Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 9

Today was one of those days that I adore. The quiz buzz in the classroom as students explore, share their ideas, and write together. Our favorite food today really made our brainstorms grow - it was Cheeseburgers. We had so many different styles of poems and students chose to write together and by themselves. I love how much they are learning about themselves as writers.

Cheeseburger

by Bailey Drake

Golden light brown bun

dark brown meat is so yummy

I have a cookout.

Grilling Good

by Sara Ceravolo

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle

grill marks

everywhere.

Summer and picnics

grilling by the pool.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle

BBQ,

cookouts

juicy

tasty.

This is festival food.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle

A Cheesy Acrostic

by Austin Kierst and Bryce Dailey

Crunchy, yummy

Hand me a burger.

Eating them in the summer.

Eating them at the cookout.

Sizzling hot

Even burning hot

Buns are golden brown.

Under the sun I eat them.

Relish covers it.

Grill marks on the burgers.

Even when it is hot they are

Really good!

Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 8

I worked with a pair of boys today that wanted to harness their understanding of haikus as we explored today's favorite food - PIZZA. Sometimes creating patterned poetry can be difficult, but for others, they crave the structure. These two boys impressed me as I watched their thinking and writing grow.

Pepperoni Pizza

by Jackson Rodzinka and Canyon Clark

Shaped the dough like circles.

Smothered it with yummy sauce.

Topped with gooey cheese.

Polka-dotted with

the spicy pepperoni,

cooked in the oven.

Out comes the pizza,

cut into small slices.

Now it's time to eat.

Mmmmmmmm!

Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 5

Spaghetti and meatballs were on the menu today. Students worked hard describing this delicious dinner. It is fascinating to watch their word choice grow!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

by Ava Ieda

Spaghetti and meatballs,

squishy, yummy, saucy. 

The heat is swirling

around the bowl!

Convincing you to eat it,

convincing you to take a bite.

Just a take a bite

the savory noodles are swirling around

until you eat it all up.

It's the tasty, chewy treat

that fires up your tastebuds

and like an arrow you eat another bowl.

It's gone in a flash!

You eat lots and lots

of spaghetti and meatballs 

until all the food is gone.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

A Poem for Two Voices

by Mrs. Daley

We are swirly pasta,

we are seasoned balls of meat,

covered in a crimson sauce.

Slurp us up,

take a bite,

a family dinner staple.

Laughter erupts,

as stories are shared,

we bring families together. 

Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 4

Today we wrote about another sweet, delicious treat - BROWNIES. Brainstorming and writing about them was very difficult because we all wanted one to eat. Some of my students were playing with form today, as some chose to write list poems while others wrote poems for two or more voices. Each day I am seeing their writing skills improve and love of poetry grow.

Brownies

by Mason Weinel

Soft,

gooey,

squishy,

mushy,

chocolately,

nutty,

warm,

tasty,

full of chocolate chips,

drizzled with fudge,

delicious,

brownies.

Brownies

by Taylor Chinn

Chocolate fudge

soft and tasty

fresh from the oven

yum, yum

nutty, mushy

covered in frosting

caramel covered

delectable

dark brown

homemade

yum, yum

yum, yum.

Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 3

Day 3 let us explore one of my favorite sweet treats - ICE CREAM SUNDAES! Today we read Ode to a Commode Concrete Poems by Brian Cleary to inspire us. Students marveled at how words created images, then saw how the illustrator (Andy Rowland) displayed what they were visualizing on the page. My second-grade poets were hooked. Many chose to write ice cream sundae concrete poems, and they loved sharing them with each other. Several of my other students are still playing with the idea of how a few simple words can convey an idea. I love watching their thinking grow as we explore all sorts of different kinds of poems. We hope you enjoy these sweet poems.

Ice Cream Sundaes

by Aiden Idea

Ice Cream Sundaes

by Libby Hanagan

Sweet

yummy

gooey

tasty

gummy

bears

are

chewy

snow-white

full of candy

I eat a cherry

soft

and sweet

sprinkles

glare

I hear fun

and ice cream's

here!

Sundaes Smiles

by Mrs. Daley

Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 2

Today our favorite food that was selected was chicken noodle soup. We brainstormed ideas about chicken noodle soup: how could we describe it, what was in it, how it makes us feel, and personal connections we have to it. We read Fresh Delicious Poems from the Farmers' Market by Irene Latham today to get us inspired for our food poem. We played with sounds, repeating lines, and formatting.

