Metaphorically speaking...

How do you counteract a crummy, rainy, dreary day? Why, cutting and pasting, of course!

I threw ordinary lesson plans out the window and we made "metaphorical self-portraits" instead, based on a poem by Billy Collins called "Instructions to the Artist."

The idea is to paste together a "portrait" based in figurative language: flaming lava hair, city streets for ears, leafy eyebrows. And then make bold figurative statements about yourself:
"My head is foggy with words; my ears hear the music of distant cities."

Jose, aka "Gummy Bear," comes up to show me his portrait. I tell him I like it, but I want to know more about his choices. "Don't just write that your mouth is a Payday because you like Payday bars; tell me about swallowing up all the sweetness in the world, or something."

"Yeah," he says, returning to his seat. "Or, like, nuts!" Then he turns red and mumbles, "nevermind."

We all pretend I don't know why they're laughing. I give myself lightning bolts for eyes, and a zipper mouth.