Category Archives: self-portrait

23

Jan. ’12

Self-Portrait

Young man -4 - 2005

Image via Wikipedia

When will it be my turn? When

will I have the last supper with the

rest of my family and loved ones?  When

will I have to face my enemies and

tell them, “I am ready to die and give

myself to the world.” When will I take

a stand?  When will I realize that I

must stand up for what I believe in,

despite how others may feel.  Am

I ready to die? Everyone lives their

life, day to day not thinking of how

to make their world better throughout

the day.  Do I want to study fashion?

How will going to Morehouse make me

happy?  What should I do today to

make myself happy? Why do I sing?

Who loves me? Why am I a social

whore? Why is it so hard for me to

cling to one person? Why do I suck

up? Why am I a hypocrite, am I

a hypocrite? Who am I? What is my

purpose in life, when will I

discover it?

By Andre, high school

Posted by . Categories: poetry, self-portrait, student, writers in the schools. Leave a comment

19

Aug. ’11

Reasha’s Song

These kids REALLY can dance . . .

Image by Lady-bug via Flickr

I like when the sun rises in the East to

get me out of bed. I like how the cool

wind blows on my face. I like when new

flowers open and bloom in the morning. I

like reading encyclopedias. I like serving

food to my family on Thanksgiving. I like

playing with my baby cousin. I like

cheering for teams I want to win.  I like

planning parties. I like the smell of

summer air. I like the season of spring.

I like dancing in the night under the stars

and I like moving to music. I like doing

other people’s hair. I like how flowers

and doors close at night. I like how my

family loves me. I like the way the moon

puts me to bed when it’s dark and I’m sleepy.

by Reasha, 3rd grade

Posted by . Categories: family, Holidays, Houston, memory, nature, poetry, self-portrait, writers in the schools. Tags: , . Leave a comment

11

Aug. ’11

My Heart Reminds Me

My heart reminds me of the time
when I saw a baby crying for its mommy’s milk.
My heart is filled with black nights with bats all around me.
My heart reminds me of the time I first learned to walk.
My heart is filled with red hearts telling me to follow my dreams.
My heart reminds me of the time I first tasted ramen noodle soup
and said, “It’s hot!”
My heart is filled with daisies that smell wonderful.
My heart reminds me of the time I first touched paper.
My heart is made out of pictures filled with happiness.

By Sierra, 2nd Grade

Posted by . Categories: food, memory, poetry, self-portrait, writers in the schools. Tags: , . Leave a comment

11

Jul. ’11

Self and Other: Writing Biography

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu together in the pilot ...

Image via Wikipedia

Writing biographies is fun!  Many children love researching the lives of people that they admire and then producing mini-books about them.

I’ve also found that children respond with delight when they use the 3rd person to describe themselves or write the biography of imaginary characters!

Here is an example of a boy whose autobiography was predictable and mundane (I am 9 years old.  I have one sister.  I like Pokémon), but his biography (based on an interview he did with himself) is clever and full of voice.

Adam wants to be a college professor when he grows up because they make more money than teachers.  He knows a lot about science and animals (did you know a cricket uses its teeth to chirp?).  He loves to go to school because he gets to learn about things like magnets (did you know the cow magnet is the strongest of the weak magnets and it only has to be 3 cm away from metal to attract it?).   In his free time Adam likes to play Pokémon.  He likes that they have mysterious powers (did you know that some Pokémon’s contain electricity in their cheek pouches and when they get too much they are magnetized?).  Adam’s favorite book series is Diary of a Wimpy Kid because it’s so funny.

By Adam, 3rd grade

Third person gave Adam the distance he needed to see what makes him unique and wonderful!

by Marcia Chamberlain, Writers in the Schools

Posted by . Categories: books, homeschooling, humor, inspiration, Lesson plan, self-portrait, student, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: , . Leave a comment

26

Apr. ’11

Where It’s Quiet

I come from
the dog that barks
in my neighbor’s backyard.
I come from
the noise of the hurricane
in 2008 when
many things were
crushed.
I come from
the clouds
in the middle of the sky.
I come from
a tree in the middle
of the world
where it’s quiet.

by Jonathan, 2nd grade

Photo by angus clyne via Flickr

This poem is featured as part of the 2011 A Poem A Day campaign, a National Poetry Month celebration by WITS that features a different poem by a WITS student every day during April. Click on the logo to learn more.

