Blackout Poetry

Have you ever heard of blackout poetry? It is a form of "found" poetry, where you select words from a written text to create something new. Once the students got over the shock of me letting them write in books and rip out pages (don't worry, these were weeded books nobody had read in more than 10 years), they came up with the following:

Blaze had pretended

his mother flew off the porch.

- M.B., "Words of Stone"

The voice of Jones

raised the flower border

and keeps notes for reports.

As for private boys,

their cases track down a thief.

- S.S, "The Mystery of the Smashing Glass"

Sarah swallowed,

getting stubborn.

Reading, 

couldn't believe her ears.

Squeal!

If only played tomorrow, 

found everything eggbeater.

- K.C., "The Bread Winner"

The days grew longer.

Life grew terrible.

Don't you see?

He couldn't help his disappointment.

He'd looked to an orphan boy.

I have me a lunch pail.

Good, Sheldon, half-growed boy.

Sheldon, careful quarry sobbed.

- A.M., "Jip: His Story"

Sadness

difficult traumatic depression

unmotivated

worthless

emotionally.

- J.F. - "Sad poetry web page"

The sky

rays of pale

Clay watched a drinking fountain

In the park, Buddy appeared to have an old pink carpet.

Buddy had left to find Church.

Calvin had gone for Thanksgiving.

Is your life going to fit inside that notebook?

- G.S., "Monkey Island"

Nellie swung

to the waterway.

Clusters of bows in the sea.

- A.B.

I smiled.

I decided Mr. Thomas G. was murdered.

Had spent all year being in love with Caroline.

Mr. Harding, I motivated you to kill Parnell.

I killed Tom.

- E.G., "Dovey Coe"

The man sighed.

Then he aimed his eyes

on the ball.

"Make a home run."

- K.S.

Hold it, Owl.

Look, I can't win the rug.

- C.W., "Monsters in Cyberspace"

Instead I took strength.

Stone.

I had seen.

I had watched.

I went.

- M.M.

Troy understood.

It was all smoothed 

and apparently 

a half dozen,

one by one,

into disaster

I sat down. 

- A.Y., "River Thunder"

And heading into milk,

Bill Buckle jacknife 

showed us his marks.

His whale was sailing.

- "HITTY: Her First Hundred Years"

Fish was sleeping underwater.

When he woke,

his ankle was struck by a hammer.

- "Fish"

Potato soup was one of his favorite suppers.

Lookee here, if you give whack,

bloody Mooney Repentance Room,

suspiciously wonderful thinking

to sideways glances.

- A.S., "Gib Rides Home"

Lunatic.

A raving lunatic.

Who is fearing this cruel world.

He argued with a fool.

After all, his heroes had ever heard tell of.

She slapped him.

Fool, boy.

You're a lunatic.

Berthie said send him to the asylum.

- M.C., "Jip: His Story"

The tunnel then dipped suddenly down,

not a moment before falling down

very deep,

very slowly.

Had went down

look down

too dark to see anything.

Pictures hung down shelves labelled

disappointment

killing somebody,

such a fall.

Nothing down.

Brave, they'll think, if I fell off the top.

Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end!

"I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?"

Four thousand miles down,

this was not her,

"I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth!"

As you're falling through the air.

Little girl she'll think 

never shall see.

Down, down, down.

And the fall was over.

- S.R., "Alice in Wonderland"

What Ms. Moore Read in the Fall

Wow, this school year was insane. Now that it's over, I have time to compile my reading recommendations. These are my favorite books from the fall. Cover images and descriptions are from Goodreads.

 

Picture Books

I am
a nonstop ball of energy.
Powerful and full of light.
I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader.

The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. 

There's a strange new guest at the Mermaid Hotel -- a very old lady with a growly voice, bags stuffed with jewelry and coins and curiosities, and a beady-eyed pet tortoise. Mabel, whose parents run the hotel, is suspicious. Who is this "Madame Badobedah" (it rhymes with "Oo la la") who has come to stay indefinitely and never has any visitors? To find out, Mabel puts on her spy costume and observes the new guest. Conclusion? She must be a secret supervillain hiding out from the law. ... When the two begin a series of imaginary adventures together, and Mabel realizes that first impressions can sometimes be very wrong.

Inspired by kids across the country displaying rainbows in their windows, acclaimed illustrators come together to imagine everything these rainbows represent: caring for one another, and our hopes for the future. In this collection of eighteen scenes, readers will lick an ice cream cone, swim in the ocean, cuddle close with cousins, and celebrate a birthday with a party full of friends and family. Each spread has a hidden rainbow for kids to find!

Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott have created a new interactive adventure, this time featuring an adorable alien who has crash-landed in YOUR book! You'll have to help Alien back up into space, because aliens don't belong on Earth . . . do they?

This sequel to  There's a Monster in Your Book and There's a Dragon in Your Book is full of interactive fun, with a gentle message about openness, acceptance and inclusion.

It is Grandparents Day at Zura's elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja's grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou's grandmother is a dentist. But Zura's Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana--or worse, make fun of her--Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. 

