English 9A (periods 1, 2, and 4): Today we went over our class disclosure, learned a little bit about each other, and most importantly, read the following poem:
Valedictorian
I shall reject
the curve
and fail
with an A.
The table of elements
will not be
memorized by me.
And I will not
regurgitate facts
like an outdated
spreadsheet.
I will remember
what is pertinent,
not for the test,
but for life
and become
the valedictorian
of me.
-Laura Menssen, Brighton High School ‘94
You also need to return your disclosure statement on Wednesday, read for 20 minutes tonight, and bring that book with you to class on Wednesday.
English 9B (period 3): Today we went over our class disclosure, learned a little bit about each other, and most importantly, read Langston Hughes's poem "Theme for English B," which can be found here: https://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~keith/poems/English_B.html
Your task is to write your own "Theme for English B." It is a poem that reveals something about yourself. You should model your poem upon Hughes's - your first two stanzas should be similar to his, and your third stanza should contain a sense of movement as his does. Your fourth (or more) stanzas should teach the reader many different things about you, your personality, and the things you like. Your poem is due on Friday and should be typed and follow standard format: Single space within your stanzas, use a hard left margin (do not center your poem), and use standard capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.
Additionally, you need to have your parents sign the disclosure and return it on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday you should have a book to read from in class and at home.
50 comments:
I think we picked this poem because it is teaching us to become like a valedictorian. If we try to be one then we can accomplish our goals in life.
Brendan W. 2nd period
We picked it because it says we don't have to be the best in all the classes we can be the best of our selves
Oakley N. 2nd period
I believe we read this poem because you're trying to tell us that you don't necessarily have to be the best in school or all subjects, but to be the best you that you can be. Even though it is sagacious to makes goals such as being valedictorian.
I think you picked this poem because it explains that we may not be the best in school but putting in an effort is what counts. Though some people are able to get better grades then others that doesn't mean that they are better or should be looked up to more. In this way we will have more confidence in your class.
Sabrina Carlucci 4th period
I think we picked this poem because it says you don't have to be the best in school but to be the best you can, as in being a Victorian.
This poem is about you and your expectations. You have to try your hardest in everything you do. But you don't have to be the best kid in the class, but you do have to give everything your all in what you do.
Jade M. P.2
I think that we picked this poem today because it is the first day of the term and we should work hard and get the best grades we can get. Just because we might not be the valedictorian for our class, we can still be a valedictorian for our own life by get the best grades we can get and push yourself to do you personal best. Learning the table of elements or memorizing math equations is not the only reason we go to school. It's also to learn life lessons, how to apply yourself to get work done, to turn things in on time, to show up to class on time. these things you will use all your life, not just in school. You might even use those skills more then the table of elements. That is why I think we read this poem on the first day of the term.
Regan O. 1st period.
I believe we read this poem in particular because it is a statement. That you can get an A and do "good" but it dosent matter. What matters is becoming a better me and grades mean little if you aren't a good person.
I think you picked this poem because it was well composed. Also that it explains that you don't have to be the top of your class/year to be smart or to succeed. As long as you tried you're best you will be able to do it. The poem explains that people strive in certain subjects and you might say that a "C" is good for you in math and others might think that is an average score. Also you probably choose this poem partially because your wife wrote it.
Rick F. P.1
This poem was chosen to help us have a deeper understanding about what doing your best at school really means, in this poem it is explaining how we should feel towards our school work, this poem is saying that we have to try our best in all our classes and to our best on assignments.
Annika Leone P4
I think we picked this poem because we are starting a new class and want to do the best we can for the rest of the trimester. This poem will help keep us motivated to keep trying no matter how hard it gets. I think this is a good poem to start the class off with and it will help us with all classes not just English.
Aspen C. P.1
I think you chose this one because it will help us not to compare are grades and that we can try are best and we can set good and challenging goals and it gives us better knowledge of what school really is.
I think you picked this poem because it put us in the mindset to do the best we can instead of stressing and worrying about how we are doing compared to other students.
I think we read this poem because we are starting a new trimester and we should do the best we can do.
That's a really good answer.
I believe that we picked this poem to read because it gives us an encouragement to do our best. It's teaching us what a valedictorian looks like, it's setting us up to have a successful trimester and high school life.
I think you picked this poem because it meant something to you. Also, I think you picked it to encourage us to be us and do you. Be your own valedictorian and be the best you.
James M. 4th period
I think we did this poem because grades are just letters and it is all about self improvement
I think you chose this poem because we are 9th graders starting a new year and tri and everything counts from now on. This isn' middle school anymore. We have to try our very best. We don't have to be a valedictorian, but we can be like one. This poem was very encouraging. We can put our greatest efforts into school. By getting good grades, respecting teachers and others, and coming to school. I know for a fact that I will not become a valedictorian but I will put effort into being like one.
-Asia D.
