This week I was humbled and surprised to have one of Sylvia Vardell’s students create an amazing poem video of Zen Tree from Hop to It: Poems to Get You Moving. Garrett’s soothing voice, the calm music, and the amazing images all came together to show something beautiful. I am honored by this creative expression of my words. Thanks to Sylvia for organizing the project with her students. See more at Poetry for Children.
Michelle Schaub has been posting poetry videos all month on her blog Poetry Boost. My video of “Peep Eye” was featured this week.
Michelle Kogan finished up the Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem with a final line as well as a delightful illustration. The poem will be archived here.
I’ve been writing poems each day in response to prompts on Ethical ELA. I share these prompts with my students. On Wednesday, I struggled over the prompt. I shared the struggle with Chloe. She started writing me notes with topic suggestions. One of these notes said, “Me.” Then the pen flowed.
Fifth Grade
She comes in the room
with an attitude
that testy mood
of preteen silliness
and suggests I write a poem
about her.As if I know her well enough
to write her down in words.
What I know is she grins loudly in braces.
She writes notes on paper
and crumples them like the crunch
of a chip bag in the trash–
Schwoop! Perfect shot!But this poem will not be a perfect shot.
There are no shots left on her page
of excuses–the “not my fault”
dissolves into “I just can’t.”I wonder aloud “When will you believe in yourself?”
When did I believe in myself?
Have I ever?This poem can’t end like this.
I must write something encouraging
to make all this white space worth it.This I know…she’s worth it!
Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Reflections on the Teche 