Happy National Poetry Month, everyone!
Check out the back cover re-design!
The paperback edition of The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary comes out this week. To celebrate, I’m doing a *big* giveaway: A class set of books for one lucky teacher or librarian!
How do you enter? Simple.
I want to hear — and share — how your students are celebrating National Poetry Month. Are you reading a poem every day? Creating a Poe-Tree display (with poems on the leaves) in your library? Holding a poetry slam?
Tell the world about it.
Post a description of your National Poetry Month activities using the hashtag #ourNPMproject on Twitter, Instagram, or post it to my Facebook page. Be sure to tag me on your post. Your class will be entered in the giveaway. I’ll draw one random entry on April 30 and that person will receive a set of Last Fifth Grade paperbacks.
This box of paperbacks is going to one lucky winner! Post your students National Poetry Month project with the hashtag #ourNPMproject to be entered.
“But wait, Laura,” I hear you saying. “I need some poetry activity ideas.” You’ve got it.
There are some amazing poets and bloggers who are doing NPM projects that kids can try or follow:
Jama Rattigan’s Alphabet Soup has a list of National Poetry Month events, projects, and write-alongs throughout the kidlitosphere. Check it out here.
Do your students love verse novels? How about this challenge: As a group, read 30 novels in verse in 30 days. Lesley Roessing has a reading list for you.
You’ll find Mr. Schu’s daily NPM recommended books on his Twitter page: https://twitter.com/MrSchuReads
Finally, Renee LaTulippe at No Water River is posting daily poetry writing exercises, led by 30 children’s poets. The series begins here, with Young People’s Poet Laureate Margarita Engle.
Here is the full schedule of Renee’s National Poetry Month posts:
I can’t wait to hear about all of your creative celebrations and projects. Good luck!
We are celebrating National Poetry month by writing and illustrating books of poems to give to moms on Mother’s day. This is a fifth grade class of 25 that have more creativity in their pinkies than I do in my entire body. They are also asked to memorize a poem which will be presented to the class. Poems are shared with the class, mostly poems written by the students, which I like better!
Hi, Karen. What a wonderful project! I especially love that you are practicing poetry memorization and performance with them. My father still remembers the poems he learned in school, and passed their words and rhythm along to me and my brothers. Thanks for entering!
I love this idea! I found a poem that I had copied out and illustrated in 4th grade…one of the only pieces of school work that got saved. Very special.
It’s lovely that you still have that poem, Linda.
I wish I could say I was doing it up big this year….alas, book fair is our “big” event. However, today, NJHS students wrote out invitations to a student held car wash free for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week next month…and each invitation included a teacher-poem.
You layered a poem into an unexpected place — a car wash invitation. It’s a good reminder for the students that poetry is everywhere and for every occasion. Thanks for entering, Linda.