Earth Day Writing Freebie

Download Writing Paper!

Earth Day Freebie and CCSS Poetry

Download Earth Day Poem

I made a poem for Earth Day.  I used the form of Haiku because of its emphasis on syllables.  Syllable work is of great value to the struggling reader.  Haiku poetry is designed to have a total of 17 syllables.  (Usually it is a 5-7-5 syllable rule that is followed.) 

Check here for a little history and examples of children writing Haiku.  Notice the emphasis on nature and sharing the experience.

Publishing Haiku digitally can meet the CCSS!  Have students publish their poems to a digital poster board like Glogster.  There is a fee for Glogster, but worth it if you like the application.

Poster My Wall will let teachers register for a free account.  Students can make posters with their writings.  These posters will not be published online for public viewing, but you could post them to a blog.

The CCSS are all about reading poetry!  CCSS for Reading Literature:

10.  By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grade’s text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Does the Common Core forget about writing poetry?

According to Appendix A, “Narrative writing conveys experience, either real or imaginary, and uses time as its deep structure.  It can be used for many purposes, such as to inform, instruct, persuade, and entertain.  In English language arts, students produce narratives that take the form of creative fictional stories, memoirs, anecdotes, and autobiographies.”

I like what Burkins and Yaris say:

One of the ideas central to the Common Core writing goals is that students use writing to clearly communicate their thinking, and writing poetry is an exercise in precision.  Poets must meticulously consider words and how to organize them, considering nuance, meter, and imagery in an effort to convey their messages and appeal to the audiences for whom they write. When comparing these responsibilities of poets to the goals for writers presented in the anchor standards, one can see the following connections between the two:

Anchor Standard #3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Anchor Standard #4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Anchor Standard #5: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, and trying a new approach.

Anchor Standard #10: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, or audiences.

I hope this helps you navigate the CCSS and poetry!

Spring Break

Bella 

My son took this picture of Bella in Charleston this week. She helped us enjoy a few days of Spring Break.  My week looked exactly like the picture as we began it last Friday!  Lots of days in front of us!  Now it is almost over.  I'll have to be ready to take the plunge into reality soon.

How Reading and Writing are Alike

Download Chart!

Reading and writing intersect in natural ways every day in the classroom.  This Fountas and Pinnell list of the ways reading and writing are alike is a great tool for educators and students to discuss. 

Research suggests that teaching reading and writing together promotes higher-level thinking skills as opposed to teaching them separately (Tierney et al., 1989, p. 134). 

It is all about creating meaning.  When we combine reading and writing instruction, students gain so much more meaning. 

If you teach grades 3-5, adding Guiding Readers and Writers by Fountas and Pinnell to your professional library is a great idea!