Module 6 Poetry by Kids: Salting the Ocean

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2000. Salting the Ocean. Ill by: Ashley Bryan. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN-10: 0688161936 ISBN-13: 978-0688161934.

Salting the Ocean is an anthology of 100 poems collected over 25 years by Naomi Shibab Nye while she was a visiting writer working with students in schools. They are written by students from grades one through twelve and have never before been published. How fun to read topics about cabbage, a foot, trees, nana, mountain, feelings, and more.

Naomi Shibab Nye began working with students in 1974 after she graduated from college. Her workshops began in Texas, but soon spanned the United States. This anthology of poems is a few (100) from her collection over the years. This book is divided up in four sections: “My Shadow is an Ant’s Night” with thirty-two poems about The Self and The Inner World, “Think How Many Stories Are in Your Shirt” with twenty poems about Where We Live, “My Grandma Squashes Roaches with Her Hand” with twenty-three poems about Anybody’s Family, and “Silence Is like a Tractor Moving the Whole World” ending with the last twenty-five poems about The Wide Imagination. These poems cover a broad spectrum of topics from family, growing, our bodies, friends, ethnicity, nature, trucks, and more. These poets expressed themselves in a variety of poetic formats speaking from the hearts of the authors. Children have a wonderful way of putting feelings into perspective and nonsense. This could be a collection of poems written by your own students, family or friends. Nye also includes a note about the poems, an introduction about how she got started, a section for teachers, librarians, parents, and other friends on how to use this book, and to the poets of this book. There is also a section for further readings on writing and poetry. Ashley Bryan, a Coretta Scott King Honor recipient, illustrated this book with colorful pictures, which added to the theme of children’s work. His pictures complement the poems. Tempera paints were used for the full-color art. The text type is Horley O.S.

How to Grow Up

1. Take yourself and go to sleep like Sleeping Beauty.
2. Sleep for 3 to 6 years.
3. When you wake up check your age.
If it isn’t right go to sleep again.
If you can’t go to sleep try this.
1. Take a growing pill made of sassafras and bullwinkle mixed together with beetle juice.
2. Buy the pill at the Children’s Dream Shop. It costs $15 for one pill.
3. After taking the pill sit in a very large chair.
With the age you want to be painted on,
put your pinkies in your eyes
and count to 1000 by halves.
Wait an hour and I think
you will be the age
you want
to be.
If not nothing will help.
(Alison Sagebiel, pgs. 8-9)

I would use this anthology of poems to show how poetry can be connected to students’ lives. Using their own feelings, likes, hobbies, sports, music, family, etc., words through poetry can be powerful ways to make personal connection. "How to Grow Up" is a perfect example to show students what other students' poetry writing looks like. The examples of poetry from students, just like them, should help inspire them to write poetry also. At the end of the school year, students will choose a poem which they have written that they would like to have included in the school poetry anthology book. This book will be included in the library as examples of poetry written by past students to encourage future poets. Reading the poems written by their own peers will provide inspiration and confidence in their endeavors as poets.

Module 6 Janeczko Collection: Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets

Janeczko, Paul B. 2002. Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, Inc. ISBN-10: 076362909X ISBN-13: 978-0763629090

Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets is just what the title says. Paul B. Janeczko has compiled advice and teaching inspirations from 32 poets, who write for children and young adults. Who better to inspire budding poets than the experts themselves with strategies, advice and experience? Get out your pencils, pens, recorder, journals, whatever you need to begin having fun with words.

Kristine O’Connell George’s poem “The Blue Between” pg. 37 about the blue between the clouds is the title of this book. Thirty two poets have given valuable insight on how to write poems. Some of the other renowned poets are Joesph Bruchac, Nikki Grimes, Mary Ann Hoberman, Douglas Florian, Georgia Heard, Janet Wong. Twenty-five others bring their own styles, ethnicity, humor, and experiences for inspiring and promoting young adults on their journey in poetry writing. I like the way that the poets begin each of their advice, for example, “Seeing Your Poetry”, “Dear Poet”, “To My Dear Writing Friends” and more. This sets the tone for the student in feeling that the poet is speaking directly to them, which they really are. This book is a must for all libraries and language arts classrooms, because of the many wonderful lessons, experiences and advice provided for inspiring future poets. As I was sitting on my back porch enjoying the birds, I was inspired from the encouragement of the poets to try my hand on a poem in my journal. Paul B. Janeczko's anthology of poets sharing their writing styles should be a required book when teaching poetry. This book would be best suited for 5th graders through adults. The book is typeset in Giovanni and Stone Sans.

