Reminders and Requests - Students should be completing their choice book and the corresponding journal (40 questions, comments, observations) --- also, please spend time perusing the www.poetryoutloud.org website --- look at the tips for reciting, sample recitations, poem collections and the scoring criteria for recitation (in our case; Beatnik Day).  Poems do not need to be chosen, but early selection of a 20ish line poem would allow more time for practice! 

Hello :)  For these final two days before a much anticipated vacation we will focus on our poetry unit.  Our in-class Literature text book is our primary source, but other works are being shared as we continue to work our way through various forms of poetry.  The bulk of our work will focus on analysis of peoms, but the students will be expected to write a few as well.  Today we will write poems that describe someone - our first attempt as a class at writing poetry - I truly look forward to hearing what they have to say! 

Additionally, we will spend some time with a variety of poetry books to help the kids select a poem for recitation.  Other than their choice book/journal for 2nd q. which is due January 10th, this is their only homework for break.  Please look at the Poetry Outloud web site for information on recitation evaluation.  Students should be prepared to share their poem from memory on Beatnik Day - January 15th (tentative date). 

Finally, Thank you all for sharing such amazing students with me - truly a pleasure to teach here in Pullman - I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy a fabulous vacation! :) 

www.poetryoutloud.com