We are one

Sitting on a plane
Black couple seem different
Souls as one with me

by Atalia Soliai

I am a student of caregiver's literacy class at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, in Otara, Manukau City, New Zealand.

For Sale

Trade me for a Car
Just feed me, love me, save me
I’ll take you anywhere

by Dianne
Caregiver's Literacy Course
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Otara, South Auckland, New Zealand

Loosing Control

Parents not aware,
Fists are high, emotions low,
Kids watching and scared.

by Diane
Parent Literacy Class
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Otara, South Auckland, New Zealand

Close To You

Rainbows appear bright.
Just when skies are darkened grey.
Feel God near by you.

by Loise
Parent Literacy Class
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Otara, South Auckland, New Zealand

Canterbury

Sister plays Rugby
Rally cheers Canterbury
Auckland is mourning

by Lee
Caregiver's Literacy Course
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Otara, South Auckland, New Zealand

reading faces

In response to reflective reading anonymous wrote:

Could we pick a non-book? As a non-practitioner, I find this poem by Barbara Adler very moving. It tells the story in words and pictures of Florence's experience in a literate world. I'd like everyone who wonders "What do you mean, there's a literacy problem?" to see it. It's here and you need to turn on your speakers to hear it.

Thanks Anonymous. I have never seen this before. I am going to use it in my ESL Literacy for ESL teachers workshop.

Saying who we are

Hello.

I thought I'd add a poem about saying who we to this crazy wisdom. Saying who we are seems like an important part of literacy work to me. Sometimes we discover who we are by saying it. But, of course, we have to keep saying it, and saying it differently, learning by saying.


Saying who we are

We’ve built
shelves for
grief,

containers
for need,

tried to stop
wanting more
than we have.

but we still
want, need,
grieve.

We can
die, become
the coolness
that clings
to the earth
at night,

or say
who we are.