Raps and Rhymes about Primary School Times
A Children's Poetry Anthology
by
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JUST LITTLE ME I’m me, Just little me: The apple of my loving family’s eye. I’m a person, A little person. The things I learn will help me to get by. I’m me, Just little me: It matters not my colour or my creed. I’m a person, A living person. I know if I work hard I shall succeed. I’m me, Just little me: I have to learn to walk before I run. I’m a person, A learning person. I’ll shine more brightly than the rising Sun. I’m me, Just little me: I’ve many gifts and talents you can’t measure. I’m a person, A caring person, A friend with many qualities to treasure. I’m me, Just little me: I may not always come out number one. I’m a person, A special person. I want my education to be fun. I’m me, Just little me: I try, I persevere with grit that’s true. I’m a person, A determined person. I’ll get there in the end, I always do. I’m me, Just little me: I’m more than just a government statistic. I’m a person, A generous person. I give all that I can, so be realistic. I’m me, Just little me: The one who doesn’t always pass the test. But I’m a person, A growing person, The one who always does their ‘Level’ best. I’m me, Just little me: Inspire me and you’ll teach me how to fly. I’m a person, A lovely person. With roots and wings I’ll reach and touch the sky. TEACHER'S BACK! School children come in all shapes and sizes Their craftiness hidden in all sorts of guises, For they can be sorted into several kinds According to the intricate ways of their minds. Each one is unique, some noisy, some shy, Yet they all have a twinkle in the whites of their eye, A small hint of mischief that teachers adore, To make their job interesting and never a bore! First, there’s the dawdler who takes all day long To go ‘you know where’ whilst humming a song. He’s last into class both at lunch and at break And gives the impression he’s just not awake. Then, there’s the fiddler with habits so vile, Who sharpens his pencils into a huge pile, Then breaks up his rubber and picks it to bits, And generally annoys folk wherever he sits. Next, there’s the ear bender, too full of chat, With questions and stories on this and on that, Who waits till your desk has a gigantic queue To come and report what you already knew! The ‘I’ve left my book in my bag, Miss,’ sort, Who never remembers to bring in what he’s brought, And keeps leaving class but never can find Whatever it was that he left behind. The ‘It wasn’t me, it was him’ sort of chap Will always wax innocent, hands on his lap, Acting as if he could never do wrong, Especially when there’s been a bit of a pong…………. There’s always a beaver who never stops working. You won’t catch him chatting, you won’t find him shirking. Reliable, industrious, does his best, you can bet, He always gets on with whatever’s been set. The grumbler or groucher with mind of his own, Will always find something about which to moan. “She nicked my pen, Miss!” and “He kicked my chair!” “You chose her last time, it just isn’t fair!” The shouter is known to bellow out loud, To attract your attention in midst of a crowd. The fidget just loves to be up on his feet: He’s the one whose bum should be glued to his seat! Then there’s a sneaky one who appears to get on, And never once SEEMS to do anything wrong! He always makes sure that he never gets caught For secretly doing what he didn’t ought! Note writers, furtive, will secretly pass Messages round to their friends in the class: “Lyn fancies David, who’s going out with Jane.” “Ben loves Claire Thompson.” “I fancy Jade Lane.” So, be on your guard, for your teacher can see All kinds of behaviours which give you such glee. She hears silent mumblings only too well, And when you pull a fast one, she always can tell! For teachers and pupils are one and the same: They play one another at each other’s game. And just when kids think that they’ve got the knack, It’s ’Not so fast now! TEACHER IS BACK!’ TALL STORIES My teacher gives us homework Twice a week or more. Sometimes it is spellings Or Tables by the score. If you forget to do it, You’re supposed to write a note. It should be from your Mum and Dad, So this is what I wrote: ‘Dear Teacher, we are sorry But Alex was not well. On Friday night his throat was sore, On Saturday, he fell. He sprained his ankle and his wrist, (His writing arm, of course). Though better by the afternoon, He then fell off his horse!’ ‘His leg was really rather bruised, Not to mention his head. And so, the best thing we could do Was pack him off to bed. On Sunday, he rose rather late. At twelve, we went to Church. We then returned, distraught, to find The parrot had died on its perch!’ ‘Poor old Alex was so upset As if you couldn’t guess, And so you see our weekend Really has been such a mess. I sent him to his Gran’s for tea, And there he spent the night. Therefore, his homework isn’t done – I hope this is alright?’ And so my teacher said to me, “What a rotten time you’ve had! But couldn’t you have done your homework At your Gran’s house, my young lad?” ‘Ah well, Miss, Gran’s an active sort, She’s flown off to the moon! I helped her onto the launching pad, She should be there by noon!’ THERE'S A DRAGON IN OUR PLAYGROUND There’s a dragon in our playground. He lives behind a tree. He looks a little scary, But he’s friendly as can be. He’s green with little spots of red. His tail is long and twisty. He grunts and snorts and puffs out smoke Which makes our playground misty. His sparkling eyes are big and round. His nostrils flared and funny. He runs and jumps in leaps and bounds, And he lives on toast and honey. He hibernates in winter months, And wakes up in the Spring, And in the middle of the night, He loves to dance and sing. He comes into our classroom When he wants to read a book, So we put him in a cupboard Where our teacher doesn’t look. Then every day at half-past three When we’re all bleary-eyed, We creep into the cupboard And we take him back outside. We love our little dragon. He’s never far away. We wish he’d never, ever go. We hope he’s here to stay. THE ‘EXCUSE ME MISS’………………………….RAP ‘Excuse me, Miss, but I really think I’m……………’ “Wait a minute, Mary, just get into the line. Now then, Jamie, whatever was I saying? Were you on fractions or was it weighing?” ‘Shape, Miss! You know! Angles and Degrees!’ ‘Excuse me, Miss, but could I please………………’ “I thought I said, ‘Wait’, Mary, it’s not your turn. Acute, not obtuse, Jamie! When will you learn? Angles of triangles always add up to the same – One eighty degrees; now then, who’s next? Ah! Jane!” ‘Excuse me, Miss, but I’ve really got to go……..’ “Yes, Mary! Good, Jane! Three right in a row! And what about your Tables? Eight, nine and ten? You don’t know them fluently, please learn them again! Jessica! Subtraction? Ninety-nine take eight?” ‘Please, Miss, excuse me, before it’s too late……’ “Mary, dear, what is it now? I’m really very busy. Can’t you see I have a queue and next in line is Lizzie? It’s all very well standing there without your book, But how can I help you if I don’t know where to look?” ‘But please, Miss, excuse me, I’ve got to be quick……’ “Not now, dear!” ‘Yes, Miss! I’m going to be SICK!’ “Well don’t just stand there, dear, waiting in the queue. Quickly, get a move on and hurry to the loo! And speak to me in future, Mary, don’t be caught short. As if I wouldn’t listen – well, perish the thought!”
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About the Book
Children are fantastic! They always captivate and surprise us with their great words of wisdom, their wonderful imaginations and all the great things that they do, just some of which have been captured in this excellent collection of poems. ‘Raps and Rhymes about Primary School Times: A Children’s Poetry Anthology’ is cleverly written through the eyes of both children and teachers and it captures, brilliantly, the learning, the fun and the stories that take place in primary schools every day. The poems are rhythmic, bouncy and entertaining and contain an excellent balance of humour, empathy and pathos. The anthology includes raps, narrative poems, limericks, riddles and rhyming tales which provide a rich and humorous insight into school life. This Children’s Poetry Anthology is a must for every classroom – for both children and teachers alike - and a must for every household with children, young and old!
About the Author
Sue Nield is a mother, grandmother and primary school Headteacher who has been writing poetry to engage and capture her pupils' imaginations, for many years. In ‘Raps and Rhymes about Primary School Times: A Children’s Poetry Anthology’, Sue has drawn on her experience of teaching her own children as well as hundreds of 4 to 11 year olds over the years, to create sixty of the best and most memorable poems about school life and primary school learning. Most importantly, Sue’s poetry has been successfully tried and tested on the audience for whom it was intended. Many of the poems have the added bonus of being very helpful to teachers as well: for example, for introducing new topics, preparing a class assembly, for teaching grammar in a lively and interesting way or for simply reading a narrative poem instead of a story at home time. Sue believes that children will always love reading books, in spite of the information super-highway provided by the Internet and a multi-media world. She firmly believes that poetry is a great way to help children learn in an inspiring, meaningful and memorable way whilst enjoying the rhythmic patterns and rhymes in each verse. Poetry is particularly accessible for children who prefer to read less, or for those who prefer pictures to words, because poetry creates its own magical images in every line and, unlike stories or text books, poems are short enough to pick up and put down as you please.