Below are award winning pieces from last school year. New pieces are coming soon!
Below are the two award winning pieces from the 2015-16 Florida state poets association student contest
This poem, by Abbi N., won 2nd place statewide for 8th graders.
It will be forwarded to a national poetry contest, printed in an anthology and it even earned Abbi a check for $15. Not bad!
Black and White
I want to see in color
Rather than black and white
So I can tell the difference between
The drifting clouds and cigarette smoke
I want to see the difference between
The dripping red slushies and my own blood
I need to see the difference between
The dusty Halloween decorations hanging from the frayed ropes of my attic's ceiling
And the rotting bodies of the ones I've hurt that sleep under my bed
I need to tell the difference between
My life and the nightmares that make their homes in my head
I want to see in color
Rather than black and white
So I can tell
What's real and what's insanity
And now, here's Codi P's poem.
She won an honorable mention in the 7th grade category!
October
I can't describe
how much I love
The month of October
With bloodcurdling screams
And horrific monsters
Around every corner
The trees turn
Fiery colors
Their leaves in loud protest
Not ready to leave home yet
Goofy jack-o-lanterns
Gleam orange
Under the sun
With friendly, toothless grins
That turn into sinister smiles
Under the moon
Spider webs and skeletons
Adorn every house
And spooky decorations
Turn cute cottages
Into witch lairs
Kids turn into fairies and pirates
As they roam the streets
Under the stars
Scavenging their bags
With delectable desserts
And every year
When October rolls around
Brining spooky tricks
And sugary treats
I remember how much
I love October
It will be forwarded to a national poetry contest, printed in an anthology and it even earned Abbi a check for $15. Not bad!
Black and White
I want to see in color
Rather than black and white
So I can tell the difference between
The drifting clouds and cigarette smoke
I want to see the difference between
The dripping red slushies and my own blood
I need to see the difference between
The dusty Halloween decorations hanging from the frayed ropes of my attic's ceiling
And the rotting bodies of the ones I've hurt that sleep under my bed
I need to tell the difference between
My life and the nightmares that make their homes in my head
I want to see in color
Rather than black and white
So I can tell
What's real and what's insanity
And now, here's Codi P's poem.
She won an honorable mention in the 7th grade category!
October
I can't describe
how much I love
The month of October
With bloodcurdling screams
And horrific monsters
Around every corner
The trees turn
Fiery colors
Their leaves in loud protest
Not ready to leave home yet
Goofy jack-o-lanterns
Gleam orange
Under the sun
With friendly, toothless grins
That turn into sinister smiles
Under the moon
Spider webs and skeletons
Adorn every house
And spooky decorations
Turn cute cottages
Into witch lairs
Kids turn into fairies and pirates
As they roam the streets
Under the stars
Scavenging their bags
With delectable desserts
And every year
When October rolls around
Brining spooky tricks
And sugary treats
I remember how much
I love October
below are a few fun responses from a recent writing prompt students did. they were asked to come up with 5 creative uses for a pencil (other than a writing implement) and then to incorporate all uses in an original piece. Everyone's piece had to begin with...
Whenever I'm asked to...
Whenever I'm asked to do homework, I can't focus because my pencil can be used for many things... I put my two pencils up to the clock trying to make time go by faster pretending they are clock hands. Then I need some fresh air, so I prop open the window with them. Then it starts raining, so now I'm in a tumble. But then, I find hope by looking over to my pencils. I use one as a shoehorn to get my rain boots on. I grab a paperclip and pull a thread from my coat. I play fisherman in a puddle outside. The humidity isn't enough to curl my hair so I use my pencils instead.
So much for doing homework!
By Sophie F. (Beginning Writing student)
Whenever I'm asked to clean my room I always find a lot of pencils. I usually try to play while cleaning my room. I look at what the pencil could be instead of a writing utensil. As I do this, I use things in my room to figure out if my ideas work.
I once took a water bottle with a little bit of water and took a long pencil, put it in the water and froze it. This idea, although unsanitary, actually seemed to work like a popsicle stick.
Another way I used a pencil was when I was cleaning around my desk in my room. I found a lot of paper laying around and it was very unorganized. So, I decided to file them in a spare binder. The papers didn't have holes, so I used the pencil to poke holes.
When I was young, I didn't get to have play makeup so I tried to make my own with craft supplies. (Very dangerous! Do NOT try this at home!) I was desperate so I took my pencil and tried to make eyeliner.
I always used to find boxes or old packages so I also used pencils to cut them open and I don't remember ever doing THIS but you could use a pencil as a defense device.
All and all, pencils have many uses!
By Skylar S. (Beginning Writer)
Whenever I'm asked to play with my little brother, he doesn't want to play with his toys! He wants to play with the pencils on my desk but he doesn't know how to write yet. So, I figure out ways to use a pencil but not for writing.
My first idea was as a helicopter. You put an eraser on it and go outside to try it out. I did but the eraser flew off and hit my brother in the head. So I moved on to my next idea to use them to eat plain noodles - like chopsticks. He got frustrated and started crying. Next, I tried using them as a hair curler, but he doesn't have enough hair to curl. So, I let him curl my hair! Now I have a bald spot on my head, but hey, it looks good.
Next, I was going to use it as a mixing stick but the food we made tasted like wood - so, no on that idea.
The last idea actually worked only because he was a boy. We had a sword fight. Yea, sure, I got scratched a couple of times but other than that I was OK. He won every time.
Now you understand my struggles but also you know how to use pencils creatively!
By Abigail G. (Beginning Writer)
So much for doing homework!
By Sophie F. (Beginning Writing student)
Whenever I'm asked to clean my room I always find a lot of pencils. I usually try to play while cleaning my room. I look at what the pencil could be instead of a writing utensil. As I do this, I use things in my room to figure out if my ideas work.
I once took a water bottle with a little bit of water and took a long pencil, put it in the water and froze it. This idea, although unsanitary, actually seemed to work like a popsicle stick.
Another way I used a pencil was when I was cleaning around my desk in my room. I found a lot of paper laying around and it was very unorganized. So, I decided to file them in a spare binder. The papers didn't have holes, so I used the pencil to poke holes.
When I was young, I didn't get to have play makeup so I tried to make my own with craft supplies. (Very dangerous! Do NOT try this at home!) I was desperate so I took my pencil and tried to make eyeliner.
I always used to find boxes or old packages so I also used pencils to cut them open and I don't remember ever doing THIS but you could use a pencil as a defense device.
All and all, pencils have many uses!
By Skylar S. (Beginning Writer)
Whenever I'm asked to play with my little brother, he doesn't want to play with his toys! He wants to play with the pencils on my desk but he doesn't know how to write yet. So, I figure out ways to use a pencil but not for writing.
My first idea was as a helicopter. You put an eraser on it and go outside to try it out. I did but the eraser flew off and hit my brother in the head. So I moved on to my next idea to use them to eat plain noodles - like chopsticks. He got frustrated and started crying. Next, I tried using them as a hair curler, but he doesn't have enough hair to curl. So, I let him curl my hair! Now I have a bald spot on my head, but hey, it looks good.
Next, I was going to use it as a mixing stick but the food we made tasted like wood - so, no on that idea.
The last idea actually worked only because he was a boy. We had a sword fight. Yea, sure, I got scratched a couple of times but other than that I was OK. He won every time.
Now you understand my struggles but also you know how to use pencils creatively!
By Abigail G. (Beginning Writer)