Recess, Rhyme, and Reason

Stockland, Patricia (Compiled). Recess, Rhyme, and Reason: A Collection of Poems about School. Compass Point Books, 2004.

Illustrator: Sara Rojo Perez
ISBN-13: 9780756505646

Poetry Review: Recess, Rhyme, and Reason is a fun book of collected poems related to school. But not only does the book include poems about school and learning, it also provides helpful hints about writing, for instance in "Pencils" the teaching hint is metaphors and how they relate in the poem and the use of pencils.
The poem, "Pencils" is filled with imagery suggesting the hidden messages that writing or better yet, the author, can write about with, yes, a pencil. The poem is almost written as a "guess who" of mystery; can a pencil have rooms that contain "elephants, castles, and watermelons" but at the same time, a pencil can be "fearless" - yes, it is a wonder. This poem does not demonstrate a steady rhythm or rhyming pattern, but rather creates a world of where a pencil holds the key to the written word.


Poem Excerpt: Barbara Esbensen, "Pencils"
The rooms in a pencil
are narrow
but elephants castles and watermelons
fit in

In a pencil
noisy words yell for attention
and quiet words wait their turn

How did they slip
into such a tight place?
Who
gives them their
lunch?

From a broken pencil
an unbroken poem will come!
There is a long story living
in even the shortest pencil

Every word in your
pencil
is fearless ready to walk
the blue tightrope lines
Ready
to teeter and smile
down Ready to come right out
and show you
thinking!


Poem Introduction to Children:
This poem is such a delight as is the remainder poems in the book, and in fact there is another poem called "The Poet Pencil" which is light and bouncy and would be a great add-in with the poem I selected. The suggestion for "Pencils" is to use with the term "metaphors" to discuss what the hidden meanings of the words are found in a pencil.
I would also use this to tie in a continued lesson from three poems, "Pencils," "Treasure Words" from Days to Celebrate, and "Books" from Hip Hop Speaks to Children. These three poems could be used in a 4th grade writing continuum to demonstrate the smallest to largest aspects in writing, or vice-versa you could start with the "big picture" and then to the smallest component of writing, pencils.

Days to Celebrate

Lee Bennett Hopkins. Days to Celebrate: a full year of poetry, people, holidays, history, fascinating facts, and more. Greenwillow, 2005.

Illustrated: Stephen Alcorn.
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-000766-9


POETRY REVIEW: Days to Celebrate is a collection of poems that correlate with special events, poets, authors, and special dates in the calendar year. The book selects two to five poems per calendar month then focuses on the special importance the event or person contributed. For instance, I choose the Poem "Treasure Words" which allows the reader to understand the depth and riches of the written word, while connecting to a prominent author of words, Noah Webster.
The words chosen for this poem illustrate the images and many uses of the written word both literally and imaginary by using simple and short words choices. And while there is not a set rhythm and rhyming pattern the reader is left with the richness, creativity, close personal relationship, and far reaches that words themselves create for each reader.

POEM EXCERPT: Treasure Words, Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Words are magic -

quiet, loud.

Steady, strong,

slow, proud.

Whisper, shout -

let them out -

hold words close,

toss afar,

see them sparkle -

each a star.

Thread words on

a silver chain,

let words touch you

warm as rain.

Written, read, said, heard -

delight in, sip on,

treasure words.

POEM INTRODUCTION TO CHILDREN:

I like this book in particular because of the way it connects poems to each month event, along with a focus on a selected event or person. For instance, this poem celebrates the birth (and life) of Noah Webster (October 16, 1758-1843) the "father" of words or at least compiling words and meanings in what we know as the dictionary and would be great to use with 2nd graders learning how to use a dictionary and the importance of understanding words

But not only would I help assist students in learning the importance of words, but tying this particular poem in with another set of poems from, from Hip Hop Speaks to Children, "Books" and from Recess, Rhyme, and Reason, "Pencils" starting either from simple with the tools to write like a pencil, to the words needed on the page, to create a finished product; the books, or vice-versa by starting out with the big picture and working down to the simple tools of writing. This concept works best with 4th grade writing to help inspire and direct their focus especially with TAKS testing.

Hip Hop Speaks to Children

Nikki Giovanni (Editor). Hip hop speaks to children: a celebration of poetry with a beat. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2008.

Illustrators: Kristen Balouch ... et al..
ISBN-13: 978-1-40221-048-8

POETRY REVIEW: Hip Hop Speak to Children is a collection of poems with a focus on poems for African American Children and incorporates music (read and sang or rapped) to help relate the theme and tone of the words and meaning of the poem. But while this book does not have the traditional rhyme and meter in poems, it brings in the use of music to help establish a memorable beat for reading. The poem I choose lacks a solid method of rhyme and rhythm and changes beat at best three different tempos throughout. In addition, the poem brings to mind all of the wonderful places, people, and animals that poetry can take us to, the images bring to mind a free-spirit, free to wander among favorite adventures, and enjoying it so much, that you just can't get enough. In fact, if I reach out far enough I might be able to touch each object, real, concrete, and imagined.

POEM EXCERPT: Eloise Greenfield, Books

I've got

books on the bunk bed

books on the chair

books on the couch

And every old where

But I want more books

just can't get enough

want more books about

All kinds of stuff, like

Jackie's troubles, Raymond's joys

Rabbits, kangaroos, Girls and Boys

Mountains, valleys, Winter, spring

Campfires, vampires

Every old think

I want to

Lie down on my bunk bed

Lean back in

my chair

Curl up on the

couch

And every old

where

And

read

more

books!

POEM INTRODUCTION TO CHILDREN:

I cannot express my true enjoyment of this book especially with the use of the CD and music to help convey the thought and messages in the poems. We always talk about how the use of music helps children to learn about rhythm, beat, and tone of words and text, well this book has that in an upbeat and non-traditional manner both for poetry and rap music (words). I actually played another poem with my 3rd graders, and they were snapping their fingers, bobbing their heads, and repeating the words. With this poem, I would look at tying it into a larger unit for 4th graders by reading 2 other poems, "Pencils" from Recess, Rhyme, and Reason, and "Words" from Days to Celebrate. Using these 3 poems together to connect the pieces of written words from the tools we use, to the words, and then to the larger picture of the compilation of texts into books.

Changing Directions

The following blogs will be for a new class I am taking: Poetry for Children (LS5663)through TWU Dr. Vardell, professor.