1) Monday will begin National Poetry Month, and there will be all sorts on kidlitosphere poetry fun! I hope to feature a Poem Starter daily, with poems by lots of my favorite poets!
2) This week, my poem is “Shades of Red,” from my book? Flashy, Clashy, and Oh-So Splashy: Poems about Color (Poetry series) (A+ Books: Poetry)
Shades of Red
coral, tomato
crimson, and rose
those are some reds
my paintbox shows
red as a cherry
whose stem you pluck
red as a gleaming
new fire truck
red as an overblown
runny nose
these are the reds
that everyone knows!
–by Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Poem Starter: Listen to the poem “Shades of Red,” by Laura Purdie Salas, and then write a poem about your favorite color. Use a crayon box or a thesaurus to help you brainstorm lots of different shades of your color, and use three different shades/names in your poem.?
Mary Lee Hahn (did you catch her beautiful poems in this year’s March Madness Poetry?) at A Year of Reading has today’s Poetry Friday roundup – enjoy!
48 Responses
Delightful JOB, even the website sign. Unpretentious and scintillating!
Jeanne
Thank you, Jeanne! It’s a challenge not to fall victim to the “make it cleaner, make it slicker, make it more professional” thoughts that are plaguing me, but it’s really this way or not at all, because I don’t have the time or energy to become really slick at these! Glad you’re finding it appealing, and thanks for the feedback:>)
Delightful JOB, even the website sign. Unpretentious and scintillating!
Jeanne
Thank you, Jeanne! It’s a challenge not to fall victim to the “make it cleaner, make it slicker, make it more professional” thoughts that are plaguing me, but it’s really this way or not at all, because I don’t have the time or energy to become really slick at these! Glad you’re finding it appealing, and thanks for the feedback:>)
What a great way to get our kids to think in shades…thanks, Laura, we are going to give this a try next Friday, the day before Spring Break — when my kids will need something fun and engaging (not grammar!) to keep them in their seats!
Thanks, Tara–I hope your kids have fun with it!
What a great way to get our kids to think in shades…thanks, Laura, we are going to give this a try next Friday, the day before Spring Break — when my kids will need something fun and engaging (not grammar!) to keep them in their seats!
Thanks, Tara–I hope your kids have fun with it!
Terrific, Laura. Since red is my favorite color, I especially liked this one, but really, the videos are going to be fun for teachers to use in their classes all the month of April! I think you’ve done lots of work to get these up!
Thanks, Linda. I’m feeling the pressure because for my own poems, I’ve comfortable with my very casual approach. But now I’m a little worried about representing *other* poets’ poems this way–ack! Oh well, it is what it is.
Terrific, Laura. Since red is my favorite color, I especially liked this one, but really, the videos are going to be fun for teachers to use in their classes all the month of April! I think you’ve done lots of work to get these up!
Thanks, Linda. I’m feeling the pressure because for my own poems, I’ve comfortable with my very casual approach. But now I’m a little worried about representing *other* poets’ poems this way–ack! Oh well, it is what it is.
Well done Laura. Love your energy and the prompt. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Joy!
Well done Laura. Love your energy and the prompt. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Joy!
Color poems are a never-ending source of inspiration to my middle schoolers. I always use Hailstones and Halibut Bones, but I’ll have to get this one too!
I *adore* Halstones and Halibut Bones! Have you read Red Sings from Treetops, by Joyce Sidman?
No! I’ll have to put that on my list too. Thanks!
You’ll love it:>)
Color poems are a never-ending source of inspiration to my middle schoolers. I always use Hailstones and Halibut Bones, but I’ll have to get this one too!
I *adore* Halstones and Halibut Bones! Have you read Red Sings from Treetops, by Joyce Sidman?
No! I’ll have to put that on my list too. Thanks!
You’ll love it:>)
If you’re doing the poetry prompt Salas then I’m going to match you step for step because it’s a GREAT writing exercise so here are 2 for you.
LEARNING SOMETHING EVERYDAY
Do you want to know something
That I found is true?
Azure, Beryl and Cobalt
Are different shades of blue.
My mood matches each complexion:
Color of the sky,
Color of the sea,
Color of the inside
Of a lonely me.
FAVORITE COLOR
Friday afternoon, class is daydreaming.
We’re supposed to be reading, though all
Of us are already knee deep in starting
Our 3 day weekend. Even our teacher
Mr. Whitehead is dozing off. When he
Starts snoring we begin to laugh. “All right.”
He says. “For the next 10 minutes please
Write about your favorite color.” Our class
Let’s out a grumble. I begin to scribble about
What I like, what feels comfortable. My tattered
blanket that used to be Dad’s when he was my age.
My fall jacket that still has stains from the apple
Cider I drank from last years hay ride. My favorite
dinner plate Mom made for me during her ceramic
class, Grandpa’s boat that we ride every weekend
if the weather cooperates, My dog Max’s leash, I’ve
used it to walk him 3 times a day since he was a pup.
