15 Years! A Place! A Poetry Peek!

The Poem Farm is 15 years old tomorrow.

How lucky I feel to have been an in-person-and-virtual-visitor to classrooms, a reader of student and adult poems, and a part of this wise blogging community. My first poem at The Poem Farm, on March 29, 2010, was titled Spring. This space was meant to last for one month...yet here we are. I feel so much gratitude and love. And now...poetry.

Illustration from A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS

Painting by Jamey Christoph

Students - In just a couple of days, bookstore shelves will welcome this new Eerdmans book, A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS: MULTICOLORED POEMS FOR A MULTICOLORED WORLD with poems selected by Matt Forrest Esenwine and illustrations by Jamey Christoph. Divided into sections - Rainbows of Light, Rainbow Waters, Living Rainbows, Rainbows of Rock, and Rainbows Beyond - this book celebrates the joy and surprise of all kinds of rainbows, and each poem is accompanied by a scientific sidebar offering a few interesting facts.

My poem is about the Caño Cristales, a Columbian river I had never heard of before, a river sometimes called the "River of Five Colors" or the "Liquid Rainbow" because of the way it sometimes looks just like a flowing rainbow. A special aquatic plant named Rhyncholacis clavigera grows in this river, and this plant changes the river's colors change based on the temperature, rainfall, other interplay of other living things, and sunlight at any given time....so occasionally, it's rainbow-y!

I often write about things I know about or have experienced, and I have never visited Columbia, so it was interesting to once again dive into a bit of research-before-writing. It was also fabulous to travel to a new place in my mind, to read about and study photographs of a beautiful wonder so far from where I live. You might wish to do this - write about somewhere you have never been or maybe never even heard of. While I was assigned to write about this river, you might assign yourself a place by opening an atlas or a nature book to any page. Close your eyes, open the book, open your eyes...and there's your place. Bon voyage!

In terms of crafting, you might write in the voice of your place (we call this a mask or apostrophe poem)....or you, too, might notice one word that hopes to stand alone on a line because it's so important. Did you notice how I gave Color! its own line in this poem? I did so because I hope that readers will pause their reading around that word. This is why I left a lot of space around it. I also chose to have my river share a message at the poem's end - feel free to try that if it sounds like fun to you. What message would your place like to share with humans?

It is such a joy to welcome Mrs. Melinda Harvey's imaginative fourth grade writers from Iroquois Intermediate School to The Poem Farm today! Below you may read their poems inspired by IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY: POEMS OF POSSIBILITY, the new book with poems selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters and illustrations by Olivia Sua. I shared my poem from this book a couple of weeks ago, and now feel fortunate to make space for these thoughtful IF poems.

Click the Left Right Corner to Enlarge

These poems made me wonder about so many things, so much so that I have started an I WONDER page in my notebook. Thank you, Mrs. Harvey, and thank you, poets! 

Thank you to Marcie for hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at Marcie Flinchum Atkins as she welcomes her new book ONE STEP FORWARD, "a YA historical fiction novel in verse about Matilda Young -- the youngest American suffragist imprisoned for picketing the White House to demand women's right to vote." Congratulations, Marcie! Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

May your week ahead be full of surprises...and vibrant color too.

xo,

Amy

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Welcome Poets & Happy Summer!

Many schools near me are ending their year this week, and so today I celebrate them by celebrating some young poets.  Thank you to the teachers and young writers who share these poems with all of us.

First, I am happy to introduce Third Grade Teacher Linda Crofts and Poet Alison Pynn from DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, NY.  Welcome, Linda and Alison!

Amy gave a high energy, engaging presentation to my third grade class. She got the students so pumped up, as soon as we got back to class I had the students pull out their journals to write about it. Some wrote poems and showed an interest in writing more, so the next day I pulled up The Poem Farm. We read some of the poems as well as her tips on writing. The students loved the idea that they did not have to write full sentences in poetry!

I asked each student to write a poem that I could put together in a classroom book. My input was simply to help them with spelling and give ideas on where the lines should break. I was blown away by the power of some of their ideas. I feel Alison's poem encourages readers to look more deeply instead of just taking things at face value. Also the question in her poem is one most children wonder about other families.

