Memorization

I don't know if all 2nd grades are like this but this year in 2nd grade Kayla had to do a lot of public speaking so the teacher would pick poems and the kids would have to memorize them and then say them in front of the class. Hailey, wanting to be just like Kayla, would memorize them along with her and of course, anything the girls are into, Evan is into so I have had a lot of memorization going on this year.

Well this got the girls into reading other poetry books and memorizing poems just for fun - GREAT! It has been a lot of fun listening to them help each other and have fun together "learning" (shhh, don't tell them).

So Evan has managed to memorize a poem and loves to repeat it over and over and over again. Normally I would be really excited for him and encourage him but . . . I don't really like the poem he has chosen. It goes like this:

Gardener

We gave you a chance
To water the plants.
We didn't mean that way -
Now zip up your pants.

And he really LOVES to emphasize that last line. There is nothing like going through a store with a 3 year old shouting "NOW ZIP UP YOUR PANTS." It really is a very humbling experience. We are working on learning a new poem but so far he really likes this one. All I can say is:

"Thank you Shel Silverstein, thank you"