Poetry Madness: Game 4

Read Game 4 poems, If and Who Has Seen the Wind. Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing. 

Here is an example of proficient writing:

The first poem, “The Eagle,” by Lord, Alfred Tennyson, is about an eagle that is hunting, and he jumps off a crag into the water to get a fish. It is a powerful poem which shows the eagle as king of the skies.

The second poem, “Casey at Bat,” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, is about a baseball star that is over-confident. He lets down his team when they need him to win a game. The mood of the poem changes from the fans starting out hopeless, then hopeful when Casey comes to bat. Then  the mood shifts to anger and blame at the umpire, until finally ending in defeat.

I chose the poem “Casey at Bat” because I like baseball.The author uses a rhyme scheme of AABB. The author also uses a simile to emphasize the volume of the crowd’s roar. He  writes the roar is "like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore." This poem is a definite winner!

Poetry Madness: Game 3

Read Game 3 poems, "The Eagle" and "Casey at Bat." Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning  and mood of the first poem?

2. What is the meaning and mood of the second poem?

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing. 

Here is an example of proficient writing:

I think that the first poem,”Roger The Dog,” by Ted Hughes, is about a dog that always sleeps, except when he is called to eat. I think that the mood was very lazy because if you try to take him for a walk he doesn’t go and saves his energy to eat and sleep. I also think that this poem is relatable because some days we are tired, and all we want to do is sleep. 

I think the second poem,”The Falling Star,” by Sara Teasdale, is about someone who barely saw a falling star, but when she did see it, she thought it was beautiful as it went by in a glimpse. I think the mood is peaceful, because there was barely a sound as it went across the sky.

I chose “Roger The Dog” because it was more relatable. The rhyme scheme was AABBCC, and so on. I also loved the second two lines because it had a great simile which was, ”He hogs the fire, he bakes his head /As if it were a loaf of bread.” I think the simile means that he was sleeping by the fire, and he was tilting his head. This poem made me laugh, and I loved the simile.

Poetry Madness: Game 2

Read Game 2 poems, "Roger the Dog" and "The Falling Star." Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing. 

Here is an example of proficient writing:
The first poem, “Dust of Snow,” by Robert Frost, is about a crow that lifts up a boy's spirit. He notices the crow when it drops snow on him. The crow fixes the day he had rued. The man became glad.

The second poem, “Mother to Son,” by Langston Hughes, is about a mother who is talking to her son about all of the hard and scary times she has been through. She motivates her son to stay strong.

I chose “Dust of Snow” because the story is more calming and inspiring. It has a great rhyme scheme as well! I think the story will inspire readers and make their sad days good again! It makes me feel bright and happy.

Poetry Madness: Let the Games Begin!

During March, the best college basketball teams compete for the National Title. In order to be the best, each team must state their case by playing the best, scoring the most, and ultimately advancing to the next round.

To create a sense of poetry madness in our room and celebrate poetry, we will read two poems each evening and advance a class winner the following day. However, like the basketball tournament, we must use specific criteria to judge a poem: meaning, poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition), ability to visualize, and your personal connection.

You will answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.

1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one-two sentences)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one-two sentences)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.

You will complete Game 1 in class.  Please read Game 1 (Dust of Snow and Mother to Son), choose your favorite, and leave your comment below.  I left an example in the comment section.

Here is an example of an advanced/proficient post:

The first poem, “Being Brave at Night,” is about a child whose imagination runs away from then at night and is scared.  

The second poem, “Wind on the Hill,” is about a child thinking about the wind and where it comes from.  You cannot see it but see the results of it. 

I chose “Wind on the Hill” as the winner because I like the imagery of the poem.  I like the picture of the kite in the wind and knowing using that as a measure for knowing where the wind has been.  I also enjoyed the way the 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza rhymed. It made the poem fun to read. 

One Little Word

Dear students,

Each new year, I choose One Little Word (OLW). The OLW is one word that will represent, or symbolize, the year ahead. The word should be personal and thoughtful. 

I have thought a great deal about my OLW. For 2020, I selected "trust" as my One Little Word. I selected "trust" because I don't always trust God's plan and try to make my own way. I need this word to remind me to trust not only His plan for me but also to trust in the strengths and talents He has blessed me with, rather than worry about the future. Trust can apply to my life in so many ways - through friends, work, my students, my family, myself, and ultimately, God's plan for me. I will use this word to guide me through the days of 2020.

In your comment, answer the following questions in complete sentences:

What is your One Little Word? How does this word apply to your life? How can you use your OLW to guide your year? Comment to this post with your OLW, and examples of how you can use your OLW this year. 

I cannot wait to read your posts,
Mrs. Braddy

Extreme Makeover: Christmas Style!

Dear students,

Your elderly neighbor’s holiday decorations always attract crowds. This year, unfortunately, she broke her leg and can’t decorate her house for Christmas. She has asked you to do it for her and has given you the cash you need to buy any supplies.

Decide on a theme, and describe what you will do to decorate her house.

Be sure to include:

• a topic sentence

• supporting details

• complete sentences

• correct spelling, capitalization (M.I.N.T.S.), and end punctuation.

• a closing sentence

Happy blogging,

Mrs. Braddy

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Dear students,

Your pen pal in Hawaii has never seen snow. Write a letter to her explaining the steps to making a snowman.

Be sure to include:

• a topic sentence

• supporting details

• complete sentences

• correct spelling, capitalization (M.I.N.T.S.), and end punctuation.

• a closing sentence

Happy blogging,
Ms. Blackmon