This week at Belding, students read Mahmoud Darwish's poem Psalm Three, and used it as a springboard to discuss their own impressions of words and self-expression--impressions that have dramatically changed over the course of their twenty weeks. Some of their thoughts are shared below:
from Mr. Merrill's class:
by Michael D.
On the day when my words were smashed
I was a friend to a shadow
On the day when my words were crushed
I was a friend to a needle
On the day when my words were blazing
I was a friend to a firestorm
On the day when my words were dark
I was a friend to a dark impact.
***
by Devanta
On the day when my words were darkness
I was a friend to tears
On the day when my words were stones
I was the friend of sadness
On the day when my words were black sky
I was the friend of soul
On the day when my words were chains
I was the friend of death.
***
On the day when my words were
by Jordan B.
On the day when my words were anger, my only friends were trees.
On the day when my words were kind, my friends were animals.
On the day when my words were green, I was friends with the trees.
On the day when my words were sugar, I was friends with chocolate.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
by Jocelyn R.
On the day when my words were happy
I was a friend to me and my mom.
The day when my words were chicken nuggets
I was a friend to my mom.
The day when my words were tired
I was a friend to my father.
***
Psalm Three
by Christopher W.
On the day when my words were sadness
I was a friend to crying of tears.
On the day when my words
were coming dream come
true like a fairy tale castle
I was a friend to a tree
because it has leaves from
the stem.
***
by Nick S.
On the day when my words were some
brand new fresh clothes I was a friend
to some brand new fresh Timz.
On the day when my words were cows
I was a friend to cheeseburgers.
On the day when my words were razors
I was a friend to a fresh new lineup.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class:
Feelings!
By Amaris
On the day when my words were mean and cold,
My friend was regret.
On the day when my words were joy,
my friend was Mr. Summertime
On the day when my words were cryful,
my friend was not to forget Ahlam.
***
by Gloria V.
When my words were colorful I was a friend to a rainbow,
when my words were flowers, I was friends with a bee,
when my words were scared, I became
friends with a scarecrow, when my words were lonely,
I became friends with a word, when my words were pink
I became friends with a pig, when my words were happy,
I became friends with a book, when my words were depressed,
I became friends with a clock, when my words were sorry,
I became friends with a camera, when my words were amazing,
I became friends with a cat.
***
Hotdog
by Sasha P.
When my words were hungry,
I was friends with a butcher.
When my words were happy,
I was friends to an optimist.
When my friends were sad,
I was friends to a pessimist.
When my words were sweet,
I was friends to romance.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Taken Lines
This week at Belding, students discussed the practice, honorable or otherwise, of appropriating lines. After learning about poets for whom such appropriation is practice, they gave their own opinions about whether stealing lines or inspiration from others was appropriate. Students then read from an introduction by Ezra Pound--a poet who often used the lines of other works in his own--and were prompted to write a poem stealing a single line from Pound's Notes for Canto CXX as inspiration. Read some of the responses below:
from Mr. Merrill's class:
by Fardosa
Let the wind speak in harmony
beneath the mountains among the
forest. The mountains will forgive
the one who understand their mistakes.
***
by Victor
Listening to the wind
blowing in your ear. Smelling
roses in the summer
breeze. But especially
stealing a line from Ezra
Pound to use it in
my poem. Now that
is paradise.
***
by Justine
Let the gods
forgive what I
have done.
All the things I did
was not good it
was bad I wish
I have not
done this I
feel bad and I feel
sad.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
by Lio
I am in paradise
I feel shaky
I try to forget
But I can't
That is my sorry
That is paradise
I will come back
That is my will.
***
Peace is Gone
by Rhita
Everyone is fighting.
There is no peace in the world.
I do not trust anyone.
I have tried to write Paradise.
Now, I fight you.
I am sorry,
But I don't care.
Do not care about anthing.
Care only goes in Love...
Love only goes to peace...
Peace is gone.
Love is gone.
I don't care,
But I'm sorry.
***
By Gloria
Oh, please oh please let the wind speak
It's haunting me just because I
won't let the wind speak my heart
will speak but the wind won't speak
like your wind will speak but I don't
know why my wind won't speak. All
I want you to do wind is
speak speak just speak speak
to me of something.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
by Fardosa
Let the wind speak in harmony
beneath the mountains among the
forest. The mountains will forgive
the one who understand their mistakes.
***
by Victor
Listening to the wind
blowing in your ear. Smelling
roses in the summer
breeze. But especially
stealing a line from Ezra
Pound to use it in
my poem. Now that
is paradise.
***
by Justine
Let the gods
forgive what I
have done.
All the things I did
was not good it
was bad I wish
I have not
done this I
feel bad and I feel
sad.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
by Lio
I am in paradise
I feel shaky
I try to forget
But I can't
That is my sorry
That is paradise
I will come back
That is my will.
***
Peace is Gone
by Rhita
Everyone is fighting.
There is no peace in the world.
I do not trust anyone.
I have tried to write Paradise.
Now, I fight you.
I am sorry,
But I don't care.
Do not care about anthing.
Care only goes in Love...
Love only goes to peace...
Peace is gone.
Love is gone.
I don't care,
But I'm sorry.
***
By Gloria
Oh, please oh please let the wind speak
It's haunting me just because I
won't let the wind speak my heart
will speak but the wind won't speak
like your wind will speak but I don't
know why my wind won't speak. All
I want you to do wind is
speak speak just speak speak
to me of something.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Only questions
This week at Belding, students read excerpts from Pablo Neruda's Book of Questions, and discussed how a poem that is composed only of questions changes the dialogue between writer and reader. Students then wrote their own 'only questions' poems--read some of their work below.
From Mr. Merrill's class:
***
by Jesus
What if lightning could follow you?
What if a car wants to eat you?
What if hair could blind you?
***
World of Questions
by Anthony
What if clocks were stomachs?
What if turtles were baskets?
What if sawdust was a T.V.?
What if a desk was a human?
***
by Caleb
Is my head shaped like a chili bowl?
Do I talk like a robot?
Do I have chicken legs?
What if people had chicken legs?
Is my neck long like a goose?
Is it!?! Can it
happen!?! Tell me
Tell me!!!
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class:
***
By Warren B.
Where do children work at? What do tree frogs
eat? Where does rain come from? How many
computers are at schools and libraries?
Where is a hotel at?
***
by Daniella G.
Is now is winter in Peru?
How come this squirrel?
Do you eat food of U.S.?
Where live animal?
How the teachers learn to children?
***
The World Go Blue
by Zachary
What would they
do if the world
go blue blue?
What if they
run out of
black what
would the night
do?
What would you do
if all the people
go fool fool?
