Where I am from Poem Template

What is “Where I am From” Poem

If you’re not familiar with “Where I am From” poems, they are a type of autobiographical poem where the writer describes their hometown, family, and personal experiences. These poems often use sensory details to evoke the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the writer’s memories. They are a great way to help students develop their writing skills and explore their own identities.

While writing a “Where I am From” poem can be a fun and rewarding activity, it can also be challenging for some students to get started. That’s why I have found that using templates can be an effective way to scaffold this activity and make it more accessible for students of all ages and abilities.

Examples

To give you a sense of what “Where I am From” poems can look like, let’s take a look at a few examples from famous poets:

• “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon
• “Where I’m From” by Tracy K. Smith
• “Where I’m From” by Judith Ortiz Cofer

What these poems have in common is their use of sensory details to evoke a sense of place and memory. For example, in Lyon’s poem, she writes:

I am from the dirt under the back porch.
(Black, glistening,
it tasted like beets.)

This line not only gives us a sense of where Lyon is from, but also uses sensory language to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.

In Smith’s poem, she writes:

I am from the rust-belt city, springsteen
long gone, where factories gutted below
we lived always walking uphill both ways

This line uses cultural references to situate the writer’s experience in a specific place and time. The reference to Bruce Springsteen and the “rust-belt city” create a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place that has changed.

Finally, in Cofer’s poem, she writes:

I am from a smoky little house
that shook when the planes
flew over and the church bells
rang long and low like thunder.

This line uses sound imagery to create a sense of the writer’s environment. The use of the word “smoky” also creates a sensory experience that helps the reader understand the writer’s memories.

By studying these examples, we can see how “Where I am From” poems can be powerful tools for self-expression and reflection. In the next section, we’ll look at how using templates can help students get started with their own poems.

Challenges

One of the challenges of writing a “Where I am From” poem is getting started. That’s why I have found that using templates can be a helpful way to scaffold this activity and make it more accessible for students.

Here are a few “Where I am From” poem templates that I have used in my classes:

1. Simple Template

I am from _________

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This simple template allows students to fill in the blanks with their own memories and experiences. It’s a great way to get started with “Where I am From” poems, especially for younger students.

2. Sensory Detail Template

I am from ___________ (place) ____________ (sensory detail) ____________ (sensory detail) ____________ (sensory detail)

This template encourages students to use sensory details to describe their memories and experiences. By focusing on the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of a place, students can create a more vivid and engaging poem.

3. Guided Template

I am from ___________ (place) Where ___________ (description) And ___________ (description) And ___________ (description)

This guided template provides students with prompts to help them brainstorm their memories and experiences. By providing a structure for their poem, students can focus on their ideas and feelings without getting overwhelmed by the writing process.

These are just a few examples of “Where I am From” poem templates that you can use in your classes. The important thing is to find a template that works for your students and encourages them to express themselves in their own unique way.

If you’re interested in creating your own “Where I am From” poem templates, there are many resources available online, including edutechspot.com. I have found that this website has been an invaluable resource for finding free templates and other educational materials.