For Cindi & Zach

What did you learn in school today?

That Mrs. Shush is mean!

She is the meanest grown up

That I have ever seen!

Oh dear! What happened?

Who would be mean to my Zach?

Mrs. Shush, that's who, he said

And I'm never going back!

She put the globe I was playing with

Way out of reach on the shelf

Just because I wanted to spin it

And play with it by my self.

Amanda had it long enough

I wanted to have a turn

If I never get to do anything

How am I s'posed to learn?

And she kept me in at recess

And that was so not fair!

I did not want to finish my work

Or practice sitting in my chair.

I don't need to practice sitting

I know how to sit just fine

It just gets very boring

Like standing in her line!

I don't like to sit or stand so long

She's always telling us what to do

Mrs. Shush is very bossy.

I'll just stay home with you.

And you know I'd love to have you

I miss you when you're at school

But you can't drop out of kindergarten

We have to follow the rule.

What did you learn in school today?

Oh boy, I had such fun!

We got to make applesauce

Enough for everyone.

And look, I did my work so well

Mrs. Shush gave me a star

And I got to choose three stickers

Look, look, here they are!

And did you know we got a new kid?

He's from very far away

And he doesn't speak English yet

I helped him lots today.

Mrs. Shush says I'm a good helper

She is very proud of me

Cuz I've learned so much about sitting still

And waiting quietly.

Guess what; I have so many friends

And we all like to play

Tag or football at recess

I was the fastest runner today!

Oh, and I learned about glaciers

Those are great big mountains of ice

And I brought home a library book

And I've already read it twice.

Guess what else? Now that we've

All learned to wait our turns and share

We get to go on a field trip to a farm

They have cows and stuff there!

We get to go on a field trip

We're going on the bus

And the lady at the farm

Is keeping baby chicks for us.

And I'm a very good helper

And a very bright kid too

Mrs. Shush said so today

I love my school, don't you?

The other day I posted this article requesting ideas re: writing for children.... this is one thing I came up with, specifically in response to Cindi P's suggestion.

Shortly after that, I saw a comment Bridget *VERY proud stay at home mom* A, posted re: a kindergarten teacher named Ms. Shush - borrowed the name from her (I hope you don't mind, but it is SUCH a great name for a kindergarten teacher!)

Feedback very welcome....especially if you think tis worth including in my grad school application portfolio ...I have enough of my YA novel that I could include... but thought that if I cut down on the number of pages of that and threw in some other stuff, could sneak in some poetry (only allowed 3 genres of writing, so I can't do poetry as well).

My feelings won't be hurt if you think I'd be better off to leave it out, honest :)