Fred Rodgers Students Share Stories Through Poetry At Aurora Public Library

Press release from East Aurora School District 131:

AURORA, IL — On April 4, the 8th-grade students of Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy took center stage—not in an auditorium, but in their own stories. As part of an interdisciplinary classroom project led by the 8th-grade teaching team, students reflected on their personal histories and cultural identities, crafting original narrative poems that explored “Where I’m From,” both literally and figuratively.

Drawing inspiration from George Ella Lyon’s famous poem, the project encouraged students to look inward and backward—to revisit childhood homes, family traditions, and the rhythms of their neighborhoods in Aurora. The result? Deeply personal, often moving poems filled with the sights, smells, and sounds of home. From familiar streets and local landmarks to the taste of traditional foods and the joy of New Year’s Eve grape-eating rituals, each poem served as a snapshot of the student’s own Aurora.

The cross-curricular Nostalgia Project was a collaboration among teachers Laura Krueger (Language Arts), Cynthia Martinez (Social Studies), Bethany Morton (Pre-AP Algebra), and Lisa Peña (Science), who additionally provide FRMA students an opportunity to gain a rich understanding of their city while bridging connections to Aurora history, to data and statistics, and to issues related to human impact in order to benefit their community.

The experience culminated in a public poetry reading at the Aurora Public Library’s Santori Branch, where students shared their work in front of an audience of peers, parents, and community members. Their voices filled the space with authenticity, pride, and a deep sense of place.

If you missed the event, you can still experience the power of their words; the poems are currently on display at the Santori Library until Wednesday, April 30, 2025, and they’ve also been published online for the wider community to enjoy. Click Here to Read Student Poems

Given the success and impact of this event, the “Where I’m From” poetry project is set to continue in the years ahead—reminding us all that there’s something worth celebrating in every student’s story.

This press release was produced by East Aurora School District 131. The views expressed here are the author’s own.