Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge
Poetry Friday round-up is with Michelle at Today’s Little Ditty
If you take the book jacket off of The Word Collector, you see a golden collection of words.
Wonders of words
Fill constellations.
There is an angel
On my shoulder
As I write … praline, crimson…
Sounds of words roll
Over my tongue,
Taste sweet…Argentina…
Musical… infinity of words
To release into the air.
Amen.–Margaret Simon (c) 2018
The librarian knows of my attachment to all things Peter Reynolds. I introduced her to Dot Day and helped her plan activities in the fall. Last week, she had a Scholastic Book Fair. I shopped on Friday and put some wishes into a bin. I never had a chance to go back and purchase any. When this sweet librarian saw me she said, “I saw Word Collector in your book fair bin.”
I said, “I know! I’m so sorry I never had time to come back and buy anything.”
“No worries. I had extra funds from the sales, so I bought a copy for the library. I put it aside for you.” And she handed me Peter Reynolds gold!
I shared the book with my students and as I did, I said, “Be a word collector. As I read, make your own collection of words.”
My students wrote and wrote. Their lists covered one, then two pages in their notebooks. Given 10 minutes on the timer, they turned their lists into poems. Amazing poems.
Madison decided to make word combinations, so she randomly matched together two word pairs. When she finished, she realized that all her combinations could describe stars. She titled this masterpiece Stars.
Stars
Azure Wonders
Emerald Willows
Drifting Whispers
Geometric Symphony
Aromatic Kaleidoscope
Marvelously Effervescent
Harmony Lore
Breezing Beyond
Onyx Liberty
Tranquil Silence
Cascading Glints
Brilliant Waterfalls
Onomatopoeia Collections
Hopeful Grace
Mused Clovers
Constellate Alligator
Utopia YonderStars Of The Sky
I wrote about Dawson last week, about how he was not using line breaks yet in his poems. I showed him how he could, and now he’s writing meaningful poetry. I love what he wrote about his decisions for the line breaks. “I decided to do it like this with line breaks and words because it sounds like a song that you could play. If you read it again, watch go ahead, read this again while playing joyful music in the background.”
With Willows
soft as a whisper,
with royal flocks
prancing around in your dream,
let it be known
there is wonder in your heart.
Reflections on the Teche 
Just wow, wow, wow…..the book, the librarian, you, the kids, the words. WOW
Thanks, Linda. I was pretty blown away by their reactions and responses. Good authors can bring out the best in our children.
The words are intoxicating. I love how deep you went into using his book as a mentor text and let your students fly. It sounds like your intention in teaching poetry inspires depth of think as well as joy in writing!
Thanks for your comment. Sometimes it feels like magic happens. This was one of those times.
That cover!!! Amazing. Love this piece so much and bookmarking to use myself and with my students. They are going to be so happy with all these new poetry writing ideas I’m finding on your blog this month!
You are teaching your students to become “word geeks.” This is a phrase used by a beloved friend of mine who is one herself. Love the idea of “collecting words” and making them into poems.
We are all word geeks. You could hear their excitement over these words!
I have yet to see this book, but I’m about to purchase it just because it is Peter Reynolds and now your endorsement of what is within makes me want it all the more. Those poems are something else.
I love his books. Must get. Word geeks unite!
I love that they bought that book for you. What a happy, warm feeling that must have brought, beside and around the happy feeling the book itself brought. As usual, your students are stars.
Margaret,
I love how your modeling inspires your students. They capture words in a net and share beautiful images!
I love “capture words in a net”. That’s how it feels. Fishing for poems.
Beautiful, inspirational poetry! You truly were able to reach your students and inspire them to find their inner poet!
I must have this book! What thoughtful poets you have. I’m just now projecting my poetry unit and I am so excited!
Poetic responses to reading make magic happen in the classroom. Good luck with your planning.
I love how your enthusiasm, shared with others, rippled out and touched them and came back to you again and your students and now out to us. I love everything about this post. Please tell Dawson he’s rockin’ line breaks. Off to check out The Word Collector!
A book like this can change the mood of the class. When I was reading, enthusiasm grew along with the lists. Kids were calling out, “I want that word” and “I have 72 words on my list!”
The word-love that went into the cover alone is remarkable! I love how you chose that as your poetic inspiration, Margaret. And those brilliant students! Madison is lighting new fires in the sky, and Dawson has changed from poet caterpillar to poet butterfly in no time at all!
The book is a gem, as are all Peter Reynolds’ work, agreed! But what you’ve done for (and with) your students is a whole lot of gems, too, Margaret. I love your poem, and those of the students-what pleasure they must be getting from poetry, and word-collecting!
This book is a real treasure, and so are the poems it inspired you and your students to write! I especially love Dawson’s final line: “there is wonder in your heart.”
These poems are gorgeous Margaret–such talented students you’re growing! Love this line in your poem “As I write … praline, crimson…” sounds delicious, a sensual tasting poem, thanks!
I’m with you. I adore everything Peter Reynolds. This book is pure gold! What beautiful writing came from this book. Thank you for sharing!
Aw!! These were the best poems yet!
Loved Madison’s “Cascading Glints” and “Utopia Yonder”!
And Dawson’s insistence to read “let it be known
there is wonder in your heart” with joyful music in the background.
Congratulations, Margaret, you have truly given them the “infinity of words
To release into the air”!!
ps: What an incredible bookcover!
Thanks for stopping by in between your busy poem writing schedule. I haven’t had the chance to check on the March Madness but did see that you are on to round 2. Congrats!
Hooray for Dawson! Go Word Collectors, go!
[…] I found Margaret’s blog so inspiring and sustaining this month. Really, all of her pieces have followed me through March. But I am especially fond of Word Collector. […]
Your 4th grade poets are amazing- how I would love to be a fly on your classroom wall! Perfect poetry ideas, just in time for April! So glad Elizabeth spotlighted this post.