10 Poetry Forms Freebie

I love reading, writing and teaching poetry.  For several years I participated in the April Poetry Challenge where I wrote 30 poems in 30 days.  In 2012 I started creating free challenges for students and posting them in my Teachers Pay Teachers and Teachers Notebook stores.

As the new year began I would discard the old and create the new.  This worked until I realized people were still trying to access the 2012 and 2013 April Poetry Challenges.  I created this free bundle of the two and included a rubric for grading poetry projects.

You can download 10 Poetry Forms for free at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  You can also download 10 Poetry Forms from my Teachers Notebook Store.

Also I am giving away a copy of my brand new product Summer Poems for Poetry Notebooks this weekend July 11-14.  You can enter at Teachers Notebook.

I hope you and your students enjoy these resources.

The Battle of the Books 2014-2015

Each school year, the librarians in my district host a reading competition between schools.  Participation varies from school to school.  The reading list is compiled from two award nominee lists: the Sasquatch Awards and the Young Readers' Choice.
 
I use these lists to create my own reading list during the year.  It gives me an opportunity to discover new titles and authors.  I also have others I can discuss characters and plots.
 
This year as I looked at my list, I realized there were several books I had already read and reviewed:
 
Wonder by R. J. Palacio

 
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead


I look forward to reading through the rest of the lists and sharing my finds with you.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

It's Not About Cupcakes -- A Polite Rant

Recently my school district made national news over its food in schools policy.  The media focused on eliminating cupcakes and other food treats for birthday celebrations.  A school district official was quoted in the local newspaper that one cupcake per student per year means students are consuming 25 cupcakes per year.  Really? Not in my classroom. 

This new policy was inspired by the School Wellness Policy mandated to any school district that participates in the school lunch program.  The rule only addresses food sold to students.  This policy goes well beyond the law.

Two things concern me:

1. This policy tells parents we don't trust you to bring healthy snacks for birthday celebrations. Don't send any food.

2. Classrooms are limited to three food events a year.  Think of all the real-world math, science, and cultural lessons that involve food.  Choose three.

This policy was released the week before school was out.  We are supposed to be able to ask questions later in the summer.  I am hoping to make an appeal.

Quote of the Week -- July 6, 2014

“It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous.” - Robert Benchley

 

(This isn't strictly education related.  As a writer, I love it.)

 

Rights, Responsiblities, and Privileges

Rights, Responsibilities and Privileges is a free download designed to be used in small groups early in the school year.  I plan to use it the first week of this school year in a fifth grade class.  (Or whatever I end up teaching.  Our teaching assignments are up in the air at this moment.)

First students look up the definition of each word in the dictionary and write it in the space provided.  Then they brainstorm examples of each.  I plan to then have them come back as a whole class to establish some expectations for the year.

Fifth graders study U.S. history and the Constitution in our district.  Fourth graders study Washington State civics so starting out with an understanding of these terms will provide a platform for later study.

If you need a copy for a different country, leave me a comment and I will change the flag.  

Update: Since I first developed these materials, the word privilege has changed in meaning.  I have an updated version of "Rights, Responsibilities and Privileges" in Artistry of Education @Teachers Pay Teachers.

What I'm Reading Now

Just released yesterday!
I just bought the set this week, because I had not read the whole series.  I had an older copy of The Giver and started reading Son over the weekend.  I realized I was missing some pieces.

 Lois Lowry's dystopian series has won several awards and it will soon be made into a movie.  I always want to read the books before the movie, so this book release is perfect timing.




Happy Reading,

It's Currently July with Farley

I know some schools go back this month.  July is the month where no trainings are scheduled.  I'm going to try not to think about school.

 



I'm joining Farley with Oh Boy Fourth Grade for her monthly blog party.  Currently I'm:

 

--listening to construction.  There are two seasons in Seattle: rain and road construction.  They are redoing the entrance to my street.  What a mess!

 

-- loving the berries in my yard.  It's going to be 80 today, so I watered my garden first thing and found a ripe strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry.  Yum!

 

-- thinking about what to do today.  I'm trying to balance my summer with projects and rest.

 

-- wanting to take better photos.  I haven't decided if I should take a class or just read some articles and take field trips.

 

-- needing to take a walk.  I just need to exercise...period.  Maybe I should take my camera. ;)

 

I don't know what we are doing yet for the 4th.  We are not late night people, but usually the neighborhood is noisy.

 

Thank you for stopping by my blog.