Kimberly Hutmacher Writes: April 2019

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Poetry Friday: Introducing the S.T.E.A.M. Powered Poetry Vlog

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater at The Poem Farm. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

I'm using today's post to introduce a new joint venture spearheaded by poet, Heidi Bee Roemer: S.T.E.A.M. Powered Poetry Vlog. Here is an overview from Heidi:

Across the curriculum, “S.T.E.A.M. Powered Poetry Videos for Pk-8” promotes poetry in the classroom using multiple methods and strategies. In addition to kid-friendly poetry videos, this vlog features crafts, classroom activities, and reference lists for related children’s books that offer additional information on each poem’s subject.

I believe that poetry can be easily integrated into the classroom and used to enhance learning at all grade levels. The goal of my vlog is to provide teachers with educational resources, motivate students to become excited about reading and writing poetry, and to promote children’s authors and the books they create.

Our goal is to post two new videos along with theme related books and activities every month. We hope you'll visit and share this resource in your classrooms and with your teachers and poetry-loving friends.

This week's video is titled, "Star Gazers." Enjoy!

The Progressive Poem continues today at Heidi's My Juicy Little Universe. A complete linked schedule is in the side bar.

And for a huge list of other National Poetry Month blog activity, go see Jama at jama's Alphabet Soup.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Poetry Friday: Masterpiece

Welcome to Poetry Friday. This week's host is Irene Latham's Live Your Poem blog. There you'll find an abundance of poetry goodness all in one beautiful place!

Today, I watched my almost 2 year old granddaughter draw a picture. She scribbled, studied, shaded, dotted, and studied some more. I have no idea what it is she made, but I know she worked intently on it for quite a while, and she was very excited to showcase it on the refrigerator. Today's poem is inspired by her endeavors.

Masterpiece

by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Dots, lines, circles, curves

What will it turn out to be?

Sketch, shade, shape, trace

I'm just beginning to see!

Clouds? Sky? Sun? Lake?

A robin perched in a tree?

Form, frame, final touch

A masterpiece made by me!

Don't forget to check out how this year's progressive poem is coming along. Margaret Simon is providing today's line at Reflections on the Teche blog. The full schedule is linked in my side bar.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Poetry Friday: In The Middle Of The Night

Welcome to Poetry Friday. This week's round up is hosted by Karen Edmisten. Karen shares a beautiful poem by John Ashbury. Be sure to click over and savor every drop of poetry goodness.

A few weeks ago I entered to win a book on Jone's blog, and lucky me- I was chosen the winner of IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT: POEMS FROM A WIDE-AWAKE HOUSE written by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Angela Matteson (Wordsong, 2019).

Have you ever wondered what all of the stuff in your house does when you're fast asleep? This fun collection takes readers on a middle-of-the-night adventure around an ordinary house, spying on ordinary objects engaged in not so ordinary adventures. A fruit rollup turns into a racetrack for toy cars. Leftover spaghetti becomes a pair of shoelaces. After a day of being bounced and dribbled, an aching basketball soaks in a sink full of ice. Here is one of my favorites:

Empty Pocket
by Laura Purdie Salas

I'm an empty spot-
a vacant lot.
I'm alone
with nothing to do.

Come button, toothpick, pebble, gum-
I'm nothing without
you!

I'm a treasure chest
or a robin's nest.
You are jewels
or eggs, bright blue!

Come nickel, sticker, piece of string,
I'm nothing without
you!

This is a great bedtime read for home, and a wonderful read aloud for school. Children will have fun imagining what the objects in their own homes do while they sleep. They'll enjoy coming up with their own imaginative poems about their object's adventures. Readers will joyfully get lost in Matteson's stunning illustrations.

Laura's collection made me think about where I spend my middle-of-the-nights, and that is in my comfy cozy bed. This poem isn't really an adventure poem, but rather an ode. It's a thank you for what it does for me.

My Bed
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

A pillowed nest
To relax and rest
When I'm feeling stressed
And not at my best

It soothes and grants sleep
Collects tears that I weep
Dreams and secrets it keeps

A place to lay my weary head
My comfy cozy peaceful bed.

Copyright 2019

Jama Rattigan has a list of all blog activity surrounding National Poetry Month. It's a treasure. Thank you, Jama! Part of that list is this year's Progressive Poem. I contributed earlier this week. It's evolving nicely. Be sure to follow along! A link to the full schedule is in the sidebar.