I went through this poem yesterday with my 4th-8th grade resource students yesterday. I did a similar kind of poem last year, but it was without the guides in parentheses.
I just have to share about the rough draft of one of my 8th grade girls. She totally got the idea! I wrote it on the board, and modelled my own poem as I discussed my picks. I had the kids fill out the paper, and then some got started on the computer to type theirs up. This 8th grade girl came in during her study hall to use my computer, and she had spend a lot of time working on it in classes. She asked if I wanted to read her rough draftthat she printed. I stopeped what I was working on during my prep period as I know she wanted an audience. She took the poem and focused it on her uncle who had passed away maybe three weeks ago. For a group of girls who will write their List and Squint ideas for writing on hot guys and what makes them hot, she impressed me so much. This girl took her hurt and pain, and wove her poem about her uncle and her internal thoughts and struggles. I was crying as I read it and a start again now! I can't even begin to verbalize the the happiness at seeing this ability and expression come from within her. Of course, I let her print an extra copy to take home and share with her mother. Come class this morning, there was another request to please let her print one more copy to share with her aunt. How does one even put a grade on this piece of writing? It goes beyond a letter grade. Then, one classmate of hers asked for a new sheet and tore up her sheet. She had to start from scratch. This girl lost her father just a year ago, and it has been a very difficult year. She is surfacing again as her attitude has lost its intense edge and she works harder. So she has read her friend's poem about her uncle, and crafted one about herfather. Granted, there are the similarities in thoughts, but there is a bonding and Ican only hope release of the grief each girl must be feeling and their fears. I never expected anything like this when I began yesterday morning! Carole Hurlbut Eastand Middle School _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