The Wall

There is a wall in my class.

The wall is boring.

Nothing to see.

But the wall is not just a wall.
The wall has a window.

But out that window

you can see

a home.

And in that home lives a family

so strong and

bright.

Who knows

if they ever fight.

by Alison Pynn

Alison's advice for poets is: I would look outside or behind me. Then I would write what I saw in poems and add a bit of fantasy. That means stuff I don't see. But not all my poems have a bit of stuff I don't see.  

Thank you, Alison, for your words and for this advice.  So much of poetry is looking beyond what we normally think about, asking questions and taking time to consider the world.

Today I am also pleased to welcome Kristine Baccaro and her fifth grade poets from Jefferson Avenue Elementary in Fairport, NY.  Please note both thoughtfulness and playfulness in these words and pictures.

Click the Box Above to Enlarge

Click the Arrows to Advance Slides

I can think of no better way to end the school year here at The Poem Farm than by sharing the work of young people.  How lucky I am to learn from them, in person...and on paper.

Happy happy summer to all!  I will still be here on Fridays throughout the summer, and I am also still scheduling author assemblies and writing residencies for 2019-2020.  Thank you for visiting.

You can read my Friday post celebrating Joy Harjo, our new Poet Laureate, HERE.

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A Poem for Earth & a Peek

A Read Aloud for Earth

by Amy LV

Students - I believe in science, and today's poem was inspired by the activism of so many young people raising their voices for our planet and today, speaking out and striking in over 1500 events across the world. Sixteen-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg is in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize for her climate change activism, and Poetry Friday host Heidi teaches us all about this issue today at her blog my juicy little universe.

From Twitter

Sometimes writing grows from a belief held by a writer.  I hold the belief that we ought to care for this beautiful blue and green ball, and I am grateful for those who help us learn how to take care of it. To write this poem, I did a little bit of research at NASA's Climate Kids and at the David Suzuki Foundation.

What do you believe is important?  What are you willing to stand up for?  These thoughts are always excellent writing wells from which to draw.  Small can be strong.  Never forget this.

Well, I am a very lucky person.  Not only do I get to write...but I also have the chance to meet many young writers.  The other week I visited Clarence Center Elementary in Clarence, NY, and when I walked toward the library, I saw poems everywhere!  There were poems on the walls and poems hanging from the ceiling.  It was delightful!

Many of these displayed poems were written by Michelle Layer's fifth grade class, and they kindly put them together for me to share with you here.  Note how these writers experimented with different writing styles, even finding the idea to craft like/dislike poems when they read my likes and dislikes.  These poets, their teacher, and I had a little chat at the end of the day and, too, a glorious group hug.  Thank you to each one, and thank you to their wise, caring teacher, Michelle Layer, for sharing their words with me...and with all of us.

Please feel free to enlarge these Slides presentations if you wish to see the poems - and graphics - larger.

Again, many thank yous to these generous (and so sweet!) poets.

It is a pleasure to host teacher and writer Brett Vogelsinger over at my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, this month.  Please drop by to read his post about notebook poetry drafting...and to be entered into a cool notebook giveaway as well.

Again, thank you to Heidi who is hosting today's Poetry Friday #youthclimatestrike roundup over at my juicy little universe, a post full of truth, wisdom, inspiration, and action. Please know that the Poetry Friday community shares poems and poemlove each week, and everyone is invited to visit, comment, and post.  And if you have a blog, we welcome you to link right in with us.

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If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

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Stepping into Summer...

The Poem Farm Pasture

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Each morning that I walk around our back pasture, a mama bluebird darts from this house you see above.  She does not want me to know about or to disturb her babies. Earlier in the season, she would fly as close to my head as possible, trying to frighten me away.  I wish she knew that I will never harm her or her children.

Today's poem is simply about a daily moment in my life during this season.  It is important for me to go outside and to do things - to experience the small majesties of the seasons and to pay close attention to what I see and think.  Sometimes children ask about why I do not have a television or video games, and my best answer is because I know how short life is, I know how addictive such things are, and I wish to save any little brain and heart and soul space for the people and animals and things that mean the most to me.

