Saturday, May 24, 2008
Summer Break
My 2007-2008 residence at Luther Burbank is now over so there will be no more posts on the blog for the summer. Check back in the Fall for a new year of poetry to begin.
May 16 & 23 Hybrid Animal Odes
In our final two weeks I brought in a project borrowed from fellow Poet in Residence Eric Elshtain. In the first week the students were given various pictures of animal sketches from which they cut up parts of the animals and pasted them together to create completely new creatures. In the second week we looked at John Keats's poem "Ode to a Nightingale" and discussed what an ode's relationship is to its subject. I then had them bring their new creatures out and write odes to their creations. I hope you enjoy imagining their creatures!
Mr. Stasiak
Ode to Fishbunny
Edgar T.
Oh, the fishbunny, who could swim fast
and jump fast. It’s eyes that can
see far distances from him.
It finds carrots and worms for its hunger.
Ode to Ribattri
by Ambrielle P.
You fly, you run, and you screech.
You eat interesting things like meat, bugs
and other things.
You have the habbits of a tiger, bat and rhino.
Your name is Ribattri.
Ode to Bertafly
by Justin V.
A cannibal searching the jungle for food.
The Bertafly
it will eat anything.
A bear’s face
A turtle’s body
Butterfly wings.
It could fly
go after its prey any time.
Lifes in the jungle
eats fish
Never leaves the jungle.
Ms. Mays
Oh Butterfishfrog
by Carmen S.
Oh Betterfishfrog
ho coud you do
all that swimming
You could swim
all around the
pond you could
search all your food
How could you
hop and hop
all around
You could
fly like birds
You are
an expert
You are born
to be an
expert doing
what you do.
Tibatbearhy Fish
By Ismael O.
Oh Tibatbearhy Fish I like
how strong you are. You could
break a tree with your big
pointy horns. With your big rhino head.
With your big soft body you
could run as fast as a car
can go. With your tiger body.
You can swim as fast as a
submarine could go. WIth your tail
fish. You could fly higher
thatn a jet can. With your bat wings
you could get tired so fast
with the tongue of a bear.
That’s why I like Tibatbearhy Fish.
Ode to Tirhino
by Jovanny O.
Oh! Tirhino, how you hunt for
other animals to eat. You have the
head of a rhino and the body
of a tiger. You have the power
to kill with your horns and
the power to run fast and
attack wth your claws. You also
have the power to communicate
with other tigers and rhinos.
Oh Tirhino how you hunt for food.
Ms. Jaurgue
Ode to the Tigersnakerab
by Anthony M.
Oh Tigersnakerab I
like the way your
ears can her so you can
not get hit by a car
and run if someone
tries to take you.
Oh Tigersnakerab I like
the way your neck can
stretch long to bite
the perfect
meal Oh Tigersnakerab.
I like the way your
tail can grab stuff and
bring it to me and grab
stuff.
Oh Tigersnakerab I like
how your fur is so
soft.
Brat
by Husna A.
Oh brat, how nice
of you to have a
pointy nose to protect
yourself froim your
enemies. How helpful of
you to have wings to
give bugs rides. Your eyes
have double eyesight and
your wonderful legs to eat
your food with.
The Bruni with the Beetifly
by Rafael V.
The Bruni walks around will
he jump when he saw the great
beetifly flying here and there.
The beetifly has seen them
all. Will it fly? It sees how
two of the Bruni on the ground
when the Beetifly fly away.
When they’re both playing together
their playing pingball where the
Beetifly is the ball and the Bruni
hand is the big stick.
Mr. Stasiak
Ode to Fishbunny
Edgar T.
Oh, the fishbunny, who could swim fast
and jump fast. It’s eyes that can
see far distances from him.
It finds carrots and worms for its hunger.
Ode to Ribattri
by Ambrielle P.
You fly, you run, and you screech.
You eat interesting things like meat, bugs
and other things.
You have the habbits of a tiger, bat and rhino.
Your name is Ribattri.
Ode to Bertafly
by Justin V.
A cannibal searching the jungle for food.
The Bertafly
it will eat anything.
A bear’s face
A turtle’s body
Butterfly wings.
It could fly
go after its prey any time.
Lifes in the jungle
eats fish
Never leaves the jungle.
Ms. Mays
Oh Butterfishfrog
by Carmen S.
Oh Betterfishfrog
ho coud you do
all that swimming
You could swim
all around the
pond you could
search all your food
How could you
hop and hop
all around
You could
fly like birds
You are
an expert
You are born
to be an
expert doing
what you do.
