Poetry Friday | Reflections on the Teche

Archive for the ‘Poetry Friday’ Category

Slice Challenge #30: Poetry Month Plans

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life on March 30, 2018| 31 Comments »

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

Poetry Friday round-up is with Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe.

National Poetry Month is upon us. Is it really April already? I absolutely love the month of April. It’s so fragrant and beautiful. My middle daughter was born in April. And April is all about poetry!

Join me and many others at Poetry Friday for daily doses of poetry. My plan this year is to write ekphrastic poetry, poetry about art. We did this in February for Laura Shovan’s birthday month challenge. I love art. Art often gives me an entry point into a poem that I may not have written otherwise. I find art digs deep into my soul.

As a warm-up, I captured a photograph from Ralph Fletcher’s Facebook Photography page. You may recognize Ralph from his work with literacy for children in books like What a Writer Needs, Joy Write, and many more resources for teachers.

Ralph has become quite an amazing photographer and especially of birds. I was attracted to this amazing photo of a hummingbird by the name of Anna’s hummingbird.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Fierce in a hot pink boa,
this perfection of nature
dominates beauty
with feathers of lace,
a flying, glimmering gemstone.
–Margaret Simon (c) 2018

Read Full Post »

Slice Challenge #23: Golden Shovels and Chalkabration

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing on March 23, 2018| 20 Comments »

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

Poetry Friday round-up is with Laura at Writing the World for Kids.

This month’s Ditty Challenge on Michelle Barnes’ site is from Nikki Grimes. Nikki Grimes has made the golden shovel an infamous poetry form. I shared her book, One Last Word, with my students. Michelle worked with boys in a juvenile detention center. She posted Lil Fijjii’s poem blurred lines. This poem spoke to my students. They could relate to the strong emotion. To write golden shovel poems, each student chose a line to respond to. At first Faith placed her head in her hands. “This is too hard. I can’t do it.” I set the timer and said, “Just give it a shot.”

My students were pleased with the results. I’ve posted them on Michelle’s padlet. Scroll for Students from Mrs. Simon’s Class.

Spring is in the air here in South Louisiana and no one wants to stay inside, so I took my kids out for a chalkabration. View their poems in this slide show.

chalkabration

Read Full Post »

Slice Challenge #16: Found Poetry

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged blackout poetry, found poems on March 16, 2018| 18 Comments »

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

Poetry Friday round-up is with Linda at Teacher Dance.

Have you thought about found poetry lately? This week my friend Linda Mitchell posted a found/ black out poem on Facebook. A day or two later Janet Wong posted a found poem from an article about the Parkland shooting. These two posts inspired me to try my own.

I’ve been reading aloud Tuck Everlasting to a group of students. Natalie Babbett’s writing is so descriptive and beautiful, so I copied a page from the book and made a black out poem to use as a model poem for my students.

When I shared this with my students as a writing choice, two of my girls chose favorite pages from favorite books to create their own black out poems.

The day was absolutely gorgeous. Highs in the 60’s, sun shining, not a cloud in the sky. Who wants to stay inside?

My science kids are doing projects about plants, so I printed an online article for each of them. We took the articles and clipboards out to the garden to write.

Circling words to create poems, these students enjoyed “finding” poems in nonfiction text. Poetry can be found anywhere!

Jayden’s poem about camellias:

Prized beauty of
exquisite blooms,
splendid evergreen foliage
attractive shrubs
burst into flowers
rest little prodigious garden.

Where will you find a poem today?

Read Full Post »

Slice Challenge #9: The Word Collector

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged Peter Reynolds, The Word Collector on March 9, 2018| 27 Comments »

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 Yonder

Stars Of The Sky

–Madison, 4th grade

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.

–Dawson, 4th grade

Read Full Post »

Slice Challenge #2: Poetry Friday What Animal are You?

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged Animal in You, animal poems on March 1, 2018| 32 Comments »

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

Poetry Friday round-up is with Renee at No Water River.

For a few days last week, most of my students attended the state Beta convention, so I had fewer students. I seized the moment to do something out of the ordinary.

