Twain 4th graders start the month of November thinking about family. For our 5th session of poetry we talked about what family means and where we fit in our families. Some students like me are only children, while others have two or more siblings. We shared our thoughts about being the oldest, middle, and youngest children in our families, and coming from blended families with stepparents and siblings. Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) was on Nov. 1-2, and a few students mentioned celebrating family members that have passed away.
Together we read the poem, “My Family,” by Stacy Zeiger. In her poem, Zeiger uses similes, comparing members of her family to the weather. My mom is like a fire/she’s always warm, but sometimes she gets too hot/ My sister is like a snowstorm/she’s pretty to look at and icy at times, but with a little sunshine, that iciness melts. Zeiger shows us that every family is unique, our differences make us special, and love keeps us united. We have our moments of darkness and gloom, but the sun always peeks through.
Inspired by Stacy Zeiger, students wrote poems about their family and loved ones.
Ms. Hayes 4th Grade
Group 1
My Family
by Mateo D.
My dog is as joyful as a baby.
Every morning jumps on me.
Every Friday night lays on my
lap while watching a movie.
My dad is like a little bit of rain.
Walks me to school sometimes.
My mom is mad and calm as rain
and thunder. She’s calm but when
she’s not in the mood, gets mad.
My brother is annoying like a dog,
barking while I’m sleeping.
every time I’m talking, he always
comes in asking stuff.
My Crazy Family
By Eva C.
My dad is like a credit card,
because he buys me stuff.
My sister is as smart and pretty
as a book.
My little brother is like a tornado,
because he leaves his stuff everywhere.
My mom is like a sunflower,
because she smells good.
My friend Lilly is like a lion,
because she is blessed and
brave and calm.
My Different Family
By Alyssa V.
My dog Marley is as hoppy as a bunny.
She is always hopping, while she is running.
My grandma is as sweet as a honeybun.
She always wants to but me everything
I want.
My brother is as tough as a rock.
He is strong and he is nice.
My mom is like a cloud, gloomy and happy.
Sometimes she struggles but never gives up.
My dad is like the sun, always hot and warm.
He never gives up, like my mom.
We are all different and funny.
Ms. Drakulich 4th Grade
Group 2
Mi Familia
By Jhonnaris D.R.
My mama es como sol brillante.
My papa es intelligente como unsorro.
My hermano es bonio como un pernito.
My abuelo es grasioso como un pes.
My abuela es enojona como una ardilla.
My Tio es menso como un gratitio.
My Kind Family
By Luis Angel V.
My mom is sweet like cotton candy.
My dog is fast as a tornado.
My dad is as kind as God.
My two sisters are as smart as
Frankenstein.
My Family
By Marco G.
Me, Marco I am smart as a dog.
My mom is as beautiful as a cat.
My sis is as sly as a fox.
My dad is as strong as a bear.
Ms. Williams 4th Grade
Group 3
Helena’s Chatty Cousin
By Helene H.
My cousin is as chatty as a crowd.
Every day, every night.
She always talks, even when its late.
She talks when everyone’s sleeping.
She talks even when the whole
world is sleeping.
She talks.
Isabella’s Crazy Family
By Isabella G.
My mom is like a tulip,
pretty, beautiful, and she
is calm.
My brother is like a lion,
he’s crazy and fast.
My dad is like God.
My dog is like a tornado,
he runs all over the place.
My other brother is a sloth,
he is so slow.
Chaos In My Family
By Anothny G.
My mom is chocolate, but when
she gets mad, she’s a melting
iceburg.
My dad is chocolate too,
and the same thing
as the first one.
My sister is the number 1,
because she was born first.
My brother is a dog
chasing its tail.
I am cartoons, that makes
a lot of imagination.
My grandma is McDonald’s,
because she makes a lot of
delicious food.
Ms. Carther 4th Grade
Group 4
Why I Feel Like My
Family is a Zoo
by Aylin C.
I feel like my family is a zoo.
First, comes up my sister,
she’s like a roaring lion.
She’s always chit chatting,
so, in my mind she’s a lion
roaring.
Second, are both of my brothers.
They’re so crazy like monkeys.
So, I bring them up in my mind
like my twin crazy brothers that
are monkeys.
Third, is my small dog,
she’s like a butterfly,
because she’s pretty and crazy,
like when butterflies go flying
crazy when people approach.
That’s why I think my family
is a zoo.
My Family
by Roman L.
My dad is like a trampoline park,
cool and fun.
My sister is like a driving ticket,
annoying and boring.
My grandma is sweet as pie.
My uncle is cool as Chicago
in the winter.
My Family
by Alex M.
I am a tornado because I am fast.
My mom’s heart is as big
as a black hole.
My dad has brown eyes just
like a baby bears.
My cousin is smart
as Chat GPT!
My grandma is sweet as pie.
My uncle is cool as Chicago
in the winter.