What would you do
if the whole world
go do do from the
flu flu?
What would you do
if your mom fell
in to the blues?
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
Why did the person take
the petals off?
If I'm buried underground, but
why am I still talking?
What bird takes lemons from
a lemon tree?
In spring in France where are
the leaves?
Are the roots in the ground?
Do we use mustard to make
bread?
Is a tomato a fruit?
Why o we have a
radio when we can read
the newspaper?
Does a catfish look like
a cat?
***
by Rianne
1. If you insert numbers into a calculator,
then what are the telephones for?
2. Why are birds just sitting in a nest,
when they can just sit in a kangaroo's pouch?
3. Scientists know which mammal lives in a nest,
but instead of reading it in a newspaper, just put it in
the headlines?
4. Since Earth is a circle,
then what are the other planets' shapes?
5. If cows moo, then why when we go to a farm
they're silent?
6. If jellyfish sting others, then when they are on the
shore they still sting us?
***
Wierd Questions
by Nathaniel T.
Food:
What would happen
if the bees would make
lemons rather than honey?
Does a brown cow
make chocolate milk?
Flying:
Will a flying
squirrel fly like
a bird?
Is a flying
fish real?
Weather:
Will a duck ride a bike
in the rain?
Will a camel live in snow
and a penguin live in the
desert?
Alike:
Is a platypus
half beaver and
half duck?
Is a lobster and
a crayfish the
same thing?
From Mr. Merrill's class:
***
by Jesus
What if lightning could follow you?
What if a car wants to eat you?
What if hair could blind you?
***
World of Questions
by Anthony
What if clocks were stomachs?
What if turtles were baskets?
What if sawdust was a T.V.?
What if a desk was a human?
***
by Caleb
Is my head shaped like a chili bowl?
Do I talk like a robot?
Do I have chicken legs?
What if people had chicken legs?
Is my neck long like a goose?
Is it!?! Can it
happen!?! Tell me
Tell me!!!
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class:
***
By Warren B.
Where do children work at? What do tree frogs
eat? Where does rain come from? How many
computers are at schools and libraries?
Where is a hotel at?
***
by Daniella G.
Is now is winter in Peru?
How come this squirrel?
Do you eat food of U.S.?
Where live animal?
How the teachers learn to children?
***
The World Go Blue
by Zachary
What would they
do if the world
go blue blue?
What if they
run out of
black what
would the night
do?
What would you do
if all the people
go fool fool?
What would you do
if the whole world
go do do from the
flu flu?
What would you do
if your mom fell
in to the blues?
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
Why did the person take
the petals off?
If I'm buried underground, but
why am I still talking?
What bird takes lemons from
a lemon tree?
In spring in France where are
the leaves?
Are the roots in the ground?
Do we use mustard to make
bread?
Is a tomato a fruit?
Why o we have a
radio when we can read
the newspaper?
Does a catfish look like
a cat?
***
by Rianne
1. If you insert numbers into a calculator,
then what are the telephones for?
2. Why are birds just sitting in a nest,
when they can just sit in a kangaroo's pouch?
3. Scientists know which mammal lives in a nest,
but instead of reading it in a newspaper, just put it in
the headlines?
4. Since Earth is a circle,
then what are the other planets' shapes?
5. If cows moo, then why when we go to a farm
they're silent?
6. If jellyfish sting others, then when they are on the
shore they still sting us?
***
Wierd Questions
by Nathaniel T.
Food:
What would happen
if the bees would make
lemons rather than honey?
Does a brown cow
make chocolate milk?
Flying:
Will a flying
squirrel fly like
a bird?
Is a flying
fish real?
Weather:
Will a duck ride a bike
in the rain?
Will a camel live in snow
and a penguin live in the
desert?
Alike:
Is a platypus
half beaver and
half duck?
Is a lobster and
a crayfish the
same thing?
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Concrete poems
This week at Belding, students read e.e. cummings' In Just, and used the poem as a catalyst for discussion of the interaction between poem and page. We talked about reasons cummings might have had for his particular kind of spacing, and about what such deliberate decisions do for a poem. Students were then invited to write their own poems with a focus on spacing of the word and line. Some students chose to write poems in topic-specific shapes, while others maintained a focus on appropriate and relevant spacing.
These poems below do little justice to the careful and intelligent designs made by the students this week, but the texts themselves are, nonetheless, a testament to how far the students' techniques and creativity have come this year.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
by Arnel
(in the shape of a square)
it can make it any shape
it can be anything it can be
a bee or a dog I like squares
because it is a shape of a house
***
by Caleb S.
up
falling
Now I see rain
drops up
falling
falling
and clouds
down.
***
Saturn
by Karim
(in the shape of Saturn)
Space is nothing--
no air
some planets are hot or cold.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
by Jocelyn
(in the shape of a heart)
I play outside.
I go swimming.
I like movies at night.
I play in the sandbox and build a house.
My doctor gives me shots.
***
Love
by Christopher W
(in the shape of a heart)
My grandma has always loved
us that also take care of us
love is for people that
really special from
all hearts. Some
of my students
has love me
in my
heart
and
friends
***
by Zachary
(in trailing lines across the page)
So you better call all because
spring is crawling right down your back.
So that way I say spring is back
spring is wack that's why I say you better
call all because spring is back, spring is wack.
***
Confusion
by Sasha
(in the shape of a spiral)
When you are confused it is just a matter of time before
you figure out your problem.
Confusion is just a feeling which you are too stunned to figure out.
Confusion is a time, best not to think of too many topics
or you just might end up staying awake all night
staring into the spectacular night sky.
But it is a thrill to figure the problem out.
***
by Katie G.
(in the shape of a bird)
Today is a wonderful day because the birds come out after
a long time in winter. The birds such as the robins, cardinals,
woodpeckers and seagulls came out to play. It's sunny.
I'm glad that spring came! Spring is my favorite season all year long!
***
Ocean
by Jose M
(in the shape of waves)
The ocean moves because the
wind blows on it that's
why it moves it is
windy the cool
breeze it is so cool
when the wind moves
through you and it makes
you cool and fresh when
you go in the ocean
it is cool so cool.
These poems below do little justice to the careful and intelligent designs made by the students this week, but the texts themselves are, nonetheless, a testament to how far the students' techniques and creativity have come this year.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
by Arnel
(in the shape of a square)
it can make it any shape
it can be anything it can be
a bee or a dog I like squares
because it is a shape of a house
***
by Caleb S.
up
falling
Now I see rain
drops up
falling
falling
and clouds
down.
***
Saturn
by Karim
(in the shape of Saturn)
Space is nothing--
no air
some planets are hot or cold.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
by Jocelyn
(in the shape of a heart)
I play outside.
