What's Important to Me — Introduction

Demetrius. Bruce Elementary, Milwaukee.

I have a job during the winter. I shovel for people around my neighborhood. They pay me for the work I do. I like to spend the money on things I want. I picked these objects because they are things I bought for myself. I have bought things for my teachers from money I earned to. I like to work and help people out.

Kamari. Bruce Elementary, Milwaukee.

This helicopter means a lot to me because it is a memory given to me by my great-great grandpa. It was a gift from him. He passed away a couple of years ago. My grandpa said that he worked in high technology with his partner. I do not know what kind of things he built but my guess is he made a flying robot. I also admired my great-great grandpa because he always was a confident man. When he was yelled at a lot he aldays did the right thing. When he dealt with people he always kept calm and walked away. One morning he said to me, that you can be anything you want to be inlife. That's when I knew that he wanted me to be just like him. Out of all the children in our family, he had chosen me to say this to. So I'm going to invent something high tech in memory of a great and calm and also confident man!

Jaden. Bruce Elementary, Milwaukee.

My object is my dog Sophia's paw print. it is special to me because it is how I remember her. We had to put her to sleep because she had cancer and water around her heart that was slowly drowning her. I wanted something to remember her by, so we got a paw print. To make a paw print, you first get clay and press it on the clay so it makes her paw print in the clay. Then you put it in the over for 15 minutes and it is done. It is super special to me because I love my dog so much and here are some things I do with her. I played fetch with her and I ran with her. I loved having her in my life. Now I have something to remind me of her.

Caleb. Bruce Elementary, Milwaukee.

My object is soft, it makes me remember when I got it on my 10th birthday. My uncle bought a blanker for me. I play with it sometimes, but my baby sister likes it a lot. My brother sleeps with the blanket and the stuffed character. I can't tell you who it is yet, at the end of this, I will tell you. It also reminds me of a movie my baby sister likes. I will tell you what my object is; it is Olaf with a blanket. The object means a lot to me because it reminds me of birthdays and my baby sister's favorite movie.

Ali. Bruce Elementary, Milwaukee.

I picked this monkey because it is something that my auntie gave to me. My aunt means a lot to me. She is nice and thoughtful. She loves to play with us and we sing together. We also dance and have fun together and tell jokes. I look up to her, she takes care of herself and is kind to us. She has a beautiful face and I love her very much.

Aaron. Burleigh Elementary, Brookfield.

My object is a rock that I found in Mexico while on vacation with my family. I chose this object because it reminds me of the good times my family and I had on our annual summer trip. It's important to me because it was the first time I had even been on a beach by the Gulf of Mexico, and that moment I treasure. Also, because I got to spend time with my family on that trip. This goes to show that the smallest object can mean more in your heart than the biggest object you have.

Angela, Burleigh Elementary, Brokfield.

My flute is important to me because my flute represents a goal. When I am older I want to keep playing my flute and become a professional flute player and flute beat boxer. I chose this object because it represnts some of the things I am interested in. For example, I am interested in different kinds of music, shiny silver instruments, and I l ike to challenge myself by playing a wood-wind instrument that uses the most air out of any other instrument. This is why my flute is special to me.

Ben, Burleigh Elementary, Brookfield.

My object is a Christmas tree light from my mom's funeral that was in December. The reason that it is important to me because she always like putting up Christmas tree lights, so my dad and I went and bought some special lights for her. The celebrant, Claire, had lights specially made for my mom because Claire knew that my Mom missed my Dad and I putting up the lights this year. So, Claire made it special for my mom and that was very nice of her; she did a great job at the service for my Mom. My Mom always had a smile on her face and this past year I think the she lit the lights up with her smile.

Fletch, Tonawanda Elementary School, ElmGrove.

His locomotive.

Eva, ALBA Elementary, Milwaukee.

Her flute.

Desire, ALBA Elementary, Milwaukee.

A family photo and celebration of her Latina heritage.

Gabriel, ALBA Elementary, Milwaukee.

A jacket he got from his Grandma.

Fratney Street School, Milwaukee.

Dolls and stuffed animals. The photos from Fratney were taken in 2009-2011, with students from my husband Bob's fifth grade classroom.

Samantha, Fratney Street School, Milwaukee.

A sweater, knit by her grandma, that she wore as a toddler. "When I look at it, it reminds me of her," she says.

Jesús, Fratney Street School, Milwaukee.

A necklace/rosasy that reminds him of his grandfather, who died before he was born.

Letandre, Fratney Street School, Milwaukee.

The blue dress was his great-great-grandmother's, who died on Letrandre's birthday. And his favorite stuffed animal.

Fratney Street School, Milwaukee.

Osvaldo and his little brother.

Fratney Street School.