Last 2007 Poems

So for the last poems of this year at Charles Kozminski, I split classes into two by having the 8th graders write using a specific theme: Sometimes and having the other classes write poems about lessons. The sample poem by Mia Washington, was a great poem that was simple, and included a lot of emotions about the dark side of being a pre-teen. In the response poems I asked students to write either an individual or group poem with whatever theme they wanted, but to use Sometimes repetitively in the poem.

Here are some response poems:

"Sometimes"
Briana H.

Sometimes the world is spinning for me.
There's love on one side
and hate on the other side.
Love is loyalty, determination and faith.
Hate is depression, peer pressure and alone.
Sometimes your love depends on you
and then melts you down.
Sometimes my happiness get ahead of me and then I feel ashamed.
Sometimes my love and hate is ...and the air
I can't feel nothing.
Sometimes even though I feel hate
or love I love myself
and sometimes...is all I feel.

(c) 2007 by Charles Kozminski Academy
All Rights Reserved

I plan to post new year poems in January 2008. I wish you and yours a very lovely holiday season. Be safe!

Pam Osbey
Artist-In-Resident
Poetry Center of Chicago

Kwanzaa: What's It's All About?

Posing such a question, to all of my classes this year has been very interesting. Using student work has it's pros and cons. Sometimes students write really well on this topic -- and other times they do not. The student I am highlighting today is one that is very consistent on her writing and she thinks deeply about the subject and her response is always well thought out.

The theme of last week's lesson was Kwanzaa, self reflections, using the free verse poem format. Joi H. wrote her own version (a self-declaration of sorts) which I feel should be a celebration. All of this from a 8th Grader.

You Better Believe It
Joi H.

On my knees, I pray every day "Lord help me..
guide me...help me find my way."
I have my beliefs, my Imani, my faith.
I have my Nia, there's no time to waste.
I have self determination, I know you see it.
I'm gonna be someone and you better believe it.
I have Umoja within the life with my friends and family.
And they help me through the day in my Imani I believe.
Ujima, Collective work and responsibility.
With all that 's happening you better believe it.
The world is an example of those things I speak.
If I didn't have Nia, then it would be weak.
But it has stood strong for a long time.
Another example would be me, the baddest dime.
I have lots of creativity, I have unity.
I have Nia, I have Imani, listen to the rhymes I spit.
I am the baddest dime and you better believe it.

(c) 2007 by Joi H.

After reading this I felt, the heart of this poem (and the pen) lies with the heart and the oozing personality and strength of one black literary warrior. Her words tell a powerful story and I'm sure your heart is now listening.

Pam Osbey
Artist-In-Resident
Charles Kozminski Community Academy

5 Ways Poems!

I based today's lesson on the "13 ways to look at a Black Bird" poem; but instead, I chose to focus on 5 ways to see, or do something. This is the fourth week of class so I felt like it might have been a great poem to use but not with all grades. Today's lesson was more receptive to the 8th graders and the 2nd graders. The 4th graders did not respond to the lesson as I thought, however they did write. Not all lessons are created equal. But at least I have a few poems to share that are of value.

5 Ways to Play Basketball
Latisha B. - Collins-Jones, 8th Grader

I
The sounds of people
screaming my name
when I hit the buzzer shot

II
Popping 3 pointer and lay-ups
every game

III
The sound when you shot from a
far distance and
the net goes
"swoosh"

IV
The bones that crack when you
break someone's ankle

V
The crowd cheers
at the end of the game
for my good skills


5 Ways
Quenturha E. - Forsell, 4th Grader

I
An ocean waves going up and down

II
See them

III
Love them

IV
They go high. They go low.
They are good.

V
They are in Canada

3 Ways
Chrishon B. - Forsell, 4th Grader

I
The sun rise from the east
and shows off the mountain.

II
The snow covered mountain
is the beautiful mountain.

III
It gives the mountain its shape.

Stars
ImaniNia, Sims - 2nd Grade

1
I like to watch the stars at night
in my bedroom.

2
When I need to go to sleep
I look at the stars.

Watch the Sunset
Ryan S. - Sims - 2nd Grade

I drink kool laid
the sky is yellow and orange

Next week: American Poems

Thanks for reading!
Pam Osbey
Artist-in-Resident

Ology and Spooky Poems

I used my own work and the work of a Saint Louis Native to generate this week's work. Students in Collins-Jones class and I discussed "Pen-ology" written by Floyd Boykins, Jr. Within this poem, themes of using the 'pen' in two different ways are discussed. The poem is a look at the study of the physical pen (writing tool) and the pen (jail) -- students really loved the poem and instantly connected to the assignment, which was to create an "ology". With the lower grades I used Halloween Haiku's to inspire the work in Sims and in Forsell's classes. I know I create a lot more work for myself as an artist, but sometimes, using the same poem for all classes does not work. Plus I need to be excited as well. Anyway, read the poems below and enjoy the artistry of these young writers.