I go swimming.
I like movies at night.
I play in the sandbox and build a house.
My doctor gives me shots.
***
Love
by Christopher W
(in the shape of a heart)
My grandma has always loved
us that also take care of us
love is for people that
really special from
all hearts. Some
of my students
has love me
in my
heart
and
friends
***
by Zachary
(in trailing lines across the page)
So you better call all because
spring is crawling right down your back.
So that way I say spring is back
spring is wack that's why I say you better
call all because spring is back, spring is wack.
***
Confusion
by Sasha
(in the shape of a spiral)
When you are confused it is just a matter of time before
you figure out your problem.
Confusion is just a feeling which you are too stunned to figure out.
Confusion is a time, best not to think of too many topics
or you just might end up staying awake all night
staring into the spectacular night sky.
But it is a thrill to figure the problem out.
***
by Katie G.
(in the shape of a bird)
Today is a wonderful day because the birds come out after
a long time in winter. The birds such as the robins, cardinals,
woodpeckers and seagulls came out to play. It's sunny.
I'm glad that spring came! Spring is my favorite season all year long!
***
Ocean
by Jose M
(in the shape of waves)
The ocean moves because the
wind blows on it that's
why it moves it is
windy the cool
breeze it is so cool
when the wind moves
through you and it makes
you cool and fresh when
you go in the ocean
it is cool so cool.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Small Frames
This week at Belding, students read haiku by Basho, Issa, and Buson, and discussed the way the haiku form functions, serving to snip away all but the smallest details, while still leaving a very broad picture. In writing their own haiku, I asked students not to focus on the syllabic count, but rather, to work on creating a similar structure--a poem in which the barest possible portrait gives much to the reader. Some examples are below.
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
by Caleb
All the rainy days
Umbrellas and boots
And non-stop traffic.
***
by Michael
There is a broken seal
that is cracked open by evil
spirits and then closed by good
spirits.
***
by Karim
Spring is a good season
bees suck pollen and flowers grow
I will get honey from the store
to remind me about spring.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
by Sasha
The sea shines brightly at night
The water swishes in the night air
while the book stays on its shelf.
***
by Anthony
Little woodpecker
pecking at a little wooden house
oh why do you do that?
***
by Rianne
Friend, I go
I must leave this place,
don't cry I will remind.
***
by Amine
In the old cowfield
All you hear are gunshots shooting
nobody knows who shot.
***
by Lio
How interesting
He has bitten his nails now
How confusing yet.
***
by Loreyn
In the house I pick a box
full with memories from my aunty
I left them there and I don't know why.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
by Warren Butts
Clocks help us how to tell time.
When it is 12:40 that means it is lunch
time. And when it is 2:45 it will be home time.
We will always learn how to tell time everyday from
Monday to Friday.
***
by Christopher
The dog was barking and howling at the
children because the wind was
whispering at the grass.
***
by Jocelyn
A yellow-green bird
It makes a sound, pew-pew
He is drinking water.
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
by Caleb
All the rainy days
Umbrellas and boots
And non-stop traffic.
***
by Michael
There is a broken seal
that is cracked open by evil
spirits and then closed by good
spirits.
***
by Karim
Spring is a good season
bees suck pollen and flowers grow
I will get honey from the store
to remind me about spring.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
by Sasha
The sea shines brightly at night
The water swishes in the night air
while the book stays on its shelf.
***
by Anthony
Little woodpecker
pecking at a little wooden house
oh why do you do that?
***
by Rianne
Friend, I go
I must leave this place,
don't cry I will remind.
***
by Amine
In the old cowfield
All you hear are gunshots shooting
nobody knows who shot.
***
by Lio
How interesting
He has bitten his nails now
How confusing yet.
***
by Loreyn
In the house I pick a box
full with memories from my aunty
I left them there and I don't know why.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
by Warren Butts
Clocks help us how to tell time.
When it is 12:40 that means it is lunch
time. And when it is 2:45 it will be home time.
We will always learn how to tell time everyday from
Monday to Friday.
***
by Christopher
The dog was barking and howling at the
children because the wind was
whispering at the grass.
***
by Jocelyn
A yellow-green bird
It makes a sound, pew-pew
He is drinking water.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Call and Response
This week at Belding, students were introduced to a series of short call-and-response poems from the Bantu of sub-Saharan Africa. We discussed the roles of oral tradition, and students were able to discuss examples from their own lives. Students then paired off, and created their own call-and-response-style poems, to be read aloud in tandem. Some examples of the work can be read below.
From Mr. Merrill's Class:
***
***
From Mr. Merrill's Class:
***
Michael D and Caleb S
Today’s sadness
Tomorrow’s happiness
The shack falling
The storm coming
The smoke forming
The bad bad day.
***
Imane and Jordan
My grandma’s doll handed to me
Tying the strings day today
All the fun things she did when she was a kid
***
By Devanta
The morning of
Africa the birds
Tweet
The morning of
Africa the sun
Rise
The morning of
Africa the kings
Rise with the
Sun
With the heaven
Earth
By Karim and Fardosa
I cut down an apple tree
I still feel bad
So angry
Broke the promise
The fearness is still
Inside me
A lion running right behind me
It hurts inside me
In a hole
By David
The morning beings
The night is gone
The sun is setting
Flowers are growing
Apples are falling off the tree
People and animals are playing
In the grass
I see people playing in the park
And people swing on the swings
I see the night started
And people go home
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class:
***Sasha and Amine
I am cooking a fish, I don’t know what ingredient to use
I am standing on a wall and not falling
I see a huge black spot swooping down and dust falling from the ceiling
I see a hole in the wall and people are going in my house and eating my food.
By Nathaniel and Jose
I am watching TV and you?
Watching my favorite show.
Like what TV show?
I am watching Sonic.
***
By Katie and Lio
The Hospital
I’m doing a surgery.
Everyone is worried.
Nurses are running fast.
Relatives gasp.
Their relatives are worried.
So are their friends.
The surgery is going well.
Everyone is relieved.
***
By Loreyn and Ahlam
I’m giving a gift to my friend.
I saw in her eyes surprise and joy.
I gave her a letter with a ring so she knows I’m leaving forever.
I saw the tears crawl down in her eyes. It made me feel I’m all alone by myself.
I went to a land so far from home to hunt a diamond and sell it to stores.
I realized that selling the diamond was not right because I will just keep it to myself.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
By Jocelyn
I am running
In gym class
I am running
It is hot outside
I am running
Towards my sister
***
By Daniella
I am swimming
In the pool.
I go to the library
I take books
I go to the park
I play with my cousin, he have two years
I do gym with
My friends
I run in the sun
With my cousin.
