Dreams of Family tables

To follow-up on last week’s “I AM” poems expressing things about the self, this week Shoesmith 4th graders thought about family. When asked “what does family mean to you?” students said community, a safe place, someone you share DNA with, people you can trust, people who you love, people you spend all of your time with, people who guide you along your way, and those you protect and who protect you. Taking inspiration from Timothy David Rey’s “At the Table” lesson, we read and discussed “Perhaps the World Ends Here” by Joy Harjo.  Students noticed personification was used in the lines, “Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children./ They laugh with us at our falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.”  They brainstormed dreams of their family tables before writing poems.

Ms. Lehner 4th Grade Group 1

This Is Where The Fun Begins At The Table Imani T.

The fun begins after family arrives.  We all
talk and joke about fun things
with each other.

We play fun games, food calling
for us and the wind outside whistling.

I hear people shouting when playing
and the sweet taste of juice watermelon.

I dream as the heat inside hugs
my body and love and fun flies
through the air.

We all talk about what we love
and eat the delicious food.

At the dark and beautiful stars in the
sky we all say goodbye.

As I felt happy and sweet, my
blanket hugs me with its warmness,
and rest for a new funday, again.

 

 

My own family table Genji M.

At this table we start games and the loud laughter
of my family.

I feel the responsibility of this table

I hear my chatty siblings talking as loud
as a trumpet

I smell the chips and nuggets trickling up
my nose

At this table we end games and the loud
laughter and talking of my family.

 

What I do La'Xaria

At this table I whisper at
the table.  And I chew with
my mouth closed.  I keep my
mouth closed when grown folks
speak.  I speak to
others when they
speak to me.

 

 

Family Caleb C.

I love family
my family is happy

My family gossips about eh life of ancestors

My family is sad of the things we do

they are angry of the things

they are calm of the wind

they are eating cheesy pizza
they feel the crispy wind
so do I

I feel love

I’m happy for my family

Sweet Silly Supper Morola I.

I’m a sweet girl like the pasta sauce
Being kind and loved.
My friends Ina, Nichole, Karson, Anna, Jayden, and Brooklynn.
laughter is being stopped by slurping pasta noodles.
My mom cooks food for me and my siblings
Sometimes the noodles are wiggling
At this supper I feel super kind
I’m so happy that this supper is mine.

At this family table Kash M.

At this family table I hear the
prayers and gossip about what new
things are happening

We play “I declare war” with
grandparents, which can be fun
and rowdy at the same time.

My family at this table is my
great grandma who’s most responsible
my grandpa who teaches me most
and my mom whose always with me.

I taste crispy baked macaroni
and I help make sweet potato
pie and sweet lemonade.

At this table dreams happen

Group 2

At this Table Joseph H.

At this table we eat

At this table we tell jokes

At this table we laugh at
the past

At this table we play cards

At this table we have
conversations, sometimes
we fight.

At this table we agree on
ideas, sometimes we don’t.

 

 

 

 

 

At this Table Lemarcus

I hear the crunch of the
sweet apple

My family talks fast while I eat with my
brother

We play games and eat popcorn at the
dining table

I eat with my family and we also talk
fast

I play games with my brother while
eating

we enjoy the sweet last bite.

The things that happen at my kitchen table Sarah

At the kitchen table we play uno
then I laugh with my family

My mom and my dad and also all my friends
also it is hot Cheeto mozerella sticks and games
and tacos and nachos and pasta.

The sizzling popping crispy mozzarella sticks
on the pan.

My favorite table Nichole P.

My dream of a family table is
having fun at the table

I laugh all the way to Jupiter
when I kick my cousin’s leg

I can taste the spiciness of
seafood boil while talking
about our day.

My dream of a family table Kelase

My dream of a family table
is to have crunchy tacos and
pizza. My dream of a family table
is to have kindness at my table.
My dream of a family table
is to be respectful.

My dream table Ana

At this table
we play board games

At this table we
all laugh

At this table
my mom, dad,
me, and my TT are
here.

At this table we
all taste ramen noodles

At this table I hear
friendly shouts.