tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post8762334038299366045..comments2024-03-17T12:30:03.009-05:00Comments on Teaching Authors--6 Children's Authors Who Also Teach Writing: Interview with Poet Janet Wong & a Book Giveaway--Happy Poetry Friday!Carmela Martinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543808551988338496noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-26523077115282999582014-06-10T17:19:19.109-05:002014-06-10T17:19:19.109-05:00I was privileged to meet Janet at a teachers' ...I was privileged to meet Janet at a teachers' conference in Malaysia several years ago. In her workshop, she gave us the idea of creating a kindle anthology of our students' poetry. I've done this with my 5th grade class for the last three years, and the students love it! They're responsible for cover design, as well as coming up with the dedication and acknowledgments and choosing a charity to which the proceeds will be donated. A Boom in the Room, Sunshine Leaking, and Better than Cotton Candy have all been wonderful projects that have resulted in some very proud 5th graders (and parents)!Annie Douglass Limahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18239684716953385068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-64099737104060475732012-04-17T16:45:56.197-05:002012-04-17T16:45:56.197-05:00Thanks so much for stopping by and g'luck, Ire...Thanks so much for stopping by and g'luck, Irene, Margo,Pam, Elsie, Laura E, Heidi G, Laura Salas, and Diane!April Halprin Waylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10760393691320267240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-47784285674977761242012-04-17T06:33:24.958-05:002012-04-17T06:33:24.958-05:00I am so happy to hear Janet is pursuing more e-boo...I am so happy to hear Janet is pursuing more e-book projects! I love the accessibility of these. And I also love incorporating a little art/drawing into poetry writing. This can really loosen kids up and engage the ones who are more visual/tactile learners.<br /><br />If I win the book I will share it with our homeschool group. irene at irenelatham dot comIrene Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905936104127707762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-10874199609530555912012-04-13T11:25:59.752-05:002012-04-13T11:25:59.752-05:00Diane: I think that drawing works well with this s...Diane: I think that drawing works well with this simile exercise because a simile is, by its nature, visual. And drawing also gives kids a chance to develop their ideas a bit before the pressure of the quick-write. <br /><br />Laura: breaking the prewriting part of this exercise down into steps is the key to its magic, I think. I hope that you share your own poem-writing exercises--at least briefly describe a couple of your favorites--when you preside over the festivities at the Evanston Public Library in a couple of weeks!<br /><br />Heidi and Pam and Laura: Please share my poem "We the People" with kids (and talk about absentee ballots). I hope you win a book so you'll have that poem handy, but if you don't, don't worry: I'm going to post that poem soon at my blog: TheDeclarationOfInterdependenceBlog.blogspot.com<br /><br />Elsie: Teachers often enjoy writing gift poems for their spouses or significant others or children--it's great to leave a workshop with a "free" birthday or anniversary gift.<br /><br />Margo: Please do share my election poems with your stepson and daughter--I'd love for DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE to prompt discussions at school AND at home!<br /><br />Thanks, everyone...and good luck! I think that April will be pulling names soon for the book giveaway!Janet Wonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06335945237210886655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-80196956584010861342012-04-12T18:10:33.694-05:002012-04-12T18:10:33.694-05:00Thanks for the similie activity. That was very gen...Thanks for the similie activity. That was very generous to share with all of us! :) <br /><br />If I win the book, I am only "half" selfish. :) I will keep it at home but share it with my stepson and daughter! :) <br /><br />Thanks for the opportunity.<br />Margo (margo@margodill.com)Margo Dillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635922963449775278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-35705690022671804162012-04-11T21:52:32.786-05:002012-04-11T21:52:32.786-05:00If I am lucky enough to win this book by one of my...If I am lucky enough to win this book by one of my very favorite poets, I will be selfishly unselfish. I collect books on the Constitution and about American governmnet. I take them to various 5th and 8th grade classes to help students learn and write about our Constitution and government. After perusing and discussing the books, I have them write both essays and poems. This book would be incredibly helpful in demonstrating how poetry often sends the best messages.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403493378899218673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-6397171050573826162012-04-11T21:18:18.482-05:002012-04-11T21:18:18.482-05:00I love Janet Wong's book You Have to Write. I ...I love Janet Wong's book You Have to Write. I provide professional development for teachers so I would probably use the book as a prize during one of my sessions. I will try the simile exercise with teachers so they can go back to their class and try it with their kids.elsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01348895330633879894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-18228581077737498222012-04-11T09:41:18.300-05:002012-04-11T09:41:18.300-05:00What a great topic to address with poetry. I woul...What a great topic to address with poetry. I would probably keep the book to use with my classes during election time.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />hg195 at yahoo dot comGeo Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618854343507111793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-7923211948568367872012-04-07T21:54:59.406-05:002012-04-07T21:54:59.406-05:00I love the way you broke down the steps, Janet. I ...I love the way you broke down the steps, Janet. I do similar exercises, but I learned some tweaks here that I'm going to make at my young authors conferences in May, mostly with helping young poets to be kind and to share ideas. Thanks!