Cool summer mornings begin with the rose orange sun and the smell of earth, and fade into hot summer nights with a yellow moon, covered in a quilt of stars. There are wagon rides, farm dogs, trips into town, and games of kick the can. These are prairie days.

Patricia MacLachlan applies her lyrical, sparse voice and vibrant, tender art from Micha Archer to transport readers to the prairie of her youth in this stunning celebration of the beauty in the world.

Early Readers

See Max. Max is not a cat--Max is a dog. But much to Max's dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to "see the cat." How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces Max, who lets the book know that the text is not to his liking.

Middle Grade Novels

My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn't have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I've also got to try and make new friends. What's worse, the class bully seems to think I'm the perfect target and has made it his mission to send me back to Pakistan. But I've never even been to Pakistan! And my cousin told me the pizza there is YUCK.

The only good thing is that Eid's just around the corner which means a feast of all my favourite food (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY). I'm really hoping I can stay in Mum and Dad's good books long enough to get loads...

Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her twin sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent, with diagnoses of ADHD and autism spectrum and attention processing disorders. Frankie can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one--Colette--but they're not friends anymore. It's complicated.

Then, just weeks before the end of seventh grade, Colette unexpectedly shows up at Frankie's door. The next morning, Colette vanishes. Now, after losing Colette yet again, Frankie's convinced that her former best friend left clues behind that only she can decipher, so she persuades her reluctant sister to help her unravel the mystery of Colette's disappearance before it's too late. 

On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her family's Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she's reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.

Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she's a girl named Kay Nakamura--and Yumi doesn't correct them.

As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.

Nonfiction

When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own.

Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George’s love of nature sprouted into something so much more—his future.

Ruth graduated first in her class at Cornell University and tied for top of her graduating class at Columbia Law School. But she faced prejudice as both a woman and a Jew, making it difficult to get a job. Ruth eventually found work as a law clerk, and her determination, diligence, and skill led to a distinguished career as a lawyer. In 1993, she became the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. 

As a student, teacher, lawyer, and judge, Ruth often experienced unfair treatment. But she persisted, becoming a cultural icon, championing equality in pay and opportunity. Her brilliant mind, compelling arguments, and staunch commitment to truth and justice have convinced many to stand with her, and her fight continues to this day.

Frank William Epperson is a curious boy who wants to be an inventor when he grows up. Since inventing begins with experimenting, Frank spends a lot of time in his “laboratory” (i.e. his back porch) trying out his ideas, such as building a double-handled handcar that whizzes past the single-handled cars in his neighborhood. What Frank loves most, though, is experimenting with liquids. When he invents his own yummy flavored soda water drink, his friends love it! And this gets him to thinking: “I wonder what this drink would taste like frozen?” Though he doesn't yet realize it, his curiosity will lead to his best invention ever: the Popsicle! Budding scientists will be inspired to emulate the way Frank follows his curiosity, works hard and never gives up --- a growth mindset in action. Interwoven within the story are full-page illustrated instructions for four science experiments that Frank performs, so readers can try them at home or school. 

Every two years, on the first Tuesday of November, Stanton Elementary School closes for the day. For vacation? Nope! For repairs? No way! Stanton Elementary School closes so that it can transform itself into a polling station. People can come from all over to vote for the people who will make laws for the country. Sure, the Stanton Elementary School students might be too young to vote themselves, but that doesn't mean they can't encourage their parents, friends, and family to vote! After all, voting is how this country sees change-- and by voting today, we can inspire tomorrow's voters to change the future.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was groundbreaking in its own quiet, generous way. It introduced art, professions, food and even highlighted difficult subjects, like losing a loved one and divorce. This information was delivered both by live performers, like Fred Rogers himself and through a lively cast of puppets who lived in the land of make believe.

Young Adult

Ten-tear-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom's boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della's own wolf -- her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della's world turns so far upside down, it feels like it's shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she's been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it's time to be loud.

In this powerful novel that explodes the stigma around child sexual abuse and leavens an intense tale with compassion and humor, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley tells a story about two sisters, linked by love and trauma, who must find their own voices before they can find their way back to each other. 

We Have a Winner!

The American Library Association awards the Caldecott Medal to the artist of "the most distinguished American picture book for children." This year, I read 13 picture books to first and second graders for our Garden City Mock Caldecott. 

81 students chose from among

4 finalists, and

1 came out on top with 

46 votes (57%):

Snail Crossing, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor

Here are some reasons why: 

• I liked the part where the snail was trying to get the cabbage.
• The snail made friends with the ants.
• Because it is so cute to me.
• The snail is very slow. 
• It is very, very funny. 
• I love the part that the snail and the ants go into the snail's shell.
• He almost got run over.
• Because it has a snail that has a home inside its shell.
• It teaches you to be kind.

Rm 116's Stories of the Day

Someone (me) forgot that Ms. Veyera's class was ahead of the other 3rd grades and didn't prep the Fibbonaci poetry lesson that was supposed to be today. (It's a fun lesson! Look for a post in a couple of weeks.) The kids asked if we could write another "Fortunately / Unfortunately" story. So we did. You may notice some themes with this class...

image credit: basementrejects.com

One day, a man was going to a party.

