On Poetic Souls....

Prompt on Board (leading into a discussion on Langston Hughes' "Theme for English B"): What do all people have in common?

Me: "Okay, who wants to share a response to the prompt? John?"

John: "We all live on earth."

Me: "Ok, yes, we all live on earth. I'm looking for something less bodily, like maybe 'opinions' or 'dreams.'"

Leslie: "Some people live on Mars."

Me: "Um, I don't think that's true, and let's let go of the physical aspects we have in common. Focus on what makes us human."

Bill: "We all have hair."

Me: "That's still part of your body."

Bill: "It is?"

Me: ...sigh... "Does anyone have something that doesn't have to do with the body?"

Jack: "I wrote a poem as my response."

Me: "Oh, okay. Let's hear it!"

Jack: (ahem)
         "All people like bacon
           All people like cheese
           All the people be hatin'
           Hatin on me"

Rachel: "That was hilarious."


Later in the same class:

Me: "We're going to do a similar question. I really want you to think about your answer--like the poem says, let the page come from you. Respond to the prompt on the board."

prompt: What is the common thread that ties us all together as humans?

Jack: "I've written another poem.
         
         Humans are fun;
         There are more than one.
         How do they connect?
         Through phones I suspect."

Me: "Awesome."