Find more celebration posts at Ruth’s blog.
I have to thank NCTE for the National Day on Writing as well as all the many posts on #WhyIWrite and my many teacher-writer friends who inspire me every day to make my class a safe place for writers to bloom.
Michelle Haseltine told me she was writing quotes on pencils to give to her students as inspired by Malala’s Magic Pencil. (Her post is here.) So early Friday morning, I grabbed some fresh pencils and Googled writing quotes. Each student received a pencil with a quote. This was such a simple, yet positive way to garner enthusiasm for a special writing day.
Betsy Hubbard posted last minute ideas on the Two Writing Teachers blog early yesterday. I grabbed the idea of chalkabration! Years ago, Betsy led a monthly roundup of Chalkabration posts. The basic idea is writing poetry with sidewalk chalk. My students were so excited to be able to go outside and chalk their poems. I made an Animoto video to share.
Here are some of the wonderful fall themed poems my students and I created.
–Margaret Simon Fall Haiku
Fall The holy winter is waiting. Why keep it away when you could bring it in. Winter comes. –Trace, 5th grade
Fall Mysterious Admiring Happening Turning Winter Every Night Fall –Austin, 6th grade
Autumn Summer breeze turned cold. Bright sun into dim moon. Emerald leaves turn amber. Blue skies now dark. –Madison, 4th grade
Reflections on the Teche 
WONDERFUL! This makes my heart sing a song a joy. I’m so glad to see students out chalking their poems and the pencil idea is awesome! I’m thinking I might go get some black pens and metallic sharpies to do the same! Awesome. 🙂
Wow Margaret, What fun and interest you created for your students, they’ll take this experience with them and climb higher paths! Love the video, your poem and your students- Madison is quite a budding poet, thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing these celebrations. Always inspired by your posts.
It looks like a wonder of a day, which I just wrote to Michelle, too. I’m glad to see a chalk-a-bration resurrection. It is/was much fun when Betsy and others were doing it. Your student poets rock!
What a wonderful way to celebrate the day. I like the chalking poetry.
What fun to celebrate writing with a chalk-a-bration. I’ve missed those end of the month gatherings. And you and your student writers rocked the fall poems. I especially like Trace’s line, “The holy winter is waiting.”
Chalkabration seems so right for a writing celebration – bright, bold and colourful.
Margaret, I always love to see your students’ work and of course yours. Chalkabration is a wonderful way to celebrate learning. May I capture your fall haiku for my fall gallery. If any of the children would like their image poems included in Autumn Ablaze please send their work to me. Thanks.