I am spending some of my summer writing fiction.  I have signed up for Teacher’s Write, a summer writing program for teachers on Kate Messner’s blog. Check out the details here.

The first exercise for today is linked here.  Please check out the link for more details, we are not permitted to re post writing prompts.  In general, it is a point of view exercise about a King Cobra discovered in a house.

The following is today’s entry.

Oh hi, you found me. Not what I planned for today but listen and then decide what happens next.

Here’s the thing, I wanted a different life, that’s why I left the nest.

Nest? Yessssss! Did you know that King Cobras are the only type of snakes to build nests? And don’t think of coming near one. If you thought mama bears were protective, you have not met my mom. She’s capital A – Aggressive! That’s one of the reasons I left.

But enough about her, back to me.

I am in the usual situation, defending myself, trying to explain that, yes, while I can deliver enough neurotoxin to disable an elephant, I’m really rather shy.

Shy. It’s true. And that yelling! Please stop. I can’t hear it. I only feel vibrations. That’s why I was behind the washing machine, it was calling to me and I just had to check it out.

Listen, while I technically can harm humans, my favorite treats are of the lizard variety. Do you have any of those? Or another snake? eggs? You must have eggs.

Ok! Just show me the door. I’ll leave. I don’t want trouble. Just don’t corner me. I growl like a dog but it’s mostly for show. The King has to protect his brand.

So, can we just pretend you didn’t see me.

Animal Control! You called animal control.

Well, now it’s a party!   

You’ve got me rattled…(don’t have a rattle – jealous – can’t complain, I am a King)

anyway…didn’t want to do this.

Ceiling tile it is…please don’t tell my mom…she’s right behind me…good thing you don’t speak snake…she’s unpleasant…a bad negotiator…good luck everyone. The King has left the building.

Why do I read business articles? Because they are often the source for amazing ideas to use in the Language Arts classroom.  This Forbes’ article about the Limerick Butler poet Stephen Clare inspired my take on Fresh Poems in the Classroom.

Stephen Clare sets up his typewriter and creates “fresh” poems for people in under 10 minutes.

He requires two things to create poems… a WHAT and a WHO

• WHAT is the topic for the poem?
• WHO is the poem for?

The customer talks to him as he writes. Stephen’s creative process determines the length and the structure of the poem, he lets the poem take the lead.

This magic can happen in the classroom too! Here’s how!

Setting Up This Experience in the Classroom

Immerse students in poetry. Explore many different kinds, not just ones that rhyme.

Here are some handy lists.

30 Books of Poetry for Young Readers

20 Best Poetry Books for Kids

Practice writing poems together as a class. Model first as a teacher (I DO, STUDENTS WATCH), then together as a large group and in small groups (WE DO TOGETHER) and then as individuals (YOU DO ON YOUR OWN).

After writing a few different types of poems, set up students in pairs to write “Fresh Poems”.  Encouraging students to share topics that are meaningful to them and to carefully consider who could the audience of their poem could be. This opens the audience to other students in the class and in the school, in addition to other school staff and to family at home.

However, reality is that writing a poem without scaffolds can be challenging. While some students can listen to another student’s ideas and create a poem, most cannot. Here are some ways to support the student writer of “fresh poems.”

Have poem templates for students to use with prior instruction of how to create with them.  These are the same templates students have explored in class to write poems.

Consider an organizer for holding the ideas of the student “customer”.  One option is to have a paper for students to make a jot list or perhaps a series of boxes on a page for students to create quick drawings with/without words.

If you have access to Google Apps, perhaps have the student “customer” speak into Google Docs using the voice typing feature found on the toolbar under “tools”. The benefit of  voice typing is that the poet can use these captured words, already typed into a doc to create the poem without worrying about the initial step of idea capture.

Finishing ideas can include no tech, meaning hand printed on a page.  It can also be low tech, using a word publishing technology to create a polished poem using typed words and found images. A high tech option would be using BookCreator, to include pictures and words in an eBook format.

Here are some other places online to create or learn how to write poems.

Poster My Wall

Poetry Templates from READWRITETHINK.org

Poetry Templates from Teach-nology

Using Google Slides to Make a Poster

How to Write Free Verse Poetry

Enjoy this process, make tweaks as you find out what works for your students. I think it is important to emphasize the beauty in the personalized gift of writing. Celebrate these newly created poems by bringing in those that are receiving the poems. As an extension, set up a FRESH POEM REQUEST box where students can fill out a form to request a fresh poem. The form should include, the name of the person requesting the poem, the topic for the poem and for who the poem is for.

I look forward to hearing how you used “fresh” poems in your classroom. Please make note in the comment section.

Here’s a bonus for you! I created this Poetry LiveBinder and you might find it helpful as you explore poetry in your classroom.

Until Next Time,

Coach Clark