School Poetry Workshop: Poetry Celebration!

Happy Poetry Friday! I'm saying goodbye to Northfield Elementary School this week. For the past month, I've been conducting a poetry residency with the school's third grade.At the bottom of this post, I'm sharing a gallery of some of the poetry displays. The kids outdid themselves this year!Our final workshop was on persona poems. You'll find lesson details in my recent posts, linked at the bottom of this page. Let's get straight to the poetry!In Erin's poem, I see an imaginative leap when an unexpected character enters the poem, adding tension to the story.Poet: Erin A.Hello, my name is Bob. I am47 years old. I live in Floridaand love lamb. Today, I got a promotionand raise. My family will be sohappy. I have two boys, a wife,and a pet puppy. My family wasvery happy, even my puppy.It went betterthan I expected.We went outsidefor dinner.But suddenly,my big brother came.I knewhe was goingto make funof me. Buthe didn't. He saidvery good thingsabout me. Rightat that momentI felt really special.*Eva's poem also has a moment where something unexpected happens.Poet: Eva L.Spring DayIt was a new spring dayon the field, many dandelions on the ground.A little boy ran to the field.He picked up a full dandelion.He was thinking, let me make moreseeds for spring.Maybe if I do that will I be aspring hero.The boy went to blow the dandelion.Then a big wind just blew the dandelion.The little boy worried the dandelionis not blown by him.Will he be a spring hero?Or dandelion seeds not grow?All will see in the next spring.*Alex wrote our only non-human persona poem this year. This one made me laugh! Wow -- that's some clever use of onomatopoeia.Poet: Alex K.I am a cat.I have brown and black fur.Hands pick me up!Save me—ow!My eyes glisten with unhappiness!Put me down!Get away.You’re licking me!Weird lady, get away!She puts me down.I scramble to hide.Where do I hide?An empty bowl?I get in it and wait‘til she finds me.*Miah's poem is has an air of mystery. I feel sad for the character she created, who loves to play with friends, but seems to be struggling at home.Poet: Miah A.A child playing with friends,laughing and active.Playing until the moon meets.Feeling happiness in all the other children.Always active,never resting.Loudness disturbs Mom’s quiet time.Waves goodbye, in her blue eyes,they shine today, with the friendship.But Jessie couldn’t do her homework.Mom did not rest. They got mad,but I just smiled.*I had a chance to hear Claire perform this poem for visitors today. She did a great job imagining what it might feel like to be a college student.Poet: Claire D.I like my friends Sarah,Stella, and Lisa in college.They are so kind. But especially I love…MY UNIVERSITY! It’s beautiful.It has good education and kind teachers.When I read the books in the libraryI feel I am part of the story.But when I feel the potionsin Chemistry, it feels tickly on my fingers.But I just love the people. They wave. They laugh,which makes me feel like I belong.*Now for a quick photo gallery!Thanks again to the Northfield 3rd grade team and families for giving me permission to share students’ persona poems.*Check out the previous posts in this School Poetry Workshop series:School Poetry Workshop: Haiku Hike, May 12, 2017School Poetry Workshop: Food and the Five Senses, May 19, 2017School Poetry Workshop: A Second Helping of Food Poems, May 25, 2017School Poetry Workshop: Persona Poems, May 30, 2017School Poetry Workshop: Creating a Character, June 1, 2017