SOL: Aaa-aa-aa-choo!

Warm weather.

Welcomed sunshine.

Mowers humming.

Aaa-aa-achoo!

Daffodil beauties.

Shorts a sporting.

Breath of fresh air.

Aaa-aa-achoo!

Nose twitching.

Eyes itching.

Medicine taken.

Aaa-aa-relief!

Loving the spring season with the warm sunshine, blue skies, and rejuvenation. Now to get the allergies under control.

 

Mysteries in Nature Concealed and Revealed

Dear Reader,

This book, What is in the Wild? Mysteries of Nature Concealed and Revealed, caught my eye just reading the introduction of the author and illustrator.

ear-tickling poems by David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy

eye-tricking photos by Dwight Kuhn

How cool is that? Each living organism introduced encourages you to investigate. I’m not crazy about science, but they are very creative. Kids will love this book. Formations, patterns on the ground and in plants are zoomed in for examination. A full page close-up photograph reveals a mystery. A companion poem shares clues of its creatures.

It gets better. The photo page folds out to reveal another zoomed-in picture of an animal or insect accompanied by its adjacent information page. I really don’t like to get up-close and personal with any small, insect-like creature. It sends shivers down my spine. But, I am thinking of some kids right now who would have their nose buried in this book, reading and discovering. They’ll be tricked into learning something new.

Have fun with this one. I can visualize using this book as a great read aloud. I’m always looking for short texts that can be sandwiched into short time frames, like waiting in line for a specials class, a few minutes before leaving. How about an attention grabber in the middle of the day? You could read just one of the pages and it would hook them in. Think of the many possibilities there is.

Happy science sleuthing!

MHG

Savorings for reading and in writing for What is in the Wild?

• Hybrid text
• Riddle and word choice
• Grabber Leads
• Shape poems
• Informational text – great for close reading

PES new book

(Side note: Tammy, I think I want to share this book at Summer Institute. It’s a keeper.)

SOLC: Saturday

March Saturdays have been filled with wrestling matches, teen-event driver, family visitors.

Today… I leisurely read slices.

Poems and seesaw texts delighted my thoughts.

Today… my cat snuggled asleep on my lap, twice.

His contentment mirrored mine.

Today… my son vacuumed.

Laundry was folded and finished.

Today… sunshine streamed in.

Spring said ‘Hello’.

Today… my daughter went shopping with me.

Her new shoes made her twirl with happiness.

Today… I listened and shared and listened.

Our time was delightful.

Today… I had extra time.

My heart is contented.

SOLC: Friday Night

Meeting Over -

home early

Change shoes

Laundry in -

hang clothes

Straighten room

Daughter excited -

friend over

Room cleaned

Pizza made -

paper plates

Movie in -

blanket on

Relaxation – aww!

 

 

SOLC: Where She’s From…

Tomorrow is my friend’s birthday. Each year, I try to find a fun way to say “Happy Birthday” and make her feel special. Mrs. Ball is a very giving person and loves her students immensely. Excellence is what she strives for and produces, supporting and nourishing along the way.

Her class is working through a poetry unit. They have been writing “Where I’m From” poems. She writes alongside her kids and thus created a beautiful poem. Her poem begins:

I am from favorite dolls and “Beanie Boy,”

From reading books, hours playing the stereo, and midnight boat rides.

 

I am from a two story house, built with love

And brothers hustling and bustling down the halls.

 

I am from cats that I loved, grandparents whom I’ve lost

Whose smiles and words will forever be imprinted within me.

As a gift to her, please surprise her by leaving comments on her blog about her poem. She enjoys compliments and will be elated knowing someone took the time to read her writing. I think her writing is beautiful, like she is. Thank you for taking the time to shower her with blessings this day.

SOLSC: Reflections

SOLSC has been a wonderful experience of learning with others. My notebook is filled with entry ideas gained from you and noted stories I want to remember. I have encouraged new slicers, formed connections, and strengthened ones I’ve known before.

My belief in myself as a writer has increased! I have taken risks in playing with words and have been pleasantly surprised with people’s comments. Thank you. My writing is developing and revising is becoming more of a delight rather than a challenge. It has been fun commenting, encouraging as I have been encouraged. Reading, commenting, and growing with you has been a joy!

As evidence of my growth, I played with words this morning, relaxing in the moment as I tried to do what was modeled for me. You see, your posts are modeled craft for me to savor, learn, and try. Today, I would like to honor Elsie at Elsie Tries Writing and the way her post yesterday inspired me to try something new.  Elsie “squeezed a poem from a single word“, so I tried it with the word ‘Reflections’ on this last day of the SOLSC. Blessings to you all as you learn, connect, and grow as writers. Slice on!

REFLECTIONS

Core of SOLSC

Reflect on letters seen

Lists of notes,

Collections.

Fills inner tier!

Effect?

INFECTIOUS

Slice on!

SOLSC: Spring is Anew

Spring is here and the trees,

bushes are flowering.

Colors burst brilliantly

Nature seems to be creating an orchestra

of uplifting music.

Morning greetings mix

bird flutterings.

Sunshine waves down

kissing the air with warmth.

Spring is anew!

***I subscribe to Your Daily Poem to increase my like of poetry. Poets amaze me with the craft of words, the rhythm and snapshots with deep meaning. This week, a beautiful poem by William Wadsworth was shared called Written in March. It captures Spring so delightfully.

SOLSC: Sunrise

Driving down the road,

I couldn’t help notice

the beauty spread before me.

The sky was brushed with pinks,

bubble gum, magenta swirled together.

White clouds pillowed above with

a silhouette of trees awakening in the light.

The beauty of the morning refreshed my soul,

lifted my spirits, and reminded me to notice.

Small Poetry

Jaime Adoff collection of poems focus on the theme of being small in Small Fry. His perspective gives you a glimpse of trials and triumphs being short can be. I envision these poems will ignite conversations within your classroom and poem sharing their wishes.  Mike Reed illustrations the feels inlaid in the text. View an interview with Jaime Adoff as he talks about the influences his parents, Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff, had on him as a writer.

• No Fun Allowed focuses on not being tall enough for an amusement ride.
• Cool Fun Fort Forever shines on the imaginative play young children can have.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Small Fry:

• Narrative-like poems
• Kid Voice
• Varied types of poems – long skinny, stanzas, questions, short, conversational
• Connections
• Everyday Happenings

Halloween Howls

Holiday celebrations invite poetry creations and shares. Lee Bennett Hopkins selected several poems around the Halloween theme in Halloween Howls Holiday Poetry. During the fall season, it is fun to read short poems to catch your students’ attention.

A table of contents is featured at the beginning of the book with correlating page numbers. What a fun way to introduce this concept used in chapter and reference books.

Rebecca Kai Dotlich pens the poem Costume Hour. Children will relate to dressing up and imagining themselves as a fantasy character.

Sweet Tooth by Candace Pearson describes candy corn. After reading this poem, you could ask your students to write about their favorite candy, a snapshot of eating or making something delicious.

Use your imagination and have fun with poetry.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Halloween Howls:

• Questions
• Sensory Description
• Visualizing
• Memories
• Making Connections