Each Day
March 23, 2001
I wake up in the morning.
Get dressed and leave my
home- ALONE.
As I drive to work I sing to
the radio.
It is a quiet ride with
little traffic.
Parking my car at school
I walk to my classroom.
I reach for the lights
And I walk to my desk.
Hang up my coat.
And put my bag on the table.
I walk down the hall.
And pick up the smiling
faces.
As my students see me.
They wander to their
lockers.
To hang up their backpacks
and coats.
Nosily they go to their
desks.
They seem happy and excited.
Some come to me to embrace
me in a hug.
I look at their faces and I
am inspired.
I hold the future in my
grasp.
The day goes on.
I learn – They learn.
Time to leave.
Holding hands we walk
outside.
See you tomorrow.
Schools out for the day.
After, I stay for awhile
working.
I drive home, singing to the
radio.
I park my car and unlock the
door.
I return home – ALONE.
-
Dawna
Ranee Fetter
Treasure Time
March 17, 2001
We are only here for a
while.
And gone before we know
it.
I remember not liking you at
first.
But being quite scared of
you.
But God planned that we be
friends-
Best friends that is
And so with each day we
laughed and cried.
And always had fun, no
matter what.
With each day at Taylor we
felt.
That it would last forever.
But then you left and moved
to Tennessee.
And I stayed to finish my
degree.
But we never valued enough
those times we shared.
And always thought today
would then become tomorrow.
But our lives moved on and I
received the news.
God had taken you to heaven.
I cried to loose my best
friend.
For I never got to say
good-bye.
But you are in a better
place than I.
So always seek each day.
And hold each loved one
tight – if only in your thoughts.
We never know if tomorrow
will come.
For you or me of those we
love.
-
Dawna
Ranee Fetter
March Madness
March 17, 2001
Each year we know it’s
coming.
Teachers dread its arrival.
It seems to come upon us.
Like a big, mean monster.
We prep and prepare.
We teach and fine tune.
Others ask of us-
To almost perform miracles.
I see my students sit.
With two sharp pencils in
their hands.
It’s time to write, I say.
And their faces look as if
I’ve broken their pencil.
For some reason they cannot
write this day.
And then comes reading.
And I say you must read and
answer these questions alone.
And a little boy cries for
20 minutes because he cannot read it himself.
And this is only first
grade.
But still hard for them to
take.
Now sit still for an hour.
And remember all you’ve
learned this year.
But we must test them I
understand.
But must we focus on it so
much?
I heard of two fourth grade
girls.
Sick all weekend, nerves I
believe.
Study weakens their bodies,
Dulls their spirit,
Abates their strength and
courage.
Proficiency tests- a
necessary evil.
-
Dawna
Ranee Fetter
Sun
March 16, 2001
She sees the sun,
Shining strongly in the sky.
She feels it touch her face,
As she silently breathes a
sigh.
She thinks of those in life,
That make her spirit shine.
They reach the depths of her
heart,
And assemble love within her
She sees the sun with always
shine.
And knows that it does in
her life.
God is her sun that shines.
And holds her hand each day.
She recalls the sun she saw
by the ocean in the Keys.
And the beautiful blue it
mirrored.
She knows the sun does not
last al day.
But knows it will rise the
next day.
She sees down in her life,
That the sun will not leave
her.
She sees the sun shining,
Strongly in the sky.
-Dawna Ranee Fetter
My Mission
March 25, 2001
Each day I leave my house.
And I raise my head high.
I think of what waits for
me,
And smile as I quietly sigh.
I like where I go each day,
It fills my life with pride.
God has called me to this
place-
It is here that I am
satisfied.
Each day I hold the future.
And it makes life worth
while.
I get to spend my days with
children.
Making me feel young
forever.
They give such unconditional
love.
And think all I do is clever.
The children I spend my days
with.
Are often scarred and sad.
They may feel as if no one
cares.
They might be happy or mad.
So many come without
breakfast,
Dirty clothes and faces.
Wanting me to love them.
They long for kind embraces.
I try to give them,
A safe place to come.
To be someone they trust.
To alleviate their glum.
It is my mission.
I must obey.
To leave my house.
And come here every day.
-
Dawna
Ranee Fetter
1st
grade
Objective: The children and teacher will work together
to write a poem.
Materials:
chart paper
markers
white paper
crayons
Introduction
Discuss with the children how we feel on the first
day of school.
Lesson:
1.
Write
down on chart paper what the children tell you as they raise their hands and
you
call on them.
2.
Have
children help you write 3-5 sentences about their experiences on the first day
of
school.
3.
Have
children draw a picture of them on their first day of school.
Extension
This
can be done on the 1st day of school or mid-year. Children may be able to write their own poem
if you do this exercise mid-year.
Children will write a poem
about a science words.
1st grade
Objectives: 1.
Children will demonstrate creative feelings about science words.
2.
Children
will use poetry to write about a word from science.
Materials:
15-20
cards with various words
(
you may use the list below or make your own list)
chart
paper
markers
writing
paper
pencils
white
paper
crayons
bucket
or hat
Sun
Light
Bear
Snake
Spider
Mountain(s)
Ocean
Flower
Dinosaur
Water
Food
Darkness
Clouds
Rain
Snow
Bird(s)
Rabbit
Wind
Dolphin
Plants
Mini
lesson: On chart paper give an example
of a poem. Draw a card out of the
bucket
and write 5 sentences
about it on chart paper. Have a
discussion about what
you wrote.
-
Encourage
children to write 3-5 sentences about the word they get.
Steps:
1.
Pass
out paper.
2.
Have
children draw a card from the bucket or hat.
3.
Give
them 20-30 minutes to write about their word.
Time may vary.
4.
Have
each child share their poem with the class.
Extension:
When
the child reads the poem have them read it without telling what it is and see
it he children can guess based on what has been written.
The
children may also draw a picture to go along with their poem.