During March, the best college basketball teams vie for the National Title. In order to be the best, each team must state their case by playing the best, scoring the most, and ultimately advancing to the next round.
To create a sense of poetry madness in our room and celebrate poetry, we will read a bracket (2 poems) each evening and advance a class winner the following day. However, like the basketball tournament, we must use specific criteria to judge a poem: meaning, poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition), ability to visualize, and your personal connection.
Each night you will answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.
Tonight please read Game 1 and choose your favorite.
54 comments:
Dear Ms. Sikes,
In the first poem, Life Doesn't Frighten Me, it is about how the person isn't afraid of anything.
In the second poem, Mother to Son, it is about a mother telling her son that life isn't always easy.
I chose Life Doesn't Frighten Me because the poet (Maya Angelou) repeats the sentence, "Life doesn't frighten me at all. I also like it because it refers to my life as well. I try to think like nothing can frighten me.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The poem "Mother to Son" is about a mom who had a hard life, and tells her son to keep on going, and never give up.
The poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is about someone who isn't afraid of anything, and the poem is like a pep-talk to the author herself.
I chose "Mother to Son" because it had more meaning, good writing, and a great moral. It's also interesting with the country talk and the cool metaphor, "life for me ain't been no crystal stair". That's why I chose "Mother to Son".
From your awesome student,
Grayson
"Mother to Son" is about a mother telling her son to never give up. She says there will be good time and bad times, but to never give up.
"Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is about a person who isn't afraid of anything! The person isn't afraid of lions on the loose or mean old Mother Goose.
I chose "Mother to Son" bacause I felt as though the poem teaches an important lesson, to never give up. I also like the use of language in the poem. This poem I think will tell me to always try, try again.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
The first poem I read was called,"Life Doesn't Frighten Me". It was about a bunch of things that are scary to most people, but not to her.
The second poem I read was called,"Mother to Son". It was about a mother telling her son to not give up in hard times.
My favorite out of the two is,
"Mother to Son". I chose it because somtimes I get mad about things that hapen in my life. I get so mad that I want to scream at the top of my lungs like a hyena. "Mother to Son" is like a pep talk to me .
The first poem I read was, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me." It was about a girl (Maya Angelou) who is not scared of anything. Not even panthers in the park or strangers in the dark!
The other poem I read was, “Mother to Son." It was about how a mother told her son that in life there are its ups and downs, and life ain't no crystal stair.
I chose, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me." Because I like how it rhymes and how the sentences/lines are kind of shorter. I also like how it has a beat, (like most poems do.)Also how it repeats life doesn't frighten me at all (or something close to that) every 9th line.
The first poem was called "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" which was about a girl who is not afraid of anything especially the ones that someone could possibly be afraid of.
The second poem was called "Mother to Son" which was about a mother talking to her son about how hard her life was and how she didn't want what she had for him.
I chose "Mother to Son" because I liked how the writer used the similies in his writing and how he used her slang and how she spoke. I also enjoyed how he did a repetation of "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair" and his descriptive language.
The first poem, "Life Doesn't Frighten Me", is about a girl and how life doesn't frighten her at all. She is not afraid of shadows, creepy noises, bad dogs, ghosts, lions, dragons that breath fire, and many more things. You can infer from this passage that she is brave, fearless, unstoppable, and believes in herself.
The second poem, "Mother to Son", is about a mother that is telling her son to never give up, even when life gets hard. The mother is telling her son that her life isn't perfect, but if you keep trying to have a good life, and not quit, you will get there.
I prefer "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" because it rhymes, it repeats the quote "Life Doesn't Frighten Me at All", and I have a deeper understanding for it. I also can connect with it. I think am brave, fearless, unstoppable, and I believe in myself. So that means Mrs. Angelou is telling the reader that to be brave you need to be fearless, to be fearless you need to be unstoppable, and to be unstoppable you have to believe you can.
I did not choose "Mother to Son" because I did not get a deep understanding for it. It also was not as detailed as "Life Doesn't Frighten Me".
Poem 1 is Life Doesn't Frighten Me. It is about all the scary things but she says they frighten me at all. She also adds in some rymes.
Poem 2 is Mother to Son. It is about a mother that is exclaiming to her child that life isn't easy. There are many tacks, splinters, and no carpet.
