Holiday Reading Fun

What do you get when you mix poetic picture books, holiday music, a few snacks, and kids?  Our Picture Book Holiday Read-In!  On Monday, I filled several tables in our media center with picture books. My middle school students were allowed to choose which books they wanted to read.

I loved hearing their excitement as they recommended a book to a classmate, bragged about the number of books they read during our Read-In, and told me their favorite details from their books.   The students are in my six reading intervention classes. They don't usually list reading as their favorite activity.  Yet, there they were enjoying books!  

Many of the kids commented about how relaxing the time the read-in was. It was like they suddenly discovered READING!  I encouraged them to find a book and have their very own read-in at home. 

I thought I'd share a few photos. You might recognize some of these books! 

Another fun holiday activity this week was watching my granddaughter, Evie,  decorate her Christmas tree.  All the decorations ended up on one side, but it was the most beautiful tree I've ever seen.  Then we baked cookies!

Happy Holidays!

Head on over to Buffy's Blog for more poetry fun!

Poetry Friday: The Meaning of Christmas

I had a wonderful time at NCTE, and the highlight was meeting some of my favorite poets. It was a magical three days, and I wanted to share my excitement. I planned a blog post, but time slipped away from me. From the minute I got home, I hit the ground running and before I knew it, I was knee-deep back in the daily rush!   Maybe that's why it's been so hard for me to get into the holiday mood this year.

I love Christmas. I love baking, addressing cards, wrapping presents, and putting up the tree.   Yet, this year, the joy wasn't  there.  It felt like I was just going through the motions to get things done. 

Then while rushing home from work today, "Away in a Manger" came on the radio.  Outside my car window, snow was falling, and  the world seemed to slow down.  As I listened, I could feel my spirit lifting. I could feel Christmas.

"Away in a Manger" is the first Christmas carol I learned as a child. I don't know how I learned it(maybe from my mother), and I love singing it every year.  It so simply, yet so perfectly reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. It was the song I needed to hear.

It's amazing how a song can change your mood.  So, what song gets you in the holiday spirit?  I hope you'll share it in the comments. I'll be taking a break from posting for a few weeks so I'll see you again in the new year!

Have a blessed and joyous holiday, and remember to take a little time for yourself! 

Paul, one of my new friends I met at NCTE, is our host for Poetry Friday at These 4 Corners.

Lunch with Jacqueline Woodson!

Ok, so Jacqueline Woodson won't actually know I'm in the room, but I am going to hear her speak at a luncheon next week at NCTE, and I'm so excited!  I've been a fan or her books for many years. She writes with such heart, and warmth that reading her books feels like she's sitting next to me telling the story.



I first came to know her work when I read Locomotion, a novel written in verse written in the voice of eleven year old Lonnie.  Every poem is so touching that I couldn't stop thinking about Lonnie and all the sadness he experienced at such a young age. I love how a fifth grade poetry assignment helped him find his voice and gave him a way to tell his story.



A few years ago, I used Miracle's Boys in my reading class with a group of eighth grade boys.  They told me it was the best book we read all year. Like many of Jacqueline Woodson's books, this story of three brothers is heartbreaking yet hopeful.



 I just finished reading her memoir-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming.  I loved reading about her childhood and discovering her voice as a writer.   She and I are from the same generation so the songs and events mentioned in the poems brought back memories of my own childhood.  You can read an excerpt from Brown Girl Dreaming on the NPR blog, and learn more about how Jacqueline came to poetry.  Another connection I share with Jacqueline is that Langston Hughes is the poet who led her to love poetry. I believe readers of all ages will identify with her story.



In addition to novels, Jacqueline Woodson also writes picture books. My favorite is  Each Kindness, the story of a young girl who is unkind to the new girl in her class. .  I see this scenario play out all the time at school, and it's heartbreaking.  I read it to my sixth grade students, and many of them shared their own experiences of being treated unkind.  A few of them even shared their regrets over treating someone or something unkind.

There are still a few of Jacqueline Woodson's books I haven't read, but I plan on changing that!  If you're looking for realistic fiction with characters so believable, you'll worry about them, Jacqueline is the author for you!  Just be sure to have a box of tissue nearby.   :  )

This is just a brief overview for a few of Jacqueline Woodson's titles. Check out her website to learn more.

