2 Paul Janeczko Freebies: a Book Give-Away & a Poetry Writing Exercise

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Howdy, Campers!

Lucky you--you arrived just in time for another episode in TeachingAuthor's 5-Star series,

to binge-read all of our WWWs, click on the menu button above, "Writing Workouts"

Today's WWW is brought to you by Paul B. Janeczko (who visited our blog last week), author of--gasp!--50 books, including his latest, The Death of the Hat--which you could WIN--yes, you--your very own autographed copy--simply enter our book-giveaway which runs until April 22, 2015 (details at the end of last week's post)!

Okie dokie--welcome back, PBJ! Would you elaborate on the writing exercise you talked briefly about last Friday?

What I said last Friday was that it was more an approach than an exercise. I like to use poetry models when I work with young readers. I try to show them poems by published poets, but also poems by their peers. When you’re in the 4th grade, Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost may not impress you, but reading a poem by another 4th grader may be just the motivation that you need. And before I turn the kids loose to write, we read the poem, and I give them the chance to talk about what they notice in it. Then we do something a group rough draft so they can begin to see the writing process in action. Then it’s time for them to write.

One of the poems I use is based an an English street poem called “I’d Rather Be.” Here are a few lines:

I’d rather be hands than feet.
I’d rather be honest than cheat.
I’d rather be a bed that a seat.
I’d rather be a blanket than a sheet.

1. I give the kids a copy of this poem, which runs about 20 lines.
2. I break it into 3 parts and have a different student read each part. (Part of every workshop is reading aloud!)
3. I then ask the students if they detected any pattern in the poem. Rhyming poems generally follow a pattern.
4. The kids can identify 3 ingredients of the pattern: end rhyme, repetition of “I’d rather be” at the start of each line, a comparison or opposite in each line.
5. Taken together, these 3 ingredients give the 4 part of that pattern: rhythm.
6. Before I turn the kids loose to write 3-4 lines of their own “I’d Rather Be,” we try to create an example of 4 lines out loud. The kids are usually quick to get the hang of it. 
7. Just to make sure, we try another 4 lines with a different end sound.
8. Then they are ready to read.
9. After 10-15 minutes of writing, it’s time to read examples aloud. Usually, there are many takers.

This is one poem that they will have the chance to continue and complete with their teacher.

The kids write stuff like this:

 I’d rather be wood than concrete
 I’d rather be huge that petite

 I’d rather be gloves than a hat
 I’d rather be a ball than a bat

 I’d rather be hands than toes
 I’d rather be a finger than a nose

 I’d rather be love than hate
 I’d rather be alone than a mate

Sounds like an exercise that I can take directly to the classroom--and one that packs a lot of punch, Paul.  Thanks again for dropping by!  (AND surely that English street song is the origin of Paul Simon's El Condor Pasa (If I Could)...)

Readers, here's a preview from Candlewick about Paul's latest collaboration with illustrator Chris Rashchka (for a chance to win an autographed copy, see our latest Give-Away which ends 4/22/15...enter at the end of last week's post):

A celebrated duo reunites for a look at poems through history inspired by objects—earthly and celestial—reflecting the time in which each poet lived.

A book-eating moth in the early Middle Ages. A peach blossom during the Renaissance. A haunted palace in the Victorian era. A lament for the hat in contemporary times...In The Death of the Hat: A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects, award-winning anthologist Paul B. Janeczko presents his fiftieth book, offering young readers a quick tour of poets through the ages. Breathing bright life into each selection is Chris Raschka’s witty, imaginative art.

Thank you for reading this today.

posted with affection by April Halprin Wayland and Eli (who--at this very minute is ripping apart his beloved stuffed animal, Rabbit)

You'll find my poems, posted each day of Poetry Month 2015, here.

Fears Into Fiction--HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Poetry Friday and happy nearly-HALLOWEEN!
Today we have THREE rather bloody poems and a lesson plan / Writing Workout!

Let’s start with a scary song! With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm, written in 1934 by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee is one of my favorites. It’s about the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London. Here’s a 1938 recording featuring Cyril Smith (2:25 minutes).

Now that you're in the mood, let's talk Halloween.  Here’s one of four of my limericks that are included in the fabulous how-to-teach poetry book for teachers, WRITING FUNNY BONE POEMS by Paul B. Janeczko

LIMERICK

by April Halprin Wayland

Once was a ghost dude named Dave,

Who lived at the beach in a cave

On Manhattan Beach turf

he invisibly surfed

scaring up some gigantic rad waves.

© April Halprin Wayland

* * * * * *
That’s one way to look at Halloween. But Halloween can be scary...right?  So let's try writing something scary.  I'm going to start by telling you one of my secret fears...

I’m terrified of writing something that’s mediocre. Of writing something that’s ordinary, common, average, inferior, second-rate, uninspired, amateurish, middling, undistinguished, unexceptional, unremarkable, run-of-the-mill, pedestrian, lackluster, forgettable.

(Thank you, Thesaurus—you may take a bow.)

If my fear were a monster, what would it look like?

It's a blob. A beige blob.  With blood-shot eyes. It's as big as a refrigerator and hunches on the rug blocking the window. It smells. Like a wet giraffe. It has tuna stuck between its yellowing teeth and a runny nose, and it's dropping Snickers wrappers on my clean carpet. And it JUST KNOCKED OVER MY OBAMA DOLL which was carefully balanced on top of my stuffed dog!

What do I do to this monster? What do I say to it?  Or maybe I'M the monster.  THEN what do I do?

Here are two Halloween poems that came from this weird daydream..one funny, one scary:

GO AWAY, BIG BEIGE MONSTER OF SECOND-RATE WRITING

by April Halprin Wayland

I’m pushing you out, so GO AWAY—

don't touch that chandelier!

I’m airing out my office

from the last time you were here.

You smell of ink and blood and death

and seventeen kinds of fear.

My hands still shake, my headache’s back

and now my stomach’s churning.

I will not play with you anymore.

GO HOME!

(Hooray! I’m learning!)

© April Halprin Wayland

* * * * * * * *

A WRITER ON HALLOWEEN

by April Halprin Wayland

I push open

the heavy door.
I take out the cleaver, the machete,

the switchblade, the scalpel, the penknife,

the X-acto knife.

I plunge my arm into the oily black pile of drafts

and haul one out.

And though it screams a thousand deaths,

I stab it over and over and over with the cleaver,

hacking it in two.

Then I amputate.

I sever. I cut.

I carve.  I slice.

Finally,

I mince words.

I take a breath and step back to admire my bloody work.

Then…I drop it back into the oily depths,

pack away the knives,

wipe the black spots off my desk

and leave.

I close the heavy door.

I will come back.

Tomorrow.

To do it all

again.

© April Halprin Wayland

* * * * *

Writing Workout / Lesson Plan—Fears into Fiction

For ages 7 through adult (or younger, with individual help.)

Objective: This lesson teaches beginning writers to find story and poetry ideas from their deepest darkest fears.

Instructions:

1) What are you afraid of?  Make a list of at least five things that scare you. Are you afraid of snakes? Of flying? If you’re an author, are you afraid of rejection?

2) Circle the one that scares you the most…or the one that you can’t wait to write about.

3) Make this fear into a creature.  Try to include as many of the five senses as possible--how does it sound?  How does it smell?  Maybe your fear of heights is a moldy grey vulture who hides in caves, makes snarky noises, and wears high tops…or maybe your fear of the dark is a neon green monster with sticky skin and garlicky breath that whispers evil things in your ear.

4) Write a story or a poem about this creature. You might want to speak to it or yell at it. Dialogue is fun to read aloud. Wouldn’t it be neat to YELL at your fear?  Or maybe YOU'RE the creature!

5) Share your writing with someone.

And…even though it’s Halloween…even though you’re scared…write with joy. And remember to breathe.

all drawings by April Halprin Wayland