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.

February 22

This week I took in one of my own poems which was published in MiPoesias last summer. It is a list poem titled "Toys." After reading this together I challenged the students to write their own list poems and exhaust their subject. Here's what they came up with.



Ms. Mays


Wrestlers I know
by Kimberly S.

Rey Mysterio
Eddie Guerrero
Batista
Undertaker
Kane
Big Show
Kurt Angle
Benoit
Jamie Noble
Chuck Polumbo
Chris Masters
Gregory Helms
Vickie Guerrero
Edge
CM Punk
Sandman
John Morrison
Mizz
Hardcore Holly
Cody Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes
Jerry the King Lawler
Tazz
Tommy Dreamer
Terry Funk
Lita
Torrie Wilson
Trish Stratus

The Best Games
Jovanny O.

San Andreas
Fight Night
Resident Evil
Super Mario
The Club
Bully

Scarface
Pinball
Tony Hawk’s Project 8
Lego Star Wars the game
Transformers the game
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Need for Speed Caribbean
Madden NFL 2008
NBA Live 2003
Spiderman
Spiderman 2
Spiderman 3
The Sims
Mortal Kombat
Smackdown vs. Raw 2008

Colors
by Jocelyn C.

Pink, blueberry,
Purple, peach,
Blue, melon,
Red, light green,
Green, dark blue,
Yellow, Strawberry red,
White, dark pink,
Black, Dark green,
Gray, Cherry,
Gold, Ocean,
Sea green,
Orange,
Brown,
Silver,
Baby blue,
turquoise
Yellow green,
Navy Blue,
Lavender,
Yellow orange,
dandelion,
Sky blue,
Red orange,
Orchid



Mr. Staskiak

Shoes
by Natalie C.

Nike
Heelies
Puma
Jordans
Converse All Stars
Boat
Reebok
Baby Phat
Phat Farm
K-Swiss
Timberland
Shag
South Pole
Skechers
Air Force Ones
2-pac
High Heads
Filas
Flat
Daddy ankee
High tops
Flip Flops
Sandals
Puerto Rican
Rock Star

Birds
by Daniel G.

Blue Jay
Raven
Sparrows
Eagle
Flamingo
Condor
Falcon
Owl
Ostrich
Penguin
Cardinal
Mallard
Quail
Pigeon
Woodpecker
Robin
Peacock
Toucan
Parrot

Baseball and Football Teams
by Nicholas R.

Cubs, Bears, A's Chargers, Angels, Patriots, Blue Jays, Packers, Astros, Giants, Indians, Texans, Yankees, Jets, Mets, Bengals, Cardinals, Panthers, Nationals, Jaguars, Red Sox, and Ravens.




Ms. Jaurigue

Games
by Alberto R.

Halo 3, Godfather 2,
Halo 2, Mario Brothers,
Devil May Cry 4, Paintball,
Congo live and reload King Kong game
08 Football, Zelda,
08 Basketball,
Halo 1
Fantastic 4
Starwars Lego
Blackhawk down the game
Black
07 Basketball
07 Football
Mortal Kombat
Hitman
Monopoly
Connect Four
Battleship
Clue
Sorry
Scrabble
Chess
Checkers

What I like
by Amber A.

My Movies: Cinderella, Man on Fire, Finding Nemo, The Eye, Cars, Charlotte’s Web.

My games: Speed, Monopoly, Sorry, Life, Rome, Uno.

My Toys: Bratz, Barbies, Hotwheels, Baby dolls, My little pony, Cheekers.

My T.V. shows: One on One, Half and Half, Martin

Name Brands: Phat Farm, Baby Phat, Chanel, Gucci, XOXO, Ecko, Sean John, Roca Wear.

Animals: Monkey, Dogs, Cats, Snakes


Movies
by Anthony M.

Epic Movie, Date Movie, Meet the Spartans, 300.

King Kong, ET, Curious George.

Step up, The Longest Yard, Stomp the Yard.

Dejavu, Constantine, Hostel 2, Wicker Park.

Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Cars, Spiderman, Last Day of Summer, Charlotte’s Web, Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Norbit, Superman.

February 15

This week I brought in Alice Notley's "I miss dinosaurs." We first discussed why Notley might be missing the various things she listed. From there we talked about litanies and discussed the value of repeated phrases in poetry. The students then took up the challenge of creating their own litanies and this is what they came up with:

Ms. Mays

I love
by Elizabeth P.

