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.

February 8

Mr Stasiak

[From my bed I see a pet over]
by Jorge S.

From my bed I see a pet over
there looking for food and shelter it needs to
survive and live. I help him and
from my head I think he is good.



Mysterious
by Edgar T.

From my bed I see my dog barking at the wind.

From my head I think of it as my friend.

I think of my soul to make it last.



[from my bed I see. . . dark clouds]
by Kashmere J.

from my bed I see. . . dark clouds
out my window
from my head I think it is a warning
for people to stay close.


Ms. Mays

[From my bed I see. . . somebody come]
Jonathan A.

From my bed I see. . . somebody come
from the hall.
From my head
somebody.
I think of “friend” to make it last.


[From my bed I see my]
by Alex S.

From my bed I see my
Campi, Sertha.

From my head I see a kangaroo jumping.

I think of room to make it last.


[from my bed I see my tv and]
by Pablo R.

from my bed I see my tv and
my brother sleeping by me

from my head I see a wall and my
hair on top of me.

I think of me playing a game to make
it last.


Ms. Jaurigue

Waterfall
by Alberto R.

From my bed I see my turtles
filter.

From my head I see a cup pouring
water.

I think of a waterfall.


From My Bed I See the Games
by Antonio R.

From my bed I see
the game on my
bed.

From my head I
see all the various
games fallen from
my bed.

I think of my
favorite game playing
all day down
in my universe.


Snow
by Celena B.

From my bed I see snow.

From my head I see snow from
my window that looks like sparkles.

I think of snow to play in
for life.

January 25

This week I took in a project borrowed from fellow Poet in Residence, Parry Rigney. This week's workshop began with a discussion about food and memory. We then moved on to the poem "From Blossoms" by Li-Young Lee. After reading the poem and discussing further the connection between food, the senses and memory the students went on to create their own poems.

Ms. Mays


Tacos
by Jocelyn C.

O, the great smell of tacos
how they look and how they smell.
With chicken inside a tortilla.
When you cook them you put cheese
and something else on top.
Then you eat and reminds me of my mom.

It reminds me of mom because she
cooks them. And taste so sweet and
great. They are great to eat. They are
great for parties too. Everything



Pizza
by Taneisha G.

Pizza it reminds me of Home Run Inn.
They have the best pizza in the whole world.
They make it so good. They
always have the right stuff.
That is what pizza reminds
me of. Pizza also
reminds me of my sister and everyone
in my family. That
is what pizza reminds me of.



From Pizza
by Andrew R.

From pizza comes
my friend each
hour or time I see
him eating pizza.

And mostly all the
time I call him
the pizza king.

Pizza reminds me of
my friend because he
eats pizza all the time.

Poem
by Michael A.
Pig reminds me of Puerto Rico
when I was in Puerto Rico
last year and ate pig with
mean in the pig. I cut it
with the knife and the
spoon in the bar cooking pig
cooking sauce in pig.


Mr. Stasiak

Memory Food
by Destiny D.

1.
The sandwich we eat with anything
you like tastes so good. The bread might
be hard but really soft like my dad.

2.
The donut we eat that’s sometimes
sweet is like my grandma.

3.
This person is a friend when I see
apples it reminds me of him, my teacher,
Mr. Stasiak.

4.
The yellow banana reminds
me of Edwin my cousin and my friend.


Chenas
by Natalie C.

Chena reminds me of my family in
Puerto Rico.
How I met half of my family.
The chena looks like my orange.
It is juicy and it tastes better than an orange.
I could eat chenas all day.


My sister Zittaly and the Oatmeal

by Karina B.

Zittaly, Zittaly what are you doing?
Why do you keep throwing oatmeal
at my face? Why won’t you stop? Why
won’t you throw it at our brother even
though he is older? Throw it at
someone else excepte me. That is why
every time when you are sleeping
mom makes oatmeal and it reminds me
of you.


Ms. Jaurigue

Tamales
by Rafael V.

Tamales remind me of
me and my family.
It reminds me of them
because we all make them.

My mom and sisters make
the masa and my dad, brother,
and I get the meat to make
the tamales.

When my family and I do them
we use our senses. When we get
hungry we touch to feel it.

Before we touch we use our sight
when we eat it, I could hear the
sound of the tamales.

Oranges
by Yesenia S.

Oranges taste juicy and good.
The oranges smell good and yummy.
Oranges feel squishy and soft.
They sound squishy and poppy in
your mouth.

I see in the oranges their seeds
and juice in the oranges.
The oranges are good and yummy
I wish I could eat them again today
at night.


Tacos and Chicken and Poems
by Leonardo B.

Tacos remind me about
my Grandma and Grandpa
because my Grandparents
make them. It’s so good
I wish my room was
full of tacos. And Chicken
reminds me about my
Aunt. It is good too and I
wish my Grandpa’s car was
made out of chicken but
that won’t come true.

