Today writing an essay was not on the minds of my middle school students. It is exam week. We wrap things up on Friday at 10:30. The sun was shining, they didn't get their usual break in the morning, and many of them are just plain worn out! Getting in the last juicy gossip, finding out the final decision on "who is going out with whom", and deciding which classmate is playing with them at Hoopfest are so much more important than sitting at a desk writing out an exam. We heard cinnamon gum made you think better, so I even helped them along by handing out Big Red this morning! As they pushed their pens, chomped on their gum, and furrowed their brows I paced around looking over their shoulders just to try to keep them encouraged.
Later I was reading a new poetry book and came across this title. If I had given them a chance to speak their minds today, these may have been their words.
My Writing It An Awful Mess
My writing is an awful mess,
And my teacher asked me why,
" I zoom through my assignments,"
I told her with a sigh.
" I want to finish all this work
So I can yack with friends,
I simply cannot wait until
The school day finally ends.
" I never check my spelling and
Punctuation, I don't try,
For if I spent my time on these,
My... social life would die.
"It's talking with my friends each day
That keeps my whole world bright,
And I don't want to give this up,
Just to get my schoolwork right."
-Kalli Dakos
