For our final session, Shoesmith 4h Graders had a great day of sharing! Students selected favorite poems that they have written over the school year and read them aloud in class. Before I left, I was presented with a binder of gracious and reflective illustrated thank you notes from Groups 1 and 2. I will treasure this binder forever!
Students shared that they enjoyed being read to from the poetry books that I often brought to class. Some of their favorite poetry lessons included blues poems, dream poems, odes, recipes poems, color poems, and “swan of bees” poems. Some students wrote that they were pleased to learn that they could use their own feelings to write poetry; and that not all poetry had to rhyme. One student included a handmade bookmark with their letter (thank you, Desi!); and another student wrote that if they get to see me again, they will make a poem that will make me cry, and added “I want a poem so good the similes will feel bad for metaphors” (Amari B.!) Mic drop!
To Ms. Lehner and the wonderful 4th graders at Shoesmith: Thank you for making my Fridays so worthwhile. Thank you for recommending great poetry books to me, such as Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, and Love that Dog by Susan Creech. I’m going to miss you, but hope to see you all again! Have a safe and wonderful summer. Love, Ms. Leslie