I think you chose to read us this poem because you want us to know that as long as we do the best we can you will be happy. I think that another reason you read the poem to us was to tell us that we don't have to be a valedictorian just as long as we do the best we can. You want us to understand that grades are just letters, and that our best could be someone's worst but all that matters is that we did the best we could. One of the main goals that we should have for ourselves is improvement and we shouldn't stress about getting all A's.
Kelcie H. P. 1
I believe that we chose this poem to show encouragement for yourself and to others. It says that we should be proud of the work we put in already and not wish that we had done any better. We should always be proud that we tried our best and that we worked our hardest to achieve our goals.
I think you gave this poem on the first day to teach us what we really need to focus on in life. Yes, academic knowledge is very important, but in order to truley live life successfully we have to learn ourselves. We have to know who we are, and that wisdom will help bring us success, and happiness.
- Joran C.
Per: 4
To motivate yourself and our classmates! To show the real meaning of education.
You educate yourself for life, not for test! Accedemic knowledge is important, but knowing yourself is more important!
I think you gave this poem on the first day to influence us to our best. It is very motivational to help students realize that getting an A isn't as important as actually learning. Knowing what you learned will take you further in life than if you just forget. We need to be proud of what we do and how we do it. No matter what grade you get in a class, if you tried your best and actually learned from the class then that's all that matters.
Ellie E
period 2
I think you gave us this poem today to influence us to be the best we can be. I feel like sometimes students give up in school and their education because something is too hard. We don't all have to be valedictorians, but we can always do our best. Understanding the things were taught in school is important, but we also need to learn about ourselves. When we understand ourselves, we push ourselves to do hard things.
Emily Moss
Period 4
I think that you chose this poem because it shows that anyone can be a valedictorian and that we should all strive to be as good as we can. I also think you chose it because it gives inspiration and makes us want to do better. By thinking we can do it we will push ourselves to be learn and grow. By giving this poem it also shows us that we can succeed and be ourselves.
I think the reson you gave is this poem is to show us that we can be the best of our ability and to show that trying is the only option. You also showed us this because you care about us and want us to succeed
I like how you really thought about what you were going to say -justin lewis period 1
Justin lewis period 1
I think you chose this specific poem is because, this poem is meaning to you need to be the best you, you can be. As long as you try hard and focus on learning then an actual grade then you can be successful for yourself. This means to me that we need to have a good attitude towards this class and try as hard as we can to be our best. Focusing on studying and trying hard and not focus on the grade. The grade doesn't matter as long as you participate and want to learn.
I think that we chose this poem because it is important to be truthful with yourself. Also, the goals that you need to complete to be the valedictorian of you.
Trever W. Period 3
I think the poem you picked was a great poem that told us to stove to be our own valedictorian to strive to be the best we can be
Matthew m p2
I think you chose this poem because it's inspiring towards someone who's trying their best.
I think you chose this poem because it shows someone doing their best and that you are getting taught for life not for the test
This poem is cool because it puts out the vibe that you can be a victorian because you are doing your best and you don't need to get the best grades do be a victorian in your eyes. Jaden Camac Period 2
i think we chose that we picked because you want us to strive to get better grades and do well in the classes we have--jarod olea pieriod one
I think you chose this poem because it tells us that we should be our true selves. We should really try in school, and try to be valedictorian, but as long as we impress ourselves, that's what matters. WE should be proud of the journey we take, as long as we get somewhere.
Diane Montague
Period 4
I think this poem was to show us that grades aren't necessarily a reflection of everything about you. Also, it could be that it's not the textbooks and facts you learn in school it's the other stuff you learn. When it says valedictorian of me I think you picked this one specifically for us to show us that we can be the best at what we know we can do and be. This could be a peom specifically meant for school too.
Mike L P.4
I think that this poem was chosen because it tells us that even though we might not always get an A we know we tried our hardest. We need to try hard to get to our goal and do our best. We also need to know that in the end it doesn't matter if you were a perfect student it only matters that we worked for our own goal.
This poem was chosen because it was most related to us as students, no matter how bad our grades might get and we feel like giving up don't keep going and pursing what you want to purse if you want to reach or goal to get were you want to be when your older you must keep going and believing in your self cause that most best way to achieve the goals you want to achieve. This poem inspires you to keep those grades as high as you can to reach that goal you want. DON'T GIVE UP!
I think you chose this poem because it just basically says to never give up and to always try in school.
William Haight Period 1
I think you choose this poem because it really tells you that you can't be your best if you don't try. The poem is telling you to be at your highest standards that you can be at. Also this poem tells me that when you think your putting yourself at your highest standards your not. This is why I think that you choose this poem
I think that we picked this poem because it proves that we don't and probably won't be the Valedictorian of the class but we can most definitely be our best version, it motivates us to shoot for the top, even if we don't reach the highest, thus being the best version i.e. the Valedictorian of me.
I think you chose this poem because, even though you may get an "A" you personally can fail and same goes for accomplishments. And we must always try our best even though we might not succeed.
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