Expert Writer Award

This is quite an honor from Ezine@rticles that I would like to share with you. It's for writing quality articles for Ezine. I have written over 20 articles. Only the top 1% of their author earn this distinction. So, I am in good company. I consider this a small pleasant victory.

Ship ahoy! Follow the Light!

I really enjoy collecting quotes. I started as a very young writer by writing down quotes from Reader’s Digest that was delivered to my parent’s household. Here is one by Robert Penn Warren:

“Insofar as writing goes, the writer’s fundamental attempt is to understand the meaning of his own experiences. If he can’t break through to those issues that concern him deeply, he’s not going to be very good.”

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD WRITE POETRY

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...)

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 __________________________

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 ____________________________

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...)

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 __________________________

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 ____________________________

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

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Silly Sottile & Mrs. J. Hoffend's Class

The Best Bunch of Writing Quotes

"Writing comes more quickly if you have something to say." ~Sholem Asch

"Men may move mountains, but ideas move men." ~Lois McMaster Bujold

"Ink on paper is as beautiful to me flowers on mountains; God composes, why shouldn’t we?" ~Audra Foveo-Alba

"There is more pleasure in building castles in the air then on the ground."~Edward Gibbon

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly." ~Buckminister Fuller

                           

“You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.”~Nietzsche

“Author sho never give you something to disagree with never give you anything to think about.”~Michael LaRocca

“If my doctor told me that I had six months to live, I wouldn’t brood, I’d type faster.”~Isaac Asimov

“I find that when we really love and accept, and approve of ourselves exactly as we are, then everything in life works.”~Louise Hay

“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”~Toni Morrison

“Write down on the page what’s in your heart.”~William Wadsworth

“Live from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.~Melody Beattie                            

“Life—like writing—it's about the journey; fill it with dreams, direction, and dedication.~Joe Sottile

           

Better Than Sheep Lice?

When I first read this quote, I laughed and laughed. If you haven't read BIRD BY BIRD, you need to. It's must-reading for writers.

"We are a species that needs and wants to understand who we are. Sheep lice do not seem to share this longing, which is one reason why they write so little."

Anne Lamott

Please leave a comment.

Children's Poetry Poised for Revival

Stephen Exley has written a very interesting article, “Children's Poetry Poised for Revival, Say Researchers”. Here is the introduction. For the whole article click below.

A poetry revival among children is on its way, say Cambridge University researchers.

A new book argues that, having long been sidelined as a “Cinderella subject” in schools, children’s poetry is poised to reclaim the hearts and minds of a new generation of younger readers.

Cambridge academics believe that internet and television campaigns, scientific and psychological studies, and work done by poet laureates to promote poetry, mean an upturn in fortunes is coming.

The claims are made by…

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/The-ode-to-recovery.htm