Read the poem "The Builder", which is reprinted below. Discuss how the themes of the poem relate to the themes of Chapter 9 'Repairing and Building'.
The Builder
I saw a group of men tearing a building down,
A group of men in my hometown.
With a heave and a ho and a mighty yell,
They swung a beam and a side wall fell.
And I said to the foreman, "Are those men skilled?
The type you'd hire if you wanted to build?"
He laughed and replied, "Why, no indeed."
He said, "Common labor is all I need.
Why I can tear down in a day or two
What it takes a builder ten years to do."
And I thought to myself as I walked away,
Which of these roles am I going to play?
(Author Unknown)
Extension Activity (for the gifted among us) Try your hand at rewriting the poem for the role of a teacher, creating 10 rhyming couplets, but keeping the final couplet as it is in its current form. Share.
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*Sorry, but this is all I have at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI saw a group of teachers standing around
Talking about a student who had just moved to town.
Their voices were loud as they laughed and they joked.
They made fun of the little boy who never spoke.
And I said to myself do these teachers really know,
How their words and actions cut like a knife through the snow?
The answer I knew was already in my head.
Could these be the teachers that the parents and students dread?
Self esteem can be molded with a kind word or two,
For being positive and uplifting is what a teacher must do.
And I thought to myself as I walked away,
Which of these roles am I going to play?
Wow Senna, Way to go!! I am impressed. You gave me goosebumps!!
ReplyDeleteBravo Senna!
ReplyDeleteSenna is so GIFTED!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat poem reminds me of the something my friend at Maxwell, Carol Glass, use to say. It takes ten positive things being said to us to cancel out one ugly thing that was said to us. She taught this at every guidance lesson and it made me think of how damaging words can be to students as well as adults.
ReplyDeleteSign Senna up for TARGET!! WOW!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had that talent you have shared Senna. We have all had that teacher who we dreaded while we were in school. I have remember those qualities and have learned from them. Vicki and Marilyn have been examples I follow who "always do" because they never "need to repair." They are only a few of those amazing models I have had in my life, but they keep the foresight to see the importance of being postivie and uplifting to all - students, parents, and fellow faculty members.
ReplyDeleteSenna said it all!
ReplyDelete