Twain 3rd Graders Bring the Joy!

For my first poetry date with Twain Elementary School’s 3rd graders, I came prepared to introduce the residency in four classrooms; to talk about “art class with words,” and learn something about the students by having them write “I AM’ poems. What I wasn’t prepared for was how ready the students were to jump right in with questions, ideas, creativity, and willingness to try something new! I brought the poetry lesson, and Twain 3rd graders brought the joy! What a great way to kick things off! Templates for “I AM” poems can be found all over the internet, so I’m not sure of their origin. However, I thought it would be a fun way to get students to think creatively about introducing themselves. I shared my own “I AM” poem and we talked about LINES, STANZAS, and the meaning of words like resilience and ancestors. Although a 20- line poem is an ambitious way to begin, students really dedicated themselves to making the effort. They made it difficult for me to select only a few poems to publish from each class! Enjoy reading!

Ms. Lee 3rd Grade

I Am Isaly R.

I am sporty and smart
I wonder what my RIP Uncle is doing and what he became
I hear the wind blowing calmly
I see God coming out of the sky being loving
I want to be a professional basketball player
I am sporty and smart

I pretend I believe in santa
I feel other people being beautiful
I touch my loving dad’s hand in the morning
I worry I will get a question wrong
I cry when I get yelled at and it makes my day bad
I am sporty and smart

I understand that my mom only has 2 hands
I say that my favorite subject is media arts
I dream of all the things I want in the world
I try my best in things that are hard
I hope that I will love myself when I grow up
I am sporty and smart

I Am Ian G.

I am a believer
I wonder when God will come
I hear crying
I see kids getting hit
I want a peaceful world
I am a believer

I pretend to act happy
I feel bad for kids who are hurt
I touch the Bible and read
I worry that kids don’t have food
I cry for kids in need
I am a believer

I understand that I can always help
I say I’m cool but I am not
I dream that I will be in heaven
I try so hard in school
I hope I am a good kid
I am a believer

I Am Luis O.

I am curious and loud as a cloud
I wonder about the ocean
I hear my sister crying
I see the puffy clouds in the sky as I wave goodbye
I want to be important
I am curious and loud as a cloud

I pretend God is waving the trees
I feel happy
I touch the air as it breezes through
I worry about not making a difference
I cry when I get hurt
I am curious and loud as a cloud

I understand that one small thing can make a big difference
I say that everything you do is effective

Ms. Murphy 3rd Grade

I Am Kind Madeline G.

I am lavender and happy
I wonder can I be a photographer
I hear sweet sounds of birds chirping
I see flowers growing from the ground
I want to be good and adventurous
I am lavender and happy

I pretend I am very good at sitting
I feel very happy when I touch hands
I touch fabulous flowers and God’s hand
I worry nothing will stop me!
I cry when no one wants to be my buddy
I am lavender and happy

I understand when I am sad to the sky
I say you can make changes to your feelings
I dream I am a good city helper
I try to be good to others
I hope I am a good citizen
I am lavender and happy

All About Me Mason R.

I am a little brother to Aailyah and Nadia
I wonder what my sisters think about me
I hear my bed creaking at night
I see the wonderful sun in the morning
I want to learn more about poems
I am a little brother to Aailyah and Nadia

I pretend that no candy is in the world
I feel rain drops on my hand
I touch a sticky wall
I cry when I see people hurt
I am a little brother to Aailyah and Nadia

I understand when my sisters are busy
I say making poems is fun
I dream about getting a new pet
I try to get the best of myself
I hope I give enough stuff to make people happy
I am a little brother to Aailyah and Nadia

Isaiah L.

I am Isaiah and I like snow cones
I wonder about my little brother
I hear dogs in the middle of the night
I see scary Halloween decorations
I want to see my little brother in person
I am Isaiah and I like Christmas

I pretend to cry so my dog does not bite me
I feel soft things
I touch all tips of things
I worry that I will get an “F” in class
I cry when I am sad or depressed
I am Isaiah and I like snow cones

I understand a little of my times tables
I say great things
I dream of being Mr. Best YouTuber
I try to do my best
I hope to see my friend
I am Isaiah and I like snow cones

Ms. Isaacs 3rd Grade

Alicia the Lover Alicia S.

I am kind and I love gym
I wonder a little bit and do you wonder?
I hear talking and calmness and nice people
I see kindness and teachers who are helping
I want the earth to be clean, and more kindness
I am kind and I love gym

I pretend that things are outside when I am playing
I feel happy and great
I touch my stuffed dog that my sister gave me
I worry that my food will be cold
I cry when I don’t have my stuffed dog
I am kind and I love gym

I understand Korean a little bit
I say that monsters are not real
I dream something random
I try my best on doing something
I hope my Grandpa is okay
I am kind and I love gym

Hardworking Sol M.

I am hardworking and creative
I wonder if I can become a superhero
I hear kids playing
I see the future
I want ∞ wishes
I am hardworking and creative

I pretend to like mushrooms
I feel happy
I touch my pillow
I worry when will I die!!!
I am hardworking and creative
I am hardworking and creative

I Am Elianna E.

I am 8 and I like gaming
I wonder about axolotls. I think they are cute.
I hear the sound of a cool breeze
I see Nature and the shine of the sun glaze off my screen
I want a starbuck’s frappe
I am 8 and I like gaming

I pretend red pandas and axolotls and monarch butterflies are not going extinct
I feel happy but sometime restless
I touch the grass while sitting on an open field and the fur on my puppy is soft
I worry about death
I cry about war and racism
I am 8 and I like gaming

I understand roblox games
I say “I’m busy” to my mom when she calls me while I’m gaming
I dream about peace
I try to touch grass
I hope to pet my teacher’s cat, Kocho
I am 8 and I like gaming

Mrs. Lamas 3rd Grade

I Am Proud Arantza P.

I am Mexican and Proud
I wonder how trees help you survive
I hear God telling me “you got this”
I see my dad’s eyes saying “I love you”
I want the world to be peaceful
I am Mexican and Proud

I pretend that I am a professional rollerskater
I feel Mary’s sheet covering me
I touch my mom’s hand before going to school
I worry the world will become just war
I cry because Joynielys moved to Puerto Rico
I am Mexican and Proud

I understand that everybody is equal and perfect
I say to my friend Camilla “you are beautiful”
I dream I’m the best teacher when I grow up
I try to be nice all the time
I hope everybody’s dreams come true
I am Mexican and Proud

Leo P.

I am myself
I wonder if I will make something fabulous
I hear the leaves
I want to hug my brother
I am myself

I pretend I have a lego Titanic
I feel in heaven
I worry about dying dead
I cry when someone is dead
I am myself

I understand to feel a hug
I say to myself don’t give up
I dream that I hug my mom
I try to make a big lego set
I hope I do not have a virus
I am myself

Julian O.

I am a little brother because I got a big sister
I wonder how cheetahs run so fast
I hear speaking
I see my room
I want an x-box
I am a little boy

I pretend to have a dog
I feel happy
I touch my pencil every day for school
I worry about my mom and dad getting hurt
I cry when I think about my grandpa that passed away
I am a little boy

I understand multiplication
I say anything I want
I dream about going to the park
I try to keep my room clean
I hope to be a police officer
I am honest.

Select list(s) to subscribe to




CPC will not sell your email. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from The Chicago Poetry Center. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact