TeacherDance: April 2021

Thursday, April 29, 2021

April - Poetry Month - Day 30 and Poetry Friday - Endings

Thanks for hosting this final Friday of April, of Poetry Month, Matt Forrest Esenwine, whom you'll find at Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme taking time to share some who've written in a new form of poetry titled a "tri-cube" Matt shared it a couple of weeks ago. Here's one for him:

having fun

with rhythm

plus rhyming

writing with

his children,

too, who learn

from Dad, (he’s

learning, too!)

inspiring

L. Baie (c)

Remember to check out the list of what everyone has been doing at Susan Bruck's blog: Soul Blossom Living!

Plus! Check each day for the added line to the Progressive Poem, created by Irene Latham, now hosted by Margaret Simon! The link is to the right! I am looking forward to reading the finish today, by Michelle Kogan! What a wonderful idea Irene started and Margaret has continued! And thanks to everyone for creating another gem.

TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY!

I have tried, most times, to create from a Wabi-Sabi perspective. I believe that at times, I created something close. Diane Mayr was kind enough to send me the book by Leonard Koren titled Wabi-Sabi, for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers, which I've read all or part of every day since I received it. I am grateful for it and the thoughtful gift from Diane. Yes, it helped me work for understanding. It is something I'll keep pondering, wandering into this new world.

Thanks to every poet who wrote, whose poems I enjoyed every day. I didn't get to all every day, but many, and it made the bumpy weather road called April a lovely month.

walking through grasses,

grieving this departure –

Hello! tomorrow

Linda Baie ©

April - Poetry Month - Day 29 - Lilacs

Remember to check out the list of what everyone is doing at Susan Bruck's blog: Soul Blossom Living!

Plus! Check each day for the added line to the Progressive Poem, created by Irene Latham, now hosted by Margaret Simon! The link is to the right!

TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY!

My Plan: “I’m exploring the aesthetic of wabi-sabi, sometimes described as one that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” in nature. I think walking out in nature this past year gave me the joy needed to keep going, so I’ve gathered photos taken since March 2020 for inspiration in composing haigas, sometimes other forms.”

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

April - Poetry Month - Day 28 - Water Magic

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

April Poetry Month - Day 27 - Walking Out

a tanka

in winter outside

sometimes imagination,

walks alongside –

snowy gardens with shadows

bring the needy into view

Linda Baie ©

Monday, April 26, 2021

It's Monday - Books to Find Now!

Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and

Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!

I did not find the time to do a #MustReadin2021 check-in this time with Cheriee & others. I just couldn't find the time. If you look at my list above you will see I've read 3 of the 12 chosen, supposed to be 1 per month. Yikes, I'm behind! I will choose and start 1 for April this week!

It's a love story, a verse novel, in the midst of terror and it's a beautiful one. Margarita Engle takes us readers back to the nineties when Cuba's citizens were starving, though the world didn't know. The Russians had abandoned the country; the United States continued its embargo. From the outside, even during the time the Pan-Am games were held, visitors were fed well and kept from the real truth. Castro held the power to do anything he deemed necessary. The people were not even allowed to grow their own food! Rations given were nearly non-existent. And in this time, Liana and Amado alternately tell their story as they become closer and closer, in love. At first, they only see each other in the night as each searches for something, most anything, to eat. A 'singing dog' appears to help Liana and also tells its own part in this story of love and need, desperation and resilience, satisfaction and grief. Two lines give me chills as it connects to the story and the title so beautifully. Liana says: "It's enough to make my heart and mind/feel as wide and far-reaching as the sky." I wonder how teens today will react to this heart-rending story? Will they see some of themselves? Will they connect or wonder at the cruelty? Perhaps they will want to know more about Cuba? I enjoyed the book very much.

Thanks to Cheriee Weichel from Library Matters for sharing the following book. I don't think I would have found it otherwise. I am also lucky that my library had it!

As a young mother speaks to her unborn baby, she gathers gifts for a sacred bundle, one for welcoming and connecting to family, community, and the tribal tradition. Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade are both indigenous women, pouring all their love into this book about this baby coming 'down from the stars'. Michaela's stars swirl through the pages as Tasha's mother talks to her baby, both before and after birth. Backgrounds of forest and home, family today, and in the past all are included in this story so filled with love and care. Notes from both author and artist are at the back.