I love coming to school and hearing Ms. Mays
I love smelling the chiles rellenos my Mom makes.
I love remembering my sisters when they were 2 months.
I love playing with my sisters, Yasmin and Yesenia.
I love remembering my Grandmother.
I love my family.
I love my Mom.
I love hearing my favorite song Solo por un beso.
I love playing with my friends.
I love when there are block parties on my block.
I love bachata.
I love Spring.
I love smelling flowers.
I love remembering Mexico.
I love music, only Reggaeton.


I Miss
by Richard D.

I miss seeing wolves in Iowa.
I miss playing with my PSP.
I miss my old school in Iowa.
I miss my pet fish.
I miss hearing my mp3s.
I miss my old friends.
I miss my old house.
I miss my grandmother.
I miss playing with my cousins.
I miss going to the park.
I miss playing with my kite.
I miss my cousins in Iowa.
I miss visiting a ranch.
I miss riding a horse.
I miss swimming in a pool.


I like
Miguel O.

I like to play soccer.
I like to be smart.
I like to eat a lot of fruit.
I like to play my DS.
I like to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
I like to run a lot.
I like to watch The Simpsons.
I like to behave good.
I like to be clean all the time.
I like to get good grades like an A.
I like to play my gamecube.
I like to ride my skateboard.
I like to help other people.
I like to sleep a lot.
I like to read jokes.


Ms. Jaurigue

[I will do my homework]
by Julian S.

I will do my homework.
I will go to Mexico.
I will see a movie.
I will not drop out.
I will always play my video games.
I will be more patient.
I will play soccer.
I will eat pizza.
I will watch tv.
I will come to school every day.
I will go to the doctor.
I will get a pet.
I will play with my cousins.
I will take my pet to the veterinarian.
I will take good care of my pet.
I will always love my pet.
I will go to my friend’s house.
I will go to my cousin’s house.
I will not stop playing.
I will join the soccer team.
I will go to the movie theater.
I will eat more vegetables.
I will not bother my cousins.
I will go to a sleepover.
I will go to the zoo.
I will go to the aquarium.
I will visit my family.
I will be a good friend.
I will be rich.
I will get a mansion.
I will get a good job.
I will get a Ferrari.
I will get a Cadilac.
I will see a basketball game.
I will see a scary movie.

I love my mom.
by Tania B.

I love my mom.
I love my aunt.
I love my dad.
I love my bunny.
I love my games.
I love my earings.
I love my cousins.
I love my grandma.
I love my grandpa.
I love to color.
I love my computer.
I love my milk.
I love my glasses.
I love my music.
I love to write.


I remember all the cool stuff
by Alex B.

I remember WWF.
I remember the old school rap and hip-hop.
I remember my childhood.
I remember my pitbull.
I remember when Diego Corrales died.
I remember my old games.
I remember when my cousin made a guy mad.
I remember when Jeff Hardy beat Matt Hardy.
I remember the Raiders.
I remember Tupac.
I remember the hardcore life.
I remember the tough times.
I remember when Rey Mysterio went to ECW.
I remember when I lived in California.
I remember my first medal.



Mr. Stasiak.

I remember anything
by Erik C.

I remember having fun in a park.
I remember going to the movie
I remember having fun with my parents
I remember doing fun stuff in winter.
I remember doing something with my parents on holidays.
I remember having fun in school.
I remember doing my homework.
I remember doing my chores.
I remember having a great house.
I remember doing great activities in school.
I remember having something big.
I remember wanting to go to a big state.

I will
by David J.

I will walk to school.
I will walk to the big truck.
I will listen to music.
I will go outside and play basketball.
I will walk to my classroom.
I will use the bathroom.
I will do my homework.
I will play on my computer.
I will play my game.
I will play in the snow.
I will eat my food.
I will go to my grandfather’s house.
I will walk home.
I will put on my shoes.
I will put my books in my bookbag.
I will listen to the hard-working teacher.
I will put my brown hat on.
I will finish this test.
I will take out a blue piece of paper.
I will go to my friend’s house.


I miss playing games
by Alan F.

I miss going outside to play.
I miss playing snowfight.
I miss playing games.
I miss riding bikes.
I miss my parents during the day.
I miss my uncle Franky.
I miss goin to Mexico.
I miss playing board games with my family.
I miss playing soccer outside.
I miss playing basketball with my uncles.
I miss playing with my gameboy.
I miss playing bloody knuckes with my uncle Franky.
I miss drawing pictures.
I miss playing football with my dad.
I miss my dog, Magic.