Poetry Friday : August 12, 2016.
I really like interactive notebooks.
Many teachers I know really like interactive notebooks.
I’ve used them for years in one form or another
— binders, handmade notebooks, or composition notebooks.
Today is Poetry Friday.
It is mid-August.
We are on the threshold of a new school year.
So I decided to share a bit about my interactive Poetry Notebook.
DAY ONE
Preparation:
First, I must select the poem.
Today, I’ve selected Kay Winters’ poem “The Best Part.”
The best part
of the day
is when I hear
my teacher say,
. . .
We sprawl
on the rug.
It’s like listening
to a hug,
. . .
–from Did You See What I Saw, Poems about School by Kay Winters
Then, I must gather supplies.
- Paper or Notebook
Each student needs paper to draw on. If you are creating a poetry notebook, it can be a page in the notebook. Or you can give each student a square of unlined paper which they will later glue into the notebook. - Colored pencils
- A timer
Lesson Activity:
We are ready to begin.
Poetry Notebooks are open to a new double page spread.
Colored pencils are ready for use.
Students have entered the date sideways in the margin on the left hand side.
Students have copied the poem title and author’s name three lines from the top in the center of this page.
Now, pencils are down and they are ready to listen.
There is absolutely no introduction to the poem other than reading and copying the title and author.
I read the poem to students.
Students listen intently, letting the words create images in their minds. Then without a word, I set the timer for three minutes (I have been known to give them five minutes). And on the page beneath the poem title, they begin sketch noting — drawing the images they visualize from listening to the oral rendition the poem. At this stage, sketch noting involves only images, no words.
As students quietly draw, I walk around the room, making notes about elements I notice in student drawings — notes that I will use to guide our discussions and learning on Day Two.
The timer goes off, and without a word students close their Poetry Notebooks and put them away.
No, they do not share. Though they are very eager to share, our rule is NO SHARING, not yet!
Can they add to their sketches. If they ask to do so during personal time during the day, I do allow them to complete their sketches. I do not recommend it, nor do I encourage it. The purpose of the sketch is to capture first impressions, first thoughts.
DAY TWO
We are ready to begin.
Everyone’s notebook is open to the page we worked on the previous day. Everyone is eager to begin sharing.
Join me in another post about Poetry Notebook for Day Two.
My Poetry Notebook on Day One–
By the end of the week, we will have six pages that are a record of our thinking and learning, including
Words I learned
What I noticed
Constructed responses to literature
. . . all connected to our chosen poem.
* * * * *
PS. Poetry Notebook is one of my popular one-day workshops.
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted at To Read To Write To Be.
Thank you, Julianne, and Happy Birthday to you.
Head on over to enjoy some more poetry!
This is music to my ears! My team and I use poetry daily as share reading, we include all the figurative language and stem questions. I’m eager to see what else we could do with them. I would love to see you model and walk me through it.
Thank you! Be sure to follow the link in the last line of the post to Day Two. 🙂
Hey Nelda, I’ve scheduled a workshop for October 26 in El Paso. Check it out on my Calendar.
My team has been implementing a poem a week and we review it everyday and discuss. I noticed that we are aligned with you on day one, just wanted to know, do you give them a copy of the poem on day one or do you wait to give to them on day two?
Thanks for stopping by! In the last line of this post, I have a link to Day Two. I’ve detailed the activity for the second day there.
I have heard great things about the Interactive Poetry Notebook. I need to experience it myself. I have gone through JCS trainings in the past and can attest to their effectiveness with students.
Thanks for stopping by, Lori. I appreciate your words of recommendation. Hope to see you soon.
I loved your x builder and your grammar boot camp. I would love to attend your poetry workshop. You make the workshops fun but more than that useful. My students benefit as much as I do.
Great to have you stop by, Alison. Thanks for sharing! Here’s hoping to see you soon.
More, please…
Thank you, Donna. I will be in touch…
Stunning! I want to be in your class. Years ago when I taught history I asked HS students to draw during famous works of music from different time periods. I just love the different way of thinking. I’m reading The element by Sir Ken Robinson right now. I’m sure he would not only approve of this….but join you. Bravo! Have a great school year. Can’t wait to hear about some incredible learning and growth.
Thank you, Linda. I like your music listening in history coupled with drawing! Yes, Sir Ken Robinson–creativity, authenticity. I haven’t read The Element, should put it in my to-read stack. 🙂
I love this! Yes please I want to know what happens next! julieanne.harmatz@gmail.com
Thanks!
Sure, Julieanne. I’ll send you an email. I’m glad you like it. 🙂
Yes, I want to know what happens on Day Two! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Ruth, I will send you an email.. 🙂
–A great way to let students express themselves and also build enthusiasm!
Yes, and it engages all students in our first encounter with the poem.
This sounds like you’re setting the week up for rich discussion and learning.
It will be; listening and drawing creates a wonderful threshold for all students.