Writing about bluebirds today made me think about a poem from my new book, WITH MY HANDS: POEMS ABOUT MAKING THINGS (Clarion, 2018).  If you are looking for something interesting to do this summer, make something with your own hands.  You are capable of so much.

Teachers - If you are interested in resources for sharing this book, Erika Thulin Dawes from School Library Journal has written an extensive and beautiful post full of resources HERE.

From WITH MY HANDS

Click to Enlarge

Today is the final Poetry Peek for the 2017 - 2018, school year, and I feel fortunate to welcome Stephanie Jeppson's fifth grade poets from Crossroads Elementary School in Riverbank, California.  These students created this presentation all on their own, and I am grateful to them for publishing it here!  Welcome!

Click the Box to Enlarge

These students' poetry, books, and presentation inspire me to think about all kinds of poems and too, about the magic that happens when we work together.  Thank you very much to Teacher Stephanie Jeppson and to these poets and makers for joining us today as we lean into a summer filled with words and love.

Last week I welcomed Teacher Dana Kofitsas and her third graders with their collection of lovely, thoughtful poems.  If you did not see these, please do so HERE.  A joy!

Karen is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Karen Edmisten with two beautiful poem offerings.  Each week many of us gather together, sharing poems, books, and poetry ideas all at one blog.  All are always welcome to visit, comment, and post, and you can always find the host of the week in the left sidebar here or at any participating blog.

And now, I say goodbye for a bit as The Poem Farm will be on vacation this summer - vacation at home.

I plan to paint these bluebird houses built by the hands of a young 4-Her named Dylan.

I plan to spend good writing time in my new/old little camper named Betsy.

And I plan to pick berries, feed hummingbirds, make jam, knit, move plants around, and to organize many of the poems here at The Poem Farm.  I will not be sharing new poems, but hopefully I will have things in a bit more of an organized fashion by the time I return on Friday, August 31.

Happy summer to all, dear friends!

xo,

Amy

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Let Mint Speak....And a Peek

Front Garden...Hi, Mint!

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Last week, I visited Harold O. Brumsted Elementary School in Holland, NY as a volunteer for the grand annual Arts and Hobby Day.  I brought my red suitcase full of nature treasures and so enjoyed drawing and writing with both third and fifth graders. We drew and wrote about shells, pine cones, feathers, and chewed and drew mint leaves from my garden.  You can see some mint in the photograph above.  It is to the left of the picture, peeking up from in between the rocks.

Notebook Snip

Photo by Amy LV

Drawing a bit of mint, I was overtaken by the beauty of each leaf.  When held to the light, a person can see each tiny vein, each little hair on a mint leaf's stem.  This plant I pull so ruthlessly from my garden (it DOES take over) became new and precious to me.

After drawing for a time, I knew that I needed to write in the voice of the mighty, much maligned mint plant. Treated as a weed, I thought that mint deserved a chance to speak.  

To which other person, animal, plant, or inanimate object would you like to give voice?  Writing persona - or mask - poems is a ton of fun and also offers us insights we might not have when always writing in our own voices.

Today I am tickled to welcome Dana Kofitsas and her third grade poets from Stony Lane Elementary School in Paramus, New Jersey.  When you read these poems, you will see right away how these students have learned so many important things from their study of poetry. Read to notice their varied and thoughtful topics, figurative language, line breaks, endings, and use of repetition.  How lucky we are to have them here this week!

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Thank you so much to all of these poets and to their teacher Dana Kofitsas for joining us today.  Poetry brings us together, teaches us about writing, and makes us whole.

On June 1, the second grade poets of Crossroads Acadamy Quality Hill visited the Poem Farm.  If you did not yet have a chance to read their wonderful anthologies, please go back to June 1 and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Kiesha is hosting this past week's Poetry Friday roundup at Whispers from the Ridge with a song for summer.  Each week we gather together, sharing poems, books, and poetry ideas all at one blog.  All are always welcome to visit, comment, and post.

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If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.

