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Flight #PoetryFriday
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) You guys, Scotland was amazing. It was just magical to be able to travel with my husband and my sister and her husband, and then to have Maddie join us for the last weekend in Edinburgh (the Queen–that’s a whole other story). Here are a
Thank You, Educators — a Post-Pandemic (well, sort of) Poem
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) We’re home! We spent two fabulous weeks in Scotland, and I’m so grateful for the trip! I will share some photos eventually. Meanwhile, I’m happy to be back to Poetry Friday. Here’s a poem I just shared with teachers in my September e‑letter. (Are you
Secrets of the Loon Storytimes—and What Flew By Last Night?
[Still off the grid, but I’ll be back next week!] Wow, did I have a loony summer. That’s because Yvonne Pearson (author of Little Loon Finds His Voice) and I teamed up for 14 Minnesota storytimes about loons. FOURTEEN! Whee! Here’s a quick photo gallery, and I want to give big thanks to Yvonne, Cortney
2 Small Reads Roundups for Right Now!
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m off the grid, filling the creative well right now (and SO excited about it!). But I did want to point y’all toward 2 Small Reads Roundups that might be useful for you if you’re a teacher. Follow the links to find boatloads
I Can’t Say for Sure
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was the bop poem, and I didn’t like it. It’s a longer (to me) form, and I liked a few of the examples I read, but it’s not a form that calls out to me. But,
Hidden Life #PoetryFriday
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Before I share my little poem this week, here are a few things: Joy Moore shares an example of the purposeful use of mixed meter in We Belong at her blog yesterday! Thanks, Joy! And Kathy Temean shares the behind-the-scenes journey of We Belong here,
The Deadliest (a phrase acrostic)
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I really feel it’s impossible that it’s the end of July! I’ve done 8 library storytimes, had a sister visit for 10 days from Florida (whee!), gone to Duluth, MN, for a bit of recharge and research, and worked on a variety of
Waiting for News
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was a byr a thoddaid, a Welsh form. Last Thursday, my husband and I went on a road trip to see Tears for Fears in Chicago! Awesome concert. On the way, I wrote or worked on
We Belong and Social-Emotional Learning
I am SO delighted to be featured on children’s author Judy Bradbury’s blog today! She’s featuring We Belong and focusing on some ideas to support social-emotional learning. I hope you’ll visit! [My Classroom Connections posts share a way to connect one of my books or poems to a classroom topic–often something timely that you might
My Face, Space, and Picture Day
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’ve missed you guys the past few weeks! I’m dropping in this week to share my poem from Tabatha Yeatts’ fabulous Imperfect II — poems about perspective: an anthology for middle schoolers. I have now had two poems centered on insecurity and picture day at
Kids + Equation Poems = Awesome! #ClassroomConnections
I love seeing student equation poems—they always make me smile when I see them on social media. Unfortunately, after I reply with enthusiasm, I usually just move on. What I should be doing is sharing them here, so that other educators can see how to use Snowman-Cold=Puddle as a mentor text. I’m vowing to get
NPM2022 Day 31: If You Want to Know the Secret of You
Haha–seriously, I misread the calendar and prepared a post for the 31st (nonexistent) day of April. Oh well. Poetic license? We made it! A sticky note poem every day in April! Thanks for stopping by periodically to read and comment :>) Here’s one more secret poem to go with the two earlier this week. For
NPM2022 Day 30: If You Want to Know the Secret of a Pocket
Here’s another poem, like Thursday’s, that merges Patricia Franz’s idea of learning secrets by listening with a topic from In the Middle of the Night. Art is by Angela Matteson :>) For this one, I thought of what I might have in my pocket and then what sounds could be associated with that. I thought
Day 29: How Gratitude Is Like an Inflatable Kayak
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) This month, our Poetry Princess challenge was to write inspired by poet Taylor Mali. I enjoy hearing Taylor Mali’s work–and attended a virtual workshop with him a couple of months ago! But I like to write short, and spoken word poetry is not
NPM2022 Day 28: If You Want to Know the Secret of Perfume
You guys, I’ve been heartsick this week over the stories of a horrific crime in our region. A crime against a 10-year-old girl. And it’s reminding me again of my need to escape into books, stories, and poems. Reading them, writing them, celebrating them. I’m so grateful for everyone who puts beauty into the world.
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Are You Looking For?
Go to my Poetry page for:
- National Poetry Month projects through the years
- Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
- Introductions to several favorite poetry forms