A Poetry Ensemble
I am a Special Education Teacher at Preble High School. After viewing Freedom Writers Diary with my Language Arts 12 Writing class, my class was really excited and decided to call themselves the "Hornet Writers."
One of my favorite writing units has always been our poetry unit. In
the past, the students wrote 13 different poems, and then they shared
their favorite poems in a poetry circle. This year, I decided to
improve this unit by having all of the students put their favorite poems
in a class book. I wanted the students to take ownership of this
project. As a class, they brainstormed different titles and selected, "Heart and Soul: a collection of poems by the Hornet Writers." They
also designed the cover, wrote the introduction, organized the table of
contents, and designed the format of all the poems. I was truly
impressed by their ability to work as a team and their ability to
compromise. Overall, the entire experience was very rewarding for both
the students and myself.
Stephanie Smith
Preble High School
A Poem of Inspiration
J.R. works at a Brown County center for troubled youth. When a friend told him that FWD might be of interest to the youth that he serves, he waited months to borrow it from Brown County Library; he was not disappointed!
Following his viewing, he went to the FWD Website, freedomwritersfoundation.org, and located a worksheet that provided an outline for a student to write a poem. The assignment brought out the best in one of the boys:
"The Poem of Inspiration: Changes"
I was a bad man
I remember when I decided to go forth with my plan
I heard some people were plotting against me
I picture my mom tears as I left and was no longer free
I worried my family would crumble and not make it
I thought no matter what I have to succeed and remember their love which is sacred
But, I want to change.
I am a willing to do type of guy
I think no matter how hard it gets under my limit is the sky
I need to be serious and no longer fake it
I try daily to improve my life so I truly can make it
I feel more confident than ever
I forgive myself for not acting when I knew I could do better
Now, I can change.
I will someday be that successful person who I strive to be
I choose to think right and let the bad ones flee
I dream that one day I will be a living legend
But in order to do this I have to maintain faith towards heaven
I predict that I will become more wiser than now
I know that I these are the steps to it but in the future remember how I will change.