say go to
bed and good night.
When you hop in bed say
goodnight to the soon moon.
Soon the moon will watch you
as you sleep.
My Dog
Kierra R.
He is a funny dog
He likes his hog
But he doesn’t like his frog
He likes to “gawg”
He doesn’t like his pet toy called “dog.”
When you take away his frog he “gawgs.”
When you take his hog he takes his dog.
He plays a lot with his frog.
He takes his frog while he “gawgs.”
He doesn’t play a lot with his hog.
Unknown
Virshauna B.
1. The globe is blue
just like you
2. Math is hard
just like cards
3. The flag is red
I wanna go to bed
4. Homework is boring
just like snoring
5. The sun is yellow
Hello my fellow
6. The grass is green
I like beans
7. Chalk is white
fly your kite
8. The door is brown
Don’t look down
The Flag
Kayla A.
The flag has stars
Just like Mars
It’s red, white, and blue
It felt just like you
Blows in the air
When parents had an affair
untitled
Araceli C.
From the sky
came a cry
from a fly
inside of the sky
was a fly
who wanted to try
to fly
untitled
Cleophus J.
One day I went out to play.
Me and my friends went to the park
but someone farted.
I went on the monkey bars
with a red car.
My friends went home,
I was alone.
I went in, but I saw
some fins.
I awoke, it was just a dream,
but I smelled beans.
Ronnie B.
What a hairy dog so hairy you can see.
What kind of dog can it really be?
I can see that dog is really scary.
I’ll cut off his hair, do you dare me?
His name is Jay, Jay I shall say.
But when I tried to cut his hair
he chased me away.
I ran into the house and went to bed.
When I got up I felt dog hair on my head.
Now I don’t like the dog,
so I played on the log.
The Moon
Ebene A.
Soon the moon will rise above.
Soon you can see it.
Soon you will be amazed.
As the moon rises the time
goes by.
Your mom will say go to
bed and good night.
When you hop in bed say
goodnight to the soon moon.
Soon the moon will watch you
as you sleep.
My Dog
Kierra R.
He is a funny dog
He likes his hog
But he doesn’t like his frog
He likes to “gawg”
He doesn’t like his pet toy called “dog.”
When you take away his frog he “gawgs.”
When you take his hog he takes his dog.
He plays a lot with his frog.
He takes his frog while he “gawgs.”
He doesn’t play a lot with his hog.
Unknown
Virshauna B.
1. The globe is blue
just like you
2. Math is hard
just like cards
3. The flag is red
I wanna go to bed
4. Homework is boring
just like snoring
5. The sun is yellow
Hello my fellow
6. The grass is green
I like beans
7. Chalk is white
fly your kite
8. The door is brown
Don’t look down
The Flag
Kayla A.
The flag has stars
Just like Mars
It’s red, white, and blue
It felt just like you
Blows in the air
When parents had an affair
untitled
Araceli C.
From the sky
came a cry
from a fly
inside of the sky
was a fly
who wanted to try
to fly
untitled
Cleophus J.
One day I went out to play.
Me and my friends went to the park
but someone farted.
I went on the monkey bars
with a red car.
My friends went home,
I was alone.
I went in, but I saw
some fins.
I awoke, it was just a dream,
but I smelled beans.
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