I think that poem number 2 is the winner because it has a lot of meaning and expressive.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The poem "Life Doesn`t Frighten Me" is about a girl telling all about these things that don`t frighten her. Se tells us all about these things that end up rhyming in the poem. She also is telling us what she sees or thinks about in the day and night. I think that she is actually frightened about these things, but is trying to convince the reader that she isn`t afraid of them. It also sounds like she is trying to convince herself that she's not afraid of these things.
Mother to Son is another poem. I think that in this poem, the mother is telling the son that life is not so easy. She tells her son to go around the darkness, to never stop climbing, and to expect problems in life. In this poem, the author puts the poem in some interesting words, probably trying to tell us how hard life was for her when she was in situations that caused problems. She quotes twice so that her son knows what she is going through. "Life for me ain`t been no crystal stair."
My favorite is Mother to Son because she is trying to encourage her boy to not wait around or quit. She wants him to go on, to never stop. I enjoyed how she described her life in rough places. She said that her life had tacks in it, and splinters, and that there were boards torn up in her path. She said that she`d keep turning corners, trying to never stop, and sometimes going into the dark. She said, "I`se still goin', honey, I`se still climbin', And life for me ain`t been no crystal stair."
Dear ms. Sikes,
The first poam, Mother to Son, was about a mother telling her child to never give up, no matter how hard times are.
The second poam,Life dosn't Frighten me, was about a person who isn't afraid of a lot of things.
I chose Life dosn't Frighen me. The reason why i chose Life dosn't Frighten me is because it has a great meassage,it rhymes, and it tells the poam in such a great way.
The reason why I didn't chose Mother to Son is because, it has a great measage, but thats not enough information.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The first poem I read was called, "Choosing Shoes." The meaning of this poem is that there are all different types of shoes.
The second poem I read was called,"Some One." The meaning of this poem is that something you heard might not of happened.
The poem I picked was, "Choosing Shoes." One reason why I picked this poem is because of the word choice. For example, the poem had words like strappy. The poem had comparisons like, "Flat shoes, fat shoes." In this poem there was a lot of rhyming. I can relate to this poem because when I go pick out new shoes there are lots different shoes.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
In the first poem, "Life Doesn't Fighten Me" is about a kid who is not afraid of anything in life.
The second poem, "Mother to Son" is about a mother who is telling her son that life is no crystal stair/life isn't easy.
My favorite poem was "Mother to Son" because I could relate to it. Also it tells you to be strong, and if something bad happens to you bounce back up.
Your student,
Eric
Dear Ms.Sikes,
In the poem "Choosing Shoes" is about a kid that is shopping for new shoes. The kid is also so amazed that there are so many different kinds of shoes.
In the poem "Some On" is about someone who is in her house and all of a sudden she hears a knocking on the door. She opens it and nobody is there.
Your student,Camden
For my favorite I would choose "Choosing Shoes" because I love to shop and I also like to shop for shoes. Also because I can connect to it a lot because I always have to get new shoes.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The first poem I read was called, "Choosing Shoes." It was about all kinds of shoes and which ones to buy.
The second poem I read was called, "Someone." It was about a knock on the door and nobody being there. It described all the sounds of the night when she opened the door.
Out of the two poems, I chose "Someone" because it has a more interesting feel. I also chose it because it reminds me of the time I ding-dong-ditched the "mean lady" next door.
Your student,
The first poem, Life Doesn't Frighten Me. Is about a child who thinks of all thesE scary things but still isn't scared of them.
The second poem, Mother to Son. Is about a mother who is telling her son never to give up and her life hasn't been a crystal stair " perfect life".
I vot for , Life Doesn't Frighten Me, because the author make that caractor in the poem have such a strong meaning of life andx should think of the possitives in things.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
The first poem I read, “Mother to Son", was about a mother who had and still has a hard life, but she tells her son never to give up because life is not easy and it will get better.
The second poem I read, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me", is about a girl who says all these things that people might be scared of and tells the reader she isn't.
The poem I chose to move on is “Mother to Son". I chose this because the words may not rhyme but the overall story teaches a good lesson. I also chose because I like the metaphor “life ain’t no crystal stair”. I could really visualize the mother talking to the son.
Your Student,
AN
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The poem, Mother to Son, is about a mother telling her son life hadn't been so easy for her.