Hello & A Poetry Peek from Missouri

My New Notebook
Photo by Amy LV

Students - This week I filled up the last pages of my notebook and bought a new notebook, the one you see above.  I am excited when I complete a notebook, but I also feel a little bit sad to say goodbye. (I feel this way about novels too!)

I wrote today's poem as a poem of address, or a poem written TO something else.  Sometimes it is interesting to pretend that another person or animal or object is listening to you...and to write directly TO it. This poem sounds like I really do talk, except for the rhyme part, and it is something I often think about.  Each time I begin a new notebook, it feels strange to enter this new paper room, to write on these new paper walls.  I do get comfy in a new notebook after a while.  It takes a few pages of writing in a notebook before I feel at home.

If you don't know what to write about, consider writing TO a person or animal or object.  Or think about a feeling related to your own writing life.  Or perhaps, make a list of many different events in life (riding your bike, having a haircut, playing with a dog) and the feelings that go with these events.  Approach a topic from a feeling place...and off you go!

Today I could not be happier to welcome co-teachers Emily Callahan and Nicole Johnson and their 44 second grade poets from Crossroads Academy Quality Hill Academy in Kansas City, Missouri.  Some of you might remember Emily Callahan from when she was a fourth grade teacher at a different school.  Back in 2016, she and her students taught us all about Popcorn and Poetry, which has caught on in many new places. 

How lucky we are to have these poet guests! Enjoy every moment.

If you wish to learn about this class's poetry journey through slides, do so here.

Or if you'd rather learn by watching a five minute movie, you may do so here.

Click the Box to Enlarge


Enjoy a peek at this thoughtful class poetry anthology...fingerprints on the cover!

Second Grade Poetry Anthology - Read HERE
Book by Second Graders of Crossroads Academy Quality Hill


Do not miss this chance to read this book by three authors.  What a challenge!

 IT'S ALL GREEK TO US - Read HERE
Book by Authors Jude, Christian, and Matthew


Watch Ben's movie book to learn about cats and 20 ways to approach a topic.
(Thank you, Ben, for your generous dedication!)

Wow!  I am very grateful to these students for their posts here today.  Thank you, writers and teachers!

If you did not have a chance to read last week's beautiful fourth grade poems, shared by teachers Lauren Coffey and Patricia Nesbitt of McNeill Elementary in Bowling Green, Kentucky, please be sure to head on over and dive in. We are fortunate to have so many gorgeous words to wallow in...and teachers, I invite your class to share in this space too.

Deep gratitude to all of the generous sixth grade bloggers from Michelle Haseltine's class of Brambleton Middle School in Loundon County, Virginia.  For the whole month of May, they took OVER my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, filling each day with pictures, ideas, and endless enthusiasm and fun.You can visit over there to find all kinds of ideas for your own summer notebooking.  What a blast!  I'm currently seeking blog takeover classes for the 2018-2019 school year. Teachers, if you're interested, please let me know.

Buffy is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Buffy's Blog where you will find a cool seed storm!  Each week we gather together, sharing poems, books, and poetry ideas all at one blog.  All are always welcome to visit, comment, and post.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.

Writing Together Makes Life Good

Poetry Books!

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem is dedicated to all of you...to all of my poem reading and writing friends!  Here in the United States, it is the end of the school year.  These last few weeks and days are inviting me to reflect upon the many clever, sharing poem lovers I have met all year long.  I am thankful.

And sometimes, when I feel thankful, I write.  I wish each one of you many poems and many good poem reading and writing friends.

On this bright day in May, please keep reading to find a lovely gift for all of us...

Today, on their last day of school, I could not be happier to welcome Teacher Lauren Coffey, Volunteer Teacher Patricia Nesbitt, and the fourth grade poets of McNeill Elementary School in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  It has been a joy to read these students' poems and to learn about their process.

Please sit back and enjoy this collection of beautiful, thoughtful words...

Click Full Screen Icon to Enlarge

To celebrate these young poets' work, I am offering a giveaway to a commenter on this post.  Please comment with words to these poets on today's post to be entered to win a copy of my POEMS ARE TEACHERS: HOW STUDYING POETRY STRENGTHENS WRITING IN ALL GENRES.  I will draw the name of one commenter next Thursday, May 31 and will announce the winner next Poetry Friday, June 1!  Thank you, Heinemann, for the book to share.

