In Residence: Ode to Poetry

Last week was an exciting time at the Shovan poetry pad. On Monday, I made my last visit to Northfield Elementary. Families came to share a poetry celebration. Since I'd last seen the third grade poets, they had been working on brand new poems! What a thrill when the students handed me a book filled with odes and simile poems about poetry and our residency.

On Thursday, I found out that an Advanced Reader's Copies of my middle grade novel, THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY, was delivered to my local independent bookstore. Beth at Green Row Books tweeted out a picture and got busy reading the book with her own fourth grade student.

A few days later, there was a package on our doorstep. Sam had to inspect it first. Inside: books!

I'm so excited that I'll be able to share THE LAST FIFTH GRADE with my friends at Northfield next year.

AND... I promise to post sign ups for a Poetry Friday ARC tour very soon!

This week's Poetry Friday links are at
Carol's Corner.

For the next few posts, I'm going to share some pages from the Northfield book of odes. 

I feel a little squeamish about sharing these poems. Many of them are odes written to me -- both lovely and a little embarrassing. However, I promised the Northfield students that I would share as many of their poems as I could. Today's poems are all by students whose work I have not featured yet.

In the poetry teacher similes, I have been compared to everything from a smart dolphin to a hungry owl. I appreciate the compliments, but I appreciate the hard work that went into these similes and odes even more.

Ode to Poetry

by Noah B.

Poetry is persuasive

and organized

because it is neat.

Poetry is epic

and terrific

because you work hard.

Poetry is rich

and yummy

because it is a

piece of cake.

Poetry is awesome because

the best poetry teacher

in the world

taught us

Mrs. Shovan.

Dolphin Teacher: Class we will be writing poems.
Dolphin Students: Yes, Yes

Dolphin Teacher
by Taylor S.

Mrs. Shovan is
like a dolphin.

Dolphins are smart
like you are
they love to learn
like you love.
You love to be
by people
and dolphins like to
play with other dolphins.
You also love to teach kids
like dolphins teach their babies.

Shovan is like an Owl
by Jackson M.

Mrs. Shovan is like an owl.
She is very smart and hungry
for well done poems written for her.
Her prey is still being worked on. Once I finish,
she wolfs down the wrong answer
and checks the right answers.
Then, she gives it back to me,
covered in pen, slobber, and ink.

Sunny Poet
by Mia P.

Mrs. Shovan is like an ice cream cone.
She is sweet and enjoying.

Mrs. Shovan is like a panda.
Kind and caring

Mrs. Shovan is like a warm sunny day.
She makes you happy.

Mrs. Shovan is like a hug.
She makes you feel good inside.

My heart is melting!

In this series:

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"

In Residence: Poetry Friday Words: Poems by Laura S., Jason Y., Jeffrey G., and Isa L.

In Residence: The Simile Zoo: Poems by Sabine S., Asher, Cecelia D., and Evelyn D.

In Residence: Day 2 in the Simile Zoo: Poems by Allie L., Makaela M., Parker P., Matthew L., Vincent T., Lila R., Naomi C., and Julia J.

In Residence: Due Stanze: Poems by Avery,  Setutsi, Jen, Anlan, Arushi, and Johanna.

In Residence: Opposite Poems: Poems by Andrew V., Matthew L., Nathan W., Aly A., and Joanna B.

In Residence at Today's Little Ditty: Poetry Postcard Summer Activity for Kids and Families

In Residence: Shoe Odes: Poems by  Ilana M., Nicole C., Dylan L., Linnea J., and Ben K. 

In Residence: A Book Filled with Poems: Shoe Odes by Julie B., Kayla K., Alexandria D., Brianna C., Arif V., and Rowan C