Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
Before I share my poem, I have a favor to ask of any of you teachers. I will be presenting very soon about writing poetry with students. My audience will be pre-service teachers in a course about literacy for birth through grade 3, and I’d love any of you teachers out there (and I know how many passionate educators take part in Poetry Friday) to share ONE tip or piece of advice for these teachers. I’ll round these up, credit you, of course, and include them in my presentation. Feel free to include your school and grade level (even if it’s above grade 3) in your comment if you’d like. Thank you so much! I appreciate being able to pass on some of the wisdom of teachers already in the classroom.
Now, on to this week’s poem. I have a dim, teeny, tiny office with one window. The blinds open from the bottom AND the top, and I always have the blinds open while I’m writing. I love being able to glimpse whatever weather and sky awaits outside. I don’t want to hang curtains or a valance or anything that would block the light at all.
I also have a set of foreign-language editions of my three Can Be… books that got ruined by a spill. :>( The books are no longer useable, but I didn’t want Violeta Dabija’s beautiful colors to go to waste. I decided to do a little craft project.
And today (I’m writing this on Wednesday), I wrote a poem and created this imagepoem while riding the bike at the gym.
I love glancing to the right as I walk at my treadmill desk and seeing these lovely little companions!
And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with Matt Forrest Esenwine. I can’t wait to get my hands on his new collaboration with Charles Ghigna!
21 Responses
Love your “Belief in Birds” poem Laura, and the lovely recycled birds that are soaring around your window–what an inviting sight! All the best with your forthcoming presentation.
Thanks, Michelle–and my presentation just got canceled due to the college shutting down for COVID. But trying to reschedule!
Go crafty Laura, go! I share your belief in birds (so does Ruth!) and love that you got out your scissors and glue. For a great teacher resource on teaching poetry with lots of people contributing (including you!), see Michelle Barnes’ site: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TSk4B0HlyqncwQAmdFpm_LVG5oS7Zmf0/view xo
Thanks, Irene!
Very creative! Love the conceit of “curtains of birds”, as well as the assonance.
I love the beaks of fire and feathers of streams, Laura. What a beautiful way to repurpose a beautiful book!
Yes, what a great way to use those books. I also have a window with no curtain. It could use a few birds. Love “beaks of fire/ flying through thunder.” Reminds me of poetry.
Laura: I love your recycled beauty! You are a bird after my own heart. Thanks! One small teaching trick to use in pre-school to encourage word play: What is a butterfly without the butter? (Fly) What is a shoelace without the lace? (Shoe) This is a fun game to play while waiting in line, etc. Me? I’m a retired early childhood teacher.
Love your decor, those ‘curtains of birds’, a wonderful way to keep that gorgeous art, Laura! As for tips, I did so much with my students, but they were middle schoolers. One thing that we all loved was that in my poetry group (I kept them to about a dozen, then the rest did another group later) I asked each to bring a poem they loved, where they found it (book, etc.) & why. We did this at the beginning of the meeting before each shared their own poems. This way it wasn’t just me sharing a wonderful poem, but ALL of them, too. It enlarged the breadth of possibilities I think! Hope you enjoy your time teaching those new teachers!
Thanks, Linda, and, yes! Love this tip. Giving kids the power of choice and letting them see a WIDE range of poems someone loves. Enlarges the breadth of possibilities–great way to put it. Thank you.
Love “wishes for wings”. Thanks for this lovey poem Laura.
“Wishes for wings” — such a beautiful image. Your birds are so sweet, and what a great way to repurpose your damaged books! Thanks, Laura.
Thank you, Rose!
I LOVE the way you repurposed the “ruined” books into something beautiful that will brighten your day EVERY day! Perfect poem as well.
Thanks, Mary Lee. Ooh, I bid on something at your auction. Good luck with it!
What a clever idea! Your birds are so cheery. They would inspire me! In fact, they would be a terrific project for families at home right now. If they don’t have old or damaged books, they could photocopy pages (or use scrapbook paper) to make their birds (or other animals), then write a poem, just as you did.
It’s hard to imagine that you need any tips about writing poetry with kids, but here goes. I find that acrostics are a good way into poetry for our youngest writers. They encourage kids to be thoughtful about word choice. It also takes away the urge to rhyme, which, as you know, often shifts the focus away from the object of the poem. Sounds like a wonderful presentation!
Thanks, Catherine–what a great idea to maybe share online for all the students affected by closures. And thank you for your tip. Exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for!
As a firm believer in bird power, I applaud your imagepoem with flapping wings! If you reschedule your presentation, these teacher tips I collected two years ago (including from you) might be helpful: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TSk4B0HlyqncwQAmdFpm_LVG5oS7Zmf0/view
Thanks, Michelle–Irene had reminded me of that. I want to pick a few simple tips to share on a slide (if the presentation gets rescheduled), so that’s why I was asking for just one tip. I don’t want to take from other people’s collections without specific permission, but I don’t want to overwhelm the teachers with so MANY tips they don’t know where to start. If I end up with a handout of more resources, though, I will include this. In fact, I need to add this to my own website, so thanks for the nudge!
I love your birds! <3 Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Thank you, Ruth!