Technically Invisible

Recently, my @FourthGraders spent time in the schoolyard, writing free-verse poetry to add to their personal anthologies. All of our poetry writing to that point had been confined to the classroom, so their writing had become confined as well. Mother Nature beckoned to us, so we packed up our white boards, paper and pencils and headed out for inspiration.  With visions of similes and metaphors dancing in their heads, I scattered my 20 students around the side yard of the school to write.

I couldn’t help but notice how so many of my students struggled to sit and observe. How difficult it was for them to separate from classmates they work so closely with every day.  They really didn’t know how to sit and absorb their surroundings in a way that was enjoyable to them.   They were restless.  They were concerned about what others were doing. Some couldn’t sit. Some couldn’t stand in one place.  Some couldn’t be alone.

Here is the poem I wrote that day:

~~~

Seeking Poetry in the Schoolyard

“Spread out,
find a solitary space,
let poetry find you”

As I sit in the sparse shade of a newly-budding tree,
voices of Kindergarten recess rain on me like a summer storm,
rising louder and louder until individual voices become a song of sorts.
How is it that
the buzzing of a bee,
the chime of a church bell,
the song of a robin
can break through the symphony?
To hear? We have only to listen.

As for my students…
Some are as restless as fall leaves blowing across the park,
while others focus fiercely, share their dreams, write as true poets.

My wish for them is to find peace in the solitude of a quiet moment.
To notice the world beyond.
To think deeply.
To reflect honestly.

Some lessons can not be taught,
only shared and experienced.

I hope they learn.

~~~

Louis L’Amour says ” “Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.”  My students are always ready and waiting for “what’s next” instead of enjoying “what’s now”.  While I understand anticipation can be inherently exciting, mindfulness can be as well.   Though they enjoyed being outside, their poetry didn’t reflect their enjoyment.  During our next poetry lesson, we talked about how important it can be to sink into to the task at hand.  We  were creating parallel poems for Mother’s Day, and I challenged my students to spend some virtual time with their moms while writing.  When you are writing for your mom, nothing else should matter – and your writing will reflect that.

Our inspiration poem was Think Like a Tree, a poem written by Karen I. Shragg from the book The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science and Imagination.  We wrote poems entitled “Think Like Mom”, which I believe reflect my students improving ability to be mindful:

Think Like Mom
By Lillian

Sleep in late, it’s your day off
Kiss us goodbye
Wave while the bus drives away
Sip your coffee slowly and think about yesterday
Ponder us
Share your ideas, you know they’re great
Save a flower
Believe in yourself
Hope for a sunny day after a long winter
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Work like a bee (sometimes!)

Be still long enough to
Embrace the smell of sweet-scented flowers.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Abbey

Take no shortcuts, as the hard work passes
Get ready for the not-so-normal day
Challenge me so I succeed
Count on others when you’re feeling gloomy
Treat everyone like you would like to be treated
Work hard and give the effort
Try to feel the wonderful breeze
Do whatever it takes to find your dreams.
Look up at the heavenly stars as you and I drift off.
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Feel so alive!
Be still long enough to
hear the peepers outside on the porch hammock

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Jackson

Jog with me together
Support me when I’m in trouble
Feel free to laugh out loud
Be proud of every day’s work
Admire life how it is
Inspire in me to do amazing things
Cheer me on at all my games
Unwind and rest in your bed
Remember the amazing times with us
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Remember, you’re the queen, not the maid
Be still long enough to
realize you have breakfast in bed

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Chloe

Enjoy a balanced life
Relax yourself and admire the world
Savor every moment and breath you take
Express everything you do with enthusiasm
Create bravely and happily
Have faith in the ones you cherish
Adore all the things you do
Admire yourself and the people around you
Be a star because we need you, too
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Smile like you’ve never smiled before
Be still long enough to
Hear the cricket chirping in the afternoon.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Anna

Laugh and sing out loud
Feel free to live your life
Stay true to who you are
Adore your beautiful family
Remember memorable memories
Believe in your dreams
Inspire others to do the right thing
Help us when we need it
provide more than you receive
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Dream Big
Be still long enough to
Have peace and love in your heart

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Ashley

Enjoy all of my gifts
Remain calm
Pick me up when I am down
Share your gifts, you’re smart and funny
Be proud of yourself
Make sure we are always safe
Be the best that you can be
Love Avery and I always
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Take care of Avery and I
Be still long enough to
Let me give you a kiss

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Tyler

Support your very own child
Dream of their future
Inspire your child to do great things
Ask them how their day was at dinner
Try to teach them what they can’t learn
Be careful on what you hold back
Love your children with all your heart
Give your children good names
Worry for your child’s safety
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Take them on sea glass hunts
Be still long enough to
Hear your children’s secret talks.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Hadley