Full-color paintings of so many animals that may surprise you, using tools to make their lives better, just like humans! On the opposing pages, small circle illustrations illuminate the text of "how" the particular animals use the tools and "what" is used. You

may be surprised at the ingenuity and variety. For example, elephants spray their bodies with water, then pick up dust to cover it, too. It creates terrific sunscreen. The Florida harvester ants drop small pellets of sand into honey which then absorbs it so they can carry "each sweet package" back home.

Animals all over the world are included and shown on a world map. There are categories like "Tools for Staying Neat and Clean" and "Tools for Defense". For the most help organizing what's found inside, there is a table of contents, an intro and a conclusion (with that orangutan and its hat), a glossary, and an index. I enjoyed every part, much new to me. Perhaps there isn't much documented for every animal, and perhaps students will be inspired to explore and learn more? Terrific and interesting book!

Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

This tale from the Cherokee tells of the time that animals were sent down from the sky. They believe that animals can do much of what people can do. This time, although they did well, when the sun went down, they shivered in the cold. Nearby Great Thunder and his two sons saw the plight and sent a lightning bolt to set fire to a sycamore tree, but on an island. Readers will see what happens when some of the animals try to get the fire for their warmth and what happens to them personally after the encounter. Told in a simply-understood text by Bradley Wagnon, a citizen of the Gideon Community and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, with engaging illustrations by Alex Stephenson, an author and artist who serves as a therapist for the Cherokee Nation, children will love this story of obtaining fire! I imagine some might never have thought that fire had to be discovered or kept!

Although many black motorists loved road trips, it wasn't always easy to do so. Even today, there are places that are not always welcoming and new versions of the Green Book are being created according to a follow-up at the end of the book by Keila V. Dawson along with a timeline, a glossary, a bibliography and a few quotations. In the 1930's, Jim Crow laws kept black travelers driving long hours to their destinations because there were no places to stay, to eat, even to go to the bathroom. At that time, Victor Hugo Green read a Jewish newspaper that gave information for where Jewish people could eat or buy Kosher food, places that were welcoming, in New York City. He got the idea to do this for black people and write the first Green Book with his wife's help, also for New York. The word spread and everyone wanted one for all over the US. This is the story of the success and help he gave to black people everywhere. The final one published was in 1966-67 because in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, telling it was illegal to separate people by race. Readers may be surprised at this history yet it will inspire many to do something when they see a need. Sadly, Victor Hugo Green died before he saw the changes. Illustrations help tell the story with realistic paintings.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

April Poetry Month - Day 25 - First Bee

Saturday, April 24, 2021

April - Poetry Month - Day 24 - Rock-wrapped

Thursday, April 22, 2021

April - Poetry Month - Day 23 and Poetry Friday - Icicle Delight

It's Poetry Friday! Today it's hosted by Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core. Thanks, Catherine, for hosting and for all the wonderful poems celebrating people you've learned about, then responded to this month who show love for the Earth.

It's becoming a lovely poem with more lines coming!

TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY!

I thank our Earth for many joys this year. Happy Earth Day!

We had snow again this week, and the day then became sunny. Though fairly cold, icicles began forming and dripping. On a walk, my granddaughter Imogene and I noticed more and more. It was nature's art just for us!

April - Poetry Month - Day 22 - Sometimes Color

Happy Earth Day! "I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." - Henry David Thoreau, "Walking"

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

April - Poetry Month - Day Twenty-One - Is it Missing?

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

April - Poetry Month - Day Twenty - Oak Leaves

Monday, April 19, 2021

It's Monday - Get Ready for Earth Day!

Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and

Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!

Earth Day is Thursday!

It is lovely to meet Merci Suárez again, this time in seventh grade, the family, the friends, and listening to Merci's worries figuring out, well, life. I taught this age for many years and while I didn't know "all" their thoughts, I knew some. Merci's voice (from Meg Medina) shows early adolescent worries with sympathy and I imagine will connect beautifully with same-age readers. I love the ups and downs with this family who live in three connected houses they call Las Casitas, Merci's home with her parents, that of her Tia Inés with twin boys, and her grandparent's home, with her Abuela and Lolo, her grandfather who she discovered has Alzenheimers in the last book. Layers of love and the puzzlement of how that all works from Merci fill the book with surprises and a most important part to me, that no one is perfect, often people make mistakes. They just have to decide what they'll do next. There is much for readers to love about Meg Medina's story, and about Merci.

Thanks to Candlewick Press for Merci Suarez Can't Dance plus the following books, just ready to celebrate and to help take care of our dear Earth!

