Monday, April 18, 2016

Slice of Life: I Don't Like Poetry!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Tuesday Slice of Life (SOL) community.
Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Betsy, Dana, BethAnna, Kathleen, and Deb
                   for hosting this meeting place each Tuesday and nurturing our writing lives


First of all, let me make one thing perfectly clear.
I am not the "I" in the title of this post!
It was Tuesday afternoon of the week before spring break
and time for Books, Brownies, and Beyond.  
I wheeled in a cart of poetry books, 
ready to begin our prep for Poem in Your Pocket Day. 
I was surprised when one young man, 
an enthusiastic participant in our book club,
eyed me with a rather sour expression,
followed by the words,
"I don't like poetry!"
Unfazed by this proclamation, 
I scanned the cart for a winning title
and promptly handed him this book.

Another student was less than enthusiastic and so
I asked him, "What's your favorite thing?"  
When he replied, "Food," I reached for this title.
It wasn't long until the room was quiet,
 as everyone plunged into poetry,
enticed by the words and illustrations to discover poems 
they might choose to tuck into a pocket,
to fill a basket of poems for lunchtime sharing,
 or to mark for copying for our school-wide blitz when we blanket
the hallway bulletin boards with poetic goodness. 
I smiled as I noticed this book filled with sticky notes,
a personal favorite that I'm happy for students to discover.  
Before we knew it, our hour together was almost over.
We saved a few minutes for everyone to share a poem. 
And that young man who didn't like poetry?
He begged to share a second poem with the group!  

16 comments:

  1. "Books, Brownies and Beyond"? Yes, please! Thanks for capturing the understated transformative power of these moments.

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  2. I love how you always know to share just the right book for every reader, Ramona. I don't know why poetry is such a difficult genre for so many to get into, but you made it fun. How great!

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  3. You are a book wizard. I love how you didn't react when your student proclaimed he didn't like poetry. But, best of all I love the way you turned the tides. You're awesome! Oh, thanks for some more book recommendations too! ~Amy

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  4. What enticing collections! No wonder everyone found a poem they loved.

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  5. You must have had such a feeling of satisfaction at the end of that day when you thought about how the students were successfully introduced to the idea of reading poetry by you.

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  6. Sometimes it just takes finding the right book or the right poem to hook someone.

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  7. Yes, for the power of poetry to entice readers! You immersed them in the genre and filled their soul. Wonderful!

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  8. These little learners are so very blessed to have you in their lives!

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  9. Leave it to you to know how to tease out the poetry lover in even the most reluctant reader, Ramona!

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  10. I love how you're enticing kids to love poetry and discover the fun of it. Nobody ever did that for me.

    Have you read "My Chinatown" (Harper Collins)? I read it with my daughter and we loved it.

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  11. Yes! This is a magical delight. Lucky student, wise teacher. Happy Poetry Month!! xx

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  12. The right book at the right time! Wonderful!

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  13. What perfect planning and prep, my poetry-loving friend... and off you sent these young poets!!!!!
    Bonnie K

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  14. I lovee this. Sounds like you were convincing.

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  15. You are so sweetly sneaky to find just the right book to capture each heart!

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  16. What a fun celebration! I love that you were able to engage non-believers in poetry! A gift to them!

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