National Poem in Your Pocket Day-April 29th

Tomorrow...National Poem in Your Pocket Day.   Our school literacy committee has been promoting this day.  We created a "pocket" template for each student to write or copy their favorite poem on and keep it in their pocket all day.  It's something to bring an awareness to poetry (National Poetry Month), an awareness to poetry analogies and books, and an awareness to literacy.

Fifth graders took flip cams around the school and shot clips of students and teachers reading their poems.  They've been sharing them on the morning announcements live video feed all week.  Primary and intermediate buddies got together to work on their poems for the day.  At the end of the day on Friday, we're having a Poem In Your Pocket Pop!  A time where the whole school is focused on reading and sharing poetry.   I'm excited to see so much enthusiasm for something so little, so small, but can reap great rewards.

I've been thinking about what poem will be in my pocket and I chose bubble wrap because I LOVE popping it.  We are forever receiving packages at our home because of my husband's work and my favorite thing is to lay the bubble wrap on the kitchen floor and dance on it.  My children enjoy hearing the popping sound and join in.  A little elementary, I know, but it makes me sooooooo happy.  I laugh. I smile.  I live in the moment.

Bubble Wrap, Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap, bubble wrap,
pop, pop, pop.
Wrapped around my bottom.
Wrapped around my top.

I'm double-wrapped in bubble wrap
It's covering my clothes.
It's wrapped around my fingers.
It's wrapped around my toes.

I've wrapped myself in bubble wrap
exactly as I'd planned.
But now I'm tied so tightly,
I can barely even stand.

I'm having trouble walking.
I can hardly even hop.
I guess I'll have to roll today.
Pop, pop, pop.

Have a great Poem in Your Pocket day tomorrow!!! 

The 2 P's

Passion and Perseverance have been coming up in the world around me.  Whether I am listening to talks or reading, these two powerful words are present everywhere. 

Perseverance is a team sport that requires the giving, as well as, the receiving of encouragement.  Since Spring Break,  every message, lesson, and concept seems to be clicking with my treasures.  The understanding of math concepts begun in December is clicking.  Utilizing classroom resources for their inquiry writing is becoming ingrained and thinking about their next read is a constant.  My treasures have persevered because of daily encouragement from myself,  their peers, and their family.  They keep on keeping on because they know someone will be there to encourage them throughout their endeavors.  Springtime is when all our hard work is blossoming from the long, hard winter and we reap the rewards from our encouragement.

Passion:  using your natural talent to drive your personal passion.  Last year, I fell in love with The ELEMENT by Sir Ken Robinson.  His entire message centers on passionate living and finding our path.  If we are passionate about what we do, getting up in the morning isn't a chore; it's our destiny.  For me, I need to reread his book.  Not because I'm not passionate about my teaching.  Teaching is my passion.  Teaching is my destiny.  Teaching is my love.  But, because I need to keep on keeping on to renew that passion for my love of learning.

Passion and Perseverance:  together they can change everything!