Letter to a Young Poet

Love words,
play with them,
find the meanings of those you don’t know.
Learn to recognize
descriptive words,
active words,
evocative words,
reflective words—
all manner of words
for all manner of purposes.
Decide whether you like to write in rhyme
or in other forms.
Experiment,
invent words,
invent forms,
harness ideas,
fish for images,
and metaphors.
Express your ideas
in words and forms
that suit you.
Find your own voice
even if it takes hard work
and many hours.
Traveling to a poem
is a journey to be enjoyed.

P.S. I meant to start with this but decided to finish with it: Read other poets’ poems, learn from them, and delight in them.
(Michael Dugan, pgs. 14-15)

This poem is a great teaching tool without explanation from the librarian/teacher. I would have this poem displayed in the library or classroom and provide each student with a copy to use as a guide for writing their own poems. I love how the poem starts with “love words”. Michael Dugan encourages poetry writers to make a list of words they want to use and experiment with them. His advice at the end of the letter is also perfect for future poetry writers. I would use this letter as a starting place when beginning our poetry writing and introduce a variety of poems that depict his advice by showing how to invent words, express ideas, etc. His use of descriptive words provides a visual in the students mind on how words can be used. “Invent words”, “harness ideas” and “fish for images” are great ways for students to see how words can provide the magic through their own poetry expressions.

Module 6 Poetry & Fiction: Zoo Doings and A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2011 Caldecott Medal winner)

Prelutsky, Jack.1983.Ill. Paul O. Zelinsky. Zoo Doings. New York, N.Y.: Greenwillow Books. ISBN-10: 0688017827 ISBN-13: 978-0688017828














Stead, Philip C. 2010. Ill. Erin E. Stead. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. New York, N.Y.: Roaring Book Press. ISBN-10: 9781596434028 ISBN-13: 978-1-59643-402-8

Zoo Doings is a collection of animal poems from Jack Prelutsky. There are several favorite poems from prior books including The Pack Rat and 45 more incredibly outrageous, funny animals. Prelutsky’s wit and Paul O. Zelinsky’s drawings will have you entertained and laughing.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a wonderful, feel-good book about the friendships between the zoo keeper and the animals. Amos McGee takes care of the animals every day at the zoo, but one day he gets sick and is not able to be there. His animal friends decide to take the bus and go to Amos’ house to take care of him. This is a truly inspirational book on caring and how friends look out for each other.

Zoo Doings is a compilation of poems from three of Jack Prelutsky’s earlier works. This book was published in 1983 and is still a delight to read. His poems are timeless and should be used again and again. Children ages 3 through 12 will be able to appreciate the rhymes, wit and outrageous antics through these poems. Prelutsky’s gift of rhyming words, fun topics and connecting with children will have them visiting the animals as if at the zoo. Paul O. Zelinsky’s use of line drawings captures the animals in a cartoon effect that children will enjoy. This book is out of print, but if you are able to find it be sure to snatch it up for your library, because it is delight to read.

