Teachers

                                                                Sandra Alonzo in her Kindergarten classroom before retiring in 2005

      Dear Teachers:   Since this is my website I guess I can get up on my soapbox
      for a few lines. At least it's not too preachy. Just have fun, teachers! That was
      my motto for thirty years while I worked as an educator of young children.

      As for writing, especially for poetry writing, I believe that encouragement is one of the
      most useful classroom tools. Kids need to feel comfortable about their writing. They
      need to feel free to express themselves. Especially with the beginning writers who
      are just learning how to write, the most important ingredient is the creative process.
      It's not the handwriting, not the spelling, not the syntax or the rhyme. It's that
      'mode' kids get into so easily if we let them. Right-brained thinking.  Kids need
      to free up their psyches and not feel afraid to make a mistake.  Writing isn't about fear.
      It's about letting go and moving forward in a loving environment. Polishing the work
      is the last concern.  Writing creatively is what counts!

                 Look closely. The alphabet was formed by using kids who, in groups
                     of two and three, were able scrunch their pliable bodies into letters!

                  .............BOOKS FOR TEACHING POETRY.............

      KIDS' POEMS by Regie Routman

        Scholastic has published a series of short, useful
        books for teachers' classroom poetry lessons.
        There are four levels: K, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grades 3 & 4
        The books are nicely set up with teacher-friendly directions,
        easy to follow poetry lessons, and a great set of examples.

        Regie's books are great and I highly recommend them!

                 PAINTING THE SKY
          WRITING POETRY WITH CHILDREN
                    by Shelly Tucker

         If you're a teacher who feels a bit fearful
         of the whole 'poetry' thing, this is might be
         the book for you. Look for great exercises and
         ideas, worksheets, writing suggestions,
         plusart and bookmaking ideas for display.
                    This is a good one!

     POETRY MATTERS by Ralph Fletcher

      This book is short and easy to read.    Ralph interviews
      several successful children's authors of poetry collections.
     He also covers a variety of interesting topics, like how music
     and poetry are similar, how poetry resembles an 'emotional
     x-ray,' and also a chapter about crafting one's poem.

     I recommend this book for teachers (and writers) who want
     learn about the magical quality of poetry.

      WISHES, LIES, AND DREAMS by Kenneth Koch

           Kenneth Koch is a poet who went into the
         public school classrooms in Manhattan to
           help inspire students to write poetry.

         Kenneth's methods were very successful, as can
           be seen in the many impressive samples of
           children's work that appear in his book.


                                                Teachers Rock!!!