Thanks to Renee at No Water River for hosting Poetry Friday.
We’ve been writing odes at Poetry Rocks. I use this format to start after reading several odes (so cool because I can share last year’s odes.
| Ode to a dog, cat, deer, horse, porcupine, school, peace, killer whale, snow, picture, friend, drawing, world, space, mountain lion, mom and dad, kitten, tiger, stars, cheetah | |
| I see | |
| I hear | |
| I feel | |
| I taste | |
| I wonder | |
| Answer | |
I then typed them up and made “editorial” changes for poem shaping (mainly took out the “I see, hear, etc, if it felt right.)
Then on Monday, I shared the odes back with the students. I explained as “editor” I had made some suggestions. I asked them to looked them over and let me know if they approved by putting a star on the paper or make changes that they wanted. Here are three examples:
I love how this builds their confidence as writers.
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Great poems! I especially like the lines: “words softly whisper,” “a cool breeze on my back,” and “I wonder if it can snow forever.” I enjoy using a similar technique with my enrichment poetry classes in the summer. I love your addition of, I wonder! I will have to add that. Thank you!
I love this poetry writing idea for children. You have made poetry accessible and fun with this activity!
What a great way to model revision!
It’s beautiful to see you treat your students like professional writers, Jone. Confidence-building, for sure! I also love to see how well Helen Frost’s ode form adapts to different grade levels. I used it in a high school classroom just last month!
The poems are a treat. I love how you engage your students in the back and forth of revision.
Jone, editing your children’s poems and asking them if this approach works is a great way to model the world of a real writer. If Chase would like to have his poem showcased in my winter gallery can you please send it to me. Thanks.