Whether rhyming was involved or not, young poets at Martin Avenue Elementary School had a lot to be proud of in creating and sharing their original works.
Amanda Licci’s kindergarten class hosted a Poet’s Tea writing celebration on May 27, the culmination of months of hard work. Ms. Licci said that students have been reading poetry all year and learned about the many different styles of poems. They have even studied poetry through songs and nursery rhymes, and read poems written by other kindergartners to understand that it’s something they can accomplish, too.
When it was time to write, students found many sources of inspiration. They went outside and wrote poems about the elements of nature. Each student picked a classmate to write about as a gift for a friend.
Not only did Ms. Licci’s students work so hard on their poems, they also planned the writing celebration. They wrote invitations to special guests including Principal Leyna Malone and central office administrators, made welcome signs and decorated the classroom.
Each student picked one poem to read aloud, which was also displayed on the SmartBoard. In the audience, children drank their iced tea and gave compliments to their fellow writers.
The poems were on a wide range of topics and Ms. Licci said she was so proud of her students not only for their creativity, but in the confidence they showed in getting up to read in front of the entire class. The poems, she added, reflected how her students have learned from each other.