Article
Alex Nabaum
Poem,

Advice for Eighth Grade

(that I would give myself if I could travel back through time)

By Jennifer Dignan
From the May 2020 Issue
Featured Skill: Poetry,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.10, W.3
  • Grade 6
    RL.6.10, W.6.3
  • Grade 7
    RL.7.10, W.7.3
  • Grade 8
    RL.8.10, W.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6g, 6h, 7a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 11a

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Advice for Eighth Grade

(that I would give myself if I could travel back through time)

one

when you go to use

your beloved dopkeep

and realize it’s missing

                  don’t waste your time searching

                                    you are never going to find it

two

when you have the chance

to harillumdrum

but you’re not sure you will succeed

                  try it anyway—or be prepared to spend the next eight months

                                    wishing that you had

three

when Blickity Blap

tells you sha-la-la-la-la

and you feel upside down and inside out

                  take a very deep breath and repeat:

                                    “this is going to be okay” (which it will)

four

when you and Zap Dapper

get in a fight and

you burn with indignation

                  apologize, forgive; do not allow the end

                                    of such a long and valuable friendship

five

when you are tempted

to karfaffle-pring

sure that nothing too bad could happen

                  don’t try it

                                    just trust me on this one, okay?

Writing Prompt

Using Jennifer Dignan’s poem as a model, write your own “Advice for _____” poem. (Fill in the blank.) 

This poem was originally published in the May 2020 issue.


Illustrations by Alex Nabaum

video (1)
Audio ()
Activities (3)
At-Home Activities
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Audio ()
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
At-Home Activities
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. READING THE POEM

As a class, read the poem aloud a few times or listen to the poem read aloud.

2. ANALYZING THE POEM

As a whole class or in small groups, answer the questions in the Analyzing Poetry Activity.

3. WRITING  

Invite students to write their own poems or essays using our Guided Writing Activity.

Text-to-Speech