All posts in Poems

I Will Never Forget

This week we got to read of my favorite poems to use with students. The Quiet Machine by Ada Limon works so well with students of all ages, and it gives them a really […]

In process alike

For class today we read “Versions of Me” by Aline Melo, a really wonderful piece that asks the reader to consider how all the different versions of us can be at peace with […]

Return to the blues

Brennemann 5th graders returned to their bluesy ideas from last week. While much of the blues are steeped in heartfelt sadness, some blues can make us laugh. Remembering that blues songs and poems have […]

Haikus and Emotional Creatures

Last week a student expressed interest in writing haiku, so I offered Nettelhorst 2nd grade teachers the option of working on haikus or emotional creatures this week. Students in Ms. Rodriguez’s and Mrs. Barbeau’s […]

Choose Your Own Adventure…with a Golden Shovel

This week Ms Caplan’s class continued working on their golden shovels. In Ms. Murray’s class we tried something a little different. Students did a quick free write exercise and then picked a line they […]

The Golden Shovel 

This week we explored the Golden Shovel form created by Terrance Hayes. We discussed how even now, there are forms of poetry still being created and invented. Hayes was inspired by one of our […]

Practice, Practice, Practice

In our 2nd to last week together at Henry Elementary, we spent our time together editing poems and talking about performance techniques in prep for our 7th grade reading! Check out some of the […]

Group Poems + Writing our Beliefs

In our 2nd to last week at Social Justice High School, we watched and read the poem “Rise” by Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner and Aka Niviâna. These two poets share how climate change has and will […]

Poetry Book Recmmendations

This week Brennemann 2nd graders spent time re-visiting previous lessons, and reading their poems aloud for an audience of their classmates and teachers. Since we did not write new poems this week, I’ve chosen […]

“Over the moon…”

Last week Swift 2nd graders performed collaborative poetry and music in a special morning assembly for family and community as part of the school’s partnership with Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I was very moved to […]

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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