***
By Christopher
I am hot from outside because it’s warm
And I like to go swimming at the beach
I was burning like fire and my grandma
Was putting sunscreen on my and my brother at our bodies.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Writing the Blues
This week, Belding students discussed the tradition of blues music--its history, its styles, its significance. Mr. Merrill graciously agreed to play some blues guitar for his students, and all classrooms read Langston Hughes' The Weary Blues. After discussing their responses to this piece, the classes worked on their own blues-inspired poems. Read some of the student examples below.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
The doggy day blues
by Sadie C.
My pipes have a leak. Flooding the place over and
under around. I think I have the doggy blues, I have
the doggy blues, oh the doggy blues. My house is
done flooded my stuff gone to the end. Time to leave. The doggy blues.
Got me, very good. If I don't finish I will be
done for. Oh, why the doggy blues. The doggy blues.
The water got out, flooded the neighborhood. Got
out of town. Plane or car, walk miles. I don't care how many
miles I just get away from the doggy blues.
Rainy Day Blues
by Imane
Sad Blues
by Cesar F.
I am happy at first
but when I hear that the phone
rings, ring, ring, a shocking news
I can understand I start to
get sad and then I get mad, I say
why, and I go to his death and say bye.
I start to get tears I look at my
self in mirrors. And that is why I am
not the same so sometimes I feel
lame.
I am sad.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
When I feel sad
by Daniella
My father went to Peru. I miss my
father and my grandmother, Eva, she died. One
day I lost my cellular. My father punished
me. My uncle gave me $100 to buy me another
cellular and the cable to connect. And
my sister died last year.
Fin.
by Warren B.
I feel bored when I go to a long vacation.
So I read a book and play the cloud game.
The airplane flies across the sky. Then
finally lands on an island. It has fruits, trees,
and an ocean. I will never be bored to go on
a long vacation again.
The weary blues
by Christopher W.
When I was sad I have to play the piano about
my mom was 39 years before she died
and I really miss her. My parents and
I were at the Muzyka funeral home to
pray for my mom and that I was very sad
sad is for my memory.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
Blues
by Amine
Oh I got the blues
Why? I ain't got a clue
At night I'm bored and sad
At day I'm happy and glad
Oh the terrible blues
All of it is trueeee.
Sad Day with friends
by Rhita
Consequence Sheet
by Emily
This morning I felt the blues.
Why? Because I got a
consequence sheet. Why
because my notebook
was not signed. I felt
the blues badly. I
mean badly. I wrote
a lot. My hand is hurting.
I want to die.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
The doggy day blues
by Sadie C.
My pipes have a leak. Flooding the place over and
under around. I think I have the doggy blues, I have
the doggy blues, oh the doggy blues. My house is
done flooded my stuff gone to the end. Time to leave. The doggy blues.
Got me, very good. If I don't finish I will be
done for. Oh, why the doggy blues. The doggy blues.
The water got out, flooded the neighborhood. Got
out of town. Plane or car, walk miles. I don't care how many
miles I just get away from the doggy blues.
Rainy Day Blues
by Imane
I feel stuck at home doing
Nothing, just sitting and looking
out the window raining goes
drip! drop! The rain stopped now
I am outside walking talking
raining jumping.
Sad Blues
by Cesar F.
I am happy at first
but when I hear that the phone
rings, ring, ring, a shocking news
I can understand I start to
get sad and then I get mad, I say
why, and I go to his death and say bye.
I start to get tears I look at my
self in mirrors. And that is why I am
not the same so sometimes I feel
lame.
I am sad.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
When I feel sad
by Daniella
My father went to Peru. I miss my
father and my grandmother, Eva, she died. One
day I lost my cellular. My father punished
me. My uncle gave me $100 to buy me another
cellular and the cable to connect. And
my sister died last year.
Fin.
by Warren B.
I feel bored when I go to a long vacation.
So I read a book and play the cloud game.
The airplane flies across the sky. Then
finally lands on an island. It has fruits, trees,
and an ocean. I will never be bored to go on
a long vacation again.
The weary blues
by Christopher W.
When I was sad I have to play the piano about
my mom was 39 years before she died
and I really miss her. My parents and
I were at the Muzyka funeral home to
pray for my mom and that I was very sad
sad is for my memory.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
Blues
by Amine
Oh I got the blues
Why? I ain't got a clue
At night I'm bored and sad
At day I'm happy and glad
Oh the terrible blues
All of it is trueeee.
Sad Day with friends
by Rhita
I am sad, so sad. This is bad, so bad.
I lost my friends, the end of school.
It wasn’t cool, so not cool. I’m not a
Fool and you know it’s not true
This is bad, I’m sad so sad!
I can’t believe it’s true, can’t achieve
It though.
I’m menacing mad, so sad, a fight I
Wish we’d never had.
I said I’m sorry, they didn’t accept
I thought I was gonna erupt.
It’ll live so long, unless I’m wrong.
Oh, I'm sad.
Consequence Sheet
by Emily
This morning I felt the blues.
Why? Because I got a
consequence sheet. Why
because my notebook
was not signed. I felt
the blues badly. I
mean badly. I wrote
a lot. My hand is hurting.
I want to die.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Onomatopoeia
This week at Belding, students read Edgar Allan Poe's Bells and talked about the many examples of onomatopoeia we use in daily speech. Each class created a list of onomatopoeic words, and filled the classroom blackboard with examples. Students then wrote their own onomatopoeic poems, focusing on the ways in which sound and musicality could be used to heighten the impact of their work.
Some student examples are below:
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
Bees Say
by Devanta
1. A bee that's kind and careful
that says all the time buzz buzz
buzz that have big eyes
as a fudge bar that have buzz
buzz buzz
2. A girl bee that is big as a whale
that says all the time the roof the roof
the roof is on fire so buzz buzz
buzz!!!
3. An old woman that was a bee bee bee
who said all the time that James
Brown is something that said
get on up get on up then after that
she says thank you thank you.
***
by Fardosa
Bang bang bang
is what I hear
drumming sounds
around the house
mailman humming down
the street, children
playing, laughing, growing
peacefully across the street
in my neighborhood. I am really bored but I
am glad to see and hear
these things today.
***
In the Pool
by Justine
When you are in the pool
you hear splash and boom
you hear laughing ha ha ha
then we go under water
and we make bubbles
you hear a pop pop pop.
When we go around in a crowd
we make a whirlpool you
hear it swooshing around water.
***
From Mr. Aivizian's class:
***
by Daniela
When say ring to
house-my aunt
dog-woof
ring-house
meow-cat
whisper-person
chime-mom
Shh-I
***
by Charmaine
The ding-dong show me it is a door bell.
