Last week, we read and discussed Carrie Fountain‘s “Theory of Perfection.” One of the first things we did was define theory; I then asked if it was really possible to be ‘perfect’? Most likely, this is a word students hear quite a bit, so their thoughts on the subject were interesting. As we looked more closely at the poem, we also defined etiquette, and I asked if that was something that could be taught, as the woman in the poem apparently teaches classes in it. The students were very interested in why the woman was throwing a pen down over and over again, so the girls (her students?) in the poem “would have a chance / to practice” picking it up. Is there a ‘perfect’ way to pick up a pen or pencil? If so, what would that be? Some even dropped theirs on purpose while they thought about it.
The poems students finally wrote were in response to the concept of perfection. Check ’em out!
Mrs. Carlson, 4th Grade
Untitled
Carina B.
Nobody
is
perfect
Nothing
is
perfect
TVs
aren’t
perfect
Seals
aren’t
perfect
Wiis
aren’t
perfect
People
aren’t
perfect
bullies
aren’t
perfect
We
all
have
flaws
Nothing
is
perfect
computers
aren’t
perfect
NOTHING
IS
PERFECT
Boys
aren’t
perfect
Girls
aren’t
perfect
penguins
aren’t
perfect
captions
aren’t
perfect
teams
aren’t
perfect
games
aren’t
perfect
Nobody
is
perfect
Nothing
is
perfect
The
internet
isn’t
perfect
pens
aren’t
perfect
erasable pens
aren’t
perfect
hackers
aren’t
perfect
continents
aren’t
perfect
fruit
isn’t
perfect
folders
aren’t
perfect
Nothing
is
perfect
Untitled [Part II]
Karsten E.
Nothing is Perfect.
Nobody is perfect.
Not even Donald Trump.
Mr. Perfection is a myth
Mercedes’® Pursuit of Perfection is not real
GOT IT!
Drop the Mic
Perfection
Jayden I.
Poise. Confidence. Perfection. PCP. Don’t slouch. Don’t
make rude gestures. Say washroom instead
of bathroom. SRW. This was a waste
of time because
NO ONE
CAN BE
PERFECT
(with the exception
of the Cubs).
The Perfectionism Theory
Aadi K.
The theory for
perfection is
P = ep x 2
P for perfection
e for etiquette
p for patience
x2 for double the amount of work.
P.S. This might not work. The chances of it
working are 1/1,000,000
Perfect
Carter M.
Perfection everything most family
lie on
to get into Whitney you have to
be perfect or do you?
To have a perfect life
you have to be perfect or do you?
Perfect
perfect
don’t say bruh! Say hello
don’t say perfect say unperfect
Everybody everywhere always
wants to be Perfect no matter
what they say
perfect
Mrs. Rupp, 4th Grade
Untitled
Tai C.
I think basketball
is perfect to me
because it is fun
and it helps me
stay aggressive.
Perfection
Nathan D.
Perfection is perfect
like the moon which
is yet imperfect.
Perfection is perfect
like the sun which
is yet imperfect.
Perfection is perfect
like no one is.
(Un) Perfection
Lennox G.
Perfect should not
be used as a word
daily (or ever).
If I could, I would
make a city forbidding
perfection.
It would be called
(Un) Perfection,
where nobody is
you know what.
Perfection
Anson L.
Perfection
a great feeling
’tis a great mood
Perfection we try
to master
So close but
yet so far
We need perfection
nobody can be
perfect
We strive if we
can, we only want
perfection in everything
peace peace peace
What if we
were perfect
Practice Is Perfect
Maura S.
I walked into the room,
like I wasn’t there.
Everyone ignored me,
sitting in their chairs.
Their shoes were out,
all tying their laces.
It was so sad to see
so many blank faces.
Just tying their shoes,
not making a sound.
A woman stood up,
just her and her hand.
“Stop” she said,
a gloomy look in her eye.
Everybody listened,
for I don’t know why,
“Good job. Practice is perfect, you are dismissed”
the woman called.
A man entered the room
for he was bald.
Practice is perfect a voice said in my head
I couldn’t wait to go to bed.
Mrs. Travis, 4th Grade
Untitled
Jason F.
I never make a mistake
at baseball and I always
will catch the ball
or I will run the ball
Untitled
Jalen G.
Perfection is no one but no one
Nothing’s Perfect
Rakiyah H.
Some people say nothing’s perfect but
I say nothing’s perfect but it’s perfect
you can have a perfect dream some
things can be perfect
Untitled
Marshall H.
Perfection is sometimes perfect.
Theory of Perfection
Caden K.
There is nothing
no
perfection
none of it
don’t try so hard it won’t work
Stop
Doing
too
Hard
Perfections
Maddison L.
Cupcakes are perfectly disgusting
Pencils could be perfectly sharp
Perfection is perfectly disgusting
Perfection
Leilani R.
My opinion on perfect = impossible
P = Possible (NOT)
E = Everything (NOT)
R = RECOMMENDED (NOT)
F = Flawless (NOT)
E = EXTRA Perfect (NOT)
C = Can do (NOT)
T = Timeless (NOT)
Perfect (NOUN) = Impossible
Unperfect
Daniel R.
Unperfect is to be a
nobody. Unperfection is
giving up. Unperfection is
to be a loser. Nobody
should be unperfect.
Perfect 4 Me
Emmy T.
I am perfect for how I am
no matter how dumb or smart
how pretty or ugly
I am Perfect no matter what!
I’m perfectly perfect
Perfection
Chris W.
Perfection, perfect, the best.
The quickest, the strongest,
the most.
This poem is perfection, perfect,
the best.
Chris was here 🙂
The Perfection of Perfect
Lilly W.
The perfection of perfect is messed
up sort. People can think perfect is
a thing . . . or not. Perfect can be many
things . . . or not. So just remember
perfect is your choice to choose.
Untitled
Wilson Z.
3 point shots
I like to shoot
good at basketball
I’m a baller I am
Mr. O’Brien, 4th Grade
Untitled
Aarna A.
I don’t know if perfect is
perfect water or milk. With
the perfect milk and water
with an ice cube.
Imperfection
Mikas A.
Imperfection is possible perfec-
tion isn’t possible because
as hard as you try it is
not possible but you can
get a perfect score in grades
Untitled
Valery B.
Being perfect is fine but
neither is it that you are
as perfect as not be deceived
or their things what I mean
to say is that everyone can
be perfect.
Perfection
Phoenix G.
Come on keep hitting over it until
you get perfect boom! Goes over 101
times in a row for the record and
perfection yessss!
Perfection
Krislyn G.
is
This guy is always behaving
in class he listen
not
This guy is not
behaving he do not listen
to the teacher when
she talking to him
How to Be Perfect
Pharell L.
Perfection means all as or
good at math or skip a grade
all those and more no one is
perfect
You can Be Perfect
Tanzania T.
You can always be perfect no matter
why you listen to them people B You!!
Do anything you want be strong, happy, careful
and be perfect!
