Educators are in back-to-school mode, so providing students with a fresh perspective on the curriculum is important. My back-to-school thoughts are ignited by a conversation with my granddaughters.
How was the beginning of school, Sierra (2nd grader)? What did you learn?
Obviously, I learned, Grandma!
Then, I turned to Aurora our PreK student. What did you learn at school?
I don't know!
To step into the back-to-school mood, I blended mathematics with simple poetic formats to bring back the wonders of summer. I chose the Fiib poem format which has a syllable count following the Fibonacci series (1,1,2,3,5,8,13...)
Nostalgic Thoughts
sand
tucked
in toes
remnants of
sand-blown, childhood days
whirling in fabulous, sun-baked
shorelines, swishing alongside
a school of baby fish
©Carol Varsalona, 2024
Then, I found a lovely quote from a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis poem that provided a title. You can read the rest of her poem here.
Nostalgia - that's the Autumn
Dreaming through September
Just a million lovely things
I always will remember.
There are many other simple formats for students to remember their summer memories. There is a haiku below.
Happily, we bask in this warm September sun, which illuminates all creatures.
-Henry David Thoreau
For more poetic formats for students, please peruse the new book, Picture Perfect Poetry, An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry for Students designed by Carol Labuzzetta. You can see my book review here.
Carol Labuzzetta, editor self-publisher, poet
I turn to the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by a fabulous author, poet, and nature lover, Buffy Silverman.