The other poem, Life Doesn't Frighten Me, is about someone who tells you about things that won't frighten her.
I chose, Life Doesn't Frighten Me. I choose it because it was very detailed and it had more ways to explain the title of the poem. It was also good by saying, that doesn't frighten me at all.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The poem Life Doesn't Frighten Me is about a girl who doesn’t get freighted easily. She also get teased at school but that doesn't frighten her.
The poem Mother to Son is about a mom that is telling her son to never give up no matter what happens. The mom says there are going to be hard times and there are going to be happy times.
I chose my vote for Mother to Son because I thought the poem could relate to me. I also liked it because it had a lot of feeling in it that you should never let go or give up. Whenever something hard is going on in your life you know it will be okay.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
The poem "Mother to Son" is about a mother trying to tell her son to never give up.
The poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is about a girl who isn't afraid of the challenages of life, even during hard times.
My vote would go to "Mother to Son." I chose "Mother to Son" because the author had a very good talent with descriptive language, and great reapetition. I like when the mother said, "Life ain't no crystal stair." It reminds me of "Pink and Say"
Sincerely,
Mystery Blogger*
Dear Ms.Sikes,
The first poem i read was "Life Doesn't Frighten Me". It was about a girl and nothing frightens her accept if it's a dream.
The second poem I read was "Mother to Son". It is about a mother telling her son life ain't no cristal stair in other words life is not easy.
My favorite poem was "life Doesn't Frighten Me" I chose this poem because it relates to me and the only time I'm scared is when I'm dreaming.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The first poem, "Mother to Son" is about a mother telling her son to keep trying and don't give up.
The second poem, "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is about a girl that says she isn't scared of anything.
I like “Mother to Son” better because I connect to it a lot. For example, in soccer when a girl just stole the ball I run after her as fast as I can, but I start to get tired. I don't stop though. I keep going. This poem sends a really good message, and the message is when life gets hard don’t stop trying. The mother said, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” Even though it didn't rhyme it still had a great flow.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The first poem is "Mother to Son." The poem is about a mom telling her son life isn't always going to be a crystal stair and that sometimes you have to persevere through hard times to get to good times.
The second poem is about a girl that clearly states that life doesn't scare her.
I choose "Life Doesn't Frighten Me." I choose it because it tells people not to be afraid and face their fear. I also choose it because it inspires me to face my fear and not be afraid.
Your Student,
Grant
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The poem “Mother to Son” tells you that sometimes you have struggles and hard times in life, but you should keep going and not give up.
I think the poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” is about a girl who is strong, brave, and is not scared of her future.
I pick “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” because I like how it rhymes and repeats That doesn’t scare me. I also like that it is a little make-believe.
The first poem, Mother to Son, the mother is explaining to her son that life is not always easy. For instance, she says, “Life ain’t a crystal stair.”
The second poem is Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. It is about someone that I infer is a girl because she said, “And the boys pull my hair.” She is talking about how nothing scares her at all.
I think the better of the two is Mother to Son. I think that because it is very deep and meaningful. I love how she explains to her son how life is not always easy. So, that means you should try your best to get through the hard times and get to the easy times.
Mother to Son" is about a mother telling her son that life will be good and bad, but don't give up. The moral is to never give up.
"Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is about how life isn't scary and you should make good things out of bad things. Think positive!
I like "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" because it rhymes and there are short little phrases in each line which make it flow smoothly. I also like it's meaning because when you make good things out of bad things your life is more fun. I also sort of like how there isn't as much punctuation, so it flows quicker.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The first poem I read was called,"Mother to Son." The meaning is that you should never give up.
The second poem I read was called, "Life Doesn't Frighten Me." The meaning is that the girl doesn't get frightened by her life.
The poem I picked was, "Life Doesn't Frighten Me." I picked the poem because I can relate to the poem. I can relate to the poem because I don't get scared of my life either. There are a lot of times where the poem has repetition. One of the reasons why I chose this poem is because of the rhyming. The rhyming was in the majority of the poem. I can visualize every comparison in the poem. For example,"Shadows on the wall, noises down the hall, life doesn't frighten me at all."
The first poem, "Mother to Son," is about a mother who is telling her son that life isn't always going to be perfect all the time, and that when it's hard you just have to keep pushing.
