The Poetry Teacher’s Book of Lists

For David Harrison’s blog

Hi everyone,

I asked Sylvia Vardell to share information about her wonderful new book, THE POETRY TEACHER’S BOOK OF LISTS. I ordered a copy right away and can tell you that it’s going to be an invaluable resource that I’ll be using for a long time to come and one that I recommend to all who are interested in poets and poetry. Sylvia responded to my request so I’ll turn the floor over to her.

Thank you, David, for this opportunity to toot my own horn for a moment. I created The Poetry Teacher’s Book of Lists as a comprehensive resource for teachers, librarians, and parents as a tool for promoting poetry with young people. It’s packed with poetry bibliographies and research-based strategies for selecting and sharing poetry with young people. Need help finding the perfect poem for a holiday celebration or a science unit? A funny riddle poem or a bilingual poetry book? The Poetry Teacher’s Book of Lists contains 155 different poetry bibliographies and lists of research-based strategies featuring 1500 poetry books for children and teens (ages 0-18).

Since you focus very effectively on teaching the WRITING of poetry, I thought I would share an excerpt with this focus. In fact, my book includes 15 different lists related to writing:

TEACHING POETRY WRITING
1. The Benefits of Writing Poetry with Young People
2. Books for Kids about Writing Poetry
3. Poetry Books with Commentary by Poets
4. Poet Artists
5. Poetry Books that Feature Fine Art
6. Poetry Books with Poetry Written by Children
7. Poetry Books with Poetry Written by Teens
8. Glossary of Poetry Terminology
9. Phonograms, Rimes and Rhymes
10. Survival Vocabulary
11. Possible Poetic Forms
12. The Biopoem Formula
13. Poetry Writing Checklist and Guidelines
14. Places to Publish Children’s Poetry Writing
15. Resource Books for Teaching Poetry Writing to Children

One of my favorite parts is the list of poetry books that include a bit of commentary by the poet about the writing of the poem. Here’s a look.

Poetry Books with Commentary by Poets

In the following books the poets provide a few lines of explanations about where the ideas for the poem comes from—fascinating and insightful, especially for aspiring poets.

Brenner, Barbara. 2000. Voices: Poetry and Art From Around the World. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society.
Clinton, Catherine. 1998. I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African-American Poetry. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Cullinan, Bernice E. 1996. A Jar of Tiny Stars: Poems By NCTE Award Winning Poets. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong, Boyds Mills.
Fisher, Aileen and Bruce E. Cullinan, ed. 2002. I Heard a Bluebird Sing: Children Select Their Favorite Poems. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong/Boyds Mills.
Janeczko, Paul B. 1983. Poetspeak: In Their Work, About Their Work: A Selection. New York: Bradbury.
Janeczko, Paul B., selector. 1990. The Place My Words Are Looking For: What Poets Say About and Through Their Work. New York: Bradbury.
Janeczko, Paul. 2002. Seeing The Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration For Young Poets. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Kennedy, X.J. and Kennedy, D. 1982. Knock At a Star. New York: Little Brown.
Kuskin, Karla. 1980. Dogs & Dragons, Trees & Dreams: A Collection of Poems. New York: Harper & Row.
Lawson, JonArno. 2008. Inside Out: Children’s Poets Discuss Their Work. London: Walker.
Lyon, George Ella. 1999. Where I’m From: Where Poems Come From. New York: Absey & Co.
Soto, Gary. 1990. A Fire in My Hands: A Book of Poems. New York: Scholastic.
Vardell, Sylvia and Wong, Janet. Eds. 2011. P*TAG: Poetry for Teens. PoetryTagTime.com.
Vardell, Sylvia and Wong, Janet. Eds. 2011. PoetryTagTime: Poetry for Children. PoetryTagTime.com.
Vardell, Sylvia and Wong, Janet. Eds. 2011. Gift Tag: Holiday Poetry for Young People. PoetryTagTime.com.
Wong, Janet S. 1996. A Suitcase of Seaweed, and Other Poems. New York: McElderry.

I also created a blog exclusively for the book that features an excerpt of EACH of the 155 lists in the book. Look here: http://poetryteachersbookoflists.blogspot.com

You’ll find recommended lists of poetry books tied to calendar events throughout the year, poetry that targets the needs of students acquiring English as a new language, poetry to help children through worries, adjustments or difficult times, 20 lists of poetry to support the study of science, social studies, and language arts, lists organized by different poetic forms, question prompts to guide meaningful discussions, preparation and presentation pointers, display ideas, poetry quotes, lesson plan tips, poet birthdays, and a poetry scavenger hunt and treasure hunt for kids—all tools to help jumpstart a poetry program and keep it energized and fresh all year long. Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/83wezt2

Thanks for your help in spreading the word.
Sylvia

Poem of the Week – Face of the Amazon

by David L Harrison from SOUNDS OF RAIN

Price is lowered on Writers Workshop

Hi everyone,

This is a repeat of my April 6 post about the Writers Workshop in Springfield on Saturday, May 5, except for one very important change. Writers Hall of Fame has decided to lower the fee for the day from the original $85 down to $49.95. How about that for a real bargain? So if you are within driving distance of Springfield and interested in pursuing this opportunity to hear a lot of good speakers on a wide variety of writing topics, get in touch with Gail Gourley at The Library Center to make your reservations right away.

