by Kristin | Jan 17, 2024 | Poetry, Reading Comprehension, Teaching the Standards
I don’t know about you, but I love random holidays and events! I mean, it seems there is a day to celebrate everything from bagels to rainbows to curly-haired puppy dogs. And Leap Year or Leap Day is a time we celebrate only every 4 years! I guess that’s...
by Kristin | Aug 8, 2023 | Poetry, Reading Comprehension, Teaching the Standards
The word “poetry” for many middle and high school students causes immediate fear, panic, and/or apathy. The language, syntax, form, style, topic, etc. can be quite difficult to consume. Plus, reading poetry with a theme in mind instead of merely attempting...
by Kristin | Feb 21, 2023 | Poetry, Rhetorical Analysis, Teaching the Standards
Walt Whitman, an important 19th-century poet, has been a part of the American literary canon for over a hundred years. His poetry “transcends” because of his consuming focus on freedom in both personal and societal constructs. One can clearly see similar...
by Kristin | Dec 1, 2022 | Poetry, Reading Comprehension, Teaching the Standards
In a world of uncertainty, trepidation, and fear, it seems as if everyone suffers at one time or another from worry and anxiety. Our students, unfortunately, are no different! The following poetry about anxiety is inspired by my own personal fears and worries,...
by Kristin | Nov 17, 2022 | Poetry, Reading Comprehension, Teaching the Standards
Poetry is play, just with words rather than toys. The joy of play exists in poetry through its stories, structure, and use of rhyme, rhythm, and figurative language devices. And play (through poetry) can be a powerful learning tool! Poems for kids with alliteration...
by Kristin | Nov 10, 2022 | Reading Comprehension, Poetry, Short Stories, Teaching the Standards, Writing
Think of the last book you read… what was it about? When you go to answer this question, do you focus on a summary of the plot or do you boil it down to a statement that focuses on the overall message of the book? The answer to that question may depend on whether...