Keri at Keri Recommends is hosting Poetry Friday this week.

Poetry Heroes

Today is Halloween, and my students are filled with excited anticipating all the delicious treats they'll receive tonight. I'm filled with anticipation too, but I'll have to wait a few more weeks for my special treat because I'm going to NCTE for the first time ever! 

I'm especially looking forward to attending many of the poetry sessions.  Some of my favorite poetry heroes will be there, and I can't wait to see them.  After years of reading their books and blogs, getting to know some of them online, and following their careers, it will be a thrill to meet them in person. Here are just a few of the poets I'm hoping to meet.

Ralph Fletcher
I have heard Ralph speak twice.  The first time was over twenty years ago, after his first book of poetry Water Planet was published, and again about three years ago at a conference in Virginia. I love the conversational voice in his poetry.

Joseph Bruchac
I had the pleasure of interviewing him fifteen years ago for a magazine article. I love his stories and poems reflecting Native American traditions.

Jacqueline Woodson
I've been a fan of her books since I read Locomotion. I just finished brown girl dreaming and loved every word!

Naomi Shihab Nye
Love, love, love her work!

Most of all, I'm looking forward to meeting our own Poetry Friday folks.

Sylvia Vardell
Author of many wonderful resources for teachers including: The Poetry Teacher's Book of Lists and co-compiler of the popular Poetry Friday Anthology series.  I never miss one of her Poetry for Children posts because they are always filled with ideas and resources for poets, children, and teachers.

Janet Wong
She is an expert in finding just the right voice for each of her poems.  I have most of her books, but  my favorite is her first collection Good Luck Gold.   Many of my students love Behind the Wheel , and it's a great mentor text for encouraging boys to write their own poems.  Janet is also the co-complier of the popular Poetry Friday Anthology series.

Laura Purdie Salas
I "met" Laura online about ten years ago. I've followed her poetry career since then.  I'm so proud of her success, and it couldn't happen to a nicer, more generous person! She is an amazing poet who blends nonfiction and poetry in the most brilliant ways. If you haven't read a  A Leaf Can Be and Water Can Be , you must add them to your wish list.  I'm pre-ordering her next book in the series, A Rock Can Be which is due to be published March 2015.

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
I'm drawn to the gentleness and sense of wonder in Amy's poems.  Her blog The Poem Farm is a fantastic resource for teachers and students. Her first collection of poetry Forest Has a Song is one of my student's favorites.

Irene Latham
Irene is a versatile writer of two novels, collections of  poetry for adults and a wonderful new collection for children, Dear Wandering Wildebeest. Her poems are filled surprising imagery sure to delight readers young and old!
,
If you know of other poets attending NCTE, I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment. I don't want to miss the chance to attend their sessions.  I'm also looking forward to meeting many of my online teacher friends too, so if you'll be there I'd love to know. I'll be on the lookout for you!

The lovely Linda is hosting Poetry Friday over at Teacher Dance.

Happy Halloween!

Poetry Friday: Fly South!

Several years ago, I lived across the street from a community pond.  It was a popular rest stop for geese.  I would often wake up to the sound of them honking their way to warmer climates. I loved watching them fly over my house as I imagined the teamwork involved in such a long flight. The memory of them inspired this tanka.

 

 

 

 

               Fly South

Fly south geese go— soon

        the earth will be covered in
               ice and snow—it’s time
                      to leave for warmer winds so
                               go—before winter begins.
                                                                           
                                                                              -Linda Kulp Trout , all rights reserved.
             

 

Last Sunday, my husband and I went in search of autumn. The air was crisp, the sky was bright blue, and the trees were at their peak.  We didn’t see any geese, but we did see a gorgeous lake.  This picture isn't very good, but it helps me remember our early morning walk and this beautiful autumn scene.

Be sure to stop by Merely Day by Day where Cathy is hosting this week's Poetry Friday!

More Student Poems

This is a post I meant to share at the beginning of the month, but I never got to it. I've been devoting all of my writing time to a special project.  The days have flown by, and now here we are at the end of September! 

