Thank goodness for a day off! I'm writing this on Thursday afternoon because school is closed in honor of Rosh Hashanah so I'm doing my best to catch up on my "To-do" list.
This week I'm sharing two more students poems that were modeled after Janet Wong's poem "Another New Year" published in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School. Reading my students' poems taught me about their hopes and dreams for the new school year.
Knowing their interests also helps me choose texts for my classroom. I'm saving these poems to use for another activity. At the end of the year, they'll write another poem and compare the two to see if their interests have changed or remained the same.
You can read more about the writing activity I used with my students here.
Another New Year
Another new year:
another new start.
I'm thinking I should
take a drawing class.
And try out
for basketball.
and not be so shy
meeting new people.
For fun I could learn
to play an instrument.
(Pull friends into
an band club?)
Our drawing club
is meeting today.
I guess I could join.
I'd need to practice
coloring again.
This is the year
I want to get all A's!
-C.
Another New Year
Another new year:
another new start.
I'm thinking I should
dye my hair blue.
And try to read
a whole book for once.
and not dress
like the 80's.
For fun I could learn
how to change my look.
(Pull friends into
a fashion show?)
Our theater group
is meeting today.
I guess I could join.
I'd need to be cool.
This is the year
to be awesome!
-V.
