All posts in Shoesmith

A Poet’s Voice is a Musical Instrument

This week at Shoesmith students we explored lyrical poetry; discovering how poets incorporate elements of music into their poems. Students were asked to brainstorm on two intriguing questions: Can a song be a poem? […]

When the poet turns a corner

Sometimes you put it down for the night and then pick it up from the bed in the cold light of morning. When you read it out loud, in the early morning hours things […]

Nature’s Voice

This week at Shoesmith students explored ideas about nature. Does nature have a voice? How does it communicate with us? Students believe that nature reveals its personality and emotions through the changing seasons and […]

A Spoonful of Identity

This week at Shoesmith students explored the concept of identity. What main characteristics make up someone’s identity? Are these accurate representations? Students defined identity as a person’s language, physical traits, interests, gender, talents, religion, […]

Passport to Poetry

This week at Shoesmith Elementary students explored the theme of travel; the connection people have with the various places they have visited in their lives. Many students have already traveled to unique destinations such […]

In your next letter

For this week at Shoesmith, students explored the significance of letter writing. Unlike tweets, Facebook posts, or text messages, letters allow us to put time and effort into communicating our most inner thoughts and […]

Transformation Poetry @ Shoesmith Elementary

It was wonderful to meet the 5th and 6th graders of Shoesmith Elementary. I attended Shoesmith as a student years ago and it feels great to be back to create new memories as part […]

Golden Chest of Love

In our final week, students practiced reading aloud for our school poetry event. Here is a selection of poems from the school-year: Ms. Wesson’s 5th Grade Group 1 The Locket! Tamia G. Inside this […]

Waiting to be inside this hat

This week students chose one poem from their portfolios and practiced reading aloud for our school poetry event. Here is a selection of poems from the school-year: Ms. Wesson’s 5th Grade Group 1 Inside […]

Element Artist

This week we read and listened to an excerpt from Anne Waldman’s poem “Fast Speaking Woman.” Students identified examples of alliteration, similar themes, and contradictions in the poem. Then each student chose an identity […]

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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