Thank goodness for a day off!  I'm writing this on Thursday afternoon because school is closed in honor of Rosh Hashanah so I'm doing my best to catch up on my "To-do" list.

This week I'm sharing two more students poems that were modeled after Janet Wong's poem "Another New Year" published in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School. Reading my students' poems taught me about their hopes and dreams for the new school year. 

Knowing their interests also helps me choose texts for my classroom.  I'm saving these poems to use for another activity. At the end of the year, they'll write another poem and compare the two to see if their interests have changed or remained the same.

You can read more about the writing activity I used with my students here.

Another New Year

Another new year:
another new start.

I'm thinking I should
take a drawing class.                                 
                                                                                      
And try out                                                                              
for basketball.

and not be so shy
meeting new people.

For fun I could learn
to play an instrument.

(Pull friends into
an band club?)

Our drawing club
is meeting today.

I guess I could join.
I'd need to practice
coloring again.

This is the year
I want to get all A's!

-C.

Another New Year

Another new year:
another new start.

I'm thinking I should
dye my hair blue.

And try  to read
a whole book for once.
                                                                                       
and not dress
like the 80's.

For fun I could learn
how to change my look.

(Pull friends into
a fashion show?)

Our theater group
is meeting today.

I guess I could join.
I'd need to be cool.

This is the year
to be awesome!

-V.

Another New Year and Resources for Teachers

This week was the first week back for students.  There are five elementary schools that feed into our middle school. Lots of new faces for our sixth graders to get to know.  They come with a mix of anxiety and excitement.  All teachers know the importance of beginning the year with icebreakers to help build a sense of community in the classroom. Today, I'm sharing two that worked well with my students.

I teach six classes of Reading Intervention.  My students are not only struggling readers, most of them also have special needs. They don't like to read, and they aren't shy about letting me know it.  Short, high-interest texts work best for them.  The Poetry Friday anthologies compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong have become my go-to resource. Having the elementary, middle school, and science editions make it easy to find just the right poem to complement my lesson.



This week I used two poems from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School edition. I made a power point presentation of "The First Week of School" by Janet Wong. The poem begins:

First week here: it's like a show.
Lots of kids that I don't know.
Where am I supposed to go?

Janet Wong all rights reserved. 

After reading the poem, I asked the  "Take 5!"  question: What are the best and worst parts of the first week of school?

This question gave students an opportunity to share their feelings about starting middle school.  My hope was to help them feel connected to their classmates by discovering that they were all feeling the same mixed emotions.  I heard a lot of, "Me, too!" comments so I think my objective was achieved!


The next day, I read aloud "Another New Year" also by Janet Wong.  My objective was to encourage students to think about trying something new this year.

I used the "Take 5" prompt: Brainstorm a list of in-school and after-school activities that are offered on your campus for students to consider.  Next, I gave them a poetry frame using parts of Janet's poem, but leaving space for students to write their own responses. My sixth graders really loved this activity,  and I love how they put their own spin on it!   Several of them volunteered to have their poem projected onto the screen and proudly read it aloud to the class.

Below is one of my favorite examples by a young man who claims he doesn't like poetry (the underlined sections were written by the student). I'll share more of their poems next Friday.


Another New Year

Another new year:
another new start.

I'm thinking I should
get to class on time.

And try to open
my locker

and not fall down
in the hallway.

For fun I could learn
to do visual arts.

(Pull friends into
a homework group
or theatre group?)

Our chess team
is meeting today.

I guess I could join.
I'd need to practice.

I'll play every night
till I go to sleep.

This is the year
I do my best!
 
            -A.

Isn't that great?  The Poetry Friday anthologies make it easy for me to motivate students to read and write poetry, AND to practice much needed listening and speaking skills. With all the demands on my time, I am extremely grateful to Sylvia and Janet for compiling these teacher-friendly, student-friendly volumes.  More of their fantastic resources (including pocket poem cards and poetry movies)  from the Poetry Friday series can be found here.

Jone is hosting Poetry Friday this week, be sure to Check It Out.

