Halloween Eve Ditty Fun

Have you ever been faced by a writing challenge and did not really know how to proceed? This month at Today's Little Ditty, the challenge created by Calef Brown for Michelle Barnes' October Ditty Challenge had me perplexed. He challenged writers to “Write a poem or a story about two anthropomorphized objects.” I sighed when I read this. I even had to look up the exact definition of anthropomorphized.  

Since it is Halloween week and I already created a fictional octopus for Irene Latham's #OctopusMonth, I thought I would extend the adventures of Ona Octopus to include a Halloween outing where she meets up with a large furry, stuffed cat. Halloween is a fun time of the year to let your imagination soar. 

While knowing that my idea would stretch the concept of anthropomorphized objects, I read some of the poems on Michelle Barnes' October Padlet and thought "Eek!, mine is so unlike the others." With a deep breath, I proceeded anyway with my idea to create a story poem. (I only had a few days left to complete a ditty). I then went to the Buncee digital platform and transformed the poem into an animated tale with the great graphic tools there. You can see my Happy Halloween Ditty Buncee here. 

I ask, "Is my poem worthy to sit on the October Padlet?" Then stop and reflect. Aren't I the one who says the fun of writing is being open enough to take risks and accept feedback? 

Thinking back on Halloween time when I was a reading specialist in an elementary school, I recall the fun I had transforming my classroom into a Harvest/Halloween House complete with decorations and a collection of seasonal books to be read aloud. Each classroom would pass through my decorated house for a festive treat. The teachers could choose from a menu of interactive activities to wow their students but the read aloud was the featured surprise. For teachers who are interested in a pairing of two texts, a poem and informational text, Wonder of the Day #743, What's Your Favorite Costume, would be an interesting reading to pair with my ditty. The goal is not only to have children celebrate Halloween in an appropriate environment but to whet their appetites for lifelong reading. 

Note: The link to my story poem has been placed on the Wonderopolis Wonder Ground under Resources and the Buncee is below.


Ghouls and goblins are milling about
for sweetened treats, there is no doubt. 
I watch them swing their candy pot
Hoping to catch the best what not.

They think me grand in my octosuit
with lots of moves that catch more loot.
But don't they know it's just me,
Ona O on a quick spree.

I wink, I sniff, I think you're grand
Your arms are lovely and expand
But take a look at my furry coat
It makes me look like quite a bloat.

Aren't we swell with fine demeanor?
We're genuine. Who could be keener?
Look! Children creep in "pretend" clothes
While we just strut under their nose.

Come, my pretties. Join the parade
for the best Halloween accolade!
©CVarsalona, 2018

*************************

It's Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers. I found another challenge there: end your slice with a written affirmation about yourself. Does your story show any perceived truths about yourself that can become more positive? 

My Affirmation

What I Do:                               I gingerly move beyond my comfort zone to try out a new move to 

                                                   see if it fits.

What Are My Next Steps:  If my move is not a good fit, I will rely on my one word hope to help 

                                                    me improve my craft.

March Musings 17: Summer Sand

Writing challenges are everywhere this month. Writers are enjoying the freedom of playing with words, trying out new formats, and having fun with the craft. The following quote by Tom Romano sustains me as I write. 

"As others take pleasure shaping clay on a potter's wheel or applying paint to canvas, I take pleasure in writing."

Today's Ode Poem Ditty Challenge comes from Michelle H. Barnes and Helen Frost who created a sample poem, Ode to a River, for us.

Choose an object (a seashell, a hairbrush, a bird nest, a rolling pin). It should not be anything symbolic (such as a doll, a wedding ring, or a flag). Write five lines about the object, using a different sense in each line (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Then ask the object a question, listen for its answer, and write the question, the answer, or both.

Click HERE to read Helen Frost's sample poem, "Ode to a River."

This post is the 17th in the series titled March Musings for Two Writing Teacher's March Slice of Life Story Challenge.

The Poetry Friday Round-up is hosted by Robyn Hood Black at her blog, Life on the Deckle Edge. 

Poetry Gifts

There are those thankful moments in life when you stop and reflect on the power of friendship. Writing is one way to keep in touch with friends but over the years the art of writing letters and postcards got lost in the shuffle of tweets, messaging, and text messages. Recently, notecard and postcard writing, a past practice of the 20th century world, is being revived as a non-digital way of communicating with poetry friends. Lately, I have been receiving written poetry gifts from friends through the mail. This is a delightful way to be on the receiving end of kindness.

