Jan. 25: Tea and perfume were the focus of Maxime's playful visit. Maxime was impressed with students'
playful spirit and interest in helping him with his perfume ideas.
Feb. 1: Introduction of our
Poetry Jingle and Performance of
The Generals by Shel Silverstein and vocabulary words | Introduction of
Grandma
Bear by Jack Prelutsky
Feb. 8: UNM Poetry Coaches perofrmed: Little Abigail & the Pony; Crocodile's Toothache
and When Tillie ate the Chili in Mr. Evans classroom. In Ms. Martin's classroom, we sang When Grandma has a Habit
and reviewed Grandma Bear.
UNM Poetry Coaches will perform poetry Feb. 22 and students will choose which poems they want to practice and refine
for their upcoming performance. Some dynamics were revealed today that will help us modify our approach so that students will
be able to find poems that match their interests and styles.
We also reminded students that the goal of the project is for them to shre their interest of poetry with their elementary
student counterparts at Mesa Verde.
UNM Coaches had helpful insight and suggestions for future planning.
March 1-3. Visited Mrs. Evan's and Mrs. Martin's classrooms to practice poems with students. Students are taking ownership of their
poems and with only a few exceptions, are actively engaged and committed and enjoying themselves.
Once we connected L. to the poem, Powdered Eggs and Spam, a Dr. Seuss adaptation of Green Eggs & Ham, Krista
excerpted lines from the long poem for L. L. has a sense opf prode and responsibility in memorizing his lines. I saw this
today when each of the poem groups presented for their peers:
Crocodile's Toothache
New Kid on the Block
Little Abigail & the Pony
They still have a lot of work to do before they really know their poems, but they are enjoying the process and the challenge.
In the poem, When Tillie ate the Chili, B. and C. performers had directorial ideas which they adapted
in performing the poem. Instead of Tillie, now the poem is: When Billie & Tillie Ate the Chili! They
were easy to bounce ideas off of and flexible to try their ideas out. All will be ready for March 8 Dress Rehearsal!
In Mrs. Martin's class students also practiced their poems and performed them for their peers. ER. was acting out and
being rude, in front of his classmates. On March 8, I will ask ER. to apologize to his peers for his disruptive behavior.
However, Sisiter for Sale partners performed; Always Sprinkle Pepper quartet performed, I'm Gonna Tell
on You partners performed as I filled in for a missing student; and Captain Hook partners performed. I am proud
of these students and taking this poetry challenge to heart. We are all looking forward to March 8 dress rehearsal and our
upcoming March 15 Poetry Carnival at Mesa Verde.
March 8. Today's dress rehearsal was evidence of your work with Heights' students in bringing poetry
to life and having fun in the process. Whatever happens next Monday, March 15, today students demonstrated the culmination
of work and effort in their project. I was proud of them and equally proud of you. Thank you for all you have given of yourselves,
your energy and love of poetry in sharing that with students.
The Daily Times has been notified; we are checking on microphones and videotaping. The
only thing left is to cheer on the students next Monday. Oh, yes, let's not forget to take pictures!!!
March 15: Our Poetry Carnival was truly a culminating event. Heights' students performed with pride in front of the Mesa Verde children. It was equally
as fun to perform along side our UNM poetry coaches, too.
Students accomplished their goal, minus several students, other students quickly filled in for them.
We asked the students and performers for their feedback following the performances. The performance was videotaped so students can watch their performances while eating pizza!
