1/29 HW 11 Where I'm From Poem

Use the lists we began in class and the sample poems to write your own "Where I'm From" poem. Remember, your poem must be 5 stanzas and typed!

Remember to start with categories and then list examples for you--being very specific--to get the meat of your poem.

Example:

• Important family names--Poppa Joe, Aunt Lorraine, my sister Rhea
• Family history--my grandmother who fought breast cancer, my gramps who fought bravely in war, my mother who always helps the community
• Favorite foods--mac n cheese, homemade pepperoni pizza, ice-cold lemonade, crab boils
• Family experiences--bbqs in the summer, swimming at Upshur Pool, roller coaster riding at Hershey Park, Sunday dinner and dancing in the kitchen
• Favorite games or toys--World of Warcraft, Pac Man, yo-yos, hide and seek, TV tag, Legos, Sorry
• Childhood memories--broken leg at 6 when I fell on ice, stitches under my eye and on my finger
• Family sayings--"There's always tomorrow" and "I love you so much, sweetie" and "Smile even if it hurts"

Now, you need to piece together your poem.  Choose some of the lists you've made above and use the refrain "I'm from"

Example:

I'm from Poppa Joe, Aunt Lorraine and my family in New York

from my sister Rhea and the times we fight and make-up

I'm from my mom who says "Smile even if it hurts"

I'm from a grandmother, Mama Sylvia,

who fought breast cancer for years before

it took her, and from my grandpa who

fought in a war, even though he was only twenty-two

I'm from a broken leg at 6 and stitches under my eye

I'm also from summer fun, playing with yo-yos, 

jumping rope, playing hide-and-go-seek and 

riding bikes until the streetlights came on

I'm from family dinners on Sunday,

mac n cheese baked in the oven, 

"eat your vegetables", 

strawberry/rhubarb pie, and

crab boils in the summer

I'm from so many memories and so

much laughter.  I'm from a family

who dances in the kitchen when a

good song comes on.

1/28 Read your independent book and work on make-up work!

1/25 HW 10 IRP week 4

1/24 Study for vocab quiz; review poetry terminology assignment, too

Your second vocab quiz is tomorrow! Study spelling and definitions and memorize your quote. Also, review the poetry terminology we have covered.  That will be a small section of tomorrow's quiz.

1/22 HW 9, Window observation poem

Sit at your window for 10-15 minutes and observe what's happening outside. Record as many images as you can, look up, look down, look all around. Now, use the images you have observed and write a 10-line poem. This poem can be about anything you like, but it must include the things you observed.

1/18 HW 8 Read your independent book and complete IRP week 3

Use the long weekend to read a lot and complete IRP week 3. Also, make-up any assignments you are behind on.

1/17 Make-up work--clear that AA form!

1/16 HW 7 Figurative language worksheet

Continue to improve your understanding of poetry techniques by completing the worksheet given in class.

1/15 HW 6 Bring in two printed poems

These should be poems you like and understand, written by a published author.

1/14 HW 5 Complete rhyme scheme worksheet

Use the handout in class to complete an 8-line poem following the rhyme scheme (pattern) you selected.

1/11: HW 4 Read your independent book and complete IRP week 2, both questions

1/9 Warm Up: Write an acrostic poem

Go to the link below to learn about what an acrostic poem is and write one of your own.
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/acrostic/

If you finish your poem early, go to the magnetic poetry website and write a new poem. http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Kids/kit/

HW 1/8 Write a 10-line poem using images from our walk

Use the things you observed and the list you wrote down from our class walk to write a poem. The poem can be about anything you would like to write about.  It must have a title and be neatly written or typed and single-spaced.

• Try to use Elements of Style (alliteration, simile, metaphor, repetition, sensory detail and personification)
• Think about your line breaks (which lines are short and which are long? which words do you want to highlight?)

HW 1/7 Practicing Line Breaks

Complete the worksheet provided in class. This will help you figure out how to break  up the lines of a poem.  You can write on the worksheet or type or write neatly on a separate sheet of lined paper.

Magnetic Poetry Warm Up

This session, we will be focused on editing our novels, but also on writing poetry.  To get your poetic juices flowing, go to this website http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/FirstWords/kit/ or this one http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Kids/kit/ and write a poem, try for 5-6 lines.  You will each share with the class.