Rewrite to make your poem stronger

I can’t believe this past Tuesday was 4th graders 9th poetry week of our 10-week residency! Lucky week 9, was all about rewriting and editing. Together read and discussed the poem “Dear Poet,” by Lee Bennett Hopkins. in his poem, Hopkins advises poets that rewriting can strengthen their poems. Sometimes it’s hard for a poet to want to add or change things in their poem. By rewriting and editing is essential, allowing a poet to see their poem in a brand-new way. Rewriting it/rewriting it/rewriting it/until what you have is a poem like no other poet as written/or rewritten before.

Students were asked to look through their old poems that they have written so far in our residency that they either didn’t get a chance to complete or wished to edit. Please enjoy, the new and improved poems below.

Ms. Gomez-Drakulich 4th Grade
Group 1

Shed Aquarium
By Nathalie C.

One thing I touched was the starfish and they feel weird.
And one thing I tasted was ice cream which was in a little bowl.
And one thing I saw was a dolphin and they did a lot of tricks.
And one thing I smelled was the fish, which was kinda bad.
I heard the seals roar, and it was loud and the fish
were blue and orange, and a shark is a creature who has
been dangerous, and a stingray can sting you if you touch
its tail. Penguins sometimes live in the Artic where it’s really
cold and turtles have a hard green shell.

Paint Me
by Mateo V.

Paint me with my pets.
Paint me with snow and a sunny sky.
Paint me in space.
Paint me in a haunted house.
Paint me with video games.

Paint me without fear.
Paint me without gravity.
Paint me without sadness.


Paint Me with and without
by Camilla C.

Paint me with a cute bear.
Paint me with my family.
Paint me with my studded animals.
Paint me with love.
Paint me with freedom.
Paint me with my cute drawing.
Paint me with a lot of art stuff.
Paint me with a lot of Oreos.

Paint me without scary things.
Paint me without hearts broken.
Paint me without broccoli.
Paint me without creepy things.
Paint me without snakes.
Paint me without creepy dolls.
Paint me without cats (sorry)
Paint me without sushi.

Things to do If You are a Fish
by Julian O.

Fish have an underwater soccer team.
Fishes have to drive a helicopter over the sea.
In the fish team, one of the fish does have a bicycle,
kicked with and scored the last goal to winning.
Fish go in a private jet to go to his big game.
When they landed, they went out to eat.



Ms. Hayes 4th Grade
Group 2

How To Get a Zombie Spell
by Gizella M.

First add dragon breath to make it stretch.
Second add five eyes to make a fright,
it’s gonna be very light.
Add half a brain and some decay.
Add eight broken bones or maybe toads.
Lastly some brain rot too, its gonna
make it go BOO!

My Sleeping Spell
by Bella G.

One feather from a soft pillow.
The sound of rain.
A drop of warm milk.
Some flakes of sleeping dust.
Darkness is a must, but not too much.
Add some Z’s
With some buzzing bees.
Know take a drink
And try not to think.

What A Nature Rabbitt Does
by Alicia S.

Boing Boing You’re jumping for food to eat.

You’re always looking for some food
so you can Crunch Crunch eat.

Feeling the wind go Whoosh
and hoping through the air.

Seeing other rabbits eating
Crunch Crunch and meeting
other rabbits to talk.

You’re running away from humans
because you are scared that humans
will take you away.
You are really scared so
you go to a bush to hide.

Finally, it is night, but you don’t
have a home. So, you go to one of the bushes
again. Sleep tight and don’t let anyone
take you.

If I Were in Charge of the Mexican Military
by Mateo S.

If I was in charge of the Mexican Army,
The first thing I would do is
grow the military to at least
100 million power.

Then I would invade Belize or El Salvador
to get some economic power and population.

Afterward I go back home and grow
the Military to 500 million power.

Then I would invade the rest of Central America.
(I would sign peace treaties if counties do
declare war on me).
After, I would develop search to make
secret drones to spy on other countries.

Lastly, I would grow the military to the
biggest military to the biggest military
in the world and take over the world.
(I would sign peace treaties if countries
do declare war on me).

