1. Welcome! January 10th, 2018 Wednesday
Do Now
Find your seats! If you don’t remember where you sit, ask me.
Write the date at the top of a new page in your journal.
Once the bell rings, begin the freewrite.
Prompt: Take a line from the last song you heard, make it the first line of a story, and write for a five minutes. GO!

2. “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon
As we read, be sure to mark:
At least one part that resonates with you (by underlining it)
One part that you have a question about (with a question mark)
At least one piece figurative language that sticks out to you (by circling it)

3. “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon
After you read, respond to the following prompts underneath your Do Now:
When you hear “self-portrait,” what do you normally think of? What does a self-portrait usually have?
How does Lyon’s poem fit a “self-portrait”? How does it differ from a typical self-portrait?
How would Lyon’s poem have been different if it had literally been about where she is from (her hometown or her childhood home)? Would it have been a better or worse poem? Explain.

4. Where I’m from poem
In the poem we just read, the poet digs deep to find examples that are at the essence of her identity. We’re going to do the same by breaking down the sources of inspiration from our own lives.
4. Freewrite for Five Minutes: What do you consider home? You can focus on relationships where you feel at “home,” important interactions with those you love, the house you grew up in, places in your neighborhood that are important to you, objects that are important to you… Whatever is familiar to you, important to you, and defines you in some way.

5. “Where I’m from” poem
5. Now, we’re going to break down our inspiration into a few categories related to “home.” Copy down the chart below, but fill it with items from your own life. Be sure to include sensory details and to only include items you believe are important – things that make you “you.” (Note: You don’t have to use the same categories as me.)
Meaningful Objects at Home
Places in my Neighborhood
Sayings (from myself, friends, or family)
Interactions with Family/Friends
Broken, lace-covered jewelry box from my grandmother
Caputo’s Bakery that smells like bread every time I walk by
“What’s the worst that can happen?”
My mom’s weary smile when I come home for Christmas

6. Where You’re from poem
5 (continued). Expand your list think about how you will include some of the items in your poem. Once you have at least three examples in each column that you want to include, you’re ready to write the actual poem!
6. First, start each line with “I’m from.” Then pull an example from two different columns and put them on the same line.
My example:
I’m from Caputo’s Bakery that smells like bread every time I walk by and ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’
I’m from My mom’s weary smile when I come home for Christmas and the broken, lace-covered jewelry box from my grandmother

7. Where You’re from poem
Once you have a working rough draft, trade with a partner. For your partner’s poem:
7. Identify at least one part that really resonates with you. In the margins, tell them what specifically you like about.
8. Identify at least one part where you would like to see more detail, sensory imagery, or figurative language. Make one specific suggestion about what they could do to improve their poetic language.
9. Even if you wouldn’t change a thing, make one suggestion for restructuring the poem. Do you think a certain line would work better at the end? How would the poem be impacted if you switched two lines?

8. Where You’re from poem
10. View your partner’s suggestions and begin writing your final draft.
At this point, don’t feel confined by the structure of the poem. If you want to add or remove certain lines, feel free – this is your poem. 