Tibatbearhy Fish
By Ismael O.
Oh Tibatbearhy Fish I like
how strong you are. You could
break a tree with your big
pointy horns. With your big rhino head.
With your big soft body you
could run as fast as a car
can go. With your tiger body.
You can swim as fast as a
submarine could go. WIth your tail
fish. You could fly higher
thatn a jet can. With your bat wings
you could get tired so fast
with the tongue of a bear.
That’s why I like Tibatbearhy Fish.
Ode to Tirhino
by Jovanny O.
Oh! Tirhino, how you hunt for
other animals to eat. You have the
head of a rhino and the body
of a tiger. You have the power
to kill with your horns and
the power to run fast and
attack wth your claws. You also
have the power to communicate
with other tigers and rhinos.
Oh Tirhino how you hunt for food.
Ms. Jaurgue
Ode to the Tigersnakerab
by Anthony M.
Oh Tigersnakerab I
like the way your
ears can her so you can
not get hit by a car
and run if someone
tries to take you.
Oh Tigersnakerab I like
the way your neck can
stretch long to bite
the perfect
meal Oh Tigersnakerab.
I like the way your
tail can grab stuff and
bring it to me and grab
stuff.
Oh Tigersnakerab I like
how your fur is so
soft.
Brat
by Husna A.
Oh brat, how nice
of you to have a
pointy nose to protect
yourself froim your
enemies. How helpful of
you to have wings to
give bugs rides. Your eyes
have double eyesight and
your wonderful legs to eat
your food with.
The Bruni with the Beetifly
by Rafael V.
The Bruni walks around will
he jump when he saw the great
beetifly flying here and there.
The beetifly has seen them
all. Will it fly? It sees how
two of the Bruni on the ground
when the Beetifly fly away.
When they’re both playing together
their playing pingball where the
Beetifly is the ball and the Bruni
hand is the big stick.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
May 9 Collaboration
This week I brought the students a poem called "A Small Park" by Joshua Beckman and Matthew Rohrer from their collaborative book Nice Hat. Thanks.. We discussed the value of working with another person to create poems and I explained the process of Beckman and Rohrer writing lines back and forth. I then gave a first line to one student in each group of desks, asked them to write the next line, then pass the paper around the group, each of them writing one line at a time. Here is the result of their efforts.
Ms. Mays
Unknown Creatures
by Jocelyn C., Jorge S., and Adalyz M.
Deep beneath the bridge
There is water with different creatures
Different creatures that are unknown.
Unknown creatures flow in the big water.
The Crash
by Richard D., Maria G., Jovanny O., and Taneisha G.
He heard a crash
by a park
There are flowers
And there are lots of trees
There are lots of kids.
From My Bed to the Floor
by Yesenia J., Giovanni S., Carmen S., Ismael O., and Alicia H.
Beside the dry creek bed
The cold air from my window
Hitting my face
Falling down the bed
The same way it starts to rain
Nobody knows
The Floating Flower
by Miguel O., Daisy M., Oscar P., Ruby T., Joey B., and Yahaira C.
The lake needs friends
The lake needs flowers
The lake needs love
Flowers bloom in the air.
And daisies float in the air.
As the daisy floats away it looks like a small bug.
And the small bug looks like a daisy going away
because it is scared.
The Abandoned Building
by Felicia D., Fernando P., Elizabeth P., and Pablo R.
Beyond the distracted building
the building is old
Who lived in the building?
An old man with a cat.
Also, with his old wife.
Seasons
by Itzel F. Andrew R., and Kimberly S.
The june bugs return
to summer and play
And spring to play
with happiness and cheer.
No one looks the same to each other
by Alex S., Michael A., Brenda B., and Yadira A.
Why does everyone look different?
They look different because they didn’t want to be the same.
They don’t want to be the same cause they want to be different.
They want to be different so they don’t get mixed up with each other.
But at the end they’re the same inside but not outside.
Mr. Stasiak
[Deep Beneath the Bridge]
by Dominique P., Nicholas R., Arely G., Allen B., Natalie C.
Deep beneath the bridge
the river runs through the bridge
then meets up with the lake
see the lake and animals.
And eat under the trees and ride on a horse
eat a candy with water.
[We had a good idea]
by
Pedro G., Oscar C., Justin V., and Dylan A.
We had a good idea
we went to the zoo
we saw a lion and a cheetah
they ran with tremendous speed
By only one winner
[I was cleaning]
by Jamilah Z., Daniel G., Nancy V., Eric C., and Diane T.
