Students are getting their writing feet wet and creative energy is flowing! They are immersed in writing descriptive lines of poetry about themselves--their family life, friends, favorites, hobbies, sports, and so on. We have examined how to take a boring line (Iam from fudge) and make it better by adding imagery that appeals to the senses. By the time we were done with that example, we all wanted a piece of fudge! This, I told them, is how they know they've done their job as a writer. They made their audience (in this case, themselves) visualize, smell, and taste that fudge!
Students are engaging in the entire writing process with this first piece. They began by brainstorming, then drafted, edited, and they will revise for their final draft. The goal is for them to have their poem completed by the end of class on Friday. Then, they will be able to incorporate it into their project in the creative way they've envisioned. Projects are due on or before Thursday, 9/19. I can't wait to see them!
I had asked students to complete a little survey at the start of school so that I could get to know them and ask about their reading and writing preferences, challenges, and goals. After reading through them, I was excited that so many of them want to "use bigger words". They are already doing this with their poem, and they will be on the hunt all year for spicy new words that enhance their writing, create linguistic precision, and create fresh imagery for their readers.
Homework:
Monday-Friday: work on project--due on or before 9/19. Don't forget to incorporate your final poem creatively into the project!
