IN

THE
TRENCHES
Poems from the Front Lines
of a 7th Grade Writers Workshop
FOREWORD
The following is a collection of poems that I wrote during my
first year as a 7th grade Reading & Writing teacher. Each day
of the Spring semester, my Writing class started with 10
minutes of devoted writing time, a daily routine we called
Sacred Writing Time (as championed by Corbett Harrison of
Always Write). It garnered them one point each day if they
fully participated.

The task was simple:

Write for 10 solid minutes in your notebook about anything
you want.
No talking.
No daydreaming.
No bathroom breaks.
No fidget spinners.
Any topic. 10 minutes solid.
Dont think. Just write.

Each and every day, my own Writers Notebook was also

opened, and I joined my students in the single most
successful thing I chose to implement in my class.

I havent included every entry I wrote during this time. I did

challenge myself to write one haiku each day, so youll find a
lot of those in this collection. I have presented everything in
chronological order, and fellow educators will recognize the
emotional roller coaster ride that comes with each passing
2
 day, week, month, quarter, and report card. Most days, a
notebook page found itself the unsuspecting victim,
witnessing and testifying to the trials and tribulations of first-
year teachingand middle schoolers.

My Writers Notebook became, therefore, both therapist and

historian. It accumulated what I can only describe as
momentary glimpses through my amateur educator eyes -
moments reflective of that roller coaster ride with all the
accompanying snarky commentary on the irritating
idiosyncrasies and the celebrations of small, quiet triumphs.

This is what its like when you try to get seventh graders to
make their pencils dance.
- Mrs. Dexter

3
WERE GOING OUTSIDE TODAY!
January 30

The screeches of pre-teens echo off the

surrounding hills.
Immaturity reigns proudly from its throne.
Childhood unleashed from its chains--
Too long since it has run free.

4
OFF-TASK
January 31

Freddie whispers to
Donnie even though he knows
that points will be lost.

The world is happy

when we dream and when Laurie
puts pen to paper.

Your conversation
disturbs my writing process --
Cant you wait for break?

5
LESSONS ON HUMANITY
February 1

To see ourselves in others

To recognize that each and every one of us has
similar
struggles
successes
losses
gains
heartbreaks
warm fuzzies
wounds
scars
hopes
wishes
dreams
fears

6
To be human is to look another human in the eye
and say,

I know.

7
RISING TEMP
February 2

Just because I dont yell,

doesnt mean Im not mad.
My insides might be boiling
an unwatched pot
about to spill over.
Put a lid on it
so I can simmer down.

8
WRITERS BLOCK
February 3

I hate blank notebooks.

Do you have nothing to say?
I dont believe you.

9
CRIME & PUNISHMENT
February 6
You have one job. Thats it.
Its not that hard. Its not like we are asking too much
or making unreasonable demands
or inflicting some cruel and unusual punishment.

REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS:

A wooden or plastic writing utensil
A book with words in it (Maybe even with
pictures!)
Your body (Maybe even with the brain turned on!)

REQUIRED FOR TEACHERS:

Names memorized
Lesson with different learning activities so
students can access the curriculum
Backup lessons in mind and/or printed out
An idea of how this lesson fits in with the topic, the
week, the unit, the quarter, the semester, the
year, the districts curriculum, the state standards,
the level of development, & students prior
knowledge & abilities.
Every supply imaginable (most of the time,
something that the student should already have
but doesnt).
A safe and inviting classroom environment
Pleasing & helpful visual aids.

10
 A classroom management plan & discipline
routine.
The patience of a saint.
The capacity to repeat what I said less than a
minute ago without losing my mind.
The ability to know if you really need to go to the
bathroom or if you just want to check your phone,
meet up with your bestie, makeout with your
boyfriend, do interpretive dance in the hallways,
smoke in the bathroom stall, start a riot, etc.
The teacher look.
A healthy dose of insanity.
Love.
Love.
Love.
Q3 REFUEL
February 8

All the other teachers that I have had never taught

me anything like you do.
Thanks for getting me through the school year
Ive never had a teacher like you.

11
Thank you for reading and writing class they
have been the best reading & writing class I have
ever had.
Without you, I wouldnt be alive right now.
You inspire me each day to become better.
I have made the decision to become an English
teacher because of you.

12
3RD HOUR
February 9

noisy, determined
talking, typing, getting out of their seats
foreign languages, hidden screens, missing work,
questionable excuses
working, asking, fixing
stressed, desperate
extra credit?

7TH HOUR
February 9

social, creative

13
coming late, leaving early, blurting out, watching
the clock
side conversations, jokes, laughter, vulnerability
writing more, challenging, stretching
exciting, daring
best way to end my day

14
DANCE OF THE NUMBER TWOS
February 15

Free-writing foxtrot --
dot the I and cross the T --
ideas turned dancers.

Pencils waltzing --
graphite choreography --
stories in tutus.

15
6:59AM
February 21

Classroom this morning --

Notebooks tossed, supplies strewn across
Ah yes, substitute.

2:59PM

16
Day winds to a close --
Dreams of afterschool freedom.
How much time is left?

17
FAKER
February 22

Writing on laptop?
Your fingers glide on mouse pad.
Hmmm, how strange that is.

18
ANTICIPATION
February 23

Thursday is a tease
On the tip of its tongue,
Friday sits and waits.

19
COINCIDENCE
February 23

Hiccups in the air

Take a deep breath; hold it in
Youll hiccup no more.

YOU have hiccups, too?!

Thats the most hilarious
cry for attention.

20
CUSTODIAN
February 24

Writing explosion --
Its all over your notebooks--
please dont clean that up.

21
CRINGEY
February 24

Reading your old stuff

The teaching mistakes Ive made.
Do you forgive me?

