A DIVERSE POEM IN YOUR POCKET

by Jacqueline Jules

A poem is a great addition to any celebration in the classroom or out of it. Short poems, in particular, are fun since students can easily read or chant along. But where can you find great poems on St. Patrick’s Day, Random Acts of Kindness Week, National Library Week, President’s Day, Veteran’s Day, Earth Day, Constitution Day, Grandparents Day, Global Handwashing Day, and dozens of other holidays? 

THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong features 156 poems by 115 different poets, including Jack Prelutsky, J. Patrick Lewis, Joyce Sidman, Margarita Engle, Marilyn Singer, Nikki Grimes, Alma Flor Ada, F. Isabel Campoy, Linda Sue Park, Jane Yolen, Kenn Nesbitt, Grace Lin, Joseph Bruchac, Douglas Florian, Laura Purdie Salas, and Pencil Tip bloggers, Mary Quattlebaum and Jacqueline Jules.

This anthology of high quality verse is unique for its diversity and its breadth. Every poem is published in English and Spanish.  Poems for Ramadan, Passover, Divali, and Native American traditions appear alongside light-hearted celebrations like National Popcorn Day, National Cereal Day, and National Yo-Yo Day.

The book is divided into months, January through December, and each section ends with a bonus poem celebrating “Birthdays and Baby Days.” Some of these extra selections offer cultural insights such as Joseph Bruchac’s poem “Winter Counting” explaining why Native Americans count winters rather than years.  Andrea Cheng’s “Wishes Around the World” describes the long noodles made by her Grandma Nai Nai and a blending of birthday traditions. Other holiday poems on generic topics such as Grandparents Day embrace diversity, too. In “Far Away on Grandparents Day,” Julie Larios writes about receiving “besitos across the long miles” from abuelo and abuela. THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS will make every child in your classroom feel represented and included. And many of the poems can be treasured at home for family celebrations.  

THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS is available in two editions. A student edition of 175 pages in a large format, features a single poem per page in Spanish and English with a lively digital art illustration.  The teacher’s edition with 371 pages has ideas for pairing picture books with each poem and other activities for each poem, plus helpful notes for sharing poetry in the classroom.

In addition, there is a terrific dedicated website for THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS with poem graphics, videos, lesson ideas, and more.

Check out a video for my own poem, “Bubbles”  for Global Handwashing Day.

And this poem by Kristy Dempsey for the upcoming D.E.A.R. Day on April 12th. 

The poems in THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS can be read aloud in about a minute, making them perfect prompts for students to write their own holiday poems. Challenge your students to write about their favorite holiday or invent a holiday to celebrate. Enjoy!

www.jacquelinejules.com

STUDENTS TEACH POETRY

by Mary Quattlebaum

April may be the cruelest month, according to the great American poet T.S. Eliot, but it can also be the silliest, saddest, funniest, most profound and amazingly playful month, thanks to National Poetry Month.

People learn a lot by teaching so this Pencil Tip gives students (no matter their age) the chance to share a poem with others (and in the process, to learn more about it and poetry in general).

1.  Tell students that each day in April will begin with a poem and that each student will have a chance to share and talk about a favorite poem.  Assign days.

2.   Ask students to look over poetry books and to write down the titles of 3 poems they like by 3 different poets (this will prevent them from choosing the first poem they come to and give them a chance to compare different poems and become more familiar with different poets).

3.  Take them to the school library and let them choose poetry books, develop a poetry table or nook in the classroom, encourage them to search for poems at home.

4.  In addition to choosing/sharing a favorite poem, students should write down (1) why they chose this poem, (2) what they notice about its form/shape, rhymes, or sounds, (3) what words seem especially interesting or vivid, (4) what feeling the poem gives them, and (5) the author and (optional) the year it may have been written or published.

5.  On the first day of April, model the process by reading aloud your favorite poem, talking about each of the five things above, and reading it a second time before sitting down.  Make this a poem that’s truly special to you so that students can see that poems can connect to/help articulate deep feelings.

The sharing each day only takes about 5 minutes, but students will attend carefully to what their peers have chosen and why.  This 5-minute daily poem/share will open them up to language and its possibilities in new ways.

Helpful Poetry Resources:  The Poetry Friday Anthology (both the K-5 and 6-8 editions), compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong; The 20^th Century Children’s Poetry Anthology, selected by Jack Prelutsky; Hallowilloween by Calef Brown; Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems by Georgia Heard; Pumpkin Butterfly by Heidi Mordhorst; Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman; and Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater.

 www.maryquattlebaum.com