After celebrating acts of kindness over the past weeks, I sit back to recall the poetry gifts I received that provided moments of joy.

Michelle H. Barnes sent me a copy of Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong's marvelous new Poetry Friday Power Book, Here We Go, with a personal note. Michelle said that I won the book and this pleased me so much because I have been eager to read Here We Go. I have read many reviews on it by other Poetry Friday friends, have been happily reading each of the power packs in the book, and tweeted out my excitement for receiving the book. My quick thought is: Educators, this book is a Must Have for your classrooms and a fun resource to encourage students to write poetry. 

Beside that wonderful gift and card, other Poetry Friday friends sent me poetry postcards from Jone MacCulloch's New Year #PostcardXchange.

Thanks to Linda Baie, Brenda Davis Harsham, Jone MacCulloch, Bridget Magee, Diane Mayr, and Donna Smith for their beautifully-created digital postcards and notes that brightened each day that I received one. 

The last treat arrived a few days ago from my poet friend, Laura Purdie Salas. She has written an imaginative children's book, If You Were the Moon. Keri Lewis's review was the first one I read and I was immediately intrigued. My response to Keri was "Keri, your review of Laura’s book makes science come alive with a poetic touch". You can quickly become immersed in this captivating book that lets you see the moon through the lens of science. Check out the book trailer below. Then, let the book have a prominent spot in your children's bedtime library or in your classroom's library corner.

While I believe what Carl Sandburg said about poetry, "Poetry is a packsack of invisible keepsakes", I have a visible place of honor for all of the poetry gifts I have received. Lasting memories will be stored in my heart. 

Please join me for the Poetry Friday Round-up at Karen Edmisten's site.

Tribute

This day - with gratitude,

I carry her memory in my heart,

wrapped in finely-crafted designs

displayed in loving tribute in my

home and retrieved in dreams.

I touch the palms she wove,

creations she designed,

hearts she touched-

remembrances

evoking

love.

©CV, a grateful daughter, 2016

I thank Michelle Barnes, the creator of Today's Little Ditty challenge and poet Kenn Nesbitt for creating the following challenge: Write a poem for your mother. Write it for your mother and give it to her. It can be any kind of poem you like, as long as it’s especially for her. 

For those interested in seeing the October challenge and Michelle's interview with Kenn Nesbitt, please click here. You can find other's poetry on the topic on Michelle's October 2016 padlet.

While I cannot give this poem to my mother for she passed away in 2009, she is ever-present in my life. Looking back on a life of service is what I think about when I remember her. With love I dedicate these poems to send Mom's love back into the world. 

Thank you, Michelle for providing the space to create a living tribute to my Mom who was lovingly known by the neighborhood children as Grandma Kay. 

Agency

As connected educators who wish to make a difference in the lives of our students, we must become guides on the side and facilitators of learning and lean in to model and promote effective classroom learning by:

• Establishing a tone of positivity from the start of the school year
• Designing student-friendly norms and protocols to create a culture of trust in our learning spaces
• Gradually releasing responsibility for learning to our students
• Embracing change that will effectively impact teaching and learning

But we cannot stand alone. 

It takes momentum and support from a community of educators and parents working together to assist students in becoming meaning makers of their own learning. 

It is our calling as educators to empower our learners to take risks, see failure as a steppingstone to success, collaborate openly, explore inquiry paths, and understand that choice leads to amplified voice. 

So what is it that we need to do immediately to transform the landscape of learning? How do we bring about positive change in a world of flux?

What road will you take to be a difference maker this year?

How will you comfortably create a culture of trust to influence students to become agents of their own learning?

As Eric Sheninger says, "Student agency is about empowering kids to own their learning (and school) through greater autonomy. It is driven by choice, voice, and advocacy." 

I have been playing with the septercet form of poetry (a poem consisting of any number of three-line stanzas, each with seven syllables) that Michelle H. Barnes encouraged writers to post at Today's Little Ditty Challenge last month. I decided to compose my thoughts on agency using the septercet form. Margaret Simon asked the #DigiLitSunday blogging community to write on this topic two weeks ago. You can access others thoughts here.

Slice of Life (#sol16) is featured at Two Writing Teachers each Tuesday. Since I am finishing the design of my Summerscapes Gallery, I will offer this piece as my thought for the week.

