This week is state testing week, so I did not pull my gifted students out from their regular classrooms. I’m on stand-by to help if needed. But I do get to see my youngest ones. William, first grade, was only recently placed in gifted services. His gifted brain is so full of ideas that he can barely settle on one thing. I asked him to work with me on a haiku about a rainbow. We talked about how a haiku form captures a single moment in time, usually about nature, and has 3 lines, short, long, short. We played around with word order and placement of his ideas. Then he came out with the word “surprise.” Ah yes, that’s it!
Reflex (relects) in the warter (water).
William’s first haiku, 1st grade
a rainbow comes out of clouds.
surprise in the sky
Carson in 2nd grade has been working with me all year long. He’s more independent in his writing, but still needs reassurance. I showed him a video from Mystery Science about how the rain becomes a prism to refract the white light into a colorful rainbow.
Rainbows are still a mystery to me even though I have this knowledge. When I see an actual rainbow in the sky, I often take a picture. My husband knows to stop for rainbows. If you are drawn to them, to Molly’s amazing photo, and want to add your writing to the collection, go back to this post on Wednesday.
Sunlight prism
Carson, 2nd grade
in the water makes rainbows
arch of colors
While I was checking my Fanschool post, I realized that even though Adelyn was not coming to class, she checked on our weekly “This Photo Wants to be a Poem” post and wrote. She is crazy about all things mythological. Can you tell?
The great color arc,
Adelyn, 5th grade
stretching above us.
As water vapor shimmers bright
in shining light,
Iris glows.
These are gorgeous thanks for sharing their sparkling gems and for filling them with all you do Margaret!
I’m enchanted by the 1st and 2nd grade writers! (My last year teaching, I had a 1st grader Carson who liked to write.) And a 5th grader who chooses to write on her own?! Bravo, Adelyn! I like your line Iris glows … and it reminds of the name of rainbow in Spanish… arcoiris. (There is an accent on the first i.)
Thank you for sharing these, Margaret. Your students are so good at putting images into words. Bravo!
Their poems are so great! When I taught 4th grade, our town had a partnership with a town in Japan. We had a haiku competition for students and they had an anthology published with Japanese students and our students. Their haiku were always so wonderful.
I love those, Margaret. You are working with some talented writers!
So fun to see writing from your youngest students! William’s surprise ending is perfect and Carson did a great job weaving facts into poetry. Way to go, Adelyn, for weaving your love of mythology into your poem!
Wow to William and Carson and Adelyn! Yes to surprise–perfect. And I’m with you on the water/rainbow. I used that fact in WATER CAN BE… *and* in SNOWMAN-COLD=PUDDLE. I think it’s astonishing that moisture in the air after a storm (usually) is what makes the rainbow. And that great color arc, shimmering…yum. You are such a fabulous guide into the world of poetry.
Wow. I wish I had a teacher work with me and haiku at such a young age. I would have had a way to express myself. Your students are fortunate…and the haiku are wonderful. I kinda like reflex as is.
To be able to capture one’s own feelings about a rainbow as a young writer is so wonderful, Margaret. Tell them each one is great, a feeling of awe! (I stop for rainbows, too!)
I was delightfully surprised, like William, by a full rainbow two days ago. Like the eclipse, the whole world seemed to stop and take note – and smile.
Oh, Margaret, these young writers are delightful!
What talent! All three poems (and that photo!) brightened my day. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks – it is so nice to read student work and get a peak into your teaching day!