My Grandma’s telescope that I watch our
galaxy
With before I go to bed. Yep, there’s no doubt my
Favorite color’s blue. Can’t wait to experience all
of what I wrote in 3 … 2 … 1 … “CLASS DISMISSED!”
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Oh, I especially love the last four lines of that first one, Charles!
If you’re doing the poetry prompt Salas then I’m going to match you step for step because it’s a GREAT writing exercise so here are 2 for you.
LEARNING SOMETHING EVERYDAY
Do you want to know something
That I found is true?
Azure, Beryl and Cobalt
Are different shades of blue.
My mood matches each complexion:
Color of the sky,
Color of the sea,
Color of the inside
Of a lonely me.
FAVORITE COLOR
Friday afternoon, class is daydreaming.
We’re supposed to be reading, though all
Of us are already knee deep in starting
Our 3 day weekend. Even our teacher
Mr. Whitehead is dozing off. When he
Starts snoring we begin to laugh. “All right.”
He says. “For the next 10 minutes please
Write about your favorite color.” Our class
Let’s out a grumble. I begin to scribble about
What I like, what feels comfortable. My tattered
blanket that used to be Dad’s when he was my age.
My fall jacket that still has stains from the apple
Cider I drank from last years hay ride. My favorite
dinner plate Mom made for me during her ceramic
class, Grandpa’s boat that we ride every weekend
if the weather cooperates, My dog Max’s leash, I’ve
used it to walk him 3 times a day since he was a pup.
My Grandma’s telescope that I watch our
galaxy
With before I go to bed. Yep, there’s no doubt my
Favorite color’s blue. Can’t wait to experience all
of what I wrote in 3 … 2 … 1 … “CLASS DISMISSED!”
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Oh, I especially love the last four lines of that first one, Charles!
Fun poem and great poem starter video! 30 videos for the 30 days of April is quite the accomplishment and gift to teachers and students. =)
Thanks, Bridget–fingers crossed that I can do it! :>)
Fun poem and great poem starter video! 30 videos for the 30 days of April is quite the accomplishment and gift to teachers and students. =)
Thanks, Bridget–fingers crossed that I can do it! :>)
Kids will have loads of fun with a “shades” poem, Laura. I like to use paint color swatches to inspire kids to write about color. Thanks for offering poetry starter videos! Love the bright colors on your book cover!
I love writing paint chip poems with kids, Joyce–we write them right on the little paint sample paper and the kids have a great time. Thanks for your encouragement:>)
Kids will have loads of fun with a “shades” poem, Laura. I like to use paint color swatches to inspire kids to write about color. Thanks for offering poetry starter videos! Love the bright colors on your book cover!
I love writing paint chip poems with kids, Joyce–we write them right on the little paint sample paper and the kids have a great time. Thanks for your encouragement:>)
Laura! We are both on the same happy red page this weekend. I enjoy these videos and look forward to sharing them with teachers next month. Thank you for all you do for all of us! xo, a.
Thanks, Amy–It’s intimidating to do someone else’s poems starting Monday (and guess who’s kicking off the month!). I hope nobody’s expectations are too high!
Laura! We are both on the same happy red page this weekend. I enjoy these videos and look forward to sharing them with teachers next month. Thank you for all you do for all of us! xo, a.
Thanks, Amy–It’s intimidating to do someone else’s poems starting Monday (and guess who’s kicking off the month!). I hope nobody’s expectations are too high!
We have been enjoying your fifteen word challenges on Thursdays, but now we will be inspired by your work every day! Thank you, Laura and good luck! We will be tuning in!
Mrs. Harvey’s fourth graders
Thanks, Mrs. Harvey and 4th graders! I’m so happy you’ve been trying out the 15 Words or Less poems. I hope you enjoy all the poems I share in April–they’re by some of my very favorite poets! I bet they’ll inspire lots of cool poems for you.
We have been enjoying your fifteen word challenges on Thursdays, but now we will be inspired by your work every day! Thank you, Laura and good luck! We will be tuning in!
Mrs. Harvey’s fourth graders
Thanks, Mrs. Harvey and 4th graders! I’m so happy you’ve been trying out the 15 Words or Less poems. I hope you enjoy all the poems I share in April–they’re by some of my very favorite poets! I bet they’ll inspire lots of cool poems for you.
I’m looking forward to your daily Poetry Prompts!!! I’m sure I will be inspired and maybe finish April with a few more poems under my belt! Thanks, Laura!
Thanks, Penny–I do hope they inspire you!
I’m looking forward to your daily Poetry Prompts!!! I’m sure I will be inspired and maybe finish April with a few more poems under my belt! Thanks, Laura!
Thanks, Penny–I do hope they inspire you!