I’ve been creating units for kindergarten using picture books to introduce the poetic concepts of rhythm, rhyme, and metaphor. Today I thought I’d write about another picture book that would help in teaching older children about metaphors in poetry: Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski.
This week’s Mentor Monday is about poetry picture books for kids, the same as last week’s subject. I realize I’m two days late here; it has been a crazy week in terms of getting any free time.
Nevertheless, it’s almost good we waited, because I get to write about what we did this morning: learning with Joyful Noise.
It is not as hard as you may think, reading a poem. Maybe you came to this page because you are searching for the elusive answer. Maybe you have found your way to poetry and are curious to see how I intend to show reading a poem via this blog post.
Or maybe you are here to join in the 2014 Poetry Celebration and Contest!
No matter how you got here, this is what I want you to remember: I cannot “teach” you to read poetry in a single blog post, because there is no right way to read a poem.
I believe one of the most important things a teacher or parent can do is instill a love of learning into poems. How do you read a poem? You start with enjoying it.
One of the most popular American poets is former poet Laureate, Billy Collins. Collins writes image-rich poetry that speaks of the human condition. Many of his poems are incredibly accessible to the most unfamiliar readers of poetry. I believe his poems would be perfect for upper elementary school children as well. Continue reading
Welcome to the Spring Has Sprung: Poetry in Elementary Blog Hop! It may not look or feel like Spring here in Chicagoland, but it’s time to get prepared for poetry month, which begins on Tuesday in the U.S.A.
After you read my post, make sure you check out the 14 other teacher bloggers who have shared their thoughts on poetry as well. Click “Hop over to the next stop” at the bottom of my post to get to the next blog.
I have chosen to blog today about 15 fun poetry ideas for kids because playing with poetry is fun!
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This week’s Mentor Monday (a link up feature at The Reading Tutor/OG blog) is about using text to help teach figurative language. I realize I am a day late this week, but I am very excited about this topic and have a few perfect books to highlight similes and metaphors.
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In honor of National Poetry Month (again), I thought I’d write another haiku, but then A Lotus pointed out to me that when the seventeen syllables focus on human irony and interactions, it’s more accurately called “Senryu.” According to Wikipedia, Senyru are more “darkly humorous.” Since that is my intention in the following verse, I think this is probably a Senryu. Any thoughts and pointers on what the different forms “require” would help me.
Weather Means More (Now that I Have a Yard): A Senryu
I groan and dawdle
on Saturdays clear and bright:
weeds mock and taunt me.
(It’s my third month of having a yard, and I’m beginning to dislike yard work already!)
The prompt is from April’s Café Writing, In the Garden: Option One Poetry
Weather means more when you have a garden. There’s nothing like listening to a shower and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans.
~Marcelene Cox
Using the quotation above as your inspiration, write a poem (any form is fine) about weather meaning more
In the spirit of National Poetry Month, I thought I’d try some more poetry.
A Lotus from Poetry by Lotus inspired me to try my hand at a “Thirteen Ways” poem, in the mode of Wallace Stevens’ “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” Imitating this poem was also mentioned as a poetry writing prompt in Rose, Where Do You Get That Red?, which I read and reviewed on Rebecca Reads last week.
Note that I am taking some phrases from Stevens, not with the intent to plagiarize but as poetry guidance and prompts for my own ideas. In some sense, this is all a joke, for I don’t think it is great poetry. As you read, please keep in mind that I’m not a poet.
Despite that fact, I sure had fun writing this. Each of these stanzas references a different way that I, a stay-at-home mom, look at books.
If you choose to do a “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a…” poem yourself, leave a link in the comments. Continue reading
April is National Poetry Month.
Poets.org shares a number of different activities, including an emailed poem every day this month. Check out their site at the link above for more ways to participate.
I’ve been reading some poetry this month because I certainly appreciate reading poetry, but I am not a poet by any stretch of the imagination. That’s why this site has been silent, as I’ve struggled to figure out how to celebrate when I certainly don’t feel my poetry is “post worthy.”
However, I’m going to try my hand at some of the “exercises” in style in various poetic forms. I’ll try some in the coming days.
How are you celebrating National Poetry Month?
How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.
I hate thee for the withheld taxes I want to spend
And for the forms that never end,
And for all the complications — I am dazed.
I hate thee for the time you take. For days
I agonize as I calculate, and the numbers blend:
I hate thee from the first line until the end.
I hate thee presently, as I long for May.
I hate thee sluggishly, for the work is so slow.
Finding an error-filled column again, I groan.
I hate thee with my mind, heart, and soul.
With my hard-earned money, I hate thee with a moan,
Tears, agony, the same each year! — and, yet I know,
I shall but hate thee less a refund sent.
Note: Unless your tax situation deals with capital gains, itemization, two workers, multiple states, multiple countries, new children, and the previous five years, I don’t want to hear about it!
P.S. My husband wonders if I have anything better to do than write pretty bad amateur poetry. Silly question!