The shhs show me how to be quiet.
The bang show me stop banging on my door bell.
Whisper show me you got to whisper in people's ears.
Woof like a dog barking at people and other cats.
***
by Warren
When someone rings
the door bell to come
to visit I let them in.
I love when the door bell goes
ding dong. It sound beautiful.
The people like to ring the doorbell.
And that's how the doorbell goes
ding dong.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class:
***
Ching
by Sasha
I listen to the ching on the grandfather
clock...ching! Every hour...ching!
The chinging and ringing from the
pendulum. It is almost annoying but
then it stops and I hear a piano. It
was coming from the attic. I go up and
it stopped and I fell into a coffin. It
was over.
***
My Day in the City
by Loreyn
Hear the water in the sea, splash
splash, splash.
And the air in the sky woosh
woosh woosh
In the sea friendly sharks please
don't make the fish as a dish.
Cars in the city, pretty pretty but if
they crash dump, dump, dump.
Stars in the sky very very light then I wish
for a dish so I can eat tonight.
***
Splish splash bell
by Nathaniel
A well by the sea shore
the crab stole my sea shells
The shells sound like the bell of the
something sea floor
When the crab fell I got
back my shells
Now I can listen to my
sea shell bells.
Some student examples are below:
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
Bees Say
by Devanta
1. A bee that's kind and careful
that says all the time buzz buzz
buzz that have big eyes
as a fudge bar that have buzz
buzz buzz
2. A girl bee that is big as a whale
that says all the time the roof the roof
the roof is on fire so buzz buzz
buzz!!!
3. An old woman that was a bee bee bee
who said all the time that James
Brown is something that said
get on up get on up then after that
she says thank you thank you.
***
by Fardosa
Bang bang bang
is what I hear
drumming sounds
around the house
mailman humming down
the street, children
playing, laughing, growing
peacefully across the street
in my neighborhood. I am really bored but I
am glad to see and hear
these things today.
***
In the Pool
by Justine
When you are in the pool
you hear splash and boom
you hear laughing ha ha ha
then we go under water
and we make bubbles
you hear a pop pop pop.
When we go around in a crowd
we make a whirlpool you
hear it swooshing around water.
***
From Mr. Aivizian's class:
***
by Daniela
When say ring to
house-my aunt
dog-woof
ring-house
meow-cat
whisper-person
chime-mom
Shh-I
***
by Charmaine
The ding-dong show me it is a door bell.
The shhs show me how to be quiet.
The bang show me stop banging on my door bell.
Whisper show me you got to whisper in people's ears.
Woof like a dog barking at people and other cats.
***
by Warren
When someone rings
the door bell to come
to visit I let them in.
I love when the door bell goes
ding dong. It sound beautiful.
The people like to ring the doorbell.
And that's how the doorbell goes
ding dong.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class:
***
Ching
by Sasha
I listen to the ching on the grandfather
clock...ching! Every hour...ching!
The chinging and ringing from the
pendulum. It is almost annoying but
then it stops and I hear a piano. It
was coming from the attic. I go up and
it stopped and I fell into a coffin. It
was over.
***
My Day in the City
by Loreyn
Hear the water in the sea, splash
splash, splash.
And the air in the sky woosh
woosh woosh
In the sea friendly sharks please
don't make the fish as a dish.
Cars in the city, pretty pretty but if
they crash dump, dump, dump.
Stars in the sky very very light then I wish
for a dish so I can eat tonight.
***
Splish splash bell
by Nathaniel
A well by the sea shore
the crab stole my sea shells
The shells sound like the bell of the
something sea floor
When the crab fell I got
back my shells
Now I can listen to my
sea shell bells.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Hope, and other things with feathers
This week at Belding, students read Emily Dickinson's Hope is the thing with feathers, and discussed Dickinson's personification, vivification, of hope. We explored the concept of personification, discussed its potential within a poem, and its uses to a poet as a tool of communication. Students responded to Dickinson's example with their own poems that gave human or animal attributes to an emotion. Some student examples are below:
from Mr. Merrill's class:
Happy
by Arnel
Happy looks like a yellow chick
learning how to walk
happy is a little chick cheeping
light sounds
happy is like a chick jumping.
***
Joy is the thing with fish
by Karim
Joy is the thing with fish
that searches for planktons
and that swims with its
lovely tunes and never stops
at all. Its fins are soft
as fluffy hair.
***
An elephant's anger
by Caleb
Anger has a tail. Anger has tusks.
Anger is in a circus
act.
And anger's name is
an
Elephant!
***
from Mr. Aivaizan's class
***
by Warren B.
Crocodile is an angry big animal.
He bites people's legs. He has blood
under his teeth. He eats somebody's
stuff. And he stomps his feet on the floor.
He also swims in the lake. And that's how
a lot of things when a crocodile gets angry.
***
Hopes was a bird
by Christopher
Because they had a lot of feathers and they eat
lots of fruit and berries and they also
fly at any single tree to land on it. The birds
were very beautiful and they had colors
on its feathers and that was
a hope for the person.
***
by Charmaine
Hope is I want
to go back
and live
with my
mom.
Hope is
scared
of
my
Godness.
Hope.
Hope is joyful
to me.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
Gale, the Strong Wind
by Katie G.
Gale, the strong wind always
whistles in the cold, rough afternoon.
If you make gale angry he
will try to destruct everything.
Horrible he is, horrible he always
will be.
If he calms down he is
as sweet as a bird
and makes the sun
shine like a beautiful shining firefly.
***
Love is a thing with hope
by Michelle
When you love
you hope she
or he likes you
and love is when
you like someone
a lot, and when you
love a animal
of hope
gets in you forever
and if he or she likes
you the animal of hope
gets in her or him.
***
Bored
by Rianne P.
"Bored" is the thing that sleeps throughout the
day. Just hangs on the tree, and
sleeps, and sleeps. It's all quiet
and it is night. As the jungle
sleeps the sloth just swings back
and forth on the tree. When
the sloth wakes up it goes back
to sleep. As the "mighty" plays and
hunts for prey the rest of the
tigers just watch and stay.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
Happy
by Arnel
Happy looks like a yellow chick
learning how to walk
happy is a little chick cheeping
light sounds
happy is like a chick jumping.
***
Joy is the thing with fish
by Karim
Joy is the thing with fish
that searches for planktons
and that swims with its
lovely tunes and never stops
at all. Its fins are soft
as fluffy hair.
***
An elephant's anger
by Caleb
Anger has a tail. Anger has tusks.
Anger is in a circus
act.
And anger's name is
an
Elephant!
***
from Mr. Aivaizan's class
***
by Warren B.
Crocodile is an angry big animal.