Chicken Noodle Soup 

by Caleb Wood

Chicken noodle soup is very healthy!

It's just the right temperature.

It's warm, delicious, and steaming hot.

The ingredients are broth, noodles, carrots, celery, and corn.

Slurping it down,

slurp,

slurp,

slurp.

Now it's gone in my tummy,

yummy,

yummy,

yummy.

Chicken Noodle Soup

by Sara Ceravolo and Peytan Scott

Hot and steaming

golden, brown broth

squishy noodles.

Crackers dipped inside

comfortable,

savory, not sweet.

It sounds loud if you slurp it.

Oh, it's such a treat.

Full of veggies and fun too.

It's flavorful and fun to make.

Chicken noodle soup.

Comfort Food

by Mrs. Daley

Tasty Poetry Challenge Day 1

Today is the first day of National Poetry Month and the first day of our poetry challenge entitled Tasty Poetry. Throughout the month you will see a new photo of our favorite foods and a poem to go with it. We hope that you will join our fun by reading our poems, sharing your thinking about them in the comment section below or maybe even sharing your own poem based on the picture as well. Today you will see several poems. One that I modeled writing for our class and several they wrote in groups, partners, or on their own. Our goal was to stretch our imagination for this poem. We used Amy VanDerwaters poetry challenge found at http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/ for guidance. We discussed perspective for our first poem and different groups chose to write their poem from a different perspective. We hope our poems make you smile and delight your senses. Enjoy and happy writing everyone!

Corn-on-the-cob
by Mrs. Daley

Long summer nights,
when family and friends gather
filled with cookouts, laughter, and fun.
A steaming pot of golden goodness
awaiting our eager lips,
slathered in butter.
We munch and crunch 
the sweet and salty delight.
Falling silent
savoring the flavor and the memories
of a season that will be gone
all too quickly.

Corn
by Brock Mendez, Bryce Dailey, Julianna Corteville, and Kiley Casson

I take a bite.
Crunch, Crunch.
The golden yellow corn
explodes in my mouth
like an explosion of
buttery, sweet goodness.
I love to eat corn-on-the-cob
on hot summer nights.

Corn
by Libby Hanagan

Sweet, bitter
like a bomb
setting off in my mouth.
Mmmm...
It makes me greedy for more.
Two bites at a time
my mouth is full.

Crunch, crunch.
Sweet, bitter
like dynamite 
in my mouth.
I like butter on my corn.
It makes it juicy.

I like my veggies.
They make me grow big and strong.
Butter makes them salty.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 30

Day 30, the last day of our challenge is here. I thought it was fitting to end with a picture of my own shoes. I will post later this week how we wrapped up our work and the process we went through. Thank you to all who join and read and commented along the way. 

Worn Shoes

by Eva Jackson and Sebastian Retan

Purple and worn.

Stinky and torn.

Easy on, easy off,

Pink cool shoes for the summer.

Good caring owner.

Well loved shoes

walking everywhere.

Loved Shoes

by Zane Jermyn and Caleb Gurger

My teacher loves them.

She always gave them support.

They are always worn.

My Teacher's Shoes

by Lily Collins

My teacher's shoes

purple, classy sandals.

Sort of worn out,

old, but well loved.

Belong to a good, caring teacher.

Easy on, easy off.

Walking the hallways,

my teacher's shoes.

My teacher's shoes

walking the hallways.

Easy on, easy off.

Belong to a good, caring teacher,

old, but well loved.

Sort of worn out,

purple, classy sandals

my teacher's shoes.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 29

Here are some more poems inspired by Marilyn Singer’s work in her book Mirror Mirror A Book of Reverso Poems. 

Beautiful Shoes

by Sebastian Retan

Problems to be solved.

Make friends along the way.

Heart filled moments,

prancing down the yellow brick road.

Capture the evil witch.

Don't feel small.

Don't feel small,

capture the evil witch.

Prancing down the yellow brick road,

heart filled moments.

Make friends along the way.

Problems to be solved.

Sparkling Red

by Caleb Gurger and Billy Talley

I'm sparkling red,

friends to the end.

