Judith Viorst

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Mrs. Mann's Poetry Corner

Introduction: "Learning" is a poem about the difficulties of learning how to use manners. This is a fun poem to read to students at any time, although it would be even more meaningful during a unit of study on manners and behavior.



Learning

I'm learning to say thank you.
And I'm learning to say please.
And I'm learning to use Kleenex,
Not my sweater, when I sneeze.
And I'm learning not to dribble.
And I'm learning not to slurp.
And I'm learning (though it sometimes hurts me)
Not to burp.
And I'm learning to chew softer
When I eat corn on the cob.
And I'm learning that it's much
Much easier to be a slob.


Judith Viorst

From "If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries"
(Macmillan, 1981)


Extension: After reading this poem to your class it would be fun to have each of the students paint or draw a picture of their face on an 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper. When the paint is dry (or immediately after coloring), students can glue a tissue over their nose/mouth on their picture. It's neat to see all the tissues hanging on a bulletin board. This poem could be reproduced and placed on the bulletin board along with the pictures.