Heidi Bee Roemer on Inspiration and Writing Poetry

I've been thinking about all the great resources in our Poetry Friday community. We are so fortunate to be among wonderfully talented poets who generously share their time and experiences.  Today I want to tell you about a poetry class I took several years ago and share an interview with an excellent teacher, author, and poet Heidi Bee Roemer.

The ABC's of Writing Poetry for Children is a correspondence course that is different from most others because it is self-paced. This feature was very attractive to me because with teaching full time and being a grandma, life is busy!  Knowing that I had control of how long it took me to finish the course let me focus on enjoying the lessons without rushing through. The class is a one-on-one exchange with a tremendous amount of feedback and support from Heidi. The 5 DVDs and a 65-page workbook were informative, and it was helpful to have both resources to refer back to as needed.

Heidi has all the qualities of a great teacher. She is warm, patient, encouraging, and inspiring. Best of all, with over 200 published poems, she knows poetry! When I decided to write this post, I asked Heidi if she would mind answering a few questions, and she graciously agreed.  Heidi's passion for teaching is evident in her responses.

Where do you find inspiration?

 My inspiration comes from memories, music and observing children, to note just a few. But consider this: babies learn about the world through their five senses. A writer who zeros in on that will find buckloads of ideas! As you go through your day, be aware of things that might spark a flame…

 

Visually -- an illustration, a TV commercial, a child playing at the beach--or anywhere!
Audibly-- silly sounding words, children talking, city noises, nature sounds, popcorn popping, fireworks, etc.
Tactically--sticky glue, the cool fluidity of water, softness of a pet's fur.
Taste--the startling sourness of a lemon, the creamy sweetness of ice cream.
Smell--cookies baking, the smell of rain.

When writing for younger kids, you might include alliteration--beep beep! splash! poppity-pop! When writing for a slightly older audience, sprinkle in a few metaphors. And when an idea strikes you, jot it down immediately! If you don't, it will probably slip away.

Once you have an idea for a poem, what is your writing process?

Good question! After choosing a topic, I brainstorm for ways to present the poem. Sometimes poets get stuck writing the same style of poem over and over. Boring. Try something new! Experiment!

I might write my poem in first person point of view, as reflected in my title, "I Love to Eat Lemons".  Second person p.o.v. : "Do You Like Lemons?" Third person is also a possibility: "Lulu Loves Lemons!"  In this instance, I chose the latter because I love the playful alliteration.

Knowing various poetry forms also gives writers options. Terse verse, which is often employed when writing for the very young, uses short, clipped rhymed lines that rhyme. Verla Kay has written numerous historical picture books in this form. Her newest is CivilWar, Drummer Boy. Here's the opening of her must-read book, OrphanTrain:

Horses clip-clop.

Streets unclean.
Typhoid fever.
Quarantine!

 Parents coughing.
Shaking chill.
Stomachs aching.
Deathly ill.

Harold, David,

Frightened eyes.
Lucy rocking,
Lullabies….

An apostrophe poem addresses a person or thing that cannot hear or respond. Pretending to talk to a kite, a pet, or favorite toy is something that comes naturally to children. Douglas Florian, one of my favorite poets, uses the apostrophe form in many of his poetry collections. Here's a snippet from "Daddy Longlegs," from Insectlopedia.

 O Daddy,

Daddy O,
How'd you get
Those legs to grow

So very long

and lean in size?
From spiderobic

Exercise? …

 A parody of a familiar nursery rhyme is always a favorite. A mask poem is another fun form. ("A mask poem is ME pretending to BE something I'm not!") I used both forms in my poem that begins, "I'm a little jump rope, red and white…" It's based on the Mother Goose rhyme, "I'm a Little Tea Pot."

Whether you're trying to sell your poems to children's magazines or writing a poetry collection, use a variety of lively poetry forms to keep your young readers engaged--and to snag the attention of your editor!  

Meter is one of the hardest things for most writers to master. How do you decide on which meter to use?

