March 8, 2007
Writing class was productive and we did the following:
- Quick writes–play sounds and have student write about what they hear. What color is the sound you hear? What memory does the sound suggest?
- Sharing of what has been written–alphabet books, wish poems
- Homework: re-visit your poems this week and see if you can improve them by adding more descriptive words or taking out unnecessary words. Illustrate your poem on a separate piece of paper.
New project: read poem by William Carlos Williams This Is Just To Say
- Notice how he uses ordinary language to describe ordinary event
- Short lines about just one event
- Theme: apologizing for something you’re really secretly glad you did
- Students try the technique with an event in their own life
The Locust Tree in Flower
- one word lines
- disjointed
- words look like brushstrokes in a painting–each word adds something to what you see, but it’s not until the end that you know what the whole picture is
- do this as a class collaboration
- Homework: try it on your own!
Preparation for project for next week: make a timeline of your life, highlighting important events you remember (or your parents can help you remember)
In the weeks ahead, I will be recording your student reading favorite poems that were brought into class a few weeks ago. Recordings will be at student meetings or special arrangements will be made for students not meeting with me in the next few weeks.