<br /><br />If I won Janet's book, I would read it, share a poem on Poetry Friday, and then donate it to a school library. I'm at lauras_accounts (at) yahoo (dot) com.<br /><br />Congrats on e-publishing To Rabbittown, April!laurasalashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13807781795919555208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-18752260770801272452012-04-07T16:42:34.825-05:002012-04-07T16:42:34.825-05:00I never would have thought of using drawing in a l...I never would have thought of using drawing in a lesson on simile. It's an interesting approach!<br /><br />If I were to win, I'd give the book to the public library where I work. That way, it could be shared with lots of kids, and, I could write about it for a Poetry Friday post on the library's blog.<br /><br />dmayrATnesmithlibraryDOTorgDiane Mayrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09767689319000732296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-66658785619245886682012-04-06T19:42:41.603-05:002012-04-06T19:42:41.603-05:00"...she'll be there for me, when the Pop ..."...she'll be there for me, when the Pop Tarts are gone"...oh, wow. If I were Tom's mom, I'd feel I could die happy now...April Halprin Waylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10760393691320267240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-67948875429863883982012-04-06T18:52:35.887-05:002012-04-06T18:52:35.887-05:00Thanks for your great comments, everyone! I hope s...Thanks for your great comments, everyone! I hope some of you try the simile exercise with kids and let us know about your experience with it. I'm very proud to say that the poems that come out of this are first-rate. I think the key is the way the exercise is broken down into simple parts. One of my favorite recent similes (from Tom, a middle school student) is: "My mom is like the Cheez-Its in the back of the pantry; I might not always reach for her, but she'll be there for me, when the Pop Tarts are gone."Janet Wonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06335945237210886655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-69612479528001449742012-04-06T18:49:42.194-05:002012-04-06T18:49:42.194-05:00Author Amok, Myra, Betsy, Joanna, Robyn,Tara,Heidi...Author Amok, Myra, Betsy, Joanna, Robyn,Tara,Heidi~~thanks for dropping by. And yes, Janet was an amazing interview! G'luck to those of you entering the contest!April Halprin Waylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10760393691320267240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-42124398060099455312012-04-06T17:32:25.183-05:002012-04-06T17:32:25.183-05:00Wow--I knew quite a bit about Janet already, but t...Wow--I knew quite a bit about Janet already, but this interview is full of surprising new looks at her many activities. Thanks, April! I can't wait to receive the book I won at a different blog (which I will enjoy thoroughly and then donate to my school's Media Center just in time for election season)!Heidi Mordhorsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902158336083356337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-4472088802536005852012-04-06T16:53:59.088-05:002012-04-06T16:53:59.088-05:00What an amazing post - so rich in ideas about writ...What an amazing post - so rich in ideas about writing and teaching! Thank you Janet and April. I want to try the simile exercise as soon as school begins.<br />I would keep a copy of Janet's book to encourage and inspire my students.Tarahttp://tmsteach.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-79429151076240859352012-04-06T14:03:24.440-05:002012-04-06T14:03:24.440-05:00Fantastic interview, Janet and April, and I loved ...Fantastic interview, Janet and April, and I loved the video tucked in. What generous ideas for sharing poetry in schools - some of these I do in school visits and others have me thinking, "Of course!" If I won Janet's new book (and I'm at robyn at robynhoodblack dot com), I'd pore over it until our Fall SCBWI Southern Breeze conference, and then donate it to the Joan Broerman Book Basket (a winning attendee then donates the whole collection to a deserving library of his/her choice.) :0)Robyn Hood Blackhttp://www.robynhoodblack.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-19440274328367127192012-04-06T10:16:17.186-05:002012-04-06T10:16:17.186-05:00Wonderfully encouraging post and thanks so much fo...Wonderfully encouraging post and thanks so much for the ten step simile exercise - super helpful! OK, so truth be told, if I win I think I would keep the copy!Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00633484787634197878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-42338989842623213212012-04-06T09:47:04.632-05:002012-04-06T09:47:04.632-05:00I loved reading all about her process for teaching...I loved reading all about her process for teaching. I was sucked in and wished I was sitting on a hard floor with paper in hand listening to her, creating! <br /><br />If I won this giveaway I would happily donate it to my school's library, sharing it with many deserving children and teachers at Fern Persons Elementary in Michigan.Betsy Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492340502962987362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-54217010759400594682012-04-06T07:19:43.049-05:002012-04-06T07:19:43.049-05:00Hi there April (and Janet), this is such an amazin...Hi there April (and Janet), this is such an amazing post in so many levels. I have read a few of Janet's poems and I just checked our community library, we do have Rainbow Hands. Will reserve soon.GatheringBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477710897574769648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-1048236083644472242012-04-06T06:33:18.401-05:002012-04-06T06:33:18.401-05:00Good morning, April and Janet. My favorite piece o...Good morning, April and Janet. My favorite piece of advice from Janet is to point out the perks of writing to kids. My brother happens to be a video game designer -- yes, he writes the storylines for the games.<br /><br />I am starting a poetry residency at a very diverse school next week. If I were the giveaway winner, I would donate "Poems for an Election Year" to Swansfield ES in Columbia -- a National Poetry Month gift!Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.com