Poetry Friday posts are with Linda at Teacher Dance.
Much has been written about this amazing new resource for teachers.
There’s this one at Live your Poem by Irene Latham.
And here is a review by Laura Purdie Salas.
The Two Writing Teachers featured an interview with Amy.
Literacy Lenses includes words of wisdom from a Good to Great (#G2Great) Twitter chat with Amy.
Like many others, I have a personal connection with this book because some of my students have featured poems. Amy’s book not only teaches in a wonderfully accessible way; it also celebrates teaching poetry. Lots of student samples sit alongside poems by children’s poets worldwide. The depth and breadth of the message reaches well beyond the pages.
I am passionate about teaching poetry in my classes, but I am never quite sure how my lesson plans look to the administrators who check them. Poems are Teachers is the affirmation I’ve been looking for. In my heart, I know that practicing poetry is playing with language in a way that can inform other writing as well. Sometimes writing poetry is just plain fun. Nothing makes me prouder than a student frantically waving his hand in the air to share his poem. If we use Amy’s book to create active writing experiences for our students, they will rise up and feel the amazing power of poetry, too.
Emily’s poem is in the chapter “Marry Music and Meter to Meaning.” She wrote this poem after a real lock down.
Jacob’s poem appears in the chapter “Let Art Inspire.” Jacob wrote this poem after looking at Van Gogh’s Starry, Starry Night.
Amy with Heinemann has generously offered a give away for this blog post. Please leave a comment by November 10th and I’ll randomly pick a winner. You definitely want this book in your professional library.
Reflections on the Teche 
Love it. Beautiful, heart-touching words.
I can’t wait to read this book, as I love Amy’s work. Sadly my preorder here got canceled as the local store says they can not get it:( Congratulations to you and your students!
This book is a treasure and it is wonderful the way you integrate, celebrate and write poetry yourself and with your students.
This book by Amy looks amazing, Margaret! Please bring it to NCTE 🙂 Can’t wait to see more of your students’ work. They are so fortunate to have a teacher like you with such passion for this genre. It shows in these poems. 🙂
What a wonderful opportunity for your students to see their work in in “a real published book”. This book sounds like a real gem.
I am so excited to see this student work. It looks to be a fabulous book.
It is wonderful that Amy included student poems in her book, and even more wonderful that some are from your students, Margaret. Both Emilly and Jacob must be very pleased, along with you, too!
Margaret! Thank you for this kind post…and for being a teacher who inspires me continually. Your three students’ poems in this book are a tribute to your beautiful and wise teaching. I am so glad you like the book and grateful for your sharing. We are all so lucky to have each other. Happy Poetry Friday, and please give your young poets my very best. xxxx
Amy’s book really is a treasure, and your students’ poems are wonderful. Thank you for sharing, Margaret!
I would love to give this book to a colleague, who celebrates poetry with 8 and 9 year olds every week!
You definitely live the spirit of this book in everything you do with your student writers. You and Amy are inspirations!
Hearing so much about this book. I remember when Amy was in the process of writing it. IT’s encouraging when your dtudent’s work is featured in a prof book. Through the years, my students have been too. (Mentor Text) Congratulations to everyone!
This looks like an amazing book. I can’t wait to read it. And how cool that your students’ work is in it! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Love these Poetry Friday interconnections. As I’ve said before, I think your students are blessed to have you as a teacher. I’m not surprised to hear their poems got into a book. So, Margaret, don’t change a thing!
Even thought I’m no longer teacher, I want to read Amy’s book for myself. The student poems you shared from it are incredible. Thank you for being the teacher they need to find their voice through poetry.
YES! I understand that administrators have goals in mind, but I wish we could celebrate joy and fun and happiness as being core goals, too! I feel that way at work sometimes – I know administrators want numbers and statistics and things that look good in a report, but when I see a child sitting on the floor engrossed in a book, building an important life skill through an enjoyable activity, or laughing during a writing activity because they’re feeling inspired and excited about their creation (whatever it might be), I wish we could celebrate that just as much, too!
I still remember my first published poem in the local newspaper in 4th grade. Your students will carry this affirmation with them the rest of their lives! Who knows what they will grow up to be & do, thanks in part to a wonderful teacher — YOU!
I didn’t know that some of the poems were from your students. What a wonderful community we have at PF.
We need to remember the teachers that open the poetry doors; perhaps in time more administrators will appreciate teachers like you and so many here who continue to offer this powerful writing form! And, how exciting for you and your students to share this exciting book together.