He bites people's legs. He has blood
under his teeth. He eats somebody's
stuff. And he stomps his feet on the floor.
He also swims in the lake. And that's how
a lot of things when a crocodile gets angry.
***
Hopes was a bird
by Christopher
Because they had a lot of feathers and they eat
lots of fruit and berries and they also
fly at any single tree to land on it. The birds
were very beautiful and they had colors
on its feathers and that was
a hope for the person.
***
by Charmaine
Hope is I want
to go back
and live
with my
mom.
Hope is
scared
of
my
Godness.
Hope.
Hope is joyful
to me.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
Gale, the Strong Wind
by Katie G.
Gale, the strong wind always
whistles in the cold, rough afternoon.
If you make gale angry he
will try to destruct everything.
Horrible he is, horrible he always
will be.
If he calms down he is
as sweet as a bird
and makes the sun
shine like a beautiful shining firefly.
***
Love is a thing with hope
by Michelle
When you love
you hope she
or he likes you
and love is when
you like someone
a lot, and when you
love a animal
of hope
gets in you forever
and if he or she likes
you the animal of hope
gets in her or him.
***
Bored
by Rianne P.
"Bored" is the thing that sleeps throughout the
day. Just hangs on the tree, and
sleeps, and sleeps. It's all quiet
and it is night. As the jungle
sleeps the sloth just swings back
and forth on the tree. When
the sloth wakes up it goes back
to sleep. As the "mighty" plays and
hunts for prey the rest of the
tigers just watch and stay.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Dream narratives
This week, Belding students read Tom Pickard's poem Valentine, and discussed its dream-like sequence of events and quick-cutting shifts in image and viewpoint. Students were then given three words apiece, and asked to write a poem that somehow connected them into a single work. The students found some wonderfully inventive ways of connecting seemingly disparate objects into a single and unified whole. A few student works are posted below.
From Mr. Merrill’s class:
By Arnel
A blue shell wrapped
in an orange quilt it
fell from a tree the
forest had clean grass
and had less trees and
light came through.
***
The Nice Snack
By Sadie C.
I am drinking tea and eating a fruit salad. Writing
a letter and listening to the radio. The pen sprayed
ink on me. Now I have to take a shower. I feel fresh and I
am going back to writing my letter. I found out why the
pen sprayed me. It was an old pen. I bought a new pen
and went back to writing
to my friend Lily and drinking
my green tea. The radio
was now playing jazz.
***
Dreams About a Forest
By Michael D.
I made a joke
about a mirror
inside a forest.
The forest has a mirror
in it because someone
put it in there.
The joke is about a forest
mirror. There
are also two
spiral trees.
***
from Mr. Aivazian’s class
Valentine
By Chris W.
When I go to the library, I feel a
violin and I touch it. When it was
Valentine’s Day, the cupid shoots
the arrow for the people
who love it.
***
My Family
By Daniela
I eat melon with my family and melon is
green and orange and so sweet and delicious.
One day my mom and dad gave
so many jokes and next we play always with
my dad.
***
By Zachary
I saw a pool it
was green and I saw
a crown in my house
that is inside the
pool.
***
from Ms. Navrocki’s class
Spark Ocean
By Ahlam
The ocean is like spark more than
curtains. The curtains fly above the
spark ocean. The ocean is deep and
you go down you can see flying sparks.
I am in the ocean it flies me back
out spark curtains now flying. The
curtains tie me like a rope. I try
to run but then I don’t escape. Scrap scrap scrap
the ocean sings with terrible joy.
***
by Shanon
Once about a car
there was a rock star
and it was a button
with glasses and ears.
He fell down from the tree
and busted his head, he
cried until
his rock star
mom sent him
to bed. She wore
bifocal glasses
and a bee in a belt pocket.
***
Bell ringing, spiral, and napkin
One day I heard a bell ringing. I went
to see. It was a spiral. When I opened
the spiral, I saw a colorful napkin on it.
I saw words. The napkin said “sleep sleep sleep
with me.” I heard something ring. Not a phone a
bell. I went upstairs to my sister’s room. My sister
had a bell. She gave me a spiral. Then she
told me to open it. I saw the words napkin,
bell, and spiral. My sister asked if it was her napkin and
spiral. I laugh.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Inside Narratives
This week at Belding, students read Charles Simic's Stone, and used it as a starting point for their own poems exploring an imaginary narrative--a narrative of a space they'd never before encountered. The students were prompted to write a poem that, as with Stone, takes place inside a common object, and posits what a human experience might be inside the object. Some wonderful examples are below:
from Mr. Merrill's class:
***
The Dollar Bill
by Grace K.
Go inside a dollar bill.
It is a war in here.
Guns firing left and right.
People fighting for their
lives. At the end one
President stands. That
President is on the front
of the dollar bill.
Go inside a dollar bill.
***
Sea Shell
by Jordan B.
Go into a sea shell.
That would be my way.
Let somebody else become a robin
or a pool of water.
I'm glad to be a seashell
lying on the sand in the windy beach.
From the outside, the shell is a mystery.
You could hear the ocean blowing.
When you go inside a shell, it gets smaller and smaller.
It is a very smooth room that curves when you step back.
Kids putting the shell near their ear,
children collecting pink, orange and white seashells
fishers pick up fish with me beside them as the shell.
Being inside a shell is so wow.
***
Into Me
by Caleb S.
When I go in my body I see blood, organs and
veins. Miles and miles of blood cells. The blood
cells are bouncy, gooey, and slushy. And
I see my brain. So weird just so disgusting.
***
from Mr. Aivaizan's class
***
by Warren B.
I was in a tree. The squirrels live
there. They eat nuts. I went in there so they can
share them with me. But all the nuts were gone, so
we went outside to get some more. The nuts were so
high up on the nut tree. So we jumped to pick them.
Then we bring the nuts back inside and eat all
night.
***
by Daniela
I was little, everything was big. For example,
the notebooks are so big. If I put my jacket on, I
can enter into the jacket it is so big. I can
not enter my house because I am so little so
I am not tall to enter and cannot go anywhere
for example to my bed and see the tv show
to sleeping.
***
Going Inside a Ball
by Jocelyn R.
Inside a ball
is green and yellow
I see black
I am alone
I hear a bird
My mom is there too.
from Ms. Navrocki's class:
***
In a Balloon
by Jose M.
In a balloon, if you were in a balloon
someone could let you go and you
could land on Texas, New York, Los Angeles,
Canada, or my country, Mexico.
***
Inside a Clock
by Rianne P.
I go inside a clock
that's what I say
as I go to sleep
the clock will
wake me up with
its ticking. As the
dark, scary clock
hands move, I'll
hide in a number.
The number one will
be the first, because
it is the best.
