A Glimpse Inside their Minds

Over the next few months my middle school English students will be working on the revision and editing processes. One of their regular assignments is to choose one of their favorite journal entries, to edit and revise the content to the best of their ability, and to submit their finished project to the editor (me) on a regular basis.

Every couple of weeks I will select a few of these entries to publish on my blog. Why? Well, because I want to honor my student's hard work, and because I want to share their work with you, my friends, family, and supporters. I am so proud of these students! Their imaginations are so creative, and their writing is improving ever so much.

I hope you will enjoy these periodic glimpses into my students' imaginations.

God bless,

~Michelle~

January Journals

6th Grade

Poems

by Mallory

These are three of my favorite poems. The first one I wrote for my grandmothers, the second for anyone who looks at the stars, the third to my classmates in study hall.

Grandmothers

Grandmothers are the nicest people you meet,

Whether at home or out on the street.

While everyone imagines them just sitting and knitting,

Nothing on earth could be more unfitting!

Grandmothers are perhaps busier than anyone,

For all of their work adds to a ton.

Their work does not require great strength or fast pace,

‘Since its simply to put a smile on your face.

Their work has ensured them that they’ve not a foe,

And the list of their friends, why, on and on it does go.

Grandmothers are the nicest people you meet,

Whether at home or out on the street.

Stars

Little lights looking

Like heavens little lanterns

Lighting up the sky

Study Hall

While sitting at a study hall I got a little bored,

And choosing that it not be known that in my sleep I snored,

I wrote this poem just for you,

‘Since there was nothing else to do!

* * * * * * *

Heaven

by Matthew

I always thought that to get to heaven you have to have a ticket, and that ticket was your soul. One day, or rather dream, I needed it.

I opened my eyes, it was all white. I couldn’t see anything. After a while I noticed that I was going up. Then I heard beautiful music. I saw something in the clouds…whoa. I have never seen anything like it! Everyone was dancing and worshiping God. But before I went into heaven, there were two queues (lines of people). I noticed that one went to heaven and the other went to hell. It was sad that there were more in the line to hell. Finally my turn! I was so happy I felt like dancing and singing. The angel was huge and amazing. He said, “Ticket please?” I smiled at him and he smiled back. I looked at him and said, “Sorry, I don’t have any ticket.” Then he said. “Heaven awaits you. You have a ticket. You didn’t know?” He reached towards my heart and carefully took it. I looked at it and it said, “You don’t deserve heaven, but it is your reward because of your faith in ME.” The angel gave it back and said. ”But you shall wait.”

Well I guess it wasn’t that bad going back to earth.

Suddenly I jerked awake as if someone shot me. It was a dream. I felt something in my hand. Could it be?

THE END

* * * * * * *

7th grade

. . . Really, Mom & Dad?

by Heidi

While I was at school, my parents decided to glue my bed upside-down to the ceiling. They said they wanted me to be 'more creative.' I would have to get into my bed by turning the anti-gravity on. “That is an excellent idea!” my parents said. In the morning I woke up... on my dresser with a huge headache. Someone turned the anti- gravity off. Oh no! What was I going to do? So I will have to either tape down the button with duct tape or duct tape my sister to her bed in order to keep her from turning off the anti-gravity off. I think I'll duct tape the anti-gravity button. So, I tried, and I woke up on my desk this time with twice the headache. Well, let's try something new. I'll duct tape myself to my bed. So, I tried it. I woke up this morning, and I was on my bed! But, Ewwwww... there was drool all over my room. Well, back to the drawing board.

* * * * * * *

8th grade

Swimming

by Lauren

I am swimming in the sea. I can touch the oxygen tank on my back, but I feel almost absolutely weightless in the waters. As I kick my flippered feet and move with my hands, I jet forward. My hair waves in the water, just like it would in the wind, The amazing multicolored fish swim in a dazzling coral reef next to me. I can see the sparkling light shed on everything in the sea. I can see my tiny air bubbles floating towards the surface of the crashing waves. I look at the air gauge.

. . . I am almost out of air!

I swim to the top of the liquid mass in time.

* * * * * * *