The Owl

The owl is wary, the owl is wise.
He knows all the names of the stars
in the skies.
He hoots and he toots and he lives
by his wits,
But mostly he sits…and he sits…and he sits.
(Jack Perlutsky, pg. 49)

Pairing Zoo Doings with A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a perfect combination of collaboration between fiction and poetry with first through fourth grades. A Sick Day for Amos McGee will set the tone for the zoo animals and zoo keeper. This book is perfect for talking about relationships with friends that don’t always have to be humans. Using the poems from Zoo Doings will introduce the students to how poetry can be fun with its rhyming and funny use of words. These poems need to be read out loud so that the students can hear the rhyming words. To help students with writing their poems, I would like to have them create a poem using words from poems in Zoo Doings. Using the words from the poem The Owl, I will demonstrate how using the words from this poem, we will be able to make a different poem. The words from several of the poems in Zoo Doings will be printed and handed to students to be cut out and used in creating their poem. The poem can then be glued into their journals, onto construction paper with pictures added to complement the poem or however they would like to use their poem. The words could be mounted on magnetic tape and the students could use them over and over in creating poems. Once they have created their poems, they will share them with the class by reading them out loud. Using their drawings, puppets, making their poem into a rap, or just straight reading will be very enjoyable for all who hear their poetry.

Module 5 Sidman Poetry: Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN-10: 9780547014944 ISBN-13: 978-0547014944

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors is a festival of colors dancing through the four seasons. Starting in Spring and flowing Summer, Fall, to Winter the colors come alive through these wonderful poems. In spring Green is new, summer Yellow melts, fall Orange flickers, and winter Brown sways shyly is just a sample of how the colors will speak to you. This book of poems is a Caldecott Honor book for 2010.

Oh, to find a book that is a pleasure to read from beginning to end is a gift of talent and that is what Joyce Sidman has given us in this wonderful book of twenty-seven poems. The book begins with spring and continues through the seasons in a cycle that comes full circle. Even though the reading level is ages 4-8 this is a book to be enjoyed by all ages. You will capture the emotions of sight, sounds, smells, joy, anticipation and peace with your poetic walk through a year of colors. Sidman uses personification in allowing us to feel the colors, for examples, “In spring, White sounds like storms”, pg. 5 or “Red splashes fall trees”, pg.17. By Joyce Sidman using this type of personification, you will be able to visualize all the colors and experience the emotions that accompany each season. I was enamored with the narrator’s wearing the crowns of royalty including the animals. The crown symbolized the beauty of nature around us. The highlighting of the color words draws attention to the colors on the pages. Pamela Zagarenski’s artistic talent is a pleasure for the eyes. She captured and complemented Sidman’s poems by turning the pictures into works of art. I loved the red bird in nearly each picture. These pictures need to be study because there are many hidden pictures and words that heighten the meaning of the poems. This is the second collaboration with Joyce Sidman and I believe they make the perfect team. Zagarenski’s illustrations are mixed media paintings on wood and computer illustration. The text of this book is set in Oldbook ITC. Thanks Joyce Sidman and Pamela Zagarenski for this beautiful book of poems.

Fall

Orange ripens in
full, heavy moons,
thick with pulp and seed.
Orange flickers,
all smoke and candles.
Orange eyes.
Orange cheeks.
Orange teeth.
(Sidman, pp. 20)

This book is a wonderful source of colors and seasons. Red, Green, Yellow, White, Blue, Pink, Purple, Turquoise, Azure, Cerulean, Brown, Black, Gray and Orange are the colors mentioned. For kindergarten students learning their colors, this book with its poems and beautiful pictures, allows the teachers to expose the students to a variety of color sources. The pictures are great for asking the students to come up, find the color mentioned by pointing to it and then finding the color in the classroom. This book could also be used in the outdoor learning center for color recognition and discussion of the seasons. Children will be able to find the colors in everything around them. Kindergarten students would love to rhyme poems using the colors. They could use simple words like red, bed, head, blue, shoe, etc. and make their own poems. I have had kindergarten students tell me a story that I wrote down for them and then they illustrated it. The same concept can be used here and their poems and illustrations could then be posted outside the room titled “Kindergarten Poetry Wall of Fame” or the name of the class (Stars, etc.) As mentioned above, the poems are perfect for discussing the seasons and present the opportunity to revisit this book all year. This book represents a perfect media for learning colors, seasons and being exposed to poetry.

