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Mr. Ivan, The Principal Poet

Geography


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My teacher said Geography
is about where stuff is at.
Like towns and lakes and mountains
and places that are flat.
Sometimes teacher spins the globe
then stops it with a tap,
And then we children gather 'round
and gaze upon the map.

Other times, she pulls down maps
from a roll above the board,
And she points to things explorers found
and places they explored.
And once I opened an Atlas
on a shelf in the library
Where I found six maps of Africa
and one of Tennessee.

I guess each place is on a map.
It helps to keep things straight.
Things like countries, oceans, rivers,
mountains, and my state.
It really gets confusing.
There's too much -- I wish she'd stop!
Because all I can remember
is that North is at the top!

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.

Article by Ivan Kershner
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World

08/18/2006