Below is the original post.

I want to tell you about a writing workshop scheduled in Springfield, Missouri for Saturday, May 5. It’s sponsored by Writers Hall of Fame, an organization that celebrates the joy of writing and supports graduating high school students with college scholarships to help them pursue careers in writing at the colleges and universities of their choice. We hope to attract up to 75 attendees at $85 each for the one-day workshop, which includes breakfast juice and rolls, box lunch, coffee and water throughout the day, and a supply of pads, pencils, and folders.

I’m including the program for the day. If you live in the area and have an interest in joining us on May 5, please contact Gail Gourley, 417-616-0554 or gailg@the library.org. You may also know of others who might love to participate so please help us spread the word! The day will be good fun and net proceeds will go directly into our scholarship fund. At the bottom of this flyer you’ll see how you can save money if you get up a group to come with you.

Hope to see many of you on the 5th.
David

Save Saturday, May 5 as Your Date for
AWAKENING THE WRITER WITHIN!
AWAKENING THE WRITER WITHIN is limited to the first 75 registrants, so sign up early!
For further information or to register, contact Gail Gourley ( 417-616-0554 or gailg@the library.org )

YOUR DAY OF AWAKENING LOOKS LIKE THIS:
8:30-9:00 Registration and Welcome
9:00-9:45 General Session: “What You Need to Know to Get Started: The Simple Nuts and Bolts of Writing”
Leader: Todd Parnell is the author of three books, his most recent being The Buffalo, Ben and Me, which chronicles his trip down Arkansas’s Buffalo River with his son in 1995. A former banker, he now serves as president of Drury University.
10:00-10:45 Section 1: “Ask the Experts: A Panel Discussion and Open Forum for Questions”
Louise Morgan considers herself a teacher first. She has spent the last 24 years in the St. Louis area where she taught English, presented creative writing seminars, and served as a school administrator and author of curriculum designs. A loyal journalist, she is writer of personal family history. While she is retired from formal work in schools and now lives in Springfield, she is not retired from teaching and writing.
Shellie Foltz, an author and playwright doubling as a high school librarian, has authored two novels , No Penalty for Love and Love Under a Dark Sky, both published by Avalon Books, and two full-length plays, Welcome to Joe’s and Related Spaces, both produced and the scripts subsequently published by Stained Glass Theatre. Shellie volunteers on Missouri’s Gateway Reader Award committee as a reader-selector.
Section 2: “Want to Be a Poet?”
Leader: Marcus Cafagña is the author of two books of poetry, The Broken World, a National Poetry Series selection, and Roman Fever. Cafagña’s poems have appeared in numerous anthologies and literary journals, such as Poetry, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, and Poets of the New Century. For the last two years he has been a finalist for Missouri Poet Laureate. He coordinates the creative writing program at Missouri State University.
11:00-11:45 Section 3: “Are You a Children’s Writer? Here’s How to Find Out”
Leader: David Harrison says, “As a boy in Missouri, I was outdoors much of the time crawling through caves, catching snakes, the usual stuff. I could pitch baseball and play trombone, but not at the same time.” In college, an English professor urged David to take up writing. After graduate school, he did. Eighty books later, he’s still at it and still loving it. Something else he loves to do is share his passion for writing with others. http://www.davidlharrison.com
Section 4: “Who Are You? Where Did You Come From? Genealogy”
Leader: Patti Hobbs works as reference associate in the Local History and Genealogy department at the Springfield-Greene County Library. She has attended several genealogical institutes with instruction in advanced family history research, using government documents and law libraries, accessing National Archives material, and writing for publication. She enjoys not only learning about her ancestors and understanding the historical context in which they lived, but also helping others who want to discover their own family histories.
12:-12:30 Lunch Provided
12:30-1:15 General Session: “What Do You Want Your Family to Remember? Capturing Your Wonderful Stories”
Leader: Wayne Groner, author and personal historian, is vice president of Springfield Writers’ Guild. He teaches a free monthly class, “Your Memories, Your Book: Writing Your Life Story,” at the Library Center in Springfield. He has written or edited three books, including Dumb Luck or Divine Guidance. Wayne is a member of the Greene County Historical Society and the Christian County Historical Society. He blogs at http://www.waynegroner.blogspot.com.
1:30-2:15 Section 5: “Finding Your Voice”
Leader: Louise Jackson won the 2008 WILLA award for the best children’s/young adult novel of the women’s west published in 2007. She is the author of five books, three picture books, and two historical novels. She has also published in The Reading Teacher, Language Arts, and Journal of the West. Although her first two picture books were published many years ago, her writing career for children has really blossomed in the last fifteen years, following her retirement from the University of Wyoming
Section 6: “Sounding Off—and Other Letters to the Editor”
Leader: George Freeman is editor and partner of GREENE Magazine, published six times a year and online at GREENEMagazine.us. He is a veteran writer and editor who previously served as president and general manager of Ozarks Public Television, as editorial page editor of the Springfield News-Leader, editor of The Marietta (Ohio) Times, and The Coffeyville (Kansas) Journal. He is a past-president of the Southwest Missouri chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
2:30-3:15 Section 7: “Self Publishing, Trade Publishing, e-Publishing, Agents: What Does It All Mean?”
Cathy Kohman spent her childhood in a haunted lakeside summerhouse. This influence sparked her fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Her first novel, The Beckoning Ghost, won The Golden Heart Award for Paranormal Romance from Romance Writers of America. A life-long Lord of the Rings fan, Catherine also published a fan-appreciation anthology, Lembas for the Soul: How the Lord of the Rings Enriches Everyday Life. She has worked in libraries in Utah and Springfield for 20 years.
Allan Young, a manufacturing engineer by training, has had 112 books published including poems, technical books, fiction and non-fiction, self-help, how-to, memoirs, historical novels, murder mysteries and many more. He also edited and written hundreds of magazine articles. He also has extensive editing and publishing experience for magazines and newspapers, teaches classes on writing and has created material on becoming a successful writer and how to get a book published.
Section 8: “Is Betty White Right? Learn About Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, and Why”
Leader: Jonathan Groves, assistant professor of communication at Drury University, teaches a variety of courses related to writing, media, and organizational change. He worked for 14 years as a professional journalist at various newspapers as a reporter and editor before beginning a college teaching career in 2005. In 2009, he helped design and develop the Drury’s Social Media Certificate program.
3:30-4:00 General Session: “Wrapping It Up!”