Valencia worked real hard on this one:

Halloween is Fun
It is scary and do not
forget your costume
-- Valencia B, 2nd Grade (Sims)

Mummies are fun too according to Ariel:

Mummies are coming
Mummies are dancing with me
The witches made soup
-- Ariel T, 2nd Grade (Sims)


With the direction of the Ology poems, I told the students to write two different "ology" definition at the end of their poem as well as try to paint the picture like Boykins did in his sample poem.

Me-Ology
Terri H. - Collins-Jones (8th grade)

This is the study of me.
My feelings and my dreams.
I am Terri D. Hall
I am powerful
I have emotion
I am self confident
I am beauty and destiny
I have story that should be told
A part of me that no one knows..
Dark secrets, dark secrets
darker than black
They shall not be revealed
I am not perfect but I strive to be
I am spirit
I am life
I am the child of Angel
Faith, Star, Love, Spirit, Strong
Glamorous, Winner and Believer
describes me
Me-ology - Study of Dominant self
Me-ology - the study within
Me-ology - the study of Terri D. Hall

Food-Ology
Karla B. - Collins-Jones (8th grade)

Taco's with extra tomatoes
Chicken with garlic potatoes
on the side
Dreaming of dancing cupcakes in your head
Cheesecake with strawberries overflowing on top
Ribs with tender and flavorful meat
Oh how much I love Gyro's with extra sauce and met
Oh how much I love Food-ology
Food-ology - the Study of Food
Food-ology - the study of new food creations

Forsell's class has some previous writers from the HOS program -- so I get them two years in a row. This young lady (below) is a roll over from Ms. Louis's 3rd grade class. She loves words as you can see here:

Haikus
Loretta H. - 4th grader

Spiders are the worst.
Spiders crawl everywhere.
Spiders are really gross.

Costumes are very sweet.
Costumes are really fashion.
Costumes are greatful.

Another Veteran here as well:

Haiku
Chrishon B. - 4th grader

This is Halloween
Haunted houses is scary.
With cemetary.

Denea is a budding literary star. She wrote four haikus. Here is one delightful one.

Haiku
Denea B. - 4th Grader

Vampires eat me.
This day is very scary.
Witches ride the brooms.

If you want to write haiku's, try this. Find a subject you like and write down the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on a blank sheet of paper. Now, count out each syllabic count for each line. Your first line of the Haiku should be 5 syllables, the 2nd line should be 7 syllables and the last line should be 5 syllables. Not sure how to count the words? See below:

Word Count
The one syllable
Lovely two syllables
happiness three syllables

You get it right?

Now go ahead and do a Haiku.

Leave comments about any work in the comment section!

Thanks,
Pam Osbey

Welcome Back

This is my third year at Charles Kozminski Academy and starting off as one of the best. I am teaching 2nd Graders (Sims), 4th Graders (Forsell) and 8th Graders (Collins-Jones). What I find very interesting is the level of interest and enthusiasm with the students. Going into my third week I am excited about the school year and since this is MY ELEMENTARY school (Class of 1982), its a great feeling to have such support from the front office staff, Mr.Bordelon and Ms. Ruge, the MCLT. So far, I do have to stay that the classes are flowing well.

The first two weeks focused on Eloise Greenfield's (I Remember and By Myself) poetry along with Maya Angelou (Still I Rise) and some memory poems. This week's poem will be poems using Imagination.

Here are some samples from classes thus far:

I Am
Iesha W.
(Collins-Jones, 8th Grade)

I am a black mixed girl.
I am a good singer.
I am a black thick girl.
I am an independent girl.
I am bossy.
I am sweet as a rose.
I am mean sometimes.
I am a worshipper.
I am the type of girl that likes it my way, or no way.
I am a leader.
I am miss lady.

I Am
Rashida B.
(Collins-Jones, 8th Grade)

I am lyrically right in this world of song.
I'm never wrong.
I'm a blessing to life, who light shines bright.
I'm always right.
I'm a beat that flows all day long.
I'm never wrong.


As I Rise
Briana B.
(Forsell - 4th grade)

As I am stepping on the hill
I rise with the sun
The sun is reddish yellowish
I didn't know what it was
I was scared because it is big
I didn't know what it was...

I Rise From Art
Yazi F.
(Forsell - 4th grade)

I used to be so bad at art
I did not like that but I got better at it
I see now I rised
Now I can enjoy my self
I can draw what I feel
No one can stop me
from believing myself
So just back up....
because I have risen

Memories from Ms. Sims class:

I Remember
Tiffany S.

I remember that I was walking to the park
I remember that me and my little sister...
I remember that I was a little baby.

I Remember
Joshua H.

I remember my girlfriend Brianna.
I remember my toys.

I Remember
Trevone K.

I remember when my snake bit me
but it did not hurt
I began to get sleepy for a little bit
but for my Mom that was a bit

Please check back for more fabulous poetry by the students at Charles Kozminski Academy!

Pam Osbey
Artist In Resident
Poetry Center of Chicago