*************************************************

Teachers skillfully hone craft

empowering students on,

closer toward independence.

Children journey with teachers

on inquiry paths of choice

as agents of their learning.

So stamina is needed 

by learners who seek knowledge

to become meaning makers.

Charge for difference makers:

Create a culture of trust.

Positivity spreads fast.

Charge for owners of learning:

Step beyond your comfort zone

take risks and own your learning.

©CV, 2016

*************************************************

A View Through the Lens

The camera lens is a window to the world. It is receptive to creative sparks and often provides a source of inspiration when you least expect it. Yesterday, my camera and I set out on a new digital adventure after being invited by Michelle Barnes to a ditty challenge (that was provided by the popular New York City artist and author Douglas Florian). I must admit when I first read the creative prompt I had to pause to think what does this mean for me.

My ditty challenge is to write a poem about nothing.~Douglas Florian

Michelle did provide a model, a wonderful poem, The Story of Nothing, she wrote for her daughter's birthday. You can read it here.

Since I was undressing my Christmas tree yesterday, I decided that my bare tree could be my model. It cooperated. I took the photo, cropped it, and then looked at what was left-a big nothing of green branches. Because the notion of being a connected educator is looming in my mind (#NYEDChat is having a convo, Be the Digital Change, on Monday night as a warm-up for #DigCitSummitUK on January 23rd), I envisioned a poem that would incorporate those events. In order to capture the feeling I needed to bring my photo into PicMonkey, my go-to digital tool. After a few minutes of digitalizing the photo from the original nothing, I came up with something-a globe that would connect my ideas. Next, I needed connectors to overlay the globe. Voila, I found the branch image to signify the starkness of winter (an idea stemming from a virtual winter gallery that I will be designing). Next, came the word weaving. Ideas were swirling. I liked the word expanse that popped up and I wanted to use the word nothing so I continued to play with these ideas. Revision is an important phase of my process so that took some time. A micropoem emerged from the original nothing to something for Michelle's ditty challenge and DigiLit Sunday's post. All it took was a bit of imagination, a wonderful model, the camera on my iPhone, a digital tool, and the creative sparks to pull everything together. 

Here is my finished view through another lens. I hope you see some of the fir branches peeking through the globe. What is your thought on nothing?

Today's digital inspiration and post are being offered to the following:

Today's Little Ditty~Michelle H. Barnes

DigiLit Sunday hosted by Margaret Simon

May Blossom

Nature sings each spring

its tune of renewal and hope.

(May Blossom is an antique postcard dated 1912

that is part of my ephemera collection. I designed the

layout as an advertisement for Spring's Symphony Gallery)

Spring appears to have made its full seasonal debut on Long Island this week with sunshine, warmth, and gentle breezes. To honor the season of renewal, I invite all to join the global, online gallery that I am designing. Your offering of a poem and accompanying photo will grace the collection titled Spring's Symphony. You can read more about the invitation here and here.

Spring blossoms, delicate and bright,

bloom with cheerful delight

against a backdrop of green. 

What a magnificent sight!

Leaf

Leaf is spring's shaped word,
a bold background of green-
framing delicate petals word,

a silhouetted tribute of spring word,
a gentle rustling in the breeze word,
pointing toward the sun word,
a fancy-edged,
vividly proclaiming renewal word.
Leaf is a silent spring word
anxiously awaiting its blossoms.
Hush! Wait! Blossoms blooming!

Carol Varsalona ©2015. All Rights Reserved

The above poem, Leaf, is my attempt at Nikki Grimes' wordplay exercise challenge. I am offering this free verse poem as part of my tribute to the season of spring to Michelle Barnes at Today's Little Ditty. Michelle is curating the poems for Nikki Grimes' challenge.

Since it is the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, it is fitting to give thanks to the students who make teachers' days bright and worthwhile. I want to thank Jone Rush MacCulloch for enlisting the students at Silver Star Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington in spreading poetry love during National Poetry Month. Hannah P. sent me this card that shows her love for poetry and wordplay. My family was really excited when the mailman delivered this special treat. Thanks Hannah P.

Silver Star Poetry Project

Please visit the Poetry Friday Roundup where Michelle Barnes is the host at Today's Little Ditty. Today's offerings seem to be filled great delights. See you there. 

