Today, I was fortunate enough to attend a day of workshops offered by our local private schools. We are able to choose from a large variety of presentations for three separate time slots. I had a great time. There is nothing better than learning from other teachers.
I attended a session on incorporating poetry into your curriculum. I am a huge fan of poetry and try to do at least 4 or 5 lessons a year. This was unreal though! The teacher had her kids write poems inspired by various poets. To see 4th graders writing poems beginning “how do I love thee” was amazing. Love poems, funny poems, poems in the style of William Carlos Williams :
This is jus to say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
They were all fantastic. At the end of the 7-week unit the teacher has each student’s complete works bound into a little book and the parents come in for a poetry reading. The best part of the book is the About The Author section each student has to write. I’m definitely adding that little gem to my students’ next writing assignment.
I remember growing up hating poetry because I could never get it right. Today I learned that there is no right or wrong in poetry. It is all about how you feel. Each person interprets it through his/her own filters. Isn’t that wonderful? A subject you can’t help but do well in. As long as you participate you are right. That seems like fun to me.
My second workshop focused on group work. Love that group work!! I learned all about the Jigsaw technique. It is like a puzzle. You only get the whole picture when everyone does his/her part. It was pretty cool. The teacher had us do a run through of a project on water pollution. We met in expert groups where we became experts in one area. Mine was about the problems pollution causes. After everyone in our group read the provided information, and completed a worksheet we had to agree on how to present the information to others. Next we were put into new groups composed of one person from each of the expert groups. We each took turns teaching the others what we learned. So you see, all of the pieces came together. It was a successful Jigsaw.
All told, it was another great year for the workshops. What is that you say? I mentioned there were three session? Right, well. . .
I Must Confess
I did not make it
to the
third session
Two had been
great
a third maybe
better
But
arriving home early
was oh
so sweet
By Ms. Teacher
Inspired by William Carlos Williams
( I also learned that you always credit the inspiration)
