Mrs. Conners looked at her sixth-grade class. “Today, we’re going to write a poem.” A few students groaned.

“No moans and groans,” she said. “It will be a Thanksgiving poem and writing it is going to be fun, almost like playing a game.” Nobody quite believed that, but they were curious.

“First, I want each of you to take a page from your notebook and finish either one of these sentences: “I’m thankful —” or, “I’m grateful —.” Write whatever you want, but try to be original. You’re going to hand them in, but I don’t want you to put your name on the paper.”

“How are we going to get graded if our name isn’t on the paper?” Guy asked.

“Everybody gets an ‘A’ on this assignment,” said Mrs. Conners.

“All right!” Writing a poem was looking better and better.

Mrs. Connors gave the class 10 minutes to write what they felt grateful or thankful for. Some students dashed off a sentence quickly, a few took the whole 10 minutes.

“Now fold up what you’ve written and put it in this box.” Mrs. Conners passed a large box around the room, and shuffled the papers when the box came back to her.

She took the coffee can that was on her desk. “There are 18 people in our class and 18 numbers in the can. I want everybody to pick one.”

Laura picked first. “I got 10!” Mrs. Conners proceeded around the room until everybody had a number.

“Now line up from one through 18 and take a paper out of our gratitude sentence box. If you get the one you wrote, that’s OK. Just don’t tell anyone it’s yours.”

The class was having fun, but they wondered how it was going to lead to a poem.    

When everyone was seated, Mrs. Conners stood at the board. She wrote, “Thanksgiving Voices” at the top for a title. “Who is number one?” she asked.

“Me,” said Paul.

“Please read your sentence.”

“I am thankful I don’t need braces like my sister.” Mrs. Connor wrote the sentence on the board.  “Next!”

“I am grateful for my dog, Grayson, because he’s my best friend.”

One after the other, Mrs. Connors wrote the sentences the class had written on the board, until there were 18 sentences. This is what the board looked like:

Thanksgiving Voices

I am thankful I don’t need braces like my sister.    

I’m grateful for my dog, Grayson, he’s my best friend.

I’m thankful Mom’s boss gave us a big turkey because I like turkey.

 I am  grateful I live in America now.

I am grateful Dad will be home from Afghanistan for Christmas.

I’m thankful Grandma’s coming for Thanksgiving, but I still miss Grandpa.

I am grateful Christmas is coming soon.

I’m thankful for my family being together, because we weren’t last year.

I’m thankful for all the food we grew on our farm (I helped.)

I’m thankful my sister’s coming home from college, I miss her.

I am grateful Dad is frying the turkey this year because that’s how I like it best.

I’m thankful we’re not getting lost driving to Connecticut this year.

I’m grateful Mom didn’t get laid off like last year, because, you know.

I’m thankful I get to hunt with Dad on Thanksgiving.

I’m thankful for my books because I can read and not play with my rowdy cousins.

I’m grateful we got our electric back.

I’m grateful for whipped cream, lots of it on pumpkin pie.

I’m thankful for second helping!

“Is it all right if I add a line?” Mrs. Connors asked the class.

“Yes! Do it!” the class yelled. She wrote, “I am grateful for love all around me.”

“I think the poem good enough to share,” she said. “What do you think?”

The class read it and agreed. Mrs. Connors typed it on the computer and wrote “By Mrs. Connors’ sixth-grade class” at the bottom. She made copies and everyone took a one home to share with their family on Thanksgiving Day.