I Am From

During our poetry unit in English class, I was able to teach my 5^th graders about “I Am From” poems.  This poem follows a certain template that allows you to explore your childhood, favorite memories, family traditions, your culture, and your dreams. Observing 5^th graders expressing themselves, and taking pride in their family, culture, and community, is something I will never forget. 

I engaged my students by reading my own “I Am From” poem.  They were so interested in my own childhood and where I grew up.  I think I spent about 10 minutes explaining why my hometown is nicknamed “Pretzel City USA” since ¾ of the class had never heard of or seen a pretzel before.  The common response, “Mizz, that is weird.” Yes, I know!

I am from Pretzel City USA

From skinned knees and homemade slip and slides

I am from terrace sunsets and late nights with best friends

I am from the two pine trees planted in honor of my grandparents

These trees

Whose memories of love and life

will stay with me forever

I'm from Badger Game Days and Family Nights

From On, Wisconsin and exploring the world

From Mark and Mary Jo

I'm from daddy's little girl and Mamas best friend

From dream big and life's too short

I'm from "two wrongs don't make a right" and "never give ups"

From Grandpa as Santa Claus and Christmas Eve family dinners

I'm from St. Paul, Minnesota and strong Irish roots

From teaching,

Inclusion and tolerance

From family pictures on the walls

Of all our journeys we've taken together

And the moments yet to come

We then spent a lot of time discussing our own ideas and sharing our own personal stories revolving around these 10 questions:

       1)   Where do you live?

       2)   What is your house like?

       3)   Who are your family members?

       4)   What are your favorite memories with your family?

       5)   What are some of your family traditions?

       6)   What do you like to eat?

       7)   What do you like to do?

       8)   What gets said to you a lot?

       9)   What do you believe in?

     10)   What dreams so you have?  

They then began to write their own poems including their own ideas from the brainstorm.  We edited, peer edited, edited again, edited some more, and then finally wrote a finished draft. 

We celebrated our final drafts and shared them together in class.

What they created blew me away, gave me goose bumps, laughter, and brought many smiles to my face.

Below are exerts from their poems, and pictures/videos during our poetry corner celebration: 

I am from my little house with pink and white walls.

From riding horses and playing with my cousins.

I’m from one day giving my family a nice beautiful house, one my mom dreams of.

I'm from Copan Ruinas, where we have lots of beautiful memories.

– Naara

I am from Honduras, San Pedro Sula
I am from playing cars with my brother
I'm from the torrorid plant and my pet bird
From wanting to be an engineer and having good work
From Chicken Soup and delicious meat
I'm from hoping to have a family someday and going to the beach in Tela
All these memories are kept in a book under my bed
- Emilio

I’m from Copan and Mayan culture, from barbies and make overs.

I’m from a friendly house where you smell the fresh air and see the blue sky

I’m from Guatemala and wanting to be a doctor and save people. 

– Sara

I’m from the orange house and two dogs running around.

I’m from the banana tree and the roosters that wake me up

From “Do your homework!” and “Are you going to eat?”

I’m from wanting to be a teacher and being the best futbol player in the world!

– Edy

I’m from the praise of my mom,

and reaching my dreams.

I’m from believing in God and going to the U.S.A to study at Harvard.

From lasagna and chicken with tajadas

From building a house in Italy.

-Nahomy

I’m from calling my mom “Ma” and always saying “goodnight”

and believing in My big God.

I’m from always believing in my family.

From Santa Rose and wanting to be a big pilot.

– Roberto

I’m from the town with the ruins.

I am from “I Love You” and “Do your homework”

I am from Guatemala and having a dream to be an astronaut.

From cake and tamalles, wanting to be a scientist and making a robot.

– Fernando

I am from my parents protection.
  I am from a cultural place in Honduras, a happy place Copan Ruinas.
I'm from the coco tree that is very tall
and the rabbit that jumps into my house
From wishing to go to a university in the United States
and to be a gardener.
-Marilin

I am from Copan, where the animals are free.
From playing futbol in the street
I am from dreams of becoming a doctor.  

–  Hector

I dream that I have a big party for my birthday

and many things to eat, like chicken and meat

From being an adult and owning a mansion.

-Andrea

I am from Copan, a little town.

From riding my bike and playing soccer.

I am from the jungle surrounding my house and chickens running around.

I am from the mango and guayaba tree and the dogs that bark in the morning.

I am from going to my grandmas house,

from Jose and Carmen.

- Josseph

I am from the pulperia (small grocery store) that is in my house
and the smell of the lime tree

I am from the black birds that fly in the sky

 and the dogs near my house

I’m from Christmas dinner and New Year fireworks

From my mom Yesenia and my dad Hector

I’m from “I’m hungry” and “Give me money”

and believing in my classmates.

– Yhessy

I am from Copan, where summer never ends.

I am from the beautiful palm trees, roses, and the horses that eat our grass.

I’m from the empanadas we eat every Sunday.

– Yovanny

I am from going to the river on Semana Santa.

I am from “No salgas a la calle” (Do not go in the street) and “Me tragiste una cosita”

and traveling to a lot of places.

I am from the Catholic Religion.

I am from Copan Ruinas and buying a house for my mom someday.

From chilaquiles and tortegas, from wanting to go to Harvard, from eating empanadas after church with my cousins.

– Kensy

Just when I think my heart can’t handle anymore, my students remind me that it can. 

I am sure it is now understandable why Mizz Jenny was found crying uncontrollable tears during parent-teacher conferences when one of her students wanted to read her “I Am From” poem in Spanish to her grandma during her conference.  Seeing this grandma looking at her 5^th grade granddaughter with tears in her eyes and the strongest sense of pride bursting through her smile is enough reason for anyone to grab a tissue box.