I was cleaning
and found something amazing
It was something cool to see.
It was really bright like a diamond shining bright.
Day light dark bright I see a cool sight
the night sky with bright stars the sun so bright just like a big bright star.
[No one remembers]
by Jorge S., Maria U., Edgar T., Yasmine M., and David J.
No one remembers
The little trees that grow in the park.
The trees and the park disappear in the day and in the night
as the dog looked for the park in the night
he finds a bone
It was an ancient dinosaur bone.
[The wind blew the door open]
by Ambrielle P., Andrea M., Jessica N., Alan F.
the wind blew the door open
then the wind pushed too hard and opened the windows
papers flew into the air
and with the graceful wind it made a rustling noise
also the flowers blew into the ground.
[there are two kinds of people]
by Jeremiah E., Luis O., and Alex O.
there are two kinds of people
one loving, one not
the caring and sharing of what the parents have taught
one loves and not one
Ms. Jaurigue
In the lonely field
by Patrick T., Maria B., Ivan P., Tania B., Deivies R.
The june bugs return
Spring is coming again
with those pretty flowers
comes a yellow sunshine
Then the park disappears
In the lonely field
The picure of joy
by Amber A., Leo B., Elizabeth R. , Raul D.
The picture of baby
is the cutest picture
I’ve ever seen.
It reminds me of my baby cousin.
They look just alike.
They are so twins.
The Crash of Group 1
Jonathan S., Julian S., Karina B., Fatima T., Alfredo R., Yesenia S.
He heard a crash
At the corner of the street
The sound was so hard it
made people deaf.
Which made them all want to eat.
And made every living thing deaf come alive
Then people don’t know what people are saying.
It could be a problem.
Looking for the bell
by Leticia R., Alex B., and Jasmine R.
The police have come
what should we do he is going to get us.
We should go and hide somewhere else.
Let’s go hide behind a big bell.
But where is the big bell?
We don’t know, we should find it.
It is behind us.
The amazing displayed building
by Husna A., Isabel P., Rafael V., Anthony M., Celena B.
Beyond the distracted building
comes a crowd of people
screaming out loud to see a display
hearing out loud she saw the new display
seeing the display, she said “cool”
but she got mad.
Friends Are Gold
by Antonio R., Stephanie M., Miriam H., Lucy T., and Alberto R.
The lake needs friends
Friends are gold
Friends will be with you until you grow old.
Friends are always there for you
When you need someone to talk to.
So lets hang out lets go play
it’s a beautiful day.
Ms. Mays
Unknown Creatures
by Jocelyn C., Jorge S., and Adalyz M.
Deep beneath the bridge
There is water with different creatures
Different creatures that are unknown.
Unknown creatures flow in the big water.
The Crash
by Richard D., Maria G., Jovanny O., and Taneisha G.
He heard a crash
by a park
There are flowers
And there are lots of trees
There are lots of kids.
From My Bed to the Floor
by Yesenia J., Giovanni S., Carmen S., Ismael O., and Alicia H.
Beside the dry creek bed
The cold air from my window
Hitting my face
Falling down the bed
The same way it starts to rain
Nobody knows
The Floating Flower
by Miguel O., Daisy M., Oscar P., Ruby T., Joey B., and Yahaira C.
The lake needs friends
The lake needs flowers
The lake needs love
Flowers bloom in the air.
And daisies float in the air.
As the daisy floats away it looks like a small bug.
And the small bug looks like a daisy going away
because it is scared.
The Abandoned Building
by Felicia D., Fernando P., Elizabeth P., and Pablo R.
Beyond the distracted building
the building is old
Who lived in the building?
An old man with a cat.
Also, with his old wife.
Seasons
by Itzel F. Andrew R., and Kimberly S.
The june bugs return
to summer and play
And spring to play
with happiness and cheer.
No one looks the same to each other
by Alex S., Michael A., Brenda B., and Yadira A.
Why does everyone look different?
They look different because they didn’t want to be the same.
They don’t want to be the same cause they want to be different.
They want to be different so they don’t get mixed up with each other.
But at the end they’re the same inside but not outside.
Mr. Stasiak
[Deep Beneath the Bridge]
by Dominique P., Nicholas R., Arely G., Allen B., Natalie C.
Deep beneath the bridge
the river runs through the bridge
then meets up with the lake
see the lake and animals.
And eat under the trees and ride on a horse
eat a candy with water.
