Category Archives: poetry

Where I’m From – Teacher Edition

poetry, Reflections on teaching

Where are you from, Ms. Gabriel?

I am from right after purple dittos
I am from transparencies, overhead projectors,
vis-a-vis markers
I am from a TV wheeled in,
vhs tapes, filmstrips even
I am from a desktop computer,
taking students to the computer lab
I am from clip art, ClarisWorks, AppleWorks, Intaglio
until none of it worked
I am from quickmail, email, make sure you check all the mail
I am from colored cards of standards
bookshelves full of resources
chart stands full of seasonal songs
written with Mr. Sketch on manilla tagboard
I am from interdisciplinary units
Land of Make Believe
Voyage of the Mimi
Lesson plans copied by hand into a steno pad
I am from painting, coloring, cutting and gluing
I am from Stinky Cheese Man and the Math Curse
The birth of Harry Potter, and later
Hunger Games and Twilight
I am from workshop and choice and
students should have a voice
Do I even have to mention
I am from, of course, differentiation
I am from having time for real learning
I am from childhood is a journey not a race
I am from Y2K and even decades later,
I am from the songs from my childhood
like the one Whitney Houston sang the year I was born
I am from I believe Children are our future

It’s April, I’m writing poetry. Today inspired by the prompt on Ethical ELA: Where I’m From Again

Write from Scars not Wounds

poetry

We watched Fiddler on the Roof tonight
I knew all the songs because you used to sing them
a long time ago

Memories are fine
a scar not a wound

When Golde and Tevye were singing
Do you love me
I wondered
Is it better to love then not
or to not then love?

Wondering is fine
a scar not a wound

It was a High School production
their closing night
the seniors cried at curtain call
I probably cried at my senior curtain call

Crying is fine
a scar not a wound

***

It’s April! I’m writing poetry! Today’s inspiration comes from Ethical ELA Scars

Grouchy

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice if part of the Tuesday Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing as many Tuesdays as I can. Thanks for stopping by! It’s also April! That means poetry. Poetry is my favorite.

I tried to research a grouchy poem format. But, I couldn’t find one. So I decided to make my own. It could work with other feeling words, I’m sure. But right now I am very grouchy. Don’t take it too seriously though, writing it was fun.

I am feeling grouchy
and that rhymes with slouchy
which makes sense, especially when I’m
sitting on the couch-y

I am feeling grumpy
and that rhymes with frumpy
which makes sense, especially when its
all so Trump-y.

I am feeling irritable
and that rhymes with uncharitable
which makes sense, especially when life
isn’t really editable

I am feeling snappish
and that rhymes with brattish
which make sense when happy
seems to vanish

I am feeling bitchy
and that rhymes with witchy
which makes sense when days
make me so twitchy

I am feeling snarky
and that rhymes with malarkey
which makes sense when life
ain’t really a party

More hummingbirds, please

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Coincidence or not, I don’t know. But, I’ve been asking my friend Mardi for more signs. It’s been awhile since she’s sent one, and I read a book about asking for signs, so I asked.

Hummingbirds.

“More hummingbirds, please.” I think that’s how I said it.

I mean, it might have just been me thinking, “Hummingbirds” and then thinking about her rolling her eyes at me… Because hummingbirds is crazy for March, and Mardi loved to roll her eyes at me.

“Come on, Mardi.” I thought in her general direction – up I guess, right? “Take on the challenge! I mean, if any spirit can show a hummingbird sign in March, it’s you. I have faith.”

I tried to be patient – forgot about my request for a bit and then the other day I thought about it again, wondering if maybe I was asking for a ridiculous thing.

Then today it was time to return a cart of poetry books that our kids had used. I hadn’t looked at them in awhile, and the other class had sticky noted them. So I needed to take the sticky notes out before returning the books. I mostly just took the sticky notes out without paying attention.

But then I opened one of the books to the sticky noted page, and there were the hummingbirds. The poem was sad, and also about something that has been on my mind.

I read the poem, snapped a picture, and whispered, “Thanks, Mardi.”

For some reason I didn’t take a picture of the book this was in, but I will try to find out. I think it may have been from a book full of hummingbird poems!

Spring Break Reset

poetry, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

We went back from spring break today.
It was also a two-hour delay.
As I’m learning, breaks from school make us forget.
Procedures need reviewed,
we need a routine reset.
I get it, I do.
I need a reset too.

But, even though I’m not
surprised
it’s hard not to
roll my eyes.
Like, can I be more blunt?
A line is where someone’s behind you,
and
someone’s in front

I’m sure you will agree
There’s not that many good reasons
to interrupt me
and please, in general
pick a better time
a non direction-giving time
to sharpen your pencil.

I’m glad you are done, or
think you are done
(or are wondering what you are supposed to do)
or need some one on one.
I know waiting is tough,
you’ve had enough.
I get, I do.
I need a reset too.

Fib Fun! How Fantastic.

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Alright. Let’s try some Fibonacci Poems – or “Fibs” as they are called here.

I’ve decided to write my Fibs as fibs. For a little extra fun.

Fib Fun! How Fantastic.

Spring
Break
is done
tomorrow
We had long enough
No need for any more resting

****

My
dog’s
barking
brings me peace
In his sudden noise
I find inner quiet so well

***

One
Small
untruth
is just fine
Nobody needs trust
Stop glazing authenticity