Small Reads for Brighters Days
At the end of February, I visited four elementary schools in Albert Lea, Minnesota. It was an adventurous week, with a school closing for weather, schedule changes, and rooms full of kids! Wow. It was kind of a shock to my system after two years of not gathering, but it was amazing. The media specialists, […]
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Well, all during April I shared an equation poem daily. (You can see them all here.) Now I’m exhausted :>) Luckily, I have some student poems to share. Back in March, I did several virtual Family Literacy Nights with Lebanon Junction Elementary School in Kentucky. […]
The world is topsy-turvy right now. My schedule has changed, my income-earning events are being canceled, future family and travel plans are up in the air, and more. But my family is healthy, and I’m focusing on that. I’m also continuing to focus on creativity, flexibility, and kindness. In addition to practical measures, these help […]
I had three awesome school visits in February, and each one was a pleasure. But I’m going to share a few pictures from the last one, which was at Rogers Elementary School in Rogers, Minnesota. Holly Dragisich, the media specialist and school librarian, organized my three-day visit. The unusual thing was that this visit was […]
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Last week, I was honored to spend three days with 4th and 5th graders playing with poetry. We wrote 15 Words or Less Poems, Paint Chip Poems, Things To Do If You Are… Poems, I Am Poems, Found Poems (using pages from National Geographic that […]
Wednesday, June 20, is World Refugee Day, and I wanted to share a poetry-writing activity I did with 3rd-8th graders in case you’re looking for a writing activity with one of your summer programs (or in years to come). Almost every year, I teach at Success Beyond the Classroom’s Young Authors Conference at Bethel University […]
I had 2 fabulous school visits in February and wanted to share a few pictures. If you only click on one photo, do the white poem on green background paper in the first gallery–the student poem “Things to Do if You Are a Valentine’s Card.” I am in love with this poem. Often, the very […]
I had the best time at Pinewood Elementary last month. I got to spend two days there, which means that, in addition to two large-group presentations, I did writing workshops with each third-grade class. Love! The staff was amazing and enthusiastic, and the students were incredible. We had the best time. I’m going to share […]
Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here. The leaves are all gone now from our beautiful maple, so I’m enjoying it through photos retroactively:>) This image makes me think of several things:
Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here. I want to say thank you to this community! On my school visits to Pinewood Elementary in Monticello, MN, last week, I got to lead poetry workshops with […]
