During my 33-year career as an elementary
school teacher in Gates, NY, I also became a poet. I became a poet partly because
I loved the poetry of Shel Silverstein, especially Where the Sidewalk Ends, and also I wanted to share
my ideas and sense of humor with my own students. So I started writing poems
for them and my two daughters. Writing lots of poems not only made me a better
writer and a better poet, but it also inspired my students and my own children
to express themselves through writing poetry.
Learning to write poetry--that is, carefully
selecting a few words to express an idea--not only helps a child express what
is in his soul, but it also helps him learn to think precisely. So I encourage
all parents to help their kids write poetry.
One way you can help your child write poetry is
to encourage them to write poems by using a "recipe" for the poem, or
simply by completing sentences in an organized manner.
Each month on my web site, www.joe-sottile.com,
I host a poetry contest for kids. I usually post a new recipe poem and samples
to encourage kids to write poetry. These poems don't have to be great to win.
They have to be interesting. Here are the instructions for entering my monthly contest.
Poetry Exercises for Parents
to Use With Kids
What follows are three partial poems from Picture Poetry on Parade. You have my permission to
use these with your kids or students. I got the idea for using the "IF I
WERE IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOL POEM," when I visited a fourth grade class.
The teacher who loved poetry gave the class the choice of asking me a question
about writing or reading me their version of the school poem. Most chose to
read to me. They were delighted by what they had created and a chance to share.
I thought that some of their lines were better than mine!
So parents, please give the following a try.
Writing poetry isn't difficult if the writer has a "recipe." That's
what the next three poems are all about. After writing the poems, your child
will enjoy sharing them with others. I hope he or she does that. Write on!
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank!
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF
THE SCHOOL
(As the student sees it...)
(As the student sees it...)
By __________________________
Everyone would be transported to school
by________________
Every desk would have a built-in_________________________
Every wing of the building would have its
own______________
Every side of the building would have a
jumbo______________
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF
THE SCHOOL
The lunchroom would be
___________________________________
Tests would be ___________________________________________
The school week would
be__________________________________
Each week there would
be___________________________________
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF
THE SCHOOL
The Gum Chewing Policy would
be_______________________________
The Homework Policy would
be__________________________________
The Dress Code Policy would
be_________________________________
The Promotion Policy would
be__________________________________
Based on the original poem
in Picture Poetry on Parade by Joe
Sottile
More Ideas for Interesting Poems!
In Picture Poetry on Parade, on page 28 there is the poem "CAN'T
WRITE TODAY." Well, we all get writer's block at times. Here are the first
four lines of my poem. You can make yours as long as you like, just be sure the
last line is "Can't write today!" That line is a good ending that
brings the reader back to the end of the beginning of the poem. Writers like to
do that.
CAN'T WRITE TODAY
By __________________________
By __________________________
I can't write today because my paper is
wrinkled.
I can't write today because I didn't eat my
breakfast.
I can't write today because my dog barfed on
the kitchen floor.
I can't write today because I left my homework
at home.
I can't write today because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today because____________________________________________
I can't write today!
As you can see, I like repetition. It's one of
my favorite poetic tools. When I visit schools and libraries, kids love
chanting the repetitious parts back. It makes the visit interactive and extra
fun. On page 4 in Picture
Poetry on Parade is the poem
"ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL." In the school where I taught for twenty
years, many of the teachers read this poem to their classes on the first day of
school. The first five lines of the poem follows. You can create your own
ending too.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
By ____________________________
By ____________________________
I was worried that Mom would forget to kiss me
good-bye.
I was worried the school bus would pass my
stop.
I was worried I'd get into a fight at the bus
stop.
I was worried that I had toothpaste on my
cheek.
I was worried that I would never find my
classroom.
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
These poetry recipes will bring out the best in
young poets. Why not give them a try? And please encourage your child to enter
Silly Sottile’s Monthly Poetry Contest.
