I am from poem

I am from
A place that isn’t glamorous like New York City
Nebraska-where is that again?
cow country, football country, corn country
I am from
Midwestern values of kindness & simplicity; a place where people say hi to strangers on the
street

I am from
cottonwood trees lining the creek behind my house; creating a soothing sound with each breeze.
Exploring the concrete sewers draining the creek at the base of those trees.
Sledding down the large hill at the base of the playground of Holling Heights elementary.

I am from
being able to walk home from my elementary school if I forgot something.
I am from
a combined 70+ years of “How can I help you?” “Let me take that out for you.”
working my way through school & paying for my first home.

I am from
Abel Hall where the immaturity got old the 2nd year; Pound where I, as the RA, was the only
one up to no good.
I am from
gaining confidence; persuading others; interpreting literature; laughter and tears on bus rides;
exhaustion on planes home.

I am from
my cookie-cutter house; the cornfield across the street.

I am from
Standing Bear Lake, my peace, my quiet; sun sparkling like a million photographers trying to capture the sky.
I am from
room 126; challenges & opportunities, successes & failures, memories.

My student's places

I incorporated the "Deep Map" assignment into my sophomore English class and I wanted to share what they have come up with so far. I worried that my students would look at me quizzically when I gave them the assignment, but they dove right in and I have really enjoyed looking at them!

We are currently reading The Freedom Writer's Diary and so after giving them their books, I also gave them journals just like Erin Gruwell did (Thanks Office Depot for selling them to me for $1 a piece!). I have told them I want them to follow the lead of the Freedom Writer's and start writing. There is some reluctance there, many of them are only writing for the grade, but my hope is the journal will be there for them in a time of need.

They are using the images and places on their Deep Maps to write their "I am from" poems. I am interested to see if this assignment pushes them a little further in this poem than they have done in the past.

After completing a "Coat of Arms" (this comes out of the Freedom Writer's teacher's guide) which identifies some parts of their current identity, I gave them the Deep Map assignment and told them to identify the places that shaped their identity as they see it today. I am not sure how well you will be able to see these through the pictures, but here goes!