Unfortunately, he was the only person at the party.

Fortunately, it was actually a surprise party.

Unfortunately, it started raining sharks.

Fortunately, they had a machine to turn the sharks into kittens.

Unfortunately, the kittens scratched everyone and ruined their clothes.

Fortunately, they had a bunch of rooms and clothes and went into the new clothes.

Unfortunately, the man also turned into a cat.

Fortunately, he was able to speak human.

Unfortunately, there was no way to turn him back.

Fortunately, there were so many kittens on the roof that it broke (which was unfortunate), but then everyone was able to get a free kitten.

Unfortunately, a meteor came down and destroyed all the kittens. 

Fortunately, the kittens came back to life as angels.

Unfortunately, it started raining acid.

Fortunately, it was only in one spot, and they had a pool that was made to have acid in it.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't stop raining and the ground got super full and couldn't absorb any more water.

Fortunately, Maleficent comes and fixes everything, and everyone is back to human again. 

image credit: thedissolve.com

One day, there was an avalanche.

Unfortunately, there was also a bunch of lava and the snow and the lava turned into acid.

Fortunately, there was a way to stop it.

Unfortunately, Godzilla destroyed everything. 

Fortunately, people could pick up the acid into buckets.

Unfortunately, they thought that it was juice and drank it.

Fortunately, Godzilla doesn't destroy anything else because the people were all dead.

photo credit: Pinterest

One day, it was raining and a man went to the store to get valentines.

Unfortunately, on the way, the guy's car broke down. 

Fortunately, a famous star in a limo came along and picked him up. 

Unfortunately, when he got the store, he picked out all the cards for the people he was going to give them to, and the cards tried to eat him. 

Fortunately, he ran away from the cards and told the cashier to lock the shop up.

Unfortunately, none of them were wearing masks, including the cards, and they got sick.

Fortunately, he made his own cards at home. 

Unfortunately, the paper cards turned into origami monsters and tried to eat him.

Fortunately, the limo star came to visit and the limo ran over all the cards. 

Unfortunately, there was a flood that washed everything away.

Fortunately, the flood stopped because everyone kept picking up the water in buckets and throwing it off a cliff. They ended up making a lake.

Unfortunately, it started raining lava. 

Fortunately, his wife turned into a giant monster and defeated the lava. He also turned into a monster, and they had a nice Valentine's Day. 

And from A.C. at the very end: 

One day a man was on his way home.

Unfortunately, it started snowing.

Fortunately, the snow stopped.

Unfortunately, when he got home, there was a bunch of snow that was blocking the door. 

Fortunately, he found something that could heat it up. 

Unfortunately, when he got inside, snow had broken through some windows, and there was broken glass and water all over the floor. 

Fortunately, he had a heater in his house to make everything go away.

Unfortunately, all the warmth got cold from the snow.

Fortunately, he found some more things that were still hot, and he had a microwave to heat everything up. 

Unfortunately, the roof was piling up so much, that the roof started to break. 

Fortunately, a superhero stopped the house from breaking. 

Unfortunately, it was too much, and the roof broke, and everything was hard for them again. 

In Other Words ... with Grade 4

Fourth graders are practicing their paraphrasing skills. First we worked together to come up with synonyms and ways to recast a sentence.

source: https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/in_other_words

ORIGINAL: The automobile that went by very quickly was maroon. It went through a big puddle and splashed us.

NEW: A car went zooming by a puddle and soaked us

NEW: Swish! The car slammed through the puddle and soaked us with water.

 

ORIGINAL: The educator removed the unruly student from the learning environment because of the sounds he was making

NEW: The student got pulled out of class because he was making noises.

NEW: The rude student was making noises, and the teacher kicked them out.

 

ORIGINAL: I remained awake until the wee hours, absorbing broadcast entertainment. At the present time, I am lacking energy.

NEW: I stayed up late watching TV, and now I'm tired.

NEW: He stayed up all night bingeing movies, so in the morning he was exhausted.

Then they worked on an individual assignment, putting the following sentences into their own words:

During my earlier years, I experienced much conflict with my male and female siblings who were born before me. Now that we are more mature, we have overcome some of our differences and have the ability to interact pleasantly.

Here are some of the new sentences the students came up with:

When I was a kid, my siblings and me would fight a lot. Now that we're older we don't fight as much as we used to. - A.D.

 

When I was younger, I didn't get along with my siblings, but now that we are older I get along with them. - A.L. 

I've learned to love my brother and sister. When we were kids, we didn't get along, but now we do. - D.H.

When I was small, I used to argue with my older brother. Now that were both older we get along a lot better. - K.J.

When I was younger, I had a lot of problems with my older sisters and brothers. Now that we've grown up, we understand our differences and we get along better. - L.O.

When I was young, I fought a lot with my older brother and sister. As we got older, we started to get along a lot better. - L.J.

My older brother and sister and I fought a lot when I was younger. Now that we are older, we get along much better. - X.G.