22
I HATE RHYMING POEMS
February 27

Nine weeks
have gone by,
Youre not writing,
tell me why!
You choose not to write
every day,
Do you really have nothing to say?
I dont believe that,
It cant be true,
You have a million ideas
Inside of you!
Let them out,
No need to fight,
So pick up your pen
And start to write!
FORCING IT
February 27

Forcing the happy

Shove my stupid smile back on
Can you see through me?
REGRETS
February 28

End of the quarter

The gradebook full of zeroes
Why do I feel bad?

In a hurry! Rush! Rush!

Missing assignments? Oh no!
No more study hall?

Last week of quarter

Work days gone by, mostly unused.
All that time wasted.
ON FIRE
March 6

I am on fire today.
Cool,
Calm,
Collected,
Composed,
Convivial,
yet
Eager,
Eloquent,
Enthusiastic,
Entertaining.

Even Shelley was on task (almost) the whole hour!

CONTROL FREAK(OUT)
March 6

I have absolutely no idea what to do

about the disrespect
and disruptive behavior.
Out of control?
Did I have any in the first place?
CHECKING ATTENDANCE
March 24

I struggle, but I show up.

Some days, I am frazzled;
some days, I am cool and collected.
Some days are engaging;
some days are dull.
Most nights, I work extra long hours;
some nights, I have nothing left to give.
Some nights, I lie awake worrying about you;
some nights, yall are the last things on my mind.
Some days, I just wanna hug each of you.
some days, I just wanna punch you in the face.
I struggle, but I show up.

You will struggle, too.

And on those days when you dont show up,
Ill wonder if youre REALLY sick
or if you just didnt wanna get outta bed that day
or if your world is impossible to bear that day
or if youve been taken away by someone that day
(which would make MY world impossible to bear).
And some days, youll show up but your brain
wont,
and itll be off somewhere else
(sometimes in more important places than school)
and Ill have to repeat myself a lot --
I might even have to yell --
but I know that your brain will come back.

And on some days, your heart wont show up

maybe because it has been broken
maybe because its run off with your brain
maybe because its aching to be with someone else
maybe because some days, pumping your blood is
all it can handle.
But Ill still push you,
even on those days where your brain doesnt show
up
or your heart,
or on those rare occasions, both.
And Ill still have high expectations
and demand respect even thought I might not get
it from you
and Ill be disappointed when I enter zeroes
or find an assignment half-completed
or a notebook empty
And some days, you may hate me
resent me
dread me
But Ill still show up until your brain and heart
return to me again.

And so on those days when you struggle,

Know that I am always struggling, too.
Sometimes Im just struggling to make it through
my day,
But most of the time,
Im just struggling to help you make it through
yours.
ILL JUST WAIT
March 29

I wait for silence

Paper airplane flies past me
No spit wads, at least.

My voice is drowned out

By twenty 12-year-olds who
think worlds stop for them.
PUSHOVER
March 30

I am carpet
and grass
and sidewalk
and bathmat
and welcome rug.
I am worn-in
and trampled
and broken
and threadbare.
Wipe your feet on me
and dont forget to cha-cha.
LESSONS IN PRIVILEGE
April 11

Car keys clenched between

Each knuckle of my right hand
Boys will never know.

Cat calls from strangers

Afraid for my own life I
Politely thank them.

Blonde hair and blue eyes

The world at my fingertips
All I did was breathe.

Write white and read white

The pages stare back at me
Mirror reflection.
TRIGGERED
April 22

I hope she never has to hide,

curled up in the corner
of a handicapped bathroom stall,
waiting for the coast to be clear
& the insults to fade.

I hope she never has to be afraid

of Friday night pre-game skits
where football players use her mistakes as fodder.

I hope she never has to feel the cold metal

of a hallway locker meet her temple
or the Prom Queens fingers
entangled in her hair.

I hope she doesnt have to

avoid the bathroom mirror
that reflects her shame & her torturers.

I hope she never has

this much hurt
that cannot be forgotten.
WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN
May 7

Believe in your authority.

Discipline early and consistently.
Dont accept late work.
Let them learn the hard way.
They really dont care that much about you.
Dont let them go to the bathroom the first time
they ask.
Utilize the fear of their parents more.
They can rise to the challenge, so challenge them
more.
When they get knocked down, help them build a
stronger foundation.
You wont reach every student.
This is not Dangerous Minds
and youre a far cry from Michelle Pfeiffer.
REPORT CARDS
May 8

Some kids have to fail.

For some, failure is a choice.
For some, failure is an accident.
For some, its an old, familiar friend.
For some, its an abusive partner they are scared to
leave.
For some, its a valuable learning lesson.
For some, its the only thing they have ever known.
For many, failure teaches them
about the sweet taste of success
and the pride in a job well done.
MY KIDS
May 10

When youre a teacher,

every student eventually becomes your kid.
Since August, you have been my surrogate children

I, too, carried you for 9 months.

You are both the reason I wake up
and the reason I go without sleep.

Within these 4 walls, this institution,

and this increasingly strange world we all find
ourselves in --
I have watched you grow,
in front of my eyes and on paper
As your pencils took their first,
trembling,
uneasy steps,
your voice and grammar unsure,
from that graphite lead
stumbled out your first words,
first dreams,
first fears...
first breaths of fresh air...

I have looked on like a proud parent

and, much like that awkward mom in the
supermarket line
with a wallet full of smiles
and soccer games,
I have told anyone who would listen,
These are my kids.
REFLECT
May 15

From August to May --

Oh my! How much you have grown!
Its been an honor.
FIN
May 16

Last day of school

Saying goodbye is easy,
Doing it is hard.