The yellow brick road,

destiny in Emerald City.

On my way home

fighting the witch,

time never ends.

Time never ends

fighting the witch.

On my way home,

destiny in Emerald City.

The yellow brick road

friends to the end

I'm sparkling red.

by Mrs. Daley

Down the yellow brick road,

off to find my home.

Friends to be made,

Emerald City to save.

Courage  will be found,

intelligence lies within,

heartfelt kindness sets you apart.

Take one step at a time

to defeat the witch.

Remember

there's no place like home.

There's no place like home.

Remember,

to defeat the witch

take one step at a time.

Heartfelt kindness sets you apart,

intelligence lies within.

Courage will be found,

Emerald City to save.

Friends to be made.

Off to find my home

down the yellow brick road.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 28

On Friday, we read Mirror Mirror A Book of Reverso Poems by Marylin Singer and my students were in awe. The way she could write a poem and flip the words upside down and create a new poem seemed magical. I shared one I created (see tomorrow's post) and the process I went through to create it through a think-aloud for our mini lesson. Several students challenged themselves to try it out. Their results AMAZED me!

Dazzling Shoes

by Mariela Torres-Steele and Tess Moore

Tiny feet.

Dainty steps.

Dazzling shoes.

Unattractive stepfamily.

An attractive girl

wearing attractive shoes.

Goodbye, wretched rags.

Goodbye, wretched rags,

wearing attractive shoes

an attractive girl,

unattractive stepfamily.

Dazzling shoes.

Dainty steps.

Tiny feet.

Magic

by Caroline Oster

Went to the ball,

dancing with the prince.

Twelve o'clock,

pumpkin coach,

fairy godmother.

mean stepfamily.

One broke

glass slipper.

Glass slipper

one broke.

Mean stepfamily,

fairy godmother,

pumpkin coach,

twelve o'clock,

dancing with the prince,

went to the ball!

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 27

These shoes sparked our imagination and word choice selection today. It's exciting to see my students' voice emerge as they write their poetry.

Walking on Air

by Mason Michaelsen

Neon green

has never been

this eye-widening

with white and green

when I see my shoes

I feel a strike of pride.

It feels like I'm walking on air

when I'm walking in my shoes. 

Neon Style

by Izzy Sheppard

Neon style, light up so bright

Electric flash

OMG, I love these shoes.

Night so bright that it is day.

So cool, so noticed

Thanks to my shoes

Yes, they shine

Lights like rainbows

Even in 10,000 years, I'll love these shoes.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 26

As we draw to close of our poetry challenge I have been reflecting on the growth my students have made. From word choice, like "gracefully gliding," to structure, another acrosticu (acrostic + haiku), my students have felt comfortable to take risks and grow.

The Gliding Skate

by Sebastian Retan

Gracefully gliding on the ice.

Blue like the ice.

Slicing across the rink,

dirty and worn,

think as a piece of wheat.

My skates amaze me.

Ice

by Caroline Oster

I love my old skates.

Cold ice can not hurt my skates.

Extra love with skates. 

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 25

Today we read a brand new book called Dude by Aaron Reynolds. The story is told in one word. We discussed the power of words. Words that can hold more than one meaning. Words that speak directly to your heart and chose to focus on this for our poems today. Two of my students also played around with structure. One student chose to write their poem as multiple haikus and one partner group chose to smoosh the acrostic form with haiku, which they dubbed acrosticu. We hope you enjoy!

One Wonderful Pair of Shoes

by Mason Michaelsen

Tropical shoes and rainbows,

Coconuts and palm trees,

Turquoise season,

all in one shoe.

Sailing

by Mac Stoyles

Sailing Part 1

Aww, I just woke up!

I went down for coffee, when...

I see the sail shoes.

Sailing Part 2

I leave my caffeine

I dash with excitement to

the dock where I sail.

Sailing Part 3

After a good sail

I have those shoes on my mind,

their rainbow colors.

Happy Slippers

by Tess Moore and Mariela Torres-Steele

Fantastic slippers

Undeniably comfy

Numerous colors

My New Shoes

by Kayleigh Behun

Sun's out

feeling happy

feel the heat

from the sun's rays.

Putting on

my new cozy shoes.

