Thursday, April 28, 2011

Poetry

We are all enjoying our study of poetry in both readers and writers workshops. Our new "Word Collection" books have lists of words in a variety of categories; onomatopoeias, feelings & emotions,
alliteration, color, spicy words, sensory, similes, and rhymes. These lists come in handy when we need to revise our work and can't think of a new word. It has also taught us how to be purposeful in our writing of poetry as well as recognize when other poets have used different features so that we can gain a better meaning for what the poem is all about.
Everyone is hard at work reciting their poems, using eye contact to connect with their audience, using their voices to emphasize different parts of a poem, and try to turn a simple reading into a grand performance. Each day we set aside time to practice our performances and receive constructive criticism from our very tough audience.
Check out this color poem written by the entire class . . .
Green
Green is grass growing
in the summer.
Green is the whoosh of
the wind in the forest.
Green is the spinach that
gives us muscles.
Green is the feel of a
leaf in spring.
Green is the color that
protects nature.
To read more color poems by individual students you'll have to come into the classroom and check out our "poetree".