What We Know

Today we read "Ballade" by Francios Villon. We talked about how we know things--how sometimes we know a whole thing by its parts. Or sometimes what we know reveals what we don't know. The students wrote some great poems. Take a look!


Ms. Cole 6th grade


I Know
Keegan O.

I know Chicago by its huge buildings.
I know spring by its flowers and sunny days.
I know sleep by its dreams and nightmares.
I know my mother by her voice when she calls me.
I know the parents by their children.
I know the land from the seas.
I know love from hate.
I know everything but the fear to move on.



I Know
Pierre M.

I know my mother by her smile
I know Rahkeem by his laugh
I know Ms. Cole by her walk
I know my brother by his walk
I know death when I see it
I know everything but my grandmother.

I know my friends when I see them
I know Antonio by his run
I know my mom when she calls me
I know my mom when she is
in a good mood or bad
I know everything but my grandmother.


I Know
Daveon J.

I know limes in Malibu
I know a dog by its ears
I know my TV by its color
I know y PS2 by the controller
I know my school by the auditorium
I know Super Jim’s by the people who work there
I know Ms. Cole by her glasses
I know everything but if I’m going to be
a billionaire


Ms. Harris 6th grade


I Know
Malik. T

I know crying by its tears
I know the orange by its color
I know morning by its sun
I know Medusa by the snakes in her hair
I know Pandora by her box
I know my grandma and the way to Vegas


I Know
Marquis S.

I know learning by the report card
I know feelings by the way you act
toward other people
I know a dog from its smell
I know when I’m near water
because of the way it starts to get cold.


I Know
Rayumos H.

I know my bike by
its brand
I know the rain by
the thunder
I know my mom by
the snoring
I know the music
by the songs
I know the clock
by its ticking
I know the sharpener
by its shavings.


I Know
George G.

I know my dad by his beard
I know a monkey by its tail
I know a zebra by its stripes
I know fire by its glow
I know Zeus by his thunderbolt
I know an angel by its wings

Ms. Kessinger 6th grade


I Know
Johnny B.

I know Chicago by McDonald’s on every corner
I know spring by the rain
I know Rae by her socks
I know my mom by her laugh
I know my room by my floor
I know my friends by their attitude
I know how to read because of books.

I know love by the touch
I know trees from buildings
I know John Hay from McNair
I know Chicago Ave. from North Ave.
I know everybody loves me
because I’m me.


I Know
Dawn H.

I know Keyonna by her walk
I know the winter by its snow
I know room 303 by its door
I know my teacher by her hair
I know when the sun comes out
I know a park by its swings
I know when a bus passes
I know when my dad is coming
I know everything but myself

I know when it is summer
I know when something bad is coming
I know when something good is about to happen
I know everything but myself.


I Know
Moesha T.

I know my mom when she is mad.
I know her by her size.
I know Ms. K. by her walk.
I know Rae by her voice.
I know Johnny by his laugh.
I know everything but myself.

I know Shaquita when she is happy.
I know streets when it is noisy.
I know Ms. Van by her smile.
I know spring when it rains.
I know everything but myself.

I know my friend Marissa when she’s silly.
Cynthia when she’s mad.
I know everything but myself.

So many summers

Today we read "Knoxville, Tennessee" by Nikki Giovanni. We talked about the music in this poem, and how it painted a vivid picture of summer in one particular location. I asked the students to write about their favorite season in a particular place. Like Giovanni, many of the students like summer best. See their work!

Ms. Cole 6th grade


Summer
Markeesh M.

I like summer because you get to go
out and play and get wet with
all of your friends and eat lots of
ice cream sandwiches we can
stay outside late and we don’t
have to go to school we get
to go swimming and riding
our bikes we get to jump rope
and play we get to eat water-
melons, freeze pops, oranges, cherries,
snow balls, icy cups I get to
eat a lot of good food and fruits
in the summer you can go
to the zoo and see lots of animals.



Memphis
Jameena S.

Summer, I like summer because
it is hot and you do not have
to wear a coat, boots and
hot pants. I like summer because
I love to eat the cold, sticky
ice-cream, you have no school,
the kids can go out and play
and jump rope, go swimming and
throw water balloons and do
much much more.



Summer
Starcy F.

My favorite season is summer
I like summer because of the warm
days relaxed go swim and go
on lots of vacations summer
is my favorite ‘cause kids playing
flower spouts no school and
stay outside late and have
fun get togethers a barbeque
and listen to some gospel music
and food, corn bread, macaroni, greens
cabbage, spaghetti, chicken, hot dog
and cake, ice cream, cheesecake, peach
cobbler, and juice pop that’s why
I pick summer.



Ms. Harris 6th grade


Summer
Alexis G.

I always like summer best
I can play outside and
watch the flowers grow
I can go to many fun places
I do not have to go to school
my birthday is in the summer
and barbeque outside
I can go to house parties
with my best friends and all
I can do is have a lot of
fun. But then it’s a time when
the fun stops until next year
or in the winter, fall, spring you
can keep going but
then it’s a time to have to sleep.

Summer
Porscha T.

I always love summer
best smells good
barbeque eat fresh fruit
love all the good
things you could do
outside you go
get in the pool have lots
of fun parties pool parties
no school stay up all
night.


I Like . . .
Briana J.

I like summer in
Florida and all the
rides in Orlando where
I can go on.
When it is a
church picnic I
have fun and
play with friends
and listen to gospel
music. But it gets
so hot I can
use a glass of
lemonade, and
going on tall rides
is scary, but
they're fun
wind going
through my
hair I like
it. But when
I come back
to Chi town
I hang out
with my friends
at the park.
Oh look! There’s
Micheal and
Latisha and Daymiss
and more friends
playing they see
me and say: heeeeeey
Briana then I
go play.



Ms. Kessinger 6th grade


Six Flags in the Summer
Tysheanna Funches

Rides, rides, rides!
Summer, summer summer!
Food, food, food!
Batman, superman, giant drop and much more
hot, no coast, swimming suits and much more
ice cram, hot dogs, cheesy fries and much more
summer’s the best
six flag’s the best
walking under mist when you get hot
screaming as loud as you can
no rules like no talking always wear a helmet
swimming all day facing big waves
looking at your mom screaming on rides
laughing when you drop on the giant drop
running around
hot band around your toes
barefoot running around
this is six flags in the summer



Summer in Chicago
Sherrell W.

As the remains of the rain clear
the sun rises from its home
waiting for this beautiful
season. As the sun hurries to
the sky it flashes on
beautiful Chicago. Kids are
coming grabbing books before . . .
Ring Ring the school bell rings
like a freedom bell for a war. You
smelling BBQ, corn, chicken, and laughter
as everyone enjoys the summer
awakening. Put away coats, boots
umbrellas and the thought of
spring. Summer has come to
Chicago. Time for fun.



Summertime in Joliet
Jasmine W.

I always like summer
time in Joliet because
I can eat
some good barbeque
I can sleep all day
I can play and
get more food if I
really need it. I drink
juice pop and other
kinds for my age.
That’s my favorite season.