Remember Go to Sleep, Little Farm? This time, Mary Lyn Ray tells the life of a lovely house full of memories until the last family leaves. It remembers the children and the wonderful noises they make, babies born and growing up, birthday parties, fun on a swing. It's lonely. E.B. Goodale, who illustrated Windows, creates the beauty of this house's story in soft painting and small scrapbook sketches, happiest of times along with quiet and lonesome times. Filled with nostalgia, the book will make you wonder what other memories might be in your own home if it's older or the ones you might be making for it right now if you're the latest family, or the first one.

First published by Big Picture Press in the UK, Bonnier Press, last year, here in the US in 2021.

If you want extensive information, this book by Camilla De La Bedoyere, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup is the springboard. It, of course, defines just what a reptile is but so much more. There are pages showing and explaining the breadth of this amazing 'family' from the ancient dinosaurs like Pteranodons to the "crocodilians", the "lizards", and the "snakes". It includes where they live, specific species like the Komodo Dragon, what and how they eat. One page toward the end discusses those in danger of extinction. The page about parenting skills is fascinating in the details known. Finally, Teckentrup's illustration of a leatherback turtle's journey is beautifully shown in one vertical double-page. It will terrific to begin learning about reptiles from this book.

First published in the Czech Republic in 2013, now translated by Andrew Lass, and published this year in the US! It's all about the bees, as it says on the cover, "A Honey Primer". I'm a sucker for a bear book and this is terrific by a writer and illustrator new to me, Aneta Frantiska Holasová. Bruno inherited beehives from a grandfather and between him and his grandmother, the story tells every.single.part of how beekeeping works. From what bees are, varied kinds and their jobs, to bee parasites and predators, how to gather the honey (with 'supers') and take care of the hives (all the parts), extra things beneficial to humans, and every season's chores, that area is explained. What also makes this non-fiction book extraordinary is that Holasová uses bears to show the 'how-tos' in lovely sepia tones in and out of their home, a delightful telling of this bear family's work with bees. There is an index and a recipe for gingerbread cookies at the end.

For anyone who loves Peppa Pig adventures or if you'd love a new Earth Day book that shows off activities that help the Earth, this new one is for you. We see the family preparing for a fun trip to their Botanical Gardens by sorting recycling, talking about compost bins particularly. Outside, Daddy Pig shows off his new "electric car" (named Roger) that later shows off its ability to drive itself. There are also windmills and some pages about bees at those gardens. This will help all young readers learn about Earth Day and things to do to help our Earth!

It's April. It's Poetry Month!

Remember to check out the list of what everyone is doing at Susan Bruck's blog: Soul Blossom Living!

Plus! Check each day for the added line to the Progressive Poem, created by Irene Latham, now hosted by Margaret Simon! The link is to the right!

TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY!

Sunday, April 18, 2021

April Poetry Month - Day Eighteen - Weed Birds

Today is my turn! Go HERE!

TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY!

The Progressive Poem is HERE!

The Annual Progressive Poem idea was created in 2012 by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem. Last year Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche started hosting the round-up and at the same time, Donna Smith at Mainely Write began a fun option to offer two lines to the next person, then that person chooses one of those to add to the poem, then creates two for whoever is next.

This year's poem started with a theme of kindness and a sprinkle of play. Now, I've received two awesome lines from Tricia Stohr Hunt, and as I create this intro, I'm thinking . . .

Here are the two lines Tricia wrote for me:

We'll be swingers of birches and climbers of trees.

We'll lie on our backs and find shapes in the sky.

And here is the poem thus far with the line I chose from Tricia. A favorite pastime out walking is cloud/sky watching!

I’m a case of kindness – come and catch me if you can!

Easily contagious – sharing smiles is my plan.

I'll spread my joy both far and wide

As a force of nature, I’ll be undenied.

Words like, "how can I help?" will bloom in the street.

A new girl along on the playground – let’s meet, let’s meet!

We can jump-skip together in a double-dutch round.

Over, under, jump and wonder, touch the ground.

Friends can be found when you open a door.

Side by side, let’s walk through, there’s a world to explore.

We’ll hike through a forest of towering trees.

Find a stream we can follow while we bask in the breeze.

Pull off our shoes socks, dip our toes in the icy spring water

When you’re with friends, there’s no have to or oughter.

What could we make with leaves and litter?

Let's find pine needles, turn into vine knitters.