Watching the Paint Peel Off the Ceiling

I have been lying around for the better part of the last two weeks watching the paint peel off my ceiling.  What can I say?  I lead an exciting life and it's not often that one could actually claim to be watching the paint peel off the ceiling but in this case, it's the truth.  I give you exhibit A...

the ceiling above my bed.  I had a bout of malaria which had me in bed for four days last week.  Then wouldn't you know it, I had to return to my prone position to ward off another round of something which included more fever and a nasty cough.  Needless to say, looking at this ceiling is getting rather old so I'm distracting myself with a silly poem...

 

and a little list of things for which I am thankful.

• a neighbor that is a nurse and a friend
• friends that bring me drinks, meals, medicine
• texts, calls and facebook notes from friends who care
• being able to listen to sermons and Christian radio online
• thermometers :)
• a good book like this one to read when I've actually felt up to reading
• a great teacher's assistant who has been willing to teach for me
• God's word that puts everything back into perspective
• and last but not least - silly poems!

Does It Have to Be?

(British Columbia)

 

Does it have to be covered in snow to be majestic?

 

(Niger)

 

(The Bahamas) 

 

Does it have to be wet to make you want to dive in?

(Niger)

 

(South Carolina)

Does it have to be full of leaves and color to capture your attention? 

(Niger)

 

(Wyoming)

Does it have to go down in a blaze to take your breath away?



 (Niger)

 

Does it have to be vibrant and full of life?

Or is there a singular beauty in the starkness of this land? 

 

 

What West Virginians Do

We loaded up the truck

 

 

Cause that's what West Virginians do.

 

We rode the hills

 

 

Cause that's what West Virginians do.

 

We took along our visitors

 

 

Cause that's what West Virginians do.

 

We counted deer, spotted turkeys and looked for other wildlife lurking

 

 

Cause that's what West Virginians do.

 

But then, we got a few funny looks.

 

 

They made us stop and ponder,

 

 

"Is that what West Virginians really do?"

 

"Come to think of it," mentioned the only one born & bred,

 

 

"Perhaps that's not what West Virginians do!"

 

Ah, well. Not to worry.  We've made a good many memories. 

 

 

And that, no doubt, is what West Virginians do!

Boring They're Not

Let's hold hands,

Run, jump,

Kick up the breeze,

And float away!

***In the interest of full disclosure, this was really our teacher's idea.  We don't know why but she seems to be obsessed with jumping pictures...probably because they are good for making up tall tales about us.

Put Something In

It's been back to school this week after two weeks of break.  Before the break I was thinking about where to head next with my students in Writer's Workshop and I was reading this awesome free book which inspired me to tackle poetry for only about the third time in my teaching career.  I have a fascination with it but I'm intimidated by it at the same time.

Since the First Graders join my Second Grade Class for Writer's Workshop, I decided that we needed to begin with exposure. So we spent the first day reading and exploring all kinds of poetry books.  Then we came together at the end of Writer's Workshop and made a chart recording what we had discovered about poems - some rhyme, some don't, they are short and usually have capitals at the beginning of each line, etc.  Some of the students chose a poem they really liked and shared it with the class.

On day two we read the poem Skimble-Scamble (from R is for Rhyme) and Put Something In (from A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein) and we talked about how poets have permission to play with words - to enjoy the way they sound and maybe even make new words up.  I had covered the tables, desks and walls with paper and I invited them to spend the time reading again but this time to collect words that intrigued or inspired them, words that sounded serious or made them laugh.  They loved this!

The next day I used the poems Pencil Sharpener and Ceiling both by Zoey Ryder White to talk about how poets try to look at everyday objects in new ways.  Then I sent the kids off for the first time to try their hands at writing poetry.  It was great!  Some kids tried using the words they had collected the day before.  One student wanted to write about the fan but he said he couldn't hear it very well so I turned it on high and then he went to town and wrote this poem.

Thursday night, I decided to get in on the action.  The shoe picture I posted inspired me and I wrote this:



I shared my poem on Friday and then I let my poets go outside if they so desired.  The trees and rabbits directly outside our classroom inspired these two little gems.

Leaves

I think when

The wind blows

The leavs run

Away from the

Trees runing dashing

Till the wind stops

Usually I leave spelling alone but this poem is so great I'm fixing it for ease of understanding.

The Runt Rabbit

Little runt rabbit!

Little runt rabbit!

Little runt rabbit

Hungry little runt rabbit!

Runt rabbit, stop eating

I am hungry too

I'm a runt like you!

I love the way these ones are exploring.  I hope that in one way or another all of my little writers will be able to experience the joy of putting something in...

Put Something In

By: Shel Silverstein

Draw a crazy picture,

Write a nutty poem,

Sing a mumble-gumble song,

Whistle through your comb.

Do a loony-goony dance

'Cross the kitchen floor,

Put something silly into the world

That ain't been there before.

Field Day Celebration

Cheering Nation

Unification

exhileration

eyes on the destination

determination

frustration

no disqualification

relaxation

adoration

time for celebration

Santa's Vacation

Santa was passing through today on his vacation.

 He gathered his friends and admirers for a little sack revelation.

 Then it was off to climb the slide.

 But as his tummy was extra wide,

 he needed help from every side.

No method was left untried.

 Until finally, he ascended

and did a dance that's been just a little upended!

Psalm 23

Good Shepherd,

You provide wholly.

You lead peacefully.

You renew daily.

You guide righteously.

You follow closely.

You protect carefully.

You prepare abundantly.

You honor undeservedly.

You pursue lovingly.

You are...

My Good Shepherd.

This is how we do it!

This is how we do it!
This is how we do it!

When the electricity is off
And it's raining
We're supposed to be learning
But the lights are off

This is how we do it!
This is how we do it!

Go out on the porch
With our books in our laps
Listening to the rain
As it tap, tap, taps

This is how we do it!
This is how we do it!


Don't even ask what inspired me! My poetry/song writing ain't good but it sure is fun. :) Got pictures but they won't load tonight.

Ode to Ice

Cold and crunchie,

Best little munchie,

Oh how I miss you ice.

I'm so sad.

That my tooth went bad.

Now all because of a drill

And just a little fill

I can't sit back and chill

or experience the thrill

of a sweet little,

crunchie little,

icy little cube.

Well, let's just say poetry has never been my strong suit! :) Only something very important like ice would inspire me to bless the world with my juvenile poetic efforts.

A Great Quote

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

– Audrey Hepburn

An Important Post

"Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate on it!"

After being silent for so long, I thought I should post about something really important. I saw this comment at the end of a mass e-mail and I have to say I'm in total agreement. :)