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This is a continuation of my journal from my 2001-2002 school year.  Please read the previous posts to give this entry context.  

January 15, 2002

We went over the students’ homework where all they had to do was fill in the blank to complete a simile.  Then we moved to writing their own similes.  I provided two columns of words and they could compare items from column A with items from column B. 

Here are some of their similes:

Love is like burning fire.—Evelia

The ball is like a comet shooting through the

hoop.--Gustavo 

Her eyes were as big as the moon.—Adriana

The girl rest quietly like the soft breeze in your face.—Soledad 

The girl is like a camel; she never gets tired.—Raymond 

That girl is as boring as gravel in an abandoned driveway.—Sheridan 

Her dress was silver like the stars twinkling in the night.—Mindy

Rosa’s middle finger’s are like the Twin Towers.—Roberto.

 

On to metaphor.  Today I brought Diana Krall’s “My Love Is.” 

Erika had a detention today, so I was able to talk to her about attending tutorials.  There are two after school programs that might work for her. I made it clear that she didn’t need to go every day, only when we had an assignment she didn’t understand or when we were working on an essay.  I reminded her that I’m available, too, every day after school from 3:00 to 3:30. 

Hump Day, January 16, 2002

 

Yah!  We’re getting another boy in sixth period—Chad .  He’s from my first period class.  He’s a big, quiet guy who dresses like an Aggie.  Sometimes I can coax a small, shy, cute smile from him.

Before vacation Chad was gone for a week.  Through a radio call in, his sister won a trip to Las Vegas for the whole family.

Chad failed first quarter, but after that, his mom came to see me.  She and I started to exchange e-mails.  She sent around weekly progress reports.  Her attention paid off and Chad gradually nudged his grade up to a C.  But she won’t be able to relax.  Chad doesn’t have much self-motivation.

“Ms. Hansen, call Raymond Cutie,” Evelia and Becky begged me. 

“Okay,” I said.  “He is pretty cute.”

“No, no,” Raymond protested.  “Not unless you call them Spider and Slug.”

For good measure, he wanted me to call Roberto “Carlito Café.”  Charlie Brown, in other words. 

Today we wrote poetry using similes and metaphors.  I model my poetry teaching after the workshops I take with Patrice Vecchione:  Inspiration.  Writing.  Praise.

We looked at several poems centered on similes and metaphors.  Then the students wrote for twenty minutes.  This is sacrosanct quiet time. 

Rodolfo’s Poem

The Game

Life is a game

hard and complicated.

In the game you’re also

another game piece moving in every direction. 

In the game you

always lose. 

Game Over . . . .

 

Soledad’s Poem

As the day got bright so

did your smile the flowers

were blooming as your beauity

did too as the day went by

quick you were to slow to

see it all.