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2 Brinicle Poems and a Cover Reveal
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Before I share poems, I invite you to check out John Schu’s cover reveal for one of my Spring 2023 picture books. Click here to see Alexandria Neonakis’ gorgeous cover for FINDING FAMILY: THE DUCKLING RAISED BY LOONS. Y’all know I love science poetry, and
Pictures from Scotland and Thoughts on Being a World Citizen
In September, I visited Scotland with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law—and our daughter Maddie joined us for a couple of days in Edinburgh. I’m so grateful to have had this trip. Whenever I’m lucky enough to travel, I think about what people all over the world have both in common and in difference—and how to
Plume — Another Definito
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Last week, I shared a definito poem of the word “folly.” While I was working on that, I decided to do a second one, too. I have several books coming out in the spring, and I thought it might be fun to write
Activity Sheets for Your K‑2 Plants Unit
Fall is my favorite season, when I get to enjoy cooler weather and gorgeous leaves here in Minnesota. For my book A Leaf Can Be…, I have a gazillion (well, not a gazillion, but 30+) downloadable reading and writing sheets tied into common core ELA standards for grades K‑2. Here’s an example. Just click here
Folly — a Definito
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) [ETA: Our older daughter had unexpected gallbladder removal yesterday, so I’ll be a bit behind in replying to your comments. (She’s doing okay but is in a lot of pain.) Looking forward to getting to them sometime over the weekend, though. Which, come
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
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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