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April is poetry month. This month I will be crafting and sharing original poems. Often, these poems will be messy and early drafts. Many of us are sharing our poems on twitter using the hashtag, #digipoetry. We hope you join us!
Students engaged in discussion...reading and writing poetry. It did my heart good to see their work and to hear their words. Here are some list poems that came out of yesterday. They were invited to write about anything that was on their minds...notice how TESTING comes up a couple of times?!?!
The way they express themselves inspires me. I wrote them apology poems about testing. I haven't shared these poems with the students yet, but I'll share them here. Messy drafts directly from my notebook that express my frustrations and my dreams for them...
We will survive these tests. We will continue to read and write and learn from each other.
I was frustrated that I couldn't "get the test over with" yesterday, but if I had...look at what I would have missed. We will live to test another day.
I was frustrated that I couldn't "get the test over with" yesterday, but if I had...look at what I would have missed. We will live to test another day.
I was supposed to do test prep yesterday, too, but instead had my fourth graders experiment with paint chip poetry. Frustration and "rebellion" must've been in the air! Don't we wish that someone important would realize that when a kid writes FOURTEEN poems in an hour (most of them good), that experience does more for her reading/writing life than the results of a multiple choice test taken on one particular morning. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the testing, but love what you shared, that zigzag poem is wonderful, like the others & yours, Michelle. Love that you shared the pics, I'm assuming in waterlogged-makes them wonderful, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou leapt and wow what wonderful things you made with your kiddos. I love the pictures and the poetry. Poetry seems to be the relief valve during testing. Good luck when testing does happen, they will survive and go on to write another day, thanks to you.
ReplyDeleteWe are about to begin the last round of PARCC - so testing fatigue is something I get. BUT - how smart to leap into poetry!
ReplyDeleteWe are about to begin the last round of PARCC - so testing fatigue is something I get. BUT - how smart to leap into poetry!
ReplyDeleteMy students are working on poetry projects and we found a poem today called Bubbles. Hilarious. It's about test bubbles. I can't remember the author or the book. I think it was Caroline Kennedy's book and the author was Jane Yolen.
ReplyDeletePoetry is a nice break from whatever ails you. I have bribed my students lately by promising Chalkabration.
Yes, testing will always be there! What a great way to modify and adjust. I love your poem and your pictures too!
ReplyDeleteThese are priceless assessments and PROOF that you have empowered them to think, reason and reflect. Perhaps they should write poems for the CCS assessments?????hmmmm
ReplyDeleteThese are priceless assessments and PROOF that you have empowered them to think, reason and reflect. Perhaps they should write poems for the CCS assessments?????hmmmm
ReplyDeleteI love the rhythm of your line that reads "success would be measured by smiles/kind words"--so true. Sounds like you all had a delightfully creative day!
ReplyDeleteWell worth the time you spent. The test doesn't go away but at least you came away from the day with a great list of poem and kids who probably really appreciated the time to be creative.
ReplyDeleteOh The Test. I'm working on some writing right now to express some things I've chosen to do because of that. The poetry you have written is beautiful. Tell your students, I enjoyed the poetry they wrote as well!
ReplyDeleteSuccess should not be measured in numbers.
ReplyDeleteCathy