And now....it is Friday and I continue celebrating my new poet friends from Bowling Green, Kentucky as I also invite you to visit two places.

Over at my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, the magnificent 6th Grade Blog Takeover continues.  Michelle Haseltine's students are running the show over there for the whole month of May, and it has been a joy!  Please note that I will be drawing another giveaway winner of a commenter on one of this week's posts.  And I'll be drawing that winner's name tomorrow!

And this week, you can find the Poetry Friday roundup over at Margaret's place, Reflections on the Teche.  Learn all about what's happening poetry-wise in the Kidlitosphere this week and read Margaret's lovely sonnet for sandpipers too.

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If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

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Celebrate Summer with FOUR Poetry Peeks Today!

We Did It!

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Life is chock full of moments to feel happy about.  One accomplishment to feel happy about is a writing piece finished and shared with friends or with readers we do not even know.  Today I am grateful to share all kinds of writing by poets and songwriters of different ages.  Today's poem is for the writers of the pieces you are about to read...and for all of you who celebrate writing with me all year long.  Thank you!

Please sit back and take great pleasure in these works...

First, I welcome First Grade Teacher Mark Kehl of Arcade Elementary in Arcade, NY and his young poet, Colton.

From Mark:

Colton had overheard his parents talk about their previous home.  He is only 8 but is writing about a house that they had for 11 years.  He is an old soul.

Welcome, now, to First Grade Teacher Amanda Urbanski and her poets from Cattaraugus - Little Valley Elementary School in Cattaraugus, NY.

A musical welcome to Music Teacher Heather Holden and Songwriter Zoe Lesika of Lindbergh Elementary in Buffalo, NY.  Zoe approached Heather with the beautiful melody she wrote which turns my "Song" from FOREST HAS A SONG into a real song.  It is beautiful, and I am so grateful to Zoe for writing it and for Heather for reaching out and sharing it.

From FOREST HAS A SONG

Illustration by Robin Gourley

(Click to enlarge)

Beautiful melody by Zoe Lesika

And a hearty welcome to Sixth Grade Teacher Helene Albrecht and her two classes of poets from  Oradell Public Schools in Oradell, NJ.  

From Helene:

During Poetry Month we began over a month long unit on poetry where students were immersed in reading and writing different kinds of poetry.  The children listened to music while writing poetry inspired by paint chip colors. They also wrote color poems by Writing the Rainbow, The Poem Farm's challenge to pick a random crayon from a box of crayons to create poems. 

I introduced my students to blackout poetry using different text. The amazing pictures that were created can be found on our Instagram @la.in.6a.  Many of the ideas for poems, such as list poems and just because poems, came from 30 Days of Poetry, a name many of us ELA teachers use to describe our poetry units.  Among others, I used the following websites as resources: Mrs. McKeown's Thirty Days of Poetry, 30 Days of Poetry, 30 Days of Poetry (II).

At the end of our Poetry Unit, we invited the parents in so that we could share our creations. The children chose one of their favorite poems from their Poetry Notebook and created a slide for our class slide shows which you can view below.

Lucky, lucky us.  Thank you to everybody who was part of these beautiful celebrations.  I celebrate and thank all of you today!   Please, kind reader...leave these writers a kind comment.

If you have not yet visited, Linda Rief has opened her gorgeous notebooks this month over at  my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks. Please visit and leave a comment by next Thursday, July 29 to be entered into a giveaway of one of Linda's books.  You can find all kinds of notebook inspiration over there!y

Heidi is hosting today's Poetry Friday by celebrating her students and their over at my juicy little universe.  Visit her warm space for this week's roundup of poetry and friendship.