One of my gifted teacher colleagues told me about the website Animal in You. This site has an online quiz that determines what animal you are most like.

Each student took the quiz. Then they wrote a blog post about their spirit animal. We also made masks on round cardboard discs. I had no idea how popular this activity would be. The news spread to the Beta kids, and they have been taking the quiz on their own time. It’s become a “thing.” I put the writing prompt into our padlet for Slice of Life challenge ideas.

This activity led to poetry. Here are a few student poems that emerged.

Eagles,
flying high,
touching the ocean blue sky
with their soft silk feathers.

Eagles,
Bird of Prey,
you are majestic but carnivorous,
helping us keep balance.

Eagles,
feathers soft as silk,
soar high and long
like love in my heart.

–Dawson, 4th grade

A note about Dawson’s writing: He wrote this on a scratch sheet of paper with words going all across the page, no form. Previously, Dawson’s poems have been silly and rhyming with little sense of poetic language. I held my tongue, knowing that more exposure would lead him, that I did not have to tell him about writing poems. I had to show him. The poetic format was done by me to show him his poem.

Roosters
Fierce and Strong
Protector of his home.
Fast like the wind
Soaring on land
With their butt feathers in the air.
Screaming,
“Predators over there!”

–Trace, 5th grade

My youngest writer, Chloe wrote about life as a lion.

If I was a lion I would like to play and jump.

If I was a lion I would have a big circle of friends

If I was a lion I would like to play in the tall grassy fields.

If I was a lion I would like to play fetch with my friends.

If I was a lion I would like to slurp the water.

If I was a lion I would sleep all day.

If I was a lion I would eat a lot of gazelles.

Wouldn’t it be fun to be a lion? What animal would you like to be?

–Chloe, 2nd grade

Read Full Post »

Poetry Friday: Meet My Family

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing, tagged animal poems, Laura Purdie Salas, Meet my Family blog tour, persona poems on February 23, 2018| 31 Comments »

Poetry Friday round-up is with Elizabeth Steinglass

Welcome to the first post in the Meet my Family Blog Tour. Laura Purdie Salas’s book gives an overview of 22 animal families with engaging illustrations by Stephanie Fizer Coleman.

My students were immediately engaged in questioning and learning about animals, from the tundra swan to the chinstrap penguin. Each entry is written in the voice of the baby animal telling about his family.

My two daddies feed me fish.
One is always next to me, strong
and sturdy and warm. Both of
them protect me and play with
me. I am double-daddy lucky.

From the chinstrap penguin chick, LPSalas

Whenever we encounter a new text, I invite my students to write. For this book response, we wrote persona poems. Each student chose their favorite animal and wrote in the point of view of that animal. Research was optional. I shared a colorful National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals book. Some students chose to write about ocean animals. Some searched in Google about other animals of interest. And some had stored up research in their minds to tap into. All of my students enjoyed creating poems. For more persona poems, go to Mrs. Simon’s Sea Kidblog site.

Hi I’m Peanut, Peanut the Orangutan!
My mom’s name is Walnut.
I don’t have a dad but I’m still livin’ the life.

My mom made me a new nest which is my room.
We always have fruit for dinner
but on special occasions we get juicy, delicious, BUGS!!

Well, I am happy to say that
I can be as lazy as I want,
because I’m 3 years old and my mom gets my food for me.

Right now I’m in my nest
watching the birds tell jokes trying to make others laugh.
I didn’t get the jokes but I laughed anyway.

Can I tell you that I like and don’t like those weird humans.
Some of them like to shoot us
some like to capture us.
The nice humans like to protect us and help us,
but they’re still weird.

Well that’s my story
I got to go we’re having bugs for dinner tonight YES!!!!!!

–Dawson, 4th grade

The Great White Shark

I am sleek and silent.
I never chew my meals.
My favorite snack are seals.
I’m an undeniable top dog.
I am the king of the sea.

–Jacob, 4th grade

Erik the Eagle

My name is Erik
I was just born
I was fed raw meat,
it was a delicious treat.