Monster-Inspired Haiku: Poetry Friday

Okay, so Halloween is over but who can resist a challenge from Michelle Barnes! She invited interested writers to create a monster-inspired haiku from the point of view of a favorite Halloween monster. This creepy task was inspired by Bob Raczka who wrote a delightful holiday children's book Santa Clauses, in poetic form. 

When Dark Shadows was on television, I was fascinated by Barnabas Collins' dark character. Before that time period, there was Bella Lugosi starring as the suave but terrifying Count Dracula, so my monster of choice, lurking in the corners of my mind, is a vampire. 

 

I have been thinking about this monster haiku for weeks now but my monster just didn't want to speak to me. He was lurking like we sometimes do on Twitter conversations,  just waiting for the right moment to appear.

Below are the Rules of the Writing Road provided by Michelle Barnes for our monster-inspired haiku:

• A haiku has 3 lines, with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second, and 5 syllables in the third.
• A haiku is always written in the present tense.
• Try to include a funny twist or comparison.

Listening to the voice in my head from one of the minions of Count Dracula's vampire network, I created a haiku to be read aloud on one dark and dreary night or perhaps during one of the days leading up to Halloween. While writing I reminisced about the Harvest House I hosted each year as a schoolwide read aloud experience. If I had a group of students to read with now, I would feature this poem in a Harvest House-like experience, complete with a sensory walk through of realistic and virtual fall scenes. Following this I would ask the children to create their own monster-inspired haiku with an accompanying sketch or digital image. The image below was created with a free photo on Pixtabay that was enhanced and via PicMonkey with a superimposed haiku. 

For those interested in writing their own monster-inspired haiku you can send your delight to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com.  All contributions will be collected and published on Friday, November 28, 2014 - the day after Thanksgiving at Michelle's blog site.  

Find your inner monster and let his/her voice fly for this challenge.

I hope you enjoy my offering. Comments are appreciated.

Now fly like a bat in the night over to Becky Shillington's blog for Poetry Friday delights. 

There you will find a delightful poem created by Becky for the Poetry Friday round-up 

and link-ups to other offerings by a group of writers from around the states. 

(By the way, today I was in the audience when Margaret Simon was honored at the Elementary Gathering at #NCTE14. Prior to this event, I was delighted to meet Margaret while sitting in a kick-off panel discussion hosted by Kylene Beers. Not only was this a memory moment but at the Elementary Gathering I was in the company of three of the six members of the Two Writing Teachers' team, members of Poetry Friday, REFLECT WITH ME Gallery writers, and other bloggers that I only knew virtually. What a great day!) 

What If? Poetry Friday

What If? is my second attempt at writing a zeno poem that was inspired by the November 3, 2014 #NYEDChat conversation set in motion by moderator Daniel McCabe. As the #NYEDCHat co-moderator for the night, I wanted to respond to the topic, The Homework Deception, in a creative way. Hence, I wrote, revised, rewrote, and then decided on the graphic to pull the format together. Before the poem was made public, I called on a connected educator to critique the format. Who better to ask advice from than Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, who collected and showcased zenos during the month of October? Michelle responded quickly, in between her daughter's dance class and son's karate, and gave me the thumbs up to "go for it." I also asked Matt Forrest who has written many original zenos to look over the What if? zeno poem. Matt also responded favorably so I let the zeno fly during the chat. 

If you would like to view the flow of conversation on "The Homework Deception," you can access the transcript here. The chat was fast-paced and engaging; participants tweeted responses to thought-provoking questions posed by Dan McCabe. Much to the moderators' delight, the #NYEDChat convo was reported to be trending on Twitter. There is power in being connected. 

Flyer created by Tim Needles

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Now please stroll over to Random Noodling for the Poetry Friday Round-Up. Today's host is Diane Mayr who has a magnificent picture and posting of the November skies.  

REMINDER: I am gathering original poem and photo combinations that depict the theme "finding fall" for the Finding Fall Gallery. Information can be found here. I am excited to showcase the work that has been coming. 

Playing with Words for Ghoulish Delight

Are you ready? 

Here's my pumpkin fright for Halloween Night.

In real life this pumpkin is a large ceramic one with a huge candle inside that sits on my bay window greeting everyone who enters my house.

Join Michelle Barnes at Today's Little Ditty to enter her Poetry Friday Parlor of Horrors and perhaps the hand will pop out at you. There you will find a host of poetry friends with an array of delights for you to read.