🥰My Final Visit with Twain 3rd Graders

Happy 2026!
Unfortunately I was ill and couldn’t be with Twain 3rd graders for our final scheduled visit in December, so I came this week instead. It was important for me to see students again, to express my admiration for their efforts during our residency, and – of course – to promote their continued openness to reading and writing poetry!

On this day, students in Mrs. Murphy’s class read their Recipe Poems aloud, receiving snaps and compliments. Ms. O’Reilly’s class had gifted me with a book of personally written poetic notes full of similes and color, as well as a Christmas tree ornament, and a candle that smells like hot cocoa. Such wonderfully memorable souvenirs of our time together – I am “eternally grateful!”

I brought two illustrated books of poetry with me, to talk about poetry collections and anthologies that can be found in libraries and bookstores. We also talked about the value of reading poems aloud, to hear their sound and feel the words in our mouths. Student volunteers read Pat Mora’s “Happy Visits” and “The Prayer of the Tree” by an anonymous poet from the anthology, All the Wild Wonders: Poems of the Earth.

I wished the students continued success for the second half of their 3rd grade year, and also shared a few poems that I’ve written.