Back to School Education for Kids

[DashwoodMedia]

2020 have been a challenging time for the world and now the kids are heading back to school. What do you think about this little poem I wrote for teachers to share with their young students (pre-k to grade 3)?

We are back to school again.
Learning, playing and seeing our friends.
While some of us are back together in a room,
a few of us use teams, zoom and Google Classroom.
This pesky virus is still on our minds,
so we wash real good until our hands shine.
Wear a mask is what the experts say.
Keep your distance, each and everyday.
Be kind to others, it's time to stand tall,
for tomorrow will be brighter and better for all.

Copyright by Dennis Dashwood (Dashwood Media Services) August 6, 2020.

[rowens]

A three year old student is vulgar past consideration. There's also a risk of exposure to obsessive compulsive disorder evident in these lines. If viruses can spread over the internet, why not?
I'd advise some nonclinical playful humor that children can laugh about. The content, should the kids take the time to consider it over the next few days and years, is quite morbid. The first two lines are fine. But it then descends into hand sanitized despair.
I write in this stodgy manner to illustrate just how I mean.

[Valerie Please]

I'm a teacher and Jesus! It's rough out there. Thanks for thinking of us. The poem is nice, the pre-k to grade 3 crowd will like it.

Ooooo, have you thought about writing a little hand washing rhyme? You know, one of those that the kids are supposed to repeat so that they wash their hands long enough. Teachers might also love that. There are songs but I've heard that some schools have banned singing because of the capacity for spreading virus. Which makes me want to crawl under my desk and cry. 

(Teachers would also love wine and plastic partitions as well.)

OK, a few editing things below.

2020 have been a challenging time for the world and now the kids are heading back to school. What do you think about this little poem I wrote for teachers to share with their young students (pre-k to grade 3)?

We are back to school again.
Learning, playing and seeing our friends. (I know there are differing comma rules on this point but here it's: "Learning, playing, and seeing out friends)
While some of us are back together in a room,
a few of us use teams, zoom and Google Classroom. (Consistent capitalization, please : Teams, Zoom, and Google Classroom)
This pesky virus is still on our minds,
so we wash real good until our hands shine. (Since it's school, please use "real well")
Wear a mask is what the experts say.
Keep your distance, each and everyday.
Be kind to others, it's time to stand tall,
for tomorrow will be brighter and better for all. (drop the first "for" you you don't need it)

Copyright by Dennis Dashwood (Dashwood Media Services) August 6, 2020.

[Joyful Noise]

A three year old student is vulgar past consideration. There's also a risk of exposure to obsessive compulsive disorder evident in these lines. If viruses can spread over the internet, why not?
I'd advise some nonclinical playful humor that children can laugh about. The content, should the kids take the time to consider it over the next few days and years, is quite morbid. The first two lines are fine. But it then descends into hand sanitized despair.
I write in this stodgy manner to illustrate just how I mean.

I agree with rowens that the poem would be greatly improved with a more apparent and lighthearted sense of play. Perhaps 1 or 2 puns and/or added ebullient word choice. Especially the last line—a little militaristic and dystopian for my liking. I do really appreciate your obvious attempt to instill practical morals and behaviors, though!

[Torkelburger]

There are a lot of clunky things in the poem that need to be fixed. While I like the internal rhyme of “zoom” and “Classroom”, I do not like rhyming “room” with “Classroom” as two end rhymes. The adjective “pesky” weakens the line it is in. “we wash real good” is improper grammar. “Wear a mask is what the experts say” is improper syntax and is a dead giveaway that the rhyme is dictating the poem instead of the other way around. The proper syntax is “The experts say to wear a mask.” “each and every day” is an unnecessary add-on that is obviously added for no other purpose than forced rhyming. Same with “it’s time to stand tall” (it’s disconnected from “being kind to others” and is an obvious add-on).

[DashwoodMedia]

All of you have very good points. Thank you. I will work on it more.

[Iamrj]

2020 have been a challenging time for the world and now the kids are heading back to school. What do you think about this little poem I wrote for teachers to share with their young students (pre-k to grade 3)?

We are back to school again.
Learning, playing and seeing our friends.
While some of us are back together in a room,
a few of us use teams, zoom and Google Classroom.
This pesky virus is still on our minds,
so we wash real good until our hands shine.
Wear a mask is what the experts say.
Keep your distance, each and everyday.
Be kind to others, it's time to stand tall,
for tomorrow will be brighter and better for all.

Copyright by Dennis Dashwood (Dashwood Media Services) August 6, 2020.

“Ring around the Rosie” comes to mind for me with this, perhaps not so dramatic as that but still has the ring of a warning about it that might stick with kids. It was the nuclear threat and drills that stick with me from early days and I wonder how this remembered childhood poem will age in young minds. I get the positive and intent but young kids have more to worry about than ever so maybe cut out the COVID bit and focus on reuniting and fellowship? Hope that makes sense.

[Lilly123]

2020 have been a challenging time for the world and now the kids are heading back to school. What do you think about this little poem I wrote for teachers to share with their young students (pre-k to grade 3)?

We are back to school again.
Learning, playing and seeing our friends.
While some of us are back together in a room,
a few of us use teams, zoom and Google Classroom. I would switch google classroom and zoom so it rhymes.
This pesky virus is still on our minds,
so we wash really well, good until our hands shine.
Wear a mask is what the experts say.
Keep your distance, each and everyday.
Be kind to others, it's time to stand tall,
for tomorrow will be brighter and better for all.

Copyright by Dennis Dashwood (Dashwood Media Services) August 6, 2020.

This is a great poem!!!