Sometimes the meter seems to picks itself! If I've captured the first few words of the poem, they may set the pace for what follows. Other times I make a conscious decision on what meter to use.  If the poem is about something exciting, I might use anapest which is the same meter as in "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."  Listen to the beat: ta ta TUM ta ta TUM ta ta TUM ta ta TUM. Wouldn't this meter be a good match for a poem about a galloping horse?

The classic narrative poem, "The Raven", by Edgar Allan Poe, is predominantly troche. (TUM ta TUM ta TUM ta TUM ta….) Paired with Poe's somber words, the rhythm effectively accentuates the poem's increasingly sinister sound.

Try to mimic the rhythms you hear in published poems. Better yet, learn the various meters and apply them to your own poems for more variety in your work.


Do you write in a notebook or on the computer?

I use the computer a lot to research, but I also go to the library every week and bring home books. When I started gathering information for home building (construction) for a writing project, I exceeded the library check-out limit of 100 books, (I never knew they had a limit!) and had to put back a few. I proceed by jotting down ideas in a notebook, but when the ideas really start flowing, I have to turn to the keyboard because my handwriting gets too messy! (I've found that illegible notes aren't very helpful.) I type much faster than I can write. I also prefer to do revision on the computer for the same reason.

 

  What new writing projects do you have in the works?

I enjoy writing poems for children's magazines, particularly Highlights, High Five, and Hello, plus the "bug" magazines, Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider. Keeping my poems circulating to a variety of magazines increases my chances of getting a sale. Currently, I'm working on a rollicking rhyming picture book about road construction (Well, it's not quite at at the "rollicking" state yet. It still has a long way to go!)  I also started a poetry collection about the construction trades, (carpenter, brick layer, painter, etc). Both are geared for primary grades. Wish me luck!


In addition to writing for magazines and anthologies, Heidi has writes nonfiction, fiction, song lyrics, and articles.  You can read poems from her award winning book Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems here.

For your viewing pleasure, check out Heidi's poem, "Food Fest" from the Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School which is featured in  Renee LaTulippe's fabulous poetry video.  You can watch it here.

A special thank you to my friend and teacher, Heidi Bee Roemer for being my guest here on Write Time today. For more inspiration, be sure to visit the multi-talented Irene at Live Your Poem for today's Poetry Friday!

Poetry Friday: The Poem That Got Away

Has this ever happened to you?  Last night, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I got an idea for a poem. It felt perfect for the collection I'm working on.  Now, I know I should have gotten up and jotted it down, but it had been a long day at summer school and I was exhausted.  Besides, I could remember it until morning, right?    Wrong!  This morning, I overslept, jumped out of bed, got dressed and dashed out the door. Driving to work, I tried and tried to recall that little poem, but it was long gone!

As I was thinking of what I'd like to share today, I came across my copy of the beautiful anthology Inner Chimes: Poems on Poetry selected by Bobbye S. Goldstein. I've owned this book for almost twenty years and return to it often for encouragement and inspiration. The poems express the joys and frustrations of making poems and speak to writers of all ages. It's an excellent resource for writing teachers.

The poem I'm sharing is by Felice Holman. I love this poem, and I really needed to read it again today.  If you write poetry, it might just become one of your favorites too!


The Poem That Got Away

There I was and in it came
Through the fogbank of my brain
From the fastness of my soul
Shining like a glowing coal—
The nearly perfect poem!

Oh, it may have needed just
An alteration here or there--
A little tuck, a little seam
to be exactly what I meant--
The really perfect poem!

     I'll write it later on, I said,
     The idea's clear and so's my head.
     This pen I have is nearly dry.
     What I'll do now is finish this pie,
     Then on to the perfect poem!
   
Read the rest of the poem here.

Be sure to drop by Poetry for Children for today's Poetry Friday party where the multi-talented Sylvia Vardell  and Janet Wong (Pomelo Books) have a very exciting announcement that you won't want to miss!

Thanks for stopping by!

Poetry Friday

Last week, my four-year old granddaughter, Evie, read a book to her preschool class during circle time. She was so proud to be able to read it all by herself! 
Over the years, I've taught preschool, elementary, and middle school.  One of  the most rewarding experiences for me  is sharing the excitement when a child reads his/her first book.  I wrote this little poem to capture that experience.