The second poem, "Life Doesn't Frighten," is about a boy that won't get frightened if anything happens to him.
My favorite Poem was, "Mother to Son." I chose, "Mother to Son, "because it was really deep, it gave you edvice about life, and it rhymed.
Life doesn't frighten me is the person is explaining that not even the most frightening thing will scare them.
Mother to Son is about a mother telling her son that life will never ever, be perfect.
I liked, Life doesn't frighten me more.I liked it more because it rhymes. I also like it because, Maya Angelou was very descriptive, and I understood that she really wasn't afraid of anything.
Your Student,
Sophia
Dear Ms. Sikes,
I read "Mother To Son". It is about a mother telling her son about how her life has been, and that life isn't always going to be easy, but you just have to keep pushing through it even when things get tough in life.
I read "Life Doesn't Frighten Me". It is about a boy who isn't afraid of life, and isn't afraid to try new things. he isn't afraid of anything.
My favorite poem was "Mother To Son". I liked it because it was very descriptive about how hard the mother's life had been, and I liked it because it reminded me of our own lives because when things get hard you just have to persevere through hard times.
Sincerely,
James Dennis
The first poem, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me,” is about a person who has a lot of scary or bad things around them, but they aren't scared because they have trick up there sleeve that keeps them going.
The second poem, “Mother to Son,” is about a mother telling her son that there are ups, and downs in life, but don't give up. That life isn't a crystal stair, but she is still going, and so can he.
I vote for the first poem, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me,” I voted for, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me,” because the words were smooth, rhyming, they fit in your mouth, and weren’t a mouthful. “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me,” has a meaning to me. The meaning is that there are scary things in life, but we have to be brave, and get through it. There is no turning back in life, once you cross the start line you have to finish to the end.
I didn’t choose, “Mother to Son,” because I don’t like how the author worded it, it wasn’t smooth. It doesn’t have as big a meaning to me as, “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me,” I like, “Life Doesn't Frighten Me,” better.
Dear ms. Sikes,
The first poam, Mother to Son, was about a mother telling her child to never give up, no matter how hard times are.
The second poam, Life Doesn't Frighten Me, was about a person who isn't afraid of a lot of things.
I chose "Life Doesn't Frighen Me". The reason why I chose Life Doesn't Frighten Me is because it has a great meassage,it rhymes, and it tells the poam in such a great way.
The reason why I didn't choose Mother to Son is because it doesn't have enough information, but it has a great meaning.
The poem", Life Doesn't Frighten Me," is about all the things that do not frighten that person, or what you should not be scared of.
The poem, "Mother to Son," is about how life is not perfect and you just have to keep trying.
I liked, "Mother to Son," better because it has a deeper meaning, and it relates to a real life. I like poems that do not have a lot of rhyme because it is easier to understand. This is one that does not have a lot of rhyme, and very simple to understand. It is also easier to get the deeper meaning.
The 1st poem I read was Life Doesn't Frighten Me. In this poem the person is not afraid of anything. The noises in the hall and the shadows on the wall nothing. They are not afraid of anything.
The 2nd poem I read was called mother to son. In this poem the mother is telling him life is no crystal stair. (Life is not easy).
I choose Life Doesn’t scare Me. Because I think the author used better rhyming. For example hall and wall rhyme.
''The poem, Mother to Son, is about Someone who is saying, life is not easy and it never will be. The poem also tells you to keep trying, and never give up.
The poem Life Doesn't Frighten Me is about someone who is saying the scary things in life don't scare me, and never will.
I choose Life Doesn't Frighten Me to move on because it rhymed, and every rhyme sounded perfect together. This poem relates to me because some parts of life don’t frighten me also.
Dear Ms.Sikies,
The first poem I read was about a boy or girl and using context clues she does not have a big house and someone rang her door bell and left and kids our age call it ding dong ditching.
The second poem I read was Choosing Shoes it was about a girl who was at the shoe store trying to choose what shoes she wants
My favorite poem was Choosing Shoes because it was a lot more exiting than Some one.
Dear Ms. Sikes,
The first poem is "Choosing Shoes". It is about all kinds of choose there are and wich one to choose.
The second poem is "Some One". It is about a small critter's small door being knocked on. But when the critter opens the door, there is no one there.
I chose "Picking Shoes" because I love the ryming. Another reason why is that it's peppy.
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