Poetry Friday: Haiku from Mrs. Fisher’s Class

Here are three entries as a follow-up to the wonderful poetry unit that Mrs. Fisher’s class did.

A red velvet scarf
sits, alone and forgotten
awaiting winter.
Hannah

Alone, petite tree.
Overshadowed with weather,
An only child.
Marianne

Cheetah
Awaits patiently
still, silent. Staring at me
there in the moon light.
Alicia

Are they not great images?

I am very excited to have been selected to run a “Poetry as Writer’s Workshop” for my district’s teachers in August.  Now I have to get organized.

I have an orignal poem over at Deowriter today.

Happy reading.

MsMac

And the Winners Are…

Note to self: Sometimes giving away one signed book is difficult.  Have at least three to give away if possible.

Trevor, Levi, and Kara

Last year, the week that Laini Taylor’s Blackbringercame out, I purchased a copy and both Jim Di Bartolo (husband and illustrator) and Laini signed the book.  I always knew that it would be given away to a Silver Star student. 

Just two weeks ago, Laini came to our school and did an amazing two hours with fourth and fifth grade.  Students wrote why they deserved to have the book.  Well, I just could not put them all in a hat an draw.  So I had a few of the staff read them to help me decide.

Three emerged as winners. I only had one book.  What to do?  Buy two more books! (Thank you Marybeth) Have Laini sign them! (thanks, Laini)

So the winners are

Trevor, 4th grade: “I think fairies hunting down devils is very different…a main feature that struck me was that the main character Magpie isn’t as gentle or delicate as the other fairies you would read about and I think that is better in my opinion.”

Levi, 4thgrade: “I love fairy tales, they fill me up with dreams and everyone loves to have dreams…I like goblins because they are mischievouslittle creatures, unicorns are mythological creatures that bring joy to the world, fairies are magical creatures that help out…I hope you agree with me.”

By the way, Levi did this as a homework assignment.

Kara, 5th grade: “It sounds like a thriller to me.  Also I have never read this author…I plan on becoming an author that writes adventure stories, fantasy fighting good and bad…there are no good books I can relate to, I mean she’s a fairy that’s not a major girly girl and she’s going to prove herself to the other fairies.”

Other entires got books from the book fair.  This always makes me happy.

I am currently reading Emily of New Moon by not other than L.M. Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables.  what a great escape.

What are you reading.

Happy reading.

MsMac

Poetry Friday: Photos and Poems from After School Poetry Club

Bars
Bars so slippery they always give me blisters
But I still always do it anyway
I think they’re fun
I see warm and cool colors
Like blue and yellow.
by Trinity, 3rd Grade

Flowers in the garden

Flowers in the garden dancing in the sun
Oh how I love to see the pretty flowers in the garden
Bush leaves shake when the wind blows
Pink and blue flowers and green grass sways.
by Brooklyn, 1st grade

Playground

The swings go swinging
The slide goes dripping
The basket ball so lonely
Just going
Drip drop drip drop
by Sarah, 1st grade

Pretty Tulips

Pretty tulips in the garden
Little hearts hidden in the flower
If you look very closely you will see love
by Jaegan, 1st grade

Rain

Small green buds
Dragonfly heart beats
A slick of rain falls
Tulips shine.
by Clare, 2nd grade

Tulips look like fruit
Like juicy apples and peaches
The stems like leaves on a tree
by Ember, 1st grade

In a forest
Blue violet bells hang
Softly misted
by Tasha, 5th grade

These students (and some others) have been meeting after school to do photography and poetry.  These were their entries for the school art show.  Poetry Friday is being hosted at Becky’s Book Review.  Hop on over and see what others are sharing.

Will you be in Portland, Oregon, September 27, 2008?  Look here for more details.

Heading out for the weekend. Enjoy!

Happy Reading.

MsMac

You Are Invited: Kidlit Portland 2008

It is time to think about attending  the Second Annual Kidlitosphere Conference held in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

What is it, you wonder. Just a chance to meet with both children’s authors, young adult authors and anyone who blogs about children/young adult literature. Last year we met in Chicago for a weekend of discussing books and blogs.

Laini and I are planning this year’s festivities and you can find all the information at the new Portland Kidlit blog. 

Our first big question is who is definitely attending? This will help us decide the size of the meeting space.  Please visit the new blog and chime in. 

We are looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new folks.  Click over to the Portland Kidlit blog and let us know.  Feel free to add the new blog to your blogroll.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Bellatrix, Butterflies, and Bear Claws: Laini Taylor Visits Silver Star

Quick: Besides Blackbringer and Harry Potter, where can you find “Bellatrix”?