January 11

Today we looked at part of "13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens. I gave the students some guidelines to writing a poem inspired by Stevens. Here's a sampling of what they came up with.


Ms. Mays

Bird
by Fernando P.

I.
I see this animal in their cage.
II.
It reminds me of my uncle being in jail.
III.
When it moves it looks like my uncle asking for food.
IV.
My uncle screams “ayudame” “help me.”
V.
The animal sounds as if someone was
losing their voice.



Turtle
by Daisy M.

I.
In the rocks
he goes
in the pond
he floats.

II.
It is like
moving grass
in a bright and
sunny day.

III.
It’s a slow
moving line
when I was at
the market last
Sunday.

IV.
As bright
as a tree
in the middle
of the day.

V.
The sound it
makes when
it eats is like
a moving empty
candy wrap.



Deer
by Kimberly S.

While hiking in the forest I spy with
my little eye a deer.

The deer I see reminds me of a
dirt hill beside a dirt road.

Deer look like a graceful gazelle.
Just dancing and prancing in the forest.

I’d like the deer to come to my
house. There a deer that looks like
a dirty rock.

The animals sound is like a horse racing
down the track.


Mr. Stasiak


Dragon
by Dylan A.

I.
Nothing on the mountain but a dragon.
II.
I think of flight when I see you.
III.
When you are moving you look like you want to hurt someone.
IV.
You take the sky and go where you want.
V.
You sound like a bear mad and growling.



Ratick
by Yasmine M.

1) A ratick, half rat, half snake
found in the alley all gray,green,
and dirty.

2) My animal makes me think of a rat and snake. Cool, isn’t it? I think so.

3) My animal looks like a rat in front
and snake in the back. It looks like
a rat with two feet in front and
a long tail in back, like a snake.

4) My ratick is beautiful for me.
It’s an animal that I will love.

5) The sound my animal makes sounds like a
snake and a rat.



Tiger’s Way of Looking
by Oscar C.

1. Among a jungle there’s a tiger on some trees.
2. My animal makes me think of perhaps oranges.
3. When it moves it looks like a zebra or like a striped animal.
4. Its strength from this animal is really powerful and strong.
5. It makes a roaring sound very loud.

Ms. Jaurigue



The Dolphin
by Stephanie M.

I.
On the beautiful ocean
the only animal swimming on the ocean.

II.
This animal reminds me of me swimming
along the water. Just like the dolphin
does.

III.
It looks like a snake moving
on the water, like the dolphin is
swimming.

IV.
Three dolphins swimming together.
Being happy and everything is silent.

V.
They make the sound of a baby
toy making that little sound funny
and cute.


The Eagle
by Rafael V.

I.
The eagle flies far far
away to the United States.

II.
The eagle reminds me of a state.
The eagle reminds the people
of their support.

III.
The eagle moves like a hawk.
It flies like a bird and his speed
is like a cheetah.

IV.
The eagles help one another
for their state and their people.

V.
The eagle makes a sound like
someone screaming for help so they
could help each other.


The Puppy
by Maria B.

I.
That puppy in the rainy mud
the only movement he has is wagging his
tail all day.

II.
I had thousands of precious ideas
in which there were thousands of beautiful
puppies.

III.
That puppy looks happy and keeps on
whirling his tail in the beautiful winds
of summer.

IV.
That puppy and a cat are one.
A puppy and a cat and a woman
are one.

V.
I do not know which to pick
they are all beautiful, the beauty, puppy
shining down the hall.

December 14

Today I brought in a poem by W.D. Snodgrass titled "Tulips." We once again worked on description, simile and metaphor. After discussing the poem I presented the students with vibrant photographs of Orchids and they wrote what they saw. They are really catching onto these concepts.

Ms. Jaurigue

An Orchid
by Julian S.

An orchid looks like
a bat flapping its wings,
or a cheetah running to
get its prey or monkeys
on a rope holding it
with its tail or a banana
with black spots, or a person
sitting down in a red chair,
or a cheese with black
spots, or maybe a starfish,
or maybe a pufferfish.


The Orchids
by Fatima T.

The orchid looks like a cheetah. It also
looks like a chocolate chip cookie. It also looks
like a small banana. The orchid is a necklace
from limbo. It looks like a bat. The orchid
looks like a tortilla from the petals.
It looks like a shoe. The orchid looks
like a woman that has a dress. It also looks
like a mermaid. The orchid that has stripes
from a tiger and a cat. The orchid looks like
an ornament from a Christmas tree.
The orchid looks like a ballerina.


Orchid
by Karina B.

A butterfly coming out
of its caccoon.
To find a new adventure

A cheetah getting
ready to attack his
prey.

A bunch of people
on a rollercoaster
screaming for their lives.

A tiny baby
that is barely born
Ready to look into the
world.


Mr. Stasiak


Orchids Are Great
by Pedro G.

