Poetry Break
Topic: Making mistakes in school

Introduction
Every teacher has moments when they make mistakes in front of their class. When student catch an error made by the teacher, this is a teachable moment that may be capitalized on through this poem by Alice Schertle. After discussing the silliness of the mistake and how the error can be corrected, the teacher should show the class Florida and its capital on a map. Then the teacher should pull out this poem and read it to the class.

A millions miles from Tallahassee
by Alice Schertle

I was so sure
I knew the capital of Florida
I almost threw my elbow out of joint
Waving my hand
In front of Mr. Miller’s face.
When he called on me
I jumped up and said,
"Tassalooma!"

I thought they’d never stop laughing.
Jerome practically
Fell out of his seat.
Even Mr. Miller lost it.

Now everybody’s always asking me,
"How are things in Tassalooma?"
And Maria the comedian said,
"Let’s rent a rooma
in Tassalooma."

And if I could go to Tassalooma!
Which is nowhere
On anybody’s map-
I’d never
Come
Back!

[Hopkins, Lee Bennett, ed. 2005. OH, NO! WHERE ARE MY PANTS? AND OTHER DISASTERS: POEMS. New York: HarperCollins. Illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch. ISBN 068817860X]

Extension
Have the class take a moment to remember a mistake they made this year. Remind the children it must be their own mistake, not a classmate’s or sibling’s. A few may wish to volunteer to share the error they made. Then ask each person to try to make a poem either describing what happened or how they felt at the time or both.

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