First Book

Mommy! Daddy!
Come look, come look--

I'm reading, I'm reading,
I'm reading a book!

I just found it here
on the library shelf
and I can read every word
all by myself.

Mommy! Daddy!
Come look, come look--

I'm reading!

I'm reading
my very first book!

Linda Kulp- all rights reserved

                      My two-year old grandson loves looking at his magazine.
                      It won't be long before he reads his very first book!



Be sure to stop by to visit Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for more poetry offerings.

 

                                  

 Welcome to Poetry Friday!  

 

My 4 yr. old granddaughter, Evie

stopped by to welcome you!

 

 

Hello, everyone!  It's so nice to see you here! This is my first time to host so I’m a little nervous but very happy to finally take the plunge!  Please leave your links in the comments, and I’ll be rounding them up throughout the day.

I've been busy teaching summer school, and the days just seem to be speeding by. I can't believe the summer is half over already!

I did do one very special thing for myself this summer.  I spent the month of June in an online class that turned out to one of the best writing courses I’ve ever taken.  I don’t usually post about classes, but I think this one is such a fantastic resource for poets, teachers, and writers of all genres that I wanted to share my experience. Besides, I'm hoping this post will inspire you to share writing resources you've found helpful too. So, here goes!

 

I enrolled in The Lyrical Language Lab: Punching Up Prose with Poetry for the month of June with one simple goal in mind; I wanted to develop a writing routine for the summer.   What I got was so much more! 

The Lyrical Language Lab is an intensive month-long course taught by Renee LaTulippe.  Renee (of No Water River fame) is an outstanding teacher. Her knowledge of poetic elements, precise lessons, individual attention, and editing background is phenomenal!

A few of my favorite features of the course were:

• The lessons were well-structured: model, practice, apply, feedback.
• The assignments and daily interaction with Renee and my classmates kept me motivated.
• There were opportunities to apply new skills to my WIP.
• The lessons meet the needs of a variety of  learning styles (verbal, audio, visual, kinesthetic).
• A lot of information was packed into this course, but it was always entertaining and FUN!

Most courses end, and that’s it.  Not The Lyrical Language Lab! At the end of the course, Renee provided us with a packet containing all of our assignments and her feedback. She is also creating an e-book of our course so we can review as needed. And, we had the opportunity to join an online group of course alumni so we can continue to learn and support each other. How wonderful is that?

I loved the class, and judging by the comments made by my classmates, everyone else did too.  I recommend this course for writers of all genres, but especially poets and picture book writers. Teachers who want a stronger foundation in poetry will also find this class beneficial.  

If you're looking to “punch up your prose,” add to your poetry toolbox, or add to your teaching repertoire, I hope you’ll head over to No Water River and check out The Lyrical Language Lab.

I can't end this post without mentioning another excellent resource.  If you are in need of coaching, consulting, or critiquing,  Mentors for Rent is the way to go!  Laura Purdie Salas and Lisa Bullard are the providers of this outstanding service. Both of these ladies have years of writing and coaching experience and share a wealth of knowledge about the business of writing for children. I can tell you from personal experience, they work hard to help clients reach their writing goals.  Check out their website for more details.

Okay, I hope I didn't sound too much like an infomercial, but I know there are folks like me who are looking for resources to reach the next level in their writing.

Now sit back, have a cup of tea, and let's enjoy today's poetry offerings.
Thanks for stopping by!

 

First Cup Edition

 Laura at Author Amok shares, "July 2 was the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. I'm celebrating with a post about Debbie Levy's latest picture book, "We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song." In free verse, Levy covers the history of "We Shall Overcome" from slavery, to the Civil Rights Movement, and its worldwide popularity today."

Matt comes to us today with an original poem at Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme.

Tabatha shares a roller coaster poem by Heidi Mordhorst at The Opposite of Indifference.

Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge brings us fortune cookies and a poem by Irene Latham.
 

Michelle has a limerick by Irene Latham at Today's Little Ditty

Donna had some fun with her grandchildren this week over at Mainely Write, and she also share's a poem by Linda Baie.

Linda shares a summer swap poem by Margaret Simon at Teacher Dance.