Orchids are great, just like a gate
The green buds protect it. As monkeys
like to climb it. I have said it many
times, orchids are great. Its leaves like
potato skins, are as fruitful as its
green fins. Which leaves that later
on fly with ease. It’s a brige like
many people would cross. Its color
of green moss.


The Orchids
by Arely G.

Orchids you look like an egg. The egg with
black spots. The egg with black spots is opening
up.

Orchids you look like people walking
on the sidewalk. Orchids you look like monkeys
hanging in the leave of a forest only on color
yellow green.

Orchids you look like stars. Orchid you look
like a tiger with stripes. Orchids you look
like three stars in the sky.


Orchids
by Jeremiah E.

That flower looks like a giraffe inside
out. This flower looks like a pumpkinhead. This
flower looks like a Mario Galaxy or a
Donkey Kong vine

Ms. Mays

The Orchids
by Michael A.

It looks like
a zebra by
the color.
It looks like
ants that take
snakes. It looks
like mushrooms
that have color
of points. It looks
like a bird that
screams a lot. It
looks like a bat
with purple blood.
It looks like an
angel sitting down.
It looks like
a yellow pumpkin.


The Orchids
by Jonathan A.

1. Like a fish, star and flare.

2. Like orchids.

3. Seaweed.

4. It has points and with seed and flower.

5. Theres looks like a duck talking inside the flowers and ponds and it has feathers.

6. It looks like a bat and he flies.

7. It looks like people sitting down in the flowers.

8. It looks like a big rock inside.


My Mind
by Pablo R.

It reminds me of frogs climbing.

It reminds me of lots of bones.

It reminds me of a weird brain.

It reminds me of snakes trying to fly.

It reminds me of when bats were flying.

It reminds me of when I saw lava once.


The Scary Things
by Andrew R.

What I think about
the flowers that are
shaped like a star and
they are on vines, is that
they look like sea stars
that are on glass looking out.

What I think about
the flowers that are
shaped like an animal
is that it looks like a
bat and it also looks like
a scary monster.

What I think about the
flower that is shaped like
a person is that she isn’t
wearing ant clothes and she
is sitting on a chair.

November 30

This week I brought along an excerpt the poem "Someone Puts a Pineapple Together" by Wallace Stevens and we continued working on description, simile and metaphor. After discussing the poem I had the students close their eyes then reopen them after I pulled out an artichoke. They had to immediately write down what they saw. Then they closed their eyes and I repositioned the artichoke and they again wrote down what they saw upon opening their eyes. They came up with some really fantastic ideas.


Ms. Jaurigue

Ways to see how Artichoke looks
by Julian S.

It stands like a palm tree.
It sleeps like a bat with thousands of wings.
It looks like a turkey without the feet and back of its feathers.
It looks like a porcupine without its feet.
It looks like a fallen palm tree.
It looks like a volcano bursting lava down you.
It looks like a flame gun in front of me bursting.
It looks like a cactus.


Artichoke
by Melissa V.

Like a flower sprouting
Particularly like a coconut hanging from a tree
different kinds of shapes
It looks like a bunch of little bananas.
A lettuce open in half.


How does the Artichoke Look!!
by Fatima T.

It looks like a tree. It looks
like a banana peel that is closed as you spin
it. It looks like a flower that is
closed and you could only see the bottom
part that is green. It looks
like a rocketship that is going to blast off.
The vegetable looks like a person is
using it like soap. It also looks
like a cat closing his arm. It looks
like a lollipop. It also looks like a
flashlight.


Mr. Stasiak

Different Artichoke Ways
by Nancy V.

It looks like a tree!
It looks like an apple.
It looks like an arrow.
It looks like a rose.
It looks like the leaves of a flower.
It looks like a shooting star.


Untitled
by Alex O.

A green sun.
A hand with green hair and a green apple.
A small rocket with a green fire coming out.
A green nice rose for a girl.
A small pig’s nose.

Like a shooting star coming down for me.


Artichokes
by Diane T.

What I think it looks like if it is a tree with green leaves.
It looks like a toy that spins and its shape is like a nut.
It looks like it was pointing somewhere or showing you a direction to go.
It looks like a rose that is colored green.
It looks like the bottom of a flower.
It looks like a shooting star.


Ms. Mays

The Artichoke
by Jocelyn C.

It looks like a tree
with leaves coming out.

It looks like a pineapple
upside down.

It looks like a flower
opening and closing.

It looks like a bird with
its wings flying everywhere.

It looks like a four petal flower.

It looks like a palm tree sideways.


The Artichoke
by Fernando V.

It looks like a tree with big leaves
and it reminds me of my tree
at my old house.

Now it looks like bananas hanging from a tree.

Now it looks like a flower.

Not it looks like a rocket.

Now it looks like an animal
with its tongue out.

Now it looks like an animal in
different directions.


Artichoke
by Yadira A.

The tree with its leaves
pointy and green.

The acorn the squirrel
might eat.

Acorn barely coming out
of its seed.

The waves floating.

A beautiful green flower.

The leaves of a sideways pineapple.