If you want a disclaimer, please read:

Dummynation is a game where you can pick up a country to rule over
and grow your military, economic power by invading countries and
population. I referenced the game to what I do in DummyNation

when I rule over Mexico. I love to rule over Mexico because Mexico
is my parents place of birth. More about DummyNation: when you
win the game by having the best economic power in the entire world
like the United States.

I Still See Your Shadow in My Room
by Isabella Z.

Dear Moon,
Come to my room,
Tell me about the different
shapes of the Moon.

Be in my light in
the night.
I sit by the moon,
listening to your
beautiful tune.

I still see your shadows
in my room.
How does it feel to
have people walk on you?

Sincerely,

Isabella Z.



Ms. Williams 4th Grade
Group 3

If I Was in Charge of Christmas
by Emily C.

I would make your whole Christmas list,
your Christmas presents.

I would make it snow peppermint cotton candy.

I would give people an elf on the shelf!

I would give out hot chocolate with Marshmallows
with whip cream or not.

I would put stuff in people’s stockings,
and I would let people go on my new sleigh.

Vote for me, for a new and better Santa!
And if you don’t, then no presents for you.
Sorry, not sorry.

Wait wait… also infinite robux and v-bucks.

If I Was Candy King
by Brandon P.

I would like to eat candy, only.
No one can get candy except me!
It is illegal to eat candy.
My castle is made out of Milky Way Bars.
My crown is made of Starburst.
Only my Jayson and mom can get candy.
Everyone can starve to death.

Things to Do If You’re a Lego Mini
by Grace M.

Wake up on top of my box of legos.
Open it and dive in.

Swim through the sea of bricks.

Walk around in my closet.
Say hello to my LOL dolls.

Swap hair with other Lego mini figs.
Drink my Barbie Smoothie.

And when I walk into the room,
go on top of the box,
and think about what you will do
tomorrow.


Paint Me Honest and Faithfully
by Arantza P.

Paint me how
I truly am.
Paint me with
my family.

Paint me with my dog,
paint me with Faith, paint me
with a little bossiness and sadness.

Paint me with God.
Paint me with a lot of
good emotions,
but please do paint

me without evilness,
paint me without
bad thoughts.
Paint me without
sorrow.

Paint me without
bad words and
without tears.

Thank you, painter.

Ms. Carther 4th Grade
Group 4

If I Was in Charge of Epic Games
By Hunter B.

1. Make it epic, not wreck it.

2. I will add Double Pump to reload,
and make Fallguys like Mallguys.

3. Wrote a man like Spiderman.
I’ll Minecraft and I’m going
to make a life craft

4. Fortnite bright like a night light.

Paint Me Like I Am
By Natalia H.G
.

Paint me like a kind girl.
Paint me with blue or green eyes.
Paint me with blonde hair
Paint me with a strawberry dress.
Paint me with kittens
Paint me with Pepsi
Paint me with family
Paint me with picnic
Paint me without anger
Paint me with blossom trees
Paint me with kittens
Paint me with grass and flowers.

Dear PS5
by Dylan G.

If you don’t give me vbux,
I will unplug u and throw
u out the window, where
my dog poops on
or I’ll throw you in a pool.

Bring back the PS1 or Wii
or maybe the PS4 with
a box that says 4.

If I Was a Paint Brush
by Lily A.

If I was a paint brush, I would
dance and dance with color.

I would paint lines and dots
and also, splots.

Splash in the water,
time for a new color.

It’s time for my friend
to dance in paint.

Together we make
a nice art piece.


The Interesting Life of a French Bulldog
by Elianna E.

The life of a Frenchie,
may seem a bore.
But trust me, is so much more!
Wake up early.
Check!
One of the things humans hate to do.
That’s why Frenchies have unique lives
comparing to you!
Play fetch.
Check!
Frenchies are energetic, they could
play for an hour!
It’s like energy is their superpower!
Be admired for cuteness, all day and night.
They always get the definition of cute right.



Forgetting or Remembering
by Leslie O.

Day dreaming can make you
forget or remember.

When daydreaming, you just
stare, with yelling children at
recess or music in the car.

Day dreaming is when you visualize
your own thoughts with words and pictures.

When daydreaming you may begin
to remember too!

Up with a boom!
Down with a zoom!

Daydreaming is made for those
to forget or remember.
Just make sure your thoughts
are made to shine.

More 4th grade artwork

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TESTIMONIALS

“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.