[We had a good idea]
by
Pedro G., Oscar C., Justin V., and Dylan A.
We had a good idea
we went to the zoo
we saw a lion and a cheetah
they ran with tremendous speed
By only one winner
[I was cleaning]
by Jamilah Z., Daniel G., Nancy V., Eric C., and Diane T.
I was cleaning
and found something amazing
It was something cool to see.
It was really bright like a diamond shining bright.
Day light dark bright I see a cool sight
the night sky with bright stars the sun so bright just like a big bright star.
[No one remembers]
by Jorge S., Maria U., Edgar T., Yasmine M., and David J.
No one remembers
The little trees that grow in the park.
The trees and the park disappear in the day and in the night
as the dog looked for the park in the night
he finds a bone
It was an ancient dinosaur bone.
[The wind blew the door open]
by Ambrielle P., Andrea M., Jessica N., Alan F.
the wind blew the door open
then the wind pushed too hard and opened the windows
papers flew into the air
and with the graceful wind it made a rustling noise
also the flowers blew into the ground.
[there are two kinds of people]
by Jeremiah E., Luis O., and Alex O.
there are two kinds of people
one loving, one not
the caring and sharing of what the parents have taught
one loves and not one
Ms. Jaurigue
In the lonely field
by Patrick T., Maria B., Ivan P., Tania B., Deivies R.
The june bugs return
Spring is coming again
with those pretty flowers
comes a yellow sunshine
Then the park disappears
In the lonely field
The picure of joy
by Amber A., Leo B., Elizabeth R. , Raul D.
The picture of baby
is the cutest picture
I’ve ever seen.
It reminds me of my baby cousin.
They look just alike.
They are so twins.
The Crash of Group 1
Jonathan S., Julian S., Karina B., Fatima T., Alfredo R., Yesenia S.
He heard a crash
At the corner of the street
The sound was so hard it
made people deaf.
Which made them all want to eat.
And made every living thing deaf come alive
Then people don’t know what people are saying.
It could be a problem.
Looking for the bell
by Leticia R., Alex B., and Jasmine R.
The police have come
what should we do he is going to get us.
We should go and hide somewhere else.
Let’s go hide behind a big bell.
But where is the big bell?
We don’t know, we should find it.
It is behind us.
The amazing displayed building
by Husna A., Isabel P., Rafael V., Anthony M., Celena B.
Beyond the distracted building
comes a crowd of people
screaming out loud to see a display
hearing out loud she saw the new display
seeing the display, she said “cool”
but she got mad.
Friends Are Gold
by Antonio R., Stephanie M., Miriam H., Lucy T., and Alberto R.
The lake needs friends
Friends are gold
Friends will be with you until you grow old.
Friends are always there for you
When you need someone to talk to.
So lets hang out lets go play
it’s a beautiful day.
Monday, April 28, 2008
April 25 Cross-outs
Picking up where we left off in writing new poems we came back to the idea of working from existing texts. I brought in Jen Bervin's net 97 (a cross-out of Shakespeare's Sonnet 97). We discussed how Bervin may have made poetic choices in deciding which words she selects for her new poem. We did some examples on the board where together the students chose which words we would cross out and which we would leave. I then gave the students various poems from William Blake's Songs of Experience and Songs of Innocence and they created new original poems by crossing out parts of Blake's. Despite working with the same poems, the students all came up with very different work themselves. Here's a sampling of what they did:
Ms. Mays
Burning Bright
by Daisy M.
1.
Burning bright
Of the night
What immortal hand or eye
2.
What distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine
What wings dare he aspire
The hand dare seize the fire.
Such a Flower
by Brenda B.
Such a flower
I’ve a pretty rose tree
I passed the sweet flower o’er
I went to my pretty rose
tree turned away with
jealousy, her thorns were
my only delight
The Rhyming Fly
by Ruby T.
Thy summer’s play
Has brushed away
A fly like thee?
A man like me?
Shall brush my wing.
Untitled
by Yahaira C.
Weary of time
the step of the
sun
sweet golden clime
journey is done
away with desire
shrouded in snow
from their graves
sunflower wishes
to go!
Mr. Stasiak
The Sick Rose
by Andrea M.
Rose that flies in the night
Has found out thy bed and
his dark secret love.
The Sun’s Journey to My Wishes
by Maria U.
Time of the sun that sweet golden
journey is done. Arise where my
wishes go.
Thee Sick Rose
by Oscar C.
