We're on the map!

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Take a look at this map.  It might look like an ordinary map of our city, but if you click on one of the little blue dots you will discover a poem written by one of QHSSYC's freshmen.  Each student wrote a poem about New York (either about the city as a whole, or about a specific neighborhood) and they are located on the map near the place they are about.  For example, I wrote a poem about my neighborhood and I posted it in Jackson Heights.  Simply click on the blue dot and scroll the screen to view the poem. (If you put the mouse over the map you will see a small hand appear. Left click and hold down to pull the map in the direction you'd like to go.  This will help you to arrange your screen so that the entire poem is in view.)

**No one's actual addresses were used - all poems were placed in the area of the neighborhood, not by a particular house or apartment building.  Also, note that poems about the city as a whole were all placed on the island of Manhattan.

***Click on the link below the map ("View larger map") to go to the Google site, where you'll find a list of all the poems on the left side of the page.  Simply click on a student's name (only first names were used) to pull up the poem on the map.

We hope you'll enjoy reading these poems, which were all written early in the school year and which are full of great sensory details.  The students used various methods to emphasize certain aspects of the poems (spacing, punctuation, color, font, etc.) and worked with partners to make this their best work.  I found the poems delightful to read and I encourage you to spend some time perusing.

Thank you!!

-Ms. Faughey

This map was created using Google Maps.  In September, to start off the school year, I led my students in the writing of poetry about either a) their neighborhood, or b) New York City as a whole.  I wanted to start the year with this project because it allowed us to go through the whole writing process (prewriting, writing, editing, revising, and publishing) and get to know more about each other at the same time.  Google Maps served as a fantastic publication method because it allowed us the ability to visually locate ourselves within our crowded and busy borough, to create a community of writers at our school, and to display our work in a fun and unique way for other students, teachers, and parents as well.  This project has been completed, but I look forward to using Google Maps in other creative ways in the future. 

Comments

[Max Benjamin]

jessica wrote a nice poem. I liked the way she used descriptive words to show us what her neighborhood is like.

[eunbi lee]

I read Yasmin's poem and it's really good. There's a lot of imagery and I can really imagine myself there ! My friend used to live in Queens Village before so I really understand what she's saying.

[Bibi Alli]

Student's name: Chris
Title of poem: Home [Bellerose]

Chris' poem gave me a sense of what his surrounding at home is like. The use of sensory details was a big help towards how I got a sense of his home; for example, he wrote the breeze from his fan blows gently against his neck. It was a great poem =]

[Jordan Hendrickson]

Your attention to sensory details were amazing. I felt like I was there. As I was reading your poem, I saw the stores, the people, the culture and the livelihood of Flushing. Good job.

[rabiya]

I really like Kevin G's poem because even though what he is saying in his poem like the secondhand smoke and the gangs don't sound pleasing to us..to him they sound lik home and mean a lot to him..i think it has great significance to the meaning of the poem..good job!
-rabiya-

[Zhao Wang]

I read Nicole's poem and I love it! It shows how Flushing is really like. When I was readimg it, picture of Flushing poped into my mind. It's a great poem!!!!!! =D

[Carol Escamilla]

I read Miriam's NY poem. It was sad =( since it was about the World Trade Center. But she did use descriptive detail to visualize the horrifying moment the women in the story was in. I like the way Miriam starts out her poem.

[Calvin Ro]

umm..
i like everyones poem!!!
haha
o, im not allowed to say that?
ok, i like eunbi's poem because the font and color of the words describes the descriptive words and stuff like that. uhh.. it's good? i think?

[Jodiann Hines]

I really and truly enjoyed reading Michael O's poem. It used sensory details to the "T" and interested me. He wrote about Jamaica, NY and I live in Jamaica too, so it is very interesting to read what he worte and compare it to what I wrote. Michael you did an amazing job. :-)

[Calvin Ro]

o yea
and amanda's was good too
i liked the "actually a jar" part...yea.
haha

[Meher]

Samins poem was great and very creative. It was really nice.

[Yasmin]

I read Miriam's poem and I really like it....even though it was very bleek...it was deep and it made me think....Good Job!!
-Yasmin

[Parvita Bhoodai]

I really liked Paulina's poem because it made me feel like i was actually in Elmhurst, Queens. I liked the sensory details and overall the poem was enjoyable to read :)

[Karen]

I like Thomas Yoo's poem. It made me laugh because of the cute bunnies. But, I can understand why he hates that place, kind of.

[Ama]

I read Micheal Q's poem. I liked how he was specific in one thing he liked about Jamaica, NY- handball. I'm not a hand-eye cordinated person but it made me want to try the sport. -Ama

[Ivan]

I read Issac's poem. It was really good, i could fully relate to what he is saying.

[JAMES]

JOSE'S POEM WAS VERY VERY FUNNY I LIKED IT A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT AND HE USED FUNNY AND DESCRIPTIVE WORDS . . . JOSE U THE MAN!!!!!!!!

[Jessica Yeon]

kates poem was nice. i love how she emphasized certain words with different fonts and colors. i used to live in elmhurst when i was a kid, and i remember the strange cats wandering around (:

[Kevin Guerra]

isaac's poem was very funny. It made me laugh here and there adn i got somewhat a feeling of how he feels about his home.

[amanda]

i liked paulina's :D i like how she mentioned bath and body works. cucumbers are so awesome ;]

....oh and btw calvin, i read that --;;

[Elizabeth Darsan]

I read Aruna's poem. She wrote about New York in general, and how great NY is =D

I love the rhyming scheme. Sometimes when people write in rhymes, they can't effectively describe a place, but Aruna was able to really describe how New York is. Oh, and I also love the mood of the poem. It's just so...lively and upbeat.

[Edith]

I read Mike's poem and I liked how it mentioned generations, traditions and one of the biggest art forms in nyc, I thought it was really good.

[Nelson Pascuzzi]

marcin had a very funny poem

[Kayla]

At first when I read Miriam's poem, I didn't understand it. But after thinking about and reading it again, I understood the deeper side to it. I liked how the descriptive details potrayed the scene.

I wonder why my poem isn't on here...

[amanda]

lol and i like jose's b.c he bragged about his moms cakes x]