They are bright

like a rainbow

in the sky.

I am awake

and ready to conquer the day.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 24

Today's shoes hold special meaning for one of my students. His aunt sent us this picture. This is a picture of her son's shoes. These shoes hold special meaning because her son was in an accident and was paralyzed. A special group of my poets worked together with me as we created a poem that will hopefully speak to your hearts. Our thinking was that there may be a lot of things that these shoes will never get to do, but there is always hope in the human spirit. Hope to live life to your fullest despite the challenges one faces. Today's poem fills me with hope. There are some many amazing people out there that have the ability to change the world, I know these students will do just that. 

The Powerful Shoes of Hope

by Ammon Simpson, Caroline Oster, Mac Stoyles, Mariela Torres-Steele, and Izzy Sheppard

Worn, but not worn

We will never

touch the ground.

We will never

feel the plush carpet.

We will never 

climb a tree.

We will never 

dance the night away.

We will never

run a race,

but we have hope.

We can

travel the world.

We can

go on adventures.

We can

change the world for the better.

We can

be a light in the darkness.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 23

Today was a day full of voice in our poems, from "Rumble with pride," "King of the court," and "Rocking the road to glory." These shoes inspired my young writers to stretch their word choice and grow as writers!

The Bright Shoes

by Zane Jermyn and Sebastian Retan

Zooming across the court.

My friends notice my shoes.

My friends think they are bright,

bright like the sun.

My shoes are out of this world.

That is why

these shoes are my favorite. 

The Big Game

by Mac Stoyles

Eek, eek basketball.

Fall down, get back up, be brave.

Conquer the huge court.

Crazy Colored Shoes

by Caroline Oster and Aubree Walton

I have a big game.

I have no good shoes.

I want crazy colors

I want high tops too.

I go to the basement

I find these new shoes.

They were a perfect fit

so I go to the game

and my shoes were a hit.

Out of This World

by Oliver Hawkins and Ammon Simpson

Gliding on the street

On my way to victory

Lots of people staring

Down the street

Minding my own business

Awesomely zooming to victory

Stop me, no way

Try to catch me

Entering the finish line

Rumble with pride

Basketball

By Caleb Gurger and Lily Collins

Ballin all day

Amazing shot

Swish, 3 pointer

King of the court

Easy crossover

Try for one

Bless Steph Curry

Objective - never give up

Laughing in the locker room

Learning it all.

This is basketball.

Starring Shoes 

by Izzy Sheppard and Mariela Torres-Steele

Starring shoes

Toe-to-toe with the trail

Athletic stars on the sides

Rocking the road to glory

Racing the shoes, then you lose

I will win

Noone can stop me

Greatness is mine

Shame on the slowpokes

Heroic wins everytime

Oh, that trophy is mine

End of the road, I win. Finish!

Shoes, you helped me out!

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Challenge Day 22

For my students, the color of these shoes struck their attention. If you had to describe these shoes in a poem what would you say?

My Gold Shoes

by Sebastian Retan

Gold like the shining sun,

trying to stand out.

Looks like a brick of gold.

Shoes are probably wanted.

Out in town,

showing off my new shoes.

Golden

by Ammon Simpson

Got these fancy shoes for a fancy party.

On the dance floor now.

Let's get my groove on.

Deceive the competition

Enter at will

Never taking them back.

Take a Walk in Our Shoes Poetry Contest Day 21

Today sparked a poetry surprise. One of my students chose to write their poem in a form of a conversation. This began a rich discussion on the different forms of poetry. Love that this challenge is  allowing my students to take risks with their writing.

Teeny Tiny Shoes

by Mariela Torres-Steele

Shoes: Hi down here!

           You might not see me,

           but I'm blue.

           No?

           Then LOOK DOWN ALREADY?

           Oh, ok now you see me.

Jack:   Yes, I see you.

           Are my sister's doll shoes?

Shoes: Yes, Jack.

           Can you not see how small I am?

           Certainly, a 10-year girl would not fit in me.

Jack:    Well, true but...

            I think she grew out of dolls.

Tiny

by Darlene Daley

Tiny feet,

tiny hands,

immersed in play.

Tiny laughs,

tiny giggles.

all through the day.

Tiny movements,

tiny friends,

lots of creative play

with their BIG imaginations.