AWAKENING THE WRITER WITHIN IS SPONSORED BY THE WRITERS HALL OF FAME, A GROUP WHOSE PURPOSE IS “TO ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE, AND CELEBRATE THE JOY OF WRITING.” PROCEEDS FROM THIS WRITERS WORKSHOP WILL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO TALENTED YOUNG WRITERS.

Because you have stories. . . Because you have ideas. . . Because you have a voice. . .

Save Saturday, May 5 as Your Date for
AWAKENING THE WRITER WITHIN!
What: A Writers Workshop: Great, informative insights and practice in the company of professional writers.
Where: South Haven Baptist Church, 2353 S. Campbell, Springfield, MO
When: Saturday, May 5 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Who: For YOU
Registration Fee: $85. This includes a morning snack, a box lunch, and coffee/soft drinks/water throughout
the day. Gather a group and save money with our special rates:
For a group of four, each person pays $80 for the day. For a group of ten, each person pays $75 for the day.
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 27
AWAKENING THE WRITER WITHIN is limited to the first 75 registrants, so sign up early!
For further information or to register, contact Gail Gourley ( 417-616-0554 or gailg@the library.org )

Writers Hall of Fame, c/o Gail Gourley
The Library Center
4653 S. Cambell
Springfield, MO 65810

David

My Word of the Month poem

Hi everyone,

Here’s my DETOUR poem. This month’s word has taken us on some interesting side trips!

What I’ve Learned So Far
by David L. Harrison

“Plan ahead,” They say.
“Have a plan and work your plan,”
They tell us,

but Some say,
“Follow your dream, do what
makes you happy and work
is play.”

So I
planned and worked the plan,

but the plan kept
changing, and time kept
passing,

and now here I am, far
from where my plan began,

and what I’ve learned so far
that They don’t know —
but Some do — is this:
Life is a trail that forks in the woods,
a map with signs missing,
a detour that takes us from A to B
through all the lovely letters
if we’re playful enough,
lucky enough, if we’re
dreamers.

David

Cowboys and Pirates in Texas

Hi everyone,

This photo was taken at the Texas Library Association Conference by Kerry McManus at the Boyds Mills Press booth. Dan Burr and I were signing COWBOYS and PIRATES when a pirate came strolling by and posed with us. I’m sorry that I don’t have his name but he made a convincing pirate and we enjoyed the chat.

David