In Residence: Poetry Friday Words

Words for Poetry Friday

by Laura Shovan

I share words on Poetry Friday.

Inviting words--

ONOMATOPOEIA

LYRICAL

REVISE

Everyone can see them.

You'll find them waiting for you

like the FELINE that shares your home.

She sits by the window

waiting for party guests, then--

MEOW

RUB

FURRY

FOLLOW

LAP

PURR

A GARDEN is there, in the back.

LEMONADE, to cool you off.

The words play together

when we gather for poetry.

RHYTHM

HEARTBEAT

JUICY

ALLITERATION

is at the party.

My friends the words

never want to leave.

They like to stay up

all night, talking.

Magical Michelle is hosting
Poetry Friday this week at
Today's Little Ditty

Hey, Poetry Peeps.

My third grade students are finishing up their list poems. I thought I'd write with them today. 

I'm pleased with how this lesson turned out. Since this was the first workshop of our residency, the model poem provides a frame that young writers can plug into, but still adapt to their own topics.

Check out their poems, modeled after Naomi Shihab Nye's "Words in My Pillow."

Words in My Lunchbox

by Jason Y.

I pack words in my lunchbox,

words that taste good.

Fruit by Foot

Ice cream

Popsicle

No one can see them,

but they wait for me in my

lunchbox,

like the fruits waiting

inside my lunchbox.

Peaches

Grapes

Berries

My sandwich is in there.

The words are playing

together.

Chomp

Slurp

Lick

My words are all blending

together,

but the most important

word is MUNCH.

I loved Jason's use of onomatopoeia. Sound words add an extra layer to a poem because the reader can hear the sound in addition to the word.

Words in My Garden

by Jeffrey G.

I plant words inside my garden,

words that look good –

FLOWER

LEAF

PETAL

No one can see them,

but I find them waiting for me,

Like the SEED under the surface.

No one can see them

but I know what’s under there –

WATER

ROOTS

WORMS

COMPOST

VEINS

ROCKS

Good NUTRIENTS are under there.

The words are growing together

when I am watering or planting them.

VINE

POLLEN

STEM

LAVENDER

are in my garden.

My friends the words

go to rest before I do,

but they never

go away.

Jeffrey did a great job using the idea that words are hidden inside us (from the model poem) and connecting that to the hidden workings of a garden. 

Words in My House

by Isa L.

There are words

in my house. Words that make

me happy.

NOISY

CLEAN

NEAT

No one can see them, but they’re

there.

HAPPY

EATING

DRINKING

My words get along well.

PETS

BIRD

DOG

FAMILY is in my house.

I leave my house sometimes,

but I never leave my words.

Isa's poem creates a portrait of her family, because the words she chooses characterize what life is like in her house.

In Residence will be an ongoing series this month. If you missed previous posts:

Planning the List Poem Lesson at Today's Little Ditty

First Student Responses: "Words in My Pet Goldfish," "Words in My Bed," "Words in My Life"

Thank you to the Northfield ES community for inviting me back again this year. I appreciate having the permission to share the third graders' amazing work this month.

Readers, my third grade poets love hearing feedback from you. Please leave a comment about our list poems.