Rainbow image: sxc.hu

So I put together lessons that seemed to delight them.   Am subbing there again tomorrow.

Perhaps I’ll have them write some weather related poetry. Kids, as well as adults,  seem to enjoy my poetry workshops. 

 I worked with another group of second graders last week on the same Weather unit.  We read and wrote Winter poetry, using the letters for this word and writing a line that began with each.  We didn’t bother about rhyme this time, but I mentioned to the youngsters that once they became familiar with this poetry, they could try rhyming.

I think we may try writing a poem using the word Weather tomorrow.  After we do it together, they enjoy trying one on their own.  There are other words you can use such as Snow, Rain, Rainbow, Hurricane (an aspect of weather that seemed to fascinate the students today), Sleet, and each of the seasons.

Then the children can draw pictures to accompany their masterpieces.  They started making weather booklets today and drew picture after picture.

Have you ever written weather related poetry with your youngsters?

Post from: Blisstree

Weather Related Poetry for Youngsters

Image: sxc.hu

I worked with a class of second graders who wrote a poem on a Halloween topic…witches, bats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, etc.

Even though I teach poetry workshops for children and adults, this format was new to me.  The youngsters had great fun with it.  Perhaps yours would, too.

Simply choose a topic (and it could be about anything, not just Halloween).  Then answer these questions and your poem will evolve.

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?

You don’t place these words in the poem, simply give the answers.  For the second graders, this often consisted of one long sentence.  You could try to get rhyme in there eventually.

Millie, the witch with the crooked nose

Lost her broom

On Halloween

As she chased the little ghost

Who floated by to tease her.

Why don’t you try some of these with your youngsters?  Also have them draw pictures to accompany their poems.

Post from: Blisstree

Writing Poems with Children

Image: sxc.hu

Since I’ve begun to get back to my poetry writing and have thoughts of compiling poems I’ve written over the years into a book, I’ve also given thought to incorporating these into crafts.

• I think first of doing illustrations and collages that will reflect the theme of particular poems.  Then these might be something I could display (and sell as postcards, posters and originals) along with my children’s anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, and the upcoming poetry book.
• Also in mind are the altered books I’ve seen that take lines from poems and use them on some of the pages.  They may reflect a theme of the book.  Or the page might evolve around the poem segments.
• For a book of my autumn photos, I spread my “Jack Frost” poem throughout  the pages and between the art.  I used this book when teaching a workshop on scrapbooking one’s writing or poetry and making an interesting book from it.
• You also could incorporate your poetry into a quilt or fabric art theme.  Print the poem on fabric and design a pattern around it. This could take many forms.

Do you have any ideas for crafting with poetry and incorporating it into your art?

Post from: Blisstree

Crafting with Poetry

Image: sxc.hu

During story time, I read some of my poems from my story/poetry anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery.  Often I teach poetry workshops for youngsters.

Frequently when youngsters attend a writing workshop, they want to write poetry.  So I start with simple ones that don’t necessarily rhyme.  However, some youngsters are very adept at rhyming, so automatically incorporate this into their writing.

I remember from my childhood, reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry.  Even now I can quote some of them.  The other day, when substituting for the school librarian, I read a book about shadows to the kindergarten group.  I found the words to Stevenson’s “My Shadow” coming to mind so I could recite it to the children.  If I’d had more time, I would have had them recite it with me.

Do your children like poetry?  Do you read poetry…silly, serious, seasonal and more to them?  What are their (and your) favorite poetry and poets?

Post from: Blisstree

Poetry for Youngsters

The 5 x 7-inch scrapbook album was ideal for my photos. I used scrapbooking stickers, papers, and stamps to decorate the pages. These were arranged around the words of the poem throughout the book.

I also scanned several of the pages to show writers they (or a printer) could reproduce this album as a book they might give as gifts or sell.

I started doing this about winter time as a theme but haven’t finished it. You can use many topics and any size album. Then combine the scrapbooking techniques with your writing.

What ideas do you have for something like this?

Post from: Blisstree

Fall Themed Scrap Poetry Book

Image: sxc.hu

If you’re involved in any crafts that include the green of nature, you’ll find it fascinating to study the different shades.