Look to the night sky and find the constellation Orion.  Bellatrix is the blue star of the left shoulder in the constellation. Bellatrix is Latin for  “warrior woman”.

Quick: Who can taste with their feet?  I know I can’t.   Butterflies can. And moths? They have amazing tongues, some as long as 11 inches!

Bear claws do not hold a candle to the talons of a Harpy Eagle, an animal strong enough to crush a human skull. Intrigued?

Fourth and fifth graders certainly were as Laini Taylor talked about her life and her love of research for her  books.  She also combined a lot of fun; pulling  pink wigs from a secret blue case that five students bravely wore so that she would feel so alone with her pink hair. 

Laini created a fabulous slide presentation with hands on props such as the Mysterious Box of Claws and Talons and butterfly specimens (no animals were hurt: claws are museum quality replicas and the butterflies died naturally in a Butterfly Zoo). 

Her slides not only showed her family members but explained the main points of Blackbringer, her book as well. Students also saw examples of the revision process on her upcoming book, Silksinger.

What I loved most was the way in which Laini combined facts about science (and math) into her imaginary world.  Her slide presentation also did this.  Students saw some pretty incredible slides of the natural world: Harpy Eagles, Grizzly Bears, moths, butterflies, and my favorite, dragonflies. 

I loved this modeling for the students.  I am hopeful that perhaps one of them will look at science in a new way.  Perhaps the student who doesn’t see the point of science, will have a new found purpose: to make his or her writing even better.  The other thing I loved was the playfulness that my students showed after her visit.  I saw fifth grade girls pretending to be faeries and begging Laini to bring them home.  Fifth graders usually are way to cool; it was refreshing to see.

This summer I will re-read Blackbringer with a totally new eye for how the names and ideas were created.  I am looking forward to reading Silksinger as well.  (comes out in 09).  This summer when I am at Bryce National Park and I will look at the night sky with a renewed enthusiasm for the stars.

For the moment I need to re-read the essays of students who want a signed copy of Blackbringer.  It is going to be difficult to choose.

If you are looking for a dynamic author for your school, Laini Taylor is some one you need to contact.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Poetry Friday: Getting a Book in the Mail

arrive home from school
book package, note in mailbox
way to end the day

I traveled 35 minutes each way to school so coming home this week to a book and a handwritten note was delightful.  I won a copy of The Llama Who Had No Pajama from Elaine during National Poetry Month.

It is such a great collection of poems by Mary Ann Hoberman.  I love the variety in the poetry forms and the poetry subjects. Plus there are 100 of them!! Love it!
Two favorites are haiku

Fireflies

Fireflies at twilight
In search of one another
Twinkle off and on.

Flamingo

Sea risen sunbird
O flaming flamingo, spread
Wide your red feathers

I know that I am going to spend a lot of time with this treasure. I see reading to students and reading it to my grand daughters. Thank you, Elaine.

Poetry Friday Roundup is at Two Writing Teachers.

Meme of Five

I was tagged for this Meme of Five by Elaine of  Wild Rose Reader. Here goes:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

1. Garden
2. Teach
3. Lead drama club
4. Walk the dog
5. Exercise 
What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Rapunzel dark chocolate
2. Coffee, dark, NOT flavored
3. Rice and beans
4. Apples
5. Potato chips

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Travel to Scotland and Sicily
2. Establish college funds for the grandkids.
3. Buy a summer house on the Oregon coast
4. Help my nieces and nephews with their school
5. Provide college scholarships for Silver Star students.
What are five of your bad habits?
1. Time management.
2. Nailbiting
3. “Perpetual piles of personal papers.”
4. Great ideas, not so great at the details.
5. Not flossing regularly.
What are five places where you have lived?
1. Monrovia, CA
2. Simi Valley, CA
3. West Linn, OR
4. Vancouver, WA
5.Portland, OR
What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. Sales
2. Babysitter
3. Camp Counselor
4. Elementary School Teacher
5.Elementary School Librarian

I’m tagging 5 (because I think many have done this) bloggers whose blogs are on my blogroll:
1. Mary Lee or Franki of A Year of Reading
2. Kathy of Library Stew
3. Camille of Book Moot
Thank you Elaine for including me.  It was great fun.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Author/Illustrator: Nicole Rubel

Quick! Who illustrated Rotten Ralph?   (Answer: Nicole Rubel)

Quick! Who wrote and illustrated Hot and Cold in Miami, No More Vegetables, Grody’s Not So Golden Rules, A Cowboy Named Ernestine, Twice as Nice: What It Is Like to Be a Twin, and Ham and Pickles: First Day of School?  (Answer: Nicole Rubel)

So I am embarrassed. Really embarrassed.  For more years than I know, I have associated Nicole Rubel with the Rotten Ralph books which I dearly love.  He is such a naughty cat!  And only in having Nicole Rubel come to our school did I learn about her other books.  They are a lot of fun. Quirky, colorful and engaging. 

