Introduction:
This poem can be introduced during the first day or first week of school. To introduce it, a few questions could be asked- How many of you don’t want to come to school right after summer vacation? How many of you do? What are some reasons that you give your family for not wanting to go to school? Write down the feedback that the students give and then read September by Lucille Clifton.
September
I already know where
and I already know how to
count to ten and
I went to school every day last year;
why do I have to go again?
~Lucille Clifton
Extension:
The students can reflect on the poem and give their feedback to some questions (Would you have let this boy or girl stay home from school? Why or why not? What are some reasons that he or she would want to go to school?). To close, each of the students can add on to this poem, come up with their own version or write a poem that tells why they would want to go to school.
*Following this Poetry Break, teachers could go over the fun things that the class will be learning and doing over the year, making a connection to the activity by giving a taste of what’s ahead so that they will be excited about coming to school and to class!
Clifton, Lucille. 1974. September in Prelutsky, Jack. 1999. The 20th century children’s poetry treasury, 68.