My name is Erik.
I learned to fly.
I love leaving home
and soaring the sky.

My name is Erik.
I am fully grown.
I have my own wife,
and my own little throne.

–Andrew, 5th grade

Next stop on March 2nd, Kirby Larson’s blog.

Read Full Post »

Poetry Friday: My Week in Verse

Posted in Gratitude, Photography, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing, tagged Mardi Gras, week in verse on February 16, 2018| 14 Comments »

Poetry Friday round-up is with Jone at Check it Out.

A week off to enjoy family, friends, and food. I’m sharing my week in verse.

Throw me somethin’ Mister!

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2018

Mardi Gras after the rain
Parades roll, beads fly,
Hands waving high.

Open doors,
chicken fingers,
Chili Fritos,

Costumes, blue hair,
hugs
and happy laughs,

Marching bands,
King cake,
Vodka and La Croix.

Come on in,
stay right here,
Bacchus is rolling soon.

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2018

Houston in the rain
heavy trucks spray
hold on tight.

Find a friend.
Sit a while
comfort in just being.

Glasses of wine,
flat bread pizza,
gather around the table.

Ukulele playing,
out of tune singing,
cuddles with the dog.

There is love here,
not over the rainbow yet,
but healing will come.

My friend Sarah is fighting the battle for her life.

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018

Ashes to ashes,
we are but dust,
miserable wormness,

Yet now is the time
to reach out
to reach in.

Be alone with God
to realize you are
never alone.

Spread the fruit
of your solitude.
Translate cynicism to Joy!

I am but dust.
Life is a gift.
Existence is grace.

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018

Japanese magnolia blooms
along my walking route,
sending pink fragrance into fog.

My mind wanders as I walk,
thoughts of children
whose lives were shot short.

My voice speaks to neighbors.
Can I trust my words
to be kind?

We are all wandering
on this lonely path
questioning God’s grace.

Find meaning in a moment,
Joy in a conversation,
Light in a dew drop.

Read Full Post »

Poetry Friday: Low Tide

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, tagged cancer, ekphrastic poetry, Laura Shovan on February 9, 2018| 19 Comments »

Poetry Friday round-up is with Sally Murphy.

I have five friends currently battling breast cancer. This daily battle is heart-wrenching and hard. They are sharing their journey with me and others. It seems all I can do for them is pray or cry or write a poem.

On Monday, Kim wrote this: “As you know, chemo wreaks havoc on the immune system. It lowers red and white blood counts and one specific type of white blood cell–the neutrophil–is especially critical because it plays an important role in fighting infection. If a chemo patient develops a fever, it sounds the alarm that the neutrophil concentration has likely fallen below 1000 and spurs doctors to take immediate action. If not treated with a strong course of antibiotics, the patient could develop a potentially life threatening infection. So, chemo comes with a strong warning: take fevers very seriously.”

On Tuesday, Sarah wrote this: “Exposed, hurting, lying on what seems like a narrow mortician’s table in a cavernous room, alone, encapsulated by an enormous machine shooting me with targeted radiation all in the name of cancer — I am a science experiment.”

On Wednesday, Amy wrote this: “What do you wear to hear the results of your pet/ct scan? A crown of course. Well I got good news and not so go news. The not so good news is the cancer is growing and has shown up in two new places. We’ll be looking at new treatment options at MD Anderson. The good news is my doctor said I can ride roller coasters at Disney next week. Bring it!! Thanks to all who have shown their concern and who have prayed for me. Please continue – the road just got bumpy.”

In Laura Shovan’s Daily February Writing Challenge, the image of a beautiful ocean scene came up, but all I could see was the dirty sand and the crashing waves. I released my growing worry and concern in a poem.

Low Tide by Andrea Lavoie

Low Tide

That sand is frozen brown grass
flowing like the folds of a blanket,
fluffed and tucked over
the patient’s bed.

Does it comfort or scratch?
Cover or annoy?

Skin is sensitive with fever.
Chemo burns through her veins,
poison that saves
even as the waves
of a raging ocean
recede with the tide.

It’s the pull of the moon
holding her in a glowing stare.
Where is the silver lining?

