Welcome to my National Poetry Month project for 2017! Students - Each day of April 2017, I will close my eyes, and I will reach into my box of 64 Crayola crayons.
Aerial View of Crayola Box
Photo by Georgia LV
Each day I will choose a crayon (without looking), pulling this crayon out of the box. This daily selected crayon will in some way inspire the poem for the next day. Each day of this month, I will choose a new crayon, thinking and writing about one color every day for a total of 30 poems inspired by colors.
As of April 2, it happened that my poems took a turn to all be from the point of view of a child living in an apartment building. So, you'll notice this thread running through the month of colors. I'd not planned this...it was a writing surprise.
I welcome any classrooms of poets who wish to share class poems (class poems only please) related to each day's color (the one I choose or your own). Please post your class poem or photograph of any class crayon poem goodness to our Writing the Rainbow Padlet HERE. (If you have never posted on a Padlet, it is very easy. Just double click on the red background, and a box will appear. Write in this box, and upload any poemcrayon sharings you wish.)
Here is a list of this month's Writing the Rainbow Poems so far:
And now...today's crayon. Wisteria!
Dance
by Amy LV
Students - Yesterday's color, BLUE VIOLET was purple-y....and I've written about purple-y sky with PERIWINKLE. So today's challenge was to find a new window into a new purple. Tia Inez, from April 17 (MAHOGONY), led the way.
Now, I don't know so much about Tia. I don't even know if Tia and our friend are really related or if they are just so close that they feel like family. Today, though, family or not, Tia Inez is sharing some of her thoughts about life. Sometimes people do this - give us advice or tips or wise words. We can remember and write about them. Or, as writers, we can make up our own and give them to our characters.
If you are Writing the Rainbow with me, perhaps your color for today will bring you to a place of thinking or advice. Maybe you will find yourself musing on an idea or topic as I did her through Tia Inez.
Colors can take us anywhere. And if you'd like to join in with your own poem at our Writing the Rainbow Padlet, please do! It is one colorful and beautiful place to visit. (And I heard there may be a few new poems going up there soon...written by another poet who is writing about a colorful apartment building of her own!)
JoAnn Early Macken is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Teaching Authors with some spring beauties. All are always welcome to this weekly poetry party.
And please don't miss the links to all kinds of Poetry Month goodness up there in my upper left sidebar. Happy twenty-eighth day of National Poetry Month. Only two days left after today!
Please share a comment below if you wish.
"Style is more than tattoos" - hoping that is so! I love the word 'wisteria', but do wonder how many children will know that vine? Fun to hear about the new colors through your poems, Amy! I need to go back to catch up, too! I love the nostalgia of your poem today.
ReplyDeleteI feel a kinship with Tia Inez. Life is too short to be afraid to find and express your own personal style, and life is too long to force yourself into other people's boxes!
ReplyDeleteTia Inez gives wise advice indeed about style--it is bigger than so many things. She also reminds me of my daughter who went through a purple phase. Even from a young age, she had a style all her own, too.
ReplyDeleteThis lovely poem reminds me of my student Samatha, who always wears shades of purple - I'll be sharing this one with her, for sure!
ReplyDeleteOh, I like Tia Inez.....I would love a peek into your process of meeting her in your mind. She's a gem. I love getting to be in your cheering section for this month of poetry. I have been inspired and motivated to keep going with you and because of you. Thank you, Amy.
ReplyDeleteStyle is bigger, such good advice to our young readers. My 6th graders are all about style. Hair seems to be the primary way they show it. I love how you have discovered these characters through color. I've enjoyed reading your poems and discovering along with you this month.
ReplyDeleteTia's voice was so strong, Amy. I could hear her! I love her style. xx Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/blog/
ReplyDeleteI like her style, and I agree with this access you've taken, using color to springboard a character sketch.
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