Happy happy summer to all!  I am on a blogging holiday for July...and maybe longer. During this time, I will complete a writing project for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, draft a proposal with an illustrator, organize the poems already here, and make some jam!  You can still find me at The Poem Farm Facebook Page, Twitter, and Instagram, sharing old poems from the archives and other things I find along the path of summer.  Much joy!

xo,
Amy

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If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

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Poem Pep Talks & A Poetry Peek

My Pencil Case and Current Notebook

Photo by Amy LV

Students - I have been out of my normal writing routine.  Some good family things, and a big and different writing project have pulled me away from my notebook. These things have been good.....but oh, how I have missed my notebook.  I feel like I have been missing part of me.

So when I began writing this morning, I really did need to give myself a pep talk.  I wrote and wrote to myself about how much better I feel when I am writing regularly, and how much easier it is to write when writing is a habit.  Good habits help with living, yet sometimes I let my habits go.  Then, I must happily chase them down again.  That's what today looks like.

As way led onto way in this morning's notebook writing, my pep talk became a poem.  I thought I was writing it for you.  But if I am honest, I will tell you that I wrote it for you...and for me.  The words in this poem are true for me.  I hope that it will give me courage when I think to myself, "I don't know if I can find a writing idea today."  And I hope it might help you too.  Just begin.

We all have struggles in life, and sometimes writing a pep talk or a pep talk poem can lift a person up.  You might choose to write a pep talk or a pep talk poem for a friend or a family member...or for yourself.   The way we speak to each other and ourselves changes our thinking.  So writing to ourselves in positive ways matters and makes a difference.

And now...a Poetry Peek!  Today I could not be happier to welcome second grade teacher and author Mary Anne Sacco from P.S. 290, The Manhattan New School in New York City.  Mary Anne is author, with Karen Ruzzo, of a book I love, SIGNIFICANT STUDIES FOR SECOND GRADE, a book that I know helped inspire my own EVERY DAY BIRDS.  

Available through Heinemann

The Cozy Writing Home of Our Grade 2 Poets

Photo by Mary Anne Sacco

by Mary Anne Sacco 

This winter’s second snow day in NYC was announced the day before it occurred. I perused The Poem Farm, as  I do often, when looking for some mentor poetry to use with my second graders.  Even though the first day of Spring was only a week away, on this Snow Day Eve, we found ourselves reading aloud John Rocco’s BLIZZARD.

Available at Your Local Book Shop

We read these two poems from Amy. 

That evening the students had these poems in their home learning packet as mentors to help them write their own snow day poems.

It’s March and we have been using poetry in our home learning packets and in class since the beginning of the year. I also immersed the kids in a short December poetry genre study.  We focused on list poems and poems of address.  The most powerful teaching came from studying a few mentor poems. And these young writers are still holding those lessons with them. The slashes in some of these poems you'll read indicate the places where the students are planning their line breaks. 

My students love poetry and many of them choose writing a poem as a home learning choice to share with the class or a family member.  

Here are a few poetry writing tips from my students.

A Tip from Gillian

Tips from Serena and Georgia

Here are some Poetry Hands.

Poetry Hands Write

Photo by Mary Anne Sacco

Poetry Hands Make Books

Photo by Mary Anne Sacco

And here are some poems students wrote for snow day home learning.

by Olivia

by Conor

by Shiloh

by Georgia

by Aidan

by Caitlin

Some of these students' winter poems, as well as their spring poems, will soon be included in home learning packets too.

Thank you so much to Mary Anne and these poets for joining us today, during the first week of spring!  We can write about any weather at any time of year...and now as we totter between winter and spring, we thank you for these celebrations of snow.

Please allow me, too, to share a beautiful book about snow days.  If you do not yet own BEFORE MORNING, by poet Joyce Sidman, do not miss this enchanting work of art.

Available at Your Local Book Shop

To honor today's poets, I will offer a giveaway of Joyce's book, to be sent to a commenter on today's post.  I'll draw names next Thursday, March 30...and will announce the winner next Friday as I host the Poetry Friday, Poetry Month Eve festivities and share my April Poetry Project.  (If you think your class might like to play along this year, pull out some crayons.  I'm buying a new box of 64 Crayolas.)

Catherine is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup and Kwame Alexander's new OUT OF WONDER at Reading to the Core.  Please stop by and visit. We share poems each week, and everyone is always invited.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.