Module 5 Hopkins Award Poetry: Jazz

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House, Inc. ISBN-10: 0-8234-1545-7 ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-1545-8

Jazz is a salute to the music, history, and the artists of this wonderful style of music. The fifteen poems and excellent pictures will have you ready to go to New Orleans and participate in some Jazz. Put on some Louis Armstrong or Billie Holliday, turn down the lights and enjoy the music while reading to the rhythms of Jazz that inspired this book of poems. This book will be a welcome addition to your library.

Walter Dean Myers and his son Christopher Myers have once again collaborated with Walter’s poems and Christopher’s pictures in bringing us this informational history of the world of jazz. The book opens with an introduction, which provides the reader with a definition of jazz, what the music is like (melody and rhythm), from where it originated (African and European), and how it has evolved throughout the years to the present. The first poem, Jazz, which is also the title of the book, describes the music, its origin and the ways it has had an impact on the world through gospel, working, victory, defeat, but always through from the heart and soul whatever emotion being felt. Walter Dean Myers brings the different styles of jazz to life, through his poems, with heart and soul showing us ragtime, swing, be-bop, and fusion. Children will love learning about this style of music and will appreciate the rhythms and the beats of the poems. It will encourage them to tap their toes, snap their fingers or maybe learn how to play the trumpet. The poems need to be read after the understanding of where this type of music came from and then you need to listen to the music to fully appreciate the history being told through these poems. The book ends with a timeline of the jazz era from the beginning to the present. Christopher Myers’ pictures truly capture the emotion and feel of these poems. Louie, Louie (pp. 5-6) brought immediate memories of his great trumpet playing and his singing style. The pictures were created by painting black ink on acetate and placing it over acrylic. The fonts are Clarendon Rough and Pablo.

Jazz
Start with rhythm
Start with the heart
Drumming in tongues
Along the Nile
A black man’s drum
Speaks
Love
Start with
the Heart
Work songs
Gospel
Triumph
Despair
Voices
Lifted
From the soul
(Myers, pp. 3-4)

First, I believe it is important to review the introduction that Walter Dean Myers provides at the beginning of the book so students will have a basic understanding of the history that inspired these poems. Listening to some jazz will also prepare the students for feeling the rhythm and beats associated with jazz music. This is an opportunity for teaching about line breaks and why they are placed in a poem. These poems should be read out loud by the librarian modeling line breaks and then students who feel comfortable reading also. The students will be able to feel the rhythm of the poems by using the techniques of line breaks. It might also inspire readers to sing the poems, tap a beat, rap the poem or whatever inspires them.

Module 5 Performance Poetry: Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices

Franco, Betsy. 2009. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices. Ill. by: Jessie Hartland. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN-10: 9780763631741 ISBN-13: 978-0763631741

The title alone, Messing Around on the Monkey Bars, brings memories of school and recess. This book of school time poetry will make you smile with subjects on homework, new kid, librarian, and more. This book is for reading out loud with partners. Be prepared to have fun!

Betsy Franco has written some very fun poems to be read using two voices. She provides an author’s note at the beginning, explaining how the lines are outlined for each reader’s voice. Voice 1 speaks lines that look like this, Voice 2 speaks lines that look like this, and Both voices speak lines that look like this, at the same time. This is such a great idea and very helpful for the students to know exactly what they are going to read without having to think about it. Reading out loud can be stressful sometimes but with the lines already designated takes the stress of remembering away allowing the students to concentrate on their performance. Not only will the students enjoy performing these poems out loud but it will be fun with partners, dividing the class into two groups or however they want to will allow for creativity. The use of rhyming and rhythm encourages anyone who is reading them to want to jump, hop, sing, and rap these poems. The poems also allow for adding new words. For example, New Kid at School pg. 10 could easily be read over and over adding each student’s name for the new kid. Animal Reports pg. 14 can be adapted with different animals which will encourage the students to find words that rhyme with the new animal names. Franco has provided many opportunities for reading, learning poetry and having fun with this book. There should be several copies available in the library or the classroom library to encourage reading these poems together out loud. Betsy Franco provides her ideas for Adventurous Ways To Read The Poems at the back of the book.
Jessie Hartland captured the essence of a school environment in her drawings. They look like students drew the pictures. The drawings are colorful and fun.

