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.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
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
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