Thankfully there’s a freedom in brave writing that doesn’t make me feel guilty when I can’t do this every week, but when we’ve done it it’s been memorable (in a good way!) It never gets fancy, but it’s fun and enjoyable.
Brave Writer ROCKS!
~Angela
Archive for the ‘Poetry Teatime’ Category
Poetry Teatime: Poems to Learn by Heart
“If we learn poems by heart, we will always have their wisdom to draw on, and we gain understanding that no one can take away.” ~Caroline Kennedy
Set out some yummy snacks, a pot of hot tea, and a lovely book of poems. For your next Poetry Teatime consider reading from Caroline Kennedy’s, Poems to Learn by Heart.
Kennedy (daughter of J.F.K. and editor of numerous books) has lovingly put together a collection of almost two hundred poems that not only delight and engage readers of all ages, but are also intended to be memorized. The book is illustrated by Jon J Muth.
Each section is begun by a brief essay, where Kennedy shares thoughts (“Poetry can help us resist the pulls and tugs of life”) and tidbits (did you know that fairies have become increasingly smaller in modern poems?) and stories (a Little League coach shared a poem with his players at the end of every game and gave poetry as much credit as practice for his team’s success).
You and your children will have fun selecting verses to share around the table. There are poems about nature and nonsense, sports and school, family and friends, plus monsters and gnomes.
Enjoy!
Visit our Poetry Teatime website!
Poetry Teatime: Outside!
Warm enough for an outdoor tea time today with poetry by Michael Rosen. Yes, we still have Christmas lights up.
The book was titled “Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy”. The illustrations in this book are by Quentin Blake. My five year old son Cooper liked the poem “Shorts” because of the funny pictures accompanying it. He also liked “Something’s Drastic” because of the funny pictures.
Charlotte, age 9, liked “Bathroom Fiddler” because “it had a good rhythm.”
I wasn’t as fond of these poems as other books we’ve read, but the kids liked them. The pictures helped. By the end I had Cooper on my lap and Charlotte hanging on my back so they could see better.
We were pretty rushed today so food was quick and simple-some chocolate wafer cookies, animal crackers, and American cheese slices. None of us like tea so I had water and the kids had chocolate almond milk. I pull out the good china and cloth napkins and we make a toast. Today’s toasts were all related to the beautiful, warm weather.
~Ann
April: National Poetry Month
SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK!
To get you started, check out our SPECIAL:
The Arrow Poetry Guide is only $4.99 this week (April 1-8). Regular price: $9.95.
If you’ve never tried the Tuesday Poetry Teatimes, this is the month to start! There are many benefits to reading poetry, not the least of which is the sugar-sweet fun of rhyme, and the playful pop of alliteration and consonance as words trip their way over your tongue.
For the intimidated (you know who you are—you worry that you don’t “get” poetry or that you’ll fail at discovering meanings and themes and imagery), I have tips to make it easy for you to wade into these (I promise) friendly waters.
- Start with limericks and nursery rhymes. They’re easy to read/say, easy to understand (insofar as understanding even matters), and easy to repeat (leading your family in reciting them together. I don’t know why Jack jumped a candlestick or how an old woman turned a shoe into a family home, but for children, these images are direct and delightful. And that’s all that matters in this poetry ready. You’re delighting in sound, silly images, words, and linguistic music. You get to “go dense” on meaning for a change and know that that’s okay!
- Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein. Get their books, ready them, enjoy them. One poem at a time— no need to read like a chapter book. Note that these two “get” children. They share the same sense of humor and level of insight that children enjoy.
- Riddles and jokes are a kind of poetry. They may not rhyme and they don’t follow poetic structure, exactly. But they are all about puns and language play. Include them in your poetry teatimes.
- Read poems in tandem. The poetry book featured above is one my grandfather gave me in junior high (you can tell it was well-loved as the frayed paper cover indicates). In it is a collection of poems that are written in alternating blue and black ink. Each reader picks a color and together, two people read a poem aloud! This book You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You is still in print, if you want to try it.
That’s enough to get your started. Seriously!
Set the table for tea, pull out the Oreo cookies or bake a batch of brownies or slice Pippin apples! Whatever is your family’s pleasure. Then, read aloud, laugh, read to yourself, try your hand at making your own rhymes, and notice all the while that you’re doing what you always say you want to do—bringing learning to life.
We’ll post some poetry resources on the blog over the course of the month so stay tuned!
SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK!
To get you started, check out our SPECIAL:
The Arrow Poetry Guide is only $4.99 this week (April 1-8). Regular price: $9.95.
