I am Poem

This past week we began a lesson from Joann Portalupi and Ralph Fletcher's book Nonfiction Craft Lessons: Teaching Writing k-8 called "Writing Through a Mask". It is a lesson on perspective and creativity.  The mentor text I used was Sierra  by Diane Siebert.


Siebert writes, "I am the mountain..."(Which by the way...a great way to assess on understanding of landforms). Joann Portalupi and Ralph Fletcher say that the writers,  "..put on the mask of your subject and become that thing."

I meshed this lesson and a poem outline that my wonderful friend Lauren gave to me.

Some of the kiddos wanted to do their I am poem on themselves, and that was fine with me. Doing it from the perspective of another point of view can be challenging for some kids. I just wanted them to write and not feel pressured or forced to write something they weren't loving.

We began this on Tuesday before the terrible storms that ripped through, and we were out of school for two days. The kids came back in yesterday and wanted to get right back to work on this poem!

I am so proud of my babies! They have become very creative writers this year! Some of them are also very sensitive and aware of the world around them.

For example: One of my sweet darlins wrote: "I worry about the people in Alabama." (because of the tornados) I teared up and hugged her so tight when I read it.

This little lady told me afterwards that she meant to write, "I dream about talking TO animals." She saw what she put and said, "Whoa..."I dream about talking animals?!? That couldn't happen."

I smiled and agreed.

Here are some more pictures of their hard work.

My camera died before I could take more, but some of my kids wrote:

1. "I am a cat with an owner"

2. "I am a soccer ball"

3. "I am a dog who chases cats under tables"

4. "I am a fish"

5. "I am a dragon"

You can download the I am Poem rough draft I made by clicking the link below.

I am Poem

Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend!



Amanda