• trees
• bushes
• grass
• flower leaves
• fields of grain
• pastures & meadows
• swamps & marshes

Sometimes your green variations will be very realiztic and follow nature’s course.  For other occasions, you might be more dramatic.  Much depends on the effect you want to achieve and the medium and materials you’re working with, such as:

• painting
• crewel work
• knitting & crochet
• quilting & fabric art
• beading
• mosaic

How have you incorporated the greens of nature into your arts and crafts?  How would you interpret the picture above into art…or poetry?

Post from: Blisstree

Check Out “Greens” of Nature for Crafts

Image: sxc.hu

*Poetry - Your poem can be of any type, rhyming or free verse, about one bird or the numbers of birds you see around your home or on a trip.

*Nature Story – I often wrote these for children’s magazines.  I researched the characteristics and habits of a bird, trying to find something unique about each one.  Then I wrote about it, trying to make it interesting for others to read.

*Fiction Story – Can you think of a fiction story that involves a bird in the plot.  I wrote one about my daughter, when she was small, trying to help a bird build its nest.  She learned the bird only wanted something it has made, but it would use some of the materials she put out.

What would you and your youngsters like to write about birds?

Post from: Blisstree

Writing Tip – Kids Write About Birds

There are various ways you can do this:

• Simply keep a list of the birds you see.
• List the birds and write something about them.
• Add a sketch to the list and description.
• Write a story or poem about the birds you see.
• Make a papier mache model of a bird…or use other materials for a bird sculpture.
• Make a painting of some of these birds you see and list.

In my anthology, Tales of Adventure and Discovery, you’ll find two poems, The Red-Winged Blackbird and Lord Baltimore Oriole.   I’ve written stories published in magazines about birds.  Some were nature stories and others were fiction.

I became intrigued with sketching birds after seeing a watercolor painting my mom did when she was attending teacher training class.  (I still have this painting she did 80 years ago.  ) So I went on to sketch and paint birds, even doing paintings on commission for customers.

Do you and your children like to keep track of the birds around you?

Post from: Blisstree

Keeping a Bird Watching Journal

Tomorrow we’re going to write poems about Spring.  I shall  encourage their moms to try, too.

The simple poems, such as “skinny” ones, shaped ones and acrostic, seem some of the easiest and most fun  for youngsters to start with.

• For skinny, line or list poems, simply have the youngsters write SPRING across the top of their paper.  Then list 10-12 words they can think of that relate to spring.  Eventually they may find words that rhyme every so often to make a pattern.
• Shaped poems are another fun type.  Start with one word, two on the next line, three, then four.  Reverse it and write three words, two, and end with one…all relating to the topic you’ve chosen.  In this case it would be spring.
• Acrostic poems might rhyme or be free verse.  Write the word SPRING vertically along the margin.  Then begin each line with the letter that spells the word and describes something about it.  Here the first line starts with S, then P, next R, etc.
• Younger children like to decorate their pages with images and color these.

Have fun with poetry yourself.  I know the youngsters and I will tomorrow. (I even had to write some of these poems myself so I’d have examples to show the class.)

Post from: Blisstree

Write a Poem of Spring

April showers don’t just bring May flowers! A whole lot of fun things are going to happen in May, here at Guerrilla Parenting! It’s called “May Madness” and I have a few tricks up my sleeve (insert evil laugh here.) We will be featuring a project called “Three Doors Down,” which highlights our neighboring blogs here at the B5 Lifestyles Channel. The neighbors don’t know it yet, but I’m about to get up close and way too personal when I conduct mini interviews with each of them. Ohhhhhh….Juicy! A new blogger will be grilled interviewed each week, so check back every Friday in May for a new victim blogger.

One fun part of the May Madness Campaign begins with you! I want to hear from our readers. Tell us what you would like us to include in our May Madness Campaign. Is there something that you’ve been waiting to read about or do and we’ve not hit your sweet spot yet? Let us know! One lucky commenter will win an end of the month May Giveaway Grab Bag, full of summer time goodies! We will be doing a sentimental Mother’s Day tribute, photo submission opportunity and poetry contest. This will be the most pre-summer fun you’ve had in years (unless you are a glamorous star who attends nightly parties and movie premiers…then this might come in second!)

It is with great anticipation that we bid adieu to April and welcome the marvelous month of May. Get ready for some unprecedented blog fun!

Post from: Blisstree

We Just MAY Spice Things Up!