Posted by . Categories: animal, national poetry month, nature, place, poem a day, poetry, self-portrait, writers in the schools. 1 Comment

05

Apr. ’11

Child of the First Daughter and the Last Son

Washed-out Memories

I am from the pink ribbons,
the hot delicious coffee.
I am from the back deck.
I am from the purple roses,
the beautiful blue lake.
I am from the traditional everyday home-cooked meals
and the stubbornness that runs in my blood.
My parents are the first daughter and the last son
So I am from the respect your elders and don’t talk to strangers.
Still, I am from a less than pious family.
I am from the blue waters and spicy shrimp and greens —–
I am from Casper the ghost and winter —o.k.
Summer trips to the beach.
I am from the black long box containing childhood pictures of my family and good memories.

by Kasy, 7th grade

Photo by KaroliK via Flickr

This poem is featured as part of the 2011 A Poem A Day campaign, a National Poetry Month celebration by WITS that features a different poem by a WITS student every day during April. Click on the logo to the left to learn more.

Posted by . Categories: family, memory, parenting, place, poem a day, self-portrait, writers in the schools. Tags: . Leave a comment

21

Mar. ’11

To the Future

If you are my future you should know
when I was 5 years old I thought I
would be a doctor or when I was 12 years old
I thought I would be a psychologist.
You remember how I expected my birthday
to be celebrated but it wasn’t and how
I wanted to stay in California and have
a bike. You knew how I would look when
I grew up and how I had to have
glasses and braces and sometime feel
awkward. You also know that if I could
ever turn you into a person that I
would make you into an old friend who really
cares. You remember that I felt horrible
and glum when I first got to this school.
You always knew that I could someday
write and paint, love balloons and
darts. You know the questions I would like
to ask you. You even know in five years
I’ll be in college painting and drawing,
studying psychology and medicine.

By Karina, 7th grade

Photo by twchoi11 via Flickr

3-year-old child's painting 2

Posted by . Categories: art, poetry, self-portrait, student, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: , . Leave a comment

10

Mar. ’11

A Dancer Is

stage door

A dancer is
not afraid
of a crowd
and is not afraid
to be on stage.
She is dancing
with all her heart.
She does not think
if people are saying
bad things. She
practices and practices
until she sees her-
self as a dancer.
She has long hair.
Her voice sounds
like an angel flowing
from Heaven, and
she is very tall.
She is afraid of
messing up, but
she dances from
her heart.

Nikki, 3rd grade

Posted by . Categories: art, creativity, poetry, self-portrait. Tags: , , , . 1 Comment

10

Jan. ’11

I Am a Poet

I am a poet.

I am a metaphor that makes you think.

I am a rhyme.

I am the romantic feelings that make poems divine.

I am love.

I am the golden harp.

I am the veins that push the beautiful words to my poem heart.

I am Parris, the poet.

I am Poetry.

I write poems with life and make you happier.

I am poetry.

I bring feelings to light with love and laughter.

I am a poet.

By Parris, 16

Photo by harold.lloyd via Flickr

Posted by . Categories: art, poetry, self-portrait. Tags: , , . 1 Comment

04

Jan. ’11

I Am Who I Am

I am my soul
I wonder about who I am
I hear noises from birds
I see a colorful eye from space
I am who I am
I want love to appear
I pretend to be someone else
I touch feelings in people
I understand myself
I am who I am
I say hello to family
I dream about me
I try to be a good person
I hope to live happily
I am who I am

By Emily, 4th grade

Posted by . Categories: animal, family, nature, poetry, self-portrait, writer. 1 Comment

17

Nov. ’10

My Freckles

My freckles are numerous
Some are dark like delicious chocolate
Some are light like sweet-smelling gingerbread
They’re fun-loving
Sun-loving
Happy, but scared of leaving

My lips are twins
Smooth and squishy
Like plump pieces of rosy pink salt water taffy
Risky geniuses
Loud and shy
Always trying new things

My earlobes are flimsy
Cruel and thin and squishy and selfish and pale
Hate earrings and piercings
But deserve all punishment
Useless slabs of skin
Nothing more

My hair, with many strands
The darkest on my body, changing colors
Care-free spirits, flowing around
Frizzy, crazy, fun
Most unique and special

By Emily, 6th grade

Posted by . Categories: art, creativity, poetry, self-portrait, writers in the schools. Leave a comment