Jump Rope Jingle

Come on in.
I’ll jump with you.
It’s double fun
to jump with two.

Jump, jump,
spin around.
Jump, jump,
slap the ground.

Turn to the east.
Turn to the west.
Choose the one
you like the best.

Jump, jump,
A, B,
C.

Jump, jump,
1, 2,
3.

Turn in circles.
Keep the beat.
Feel the rhythm
in your feet!
(Franco, pp. 28-29)

Poetry doesn’t always have to rhyme and this needs to be reinforced because when thinking about a poem usually we associate rhyming. Jump Rope Jingle is a fun, interactive poem that is read using two voices individually and then together. Have the poem printed on poster board, chart paper, or the overhead with the voices delineated by different colors and numbers. Color codes will be Red and 1 for the first voice, Blue and 2 for the second voice, and Green and 3 for the combined voice. This will allow the students reading to know when it is their turn. I would give each student a color card that coincides with the color on the poem which will also reinforce helping to remember their part. Once the students are comfortable with this poem then it will be fun to change words or add new jingles.

Module 4 Social Studies Poetry: Lady Liberty: A Biography

Rappaport, Doreen. 2008. Lady Liberty: A Biography. Ill. by Matt Taveres. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN-10: 9780763625306 ISBN-13: 978-0763625306

Lady Liberty is the story of how the Statue of Liberty came to be. This book is told in poems from the viewpoint of the people involved, beginning with the idea to the final product. It is a story of a gift of friendship between nations. Young and old will enjoy hearing the story of the Statue of Liberty. God Bless America!

Doreen Rappaport begins this book by taking about her grandfather leaving his home to come to America and how he felt when seeing the Statue of Liberty after his long ocean voyage in seeking a new life. She provides a look at New York City today and ends the story with thoughts from immigrants when seeing the Statue of Liberty. Auguste Barhtholdi, the sculptor, tells about his vision of the statue and how Lady Liberty will be compared to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.(2008) The story continues with Maire Simon - Bartholdi’s assistant, Gustave Eiffel - structural engineer, Emma Lazarus - poet, Charles P. Stone - construction supervisor, Joseph Pulitzer - publisher, New York World, Florence De Foreest - a child willing to sell her roosters to help raise money for the statue, José Martí - journalist and poet, each telling the part they played in bringing Lady Liberty to America. Doreen Rappaport truly captured the essence of this wonderful piece of history through the short poems that flow through the spoken words, in first person, by the key players of the Statue of Liberty. Reading this book will allow students to hear it from the person’s view point, rather than reading out of a history book. Rappaport also includes Statue of Liberty Dimensions, important events from 1865 to 1986, more books to read about the Statue of Liberty and an official website of the State of Liberty. Matt Taveres rounds this book out with his wonderful pictures that capture the feel of the time frame of the 1800’s. This is an excellent historic book to be enjoyed by all ages.

Poem Excerpt

The flag falls.
Lady Liberty is visible in all her glory.
Cheering and shouting rip the air.
Roaring cannons, belching foghorns,
drumrolls, trumpet flourishes.
Arise, ye sons of France, to glory...
O say can you see...

Every part of her shouts freedom.
In one hand she holds a tablet,
engraved with July 4, 1776.
In her other hand she holds a torch.
These flames do not destroy.
Mon Americaine does not conquer with weapons.
True liberty triumphs through Truth and Justice and Law.

She wears a flowing robe
like the ancient goddess Libertas.
Her right foot is raised.
Liberty walks.
Freedom never stands still.
A broken shackle and chain lie near her feet.
America broke the links of slavery
to fulfill its promise of equality for all.
(Excerpt from Lady Liberty: A Biography)

This book of history and poems can be a great collaboration tool for combining research about great moments in American history. The students can research an historic event or current events and utilizing their research, they will compose a poem to complement the event. I feel that the students should be able to choose whatever type of poem they feel will heighten their work. Poems will be displayed on a wall of fame. This would also be a wonderful presentation at a PTA meeting or for the school, with the students performing the roles of the characters of this book and this historic event.