From: Barbara Tobin <barbarat>
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 22:18:38 -0400

Thanks for the great discussion, folks. I now have lots of new poems, poets, and ideas for bringing young readers to them. Before we officially wrap up this stimulating thread, I have one more idea to share (that may not be new to many of you).

I like to finish my semester with my undergraduate class by writing a
'goodbye poem' for them that looks back over our fifteen weeks together exploring children's books, and muse on some of the highlights of what really brought us together as a community. I make copies of my 'poem' on nice paper to give them just before they walk out the door. I read it aloud to them, and it is usually quite an emotional moment as our book club groups break up for the last time. The really cool thing is that, sometimes, one of the students has done something similar :-)

I am sure you could do something like this to begin the school year, too, something for students to find on their desks as they sit down on their first day-- maybe to preview some of the good stuff they can look forward to, and to start building your community.

If my brain wasn't so fried from reading projects, I'd whip up a quick goodbye poem for us all here. Don't have the courage to expose myself here, though. What if it just turns out to be worthless doggerel? ---or worse, an obscenity! (just kidding, Big Grandma-- I like your style :-)

    Maybe someone else can do the honors.....

            Barbara Tobin (barbarat at gse.upenn.edu)
               --- all fresh out of poetic thoughts for the moment
Received on Wed 30 Apr 2003 09:18:38 PM CDT