American Dreams *Inspired by Langston Hughes*

"I, Too" poems were written on December 5, 2007 by the 5 and 6th graders. When I originally came up with the lesson, my plan was to have students focus on form, rather than 'a specific content'. But it was clear that when we read the poem by the reaction of the students, Ms. Williams (MCLT) and the teacher (Mr. Garland) that we could have a healthy discussion on America, What it means to be an American, and go back to a past period in African American history that was important to discuss, classism, racism, and individuality (with a tinge of self worth in the mix). Even though my other classes had different lessons, I had wished I taught the same lesson in all classes. The great thing about this specific class, was hearing Mr. Garland re-interpret this poem, since he is from the South and had his own feedback regarding this particular period in AA history and listening to Ms. Williams free verse poem she wrote. It was truly inspiring.

The First poem was written by a Student who almost always talks.
But this was a well focused poem that he wrote (and it knocked me out).

I, Too
Mark W.

I, too, Am American.
I am an American
That's why I get mistreated.
My people once were slaves.

Tommorrow all of the racism
would be gone.
Black people, caucasians
will get along.
All the time.
No more slavery.
No more mistreating me.

All the same qualities.
Get to vote.
Get to have freedom.
And also to have caucasian friends.
No more
No more
I will not get mistreated by caucasians
or no more racism toward me
just because of my color.

I, Too, Am American.

Montera normally speaks and lot in class. I sometimes call her the next "Oprah" since she loves to chatter so much. But she was focused and wrote well here.

I, Too
Montera C.

I, Too, sing America.
I, Too, do something America.
I, Too, am a dark sister of America.

I, Too, can make things of myself America.
I, Too, like America.
I, Too, love my family and friends in America.

I, Too, learn America.
I, Too, act like an American.
I, Too, America.
I, Too, America.

Domonique asks great questions while composing her poems and although her hand writing is very small (and I tend to have to get my reading classes to read and type her poems, I find her work insightful).

I, Too
Domonique W.

I, Too, Sing America.
I watch my family get looked up for things, they don't do.
They stare ate me in a very vicous way.
I am successful.

I, Too, Respect blacks and whites.
I, Too, Hope never to see racism every again.
I, Too, Learn as much as the brighter sisters and brothers.

I may be the darker sister
but I am still American.
I, Too, Am America.

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse of America through the eyes of our youth.

-- Pam Osbey

Something Special about "You"

I find "I Am poems" very fun and a creative process. Throughout my life, I've written several of these in my classes with students and on my own. Often when asking students to write this type of poem it can be overwhelming or challenging if students do not have a real clear 'picture' of themselves or have some self esteem issues. Also, it's a self reflective piece. One week ago I had two classes at Reed write their own. Here are some samples from Mr. Garland's class (with 5th and 6th Graders).

Untitled
Domonique W.

I am Domonique
I am very smart and listen
I'm good while I'm in school
but while I'm home I am a goofy girl who just likes to play
I am athletic
I like to play soccer, basketball and football
I am nice

I like lots of animals especially cats
I can sense when somebody is sad
I'd like to know if the world will be the same
in the world 4000
I am very playful
I am Domonique

I like Christmas where I get lots of presents
I like Thanksgiving
My Grandma cooks lots of pies
I am very curious about things
I am in the spelling bee because I like to spell
I am Domonique

What I liked so much is her use of repetition and that she gave us snippets of her self (personality, likes, and what she wonders about in the world / in her world).

I am Nikia
Nikia M.

I am Nikia and this poem about me.
I am Nikia and I like to go shopping.
I am Nikia and I go and get my nails done.
I see my friends at the mall.
I see my Mom at her job.
I see my Dad working hard.
I see my Brother working hard for me.
I dream of stars.
I dream of my family.
I dream of my Dad and Mom.
I dream that I was stars.

Nikia's approach is slightly different whereas she writes almost in a repetitive/chanting poem format. The feel (to me) is very authentic and real.


Pam Osbey
Artist-in-Resident
Walter Reed Elementary

Colors, Searching and Collaborations

Wednesday's classes were a literary gumbo of diverse themes and ideas. I chose to do three different arcs of poetry lessons that would address voice, tone, form, and themes of individuality, reflections, impossible things, and colors. The 8th graders discussed Tupac's, "What Is It that I Search 4", while the 5/6 graders completed collaboration poems about strange and odd questions and answers; and the 3rd Graders used their pens to paint some colors.

Color Fiesta
Detric S. - 3rd Grader, Tomlinson Class

It's the color blue and it's my favorite color.
Like the sky is blue
and green - that's the color of a dollar
and leaves.
And red that's my sister's favorite color.
And that's the color of a rose.
And gray, that's the color shirt I got on now.
And yellow is the color of the sun.
And blue it's the color of the river.
And orange it's the color of an orange.
And white is the color of paper.
And pink is the color of yogurt.
And black is the shoes I got on now.
Clear is the color of my uncle's car.
Purpose is the color of my sister's room.
And brown is the color of my mom's car.
And the dirt and dark brown is the color a crayon
and the color of my house.

Detric is a great reciter and he normally reads his poems every class period.

Untitled Poem
Vaughn F and Pam O.

