Poetry Friday round-up is with Jama at Jama’s Alphabet Soup.
Students proudly read their poems to Amy VanDerwater.
My students and I spent the month of April glued to The Poem Farm. What would Orion’s adventure be today? What technique was Ms. Amy VanDerwater teaching us?
After a month of writing poems, we couldn’t wait to meet Amy in person, virtually. Before any question was asked, Amy asked my students to share poems that they had written. The pride! The joy! And her amazing responses!
Amy talked about her writing process, showed us her messy notebook pages, and gave us wonderful advice for writing.
Mason asked her how to write rhyming poems. She gave us all a wonderful lesson on rhyming. You can use rhymezone or a rhyming dictionary, she explained. Then she showed us a notebook page where she had written the alphabet. She works through the alphabet to try to find a rhyming word with the meaning she wants to convey. She emphasized that the meaning is most important, so if you can’t find a word to rhyme, try a synonym. After our Skype visit, Mason immediately wrote a poem using the techniques she had taught.
I am holding onto Amy’s advice for my own writing as well. She talked about how she wrote a sonnet, a form that I have yet to try. But now I think I will. Somehow, Amy makes me feel more brave about writing poetry.
One of her last pieces of wisdom came from a poem she read aloud to us. Her reading was as if she were cavemom and we were here cavechildren whom she was telling to write so our writing will live on.
Reflections on the Teche 
Amy is the best, isn’t she? Thanks for sharing about your class writing along with the Poem Farm during April. Love “Draw”!
This post and poem really capture the joy of creating. I loved reading about Amy’s rhyming strategy and wish I could have heard the whole conversation. What a wonderful community of writers you’ve nurtured in your classroom, Margaret!
I wish I had recorded it. So much richness and now I’m already forgetting everything she said. I hope at least I carry her inspiration with me.
It sounds like a terrific ending to your poetry month writing with Amy’s poems about Orion, Margaret. Along with creating poems with your students, you are making poets!
What a wonderful experience for you and your students! I love that cavemom poem, too.
What a special visit! Your kids must have been beaming with pride and confidence. You summed it up beautifully: “Amy makes me feel more brave about writing poetry.” That is, indeed, what she does.
Margaret, I felt very fortunate to spend that time with you and with your young writers. Their love of writing combined with their curiosity and obvious care for each other was a beautiful thing to witness. You are a gift, and I thank you for having me! xx
I’m glad you noticed how they care for each other. This group has been like that from the start. It’s been such a pleasure to teach them.
Looks like you all absorbed so much from this virtual experience–wonderful poem and I love seeing Amy’s notebook too. What a perfect activity to wrap up National Poetry Month Margaret!
“The art we make lives on and on.” Truth. There is art in your teaching as well as in your writing, Margaret!
Amy makes me feel brave, too, Margaret. I loved exploring and playing alongside her during April. What lucky students to chat with her via SKYPE. Love all that you do, Margaret! Cheers!
SO great! Thanks for sharing this! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com