From: Mayra <mayra>
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 22:47:33 -0500

Today as the fourth grade students came to the library, I had several poetry collections at the tables waiting for them. Usually, I'm the one reading, teaching, or guiding the students into an activity before they select their books. Today, we switched roles: I gave them time to look through the books and choose a poem they enjoyed. I then asked if anyone would like to share their poem aloud, thinking for a while that maybe one or two students would volunteer to read. Surprise, surprise, many students volunteered to read. We had poems in two voices, poems in Spanish, sad poems, funny poems, choral poems. After they checked out their books, they left with the promise that when we returned form spring break, we would repeat the experience. Wow, was this an enjoyable experience!

Also....if anyone has a chance to go to TeachingBooks.net, do so. You can listen to Marilyn Nelson read her poems from A Wreath for Emmett Till. I still get goose bumps when I remember her voice reading the poems: unforgettable.

Mayra S. Negr?n

La Escuela Fratney Milwaukee, WI
Received on Tue 11 Apr 2006 10:47:33 PM CDT