TeacherDance: April 2015

Thursday, April 30, 2015

May Day - Finishing April, too

To welcome May's first Poetry Friday go to Mary Lee at A Year of Reading.) Thanks, Mary Lee!

I finished my haiku challenge yesterday, writing haiku and one senryū every day in April except for the day I wrote the line for Irene Latham's Progressive Poem. You can find the poem in its entirety at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme where Matt Forrest Esenwine wrote the final line! What a wonderful thing that is. I wrote to some challenges, guest posted at others, read and read and read others' poems. It was quite a month of lovely and charming and funny and poignant words. Thanks to everyone for their energy and inspiration.

Goodbye April - Haiku # 29

For this wonderful month of April, Poetry month, I made the goal to write haiku and haiku-related poems. It's been rewarding to write something new every day. I've put all that I wrote in a page above if you'd like to read some of the poems.

Here is the final one.

29)

April words

continue to entice -

colors exploding

Final April Non-Fiction - next to last haiku

My next to the last haiku for April. It's been a joy!

27)

mild April evening,

rolling out the trash -

hawk fly by

Most Wednesdays I'm happy to link to Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy. I love finding good non-fiction picture books available about many varied topics, for all ages, too. Here are three marvelous books with stories to savor and illustrations to pore over, again and again. They were all brought to me by my colleague, my book buddy, with whom I trade picture books as often as I can.

Thanks Alyson!

Drum Dream Girl, How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music -written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez.

This ‘drum dream girl’, an African-Chinese-Cuban girl broke the taboo that only boys could play drums. The story/poem is lovely, filled with those wonderful drumming sounds, at first in drum dream girl’s imagination, then finally in real places. We read “the clack of woodpecker beats” and the “comforting pat of her own heartbeat”, see her listening to “the rattling beat of towering dancers on stilts.” Finally she is given permission to drum, at last all girls in Cuba would have the chance. The illustrations are filled with color and drama. My favorite page shows drum dream girl imagining playing on the “big, round, silvery moon-bright timbales.” This time it’s the moon itself.

Final Slice for April - Poetry & Trip Coming

The Two Writing Teachers blogs hosts a community every Tuesday with a large group writing about their lives in beautifully creative ways! Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna, we keep going!

Still writing haiku!

26)

spring dusk -

bunnies appear for nibbles

birds murmur to bed

Some of us are sharing on twitter with the hashtag #DigiPoetry, created by Margaret Simon, of Reflections on The Teche. Please join us. Find the many Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. It's been a joy to write all of March, and now all of April. Writing every day is a habit I won't break, but posting every day maybe.

created by Leigh Anne Eck

As I wrote yesterday, I’m leaving next Tuesday for a 10 day trip with my students to the DC/Chesapeake Bay area, so will take a break from posting. We're doing half the trip in the city, all the tourist places, including being admitted to the White House! The other half will be in nature, studying the Chesapeake Bay habitat, experiencing creek snorkeling, kayaking and zip lines, just the beauty of nature! I'll try to continue some writing, certainly do lots of field journaling which we (students and adults) all do.

It's Monday, with Poetry, too

For April, Poetry month, still writing haiku and haiku-related poems. With a few exceptions, I've stayed with haiku. Some of us are supporting each other using the hashtag #digipoetry. Join us.

Created by Leigh Anne Eck25)

this April morning

rumbling, rumbling rain -

clouds touch the roofs

Link up with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. and Sheila at Book Journeys. Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

Otto The Owl Who Loved Poetry - written and illustrated by Vern Kousky

I found this at a recent bookstore visit, sat down and read it on the spot. Poor Otto keeps sharing poetry, and receives nothing but “hoots” at his performance. But one night, there is applause, and Otto finally gets the positive attention he deserves. It’s a lovely story, including some well-known poetry with sweetly soft illustrations, a good one to add to your “poetry love” shelf.

three marvelous books to “see”, poetic words to read, in English and in Spanish

Sunday, and A Little Tech With the Poetry

For April, Poetry month, still writing haiku and haiku-related poems. With a few exceptions, I've stayed with haiku. Some of us are supporting each other using the hashtag #digipoetry. Join us.

Find the many Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Irene Latham's Progressive Poem is becoming quite exciting. You can find all the poets who are participating at Irene's blog, Live Your Poem. Be sure to check on Brian at Walk The Walk to read the latest line, and then the entire poem!

Margaret Simon of Reflections On The Teche hosts a meme for others to share tech ideas, Digilit Sunday. This isn't very tricky, just a way to use images and add text or other designs. I wanted to use this picture with my haiku today, and make it special, so turned to Canva, an easy app to design with pictures and words. Click either image to enlarge.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Celebrating - School, Different Moments

Celebrating Each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. There is a lovely group that celebrates, so join us! Tweet at #CelebrateLu

Still learning about writing haiku, still wondering about the words chosen, and those leftovers that are challenging to give up.

23)

sharing words

celebrating April days -

granddaughter’s book

Final Poetry Friday In April - Sad To Say - But Welcome May!

Renée M. LaTulippe at No Water River is our host today, sure to be a fabulous final Friday of April Poetry Month. Thanks, Renée!

For April, Poetry month, still writing haiku and haiku-related poems. It's been a good challenge to write fewer words, trying to "say" something. Some of us are supporting each other using the hashtag #digipoetry. Join us.

Find the many Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Irene Latham's Progressive Poem is becoming quite exciting. Be sure to check on Tricia Stohr-Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect to read the latest line, and then the entire poem!

I haven't written about my year's One Little Word since I chose it. I haven't forgotten it, but also have paid little attention to it. I have been doing a few things with it, but not daily as I wrote was my goal. Life and work seems to have gotten in the way. My OLW is PAINT, and doing something besides writing and work is a lovely way to relax and think. So, I have been doing a little bit, and thought I'd share one with my haiku today.

22)

dandelion spring seeds

prepped for travel -

just need a child

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

A Memory To Keep

For April, Poetry month, still writing haiku and haiku-related poems. Every day beauty is there.

Find the many Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.

21)

in the wetlands -

eavesdropping on

red winged blackbirds

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Non-fiction Picture Books and Poetry, non-fiction too!

For April, Poetry month, I've made the goal to write haiku and haiku-related poems. It's like a little break to write something new every day.

I'm also happy that some of us are sharing on twitter with the hashtag #DigiPoetry, created by Margaret Simon, of Reflections on The Teche.You're welcome to join us. Find the many Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.

20)

puddle play,

not too deep -

robin splashing

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Most Wednesdays I'm happy to link to Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy. I love finding good non-fiction picture books available about many varied topics, for all ages, too. Here are three I enjoyed recently. Thanks for hosting this terrific share, Alyson!