A REFLECTIVE AND LYRICAL LOOK AT YOUR PAST Where I’m From Poems Dr. Michael Cook Auburn University

What Works Introduces poetry or creative writing about the self Utilizes model texts and mentor authors Provides structure and scaffolding to writers Promotes classroom environment and peer relationships by spotlighting and valuing both similarities and differences

Gives voice to all students’ experiences and what they bring to the writing community Helps to break down writing apprehension Ultimately strengthens collegiality and conferencing in the writing classroom

A Model of “Where I’m From”

Prompts to get you started… 8 separate prompts 2 minutes per prompt Time to write

Prompt 1: List things you remember from around your house as a child 2 minutes End

Prompt 2: List things you found in your yard as a child. 2 minutes End

Prompt 3: List things found in your neighborhood (or relatively nearby your house) when you were young. 2 minutes End

Prompt 4: List names of relatives (these can be nicknames, pet names, things only you called them, etc.). 2 minutes End

Prompt 5: List old family sayings or sayings you remember from childhood. 2 minutes End

Prompt 6: List foods you remember from your youth (maybe these bring back happy memories, or maybe these are foods you only got at certain relatives’ houses). 2 minutes End

Prompt 7: List the places you kept your childhood memories (secret hiding places, places that weren’t so secret, just places to store important items, etc.). 2 minutes End

Prompt 8: List anything else you can remember from your childhood that stands out. 2 minutes End

My “Where I’m From” Poem Where I’m From I am from shag carpets That beg to be laid upon From matchbox cars and broken-in furniture To pass the lazy days of summer. I am from tomato plants Spilling red across the yard From tobacco fields Where character was born. I am from dirt roads and general stores And small town southern life From next-door neighbors Too far away to see. I am from Uncle Brother Whose name always confused me From Sawyer family reunions And country folk gettin dressed up. I am from “Rise ‘n Shine” Too early every morning From “I’ll give you something to cry about” And following through if you called their bluff. I am from spaghetti and french fries Which only made sense to us From vegetable soup That’ll cure anything that ails ya I am from photo albums Documenting life From boxes in the attic That prove I was here. I am from love A kind unparalleled From pride and thanks In knowing where I’m from. ~Michael Cook

Time to Write!! Use your responses to the prompts and compose your own “Where I’m From Poem.” Feel free to use either George Ella Lyon’s poem or mine as a model to follow. You may also go your own route if you feel so inspired. 15 Minutes… 15 minutes End

Additional Models:

What About Yours? Volunteers?

Takeaways Each of you has a voice Each of you has something to share Each of you contributes positively to this writing community Consider what you’ve learned about yourself in this exercise (e.g., comfort level in sharing your work; experimenting with the poetic mode; your connections to your peers) The language features you learn from reading and writing poetry carry over to other modes of writing and communication Thank you

Literature supporting the “Where I’m From” Poem: Bigelow, Bill et al., Rethinking Our Classrooms: Teaching for Equity and Justice. Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools, 1994, pp Blum, Joshua, Holman, Bob & Pelington, Mark (Eds.). The United States of Poetry. New York: Harry N. Adams, Christensen, Linda (1998). Where I’m From: Inviting Students’ Lives into the Classroom. Rethinking Schools, 12(2), pp