This Poem really made me think..about how I was taught, how I taught and teach now…how my children were taught…changes I love and changes I want to see , ways in which I should have spoken up for my own kids and the kids I have taught…I must confess it brought a tear to my eye…
All the kindergarteners
walk to recess and back
in a perfectly straight line
no words between them.
They must stifle their small voices,
their laughter, they must
stop the little skip in their walk,
they must not dance or hop
or run or exclaim.
They must line up
at the water fountain
straight, and in perfect form,
like the brick wall behind them.
One of their own given the job
of informer – guard of quiet,
soldier of stillness.
If they talk
or make a sound
they will lose their stars.
Little soldiers marching to and from
pretend
their hair sweaty
from escaping dinosaurs
their hearts full of loving the world
and all they want to do
is shout it out
at the top of their lungs.
When they walk back to class
they must quietly
fold their pretends into pockets,
must dam the river of words,
ones they’re just learning,
new words that hold the power
to light the skies, and if they don’t
a star is taken away.
One star
by one star
until night grows dark and heavy
while they learn to think carefully
before skipping,
before making a wish.
I really Like the book Wee Can Write for teaching and introducing the traits of writing . I tried the following lesson for the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Many of the lessons can be adapted to a variety of grades. Using picture books is a great way to introduce older students to the traits.
Chrysanthemum is the title of a story about a very special student. She loves her name!
I have written YOUR name on a piece of white paper with a black marker.Trace the letters of your name with a variety of colours to practice your best printing.
We will share our rainbow names in our “community” circle
You may take your name home to share with your family and tell them the story of Chrysanthemum, of course!
I have drawn a very large flower with the empty petals on our chart paper
Today we are going to organize our thoughts about the story we just read,Chrysanthemum. We will include characters ,setting,important events,problems and solutions on our “flower map” of the story
Our class will “bloom” as we retell this story together !
Trait :Voice
Specified criterion: Take a risk
Trait writing vocabulary-audience
We learned in this story that Chrysanthemum loved her name
We will write a class book-The Nicest Names A name can tell a lot about you! Think what your name tells about you
Please draw a picture of yourself. Under your picture of yourself. Under your picture please complete these sentences and be ready to share with your audience in our circle
My name is_______________
My name makes me feel ___________________
Trait :Word Choice
Specified criterion: specific words
Trait writing vocabulary-words , descriptive
In the story Chrysanthemum , there are many words that refer to flowers and growing plants.As we reread the story listen for those words.
When you hear a “garden” word put your thumb up. I’ll call upon you when I see you are ready to share
I am going to make a list of all the descriptive words we hear that refer to gardening, flowers or plants ex: wilted-blossomed-pick...
Trait :Sentence Fluency
Specified criterion: sound of words
Trait writing vocabulary-syllables
Each of our names have syllables we can clap. Let’s clap each name in our class. Here is a rhyme to get us started
Heckedy Peggedy Bumble Bee Can you clap your name with me?
Let’s practice together…
Repeat the rhyme with each child in the class in the community circle
Who in our class has the most claps? Only one clap? How many claps in the title?
Today we are going to talk about plurals. Plurals are more than one.We can make a plural by adding S , or es. Let’s see if we can add S , or es and then use these words in sentences: example- friend…..friends kiss…..kisses
use the words in sentences
Think of a word. Can you make it plural by adding S , or es? I will record your word and the plural on the chart paper I have folded in half and labeled with S , or es at the top
A great sequel to this would be to read The Name Jar
This colourful book demonstrates twelve imaginative ways to add up to eleven. It is an animal counting adventure as the animals demonstrate twelve witty and imaginative ways to get to eleven. This book will encourage students to represent numbers in different ways,.
Mme G.C. -Work in Progress 