April is National Poetry Month

A celebration of poetry was introduced in 1996. The Academy of American Poets wanted to remind everyone the important aspect that poetry brings to life. The website has so many virtual ideas to try and do as we extend in to our new #Covid19 lifestyle.

ACTIVITY:
One of my favorite poets that I introduced my children to is Maya Angelou. I shared a story on youtube with them and for our Easter weekend, they are going to work on a poem to share with the family.

ALL AGES: 
Teaching Tolerance has a good article in their Spring Issue about her life, what teachers can do, and a question and answer with her grandson.

Another one of my favorite video demonstrations of her Poem, Still I rise, can be found here.

I hope you can write a poem and learn about the many poets that create thought, feeling, and expression. Now would be a good time to capture our emotions. Happy Writing!

Integrating Holidays: Happy Valentine's Day!!

Make February 14 a special day with activities that extend Valentine's Day into academic subject areas. You can do counting for math, experiements in science, and of course writing in Language Arts.

The kids can make Homonym Hearts, Synonym Hearts, Ideas to Write from the Heart, and write a short story on "All about Valentine's Day". Just click on the words to see the links. They are free printables.

Of course, you can google all kinds of activities as well. Have fun teaching them why we have a day dedicated to LOVE. There is nothing wrong with that. It's what the world needs now, right? You could even find songs all about it everywhere and then have your kids write their own poems and songs.
Here are some fun books to read with your kids while you make cookies, cards, and decorate card boxes.

I love the stories of a love of child and parent best:





These are oldies, but goodies. I only recommend paper backs for a few reasons:
1. Older kiddos can read them to siblings
2. That's all we parents have time to read and reading is important-to our children as well as for ourselves.
Of course there are chapter books out there, and I will dedicate more posts to those, should you need longer reads for your kids.


Olive, the Other reindeer was a cute book and now she is back!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!

P.S- I really wish I could get these posts out to you sooner, so you can order the books, but as a working mom myself, it is close to impossible. I can only hope to share these with you and the local library or book store has them. You don't have to read them on that day, but all year through. Enjoy!!

Integrating writing: National Poetry Month

Spring has a lot of reasons to write. The melting of the snow, the budding of trees, new animal babies being born, and the sprouting of flowers.

A new book for young poets that came out March 2011:



For more ideas, books for adults, and a poem a day visit: Poets.orgRemember mom and dad: Poems do not have to rhyme!