I am an MLL paraprofessional at Northridge Middle School in Middlebury. I've been there since the summer of 2020. MLL means Multiple Language Learner, it's what is normally called English as a Second Language, but the idea is to promote the idea that speaking a second language is not a bad thing, it's an advantage, like a superpower. Anyways, my job consists of accompanying kids that don't speak English as their first language to core classes and being there to help them with explaining, modifying, and helping any way that's needed. I also have two regular classes where I teach 6th and 8th graders and a homeroom class to help them keep up on homework. We also do after-school tutoring a couple of times a week and I also do Spanish Translating for many of the schools in the district.

During my 6th and 8th grade English classes I chose to do Haiku instead of other forms because it's easier for people to use a smaller vocabulary and to learn to create meaningful work without having to build up a robust vocabulary. Since rhyme is not necessary and each piece is so brief, it's much easier to keep their attention and not get bogged down in the sort of poetry that many people dislike. Since haiku are normally nature-based, they tend to let people express deeper truths illustrated by the world outside. Even if you don't particularly try to get people to write about deeper subjects, especially middle schoolers, it still happens as the brain naturally wants to express some of the things underneath it all.

The way I approached teaching Haiku was to first expose students to some classic and funny haiku, and then work on counting syllables through the use of drums and percussion, to help see the musical part of the form, and also to get them more interested in it. After that, we began to work on developing a specialized set of words to work from to give them a natural vocabulary just for this set of haiku. Each class was given a large nature picture-the 8th graders were given a picture of railroad tracks outside of Nappanee and the 6th graders were given a picture of the desert near Las Cruces, New Mexico. We brainstormed and began to list all of the words we could see in the picture, then started talking about all of the things that exist in the desert. Once they had a list developed, they were asked to write six poems with the words from that place in nature. I was very pleased with the results. I actually have some other good poems, but not all of the kids were interested in seeing if these could be published. Maybe next year they will, as this worked out much better than I had imagined.

by John Homan

John Homan is a poet and writer from Elkhart, Indiana. He hosts Word Play, an open mic poetry night at the Bookworm in downtown Elkhart. You can link to Word Play and John Homan’s poetry that appeared in PAN-O-PLY at the bottom of the page.

Vanessa Cortes

6th Grader Northridge Middle School

The Cactus spines are

Very pointy and they hurt

We bleed when we touch

-

The dry wind through the

air the hot touch on the back

The feeling of wind

-

The pretty flowers

Waiting for their destiny

So they can be picked

-

The pebbles burn really

Bad for the hot day today

They cool off at night

-

All the animals are

Waiting to be hunted by

Their hunter’s far away

-

The sunset way too

Far away from the pupil

Can barely see it

Paola Torres Santos
8th grader Northridge Middle School

We say gracefully

Spring arrives with its colors

The flower of time

-

Red moon, white moon, blue

Round distant ascending moon

Festival of light

-

Leaves branches swaying

Trees connecting with nature

gracefully it moves

-

Our mother nature

Nurturing us with wisdom

Connection with peace

-

Colors of blue

Like the sea and the ocean

Colors are unique

-

Calm as a river

My spirit beams light

Peace and quiet reign

Read John Homan's Poetry

Northridge Haiku