Be proud of yourself in everything
Help me accomplish challenges
Lie down and rest sometimes, I’ll take care of you
Be the change you desire to see in the world
Show the most affection
Teach me the ways of life
inspire me to do amazing things, like you did
Adore me and our family; you always do
Be yourself, everyone else is taken
Emerge Renewed at the first signs of dawn
Remember, you’re the queen, not the maid
Be still long enough to
Hear me saying “I love you”.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Adam

Do nice things for me and others
Encourages me to get my dream job
Yell and cheer at my games and events
Dream
Cut hair better than anyone
Go bowling with me
Love me every day
Take the dog for a walk
Relax at night time
Emerge Renewed at the first signs of dawn
Be the best mom I could ever have
Be still long enough to
Hear me make a mess and the dog bark.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Kayden

Laugh when you’re happy or cry when you’re sad
Cook meals like no other
Love the little things; they matter most
Cherish precious moments, they only come so often
Look on the bright sides of life
Make the most of the situation, no matter how difficult
Hug us when we’re feeling down
Teach us on our journey through life
Be the person that you are and never change
Emerge Renewed at the first signs of dawn
Get ready for another day in this great world
Be still long enough to
Realize your greatness!

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Taytum

Have faith and love in your heart
Feel the breeze when you wake up
Like to bake delicious cookies
Go sea glassing with family
Laugh and sing out loud
Never stop exploring
Run and jog with no fear
Have care at all times
Believe in yourself
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Wake up and stretch
Be still long enough to
Relax and drink hot tea.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Charlie

Stay home with Lyla all day
Still don’t quite know how you do it,
Make us dinner all on your own
Outline a great life
be these not the only things you do
Drive me to auditions
buy me food, and you love me
Make your favors accumulate
do not forget them
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
feed the family, eat, sleep, repeat.
Be still long enough to
Hear Lyla and I laugh.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Rose

Open your window and hear the birds chirp
Believe that you can fly
remember that your dreams come true
never stop exploring
have love and care in your heart
express yourself
have success in the effort
live, laugh and dream
always be yourself
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
stay deeply rooted and reach for the sky
Be still long enough to
hear the bees buzz.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Nicholas

Make me breakfast, it’s always good
Believe in me
seeing you makes me smile
work out at the gym
Say I’m going to be a football player
Go to Papa Gino’s with me
Help me with hard homework
Care about me
Wouldn’t want a different mom
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
like who you are
Be still long enough to
Sit outside and hear birds chirping

~~~

Think Like Mom
By Yolanda

Be sympathetic to most things
Urge me to practice my ukelele
Prepare the most delicious meals
fold the laundry perfectly
Calm me when I’m crying
Conceal my book (secretly) to get my attention
Preserve a deep regard towards me
Laugh out loud when hilarity reaches your ears
Dance no matter how strange it is
Give me the most creative ideas
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Drift toward your dreams around 11:00
Be still long enough to
hear the paired tunes of “tears for Amalia”
drift from my ukelele

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Paige

Think about me
Make breakfast, lunch and dinner
Help me up when I am down
Turn people’s frowns upside down
Plant in the garden
clean the house
love me every second
relax all day
wash all of the clothes
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
go to the store
Be still long enough to
hear me coming home from school.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Kaylynn

Make every one feel good
Works fabulously with other people
Helps me with hard homework
Loves having people over and having fun
Dream as big as you can
inspire little kids to be who they want to be
enjoy your morning coffee
go run around and have fun
be who you want to be
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Dream until your dreams come true
Be still long enough to
Notice great things around you.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Tony

Smile when I tell you jokes
biking with you is amazing
learn math as I learn math
love me 24-7
buy me wonderful foods
watch scary movies with me
take me on long walks
share your soup with me
dream of me
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
let me sleep in
Be still long enough to
hear me saying “I love you”.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Brady

Remember on Wednesday to pick up Brady
Inspire your kids
Help them with homework
Bring me to Wendy’s
Cherish every moment with your kids
Support your kids in rough times
Share your wild stories
Encourage your kids to try new things
Dream Big
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Whisper to your son “I love you”
Be still long enough to
hear “I love you, too”.

~~~
Think Like Mom
By Jack

Dances with a dress
Zooms through the air with her hair
Be prepared to be loved
Make me feel better
Speak like a charm
Be a teacher, don’t be taught
Be nice or the Kissy Monster will kiss you
Be talented and beautiful
Care for me
Emerge renewed at the first signs of dawn
Say “good morning!”
Be still long enough to
Stand next to me, not behind me.

We’ve been working on our calendar… here’s the latest version: