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World Water Day! #ClassroomConnections
Happy World Water Day, friends, as we celebrate this essential part of our world! I donate 10% of my royalties from Water Can Be… to WaterAid. Thanks so much for supporting this book, and you can find all sorts of classroom materials (inc activity sheets, resources, and videos) here! Thank you for teaching about water
Leaving Things Behind–for Ukraine
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) First up, if you’re an educator, please check out my template for writing a “We Belong” poem, which I shared a few days ago. :>) Now…the week before last, my husband and I took a staycation–unplugging from work and news and doing things we loved
A We Belong Poem Template for Classrooms
My biggest hopes for We Belong are that it gets used to spark good discussions and to create community. So I’ve created a template for you to use with your students to write a classroom or family poem. I used this template at the book launch and on some recent author visits with K‑1 classes.
If You Want to Knit Some Mittens — Storytime Props
Okay, y’all might already know that I’m not the world’s best social media person—ha! But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating those who ARE able to both come up with fun ideas AND share them in wonderful ways. Check out these awesome images shared by Hanna from My Literacy Space. They show the cutest manipulatives
One Egg–The Poetry Sisters Play With an Exquisite Corpse Poem
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) It was so great to host last weekend, and thank you for all the kind comments and encouragement for my forthcoming picture book and virtual launch party! In case you missed it–or as a reminder–Please come to my book launch event, where we’ll write a
“Do you come from close by?” from We Belong and the Poetry Friday Roundup!
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone, to the Roundup! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) It’s been so nice to see some new people joining in and blogging these past couple of months. We are a welcoming community, and I hope you feel that and reach out with any questions you have! Well, it’s only
We Belong!
My next picture book comes out soon, and I can’t wait to start sharing it. It’s called We Belong, and it’s illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera and published by Carolrhoda Books. Here’s a graphic featuring Carlos’ gorgeous art to wet your whistle! Want a downloadable, printable, 18″ x 24″ poster similar to the graphic above?
Maybe You’re Quiet… and a We Belong Launch Party!
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m sharing my forthcoming rhyming picture book today and inviting you to my launch party! A picture book always has an editor’s careful fingerprints all over it. But We Belong, my new book coming out March 1, wouldn’t even exist without Carolrhoda Associate Publisher Carol
Make an Equation Poem Valentine
Why not write an equation poem for someone you love for Valentine’s Day? These snappy poems are short enough to fit on a handmade card! Just pick a person to make your valentine for. my sister Patty Brainstorm lists of specific things about your person. loves: funny movies dark chocolate cross-stitching games therapy dogs wolves
The Pit
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Our Poetry Princess challenge this month was an overheard poem–a poem inspired by or somehow using words we overheard. I am a bad eavesdropper–not only am I not usually close enough to other people to overhear things, but I’m good at tuning out
Poems for Two Voices #ClassroomConnections
I love poems for two voices, and this form is really fun for students to perform, discuss, and write. Here’s a poem for two voices from In the Middle of the Night. Try reading the poem out loud with two students or two groups. One is the voice of the flip flops, and the other
I Love You, Giraffe
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I didn’t think I’d make Poetry Friday this week, but then… I wrote “giraffe eyelashes” in my gratitude list one night after an episode of The Secret Life of the Zoo (I adore that show!). The next day, I received some notecards I ordered from
A We Belong Video #ClassroomConnections
Ages ago, Lerner asked me to make a short video introducing my next picture book, We Belong, to educators and parents. I did it, and they used it at NCTE (I missed NCTE so much!). Now, I get to share it with you! Why did I write it? What are my hopes for it? All
Turtleneck, Free Author Visit Zoom, Storytime, and One Little Word–Whew!
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So much to tell you this week, but our home is in disarray (covid has struck again, and yes, we are fully vaccinated and boosted). So I’ll keep this brief and not overwhelming :>) 1. Friends–I’m doing a virtual library storytime on Monday, Jan 10,
Storytime + Talking Writing Process with First Graders and The Write Time
Friends–I’m doing a virtual library storytime on Monday, Jan 10, at 6pm Central Time. Family and friends with kids in the 4–9 range, hope to see you there! I’ll be sharing picture books about water, winter, and getting yarn from sheep. Learn about states of matter, animal adaptations and behaviors, and the miracle of sheep
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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