For extra credit this week and up until Monday, you can create a concrete poem. A concrete poem, like those examples below, creates a picture by putting together lines of poetry in a unique, organized way. Poem should show more creativity than one created in 5 minutes.
Yesterday marked the start of our poetry and figurative language unit with our very first pre-test. Exciting, right? The excerpt above is one of my favorite quotes, as it suggests that sometimes taking a new path may be very rewarding.
To help us start off our poetry right, I am challenging my students to submit or respond to this post with one of their favorite poems or a favorite piece of their favorite poem. Please keep it short as others may want to post their poem as well. Remember, extra credit is given for many things in class, and also is given to students who respond to blog postings. Write on! As a huge comic book fan, I was flipping through a magazine and found this comic- like picture, where the girl is thinking, "I'm intimidated by the fear of being average" . This is a common feeling for people who don't try hard enough or quit easily because they're scared. Bullying does add to this as 'Being a nerd' is not always a good thing among younger people, even though 'nerds' usually are the most successful in their future careers.
So, to personalize my room to make it OUR room, I am asking any and all students to bring in comics, pictures, or home-made drawings that will make our classroom a more comfortable environment where bullying and negativity is not allowed. These pictures could share a feeling you have had in your life; they could show positive messages and help your classmates. It's up to you! The example I posted shares a personal thought I have had when I was younger and even recently. As a recent new teacher to Kennedy Middle School, I went through countless interviews and applications, where plenty of other people were competing with me for only one spot. My resume, my teaching experiences, and my education were all judged in comparison to other people, and I thought, "I can't just be average, or I will never succeed". And in the past, when I was rejected for jobs, I felt average and that is a feeling that is always unsettling for me. So, to avoid this feeling, I had to motivate myself to think more positively about my situation. I had to think that I was better than other applicants when applying for jobs. Even though this may be 'over-confidence', I believe it and work hard everyday to make sure I prove it to myself. Throughout this upcoming school-year, I will be a better teacher than other teachers and will work harder than ever to prove it to everyone, including myself. Remember, you are better than average, and I believe in you....now, it's up to you to prove it to yourself. |