Mr. Ivan, The Principal Poet
Bringing Elephants
To School
My class is doing "Show 'n Tell,"
And us kids like that a lot;
We get to bring amazing things
We've found and own and bought.
Next week's topic is "My Pet."
And we bring 'em to our grade
To show off to our classmates
In a big ol' pet parade!
Billy's got an ant farm,
And Sally's pet's a cat.
Freddy's got a puppy,
Mike's got a nice white rat.
Some kids will just bring pictures
Of the pets they dream about
And talk about their "photo pets",
But that's boring…there's no doubt.
This project's got me thinking BIG…
Compared to Billy's ants.
So I up and told by buddies
That I own an elephant!
Now I don't really own an elephant,
But that is what I said,
So now I've got to get one
Or my reputation's dead.
I've got to check out pet stores
And the circus and the zoo
To see if they would lend me
An elephant or two.
If I can pull this pet thing off
And bring an elephant with me,
They'll talk about my "Show 'n Tell"
For years…I guarantee!
But just in case some accident
Pops up to mess my plan:
I'll bring along some rope and say
My pet got loose…and ran.
Copyright © 2006 Ivan Kershner, reprinted with permission.
Meet Ivan Kershner
Ivan Kershner, known to students and colleagues alike as Mr. Ivan, has been writing poetry for more than 40 years. During that time he has also been an English teacher in Wyoming, a high school principal in Nebraska and Colorado, an assistant superintendent in Nebraska, and a middle school assistant principal in charge of curriculum and instruction in South Carolina. In 1995, Mr. Ivan received a National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. He also received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education from Colorado's governor, Roy Romer. Schools or teachers wishing to contact Mr. Ivan may reach him at kershneri@anderson1.k12.sc.us.
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Article by Ivan Kershner
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World
08/18/2006 |
