All posts in Poems

“We use tools”

For our 2nd sessions, I showed up in Brennemann 5th grade classrooms all set to introduce them to the Gwendolyn Brooks poem, “We Real Cool,” but they were already familiar with it from a […]

Not home, not yet

Spring is here, which means summer isn’t too far behind. Last week, Waters 7th graders pondered things to look forward to (big and small) before reading Rita Dove’s vacation. After discussing the astute people […]

Roses that like to play tag: odes & personification

Oh, odes. An homage to the things we hold close. Last week, Waters 6th graders were inspired by Francisco X. Alarcon’s Ode to my Shoes/ Oda a mis zapatos, an ode that delightfully indulges […]

‘Being alone but feeling accompanied’: ‘If I were…’ Poems

After reading Michael Salinger’s poem ‘ If I Were A Gear, ‘ students experimented with metaphors and extended metaphors. Lesson Note: “The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It […]

Transformation Time

For their second session of poetry, 5th graders explored metaphors. Metaphors are direct comparisons, saying that one thing is another thing. Together we read and watched a video clip of Michael Salinger performing his […]

“But the scar is still there” Diagramming Poetry

This week, students leaned about another visual poetic form, diagram poems! We discussed there crossover between poetry and diagrams, how we can represent metaphors and allusions in this combined form, and how to integrate […]

Memories and Images

Starting off our 2nd week and Smyser Elementary, we explored imagery, the five senses, and writing from our memories! We looked at the poem “When I was Six” by Aimee Nezhukumatahil. Check out some […]

‘Memories left in a bind:” Elegies

Students wrote elegies on lost people, places, things, and feelings. Lesson Note: “…research reveals the role of elegy writing in acknowledging and nurturing ongoing bonds with lost loved ones.” – The Literature of Loss: […]

“I touch the mighty and the weak”

One of my favorite poetry books is Patricia Smith’s Blood Dazzler, which reflects on and embodies the horrors of Hurricane Katrina. In our most recent session at Hyde Park, the poetry club learned about […]

What We’re Thankful For (7th Grade)

Sometimes it is hard to choose just one thing we are thankful for. This week the 7th graders of Clinton celebrated gratitude by writing odes for what makes them most thankful. After reading “Ode […]

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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