How many people in your family?
She is in second grade; she said “one hundred.”
“One hundred people live in your house?”
I think she thought this was funny.
Two, she said.
You and….
Me and my mom and my sister.
That is three, I told her.
She did not argue long.
What does your Mom do? I asked.
She goes on the phone.
What does she do with it?
She texts her cousins and her boss and her mom.
But she doesn’t text her dad.
Why not?
He died in a car wreck.
Setting goals with a first grader.
What do you want to be?
A unicorn.
Okay. What steps will you take?
I will drink unicorn juice and move into a unicorn barn.
Two steps.
I say “easy peasy”.
He shakes his head ‘yes” agreeing with me
The guy began to give us instructions
Faster than speeding bullets
Faster than the FedEx man on TV
No one could have followed him
I gave up quickly,
Realizing his inability to teach
One brilliant sixth grader got it
He was the only one, but it was because
He read the manual
not thanks to the Fed Ex Man
Who was still yapping incessantly at them
I caught on that David had it, and begged
Him to help all the others
Which he did
A much better teacher
Than the blathering fast-talker
Who was being paid to be one.
He is eleven, big bright blue eyes, pale, unfreckled skin, lighter hair than most.
Not allowed to eat with other eleven-year-olds.
Due to past and semi-present behaviors
So he eats with the counselor, me.
Today during lunch his deepest of the deep voice came out suddenly.
THESE FRIES MAKE ME MAD.
I burst out laughing.
He is in a silly billy mood, not turned to me, but looking away.
I notice his cheeks are puffing up, in a happy way.
“You are not mad at all,” I tell him.
His smile gets bigger, but he does not reply.
He is relishing in the individual attention I give him.
Even more delighted when I call him out on stuff like this.
Showing him we are both lone wolves and fearless.
This is how a first grader’s day goes.
Six of them are at a table playing with Legos
Which is kind of the new less-messy playdough of today.
They are singing, of course, being happy.
“I’m building a house! I’m building a house!”
“Mine has a mouse! Mine has a mouse!”
“I have a rat in mine!”
“Hey, that is a rhyme!”
“Is not!”
“Is too.”
The competition is on.
“I have two rats in my house!”
“I have three rats in my house!”
“I have four rats in my house!”
The competition is on.
“I have five rats!”
“I have six rats!”
Always in order, for this is the first grade pattern.
Bed Time Story
Day already low --------------------------> Hazelle
Standing owl coo, coo in time ---------> Me
Waiting for a tale-------------------------> Hendrickson
Sun
Huge ball of fire ---------------------------> Hendrickson
It gives us light, heat and warmth ----> Hazelle
The window of bliss ----------------------> Me
Author's Note:
This is another haiku which I and my twins students made, they were really excited when doing these haikus :)
Monsoon yet to come -------> Me
If it has come, I will die!!! --------> Audrey - 4th grader
Poor little smell goat ---------> Me
Author Note:
I found out her verse is really innocent, peppy and a bit clueless, but still look hilarious though, so I decide to post it. She becomes addicted in Haiku since I asked her to battle with me after our lesson time was over. :p
*After the Haiku finished:
Me: Why Monsoon could make you die? (wondering)
Audrey: Because I cannot swim. (with innocent face)
Me: I thought you were afraid to shower by the rain, just like goats (she pouts)
Dear Michael,
As I sit daily in back of you
I find myself melting into my seat
I have noticed you are fairly new
I anticipate the day we formally meet.
I heard you moved here to live with your dad
And that you live on the block next to mine
I was hoping my note would make you glad
I admire your smile at lunch when it shines.
I want you to know that this class can get mean
Especially with those punks in the third row
I advise you if you join a sports team
They will stop their comments and respect you so.
Since the 8th grade dance is very soon
I was wondering if you had a date
I have English with you at a quarter to noon
Please write back I will certainly wait.
By: Sabina Nicole