April may be Poetry Month, but I’m so enjoying reading and writing poetry in May with my class.
Here are some comments overheard in my class today as students wrote poems:
“Z. wrote a reverso!”
“Dude, this is soooo good!”
“I’m starting a new poem and I think I’m going to do really good on it.”
“I need 5 minutes more…please!” begged a student urgently as I announced there were about two minutes left. ” This is the end of my free verse poem.”
“I want to work on using better words. I want to make sure my reader sees what I want them to see.”
“Mrs. Hogan, we have to read you this. It’s so sad and so good! It’s a free verse poem.”
His friend and co-author piped up, “It’s two perspectives!”
“Can you think of another word for beach? Beaches are sandy and I’m thinking more of rocks and stuff, not sand….maybe… shore?”
“I have to read you my sky poem.”
The most wonderful thing is that poetry feels accessible to my students, and they are energized by the freedom intrinsic in it. Students are burning to share their work and eager to make changes to improve it. They are making very deliberate choices as they write and considering the impact on their reader. Conversations about craft moves are common and there’s a general air of happy productivity and positive energy in the room. It’s delightful!
Ahhh….The magic of poetry at work!
Nix the comfort zone 
That DOES sound delightful! It’s so fun and eye-opening to listen in on what students are saying! 🙂 ~JudyK
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It was especially heartening that many of these comments came from students who are not always so engaged.
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Poetry really is magic! A few of my girls love Reverso and one of them tried to write a reverso poem today during choice time. Poetry just brings out happiness. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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My class is fascinated by reverso poems!
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Yes! The magic of poetry is wonderful. I love the way you captured the quotes of your students. I can feel the excitement. And, I know their poetry teacher is awesome too! Such a nice way to wrap up your school year.
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P.S. I’m impressed that they are working on reverso poems!!! That’s fantastic!
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It was totally a choice endeavor, and her reverso was impressive, too! She was able to craft two perspectives, something I still struggle with.
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Thanks, Amy! Their excitement is tangible. Kids are writing poetry at home and bringing it in to add to their collections. 🙂
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My students loved writing poetry with the Title 1 teacher last month. Several of them are still writing their own this month. I love how enthusiastic they become during the poetry unit. This was a great post.
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Thanks, Anna! They definitely think of themselves as poets, don’t they?
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The magic of students coming together with their gifted teacher at the helm. Will you have a poetry reading to celebrate your poets? Will you read one of your poems at the celebration?
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Thanks, Dan! We will have a poetry celebration and I am so looking forward to it. I honestly hadn’t thought about reading one of my poems….hmmmm….
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How wonderful!!! I do a NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Unit) in April. I got a late start this year, so it has been extended into May. I wish I could take it to the end of the year.
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The timing for us has been wonderful! I don’t think I can stretch the unit to our end of the year (late June), but I’m certainly enjoying it while it lasts!
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I love how a the end of the year you see your students’ writing like you have wanted to all year. When they finally get it!
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Poetry is so liberating and involves so many choices! It’s such a joyous endeavor!
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It makes me happy that your students are so involved in each others poems! The students i am subbing for currently are working on state projects, and they keep complimenting each other on artwork and helping each other fully understand the components. Group work and class compliments are great to see, especially when they come naturally 🙂
(If you want, check out my post about my cat tonight)
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It is wonderful to see the authentic group work, compliments and collaboration. Thanks for stopping by!
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Wonderful post, these type of student conversations should be happening everywhere…
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I love the attention to craft that poetry brings–sort of a laser focus on each word and its impact. 🙂
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I love hearing the sounds of children enjoying the craft of poetry. When a discussion bubbles up about the just-right word or when a writer catches a big fish and wants to celebrate! Such joy in poetry.
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Joy is the perfect word, Margaret!
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