Work in Progress Slides ELA • Poetry Meaning In Our Own Words
Work in Progress
Reading a poem together and telling what it means in our own words.
Today’s Goal: Say what the poem means like you’re telling a friend!
Think & Share
What is something you are still learning how to do?
Maybe tying shoes, riding a bike, spelling tricky words, or drawing!
Turn to a partner and share one thing you are practicing.
Work in Progress
Part 1
Stanza 1
My shoes don’t always match my socks,
Stanza 2
I mix up there and their a lot,
Work in Progress
Part 2
Stanza 3
A caterpillar takes its time
Stanza 4
So if my work looks messy now,me !
How to Use Your Own Words
1
Read Slowly
Read one stanza at a time and picture it in your head.
2
Ask Yourself
“What is the speaker doing or feeling right here?”
3
Say It Simply
Tell a friend what it means without copying the rhymes!
Let’s Try Stanza 1 Together!
What the Poem Says
My shoes don’t always match my socks,
In Our Own Words
“The kid in the poem makes little mistakes, like messy writing and blocks falling over—and that happens to everyone!”
Now It’s Your Turn!
On your activity sheet:
Read Stanzas 2, 3, and 4 with your partner or on your own.
Write what each part means in your own words.
Show what “Work in Progress” means to you!
Poem Meaning Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Work in Progress: Poem Meaning
Grades 2–4 • 40 Min
Learning Objective
Students will read the poem “Work in Progress” and explain what each stanza says in their own words, identifying the poem’s central message about learning and growing.
Materials Needed
Work in Progress Slides (projected)My Own Words Activity (1 per student)Poem Meaning Exit Ticket (1 per student)
Lesson Pacing & Steps
Time
Phase
Teacher Moves
5 min
Warm-Up (Slide 2)
Ask students to turn and talk about something they are still learning. Introduce the phrase “work in progress.”
10 min
Read-Aloud (Slides 3–4)
Read the poem aloud once for flow. Read a second time together, pausing after each stanza to ask: “What picture do you see in your mind?”
5 min
Model (Slides 5–6)
Show the 3-step strategy. Model translating Stanza 1 without copying the poet’s rhyming words.
15 min
Activity Sheet
Students complete Stanzas 2–4 in their own words (partners or solo), then draw/write a personal connection.
5 min
Exit Ticket
Students complete the quick 2-question check independently to show understanding.
Discussion Prompts
Why does the poet talk about a caterpillar and a seed in Stanza 3?
How does the speaker feel about making mistakes? How do you know?
What does “I’m still becoming me” mean in your own words?
Differentiation
Support: Offer oral rehearsal with a partner before writing, or provide sentence starters like “This part means…”
Extend: Challenge early finishers to write a 2-line Stanza 5 about something they are practicing right now.
Teacher Reference
Sample “Own Words” & Exit Ticket Key
My Own Words Activity — Sample Student Responses
Accept any accurate kid-friendly explanation that captures the main idea without copying the poem word-for-word.
Stanza 1 (Modeled Together)
The kid in the poem makes everyday mistakes like wearing mismatched socks, tripping, and having messy handwriting.
Stanza 2
Sometimes the speaker forgets what they learned, mixes up words, or colors outside the lines, and they know it’s okay to try again.
Stanza 3
Just like a caterpillar or a seed needs time to grow, kids need time to learn and get better at things.
Stanza 4
Even if things look messy right now, the speaker is still learning and growing into who they are supposed to be.
Exit Ticket Answer Key
Question 1 (Multiple Choice):
Correct Answer: B — “Living things need time and patience before they are ready to grow.”
Distractor check: A is too literal about winter weather; C and D contradict the poem’s patient, encouraging tone.
Question 2 (Open Response — What does the whole poem mean?):
Look for: A statement in the student’s own words explaining that it is okay to make mistakes or be messy while learning, because growing takes time (e.g., “This poem says everyone makes mistakes while they are learning, and we are still growing.” ).
My Own Words Activity Name: ____________________________________
Date: __________________
Work in Progress
Read each stanza. Then tell what the poem says in your own words!
What the Poem Says
In My Own Words
Stanza 1 (Example)
My shoes don’t always match my socks,
We Did This Together:
The kid in the poem makes little mistakes, like messy writing and blocks falling over—and that happens to everyone!
Stanza 2
I mix up there and their a lot,
What the Poem Says
In My Own Words
Stanza 3
A caterpillar takes its time
Stanza 4
So if my work looks messy now,me !
My Connection
What is one thing YOU are a “work in progress” at right now? Draw or write about it below!
Poem Meaning Exit Ticket Name: ____________________________________
Date: __________________
Quick Check
Poem Meaning Exit Ticket
1. Read these lines from “Work in Progress”:
A tiny seed beneath the snow
Which sentence best tells what these lines mean in your own words?
A. Seeds only like to grow when it is snowing outside.
B. Living things need time and patience before they are ready to grow.
C. Plants should grow as fast as they possibly can.
D. Snow keeps seeds from ever sprouting in the ground.
2. In your own words, what is the big message of the whole poem “Work in Progress”?
How do you feel about explaining a poem in your own words?
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