–Margaret Simon, (c) 2018 for Kim, Sarah, Amy, Kelley, and Sandy

Read Full Post »

Poetry Friday: Moon Poems

Posted in Poetry Friday, Teaching, tagged moon poems on February 2, 2018| 17 Comments »

Poetry Friday round-up is with Donna at Mainely Write

This week there was a big moon event: the second full moon in January called the blue moon as well as a lunar eclipse that caused the moon to appear reddish and the fact that the moon was closer to the Earth than usual making it a super moon, thus blue blood super moon.

What better reason do we need for writing poems?

Prompted by NASA images and Laura Purdie Salas’s book If You Were the Moon, my students and I wrote moon metaphor poems.

Lynzee watched and wrote as slides of moon photos rolled across the screen.

Super Blue Blood Moon

Two birds, side by side,
front row seat
for what happened
in the early hours of the morning.

Birds flying in front of the moon
like sparkles on a disco ball,
they see, too, what happened.

Plane flying, too,
over the skies of Britain
like the moon’s huge moving tattoo.

Lynzee, 3rd grade

Chloe is new to writing poetry. She’s a second grader. She seems to be grasping the idea of metaphor in her poem. She was so proud of her poem, she typed it in all caps.

THE MOON IS BRIGHT LIKE A STAR

IT IS NOT A STAR BUT IT IS FAR

THE MOON IS A BABY FOR EARTH

Chloe, 2nd grade

Madison is becoming quite a poet. Her poem is one I used in other classes to model the use of metaphor.

Peppermint Moon

Red Splashing Shadow
Take a White Pearl
In The Sky

Peppermint Swirling
Shadow,
Flaming From
Embers
To White and Red Tongues,
Licking the Dark Coals
Of the Night

A Flame
Red and White
Sends Embers Scattering Across
The Deep Black, Overhead
But A Golden Flame Rises,
A Bonfire To Cast
Shadow Around
The Gem.

A White Diamond Revealed,
A Golden Bonfire Raging
It Is Time For The Moon
To Rest,
Forever The White Diamond
Of the Night Sky.

Madison, 4th grade

Eclipsed moon hides in the trees.

And here is a draft of a poem I wrote alongside my students. I wrote two poems and combined them to make draft #3.

We all see the same moon.
All over the world,
Prague, Athens, Rome,
yellow, red, blue
sphere in the night sky.

I walked early this morning
watching the eclipse
of the full supermoon.
Minute by minute,
pieces fell from sight
like a giant hand
turning off the light.

In the shadow of a church steeple,
over desert hills,
setting behind our Lady Liberty,
a super moon eclipsed by our own
planet Earth.

As the moon set below the trees,
I thought of you
far away
seeing the same moon
in the same sky.

Margaret Simon, (draft) 2018

Yesterday I posted “Moon Wisdom” for Spiritual Journey (first) Thursday which included a poem by me around a painting by Michelle Kogan.

My post for #TeachWrite Chat this month is about sustaining a writing life by joining Poetry Friday. See the post here.

Read Full Post »

Poetry Friday: Chalkabration Celebration

Posted in Chalk-a-bration, Poetry, Poetry Friday, tagged chalkabration, snow poems on January 26, 2018| 24 Comments »

Poetry Friday round-up is with Carol at Beyond Literacy Link.

I love to celebrate birthdays in my classroom. Last week I asked Dawson what he wanted for his birthday celebration, expecting an answer like cupcakes, and he said, “Chalkabration!” Dawson’s only experienced one chalkabration, but he loved it.

In order to have a chalkabration, we have to write small poems. I put 5 different form choices on the board: haiku, 15 words or less, zeno, cinquain, diamante, and acrostic. The topic, of course, was ice and snow since we returned this week from a week hiatus due to an ice storm. More than ever before, my students had the experience needed to write about this topic.

Sometimes, my kids blow me away with their poetry. Austin was not willing to share in the classroom, but he did chalk his poem. Austin’s been reading books by Jason Reynolds. I feel like he channeled Jason in his poem.