When do pigs fly?
They take Southwest Airlines to Arizona on Fridays.
What is the sky made of?
It's made of popcorn, hot sauce, orange juice and water.
How can people fly?
They sit on the wings of little flies and bees.
How many stars in the sky?
5 Million little spiders times 5,000,000,000
Can you eat a dog?
Yes, you saute his body into little pieces, it tastes just
like fried chicken...

This lesson was taken from Kenneth Koch's "Wishes, Lies and Dreams". For the most part it worked well. The lesson pairs up students to write collaborations with others and to create impossible crazy questions and answers. It's a fun activity.

Things that People Search for
Carmen E. - 8th Grader, Lapota

I know what people search for
Some search for happiness
Some search for love
Some search for a place or position in the world

I know what people search for
Some search for life
Some search for joy
Some search for a place or position in the world

I know what I search for
I search for happiness
I search for joy
I search for a good life in
the middle of the world

Carmen is a consistent writer in Lapota's class. I expect to see more great work from her and the others in the very early morning class!

Please check back weekly for more work by these students!

Pam Osbey
Artist-in-Resident

What About America?

This is the question, I posed on Wednesday morning for the 8th graders in Lapota's class. I wanted to see what they felt about America? Likes? Dislikes? Suggestions for improvements? I used a free verse poem called, "America" written by a seventeen year old writer from the teen anthology, "Make Some Noise!". At first I wasn't sure this was going to work, as you know it's an early morning class. And I am asking them some deep questions when they just rolled out of bed. The poem generated a lot of feedback on our government, and the stance of the speaker in the poem, who some thought lost a family member to war. The tone of the poem was more in a questioning, melancholy way, and the students did relate with this poem about how they felt about certain things in this country they felt needed to be changed.

But fortunately for me, they did 'get it' and after the initial brainstorming, here are a few poems I got:

What About America?
Carmen Emanuel

Some parts of America
is good and some is bad
But most of all there are more bad things
that happen in America
The guns, so many people get killed by gun fire
Up to about 5,000 people get killed everyday in America by guns
Someone needs to stop all the fighting also
So many people get killed in fights
Someone needs to stop the madness and stop killing people
I see this sign too much and people is still doing the same thing
I just want people to stop killing!!!

Dear Reader
Danielle Swain

The sorrow of many hearts in America
crying out to the Heavens for peace
Why
Why must the cries be so loud
It's almost like America is burning
Praying for peace
Dying for peace
The liberty statue shall fall
and all the sea will dry up
and people, thousands of people
will fade away
Bringing new life into the world
Then maybe
Maybe the sun will shine again
Rebirth is brilliant, isn't it?

To America
Reginald Radford

So many deaths
so little time
how can you stake claim
when the one in charge
is the reason for these deaths?
A ruthless leader is what we
have
taking after his father...
Thank God
we still stand
Because with the rulers of today
Thank God we
Still stand...


Check back next week for more fabulous work by the writers at Walter Reed Elementary.

-- Pam Osbey

Early Start....

Yes, that's right, I am teaching an early residency. At Walter Reed, an Early Start school in Englewood, I have to step in the class by 8:15 AM for my first class. Yes, I know what you're thinking..."Isn't that interferring with your poetry sleep time?" No, not really. I get up at 6 AM any way or before sometimes. This school has been a wonderful blessing. One, the students are soo excited when I get there, it's like I"m at home. Secondly, the staff treats me well, including the principal and MCLT's (Thanks Everyone for making me feel at home), especially Camille Williams my onsite liason! I am doing collaborations with Mr. Garland (5/6th graders), Ms. Lapota (8th grade) and Ms. Tomlinson (3rd grade). It's been very fun and exciting.

We have spent the first two weeks on poets that I love - Nikki Giovanni, Eloise Greenfield and a few others.

My question on the first week was: who do you love and why? We read Ann's poem by Nikki Giovanni and used her poem as the basis for our dedication poems. Please enjoy the poems below they came from the heart of the students...

My Mom
Johnny J. - Tomlinson (3)

My mom is fluidity
My mom is nice
My mom is so beautiful
My mom can sing
My mom...so full of love.
Moms are so beautiful

Dad
Sha'Juan H. - Garland (5/6)

I have lots of fun with Dad
My love goes to my Dad
Because he buys me
everything...
He lives in Wisconsin
I visit for the summer

This outstanding poem, reminds me exactly of the sample poem by Nikki Giovanni. One because the writer (Torriana C. used the same format of the poem and I didn't ask for it, so it was done naturally and great as a pattern). Secondly, because Torriana used the same transition that Nikki G. did in the sample poem.

I love the passion of the words. They felt warm to me and very genuine.

My Poem
Torriana C. - Lapota (7/8th grade)

This is a poem for my Mom
so it has to be great
it has to be fun
it has to be terrific
This is a poem from my Mom
so it has to shine
it has to be strong
it has to be important
This is a poem for my Mom
so it has to be happy
it has to love
it has to take risks
This is a poem for my Mom
let it express
let it see the world
let it sing and dance
This is a poem for my Mom
so it is full of passion


Please check back in a few weeks for more great poetry by the students of Walter Reed Elementary School in Englewood.

Pam Osbey
Artist in Resident
Poetry Center of Chicago