Week Six: Free Choise

To wrap up our poetry unit, the last assignment I am giving is to write a free choice poem. You can choose a type we did in class, or one that you know from previous classes. Have fun with this, and if you need any suggestions let me know. I would also like you to pick out your favorite poem that you wrote and either print it out or write it on paper. We are going to have a poetry read aloud in class on Friday so please be prepared!

Happy Blogging!
-Ms. Kowalczyk

Week Five: Rhyming Poem

This week we are going to look at something I know everyone thinks of when they hear that we are doing poetry. Rhyming Poetry :). I saved this for last because I knew that when I started talking about poetry everyone would want to rhyme everything. ;)
An example of a rhyming poem is:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet,
and so are you.

I know my example isn't very original, but I hope the ones you come up with are very original!
Happy Blogging!
-Ms. Kowalczyk

Week Four: Narrative Poetry

This week we will be looking at narrative poetry. Narrative Poetry is poetry that tells a story. It can be short or long For your assignment I would like you to write a poem about yourself, or an event that you went to. It does not have to rhyme, but try to make it flow.

Here is an example that I wrote:

Under my bed in a pretty pink box,

Glittery and girly just like me,

Everything lays here that means something to me.

Pictures from family vacations by the lake,

Barbie doll clothes that must have been misplaced,

Marching band programs, music, and ribbons,

Movie stubs from movies I can’t remember seeing,

Dried flowers from boyfriends forgotten,

Student of the month and honor role awards,

Letters from friends that lived right down the street,

Notes that were passed in class when the teacher wasn’t looking,

Smiling faces of friends and family along with

the embarrassing pictures I never wanted anyone to see,

Greeting Cards with thoughtful sayings,

Schoolwork with handwriting I can’t believe was mine,

Part of my turtle collection that I’ve been saving.

Under my bed in that pretty pink box

Lays my life in pieces

Whenever I need something to help me smile

I go under my bed for a while.

Put a lot of thought into this poem!
Happy Blogging!
-Ms. Kowalczyk

Week Three: Limerick

Limericks are short, humorous poems consisting of five lines. Lines 1, 2, and 5 of a Limerick have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other.
We will look into these in more depth in class, but for now here is an example.

A flea and a fly in a flue
Were caught, so what could they do?
Said the fly, "Let us flee."
"Let us fly," said the flea.
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
-Anonymous

Hope these are fun to write!
Happy Blogging!
-Ms. Kowalczyk

Week Two: Haiku

Our poetry focus this week is Haiku Poetry. This is a Japanese poem composed of three non rhyming lines of five, seven, and five syllables.

The pattern is:
Five Syllables
Seven Syllables
Five Syllables

These poems are typically about nature. The main focus and concern this week is the syllables. Play around, see what works and what doesn't. Be patient! We will show more examples and go over this type in more depth in class, but heres one example for everyone to look at.

The red blossom bends
and drips its dew to the ground
like a tear it falls

Author: Donna Brock


Have fun with this! Happy Blogging :)
-Ms. Kowalczyk

Week One: ABC Poems

We are going to start the unit with something fun. Here is an example of an ABC poem using my own name.

Courteous
Outrageous
Unbelievably cool
Radiant
Thoughtful
Neat
Easygoing
Young

The point of this is to have fun and be creative with your name. We will talk more in class, but your challenge this week will be to come up with some really interesting adjectives. Try not to copy off one another, make these very personal.
Good Luck and Happy Blogging :)
-Ms. Kowalczyk

Welcome

Welcome to our poetry unit students!
As we talked about in class I will post the directions and examples on my blog every Sunday. We will go over these different types during the week in class. By Saturday night of each week you will be responsible for having your assignment posted. If you have questions you can contact other students in the class or myself at any point. I will respond to all e-mail questions and I'm always available to help during school hours. If you feel that a poem is too personal and not for everyones eyes please submit it to me by e-mail, however I want everybody to try to make posts on their blog. Comment on your classmates poems, but make sure to keep it appropriate and polite. No put downs will be tolerated and will be immediately handled with a drop in your own project grade as well as a note home to your parents.
Have fun and happy blogging :)
-Ms. Kowalczyk