April is Poetry Month. What should you do about this? Take advice from Sir Philip Sidney and “Look in thy heart and write.” Sidney composed “An Apology for Poetry” (Defence of Poesie) in 1575, and in this essay he maintains poetry combines the liveliness of history with philosophy; this combination is more effective than either history or philosophy in inspiring readers. According to Sidney, poetry […]
Literacy
Posted inElementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Literature Connections with Poetry
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] For the past couple of years, with a push from common core, I have been incorporating poetry into my guided reading groups. I am teaching students who are reading above grade […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Springful of Poets
Each spring Lined note pads of Decorated paper from the dollar store Pencils or skinny markers Their choice Became the tools of Second grade poets. Who, Every single spring, Surprised me with their Prowess To paint words Into images Which laughingly, Startlingly Opened my eyes with Delight. Spring Equaled Lucy Calkins’ and Reggie Routman’s Books […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
A Poem for National Poetry Month
Teachers, I beg you to help me show them: All students deserve the benefits of a poem; You don’t have to teach English to know That students learn from the form and flow That only a poem can provide. Indeed, our creativity comes alive Whenever we’re forced to reason and rhyme; It doesn’t matter which […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Celebrate National Poetry Month – Summarize With a Poem
Teachers of all subjects, grades, and walks of life Don’t treat poetry like you’re holding a knife! This is Poetry month – help it to come alive By using poetry to summarize! How can you use poetry in class this month? Just a few suggestions: Have students work vocabulary words into a poem Have students […]
Posted inCommon Core, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Hate the Language of the Common Core? Blame the Adverbs (Angrily)
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] I believe the author Stephen King would hate the language of the Common Core State Standards for one reason: unnecessary adverbs. His book On Writing has a section devoted to explaining why The adverb is […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Educational Apps, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School
Classroom Library Management: Organize Your Investment!
After 18 years of teaching, I have an amazing classroom library. I also realized that since I’m not working on a ‘Dewey Decimal System’ it’s very difficult to locate specific books when I need them. I have my library organized into three different groups: theme books that align with my teaching for the year, picture […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Using 'Picture Books' as a Teaching Tool With Middle Elementary Students
I love to read out loud to my students. The problem lies in the fact that I don’t have kindergartners anymore who truly appreciate reading aloud for the simple fact that they are being read to. There is always more ‘stuff’ to do than time to do it in our days in middle elementary, so […]