O Rose, sick! invisible worm that flies in the
howling storm, Has found out crimson Joy
for a place to stay, shall not leave place
for its crimson Joy Shall enjoy it, O Rose get
better soon, Also if dark secret of love will
destroy its life, Before soon the rose holds its
peace.
Ms. Jaurigue
The Sick Roseby Dievies R.
O Rose
invisible
in the night
storm
has found
his dark secret.
Sunflower
by Maria B.
Sunflower weary of time
Seeking after the sweet golden clime
where the travelers journey is done;
Arise from their graves and aspire
where my sunflower wishes to go!
Sunflower!
by Miriam H.
Sunflower weary of time
The steps of the sun,
After that sweet golden clime
The travelers journey is done
The youth pined away,
The pale virgin in snow,
Where my sunflower wishes
to go!
The Fly
by Leticia R.
Little Fly,
plays
thoughtless
brushed away.
Am not I
A fly
not
A man like me?
I dance
drink and sing,
some
brush my wing.
Thought is
strength
want
of thought is death;
Am I a happy fly,
If I live,
Or if I die.
The Rose
by Elizabeth R.
O Rose, thou art sick!
Invisible night howling,
crimson joy, dark secret
destroyed
Ms. Mays
Burning Bright
by Daisy M.
1.
Burning bright
Of the night
What immortal hand or eye
2.
What distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine
What wings dare he aspire
The hand dare seize the fire.
Such a Flower
by Brenda B.
Such a flower
I’ve a pretty rose tree
I passed the sweet flower o’er
I went to my pretty rose
tree turned away with
jealousy, her thorns were
my only delight
The Rhyming Fly
by Ruby T.
Thy summer’s play
Has brushed away
A fly like thee?
A man like me?
Shall brush my wing.
Untitled
by Yahaira C.
Weary of time
the step of the
sun
sweet golden clime
journey is done
away with desire
shrouded in snow
from their graves
sunflower wishes
to go!
Mr. Stasiak
The Sick Rose
by Andrea M.
Rose that flies in the night
Has found out thy bed and
his dark secret love.
The Sun’s Journey to My Wishes
by Maria U.
Time of the sun that sweet golden
journey is done. Arise where my
wishes go.
Thee Sick Rose
by Oscar C.
O Rose, sick! invisible worm that flies in the
howling storm, Has found out crimson Joy
for a place to stay, shall not leave place
for its crimson Joy Shall enjoy it, O Rose get
better soon, Also if dark secret of love will
destroy its life, Before soon the rose holds its
peace.
Ms. Jaurigue
The Sick Roseby Dievies R.
O Rose
invisible
in the night
storm
has found
his dark secret.
Sunflower
by Maria B.
Sunflower weary of time
Seeking after the sweet golden clime
where the travelers journey is done;
Arise from their graves and aspire
where my sunflower wishes to go!
Sunflower!
by Miriam H.
Sunflower weary of time
The steps of the sun,
After that sweet golden clime
The travelers journey is done
The youth pined away,
The pale virgin in snow,
Where my sunflower wishes
to go!
The Fly
by Leticia R.
Little Fly,
plays
thoughtless
brushed away.
Am not I
A fly
not
A man like me?
I dance
drink and sing,
some
brush my wing.
Thought is
strength
want
of thought is death;
Am I a happy fly,
If I live,
Or if I die.
The Rose
by Elizabeth R.
O Rose, thou art sick!
Invisible night howling,
crimson joy, dark secret
destroyed
Special project weeks 15-16, March 28 & April 18
In week 15 I brought broadsides that I have collected in the past few years and talked about how each features a single poem. I talked to the students about how each one has visual art inspired by the words, images and ideas of the poem. I then had the students go through their work from this year and find their favorite or best poem. Next I had them closely read the poem and decide what kind of imagery they could use to complement their language and had them sketch some ideas. In the mean time I went around the room discussing with each what color of paper they feel would best suit their work and distributed the paper.
In week 16 we continued the broadside project and I briefly reminded them where we began so they could get to work. I reminded them to neatly write their poem on their paper and then incorporate the images they sketched. Some used literal imagery, others used designs, and some included borders. All in all they turned out wonderfully. They will be put on display in the classrooms, featured in the student's annual portfolios and some will also be featured at parent's night.
In week 16 we continued the broadside project and I briefly reminded them where we began so they could get to work. I reminded them to neatly write their poem on their paper and then incorporate the images they sketched. Some used literal imagery, others used designs, and some included borders. All in all they turned out wonderfully. They will be put on display in the classrooms, featured in the student's annual portfolios and some will also be featured at parent's night.