Her presentation to the kindergarten through third grade classes was delightful.  What I really loved was how she really emphasized using the library for research.  She talked about growing up as an identical twin, her love of patterns, tiles, and collage.  The classes were engaged.  Especially when she took input for the students to create two original sketches with Rotten Ralph.

Rotten Ralph and Sara, day at the beach.

And perhaps a most original idea: Rotten Ralph swallowing all the ocean water! This is from the K-1 students.

If you live in the northwest, I highly recommend having Nicole Rubel visit your school.  She was truly a fun presenter. 

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Poetry Friday: A Ring, A Drum, and A Blanket Poem

Last month Elaine at Wild Rose Reader suggested writing a poem with the words “blanket, drum, and ring” as a result of an interview with Janet Wong.  It was an assignment given by  the late Myra Cohn Livingston to her students (JW was one of them) in a master poetry class at UCLA. 

This poetry prompt eluded me all month!  I left a comment on Elaine’s blog and Janet Wong responded with a suggestion to have the students draw before writing.  So I did with Mrs. Fisher’s 4th grade class two weeks ago.  I brought in my mother’s Navajo story ring which she gave me months before her passing, a swatch of a Pendleton wool blanket and my father’s drumsticks as a visuals. They  drew and wrote.

This week, rather than me play editor, I took the class to the computer lab and they played with the line breaks.  Samples are here and others are on Mrs. Fisher’s Class Page.
I have to point out Kymberlee’s poem.  She sat for most of the time and felt stuck, “I don’t know what to write”. We chatted and then she wrote. Wow!

Outside a thin
Blanket
Of snow
Lays upon
The ground.
I look at my ring.
The snow so cold,
My ring looking so warm.
Then I look at the pattern
in the snow
then the pattern on my ring
so alike almost the exact same.
I couldn’t keep it off my
Mind until
My mom’s homemade soup
The same golden color as my ring. 
By: Alicia

Loud drums beating
in the park awaking
people with every beat. But
there is no drummer to this
drum. It is the spirit of the
tribes long ago.
People hear the drummer but
there is no site to see.
by Jacey

Heard in the distant,
The drum gets louder
And louder
get closer to the drum beat
When I get to it.
It was my
Heart that is making
The drum beat.
 by Kymberlee

Ring of fire surrounds the valley,
a black angel rises from the ground,
a white angel comes from the glistening heavens, and a voice as loud as 100 bombs exploding shouts go get him, Zinkof,
and the 2 angels start fighting.
Zinkof gets hurt
but has enough strength
to overcome his enemy.
by Tim

Personally, I still haven’t captured the poem for this prompt.  But wow, wow, wow to these fourth graders. Wow to the experience of bringing them into the computer lab and having them play with the line breaks.

Poetry Friday Roundup can be found at writer2b.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

National Poetry Month: What I Discovered

It is the first time that I have saturated three grade levels (3rd-5th) with poetry all month.  It made sense, these students have been engaged in state tests all month.  I wanted library time to be a respite.  It was worth it.

I discovered:

conversations about poetry increased with staff and students.

one teacher wrote poetry with her students for “Poem in Your Pocket Day”.

I have poems for this blog until school is out.

a way to teach how to write the pantoum form with students. I did this for Earth Day.

I need to post more than Poetry Friday with poems. (and I will)

I may have connected with a third grade student for the first time when I published his haiku poem about hating haiku.

Students you least expect will deliver amazing words in poems.

This next week I am working with a fourth grade class to finish their “ring, drum, and blanket” poems.  I posted a comment on Wild Rose Reader about this poem eluding me.
Janet Wong posted a suggestion and I ran with it.  I am going to have the students revise a bit and I hope to have them for the post next week.  But some of the drafts are amazing.

As far as my own goal of 30 days =30 poems? I wrote 26 poems during the month.  Not quite my goal but I am learning lessons,letting go of my perfectionism.

I am really happy with my poem, “For My Granddaughter”.

Thank you, Elaine for the copy of The Llama Who had No Pajama.  I can’t wait to get it.

Kelly at Big A, little a is rounding up poems today.