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Mary Ann's seventh residency at P.S. 115 in Washington
Heights was spent working with 250 third graders at
the school. During her first visit with each class,
she discussed her poems, and answered questions. Students
in previous years had read her book, Fathers, Mothers,
Sisters, Brothers. This year, students read her
book, You Read to Me, I'll Read to You. While
the school had come to love the previous book, often
reciting some of its poems from memory (like Miss McGillicutty),
her new book was widely received by students, teachers,
and parents.
One of the favorite poems from You Read to Me, I'll
Read to You, was "I Like." The poem consisted
of several children shouting from their windows the
various things they like, except they don't agree on
anything. So, as part of Mary Ann's second meeting with
each class, the workshops, she had them list their likes
and dislikes and they wrote their own poems about the
different things they like. And, of course, they couldn't
agree on anything! This is the group poem:
I hate broccoli
I hate war
I hate fish sticks
I hate beets
I hate baseball
I hate stings
We don't agree on anythings!
On Tuesday, Mary Ann visited St. Timothy's and St.
Matthew's Day Care Center in Manhattan. The first group
with whom she met consisted of 3-4 year olds. She read
some of her poems including, "Miss Mary Mack,"
and they sang along to Old McDonald. The next
group were 4-5 year olds with whom she read My Baby
Brother and Pick Up Your Room. She also went
over alphabet sounds with this group. As a token of
appreciation, the group recited one of Mary Ann's poems
to her.
On Wednesday, Mary Ann conducted a workshop with parents
from P.S. 115. Fifteen parents of third graders received
copies of her book, and participated in her workshop;
some were trying to absorb a new language, and others
were trying to get involved in their children's school
lives. Mary Ann explained that in learning a new language,
repetition is universal and imperative, and so, she
had the parents work on some poems and read some of
them herself. They read "The Dime" together
(another third-grade favorite!), and then each person
spoke about themselves. Most parents relayed their frustrations
about their family's difficulties as immigrants in this
country. Mary Ann applauded their efforts to learn English
and play active roles in their children's lives.
All pictures: Maryann Jacob |
Thursday was Mary Ann's last day, and so she made her
final visits to classes in the morning, and conducted
workshops in the afternoon. Throughout the day, she
answered many eager questions, such as: How do you get
ideas for poems? When did you start writing? Do you
draw the pictures too? To these she replied that she
relied much on her childhood memories to write her poems,
and draws on her own family experiences. She told students,
to their amazement, that she began writing 45 years
ago! She also explained to them the author/illustrator
relationship. Mary Ann's sensitivity toward alternative
families made her work accessible to many different
people. Several students noted their half-brothers and
sisters, or step-parents, and they were encouraged to
find that Mary Ann's poems are inclusive of these families.
In her last workshop, third graders read aloud stories
they had written, which were to begin with, "The
person opened the door." Not surprisingly, many
of these stories included ghosts and goblins, and other
imaginative details!
One third grade class designed a t-shirt for Mary Ann,
with her name, as well as their own, as a parting gift.
Another treat for Mary Ann included Ms. Sanchez's class
performance of "I Like." They modeled the
classroom after a restaurant, and the students were
dressed up for a nice meal. But, they couldn't agree
on anything! Except, of course, Ms. Sanchez's flan,
which was a treat for everyone.
So, Mary Ann's residency ended on a teary note, because
it marked her last visit to P.S. 115. Teachers expressed
their thanks and sadness simultaneously. Steve Liebman,
the school librarian, remarked how he'd gotten to know
Mary Ann over the years and felt that the school was
extremely lucky to have had her for so long. He added
that she affected hundreds of students and her poems
would live within the school for a very long time.
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