March 14 Newspaper Cut-ups
This week I borrowed a lesson from Danielle Aquiline, fellow poet in residence. In this assignment we examined the poem "Rock Singer Dies Onstage After Acrobatic Leap Gone Wrong" by Christine DeSimone. We discussed how the title of the poem was taken from a newspaper headline and then looked closely at the language to discover what parts might have been lifted from the article itself. Additionally we talked about how one might use an existing text to spur an original idea for narrative. Here is a sampling of what they wrote:
Ms. Jaurigue
Fresh Kills
Elizabeth P.
They are the young guns and at the end of
a winter they spent showing off their skills they
are all the rage. But why do they call themself
“fresh kills?” How are they special?
The Three Piggies Move Out
Ivan P.
The three not
so little piggies
move out of a
center.
A woman moves out of her $3.3 million colonial-
style mansion
because of financial
problems.
The reason
the piggies moved
out of the center
was because
they were noisy
smelly and dangerous.
Retro Rap
Karina B.
Cool kids say “You
judging me dawg?
You shop at the mall?”
They are too slow and
they have steady flows
and their beat that
doesn’t sound nice.
Fat boys, Run DMC, a Tribe
Called Quest, De la Soul, EPMD,
and 2-Live Crew walked the earth
pretty cool, huh?
But, for now they remain one
of the more promising groups
that emerge.
Mr. Stasiak
Good-Bye Wolves
by Kashmere J.
These beautiful
dogs will no longer be
protected.
Why are they becoming
extinct now? I mean
they have been protected
since 1973.
Hunters are now able
to hunt wolves it’s not
right.
Can we afford extinction
with wolves, global warming
is already happening!
**
Andrea M.
Two rival groups in Kenya reached an important
peace agreement, why rival, when thy lord
brought natural peace in the world in Feb-
ruary after more than 1,500 people were killed
in violence when the love can surround the
air all day every day.
Peace Signs Birthday
Edgar T.
Oh peace sign, peace sign, turned out to
be 50 years old.
The peace was out February 21, developed by a
British man.
His name was Gerald Holton. He designed
this flag with the combination
of the letters N and D (nuclear disarmament)
Peace sign, peace sign, it’s your birthday
you were used in protest against
weapons and spread around the world.
Ms. Mays
Where is the Money?
Alicia H.
What would it be like if you
were born and lived someplace
else in the world?
Half of the world’s population,
3 billion people, are considered
poor.
How much do you need to be
among the world’s wealthiest?
They might even be very poor.
There is great inequality in
wealth and resources in the
world.
Shooting Satellites
Richard D.
Their are spy that
use spy satellites but
we saw that so we
were shooting it down
with a missile and bombs.
Then it was destroyed.
Now we will get better
weapons to keep so we
destroyed many evil
things.
What’s in that bottle?
Joey B.
Given that reality, it might seem like a
good idea to hit the bottle--as in bottled water--
instead.
The bottle had its own standards but the
bottled has its own thing to do.
But there’s a catch, the federal standards
for acceptable levels.
Ms. Jaurigue
Fresh Kills
Elizabeth P.
They are the young guns and at the end of
a winter they spent showing off their skills they
are all the rage. But why do they call themself
“fresh kills?” How are they special?
The Three Piggies Move Out
Ivan P.
The three not
so little piggies
move out of a
center.
A woman moves out of her $3.3 million colonial-
style mansion
because of financial
problems.
The reason
the piggies moved
out of the center
was because
they were noisy
smelly and dangerous.
Retro Rap
Karina B.
Cool kids say “You
judging me dawg?
You shop at the mall?”
They are too slow and
they have steady flows
and their beat that
doesn’t sound nice.
Fat boys, Run DMC, a Tribe
Called Quest, De la Soul, EPMD,
and 2-Live Crew walked the earth
pretty cool, huh?
But, for now they remain one
of the more promising groups
that emerge.
Mr. Stasiak
Good-Bye Wolves
by Kashmere J.
These beautiful
dogs will no longer be
protected.
Why are they becoming
extinct now? I mean
they have been protected
since 1973.
Hunters are now able
to hunt wolves it’s not
right.
Can we afford extinction
with wolves, global warming
is already happening!
**
Andrea M.
Two rival groups in Kenya reached an important
peace agreement, why rival, when thy lord
brought natural peace in the world in Feb-
ruary after more than 1,500 people were killed
in violence when the love can surround the
air all day every day.
