Saturday, April 5, 2014

Saturday Sayings: Contagious



The world will have to make room for some additional future poets, because we started our poetry unit this week.  It's my all-favorite writing unit.  After two days spent simply looking at ordinary objects and jotting down fresh, new ways of seeing them, day three arrived with the great expectation that they could all write poetry.  After a mini-lesson and a shared writing experience, I let them go for it, knowing full well that many would flounder but not for long.  

"Hey guys.  You've got to hear this.  Listen to the poem Cassie just wrote."  Constantly interrupting young writers during their workshop time is not necessarily ideal, but I've discovered the power of sharing what's going well while they're all still in the midst of the process.  We don't have to wait until all the folders and pens are tucked away before spotlighting what a few authors have accomplished. 

When I threw them into the deep end on only day three of the unit with high expectations of "Go forth and write poetry," I knew it would require more than my mini-lessons to pull this off.  I knew they would end up teaching each other how to be poets.  And I knew I couldn't wait until author's chair to make that happen.  Sharing successes during writing time is so useful.  I want to be careful about interrupting their flow, but at the beginning of a new unit, especially one like poetry, it's pivotal that they hear what's going well with other poets.  As the quote says, their breakthroughs are contagious.  After reading Cassie's poem came the words, "I bet you could try that too."  And some of them indeed did.  Glad I didn't wait.


12 comments:

  1. I was nodding my head as I read this. I hate interrupting them too, but I can always see the difference when I add some inspiration or a new idea in the middle of their creating. The lesser of two evils I guess. Thank you for sharing that Graves quote, I love him. I love how you always bring back great words from my old friends!

    Kimberley
    First in Maine

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    1. Kimberley, Donald Graves is always worth sharing, huh? I'm glad we both have an appreciation for his wisdom.

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  2. I love how, when we're writing poetry, often those "strong voices" are the writers who otherwise struggle. I'll take your advice and interrupt the flow of things to give these writers a chance to shine and inspire.

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    1. Lee, I love it when the struggling one gets to shine like you said.

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  3. I love what you get out of your students in your poetry unit! I cannot wait to read what they wrote!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, I love what they come up with. They amaze me.

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  4. Yay ... for Cassie ... and the classmate who noticed the beauty of her work ... and for their poetry coach. Sounds like you're inspiring some amazingly poetic voice!

    Smiles from the south,

    Barbara

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    1. Barbara, thank you for the smiles and comment. I always love your presence here.

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  5. I love your Saturday Sayings posts! The quotes are always fabulous and the posts always give me something to think about.

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    1. Jana, thank you for this. I really appreciate knowing that you enjoy these posts.

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  6. I hope you share some of the poems:)

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