As the people
move the clock
they give my
house an earth
quake. When they
shake me, my
numbers will move.
When a baby
will drool on
me it's like
a very rainy day.
As people look at
my clock, they see
me moving the hands.
When people change
my clock batteries
the clock will give
me time to sleep.
When the clock
is on they will
crush my time to sleep. When
I go to my
vacation clock
it's even better.
Just because
it is gold, warm
and even cozier.
It's hard to get
to an alarm
clock, because
of the time.
***
The Fruits
by Gloria V.
An apple:
I got in an
apple and I have
no idea how
and when but
I really want
to see what
that noise it.
A grape:
Wow! That is
so cool I
see seeds
dancing with
their partners.
An orange:
Now I am
in a different
room and I
see an engine
with all the
fruits going
in the back.
A peach:
Now I am
in a completely
different room
with pink
things with
eyes, feet,
mouths, noses,
fingers, and
all the other stuff.
A strawberry:
I am in a
strawberry now
because a strawberry
is my favorite
fruit but now
I am with
my friends and
family
and I love
all fruit on
my paper.
from Mr. Merrill's class:
***
The Dollar Bill
by Grace K.
Go inside a dollar bill.
It is a war in here.
Guns firing left and right.
People fighting for their
lives. At the end one
President stands. That
President is on the front
of the dollar bill.
Go inside a dollar bill.
***
Sea Shell
by Jordan B.
Go into a sea shell.
That would be my way.
Let somebody else become a robin
or a pool of water.
I'm glad to be a seashell
lying on the sand in the windy beach.
From the outside, the shell is a mystery.
You could hear the ocean blowing.
When you go inside a shell, it gets smaller and smaller.
It is a very smooth room that curves when you step back.
Kids putting the shell near their ear,
children collecting pink, orange and white seashells
fishers pick up fish with me beside them as the shell.
Being inside a shell is so wow.
***
Into Me
by Caleb S.
When I go in my body I see blood, organs and
veins. Miles and miles of blood cells. The blood
cells are bouncy, gooey, and slushy. And
I see my brain. So weird just so disgusting.
***
from Mr. Aivaizan's class
***
by Warren B.
I was in a tree. The squirrels live
there. They eat nuts. I went in there so they can
share them with me. But all the nuts were gone, so
we went outside to get some more. The nuts were so
high up on the nut tree. So we jumped to pick them.
Then we bring the nuts back inside and eat all
night.
***
by Daniela
I was little, everything was big. For example,
the notebooks are so big. If I put my jacket on, I
can enter into the jacket it is so big. I can
not enter my house because I am so little so
I am not tall to enter and cannot go anywhere
for example to my bed and see the tv show
to sleeping.
***
Going Inside a Ball
by Jocelyn R.
Inside a ball
is green and yellow
I see black
I am alone
I hear a bird
My mom is there too.
from Ms. Navrocki's class:
***
In a Balloon
by Jose M.
In a balloon, if you were in a balloon
someone could let you go and you
could land on Texas, New York, Los Angeles,
Canada, or my country, Mexico.
***
Inside a Clock
by Rianne P.
I go inside a clock
that's what I say
as I go to sleep
the clock will
wake me up with
its ticking. As the
dark, scary clock
hands move, I'll
hide in a number.
The number one will
be the first, because
it is the best.
As the people
move the clock
they give my
house an earth
quake. When they
shake me, my
numbers will move.
When a baby
will drool on
me it's like
a very rainy day.
As people look at
my clock, they see
me moving the hands.
When people change
my clock batteries
the clock will give
me time to sleep.
When the clock
is on they will
crush my time to sleep. When
I go to my
vacation clock
it's even better.
Just because
it is gold, warm
and even cozier.
It's hard to get
to an alarm
clock, because
of the time.
***
The Fruits
by Gloria V.
An apple:
I got in an
apple and I have
no idea how
and when but
I really want
to see what
that noise it.
A grape:
Wow! That is
so cool I
see seeds
dancing with
their partners.
An orange:
Now I am
in a different
room and I
see an engine
with all the
fruits going
in the back.
A peach:
Now I am
in a completely
different room
with pink
things with
eyes, feet,
mouths, noses,
fingers, and
all the other stuff.
A strawberry:
I am in a
strawberry now
because a strawberry
is my favorite
fruit but now
I am with
my friends and
family
and I love
all fruit on
my paper.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Students at Belding spent last week's class selecting their favorite lines from their Chicago poems and re-writing them on paper destined for a bulletin board. The bulletin board is now up on the second floor--complete with student works from Mr. Merrill's room, Ms. Navrocki's room, and Mr. Aivazian's room, and with some lines from well-known Chicago poets as well. Stop by to see this ode to our city for yourself!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Chicago
This week marked the beginning of a two-week project at Belding Elementary. Students read Carl Sandburg's Chicago, noting the parts of the city that have remained the same, the parts that feel different, and how Sandburg's own Chicago narrative gives an idea of the places he knew, the places that compelled him to write. Students discussed the tone of the poem, agreeing that it was a powerful poem, reflecting a city of hard work and industry, inhabitants who had difficult lives, but lives that were not without hope. Students then wrote their own Chicago poems, with an eye to personal experiences, and with the understanding that these poems should focus on authenticity. These were to be poems that portrayed good or bad things about Chicago, taking a cue from Sandburg and using strong, accurate, and descriptive language.
Next week, the students will be putting together a bulletin board with lines selected from their Chicago poems. All are encouraged to stop by and see these words in a new context!
A small sampling of this week's work is below:
***
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
Chicago's parts of Mexico
by Jesus
Good food great color roses for the grave
Happiness sadness everywhere scariness everywhere
Clothes. Lots of Spanish everywhere
When you speak Spanish, it's cool. Mexico in Chicago
is the best.
***
Chicago Color
by Michael
The Colors of
Chicago are cool.
People wear colorful
clothes
There are also different
kinds of colorful foods.
***
Chicago
by Caleb S.
Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. Motors running. People
walking. Corn, cucumber, watermelon, mango and ice cream
stands. Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. Delicious pizza.
Chicago style hot dogs. Great restaurants. Chicago,
Chicago, Chicago. Lots of museums. Train stations,
bike trails and lots more. Chicago, Chicago, Chicago.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
Chicago
by Daniela
Chicago is my friends, teacher, family, music air. I
walk around the museum and I see the people and
I go to Navy Pier to see the clowns when it is
Halloween. Chicago is wonderful and one thing I
don't like is winter and snow but I like
summer and spring. Fall, I go to Chinese.
***
Chicago
by Christopher
Chicago is a place for people who want to
walk around in theatres and smell
in the air, because the sun is
shining in the air. Then also they
have shopping, dining, movie theatres.
