Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Are you familiar with Pablo Neruda and his odes? He wrote odes to the tomato, the avocado, his socks, salt, the book, wine, to a large tuna in a market, maize, broken things, and ironing among other things. So, for him to write odes to these things meant that he cared deeply about these things.
So, in this month of gratitude, I asked my AP Spanish to write down 5 things that they might feel that strongly about. I discouraged big things that we would all say like friends and family, freedom, etc.
Here is what my students picked to write about; they all had to have a unique topic – no duplicates. Maybe there are some gift ideas here, too.

Yes, I still do some things “old school”! I don’t have my own printer and sometimes a notebook paper list works just fine.
The topics chosen were Christmas, jewelry, my bed(the student’s bed, not my bed – that would be weird), August, cds, River Road, art, fall, flowers, Cuban food, football, my watch, my cat, driving, my pencil, my stuff dinosaur, and rainy days.
I gave them certain verb tense requirements, length requirements, and read and critiqued all of their rough drafts. I will show you some finished products!
Here are some things that could be ode worthy for me and I would love to hear yours, too. Maybe some gift ideas can come out of the comment section?
that first cup of coffee from one of my Starbuck’s mugs

my key ring that fits on my wrist

my dumb (not smart) watch

this pack of coffee cups from Amazon

my backpack and being hands free

a clear desk

an empty planner

a fiction book and a book that inspires me to live a little better

my blog and the blogs I read
my patio and my patio lights

rainy days – especially when I can stay home
candles

the acting of chopping, stirring, and creating a meal for myself or someone else
What is ode worthy for you? I know I could have come up with many more things!
Amy
Oh I just love this…ode worthy here? The first sip of coffee- quiet time with prayer and blogging each day- helping people find jobs and homes- my girls’ JOY 🙂
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Yes! When your coffee is the perfect temp! Yes, all of that!
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I love these! I just bought a gratitude journal for a friend and am going to encourage her to add little things in it. A few of mine is drinking coffee outside, my bike, a run and seeing the sunrise, a cozy blanket! Oh and a cute outfit (my kids don’t understand that one, but they still take pictures for me lol!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
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What a thoughtful gift! Yes – coffee outside! I feel like a kid when I ride my bike. I love all of yours, too!
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This is such a lovely and thoughtful post! I was prepping my December desk calendar for when we get back to school and I love nothing more than turning to a fresh page of a calendar for a new month. I also love chopping!
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Gracias! Jaja! RIght? I love that, too. Notice – I do have piles on the side table, but my desk stays very clear because I cannot function with too much clutter!
Chopping is so therapeutic!
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I’d have to say my family , my friends, my favorite candle, fresh towels and sheets, and walking in the door from the gym and smelling my freshly brewed coffee!
xo,
Kellyann
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Oh, fresh Diva smelling towels and sheets!
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This is something I’ll think about today. Off the top of my head I will say sliding in to fresh clean sheets at the end of the day, the first cup of coffee with a sunrise view, twinkle lights, a grandchild’s face lighting up my phone with a Facetime call, my super soft robe :), and the smell of homemade chicken soup on the stove.
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There is nothing better than being clean and having clean sheets. Yes! I haven’t made homemade chicken soup in a long, long time. My sister makes chicken and noodles with the thick Amish noodles. yum!
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I loved hearing what your students picked and what you shared. A few of mine are morning coffee, music, twinkling lights that bring joy, clean sheets on my bed, a warm home, my car (that I need to wash and clean out), my Bible, and the new robe that my mom gave to me as my early birthday present. I’ve worn it nonstop!
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Aren’t they sweet and not materialistic for the most part? I will miss this sweet side of teens and the deep conversations we have.
my lights are bringing me joy!
I need to clean my car too. I love my Target robe. It’s looking a bit ratty, but i love it.
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The first thing that came to mind this morning was my fleece lined socks!
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oooh yes! I especially like them in the mornings.
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Sumo oranges! They are my favorite fruit and are only available January – April each year. I am anxiously waiting.
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Yum! I don’t think I knew that!
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I love this and loved trying to read/translate all the answers before reading your translation. My ode would be to Christmas lights this time of year!
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Wait til I post some
Finished products. They turned out so beautiful! You
Can read them!
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I would have to say hearing my Jack snoring as he’s curled at the end of the bed; wearing really soft and cozy pajamas; changing the dining room table (it’s set all the time); and sitting on my back porch when the plants are all green so that I feel like I’m in a conservatory. I can’t wait to read the finished products…what a genuinely creative way to practice a language (and writing skills).
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Ah so sweet. i remember our old boy doing that. The dining room and porch sound amazing!
I only took photos of three of the odes but they were all sooo good. Like, I was shocked.
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