What’s your favorite day of the week? What’s your least favorite? Why are some days better than others? These are the questions I asked this past Tuesday for my second week with Twain 4th graders. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays were the most popular days, since it’s the weekend of fun, sleeping in, or staying up late to play video games. Mondays and Tuesdays were given a bad rap by students, because they represent the start of another long week of school. 4th graders came back from a three-day weekend, so students were happy that this week was a shorter one.
Together we read Francisco X. Alarcon’s poem, “On Monday I Feel Like a Dragon.” Alarcon uses similes and metaphors to compare himself to various creatures to express how he feels on Mondays. Early on Monday my hair stands out like a sea urchin/ On Monday afternoon I’m a wild porcupine in a real bad humor. Alarcon shows how our feelings can change throughout the day depending on the situation. Sometimes talking to friends or classmates can make a Monday not so bad.
Below are students’ poems of how they see themselves on certain days of the week. Special thanks goes to poetry resident Chastity Gunn whose lesson helped inspire this week’s writing prompt.
Ms. Gomez-Drakulich 4th Grade
Group 1
Friday
by Nathalie C.
On a Friday I do arts and crafts at Ms. Hayes class.
The first thing I do on a Friday is get ready for school
and then go to school, then after school, I sometimes
have to go to basketball practice.
But on Friday I don’t have to go, and the next day
is Saturday.
Saturday is my basketball game and sometimes
I can go sleepover my cousin’s house.
We build forts like its Friday, and we curl
each other’s hair.
How I feel about this day, is so happy,
because we get to go to in a different
classroom.
The create that has the has same feelings,
is a jellyfish, because the day flows.
I feel like I’m a bunny, hopping in a bush to
bush, but actually, it is going to class.
to class to class.
On This Day
by Camilla C.
On this day, it was bad because it was cold and sleepy.
I could not even sleep.
I was just so cold; I needed more blankets.
I did not like it, it’s just not a good day to go.
My brother wants me to play with his
toys and I just want to sleep.
The creature that will have my feelings
is a cat because I’m lazy like a cat.
The other creature I would be
is a tiger, because I’m grumpy
and angry in the morning.
Happy Mondays
by Alexander O.
Early on Monday morning I feel like a dog
excited for gym class.
In the afternoon I feel like an eagle, flying
around gym class, playing with my friends.
In the evening, I feel like a horse,
wondering around my backyard.
Ms. Hayes 4th Grade
Group 2
Funny Fridays
by Sol M.
In the morning, I feel like fire
but cold like ice.
In the evening, I feel free like the wind
but inside I want to explode with happiness.
At night I feel a speck of energy that
wants to burst out laughing.
Sun Saturday
by Benjamin B.
Early on Saturday I am like a lion, searching
in my house for food.
In the afternoon, I’m like a cheetah
in my soccer game.
In the evening, I’m asleep like an
ancient, sleeping for centuries.
By night I am sound awake like an owl
in the night watching T.V.
Fun Friday
by Delyla L.
When I wake up on Friday, I’m a cozy
little bear.
In the afternoon, I’m a unicorn learning
math and writing.
In the evening, I’m a monkey in the
store grabbing food.
By nighttime on Fridays, I’m a sleepy
slow turtle.
Ms. Willams 4th Grade
Group 3
My Wonderful Wednesday
by Madelin F.
Wednesday morning, I feel as awake as ever,
up as a fish ready for school.
Wednesday evening, I get ready for math,
ready as ever, speeding through work just
like a cheetah.
Wednesday night I’m as tired as an owl
in the morning.
Faithful Sundays
by Arantza P.
On Sunday morning I’m a sheep enjoying the day,
and eating breakfast with my family.
Midday Sunday I’m a desperate bear trying
to find the perfect outfit for church.
Sunday afternoons, I’m a white pigeon
listening faithfully to church.
Sunday late at night, I’m a happy baby panda
watching movies with my family.
Great Friday
by Patricio A.
In the morning, I am a mad pufferfish
because I have school.
In 11:25am, I am more happy because
we have lunch and recess.
In 7:00pm we get to the swimming classes,
and its very short but is 1 hour.
Around 8:00pm we get home, I take a bath.
After that I can play Minecraft, and I feel
like a happy pufferfish.
and its very short but is 1 hour.
Ms. Carther 4th Grade
Group 4
Wonderful Wednesday
by Angelina A.
Early on Wednesday, I’m excited like a tiger, waiting
for the right moment to jump on its prey.
In the afternoon, in the library, quietly doing
my assignment, I’m a squirrel going up a tree.
In the evening, I’m tired and I’m thinking about
taking a catnap.
By nighttime, I’m wide awake like a bat
soaring through the sky.
Fun Saturday
by Samantha M.
When I wake up on Saturday, I am happy
as a dog.
I play my favorite games and sketch all day.
I’m a groundhog laying on the couch with
my family.
I may fall asleep and take up my couch.
When my family leaves me alone,
I am a cat sketching alone.
After I sketch, my parents order dinner.
I am an owl, I stay up until 12am
every Saturday night.
Spinning To Friday
by Leslie O.
Friday is a day when school is over for the week
and its finally time to relax.
It is a day to plan for the weekend, so its
a fun day for excitement to burst !!!.
I’m a butterfly, going back to their
home after hibernating.
I’m a cat sitting in their bed
looking for ideas.
