Today we welcome author Aida Salazar to #verselove2019, our celebration of all that poetry can do for our hearts and minds this National Poetry Month. Aida Salazar is a writer, arts advocate, and homeschooling mother whose writings explore issues of identity and social justice. She …
Inspiration Make your own lyrics. Sometimes nothing can be more inspiring than something we already love–in this case, substituting new lyrics to a popular song. Process I’ve always loved playing with song lyrics of my own (and have even written the lyrics for a couple …
Inspiration Memory poem. It’s time to get personal. Our own memories can inspire our current selves, and sometimes remembering what it was like to be the student sitting in class can bridge the gap between adult and child or teen. Process Dive into your own …
Inspiration Found words poetry. It can be particularly satisfying to create something beautiful out of something not-so-beautiful. Process Find a news article (anywhere online or in print) and select ten words to highlight. Use as many of those words as you can as you create …
Inspiration Historical figure poetry. Inspiring figures from the past can just as easily inspire us today. Poetry provides the perfect medium for capturing voices from the past. Process I’ve seen more and more teachers reaching across the ELA and Social Studies curricula for lessons that …
This week we welcome Kip Wilson to Ethical ELA. Her new historical novel in verse, White Rose, was released earlier this month, and she has been traveling with Kwame Alexander to launch the new imprint, Versify. We are so happy to have her with us …
Inspiration Student choice- teacher control is my mantra. Revision is a vital step in the writing process. So, today, I’ll practice what I teach. You are cordially invited to choose a poem you’ve drafted this week to revise and polish. But, first, note …
Inspiration Music inspires poets around the world! Why not let music inspire you today? Because we’re nearing April 23, when many English Language Arts teachers celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday and because Spring often is the time of year when weddings are being planned, I’ve chosen the …
Inspiration: Timeless and Timely Many of you who accepted this “Poem A Day” invitation have read plays by William Shakespeare and may even have a favorite. One of my favorites that seldom gets dropped from high school reading lists is ROMEO AND JULIET. Did you …
Inspiration: Lazy Sonnet FEELING LAZY TODAY? Can you write 14 words? Yep, just fourteen words ending in a rhymed couple, in honor of the Bard. You know one of the primary traits of poetry is economy of carefully selected words chosen for their sound and …