© 2011, Joe Sottile
During my 33-year career as an elementary
school teacher in Gates, NY, I also became a poet. I became a poet partly because
I loved the poetry of Shel Silverstein, especially Where the Sidewalk Ends, and also I wanted to share
my ideas and sense of humor with my own students. So I started writing poems
for them and my two daughters. Writing lots of poems not only made me a better
writer and a better poet, but it also inspired my students and my own children
to express themselves through writing poetry.
Learning to write poetry--that is, carefully
selecting a few words to express an idea--not only helps a child express what
is in his soul, but it also helps him learn to think precisely. So I encourage
all parents to help their kids write poetry.
One way you can help your child write poetry is
to encourage them to write poems by using a "recipe" for the poem, or
simply by completing sentences in an organized manner.
Each month on my web site, www.joe-sottile.com,
I host a poetry contest for kids. I usually post a new recipe poem and samples
to encourage kids to write poetry. These poems don't have to be great to win.
They have to be interesting. Here are the instructions for entering my monthly contest.
Poetry Exercises for Parents
to Use With Kids
What follows are three partial poems from Picture Poetry on Parade. You have my permission to
use these with your kids or students. I got the idea for using the "IF I
WERE IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOL POEM," when I visited a fourth grade class.
The teacher who loved poetry gave the class the choice of asking me a question
about writing or reading me their version of the school poem. Most chose to
read to me. They were delighted by what they had created and a chance to share.
I thought that some of their lines were better than mine!
So parents, please give the following a try.
Writing poetry isn't difficult if the writer has a "recipe." That's
what the next three poems are all about. After writing the poems, your child
will enjoy sharing them with others. I hope he or she does that. Write on!
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank!
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF
THE SCHOOL
(As the student sees it...)
(As the student sees it...)
By __________________________
Everyone would be transported to school
by________________
Every desk would have a built-in_________________________
Every wing of the building would have its
own______________
Every side of the building would have a
jumbo______________
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF
THE SCHOOL
The lunchroom would be
___________________________________
Tests would be ___________________________________________
The school week would
be__________________________________
Each week there would
be___________________________________
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF
THE SCHOOL
The Gum Chewing Policy would
be_______________________________
The Homework Policy would
be__________________________________
The Dress Code Policy would
be_________________________________
The Promotion Policy would
be__________________________________
Based on the original poem
in Picture Poetry on Parade by Joe
Sottile
More Ideas for Interesting Poems!
In Picture Poetry on Parade, on page 28 there is the poem "CAN'T
WRITE TODAY." Well, we all get writer's block at times. Here are the first
four lines of my poem. You can make yours as long as you like, just be sure the
last line is "Can't write today!" That line is a good ending that
brings the reader back to the end of the beginning of the poem. Writers like to
do that.
CAN'T WRITE TODAY
By __________________________
By __________________________
I can't write today because my paper is
wrinkled.
I can't write today because I didn't eat my
breakfast.
I can't write today because my dog barfed on
the kitchen floor.
I can't write today because I left my homework
at home.
I can't write today because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today
because____________________________________________
I can't write today because____________________________________________
I can't write today!
As you can see, I like repetition. It's one of
my favorite poetic tools. When I visit schools and libraries, kids love
chanting the repetitious parts back. It makes the visit interactive and extra
fun. On page 4 in Picture
Poetry on Parade is the poem
"ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL." In the school where I taught for twenty
years, many of the teachers read this poem to their classes on the first day of
school. The first five lines of the poem follows. You can create your own
ending too.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
By ____________________________
By ____________________________
I was worried that Mom would forget to kiss me
good-bye.
I was worried the school bus would pass my
stop.
I was worried I'd get into a fight at the bus
stop.
I was worried that I had toothpaste on my
cheek.
I was worried that I would never find my
classroom.
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
I was worried_______________________________
These poetry recipes will bring out the best in
young poets. Why not give them a try? And please encourage your child to enter
Silly Sottile’s Monthly Poetry Contest.
© 2011, Joe Sottile
No comments:
Post a Comment