All posts in Joy Young

Words Are Birds @ Shoesmith 5th & 6th Grade

To kick off their virtual poetry residency Shoesmith Elementary’ s 5th and 6th grade students explored the power of words. They were asked the question: How are words essential to creating Poetry? Most students […]

Memorable Places

For their fourth virtual poetry lesson Haugan Elementary 8th graders explored some of their favorite places they had visited in the past. Due to COVID-19 we can’t travel to certain places that we use […]

As the Clock Ticks: Aging Poetry

For their third virtual poetry lesson the 8th graders of Haugan Elementary explored the concept of aging. Students were asked What does aging mean to you? In what ways have you changed since growing […]

This is not a small voice

  This week the 8th graders of Haugan Elementary explored ideas about voices. What does it mean to have a voice? How can your voice empower you? A voice helps humans communicate with one […]

This name in which I can never find a key chain for

I was excited to meet the 8th graders of Haugan Elementary. Students kicked off their virtual poetry residency by exploring the meaning of their names. They were asked the question “Does your name define […]

The Republic of Poetry

For the last day of our summer poetry residency, MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students explored the idea of creating a new country. What will this new country look like? What type […]

The Right To Live

This week MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th students explored what it means to have “rights” Rights are the liberties and freedoms that belong to everyone as human beings. Together we read and discussed […]

Making History

This week MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th students explored what it means to “make history.” Together we read and discussed the poem “Making History” by Marilyn Nelson. In the poem the speaker is […]

Finding Courage

This week MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th students explored poetry about courage, standing up to something even though it frightens us. Together we read and discussed the poem “Harriet Tubman” by Eloise Greenfield. […]

When I Rise Up

This week MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th students explored poetry all about “rising up,” against social injustice. When hearing the phrase “rise up” many images came to students’ minds such as clouds, birds, […]

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I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET