Yesterday for my teaching artist program I was sent to Gueydan, pronounced gay-dahn, 46 miles west of me in New Iberia. I was so excited to be doing my very first Chalk-a-bration workshop. I was also nervous because I would be working with little kids, K, 1, and 2.
The population of Gueydan is around 1,100. Everybody knows everybody. I was surprised to find that I did not see a black face. In one pre-k class, I counted 8 of the 14 children had blue eyes, and 2 of them were red heads. I didn’t ask the question, “Where are your black people?” But I was struck by it.
My husband conjectures that perhaps it’s a town where there was, historically, no slave labor. Today it is predominantly farmers who live there. Rice and crawfish are their major industries. It is also known as the Duck Capital. There’s an annual duck festival. (Louisiana towns each have a signature festival.)
My first group of kiddos were kindergarten. They were a trip! talkative, little focus, but absolutely adorable.
For the second group, second grade, I was better prepared, and they were more responsive. They actually knew about the seasons!
I read a poem from these three books, Firefly July, Poems for Every Season, and Ten-Second Rainshowers. We talked about words and senses. What do you see in spring?
The poem was a simple form:
Spring is ________
I see _________
I hear ________
I feel _________
Spring is __________
I taste __________
I smell _________
Spring is _________
I hear birds chirping
I see butterflies
I feel happy
When I left the school, I went to the only real restaurant in town, Cafe Veiller. I was the only customer in the place, so I struck up a conversation with the owners. They told me a little bit about the town. They were friendly and happy people who plan to buy a house in the area. They said many of the people who live there are retired because the cost of living is so much lower than other areas.
I enjoyed my adventure to Gueydan, a friendly and happy place.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, I’m so glad you continue working with children and doing things to spark their creativity and interest! I need to follow your lead in retirement!
This is such a great way to keep teaching. So much better than subbing.
I love a good chalk-abration! When the snow finally melts and the rain stops and the sun finds its way back to New Jersey, we will all be outside decorating our side walks with words and images that have been hiding inside of us for months.
It is already really warm here. Temps in the 80’s. It will reach you soon, I’m sure.
I remember the chalk-abration posts. I think it was Betsy that started that, right? I am sure you are bringing so much learning and word love to these children. What a gift!
Yes, it was Betsy. I talked to her about it at NCTE in Denver. I am excited to share the joy of chalking and celebrating spring.
Sounds like a great day!
I forgot to mention the hugs. Littles love to hug.
Sounds like great fun! It looks like small Iowa farm towns. Fun to work with the little ones. I don’t know Ten Second Rainshowers. I will what to check it out.
Ten-second Rain Showers is a collection of student written poems from Sanford Lyne. He’s passed away but in the 90’s he worked with young poets through the Kennedy Center. I love using student poems as model poems.
I love that you’re still out there spreading poetry joy and diving into new adventures with an open mind and curiosity! Any sort of chalk-a-bration is still far, far away from our snow-covered playground! lol
Margaret,
Thanks for the road trip. Love that you have a teaching artist gig—I want one. I bet it’s hard to judge who love it more—you or the kids. I’m sure your all learning a lot together.
How fun! I haven’t done a chalkabration in a long time. Might be time to try one!
Margaret, it sounds like you had a wonderful day teaching poetry to the cute little ones. Thank you for showing your poem techniques and those darling pics! I love seeing the poem written in chalk! I enjoyed using Firefly July when I was teaching. Second grade was one of my favorite ages to teach. Thank you for sharing your joy.