[LIT] "I Am" Poem

[Carole Hurlbut]

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