About Hands on Stanzas
Hands on Stanzas, the educational outreach program of the Poetry Center of Chicago places professional, teaching Poets in residence at Chicago Public Schools across the city. Poets teach the reading, discussion, and writing of poetry to 3 classes over the course of 20 classroom visits, typically from October through April. Students improve their reading, writing, and public speaking skills, and participating teachers report improved motivation and academic confidence. You can contact Cassie Sparkman, Director of the Hands on Stanzas program, by phone: 312.629.1665 or by email: csparkman(at)poetrycenter.org for more information.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Small Frames
This week at Belding, students read haiku by Basho, Issa, and Buson, and discussed the way the haiku form functions, serving to snip away all but the smallest details, while still leaving a very broad picture. In writing their own haiku, I asked students not to focus on the syllabic count, but rather, to work on creating a similar structure--a poem in which the barest possible portrait gives much to the reader. Some examples are below.
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
by Caleb
All the rainy days
Umbrellas and boots
And non-stop traffic.
***
by Michael
There is a broken seal
that is cracked open by evil
spirits and then closed by good
spirits.
***
by Karim
Spring is a good season
bees suck pollen and flowers grow
I will get honey from the store
to remind me about spring.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
by Sasha
The sea shines brightly at night
The water swishes in the night air
while the book stays on its shelf.
***
by Anthony
Little woodpecker
pecking at a little wooden house
oh why do you do that?
***
by Rianne
Friend, I go
I must leave this place,
don't cry I will remind.
***
by Amine
In the old cowfield
All you hear are gunshots shooting
nobody knows who shot.
***
by Lio
How interesting
He has bitten his nails now
How confusing yet.
***
by Loreyn
In the house I pick a box
full with memories from my aunty
I left them there and I don't know why.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
by Warren Butts
Clocks help us how to tell time.
When it is 12:40 that means it is lunch
time. And when it is 2:45 it will be home time.
We will always learn how to tell time everyday from
Monday to Friday.
***
by Christopher
The dog was barking and howling at the
children because the wind was
whispering at the grass.
***
by Jocelyn
A yellow-green bird
It makes a sound, pew-pew
He is drinking water.
from Mr. Merrill's class
***
by Caleb
All the rainy days
Umbrellas and boots
And non-stop traffic.
***
by Michael
There is a broken seal
that is cracked open by evil
spirits and then closed by good
spirits.
***
by Karim
Spring is a good season
bees suck pollen and flowers grow
I will get honey from the store
to remind me about spring.
***
from Ms. Navrocki's class
***
by Sasha
The sea shines brightly at night
The water swishes in the night air
while the book stays on its shelf.
***
by Anthony
Little woodpecker
pecking at a little wooden house
oh why do you do that?
***
by Rianne
Friend, I go
I must leave this place,
don't cry I will remind.
***
by Amine
In the old cowfield
All you hear are gunshots shooting
nobody knows who shot.
***
by Lio
How interesting
He has bitten his nails now
How confusing yet.
***
by Loreyn
In the house I pick a box
full with memories from my aunty
I left them there and I don't know why.
***
from Mr. Aivazian's class
***
by Warren Butts
Clocks help us how to tell time.
When it is 12:40 that means it is lunch
time. And when it is 2:45 it will be home time.
We will always learn how to tell time everyday from
Monday to Friday.
***
by Christopher
The dog was barking and howling at the
children because the wind was
whispering at the grass.
***
by Jocelyn
A yellow-green bird
It makes a sound, pew-pew
He is drinking water.
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1 comment:
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