Peace Signs Birthday
Edgar T.
Oh peace sign, peace sign, turned out to
be 50 years old.
The peace was out February 21, developed by a
British man.
His name was Gerald Holton. He designed
this flag with the combination
of the letters N and D (nuclear disarmament)
Peace sign, peace sign, it’s your birthday
you were used in protest against
weapons and spread around the world.
Ms. Mays
Where is the Money?
Alicia H.
What would it be like if you
were born and lived someplace
else in the world?
Half of the world’s population,
3 billion people, are considered
poor.
How much do you need to be
among the world’s wealthiest?
They might even be very poor.
There is great inequality in
wealth and resources in the
world.
Shooting Satellites
Richard D.
Their are spy that
use spy satellites but
we saw that so we
were shooting it down
with a missile and bombs.
Then it was destroyed.
Now we will get better
weapons to keep so we
destroyed many evil
things.
What’s in that bottle?
Joey B.
Given that reality, it might seem like a
good idea to hit the bottle--as in bottled water--
instead.
The bottle had its own standards but the
bottled has its own thing to do.
But there’s a catch, the federal standards
for acceptable levels.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
February 29 Alphabets & Acrostics
Still experimenting with generative practices I took in "Alphabet" by Lisa Fishman. The students really enjoyed this one and they knew right away where we were going for the day. I challenged them to write Abecedarian poems and take the alphabet as far as they could. Some of the students also used this method to write acrostics. These are some of the pieces they put together.
Ms. Mays
K.I.M.B.E.R.L.Y.
by Kimberly S.
Kite flying in the park
In the hot burning sun
Making a loop-te-loop with my kite
Burning in the heat
Entertaining myself, lonely and hot
Requesting and wishing I had ice cream
Looking at the sky I see the day has ended.
Yanking and wondering will I come tomorrow.
A.L.I.E.N.S.
by Andrew R.
Aliens
Like
Igloos
Even
Near
Snoring men.
Acrostics
by Yadira A.
Yogurts
Are
Delicious like
Ice-cream and a lion likes and
Roars like an
Animal
Mr. Stasiak
Alphabet
by Dominique P.
Apple
Ball
Car
Dominique
Fat
Great
Hat
Ice Cream
Jump
Kangaroo
Leap
Money
Natalie
Oppose
Park
Queen
Rat
Snake
T.V.
Us
Vail
Way
Xylophone
You
Zoo
Flowers
by Destiny D.
Apples are red
Blossoms are white
Colorful colors
Destined to be bright
Every
Flower is pretty forever they stand
Growing in large fields and
High lands.
I adore them
Just the way they are
Kind of like the way people like people for who they are.
Lillies are white and many colors too
My favorite color is aqua and blue.
Nothing can stop me from liking flowers
Open your heart and you’ll see my colors.
Probably you might not listen when I
Question as you stare but
Remember without flowers your life is bare.
So listen
To your life and your dreams you will
Understand just wait and see.
Violets are pretty even when the
Wind blows them.
X-cited as I am.
You might not like flowers and colors but you might like animals so try going to the
Zoo. I’m pretty sure you’ll like it too.
Alphabet
by Jamilah Z.
Apples are red rubies are too
Blue is a beautiful color as
Cats are too. Guess what?
Dogs are my favorite as
Eagles are not. Skinny is my type but
Fat isn’t. I think I’ll go lay on the
Grass in my backyard. It
Hails outside it looks so cold as
Icicles do too.
Jamilah is my name as Zayas is my last.
Killing is a bad thing for everyone to learn.
LOL means laugh out loud
Marie is my middle name and I have a
Nintendo Wii.
Outside feels cold I should go inside
Puppy Labradors are so adorable
Quiet they’re sleeping.
R you excited? Let’s go
Skateboard.
Tinkerbell is a girl as
Underdog is a movie
Very quiet they’re still sleeping
Wait, I’m not done.
X-rays are cool looking.
Yippy I’m going to sleep.
Zzzzzz
Peace and War
by Allen B.
Peace
East to West
Across half the world we know
Came good not
Evil
At the other side
Came not good, but hate and evil.
Death and fright
Was the only thing people saw
And to this day
Rage and hate still lives on.
Ms Jaurigue
ABC poem
by Isabel P.