Over at Gathering Books, Myra shares a poem by Iphigene.

Reading to the Core brings us a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Heidi is looking for suggestions about a classic poem for her revision project at My Juicy Little Universe.

Diane is in today with an original poem at Random Noodling.  She also brings us a short post about FIREFLY JULY at Kurious Kitty.

Laura is in today with a poem by Irene Latham from her new book DEAR WANDERING WILDEBEEST.

Margaret shares a poem by Wendi Romero at Reflections on the Teche.

Irene is in today at Live Your Poem with Quilts, & Pears, & the Summer Swap.

Monica over at Cartwheels shares at original poem today.

Violet offers us some summer advice today.

Becky shares an adaptation of Rilke's unicorn poem at Tapestry of Words.

Second Cup Edition

Tara is in today with a post inspired by the news at A Teaching Life.

Bildungsroman comes to us with an Emily Dickinson poem.

Sylvia has a must read tribute to the poetry of the late, great Walter Dean Myers at Poetry for Children.

Jone shares a postcard she received from Joy Acey at Check It Out.

Joy is in today with an original summer poem  at Poetry for Kids Joy.

Amy is at The Poem Farm with a poem about spirit animals inspired by Laura Shovan's post last week.


OK!  I think that's it for round two.  I posted all the links in the Comments section also, just in case.  I'll check back later this afternoon in case anyone else drops by.  I apologize for not giving a better description for each of today's offerings, but I'm on a time crunch (like always), and the computer was not cooperating!  Now, I'm going to get my tea and read these wonderful offerings!  Thank you to everyone who stopped by Write Time! 

 

Our Third Cup Edition

Mary Lee at A Year of Reading  stopped by to bring us some "Chicory".

Jen from I am a teacher et cetera just popped in to share an interesting piece she's been working on. I like it!

Carol invites us over to Beyond Literacy Link for some summer serenity along with a writing invitation.

Lorie Ann is in at On Point today with an original haiku and at readertotz, "It Rains, It Pains."

 

2014 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem, Day 11

Happy Poetry Month! 

I've been checking out the poetry projects on the kidlit blogs this month.  I love having an entire month to celebrate poetry.  Every year, I dream of writing a daily post to celebrate National Poetry Month, but I quickly talk myself out of it because I worry that I won't be able to  fulfill my commitment. Well, this year I'm determined to devote more time to writing so I bought a little notebook and labeled it National Poetry Month. Although I'm not posting them, I'm scribbling something resembling a poem every night before I go to bed.  I use the word resembling because some nights after a long day at school (and a long commute home) that's about all I can manage! Yep, it's messy, but  I'm following the advice of real writers who tell us to just get something down. I've already seen some connections. Who knows, I might even find a few decent ideas for poems hiding in there!


Still, I really want to take part in the celebration so I'm extremely grateful to Irene Latham of Live Your Poem for organizing the progressive poem for folks like me who just want to dip a toe into the waters of National Poetry Month.  Like many others, this is my third year to participate.

It's fun to follow the poem's progress each day and wonder where it might go next.   Part of the excitement is that it's impossible to plan a line until the poet who precedes you writes his/her line. Yesterday, the talented Tabatha Yeats  added a whole new twist to the poem.  I love how she opened to door to some interesting possibilities. As  I read the poem again and again, it felt very dreamlike so that gave me an idea for my line.   I hope it works! 


Sitting on a rock, airing out my feelings to the universe
Acting like a peacock, only making matters that much worse;
Should I trumpet like an elephant emoting to the moon,
Or just ignore the warnings written in the rune?
Those stars can’t seal my future; it’s not inscribed in stone.
The possibilities are endless! Who could have known?
Gathering courage, spiral like an eagle after prey
Then gird my wings for whirlwind gales in realms far, far away.
But, hold it!  Let's get practical! What's needed before I go?
Time to be tactical— I'll ask my friends what I should stow.
And in one breath, a honeyed word whispered low—   dreams


Okay, Mary Lee, I've taken us to dreamland, I can't wait to see your creative imagination take us next!

Want more poetry?  Michelle at Today's Little Ditty has this week's Poetry Friday roundup!