All posts in Leslie Reese

Are You a Dreamer?

I was eager to get reacquainted with Shoesmith 4th graders, as it had been four weeks since our last session! We opened up our first lesson of 2022 thinking, talking, and writing about different […]

“I Missed You!”

It’s been a while since our last session, and I was looking forward to returning to Bret Harte this week. Ms. Harrison was waiting for me in the hallway with smiling eyes, and I […]

4th Grade Comparisons and Pajamas!

For my 3rd visit with 4th Graders at Shoesmith, it was Pajama Day! You could see students and teachers and staff walking in hallways and classrooms wearing onesies and pj’s and sleeping bonnets – […]

Keeping the Memory of a Loved One Alive

On December 14th, Bret Harte 6th/7th graders in Ms. Evans class thought and talked about the value of memories. Peace be with you all during the holiday season! My First and Last Memory Jada […]

Factory of Fun Ideas Pt. 2

Swift 2nd graders filled my heart with so much warm holiday cheer during our 6th visit together. Students made wonderful greeting cards for me, with lots of creative artwork and positive messages! Thank you […]

Bret Harte 2nd Graders Imagine Monsters!

For my 7th time meeting with Bret Harte 2nd graders, we looked at Maya Angelou’s “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me,” and talked about things that we are afraid of. Then we had some fun with […]

What 4th Grade Ears Hear

For our second session, 4th graders at Shoesmith brainstormed about the sounds they hear throughout their day, both indoors and outdoors, in school and elsewhere. Then they wrote original poems using sound as their […]

Factory of Fun Ideas Pt. 1

Last week 2nd graders at Swift welcomed Mr. McCaster and tried their hand at joining unexpected things together to make “Swan of Bees” poems. Some students selected favorites of the four types of poems […]

Words Are Power

On December 7, 2021 I met with Ms. Evans’ 6th/7th grade class and we talked about the power of words. Using a lesson created by Joy Young, we looked at metaphor and repetition, and […]

“I Wish I Could Fly:” Shoesmith 4th grade Wish Poems

December 3rd, 2021 was my first classroom visit with Shoesmith 4th graders for the school year. When I asked students what they knew about poetry, they impressed me with responses that included: “a rhyme […]

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I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET