Co-planning a Mini-Unit to Wrap Up the Year with JOY!

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Shannon for the last few years. We share a common love of books and we are both self-proclaimed pen snobs — meaning we are both “pen-picky” and enjoy trying to convince one another that our favorite pen type is the best. Shannon is a continual learner — with an ongoing stream of inquiry. She’s a joy to co-plan with because she exudes happiness as she noodles ideas, thinks through wonderings, and creates ways to support her students — and her learning community — in collaborative, heart-felt ways.

A DISCLAIMER OF SORTS

A few shared agreements:

• As I co-plan with teachers, I’m not going to spend much time, if any, editing the videos.  This means it might be clunky at times.  You might get a barking dog, tech glitches, or family interruptions.  I hope you’ll be able to relate. Thank you, in advance, for assuming best intentions and for your understanding. In addition, not everything we do together is recorded.

• The ideas shared in these videos are NOT “the way” or “the right way” -- they are just one way to approach the work.  I hope you’ll spend some time actively studying the co-planning conversation. As you listen, take stock of the ASSETS that emerge from the conversation.  Think about:

  • What’s the WHY behind our work?  

  • What moves are we trying to make in service of students?

  • Name the implications for your work going forward.  What might you adopt or adapt to fit your setting, interests, and/or needs?

• Focus on process versus end product.  The work will continue to unfold even if it’s not captured on video segments.  If you check back into our shared documents, you’ll notice changes because our work is dynamic, not static, and will evolve across time.

HERE’S WHAT WE ARE UP TO

• Shannon’s students have settled into a learning from home routine and are launching into their 8th week. Each week brings about new celebrations and new challenges.  

• Shannon wants her students to end the year with a mini-poetry unit, celebrating reading and writing!

THINGS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT NOW

• How do the enduring practices we use in the classroom translate -- or not -- to remote/digital learning from home?

• What’s the WHY behind this mini-poetry unit?

• What’s going to get kiddos jazzed up about reading and writing poetry?

• What end demonstrations or learning celebrations can we co-create with students to honor their work?

VIDEO

If you are interested in watching a coach and teacher co-plan — working as THINKING PARTNERS in response to the unique times we are currently experiencing — check out this video.

SOME REFLECTIONS

• What poem types will be new/unfamiliar to students?  What poem types will feel like “old friends”?

• Will students write poetry on paper or on the computer?  They have options so I’m wondering what they will choose?  

• Will students illustrate some of the poems they write?

• Is there a way to help students collect all of the poems they are reading and writing [a binder or folder] to keep them organized at home?  If so, maybe they could be used to inspire reading/re-reading poetry over the summer.

OTHER LINKS & RESOURCES

Our DRAFTY, dynamic, in-motion, evolving plans: Julie & Shannon: Co-planning Mini-Poetry Unit

Small Group Plans:  Small Group Reading & Writing Lesson Plans to Adopt, Adapt or Improve [During Remote/Distance Learning]

Short Texts at Your Fingertips:  Poetry

If you want to learn more about Shannon’s classroom, check out her blog!

IDEAS TO CHEW ON

As most educators would agree, working from a distance is not the same as in-person experiences. In my work as a consultant, it’s not unusual for me to work across the miles with teachers. In fact, most of my consulting contracts include some form of this type of professional learning, particularly as we prepare for our work together in the classroom. Planning and working across the miles is how we often get a jump-start to our work together. The difference, of course, is the work we are typically planning is NOT from a distance. So, that is where we are trying to make a shift.

I’m in good company when I say we are all kind of tired of this by now. However, with so many unknowns about what school will — or should — look like in the fall, we are using this spring as a dress rehearsal of sorts. We are asking:

• What’s working? What’s clunky?

• Who are we reaching and supporting in ways that are making a difference?

• Who are we concerned about? What don’t we know that we should know?

• How will we stay connected and minimize the “distance” that separates us?

• How will we create compelling, sophisticated learning experiences that take into account our foundational beliefs and practices in ways that nature and inspire students?

Two pieces I’ve recently written that might be of interest are:

• Instructional Coaches as Servant Leaders: 3 Actions to Consider Now More Than

• CCIRA Blog Post: Ask First, Teach Later

Until next time — keep at it! You’ve got a whole crew of educators cheering you on because we know the spirit and camaraderie surrounds us all! Reach out if you’d like to chat about ways I might be of service and support your efforts!

Short Texts at Your Fingertips: Poetry

We offer you Short Texts at Your Fingertips. Twice each week, we provide teaching ideas around a different type of short text that is easily found in the home, so that no family feels under-resourced. These ideas can integrate into virtually any curriculum and pedagogy, from Workshop to basal. If you are a caregiver, teacher, or curriculum director, these brief but mighty texts and lessons are our way of saying thanks. And our way of giving children authentic and enjoyable reading and writing engagements each day. 

Written by Julie Wright & Elizabeth Keim

SHORT TEXTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: POETRY

Poems are the quintessential short text.  Easy to find and usually under a page in length, poems are our “go-tos” for lots of reasons.  Sometimes we use poems in the classroom whenever we need a little something extra or we use them as part of a poetry unit.  We always have a few poems on deck and now is the perfect time to bring them out.  There are poems about every subject imaginable and almost as many types of poems to read or write about them.  There are rhyming poems and odes and poems for two voices.  There are so many different types, we could really write many blog posts about poetry.  For today we are going to think about just two: concrete poems and acrostic poems.  Both are easy to understand, easy to write and easy to love. 

An anthology — or collection of poems — is a great resource to encourage voluminous reading. You’ll find anthologies that are filled with one particular type or various types of poems. Some anthologies are authored by one poet while others by many. And, poetry anthologies can be about one subject — such as sports, weather, or honoring important people — and others are filled with poems about various topics. You can’t go wrong with a poetry anthology — there’s something for everyone!

TWO TYPES OF POEMS

TRY THIS!

Step 1

Find a poem or poems to share.  We suggest you introduce one type at a time (i.e. get to know and understand concrete poems before moving onto another type of poem).

Some places to look:

• Poetry books you may have on your bookshelf

• Go online (So many to find!).  See the resources below.

• Write your own.

Step 2

Study the poem or poems you have chosen. Things to consider:

• Will you show the poem first?  Or read it first?  Both approaches have advantages.  Note: we usually show both of these types of poems before reading the words because the visual is such an important aspect of these particular forms.

• Ask the readers what they notice about the way the poem looks.

• Ask the readers what they notice about the words of the poem.

• After studying one poem, readers can start to shape (pun intended!) their own definition of this type of poetry.

Step 3

Look for other reading, writing and talking opportunities using this short text type.  Here are some examples:

Step 4

Look for other concrete or acrostic poems and read those too!  You could also consider:

• Write a concrete or acrostic poem and perform / read your poem to others.  Make sure you display or show your poem too!

• Writing an acrostic poem for each of your readers (a quick poem to brighten up their day)

• Use the acrostic or concrete poem builder app (listed in resources below) to generate a poem.

• Use a “found” word as the foundation of an acrostic poem

Other Fun Poetry Types to Try:

• Haikus

• Limericks

• Free Verse 

FOR MORE RESOURCES, CHECK THESE OUT!

Acrostic Poems

• African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways by Avis Harley

• YouTube video about Acrostic Poetry

• Acrostic Poem Generator — This is so much fun!  Use it after readers really understand acrostic poems.

• Kidzone — Writing Acrostic poems about specific holidays

• Acrostic Poems from Pinterest

• Acrostic Poems from Bing

Concrete Poems

• A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems by Paul Janeczko

• Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka 

• Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems by Brian P. Cleary 

• Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems by John Grandits

• Playful Learning website- Exploring Concrete Poetry

• Concrete Poem Generator — This is so much fun!  Use it after readers really understand concrete poems.

• Poetry for Kids Website - How to write a Concrete Poem

• Concrete Poems from Pinterest

• Concrete Poems from Bing

COMING SOON!

Short Texts:  Mighty Mentors That Move Readers and Writers Forward by Julie Wright & Elizabeth Keim (2022)

CO-AUTHOR: ELIZABETH KEIM

Elizabeth Keim is a New York City based educator with more than 25 years of experience. She is currently an AIS Reading Teacher/Reading Recovery teacher for a school in Mamaroneck, New York. Previously she taught in District 2 in Manhattan,  serving as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and library teacher. In each of these roles,  she knows that, "it is all about finding a text that truly captures a particular reader."  She has taught Undergraduate and Graduate level courses at New York University and Bank Street College of Education, as well as workshops for teachers and parents.  An avid birder, Elizabeth enjoys her time in Central Park every spring and fall. Her most thrilling sightings to date are: A rare Kirtland's warbler and the tutti frutti colored Summer Tanager.