This is the Year

Page 32-33. 

The body of the poem comes from "Try That in a Small Town" by Jason Aldean.

The city/states in the background are from Wikipedia page "List of mass shootings in the United States in 2023" ranging from July - September.

In All Towns (pages 32-33)

Page 9

Use concrete descriptions to bring abstract concepts to life Abstract: Freedom Concrete: a sun-soaked summer day, arms open to an expanse of blue sky Vary sentence type to engage the reader Simple sentence: Soon, you’ll leave the nest 

Learning Targets for an American 12th Grade Creative Writing Class, Fall 2023 (page 2)

Let Cool Before Serving

It had been 31 years but here she was,selling organic vegetables at the farmers market in Logan Square on a warm Sunday morning.Dave recognized the set of her shoulders and how she was lining up the quarts of cherry tomatoes exactly two inches apart.

Missed Connection at the Logan Square Farmers Market

Patrick Kindig’s "Gum Patrick” is a humorous and relatable exploration of how even the smallest details--in this case, the gum we chew--can elevate our sense of self-esteem and inspire confidence.NOTE: If you teach this,students will ask you for gum.

A Poem to Inspire Confidence and Swagger

Many of us have told our students that annotation is simply “talking back to the text:"stating the first thoughts and questions that come to mind when reading a poem,without fear of judgment or being “wrong.” But how often do we pause and consider...

Found Annotations

I want to write about / my mother’s hands / but I think I am waiting for her / to die first. / Outside the cafe / a man in a blue cap / opens the car door for a girl / wearing Doc Martens / and a purple scrunchy / on a bone snow wrist. / 

My Mother’s Hands

The note I wrote you
was under the table
next to a dust mite
and a crumpled receipt
from the gas station
just down the road.

Did you notice
how long I lingered,
my nose pressed against your neck...

Sticky Note Aubade 

Page 15

First: you notice the rolling whites of eyes, a glint of amber irises between branches. Then: the startling pink of velvet nostrils, steam from a huffed exhale, a bramble twisted in matted fur. Retreat with timid backward steps.

Jessica Sherburn

Selected work