After night
Blossoms rise
Children come out and play
Dogs and cats are put away
Every parent is put in bed
Friends but just like family
Girls and boys don’t get along
He never listens he never plays
Imagine the day he plays
Just think of it as a dream
Kites flying in the sky
Lots of love is what he needs
Moms need to just listen
Never sees never plays
Openers they will have to use
Parents waiting for their son. . .
My Cousin
by Dievies R.
After allergic reactions itching starts to happen
but people feel bad that my cousin is in the bed.
Crying was from family and some from friends.
Dead with no heartbeat, pale and still.
Everybody comes and goes it’s just the way it flows.
For years and years we loved you but we have to let you go.
I guess so.
My name
by Amber A.
Amber
Member
Blossom
Early
Remember
Jack-o-lantern
by Jonathan S.
Jack-o-lanterns
on sidewalks do
not walk
as monkeys
together like
Homer
and Stewie
need milk.
Ms. Mays
K.I.M.B.E.R.L.Y.
by Kimberly S.
Kite flying in the park
In the hot burning sun
Making a loop-te-loop with my kite
Burning in the heat
Entertaining myself, lonely and hot
Requesting and wishing I had ice cream
Looking at the sky I see the day has ended.
Yanking and wondering will I come tomorrow.
A.L.I.E.N.S.
by Andrew R.
Aliens
Like
Igloos
Even
Near
Snoring men.
Acrostics
by Yadira A.
Yogurts
Are
Delicious like
Ice-cream and a lion likes and
Roars like an
Animal
Mr. Stasiak
Alphabet
by Dominique P.
Apple
Ball
Car
Dominique
Fat
Great
Hat
Ice Cream
Jump
Kangaroo
Leap
Money
Natalie
Oppose
Park
Queen
Rat
Snake
T.V.
Us
Vail
Way
Xylophone
You
Zoo
Flowers
by Destiny D.
Apples are red
Blossoms are white
Colorful colors
Destined to be bright
Every
Flower is pretty forever they stand
Growing in large fields and
High lands.
I adore them
Just the way they are
Kind of like the way people like people for who they are.
Lillies are white and many colors too
My favorite color is aqua and blue.
Nothing can stop me from liking flowers
Open your heart and you’ll see my colors.
Probably you might not listen when I
Question as you stare but
Remember without flowers your life is bare.
So listen
To your life and your dreams you will
Understand just wait and see.
Violets are pretty even when the
Wind blows them.
X-cited as I am.
You might not like flowers and colors but you might like animals so try going to the
Zoo. I’m pretty sure you’ll like it too.
Alphabet
by Jamilah Z.
Apples are red rubies are too
Blue is a beautiful color as
Cats are too. Guess what?
Dogs are my favorite as
Eagles are not. Skinny is my type but
Fat isn’t. I think I’ll go lay on the
Grass in my backyard. It
Hails outside it looks so cold as
Icicles do too.
Jamilah is my name as Zayas is my last.
Killing is a bad thing for everyone to learn.
LOL means laugh out loud
Marie is my middle name and I have a
Nintendo Wii.
Outside feels cold I should go inside
Puppy Labradors are so adorable
Quiet they’re sleeping.
R you excited? Let’s go
Skateboard.
Tinkerbell is a girl as
Underdog is a movie
Very quiet they’re still sleeping
Wait, I’m not done.
X-rays are cool looking.
Yippy I’m going to sleep.
Zzzzzz
Peace and War
by Allen B.
Peace
East to West
Across half the world we know
Came good not
Evil
At the other side
Came not good, but hate and evil.
Death and fright
Was the only thing people saw
And to this day
Rage and hate still lives on.
Ms Jaurigue
ABC poem
by Isabel P.
After night
Blossoms rise
Children come out and play
Dogs and cats are put away
Every parent is put in bed
Friends but just like family
Girls and boys don’t get along
He never listens he never plays
Imagine the day he plays
Just think of it as a dream
Kites flying in the sky
Lots of love is what he needs
Moms need to just listen
Never sees never plays
Openers they will have to use
Parents waiting for their son. . .
My Cousin
by Dievies R.
After allergic reactions itching starts to happen
but people feel bad that my cousin is in the bed.
Crying was from family and some from friends.
Dead with no heartbeat, pale and still.
Everybody comes and goes it’s just the way it flows.
For years and years we loved you but we have to let you go.
I guess so.
My name
by Amber A.
Amber
Member
Blossom
Early
Remember
Jack-o-lantern
by Jonathan S.
Jack-o-lanterns
on sidewalks do
not walk
as monkeys
together like
Homer
and Stewie
need milk.
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