I love Chicago, Illinois.
One day we saw cars, buses, trains,
planes.
***
Chicago People
by Jocelyn
I smell oranges
and air.
The dentist cleans my teeth
with water.
My house is nice.
When I am there,
I feel happy.
When I am there
my Mom and I
watch T.V.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
Chicago
by Lareyn
What's great about Chicago is clean places, snow
is coming and nice people unlike the Philippines. When
I first come here I'm very cold cause in the Philippines
it's hot, but sometimes I didn't like here because
there is a T.V. show and I see bad things. I really
like the malls. I've never been in such malls
like here, and also I like here 'cause I can snowboard.
***
The Way I See Chicago
by Amaris
Chicago in the summer
Your summer breeze and the sound
of Lake Michigan and it is a sweet day.
Chicago in the Spring
Your beautiful-looking flowers and your joyful
rainy days where I can play.
Chicago in the Winter
Your cold snow we play in and Chicago's
ice skating rinks and Grandma's reason
to make hot chocolate.
You have bullies. Doesn't matter and
your nature of people doesn't matter.
Chicago
Your buildings and lakes your fish
and your people make us a nation.
You have a big heart
always. Chicago you're the greatest.
***
by Zak
The land hard as
a truck of steel
the land of free government
service
the lands where
buildings stand high
the land of taxes
and big bills
the land of the
free and citizens.
P.S. Don't forget the people
that border this state from Canada.
Next week, the students will be putting together a bulletin board with lines selected from their Chicago poems. All are encouraged to stop by and see these words in a new context!
A small sampling of this week's work is below:
***
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
Chicago's parts of Mexico
by Jesus
Good food great color roses for the grave
Happiness sadness everywhere scariness everywhere
Clothes. Lots of Spanish everywhere
When you speak Spanish, it's cool. Mexico in Chicago
is the best.
***
Chicago Color
by Michael
The Colors of
Chicago are cool.
People wear colorful
clothes
There are also different
kinds of colorful foods.
***
Chicago
by Caleb S.
Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. Motors running. People
walking. Corn, cucumber, watermelon, mango and ice cream
stands. Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. Delicious pizza.
Chicago style hot dogs. Great restaurants. Chicago,
Chicago, Chicago. Lots of museums. Train stations,
bike trails and lots more. Chicago, Chicago, Chicago.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
Chicago
by Daniela
Chicago is my friends, teacher, family, music air. I
walk around the museum and I see the people and
I go to Navy Pier to see the clowns when it is
Halloween. Chicago is wonderful and one thing I
don't like is winter and snow but I like
summer and spring. Fall, I go to Chinese.
***
Chicago
by Christopher
Chicago is a place for people who want to
walk around in theatres and smell
in the air, because the sun is
shining in the air. Then also they
have shopping, dining, movie theatres.
I love Chicago, Illinois.
One day we saw cars, buses, trains,
planes.
***
Chicago People
by Jocelyn
I smell oranges
and air.
The dentist cleans my teeth
with water.
My house is nice.
When I am there,
I feel happy.
When I am there
my Mom and I
watch T.V.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
Chicago
by Lareyn
What's great about Chicago is clean places, snow
is coming and nice people unlike the Philippines. When
I first come here I'm very cold cause in the Philippines
it's hot, but sometimes I didn't like here because
there is a T.V. show and I see bad things. I really
like the malls. I've never been in such malls
like here, and also I like here 'cause I can snowboard.
***
The Way I See Chicago
by Amaris
Chicago in the summer
Your summer breeze and the sound
of Lake Michigan and it is a sweet day.
Chicago in the Spring
Your beautiful-looking flowers and your joyful
rainy days where I can play.
Chicago in the Winter
Your cold snow we play in and Chicago's
ice skating rinks and Grandma's reason
to make hot chocolate.
You have bullies. Doesn't matter and
your nature of people doesn't matter.
Chicago
Your buildings and lakes your fish
and your people make us a nation.
You have a big heart
always. Chicago you're the greatest.
***
by Zak
The land hard as
a truck of steel
the land of free government
service
the lands where
buildings stand high
the land of taxes
and big bills
the land of the
free and citizens.
P.S. Don't forget the people
that border this state from Canada.
This is Just to Say
This week, students at Belding read William Carlos Williams' poem, This is Just to Say, and discussed the poem as both narrative and conversation. We talked about the tone of the poem, deciding that it might be apologetic, humorous, talkative, matter-of-fact. Students gave their opinions as to whom the poem might be written for, and where this poem might have been left to be discovered. After discussing, the class began a writing assignment based on the day's reading: create a poem that opens a conversation of apology, be it sad, humorous, or otherwise. Some examples are below.
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
A Letter to Mom
by Christon
by Jordan
Dear Mr. Merrill
by Devanta
***
by Shanon
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
A Letter to Mom
by Christon
I am sorry
I had ruined your career
This is a big problem
I will try to give you a present
The best present you ever had
I’ll give you a necklace.
I’ll try to raise money
So you’ll be happy.
If you buy me a present, it'll be a puppy.
***
by Jordan
I ate your
Oreo cake I
Bet you were
Going to eat
It for dessert
I’m sorry but
It was delicious
It was so chocolaty
And it melted in my
Mouth
Forgive me. I
Took the last of
The milk and
Enjoyed the
Cake and
Milk.
I’m sorry!
Dear Mr. Merrill
by Devanta
You are the best teacher ever
Funny sometimes, happy too
I love to see your
Happiness
And
Marley
Too.
Here
Are
Years
Of
The
Class
Room
Love.
***
From Mr. Aivaizan's class:
***
By Charmaine
For eating
Your chips.
I’m sorry
For cutting
Your shirt.
I’m sorry
For writing in
Your books.
***
By Chris
Dear grandma,
I’m sorry for
Breaking your thing.
Please forgive
Me. I can buy
A new one
And I will place
It for you.
I’m sorry.
by Jocelyn
Dear Mom
I’m happy
I’m mad and I’m angry
Because you washed my clothes.
***
From Ms. Navrocki's class:
***
Sorry for the Cookies
by Jose M.
Sorry for eating the
Cookies that were so yummy
Delicious and it tasted yummier
With the decorations. Please forgive
Me. I will make more this Christmas.
***
by Shanon
I have a
Friend she
Is a big person she
Walks around
Not making
A sound but
In my heart
She feels like
She is
What she is to be.
That’s why
No one can step
Over her.
***
by Ahlam S.
I’m sorry for
All the fights
We had they
Weren’t so
Important to
Be said. I
Always think
One of the days
We play. I
Wish I can
Go to the
Past and
Play that
Game.
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